You, who searches for the land of dreams
Until everyone has carved your name into their hearts
The smile which has overcome sadness
Can I put my trust in you?
Though there was no end, I couldn't find it
And I got lost at times
My wounds and my losses
I'll someday turn them into a glow around me
Regrets will never get the better of me, because I know I have wings
I feel like I can go anywhere with you
You, who searches for the land of dreams
Until everyone has carved your name into their hearts
Within a destiny that isn't a coincidence
I will believe in your miracles
As you search for the paradise of dreams
I want to watch you run
You, who are proud and know no tarnish
Can I put my trust in you?
You're going to prison?!
What're you talking about at a time like this?!
I placed His Majesty in danger.
I cannot just stand by and watch the Yin be destroyed!
But...
Bunchu is honorable to a fault.
Oh, look at that!
Refugees, aren't they? They're headed west.
They must be planning to escape to Seiki under the cover of night,
but that outpost, Rintou, should have orders from Dakki
not to let them through.
What? And Dakki is over there.
Do you think she's chasing the refugees herself?
Those with her are Taikoubou and his friends.
Then, that most likely means...
This looks like it could get interesting.
Who are you?
Oh, don't you know me?
Mad Oh, don't you know me?
Does anyone know that woman?
Might you not be a little too self-conscious?
This is why country bumpkins are so troublesome.
Weren't you just saying you were going to beat someone to a pulp?
My name is Dakki.
Dakki?
Now that you know, come and get me!
I'll chop you to bits with this Paopei, Sansentou!
What'll we do, Master?
Leave it. People are always a little kooky in springtime.
She's strong.
Don't start without me! Lightning!
What have you two done?!
Feel like believing me now?
Well, then, it's my turn!
She's mad now!
Duke's Residence
Prince Yinxiao,
if the monarch's stomach is empty at a crucial time,
his subjects will be in trouble.
That is true.
Your Highness...
Kashi,
what do you think will become of this country? Of the Yin?
That is something for you to eventually decide.
You are the first son of Zhou, the Emperor of Yin.
You are the next Emperor of Yin.
Will such a time truly come, Kashi?
Send Kashi over to apologize?!
How dare Dakki summon my wife?!
There is a limit to how far she can push things!
However, you are harboring a traitor's blood relatives.
Such an act can be considered to be equally criminal.
Lady Dakki wishes to intercede on your behalf
and ask for forgiveness from Emperor Zhou.
Empress Kyouhi has not been convicted of treason yet!
You were listening?
Yes...
What an idiotic proposition.
I think it may be good to go.
What?!
She's scary!
If you have time to cry, run!
I'll avenge my brother! Die!
What?!
Boys, I'll make it so you can never fly again!
Oh, my. How sweet of you to protect your men.
I'm impressed!
Isn't that about enough?
Genius Disciple Youzen.
Youzen?
Then, that means...
Even in the lmmortal World,
there is only one person who has the power to transform.
Well known as the Genius Disciple, only you can do it.
Your Sansentou gave me the clue I needed.
I yield to you, Elder Taikoubou.
Indeed, I have come from Mount Kunlun.
I am Gyokutei Shinjin's pupil, Youzen.
Actually, I wanted to test your powers.
Master Genshitenson has ordered me to assist in Project Soul Hunt.
Having the Genius Disciple on our side would be encouraging.
But before I decided to accept your leadership,
I wanted to know what you were capable of.
Your insight, with which you saw through my disguise.
Your courage in protecting your companions by risking yourself.
I have seen it all.
However, I would like to test you on one more thing.
I never thought you would do something so reckless.
I can't believe my brother allowed it.
It is not reckless.
Emperor Zhou is at the beck and call of Dakki.
If Dakki speaks to Emperor Zhou, he may listen.
A proposition like this has got to be a trap!
The Kou are an illustrious family that leads the military families.
Even though I may involve myself in their schemes,
I can't put you in danger!
