Chapter 194: Omen Of World Revival! Troubled Two-foot Adult, Kaga Kiyomitsu, Triple Reinforcement!
Shangshan Che’s gaze seriously scanned the top of the document.
——That is, all the markings on the Mikawa Province map.
On the document brought back by the long-unseen Hanzō, it not only included the current disease types, situations, and symptoms in each large and small city and town.
It even clearly marked which cities had how many demons, how many types, and that Jodo Shinshu had been explicitly identified as an enemy force colluding with demons.
Just by flipping down the document, one could obtain the relevant detailed information.
It could be said that having this document brought by Hanzō in hand was equivalent to finding a “strategy guide” on a related website while playing a game!
This was truly an unexpected surprise.
Shangshan Che memorized all this information verbatim, then quickly formulated a strategy route in his mind.
——This way, he could sweep through all the Affliction Kin in these dozen or so cities and towns from weak to strong, harvesting massive amounts of Soul Ash and Soul Spirit Points.
Then, he could happily level up Kaga Kiyomitsu and Hundred-Eyed Demon to max using the Special Affairs Office materials’ Onmyōdō to locate Affliction along the way.
After utilizing all available resources and stacking his hand to the fullest, he would then go challenge the “final BOSS”.
Undoubtedly, this was the most correct route.
But just as Shangshan Che had this thought and began rapidly refining it on this basis.
An inexplicable warning suddenly jumped into his mind.
——This absolutely won’t do.
Won’t do?
Why won’t it do?
Shangshan Che puzzledly lifted his head, and after a good bout of self-examination, confirmed it was a warning from the Clear Mirror in his heart.
Can he trust it?
If he had Lili Zi’s Clear Sword Heart realm, he would definitely trust this warning without hesitation.
But his state of mind had only just entered “Unity of Man and Sword”, which essentially wasn’t a particularly rare or unique trait.
As Shangshan Che hesitated, wanting to take out the Divine Fortune Stick Cylinder to predict fortune or misfortune, he suddenly sensed a slight change in the “Qi” from all directions…
No.
To be precise, between heaven and earth, everything around, every inch and every minute of the “Qi” emitted a subtle change at the same frequency.
It was just that he, who cultivated Spirit Control Technique · Qi, happened to sense it.
This feeling…
It was as if it was foreshadowing that this heaven and earth was about to welcome some extremely major essential change.
Shangshan Che narrowed his eyes.
Why does this feeling of Qi change seem somewhat familiar?
Like he’d seen it somewhere before.
Imagawa Yoshimoto finished flipping through half of the document.
She turned her head wanting to discuss the subsequent plan in detail with Shangshan Che, only to see the latter frowning tightly while looking around at the surroundings, not knowing what he was looking at.
So Imagawa Yoshimoto closed her just-opened mouth, not disturbing him.
Standing in the silent courtyard, Shangshan Che pondered for a long time, his pupils contracting as he finally found and matched in his memories a Qi frequency extremely similar to the one just now.
First Wave.
These five words jumped into his mind.
Yes, although the commotion between the two was vastly different, and there wasn’t even the slightest tide sound now.
But the feeling this “Qi” gave was indeed the same.
The feeling of Spirit Control Technique · Qi wouldn’t be wrong.
In other words, the Sengoku Period would soon welcome its own Spiritual Energy Tide?
Shangshan Che recalled his experience when the First Wave arrived.
At that time, the long-awaited Ai Bieli wanted to borrow the First Wave to break through to Ghost God Realm.
So now, as one of the Eight Sufferings, does Affliction have the same idea?
He didn’t know.
But Shangshan Che knew one thing: if Affliction wanted to do this, to borrow World Revival to advance further, he absolutely could not let it succeed.
No matter what star level Affliction was at now, he already had enough Three-and-a-half Star Kin, and was gradually incorporating the entire Mikawa Province into his grasp.
If he made another breakthrough…
Shangshan Che’s mouth twitched.
——In that case, the sweeping plan targeting those cities and towns full of Affliction Kin hadn’t even started before it would already be declared bankrupt.
