Chapter Summaries

Zhao Si and his companions entered the Central Land and rescued Shinmen Harunobu, a young swordsman defeated and tied up by a Sword Demon. After learning about Shinmen Harunobu’s admiration for Old Man and his ambition to master the two-sword style, Zhao Si agreed to take him to a blacksmith so he could get new swords.

• Zhao Si and his companions found Shinmen Harunobu tied to a tree, and Zhao Si freed him.
• Shinmen Harunobu explained that a Sword Demon had defeated him, taken his swords, and spared him so he could challenge again someday.
• Shinmen Harunobu told Zhao Si that he followed Old Man’s Way of the Sword and wanted to learn dual-blade techniques, but had no money for swords.
• Zhao Si offered to take Shinmen Harunobu to a blacksmith and shared what he knew about Old Man’s swordsmanship and character.
• Shinmen Harunobu revealed that he aspired to become a master of military arts and gain fame with his two swords.

Zhao Si learned forging from One-legged Tatara and crafted a powerful silver Horse-Cutting Sword and a matching pair of daggers for himself and Malenia. After testing the great sword by splitting a mountain, he gave Malenia the weapons, and One-legged Tatara endured their affectionate exchange.

• Shinmen Harunobu asked the smithy master for replacement swords, while Zhao Si paid to have a custom pair made and requested smithing lessons.
• The master sent Zhao Si to learn from One-legged Tatara, who took him to a mountain cave and taught him to forge.
• Zhao Si used his control of fire and gravity, along with One-legged Tatara's guidance, to master forging and create a silver Horse-Cutting Sword and two linked daggers.
• Zhao Si tested the great sword by splitting a mountain, then showed the finished weapons to Malenia.
• Malenia admired the sword and accepted the dagger, while One-legged Tatara hid in the cave and suffered through their romantic exchange.

Zhao Si advised Shinmen Harunobu on swordsmanship before traveling toward Kyoto, while Wolf and Hattori Hanzo pursued the ninja who had stolen the black Mortal Blade. Wolf and Hattori Hanzo uncovered a tanuki cavalry attack and realized the tanuki would retaliate.

• Zhao Si demonstrated the Horse-Cutting Sword’s power to Shinmen Harunobu and urged him to rely on speed, precision, and strength.
• Zhao Si and his companions headed toward Kyoto as Wolf and Hattori Hanzo tracked the Kōga Ninja and Saiga Ninja carrying the black Mortal Blade.
• Wolf worried about the Divine Child of Rejuvenation, while Hattori Hanzo told him that Lord Date would accompany her.
• Wolf and Hattori Hanzo reached a town under attack by cavalrymen bearing Fūrinkazan banners and discovered that they were tanuki in disguise.
• Wolf and Hattori Hanzo brought down the tanuki leader, revealing the cavalry’s true forms, and Hattori Hanzo warned that the tanuki would retaliate.

Wolf accepted Hattori Hanzo's request to assassinate the tanuki leader and infiltrated Tanuki Mountain Castle, where he learned the tanuki planned to seize human territory. He fought Inugami Gyobu Momiji, who used Tokoyo to weaken him, but she escaped after Wolf wounded her.

• Hattori Hanzo asked Wolf to infiltrate the mountains and assassinate the tanuki leader while he defended the front line.
• Wolf followed the tanuki tracks to Tanuki Mountain Castle and overheard them discussing plans to rule human lands after receiving promises of official posts and rewards.
• Wolf reached the Tenshu lookout and discovered Inugami Gyobu Momiji among tanuki disguised as Takeda Shingen.
• Momiji pierced Wolf with her Great Naginata, but Wolf revived and continued the fight using his Prosthetic Tool and Mortal Blade.
• Momiji trapped Wolf in Tokoyo and gained the advantage, but Wolf cut her back before she turned into wind and fled the castle.

Wolf and Hattori Hanzo reached Kyoto while searching for the Black Mortal Blade, after Wolf’s attack left Momiji unable to command the tanuki forces. Zhao Si’s tour group also arrived, and Zhao Si declared that he would end the long war with the yokai.

