Chapter 193: Void Qi Sea Opened! Imagawa Yoshimoto’s Meticulous Care, Hanzō Returns, Massive Intelligence!
Kaga Kiyomitsu understood nothing.
It couldn’t read the room, didn’t know who Imagawa Yoshimoto was, nor the relationship between Shangshan Che and the girl before him.
All it knew was that its master had called for it now.
So, without a second thought, it flew out of its scabbard, just as it would return when its master commanded.
*Buzz buzz!*
Kaga Kiyomitsu, its blade covered in a pale frost, vibrated slightly as a warning.
Imagawa Yoshimoto’s gaze swept coldly over Kaga Kiyomitsu, ignoring it.
She no longer addressed Shangshan Che by name, but directly asked, “What do you intend to do?”
“Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that, Lord Yoshimoto?”
Shangshan Che weakly placed his right hand over Imagawa Yoshimoto’s fingers and, with all his might, pried her fingers away from his wrist, one by one.
The force was not great.
Imagawa Yoshimoto could have tightened her grip and firmly held Shangshan Che’s wrist.
She could have pinned him, thrown him down, and used countless methods to stop Shangshan Che from this act of destroying his body and spirit.
Any of those would have sufficed.
The blade looked intimidating, but it couldn’t stop her.
She wasn’t without a sword at her waist.
Yet, Imagawa Yoshimoto still did not.
She let her five fingers loosen, hanging in mid-air.
Because from the palm covering her hand, she felt a surge of strength and will.
A will that declared, “No matter what, I will never back down.”
Wasn’t that the answer to the question she had asked Shangshan Che earlier?
But the recipients of this answer were a group of people with little value, destined to be ruled and incapable of doing anything in this chaotic era—ordinary, common folk.
Imagawa Yoshimoto stared intently into Shangshan Che’s eyes, but his gaze had long since unfocused, rendering him unable to see.
“I just want to continue.”
Shangshan Che’s voice was soft, so soft that Imagawa Yoshimoto might not have heard it if she hadn’t been listening carefully: “This small matter won’t have much of an impact on my body.”
“I’ll recover in two days.”
—The pain of draining his spiritual power couldn’t compare to bone forging in a medicinal bath; it would at most only tire his spirit.
Of course, this “slight fatigue” was quite apparent when manifested in his currently frail body.
So, Imagawa Yoshimoto felt it did not look like a small matter at all.
She said, “Che, are you going to disobey my command?”
Shangshan Che, however, smiled, “Lord Yoshimoto, back in To-ōmi Province, didn’t you promise to listen to everything I said once we arrived?”
The dim candlelight flickered, and only the sound of two breaths remained in the quiet room.
Imagawa Yoshimoto was speechless and clenched her fist tightly.
Because she had indeed said those words.
—A promise made to a vassal must be kept.
If she couldn’t even do that, how could she be a lord that her vassals could believe in?
Hearing no further sound from the girl, Shangshan Che knew Imagawa Yoshimoto had implicitly agreed to his actions.
—Shangshan Che knew that even if Imagawa Yoshimoto had never said it, she undoubtedly categorized people by their value from the bottom of her heart.
This was the true Imagawa Yoshimoto, the instinct of her as the Head of the Imagawa Clan, and it was what allowed her to make the “most correct” choices.
Aid those with value, abandon those without.
And when value clashed with value, Imagawa Yoshimoto’s internal scales would naturally tip to one side.
—Her reason for disregarding the lives of the samurai of Mikawa Province, sending them to constantly harass Owari with their lives, was also because she considered the Mikawa samurai as country bumpkins and low-class people from the bottom of her heart.
The lives of Mikawa samurai were not as precious as the lives of Suruga samurai.
However, for the people under her rule, Imagawa Yoshimoto genuinely wanted to save them.
She genuinely wanted to save people, but she also genuinely believed that the combined value of all the citizens of this Yoshida Castle was less than his.
Both were genuine.
—It was clear that their thoughts had diverged.
Shangshan Che said no more, instead refocusing his faint attention on the paper in his hands.
Because no matter how much he said, he couldn’t change her mind all at once.
Imagawa Yoshimoto was no child.
She was a clan head who had left the temple at fourteen, purged internal dissent single-handedly, and descended upon the Imagawa Clan; she had experienced countless events to this day.
Her convictions were harder than iron.
