Encounter is the 17th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
Ei Sei continues to lead his troops up into the mountains. Shin and Ka Ryo Ten follow closely behind them as they notice the soldiers are falling behind again. Shin and Ten mock their fatigue, saying the noble class soldiers simply don't have the strength since they can bribe their up ranks with money and influence. Heki claims that even though he is from a noble family he achieved his rank through his own merits. Shin notices Ei Sei's freakish stamina and recalls his strength, he wonders what Ei Sei has been through. Shin tries to ask but stops himself after calling out to the young king, which annoys Ten. Shou Bun Kun follows from behind in the column of soldiers ascending the mountain, he collapses cursing his lack of strength due to old age. The old official then looks forward at Shin but criticizes Shin's competence as his temperament is too straight forward. And that martial strength alone cannot cut through the world. Shou Bun Kun notices before anyone else, but it is too late. A mountain warrior's ambush surrounds them all.
Shou Bun Kun orders his men make a defensive circle around the king, but Ei Sei tells them to stand down noting they'd be dead already if the mountain warriors wanted. Each side stands prepared for a fight, one of the masked warriors walks forward towards Ei Sei. Shin intercepts him while glaring at at the masked warrior thuggishly before he can get too close. Heki and Ten draw Shin back apologizing for his rudeness. The warrior speaks in the language of the central plains. He tells them they are intruding on the mountain tribesmen's land. Normally they'd be killed but this time is an exception since Ei Sei journeys to see their king. Heki wonders how they could know that he says their king knows everything. He reveals he knows who Ei Sei is, the king of Qin and offers to escort Ei Sei to their king. Shin is eager to go but is quickly stopped and thrown back to the ground by the warrior. The masked warrior offers them an ultimatum. Either Ei Sei goes with them now and all his soldiers withdraw, or they will kill everyone present without mercy.
Characters
- Royal Palace
- Ei Sei Faction
- Ei Sei (flashback and main story)
- Shin (flashback and main story)
- Ka Ryo Ten
- Shou Bun Kun
- Heki
- Hyou (mentioned)
- Unidentified others
- Sei Kyou Faction
- Shukyou Clan
- Jo Kan (flashback)
- Shukyou Clan
- Ei Sei Faction
- Mountain Tribes
- King of Mountain Tribes (mentioned)
- Ba Jio
- Unidentified members
High Points
- A lot of the Ei Sei Army soldiers fall behind due to their injuries and fatigue because of the mountains.
- Shin sees that Ei Sei has experienced his share in life.
- Ei Sei's group and the mountain tribesmen make contact.
- Only Sei is allowed to see the mountain king.