This would cost a lot of Soul Spirit Points and Soul Ash, but he had to give it up.
Because he had no choice.
Shangshan Che didn’t know what star stage Affliction was at, nor could he bet on whether it was on the verge of breakthrough.
If Affliction broke through to Ghost God Realm this way, even if he perfectly completed the sweep and netted all the demons in the cities and towns, he would have no chance against Ghost God level Eight Sufferings.
So the next plan was very clear——
He had to head straight to Affliction’s location before World Revival arrived and exorcise it.
“Natural Reason School is also just about a week away from breaking through to Expert Level… I don’t know how many days until World Revival fully arrives.”
Shangshan Che tried circulating Spirit Control Technique, closing his eyes to further sense the quiet flow of Spiritual Power and Qi between heaven and earth.
In his serious perception, the Spiritual Energy Concentration between heaven and earth was rising every minute and second by a perceptible subtle amount, rising, rising…
No, not right.
Not long from now.
Shangshan Che opened his eyes with a grave expression.
But right now!
A week?
Where would there be such ample time left for him?
If the Spiritual Energy Concentration kept rising at this rate, probably not even five or six days, and the true great tide would crash into the Sengoku Period’s Mortal Realm!
Moreover, this Spiritual Energy change speed couldn’t possibly remain constant.
Shangshan Che’s mind turned——
So setting the safe limit for World Revival at “three days” was more reasonable.
Three days.
This time was really a bit short.
Even stuffing Soul Incense Ash wouldn’t yield over 200 proficiency points in three days.
What if hunting Great Demons, using those Three-Star demons to grind Sword Technique proficiency?
No.
Shangshan Che immediately rejected this idea in his mind.
The uncertainty of this method was too great.
If he encountered an unbeatable Great Demon like Ootama Hoshi while slaying demons, he’d have to use “Rage” again.
During this 48-hour cooldown, who knows what situations might arise.
Moreover, saving the next “Rage” for Affliction was the correct and steady approach.
In just a few short minutes, Shangshan Che made his decision.
——Abandon the demon sweeping plan, use Onmyōdō tonight to confirm Affliction’s location, then head straight for Affliction tomorrow morning!
This way, the use of Soul Spirit Points was no longer in doubt.
When Little Jia returned, he would use up the Soul Spirit Points to strengthen it.
Shangshan Che lightly exhaled, looking at Imagawa Yoshimoto beside him who unconsciously curled her lips, thinking the Mikawa Province incident was about to end under this detailed intel.
After all, relying solely on Shangshan Che alone, he had subdued the important Eastern Mikawa stronghold Yoshida Castle without any intelligence.
The talismans he made could also heal various complex diseases in a short time.
And now with such detailed intelligence in hand, Motono’s army was also arriving soon.
Combining the two, resolving Mikawa Province’s demon and disease issues wouldn’t be a piece of cake!
Imagawa Yoshimoto set aside the document in her hand with a smile for now.
At this time, Hanzō continued speaking,
“Lord Motoyasu and Okabe Adult have arrived not far from Yoshida Castle, should enter the city in one or two hours.”
“Very good.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded pleasantly.
This way, Yoshida Castle’s follow-up situation no longer needed her and Tetsu-kun to worry about, and this document’s utility could be immediately utilized!
This good news was truly one after another.
Imagawa Yoshimoto turned her head again with a smile on her lips, only to see Shangshan Che with a grave expression like it was about to rain.
Strange.
Tetsu-kun, why such an expression?
Weren’t all the news from Hanzō good?
Imagawa Yoshimoto was somewhat puzzled.
Speaking of which, he seemed very surprised when he first saw the document, but from a certain moment just now, he had fallen into this gloomy state.
Imagawa Yoshimoto restrained her smile, lowering her head to ask: “Hanzō, anything else to report?”
Hanzō responded emotionlessly: “Everything I saw and thought has been written in the document.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto waved her hand,
“Then withdraw for now.”