Such things could only be changed slowly over the long period of their future interactions.
Thus, Shangshan Che let his trembling fingers fall onto the paper, using a deep breath to force out the almost imperceptible spiritual power once more.
Imagawa Yoshimoto watched with a cold expression, in silence.
From their previous exchange, she also understood that no matter what she said, she couldn’t change Shangshan Che’s mind.
After a long pause, Imagawa Yoshimoto’s cold, hard voice suddenly came,
“How can I help you?”
Shangshan Che’s slowly moving fingertip paused; he waited a moment, a slight smile forming on his lips, “Then please, Lord Yoshimoto, lend me a hand.”
At this moment, Kaga Kiyomitsu, which had been floating nearby, completely unsure of what to do, finally received its command and returned to its scabbard.
Imagawa Yoshimoto responded with a faint “Mm,” and sat down opposite Shangshan Che, moving sheets of paper to the same position in front of him.
From then on, Shangshan Che only needed to mechanically move his fingertips to complete the production of the disease-expelling talismans.
Deep breaths, move fingertips, deep breaths…
In what felt like an eternity to Shangshan Che’s subjective perception of the night, he repeated this action countless times.
It wasn’t until ten in the morning that the sunlight pierced through the thin window paper and fell upon Shangshan Che.
He felt a glimmer of light emerge from the dark world before him, and rasped,
“Has it dawned…?”
“Throw the talismans into the water vat, then have everyone drink a bowl of water. If anyone’s illness persists, they should drink another bowl the next day…”
Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had accompanied him all night, listened quietly and asked after confirming not a single word was missed,
“Is that all?”
Shangshan Che nodded slightly.
She immediately picked up the talismans, piled like a small mountain, and quickly walked out of the quiet room.
Hearing Imagawa Yoshimoto’s footsteps recede, Shangshan Che lowered his head and, plucking the strings of his heart, commanded,
“Little Jia, you go too… If anyone acts recklessly, or if demons appear, slay them all.”
*Buzz…*
“I’m fine, hurry and go,” Shangshan Che patted its hilt, “I’ll be fine in a while, you’ve seen this before.”
Hearing this, Kaga Kiyomitsu hesitated no longer and floated out, following Imagawa Yoshimoto’s departing figure.
Shangshan Che remained seated, so exhausted that he could barely feel his own breathing.
Not long after, Imagawa Yoshimoto, having finished her instructions, quickly returned to the courtyard. However, the moment she stepped into the courtyard, she slowed her pace, returning to normal speed.
A few steps later, as she reached the doorway, Imagawa Yoshimoto saw Shangshan Che, who had been frozen in place for a long time, slowly collapse.
She didn’t say anything, merely snorted inwardly,
“Tch, serves him right.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto knelt beside him, not sparing Shangshan Che even a glance.
—After all, didn’t Che say it was a small matter?
But as time wore on, Imagawa Yoshimoto heard no other sounds from the room, as if she were the only one there.
She bit her lip and stealthily glanced in Shangshan Che’s direction.
On the wooden floor lay Shangshan Che, eyes half-open, his breathing and complexion worse than the day before.
Imagawa Yoshimoto immediately stood up, stumbled slightly, and walked over, carefully picking him up and feeling for his pulse with her fingers.
None?!
She blinked in astonishment.
Yet Che’s body was still warm.
Imagawa Yoshimoto instinctively wanted to call for servants, but she immediately realized this was not the Imagawa Residence, and Yoshida Castle was far from safe.
So, the girl hugged Shangshan Che tightly and, using the method from the previous day, began to channel the Qi Barrier within him.
—Shangshan Che had no idea how much time had passed.
All he knew was that when he opened his eyes again, he could clearly feel the Qi Barrier flowing within him, along with the prompts popping up before his eyes.
【 The degree of influence of the current Walker of the Eternal World on history: 1.1% → 1.14%! 】
【 Your Muromachi Period · Sengoku Period Reputation +2… 】
【 Your Muromachi Period · Sengoku Period Reputation +4… 】
Was it because the disease-expelling talismans were successful?
As Shangshan Che was about to turn his head to assess the situation, he noticed that his upper body was wrapped in warmth and softness—the flowing Qi Barrier was also thanks to this.
He strained his eyes to look up and saw Imagawa Yoshimoto’s sweat-drenched, snow-white neck remarkably close.
