Featured Martial Arts Tale: Ozawa’s Adventure
Scene 1: Ambush at the Floating Pavilion
Location: The Floating Pavilion
The Floating Pavilion drifts upon the dark river, its red paper lanterns casting rhythmic, swaying light over the silk-draped interior. Ozawa crouches atop a hanging rafter, hidden by the shadow of a hanging silk tapestry. Below, a dozen armored figures in the crest of the Hanjo clan surround a lone, foreign challenger standing over a shattered tea table.
Kenji: “You stand in the house of the Lotus, yet you bear the stench of a mercenary. Do you think the sword of Hatori falls to a stray dog like you?”
Ozawa (thinks): The target is in the center, but the Hanjo guard is too tight. If I drop now, I risk discovery. If I wait, the challenger might bleed out.
The foreign challenger spits blood onto the polished mahogany floor, his hand trembling as he draws a rusted, notched blade from its sheath.
Kenji: “The ten challengers fall tonight. You are but the fifth. Die.”
Ozawa (thinks): Hanjo is baiting him. I need a distraction, but the invisible gas canister is still tucked deep in my obi.