Hanzō nodded, vanishing from the two’s sight in an instant.
Ten-odd seconds later, he also withdrew from Shangshan Che’s perception range.
As soon as Shangshan Che looked up, Imagawa Yoshimoto preemptively asked: “Tetsu-kun, what happened?”
Shangshan Che was stunned.
Noticed, huh…
This was only natural; Imagawa Yoshimoto standing right beside him, how could she not notice such a big change in his expression.
He rubbed his nose bridge, saying gravely: “Lord Yoshimoto, the intelligence on this document can be noted, but set it aside for now.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto furrowed her brows, not letting it go, but asking the reason,
“Why?”
Shangshan Che made a throat-slitting gesture at his neck: “We need to head straight for the demon leader now, take Affliction’s head as soon as possible; we depart tomorrow.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto was even more puzzled.
She pointed at the map, lightly tapping a few spots with her finger, then drawing a circle,
“We have an intelligence advantage over those demons; advancing step by step like this, nibbling away, reclaiming the cities and towns, then encircling at the end, wouldn’t that be more assured?”
She paused, staring straight into Shangshan Che’s eyes: “Just like what you said before coming to Yoshida Castle.”
“No, it’s different now.”
Shangshan Che shook his head, enunciating each word to the girl born in an almost magic-less era: “Heaven and earth are about to revive.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto tilted her head in confusion.
World Revival, what did that mean?
Shangshan Che knew this was a completely new concept to her, so he explained in the simplest and most understandable words,
“Simply put, from now on, Onmyoji will increase in number and grow stronger; demons will also become active again on the land.
Perhaps in a few decades, the entire Under Heaven will become like the Heian Period, with strange powers and gods rampant in the cities.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto didn’t respond.
But the constantly trembling edges of her pupils already showed how shocked the girl was inside.
——Heian Period was the era when Onmyoji far surpassed samurai in influence.
——Historical records or miscellanies recorded that in that era, humans and ghosts coexisted, with countless legends passed down to today.
——There was the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons in Heian-kyo, Great Onmyoji Ashiya Doman moving mountains and filling seas, even Ghost King Shuten Doji commanding ten thousand ghosts in Mount Oe to establish a ghost kingdom.
Under Heaven was about to change greatly.
But Imagawa Yoshimoto wasn’t thrown into disarray by this sudden bombshell news.
She took two deep breaths, chest puffed out, cutting straight to the point:
“So Tetsu-kun, that Great Demon called Affliction will also grow stronger in this World Revival——that’s why you want to urgently slay it?”
Shangshan Che nodded.
Talking with Imagawa Yoshimoto was effortless.
She asked again: “When?”
Shangshan Che answered: “Within these few days.”
As he said this, he could see Imagawa Yoshimoto’s face stiffen for an instant again.
Imagawa Yoshimoto didn’t doubt Shangshan Che’s words, nor was there any need to.
She now understood why Tetsu-kun’s complexion had been so poor since earlier.
Imagawa Clan’s head paced back and forth for quite a while, fully taking a dozen minutes to digest this large segment of information.
Her steps halted, as if thinking of something she suddenly looked toward Shangshan Che: “Since the Great Demon will grow stronger, then you should too, Tetsu-kun.”
“This… indeed.”
Shangshan Che was somewhat helpless: “But I haven’t hit a bottleneck yet, so this World Revival won’t produce an essential change in my strength.
But Affliction is different; it might already be at that point.”
At this, Shangshan Che seriously looked at Imagawa Yoshimoto whose eyes showed slight regret: “Do you want to bet, Lord Yoshimoto?”
“Bet that Affliction and I…”
“No bet.”
Before his words finished, Imagawa Yoshimoto firmly shook her head.
Shangshan Che smiled.
The expected answer.
Because Imagawa Yoshimoto was the same type of person as him in this regard.
One who would absolutely not abandon the “certainty” already in hand to embrace the “uncertainty” that might bring greater benefits, like a gambler.
“Then we’re in agreement.”
