After clearing a bandit ambush with a standoff streak, I continued walking my horse toward Furuta Village under a brilliant sunset. I paused to play my flute before encountering the Stone Dragon Shrine, which required missing gear to cross. Further along, I brutally eliminated Mongols after failing to save two local peasants.
The sun was setting by the time I finished fighting off the Mongols along my path. Stepping into the dark forest, I hoped no ghosts were lurking in the shadows, though there was certainly no shortage of living enemies nearby.
I ran into a group of bandits and initiated a standoff. Winning the initial bout triggered my standoff streak, bringing two more foes rushing forward. I cut down the second bandit with ease, and the third stepped right up to sacrifice himself as well.
The only survivor was an archer who managed to plant an arrow straight into my chest. I charged him down immediately and slaid him before he could notch another arrow.
Scanning the area, it appeared the bandits had brutalized someone nearby, though no dead bodies were in sight. They did leave behind a supply box, which I opened up to claim the materials inside.
I then resumed my journey toward Furuta Village with the vibrant colors of the setting sun filling the sky behind me. I could have easily fast-traveled to the lighthouse near the village, but traveling on foot proved to be the right choice.
Doing so allowed me to experience these random encounters and enjoy the breathtaking sunset views.
Reaching a cliff edge, I pulled out my flute and began playing a melody to make the atmosphere feel even calmer and more beautiful.
Continuing down the trail, I passed under a torii gate that marked the path to the Stone Dragon Shrine, a sanctuary dedicated to Susanoo, the Kami of Storms.
Upon discovering the location, a prompt informed me that I lacked a required item to complete the shrine. Looking across the gap, I saw the shrine perched on a far hill separated by wide chasms that were impossible to cross without specialized climbing equipment.
Realizing that was the missing gear mentioned by the game, I made a mental note to return another day.
I pushed forward toward Furuta Village, only to spot a group of Mongols attacking defenseless peasants along the road. I sprinted toward the fight and executed a critical strike on one of the attackers, but I was a moment too late.
The Mongols executed both peasants before I could stop them. Seeing the innocent villagers die made my blood boil, and I brutally slayed the remaining Mongols on the spot.
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