Above that was her face, her brow furrowed in a look of clear displeasure.
“You’re awake?”
Upon seeing Shangshan Che indeed meet her gaze, Imagawa Yoshimoto let out a “Tch” but also a heavy sigh.
The support behind Shangshan Che lessened slightly.
She asked plainly, “How are you feeling compared to yesterday?”
“A little better.”
Shangshan Che replied after mentally dismissing the pile of prompts before him.
Imagawa Yoshimoto then pinched her nose, “You reek of demon’s blood, it’s been stinking since yesterday. I’ll give you a wash later.”
A wash?
Who would wash him?
Shangshan Che, who had regained most of his cognitive abilities, pondered.
He himself lacked the strength, and Imagawa Yoshimoto would hardly let unfamiliar servants or maids approach him.
Understanding the answer, Shangshan Che parted his lips, “Lord Yoshimoto, this is not appropriate…”
“Be quiet.”
Cutting off Shangshan Che’s words with two sharp syllables, Imagawa Yoshimoto gently leaned him against a soft cushion, “Wait here.”
Before long, Shangshan Che saw someone bring over a tub filled with warm water, a basin of soap powder, changing clothes of various sizes, and large bath towels.
Soap powder was spices mixed with green bean powder or wheat flour, but it was expensive, so even samurai rarely used it for daily bathing.
*Snap.*
Imagawa Yoshimoto closed the sliding door and walked over expressionlessly, undressing him piece by piece and folding the clothes to the side.
A faint blush appeared on the girl’s cheek as she turned back, but it quickly subsided.
She bent down, picked up Shangshan Che, and slowly placed him into the bathtub, then used a small towel dipped in water to carefully wash his full and robust body.
From head to toe, not a single crevice was missed.
Her movements were careful and gentle, a stark contrast to the stern expression on her face.
Shangshan Che offered no futile resistance, merely marveling inwardly at how hypocritical Imagawa Yoshimoto was.
Undoubtedly, she was a good lord, but not yet a good ruler of the realm.
She still had a long way to go to become a true ruler of the realm.
After being passively dressed, Shangshan Che listened to the continuous cheers from outside Matsudaira Clan’s territory, so loud they seemed to shake the roof.
He knew the effects of the disease-expelling talismans had met expectations.
Within 48 hours after the “frenzy” subsided, Imagawa Yoshimoto meticulously cared for Shangshan Che.
She bathed and changed him, channeled internal Qi into his body, brought him his three meals, even hand-fed him, and stayed by his side almost constantly.
She cared more about his physical condition than a loyal servant.
Only, she maintained a cold expression and never gave Shangshan Che a pleasant look.
…
Forty-eight hours passed in an instant.
Afternoon.
Shangshan Che stood up, clenched his fist, and felt the long-absent, abundant strength surge within him.
He had never felt the freedom of taking a deep breath so exhilarating.
After listening for a while longer, Shangshan Che found that the disease situation within Yoshida Castle had greatly improved, and there were currently no illnesses that the disease-expelling talismans could not treat.
—Even for ailments not caused by affliction, the disease-expelling talismans still had a simple healing and alleviating effect.
*Creak.*
The sliding door opened, and Imagawa Yoshimoto, holding a tray, paused, looking at Shangshan Che in the room, his eyes bright and his aura remarkably strong.
In the time it took her to get his food, Che’s body had recovered?
And there was no trace of his previous weakness.
Had the effect of the secret technique worn off?
Imagawa Yoshimoto wondered.
So, Che hadn’t lied to her the other night.
He hadn’t said something false to her for his own temporary gain…
In addition, the residents of Yoshida Castle who could drink water had all drunk the first bowl, falling into fervent worship and praise for her.
With these two good things happening at once, Imagawa Yoshimoto didn’t know whether to smile or maintain her cold, poker face.
Shangshan Che bowed slightly to the girl carrying the rice, “You have worried Lord Yoshimoto these past two days.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto narrowed her eyes.
For some reason, seeing this smiling face reminded her of the night he defied her orders, and an inexplicable surge of anger welled up within her.
“Eat yourself!”
She strode over, placed a wooden tray on the small table, and said irritably, “What difference does it make to you whether I worry or not?”
Shangshan Che, who had just sat down and was about to eat, was stunned.
Judging by her tone, was Imagawa Yoshimoto… angry?