Shangshan Che raised his fist toward Imagawa Yoshimoto, signaling a fist bump.
Imagawa Yoshimoto, living in this era, naturally didn’t understand: “Tetsu-kun, what does this mean?”
“Gently bump fists together.” Shangshan Che demonstrated, explaining, “Uh… it’s a custom from my hometown, representing a certain tacit understanding.”
“Here, it’s our tacit understanding on ‘no betting’.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto understood.
She somewhat awkwardly rolled back her wide sleeve to the joint, right hand fisted, gently bumping fists with Shangshan Che.
“Like this?”
“Yes, like that.”
……
Three hours later, at Yoshida Castle’s doorway.
On a majestic but somewhat fatigued tall horse, Okabe Motonobu wearing slightly damaged armor looked around,
“Hm… this Yoshida Castle is more stable and clean than all the cities we saw on the way here.”
She sniffed again: “And the smell is much better.”
“That’s for sure!”
Two childish voices came simultaneously from left and right in front of her horse.
The little boy leading the horse on the left had one hand on hip, chuckling: “Boss has been here for days; of course he’d use miraculous Onmyōdō to cure everyone one by one!”
The girl on the right, who hadn’t even moved her feet yet advanced at a steady pace, stated matter-of-factly: “Che Adult came first, so the city’s environment must be much better.”
Indeed.
Okabe Motonobu heard these two answers and secretly nodded.
Great Onmyoji was indeed Great Onmyoji, possessing value far surpassing hers——Lord’s discernment was still spot on.
Not long after entering the city, Okabe Motonobu heard conversation voices from the houses on both sides of the street.
“Hey, look, that seems like Okabe Adult!”
“Seems like it really is, wow! Okabe Adult is back; now I’m even more relieved!”
“That round-faced boy beside her, I remember he’s Matsudaira Clan’s Takechiyo? I saw him when he was little!”
“Takechiyo, who’s that?”
“You dumb donkey! You don’t even recognize Matsudaira Clan’s heir!”
“Shh——the two adults are coming closer.”
Okabe Motonobu knew.
This shh was probably aimed at Matsudaira Motoyasu beside her, not her.
During her time as Yoshida Castle’s acting castle lord, she had mixed very familiarly with these neighbors.
Shiraishi leading the horse ahead, wearing “patched armor” stripped from a dead samurai, looked left and right, mumbling nonstop,
“It’s been a while since seeing Boss; wonder how things are between him and that woman.”
“And with my current look, he’ll definitely be shocked!”
“Hahaha!”
The other two voices weren’t from Shiraishi leading the horse.
But from the other two Shiraishis who had slipped into the nearby alley outside the army formation, chiming in one after another.
——After the fierce battles and training with Affliction Kin along the way, Shiraishi’s ninja secret arts had improved considerably.
Not only using little tricks like “Clone Technique”, “Body Swap”, “Breath Concealment” with pure proficiency, his strength also stabilized at One-and-a-Half Star.
Moreover, because after the first encounter with Affliction Kin, the experienced Okabe Motonobu ordered the entire army to maintain hygiene and neatness.
Shiraishi with his hair in a bun also became much more refined, his little face nurtured rounder by Two-Foot Adult’s “special care”.
Two-Foot Adult, overhearing Shiraishi’s mutterings nearby, turned her head with a flat expression.
But inwardly, she was itching like being scratched by a kitten nonstop.
These days the entire army’s atmosphere had been very oppressive, and she hadn’t seen Shangshan Che for so long; even self-entertainment lacked good material.
It was driving her nearly insane with repression.
If not for the extremely discipline-focused Okabe Motonobu right behind her, Two-Foot Adult would have long sneaked off alone to Shangshan Che’s side.
“But even seeing Che Adult, just seeing his face is fine, but at this time there should be many people around him; I wouldn’t be convenient…”
Two-Foot Adult was somewhat troubled.
Did she have to keep holding it in?
If this continued, Two-Foot Adult felt she really would explode, then glow all over and ascend to Buddhahood westward.