• Wolf escaped the tanuki castle after wounding Momiji with the Mortal Blade, whose wound would not heal.
• Hattori Hanzo told Wolf that the tanuki had lost their commander and that his defenses had won the battle.
• Hattori Hanzo and Wolf delayed their search until the tanuki threat was settled, then traveled toward Kyoto to seek information about the Black Mortal Blade.
• Zhao Si led Malenia, Ranni, and the others through Rashomon and explained Kyoto’s architecture and the history of its demons.
• Zhao Si said he intended to end the long war and told Ranni that her dream should have an ending too.
• Wolf and Hattori Hanzo passed Zhao Si’s group on Suzaku Avenue, and both groups continued in different directions.

Wolf and Hattori Hanzo learned that the black Mortal Blade had been taken to Osaka Castle, while Zhao Si and his companions spent the day sightseeing in Kyoto. After nightfall, Zhao Si went out to hunt yokai as Wolf and Hattori Hanzo stayed inside, listening to his voice in the street.

• Hattori Hanzo met with a ninja from the Iga Clan and learned that the black Mortal Blade had been transported to Osaka Castle.
• Wolf explained that Open Gate required an immortal sacrifice and doubted the enemy could use it without meeting its conditions.
• Hattori Hanzo asked Wolf to take both Mortal Blades away after they reached the enemy's headquarters.
• Zhao Si, Malenia, Helena, Melina, and Ranni visited Kyoto's shops, shrines, and temples during the day.
• After the sun set, Zhao Si ignored the innkeeper's warning and went outside to hunt yokai.
• Wolf and Hattori Hanzo stayed inside and heard Zhao Si calling to a yokai in the street.

Zhao Si hunted the monsters of Kyoto’s Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, killing them across Suzaku Avenue and the big bridge. Ibaraki Dōji entered the city, discovered the slaughter, and set out to confront the unknown killer.

• A frightened little monster hid from Zhao Si, who broke into its hiding place and accidentally scared it to death.
• Zhao Si charged through the monsters on Suzaku Avenue, killing them and crushing Hone-onna before kicking Yūjo’s head through Wolf’s window.
• Wolf recognized Yūjo and pierced her head with the Mortal Blade while Hattori Hanzo told him that Musashibō Benkei had been attacking people on the big bridge.
• Zhao Si killed Hashihime, a Warrior Monk, and several fleeing Dark Onmyoji on the big bridge.
• Ibaraki Dōji arrived in Kyoto, learned that many Yokai had disappeared, and killed a babbling Yokai before going to meet Zhao Si.

Zhao Si defeated Ibaraki Dōji after surviving his sorcery and learning that a golden light in Yomi had asked him to stop what was happening at Osaka Castle. With Amaterasu missing in Yomi, the Blood Moon remained in the sky and the Sun did not rise, leaving Osaka Castle as the trail to follow.

• Ibaraki Dōji arrived in a devastated Kyoto and found Zhao Si beside the corpse of the One-Horned Ogre.
• Zhao Si identified Ibaraki Dōji as the sender of the letter, and Ibaraki Dōji attacked him with his blade and ghostly hands.
• Ibaraki Dōji dragged Zhao Si into Yomi, but Zhao Si returned and crushed him with gravity.
• The surviving yokai fled, while people discovered that the Sun had not risen beneath the Blood Moon.
• Zhao Si connected the missing Amaterasu and the golden light in Yomi to the disappearance of the Black Mortal Blade and Osaka Castle.

Hattori Hanzo and Wolf infiltrated Osaka Castle to locate the Black Mortal Blade while Zhao Si and his companions prepared to travel there. They discovered that Asai Chacha and Toyotomi Hideyori planned to use the blade, leaving Wolf listening outside their room as the mission reached its decisive moment.

• Hattori Hanzo and Wolf noticed the sun had not risen and set out for Osaka Castle despite the blood-red moon.
• Zhao Si returned to breakfast with Ranni, Malenia, Melina, and Helena, and they agreed to go to Osaka Castle after eating.
• Date Masamune kept the Divine Child of Rejuvenation outside Edo and viewed the strange sky as a distraction from Tokugawa Ieyasu.
• Hattori Hanzo and Wolf entered Osaka Castle in disguise, mingled with the crowd, and traced the Black Mortal Blade to the Tenshu.
• Asai Chacha gave Toyotomi Hideyori the Mortal Blade, and he revealed that Ashina's Remains had already made him immortal.
• Wolf listened from the eaves as Asai Chacha and Toyotomi Hideyori discussed their plan, while Hattori Hanzo kept watch nearby.