The Empress has entrusted the princes to me
as the wife of the Kou family.
I will save the princes. This isn't your place to act!
Their Highnesses are the future of this land.
We must protect them at all costs.
You do not understand.
Dakki has challenged not you, but me.
I am well aware that this is dangerous.
It will be all right. I am your wife.
I will not be injured so easily.
I am a woman of a warrior family.
I was not taught to show my back to my enemy.
Sister...
It will be fine.
Let us give them a stern warning,
so they will never again lay a hand on the princes.
It must not be! Dakki is not someone that can be reasoned with!
Lady Kashi is famous for her beauty, even in Chouka.
Dakki probably plans to have His Majesty...
Hurry to Kou Hiko!
They show no signs of returning to Chouka.
Shall we send the troops out?
Wait a while longer.
If you can safely evacuate these people through Rintou Outpost,
then I will work for you, Elder.
If you cannot do it, will you not give Project Soul Hunt to me?
Truly a genius. You certainly are on a high horse.
What a pain.
We can break down an outpost or two like that!
We must never do that!
Well, just you watch. Nothing could be simpler.
I'll just fly over there, and settle this with a talk.
Let's go, Sibu.
Roger.
Your Majesty!
Why is Your Majesty here?!
Oh, we're here to negotiate for the princes,
so it's more convenient to have him here with us.
Besides... Right, Emperor Zhou?
Kashi...
We have always wanted to see
the face said to be the most beautiful in all of Chouka!
Now, Kashi. Show Us your beautiful face.
Majesty, please stop this foolishness!
A monarch is forbidden to see the face of his vassal's wife!
Out of the way!
Dakki, how dare you...
Refugee people!
I am Taikoubou, a disciple of Mount Kunlun!
I shall speak with Rintou Outpost on your behalf!
Put your worries to rest!
Master, wouldn't it be better not to promise too much?
Now, who might the commander be?
You deserve this for talking so big!
This is the disciple who said something about letting you pass!
Look what happened to him!
If you insist on passing through, then we'll start by killing him!
Damn! We can't touch them at this rate!
Dakki's in Chouka!
Even if we go back now, we'll be punished for sure!
Please, let us through!
You guys are Yin's soldiers! Are you going to just let us die?!
Open up!
Let us pass! Let us pass! Let us pass! Let us pass!
Are you all right?! Let us pass! Let us pass! Let us pass! Let us pass!
Are you all right?!
I had thought that if we hung the disciple out there,
they would leave without us having to take action directly,
but that didn't work.
You can't enforce justice by just talking!
Let's trash the outpost!
Please! He's my precious master, even if he's a stupid disciple.
Please at least spare his life!
Good day, Elder Taikoubou!
I will continue Project Soul Hunt where you left off!
Please do not worry about it!
Wait, Youzen! Won't you at least help us?!
Master, don't add to our shame!
You asked this of me,
so saving the refugees must be a piece of cake to you!
Then, save me along with the refugees!
Surely, you cannot say that you are not capable!
What a hopeless man.
What?!
Duke's Residence
Come, is it not about time?
Remove your sleeve and show Us your beautiful face.
Enough is enough!
Seize her!
What belongs to my subjects, belongs to Us.
If you oppose Us, your entire family will pay for it!
Come, what reason do you have to hesitate?
We could even give you a place in the Inner Palace.
Do not lay a hand on me!
Sister!
How beautiful.
I am the wife of Duke Kou Hiko.
It is the source of my pride.
I will not allow it to be sullied by anyone.
Do not speak of such tedious matters.
Be Ours.
Even Your Majesty does not control the hearts of others.
Let us pass! Let us pass! Let us pass!
That is the same for Empress Kyouhi and Their Highnesses.
If you reduce the innocent Empress Kyouhi to a criminal,
Their Highnesses will never forget it.
Even if you were to kill Their Highnesses,
the people will remember it.
