This name and title are way too over-the-top.
Mu Yang could hardly believe it.
There was actually a novel like this back on Earth where he originally lived.
Flying Swordsman A'Fei was the protagonist.
But hey, why are you using Li's Flying Daggers, A'Fei?
"Flying Swordsman A'Fei?"
Mu Yang asked Kokomi, "Is this a story passed down in Inazuma?"
"What I mentioned earlier comes from a book published by Yae Publishing House in its early years, called Ruthless Sword."
Mu Yang was speechless.
Seriously, fish girl, can't you talk about a novel without making it sound so grandiose?
You make it sound like it actually happened...
Kokomi continued,
"Rumors say that book was based on real events. The fact that Mu Yang uses the same techniques also traces back to Liyue."
"So I was wondering if it might be something like inheriting a master's will or something..."
Real events adaptation?
Adaptation isn't about making things up, and dramatic retellings aren't about spouting nonsense!
Fine, then let me do the making up.
Mu Yang told Kokomi:
Actually, he didn't know the name of this move.
The reason he could use it...
Started with enemies coming for his life...
After that, Mu Yang painted a vivid picture of Liyue's martial world for Kokomi.
Enemies at his doorstep, falling off a cliff, surviving against all odds.
By chance, he picked up a tattered book—only to find it was a fragment of a martial arts manual that everyone in the martial world was fighting over!
"And what that fragment recorded was precisely the inner cultivation method of 'Flying Flowers and Plucked Leaves'."
"But since it was only half the manual, I never learned the name of this move."
What followed was a tale of mastering divine techniques and seeking vengeance with righteous fury...
After finishing his storytelling (fabrication), Mu Yang set down his cup and glanced at Kokomi.
He found her still completely immersed.
Knowing Kokomi loved reading military strategy,
he had deliberately added many tactical confrontations rather than just brute-force battles.
After this performance, wouldn't her little energy gauge be filled to the brim?
Kokomi hadn't snapped out of it yet.
Mu Yang continued,
"Now that I've heard the tale of Senior A'Fei, I suppose it must be fate."
His gaze sharpened.
"My reason for coming to Inazuma is to challenge the 'Musou no Hitotachi'."
"Eh?!"
This final statement caught Kokomi completely off guard.
After her initial surprise,
she pondered for a moment before sighing.
"Those who pursue the pinnacle will inevitably face the Shogun."
"Perhaps... this is the destiny of that cultivation method..."
Perfect—if you can fill in the gaps yourself, that's even better, Mu Yang thought to himself.
He noticed Kokomi looked somewhat worried.
Maybe she'd really bought into the story.
Kokomi was indeed concerned for Mu Yang's safety now.
After all, that single strike represented the absolute peak of the Shogun's martial prowess.
Just how powerful was the Musou no Hitotachi?
The ravine next to the rebel training camp—Musoujin Gorge—
was carved out by that single strike.
And that strike also left an eternal scar on the hearts of Watatsumi Island's people.
Seeing Kokomi hesitating, unsure whether to dissuade him,
Mu Yang changed the subject.
"Could you lend me that Ruthless Sword book?"
"Of course."
Kokomi left the tent and soon returned with the book, handing it to Mu Yang.
"Though the author's details are unknown, Lady Yae Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine personally confirmed this was based on real events."
"However, all of Inazuma's renowned swordsmen denied it, claiming they'd never lost to any 'A'Fei'."
Lady Yae Guuji?!
As Mu Yang took the book, an image of that sly fox covering her mouth and snickering flashed through his mind...
Seems this matter definitely involved her.
Mu Yang pretended to flip through it—
of course, still using the system's speed-reading.
The book was written from the first-person perspective of a woman—
the female companion Kokomi had mentioned earlier.
She encountered a Liyue swordsman who had come to Inazuma to challenge others,
found him intriguing, and decided to follow him.
What followed was a fairly standard development:
One was taciturn, the other mischievous.
A'Fei's personality was extremely aloof,
which fit the book's title, Ruthless Sword.