Wolf infiltrated Osaka Castle to steal the black Mortal Blade, but arrived too late to stop Toyotomi Hideyori from sacrificing himself. The ritual summoned the monstrous Emperor Sutoku, whose power unleashed disasters across the Land of Reeds, and Wolf drew the Mortal Blade to confront him.

• Wolf fought Hari Onna on the roof while Hattori Hanzo battled Sarutobi Sasuke and the enemy ninjas.
• Saiga Magoichi told Wolf he was undercover and directed him to the black Mortal Blade beneath the Tenshu.
• Wolf reached the altar, but Toyotomi Hideyori seized the black Mortal Blade and stabbed himself in the chest.
• Hideyori's sacrifice summoned Emperor Sutoku, a powerful Tengu whose strike caused disasters and shook Osaka Castle.
• Wolf drew the Mortal Blade, preparing to send Emperor Sutoku back.

Wolf fought Daitengu Emperor Sutoku amid disasters tearing through Osaka Castle, but a red-haired celestial maiden intervened and helped him kill the monster. After the disasters ceased, a bearded man descended from the moon, only to be met by a purple-glowing figure who confronted him in the sky.

• Wolf retrieved the Black Mortal Blade and attacked Daitengu, but the tengu battered him and flew upward with Wolf dangling from his talon.
• Hattori Hanzo and Sarutobi Sasuke fought on the Tenshu roof as earthquakes and other disasters shook Osaka Castle, then Hanzo escaped while Sasuke left.
• Daitengu shook Wolf from his talon, and Wolf fell through the roof and died before resurrecting; he then struggled to withstand the monster's hurricane.
• A red-haired celestial maiden arrived, severed Daitengu's wing with her golden blade, and ordered Wolf to finish him.
• Wolf beheaded Daitengu, ending the natural disasters, and a bearded man descended from the moon before a purple-glowing figure confronted him in the sky.

Zhao Si defeated Susanoo in a battle that badly damaged the Red Moon and learned how Susanoo had driven the Divine Dragon from the Sea Dragon Palace and trapped Amaterasu in Yomi. After Malenia proposed that Ranni become the Land of Reeds’ Moon God, Ranni considered what should happen to Amaterasu and the blocked passage to Yomi.

• Malenia killed the Daitengu with Wolf’s help, while Zhao Si held Osaka Castle steady and the grieving Asai Chacha realized Toyotomi Hideyori was gone and went mad.
• Zhao Si confronted Susanoo in the sky, learned that Susanoo had killed Tsukuyomi and imprisoned Amaterasu, and battled him on the moon.
• Susanoo’s attacks damaged the Red Moon, but Zhao Si defeated him and returned to the ground carrying his head.
• Malenia suggested that Ranni become the Land of Reeds’ Moon God, and Zhao Si and Ranni agreed that her Dark Moon could help settle the land.
• Zhao Si raised the unresolved question of Amaterasu and the need to reopen Yomi so the dead could pass into the underworld.

Zhao Si helped Ranni take over as the Land of Reeds’ new moon god, and the Dark Moon brought an end to the great war while Wolf and the Divine Child of Rejuvenation returned the Divine Dragon to its home. With peace restored, Zhao Si and his companions left Ashina to continue their travels and plan a wedding.

• Zhao Si found Amaterasu behind the boulder at Yomi’s entrance and persuaded her to relinquish her duties and hand them over to Ranni.
• Amaterasu helped Ranni repair the moon, and the Dark Moon rose over the Land of Reeds as its tides steadied and its factions disbanded.
• Wolf and the Divine Child of Rejuvenation returned the Divine Dragon to its Sea Dragon Palace, then Wolf cast the two Mortal Blades into the deep sea.
• Zhao Si watched the Land of Reeds settle into peace under Ranni and reunited with his companions in Ashina.
• Zhao Si and his companions left Ashina, discussed holding a traveling wedding, and said goodbye to the Dark Moon.