Okabe Motonobu glanced at the faintly restless pair, saying flatly: “First settle the others… Two-Foot, Shiraishi, you two coming with me to Matsudaira Clan?”
Two gazes immediately shot over.
Shiraishi nodded like a pecking chick: “Yes yes!”
Two-Foot Adult realized her reaction was a bit too intense, responding flatly as well: “Then thanks in advance, Okabe Adult.”
Okabe Motonobu turned again: “Lord Matsudaira, going back to see?”
Matsudaira Motoyasu slightly lowered his head: “Thanks, Okabe Adult.”
After confirming everyone’s intentions, Okabe Motonobu nudged her horse’s belly, quickening its pace slightly.
Because she too was a bit impatient to see Lord.
Less than half an hour later, the hundreds of samurai, ashigaru kumigashira, and other personnel had been efficiently settled by Okabe Motonobu.
She didn’t ride, hurrying on foot with the three toward Matsudaira Clan.
Arriving at Matsudaira Clan doorway, the four’s purposes were very clear.
Matsudaira Motoyasu bid farewell, then entered alone familiarly.
Okabe Motonobu said to find Imagawa head, the two little ones to find Great Onmyoji Che.
After hearing the doorway samurai’s reply, Okabe Motonobu’s already narrowed eyes narrowed into slits,
“Together, huh… no matter, take us there too.”
……
Near evening, Shangshan Che and Imagawa Yoshimoto sat facing each other at the small table in the quiet room.
He took out the curry bento bought from the Mortal Realm convenience store, heated it with Onmyōdō, and placed it on the table along with the spoon.
Imagawa Yoshimoto skeptically scooped a small spoonful with the spoon and put it in her mouth.
Then, the girl’s eyes widened slightly.
“Tetsu-kun… what is this called? It’s delicious.” Imagawa Yoshimoto couldn’t help sticking out her little tongue to lick the curry from her lip corner, repeating, “Really delicious.”
By the courtyard door, King Kujira with constantly twitching nose snorted displeasedly, glanced back, then viciously walked out of the courtyard.
——You eat if you’re eating; why eat so fragrantly!
But before taking two steps, he was scooped up by a pair of large hands covered in leather armor.
Gentle Qi Barrier touched King Kujira’s hoof, making him thoughtfully not move much.
The next moment, a grinning, sounding-large voice came: “A little mountain whale? So cute.”
King Kujira turned his gaze, finding this strong human had two weak ones beside…
One person, one demon.
Oh? And a little fellow on the shoulder.
This person wasn’t bad.
So King Kujira spoke human words directly: “Looking for Che? He’s inside.”
“You know Tetsu-sensei too.” Okabe Motonobu, confirming no hostility, set down this hot potato and waved at it: “Thanks for the directions.”
King Kujira didn’t answer, just quick-stepped away.
Right now, he just wanted to leave this aroma-filled damn place!
Seeing the destination clear and no one blocking ahead, Shiraishi and his clones shouted together,
“——Boss! Long time no see!”
Shangshan Che, still chewing rice, just looked up to see silent Two-Foot Adult charging over stomp-stomp-stomp.
Then, under everyone’s gazes, she pounced straight into his arms!
Two-Foot Adult’s ten fingers locked behind, tightly hugging Shangshan Che’s waist, rubbing her little head fiercely in his chest.
“Yay! Fiercely replenishing Che Adult’s energy!”
In the heartstring channel only they could hear, Two-Foot Adult cheered nonstop.
The originally chattering several Shiraishis fell silent, utterly shocked.
Okabe Motonobu lightly covered her mouth with hand, smiling slightly.
Imagawa Yoshimoto, delicately eating curry across the table, also paused, blinked, calmly gazing at the unusually intimate pair within arm’s reach.
Shangshan Che’s first thought was——
With Two-Foot Adult back, he could finally hand over the Key of History to her, then return to the Mortal Realm for a while without wasting time before facing Affliction.
A few seconds later, returning to his senses, Shangshan Che realized what Two-Foot Adult was doing to him now, and who was watching around.
