Conversation and Trade

All right, at that moment, Ueno Kei was feeling a little helpless.

The events and the space around him were unfamiliar. Ueno Kei couldn't understand what was happening, whether he drew on his memories of his previous life or the knowledge he had acquired in this one.

None of it could help Ueno Kei understand what was happening.

All Ueno Kei knew was that this place felt both real and unreal, as if it existed and yet were an illusion. Curious, he held his hands out in front of him.

He tried clenching and unclenching them, and making a few ordinary movements. They felt just like they would in real life. But every now and then, Ueno Kei felt as though his whole body had become something as unreal as air.

The one thing he couldn't do was move. That was right—Ueno Kei found himself rooted to the spot. He could see and hear, and move his hands, but he simply couldn't go anywhere.

And when he opened his mouth to speak, not a sound came out.

"If anyone can hear this, then it proves that someone has obtained my treasured blade, 'Lingyu.' As for the Summoning Scroll bound to it, I can't be sure whether it was still there when you found it."

Just then, a weathered voice rang out in the unfamiliar space, startling Ueno Kei. It sounded quite old, too. Judging by the voice, its owner was probably at least fifty years old.

Ueno Kei immediately went on high alert, tensing all over. He instinctively reached for his waist, wanting to draw a Kunai, but his hand found nothing. He could only clench both fists.

He readied himself to fight.

As Ueno Kei looked around, trying to figure out where the voice was coming from,

the unfamiliar voice continued.

"My name is Fengyi Zhan! I am a ninth-generation member of the Fengyi Clan, its current patriarch, and the owner of the Lingyu Blade. What remains here is only some of my chakra, containing my final words. I don't know who you are or which clan you belong to, and it no longer matters to me. When my Fengyi Clan was invaded by a powerful enemy, I knew I wouldn't live much longer as I covered the younger generation's escape. So I put what little chakra I had, along with half my spirit, into this blade. I only hoped that someone in a later generation might find it and uncover its secrets."

The voice hidden within the blade went on. What it said made Ueno Kei relax a little. It sounded as though the previous owner had left behind some remnant of his thoughts inside the blade. While such a thing would have seemed impossible in Ueno Kei's previous life,

nothing was impossible in this world.

It seems all I have to do is listen carefully to what this senior has to say. This must be some kind of spiritual space. My spirit must have entered it, and afterward he should let me out.

Ueno Kei rubbed his chin as he thought. It's kind of like astral projection in my previous life, he mused, poking fun at himself. Sure enough, just as these thoughts crossed his mind, the voice continued,

"This is the inner space of my treasured blade. I used my blood as the offering and my chakra as the seal to create this seal. If anyone's blood other than an enemy's falls upon the blade, it will activate. Of course, someone powerful can break free of the seal's pull. They can choose to enter this space or repel the seal's absorption."

"Heh. If you can hear this voice, then either you're weak, or you chose to enter willingly. I didn't want my clan's secret art to be lost forever. Some of the younger members escaped under cover, but I had no confidence that they'd evade their pursuers. That's why I left my Fengyi Clan's secret art here."

At this point, the voice paused, as if giving its listener a moment to understand what he had said.

"The Wind Wing Sword Technique! That is my clan's secret art. Unlike other shinobi clans, which excel at all kinds of ninjutsu and secret arts, my clan relies on nothing but a person and a blade. We forge the blade to its utmost peak and refine its ultimate essence—the intent of the blade! With that, we can roam the world and defend ourselves with ease!"

The voice, which had been low and weathered, suddenly rose with excitement as it spoke of the Wind Wing Sword Technique. It was clear how important this sword art was to the so-called Fengyi Clan.

The voice then told Ueno Kei about the many feats the Fengyi Clan had accomplished through this sword art, allowing him to gradually grasp some of its mysteries without even realizing it.

As he listened, Ueno Kei's eyes gradually lit up. Although he had little knowledge or experience, he could still understand some of the Wind Wing Sword Technique's strengths.

That made Ueno Kei feel a little more confident that the Wind Wing Sword Technique could give him the help he wanted.

"Of course, learning my clan's secret art doesn't come for free." After recounting the Fengyi Clan's glorious history, the voice changed tack and spoke in a slightly stern tone.

At this, Ueno Kei tensed. He'd known there was no way things could be that wonderful. Free gifts from the heavens and free lunches—he couldn't say he hadn't considered them.

Still, Ueno Kei trusted his own efforts more than some vague notion of luck. He ignored ideas like fate being predetermined or the gods having decided a person's whole life from the start.

Of course, when it came to something as fantastical as bringing memories from his previous life into this one, Ueno Kei instinctively chose to block it out. Atheism was an unshakable belief in his heart.

Even after more than half a year in Konoha, where he had encountered all kinds of shinobi secrets—including the ancient legendary figure revered as the Sage of Six Paths—Ueno Kei still scoffed at the idea.

In his eyes, the so-called Sage of Six Paths was merely a human with immense strength. He had simply become so powerful that no one in his time could stand against him.

That was why people revered, feared, and respected him.

Then, as time passed and people gradually deified him, they began to regard him as a god, an immortal.

So when it came to luck and the idea that he was destined to encounter some benefit, Ueno Kei didn't reject it, but he wouldn't place too much hope in it or assume he was owed anything.

Ueno Kei was prepared for the voice to ask him to give something in return. It was only fair, wasn't it? The voice made a request, he fulfilled it, and he received a reward. That was reasonable. It was just a transaction.

Ueno Kei thought about it without a trace of worry.

Of course, if the other party asked him to do something impossible, like avenge him, Ueno Kei could only politely decline and then find a way to leave this space himself.