He was somewhat taken aback.
This was because Shangshan Che had not expected Imagawa Yoshimoto to get angry over such a trivial matter.
After all, the last time she had been angry was when those elders brought the Red Ogre into the Imagawa Residence, and at that time, Imagawa Yoshimoto had been so enraged her hands trembled and her eyes could kill.
But this time was different.
This time, her anger was simply anger without any ulterior motive.
So, Imagawa Yoshimoto also had this girlish side to her.
It was rare.
Therefore, Shangshan Che was not annoyed by this, but rather quite pleased.
He chewed on white radish, drank the slightly salty miso soup, and shoveled in polished rice while appraising Imagawa Yoshimoto, who stood with her arms crossed, silent, and observing her expression.
Like this, she was probably waiting for him to admit fault and appease her.
—Because of Imagawa Yoshimoto’s status, she could not directly say “I’m angry” to him.
—Or rather, most of the time, even when angry, she had to pretend not to be, which resulted in Imagawa Yoshimoto not knowing how to initiate such a conversation.
Shangshan Che completely thwarted her expectations.
He contentedly ate the lunch she had brought, then watched Imagawa Yoshimoto sulk.
By the time Shangshan Che was almost finished eating, Imagawa Yoshimoto could no longer hold back.
She slammed the corner of the table,
“If you’re eating, then eat properly. Why are you staring at me!”
“Mmm…”
Shangshan Che swallowed the last bite of hot food, thought for a moment, and gestured in the air, “Because I find Lord Yoshimoto quite cute?”
Imagawa Yoshimoto’s expression remained unchanged as she stared at him in silence.
A moment later, she sighed helplessly, “Che, please don’t do things like that again, alright?”
“Of course not,” Shangshan Che replied immediately.
He quickly explained, “If many of Lord Yoshimoto’s subjects were to die, wouldn’t the path to becoming a ruler of the realm become even more difficult?”
“In other words, if I can ensure Lord Yoshimoto becomes a ruler of the realm, then it wouldn’t matter if I died alone…”
*Crack.*
Before Shangshan Che could finish speaking, he smoothly caught the teacup that Imagawa Yoshimoto had thrown at him and heard her gritted teeth,
“You, why do you always say such unpleasant things!” Imagawa Yoshimoto’s chest heaved with anger as she glared at him fiercely, “Do you think you’ll die, die, die, die!”
Shangshan Che blinked and raised a finger, “Then I will try my best to live until after Lord Yoshimoto becomes a ruler of the realm.”
Hearing this, Imagawa Yoshimoto raised her small fist.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
At that moment, a crisp knock echoed from outside the door.
Imagawa Yoshimoto lowered her fist, took a deep breath, and smoothed the impatient expression on her face.
“Enter,” her voice was still a bit loud.
Honda Tadataka then opened the sliding door and saw Imagawa Yoshimoto, whose clothes were slightly disheveled and whose cheeks were flushed red, and Shangshan Che, who was sitting not far from her, smiling.
—This Great Onmyoji Che, his relationship with the Head of the Imagawa Clan seems unusual?
The representative of the Matsudaira Clan within the Imagawa Clan had a stiff expression.
Did I… perhaps arrive at an inopportune time?
Honda Tadataka immediately lowered his head, not looking at what he shouldn’t be looking at.
“Lord Imagawa, the effect of the sacred water is very good. Many citizens with milder ailments have already recovered…”
Honda Tadataka prostrated himself on the ground and truthfully reported the situation at Yoshida Castle.
After a full ten minutes, he finally stood up with his head bowed, preparing to withdraw.
Shangshan Che tapped the table to stop him and said sternly, “If any unusual situation arises within the castle, no matter what it is, you must report it to me.”
—In the records of the Special Affairs Office, there are many accounts of incidents where areas that were almost stable suddenly erupted into new riots overnight.
This was because the known ailments had abruptly mutated, and no one could predict what effects these mutations would have.
Honda Tadataka turned back and responded firmly, “I understand.”
Without receiving any further instructions, he turned and left a few seconds later.
Honda Tadataka recalled Shangshan Che’s healthy complexion from earlier.
This Che… his complexion is actually so good?
Honda Tadataka remembered that yesterday morning, this Great Onmyoji Che had seemed to be so depleted that the Head of the Imagawa Clan had to personally care for him.