“Cough… Two-Foot, that’s enough.”
Hand on Two-Foot Adult’s shoulder, Shangshan Che pushed slightly, easily shoving the girl away.
Two-Foot Adult proactively released her hands, standing before him winking once, showing a light satisfied expression.
Then, she obediently stood aside.
This…
Shangshan Che was somewhat helpless; how was he supposed to reprimand Two-Foot Adult now, even if pretending.
——After being sent out by him for so long without seeing each other, and undergoing many battles en route, it was normal for Two-Foot Adult to get excited upon seeing her master again.
——Look, hasn’t she suppressed the excitement now?
Shangshan Che could only stiffly shift his gaze, beckoning outside the quiet room: “Shiraishi, come here too.”
Pausing, he didn’t look at the several Shiraishis in the courtyard, but pointed behind the sliding door,
“Not those ones, this one.”
As the words fell, a small semi-transparent figure appeared, grinning: “Boss, you’re amazing; you spotted it at a glance.”
Shangshan Che sized up the evidently much sharper Shiraishi before him, nodding with a smile too,
“These days, you’ve worked hard.”
Shiraishi shrugged, turning his head and spreading hands: “I just helped Okabe Adult lead the horse; small matter, small matter, not worth mentioning.”
With that, he subtly shifted gaze to the curry pork cutlet bento, secretly swallowing saliva.
“Wow, smells great.” Okabe Motonobu first nodded to Imagawa Yoshimoto, then grinned and sat down, “Tetsu-sensei~ got mine?”
Shangshan Che, thinking how to change the topic, immediately nodded: “Got yours, brothers.”
He instantly pulled an identical bento from the Storage Bag, heated it, and handed it to Okabe Motonobu.
Okabe Motonobu, who had just wanted to give him a way out, took it somewhat surprised, licking lips: “Digging in!”
“Itadakimasu!”
Shangshan Che looked at the two little ones again, conjuring two more bentos with a reach: “You two have shares too.”
“Yay!” Shiraishi immediately raised hand, suppressing voice in a light cheer.
Two-Foot Adult nodded reservedly, receiving the bento with both hands: “Thanks, Che Adult.”
With the three’s arrival, the originally secluded room instantly livened up, exuding a harmonious atmosphere.
“Lord Yoshimoto, not eating?”
Hearing this, Imagawa Yoshimoto laughed too, picking up the petite bento again.
——Ten minutes later, not a single grain of rice remained in any bento box.
Setting the bento box aside, Okabe Motonobu wiped her mouth: “Food’s done; still best to report the situation on the way to Lord first.”
No objections.
Okabe Motonobu then concisely yet precisely reported to Imagawa Yoshimoto every major and minor event since departure.
In just five or six sentences, Shangshan Che heard that large numbers of Affliction Kin had blocked Okabe Motonobu’s group midway, preventing the army from arriving at Yoshida Castle on time.
Presumably, Affliction thought the larger group was the main force, thus using endless Kin to delay them en route.
Affliction’s judgment was indeed correct; Okabe Motonobu’s led army was the main force.
He just hadn’t anticipated that his advance party of merely two was this fierce.
Quietly listening to Okabe Motonobu’s brief report.
As Shangshan Che was about to inform her of the current situation, he heard a whoosh from outside the door.
He turned to see Kaga Kiyomitsu had returned.
Yoshida Castle’s water distribution phase ended?
Shangshan Che didn’t think much.
Because the water had been steadily distributed for two days; even if Kaga Kiyomitsu returned now, it wouldn’t have much impact.
Saved him calling it.
Crucially, with Kaga Kiyomitsu back under his eyes, he could immediately use Soul Spirit Points for Thrust Specialization, Slash Enhancement · Extreme, and Blazing Fortune enhancements!
Shangshan Che smiled, plucking the heartstring,
“Little Jia, Super Evolution!”
Amid the crowd’s puzzled gazes, Kaga Kiyomitsu buzzed pleasantly!
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