Their memory will surely become a great incentive for a revolution
and destroy Your Majesty!
You cannot destroy anyone.
And you cannot change people's hearts at will!
Dear, I am sorry I was unable to be of any use to you.
Sister!
You cannot pass!
Let me through! It's an emergency!
Lord Chou Hou, it's dangerous!
People! Quiet down!
That's Duke Kou Hiko!
Quiet down! Quiet down!
What is the meaning of this?!
They are refugees from Chouka!
Why do you not let them pass?!
I asked, why you do not let them pass?!
Well, we have strict orders from Lady Dakki
that we are to turn all refugees back to Chouka!
That order has been rescinded!
Immediately let the refugees pass and send them on to Seiki!
Is this true?! Thank goodness.
Oh, I was speaking to myself.
All right! Open the gates immediately!
Wait!
Do not be fooled! He is not Kou Hiko!
He is a fraud!
What?
I will prove it to you now! What?
I will prove it to you now!
Take this! Dafuuba!
Lord Chou Hou, that's...
Master!
You traitor!
Wait!
Without a doubt, that man is Duke Kou Hiko!
He is only under the spell of that trickster disciple!
Go tie him up again or something.
Open the gates immediately!
Send the refugees off to Seiki!
Idiot Emperor! I can't take this anymore!
Kashi! Kou Kihi!
My brother is Your Majesty's invaluable vassal!
But you do everything that woman tells you to,
and you've allowed his wife to die!
Now, are you quite satisfied?
You intend to take me hostage and tie my brother's hands, don't you?
That's too bad. I won't let it happen.
Brother, this is no longer the time to hesitate!
Please do what you believe is right!
Kou Kihi!
I knew that you were not Duke Kou Hiko.
But thanks to you, I was able to make my decision. I am grateful.
Then...
I never agreed with Dakki and Emperor Zhou's tyranny.
In truth, a warrior's duty is to protect the people.
It is inexcusable to send the people back,
knowing that they are being persecuted.
If we can die a glorious death fighting Dakki,
then we will all be satisfied.
You people are just so dense.
If it is the duty of a warrior to protect the people,
then why don't you do just that?
They may have passed through here,
but a journey is not without its perils. They may even be pursued.
Why not deliver the refugees to Seiki in safety?
I hear that Seiki's Lord Ki Shou is quite a man.
You should fulfill your potential as a warrior.
Your deaths will only be wasted if you fight here.
Seiki's got my guarantee. The Lord of the West is my old man.
I am very grateful.
Elder Taikoubou, I admit defeat.
Though I may have saved the refugees,
I almost allowed brave troops to die.
Though it was to save those people,
one must not deceive or order people around.
People must decide things for themselves.
That is what you wished to tell me.
Have you decided to join us?
With pleasure.
Now that it has been decided, we are going to be very busy.
Let's see. Next...
It seems we must hurry to meet the real Duke Kou Hiko.
That's fine,
but won't you untie me sometime soon?
From this day forth, you are not my lord and I am not your vassal.
Sister Dakki, is that a present for someone?
Yes, this is a parting gift to Heaven.
I've been looking all this time for that same look
Looking for my friends, who have the same dreams as I
Yesterday's tears and the smiles starting from today
I want to take in all those things
Neither from the morning rain nor the long dark of night
Do you have anything to fear
I will be like this sky
And become strong wings to protect you
Leaping over vast expanses of time
I give you this future about to begin right now
Facing the wind and feeling the Earth beneath my feet
I want to live with you forever
Duke Kou Hiko has lost his sister and wife to Emperor Zhou.
Empress Kyouhi resigns herself to her final moments before Zhou.
Right then, what is it that Bunchu and Kou Hiko saw?
And what of the fate of the two unfortunate princes?
Soul Hunter, Chapter Nine:
Chapter Nine: Kou Hiko Decides to Rise in Rebellion