No matter what the woman did,
A'Fei's heart remained devoted solely to the sword.
Truly embodying the principle:
"No women in the heart, the sword ascends divine."
The story ended abruptly after the two arrived at Tenshukaku.
The book contained no physical descriptions of A'Fei.
In fact, A'Fei barely had any lines at all.
Mu Yang suspected the name was entirely made up by the author.
This is way too abstract.
Since it was first-person and A'Fei never spoke,
the woman's name was never mentioned either...
Still, the story itself was brilliantly written, packed with suspense.
He just couldn't figure out why that sly fox would care about this.
Could it be just to boost sales by vouching for it?
That was entirely possible.
But this A'Fei's behavior was way too similar to Mu Yang's.
If it wasn't a formal duel but, say, encountering bandits—
like an ambush by rogue raiders—
it'd be over in a single strike.
That's right—while "Flying Flowers and Plucked Leaves" at least had a name,
the move where he slashed throats didn't even have one.
Because by the time you finished speaking, the fight would already be over...
"Did Lady Yae Guuji personally confirm this was based on real events?"
Mu Yang asked.
When Kokomi nodded, Mu Yang returned the book to her.
Kokomi was puzzled—were you just messing with me? Taking it but not reading it?
"Aren't you going to read it?"
"I've already finished."
"Eh...?"
After that, Mu Yang and Kokomi chatted about many things as friends.
Mostly topics Kokomi enjoyed—
military strategy, novels, and the like.
Mu Yang was surprised to learn Kokomi even kept up with Xingqiu's Records of the Jueyun Martial Arts.
They talked late into the night.
Today, little Kokomi's energy gauge was filled to absolute maximum...
Mu Yang stood up to take his leave,
saying he'd be heading to Narukami Island the next day.
Kokomi seemed reluctant to part.
In her life, this was the first time she'd met someone who understood her interests so well.
And now, this person was about to face the Raiden Shogun...
It was hard to judge.
This farewell might very well be their last.
Kokomi didn't try to dissuade Mu Yang.
This was his destiny.
It had been set in stone the moment he picked up that "Flying Flowers and Plucked Leaves" manual...
Farewell, my friend.
Mu Yang left the tent to rest.
If he knew what Kokomi was thinking right now,
he'd probably burst out laughing.
The next day, Mu Yang came to bid Kokomi and Gorou goodbye.
But Gorou said Kokomi had left earlier on urgent business.
Mu Yang pulled out two books and handed them to Gorou.
"What's this?" Gorou took them and looked.
They were guides on foundational and advanced techniques for swordsmanship and archery.
After skimming through, Gorou found the content incredibly practical—
as if tailor-made for Watatsumi Island's forces.
Gorou smiled warmly. "Thank you, Mu Yang."
"This looks perfect for training recruits. You've put a lot of thought into it."
Mu Yang cupped his hands. "Until we meet again."
"Until we meet again."
After watching Mu Yang leave,
Gorou carried the books back to the general's tent.
Kokomi was sitting inside—she hadn't gone anywhere.
When Gorou entered, she quickly masked the faint melancholy in her eyes,
replacing it with her usual composed expression.
Gorou handed her the books. "Lady Sangonomiya, these are from Mu Yang."
"Oh?"
Kokomi took them and visibly brightened.
If the recruits could master these quickly,
Watatsumi Island's strength would improve significantly.
Her own burdens would lighten as well.
"Gorou, have them train according to this."
"Understood."
——————
By now, Mu Yang was already on his way to Narukami Island.
Those two books were customized through his system.
This was part of the plan—
something he'd thought of after observing the Watatsumi soldiers' training yesterday.
There were two benefits to this gift:
First, it was gratitude for Gorou and Kokomi's kindness.
Second, of course, was popularity points.
The source of Watatsumi Island's improved combat prowess would be Mu Yang.
Once players reached the rebel base,
they'd naturally learn about this through in-game text.
It was a guaranteed win-win deal.