At that time, seeing the mountain of talismans, he thought it was understandable.
But he hadn’t expected that in such a short time, this Che had already fully recovered.
As expected of a Great Onmyoji.
And that sword that could understand human speech…
—【Your Muromachi Period · Sengoku Period Reputation +50! 】
Indoors, Shangshan Che, who saw this prompt suddenly appear before him, raised an eyebrow.
Who was spreading his deeds again?
Never mind, it’s a small matter.
His reputation in the Sengoku Period had already surpassed 4000 points, and in a few more days, it would likely be approaching the 5000 mark.
These small increments of tens of points could not stir Shangshan Che’s heart.
Compared to this…
Shangshan Che turned his gaze to the 【Mountain God’s Heartstone】 in his storage bag.
His body had now also fully recovered.
It was time to consume it.
Shangshan Che reached out, and the reddish-brown crystal, about the size of a normal fist, fell into his palm.
The strange appearance of the Mountain God’s Heartstone also attracted Imagawa Yoshimoto’s attention.
“Lord Yoshimoto, can you guard me?”
“Do what?” Imagawa Yoshimoto asked, then added, feeling it was inappropriate, “Right here?”
“Yes, right here.”
Shangshan Che briefly explained, “This was found on a Great Demon I slew outside the castle gates. It is beneficial for my cultivation and will increase my chances of victory by another point.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto pouted, took away the plate that was completely empty, and halfway back, turned around, revealing half of her face still bearing a trace of displeasure,
“Then rest assured, no one will disturb you.”
She closed the door.
Shangshan Che looked at the faint silhouette sitting by the doorway and curled his lips, “Rest assured…”
He tilted his head back and threw the scalding Mountain God’s Heartstone into his mouth.
He bit it into pieces in one go!
Instantly, a scorching yet gentle “Qi” flowed from his mouth into his body, surging through his limbs and bones in an instant before Shangshan Che could even react.
A warm sensation spread throughout Shangshan Che’s body.
Shangshan Che, who had been prepared to endure intense pain, felt unaccustomed to this instead.
However, he did not wait idly; he quickly circulated his Spirit Control Technique · Qi, gathering all this warm “Qi” to a single point within his body.
If he didn’t circulate the Spirit Control Technique, the effect of the Mountain God’s Heartstone would likely tend towards effect one.
In just a moment, Shangshan Che clearly felt the Qi of the Mountain God’s Heartstone churning, undergoing some changes he could not yet comprehend.
He held his breath and concentrated, systematically circulating the Spirit Control Technique over and over, gathering all the “Qi” and channeling it into the single point in his abdomen.
The Qi boiled, the Qi transformed.
Without any pain or abruptness.
*Pop.*
As if a bubble had burst, while circulating the Spirit Control Technique for the 118th time, Shangshan Che suddenly felt a “void” that did not exist in his physical body appear in his abdomen.
Is this the Sea of Qi?
Shangshan Che opened his eyes and looked at the prompt before him—
【You have consumed the “Mountain God’s Heartstone” and simultaneously activated the Mountain God’s primordial power, opening a “Void Qi Sea” within your body! 】
There was only this simple prompt.
Shangshan Che, who felt no change in his Breathing Technique or any increase in Spiritual Power, pondered and sank his consciousness into the “void” in his abdomen.
In an instant, Shangshan Che felt his consciousness arrive in a cramped and dark space.
—This was his Void Qi Sea.
—But now, it was empty.
For some reason, this thought popped into Shangshan Che’s mind.
But he understood the next moment.
It was the residual primordial Qi from the Mountain God’s Heartstone that told him the answer.
If that’s the case… what if he inputted a wisp of Qi Barrier into this Void Qi Sea?
He acted on the thought.
Shangshan Che used his mind to communicate with his body, which was relatively external, then circulated the Corona Breathing Technique, sending a fine wisp of Qi Barrier into the Void Qi Sea.
“Gazing” at the Qi Barrier appearing in the Sea of Qi, Shangshan Che received further information from the primordial Qi.
—Confirm the path, and then you can cultivate.
—The Void Qi Sea is without inherent properties, a zero starting point, difficult to cultivate, yet with immense potential.
That wisp of Corona Qi floated in the Sea of Qi, feeling like an outsider.
Shangshan Che read these two pieces of information and thought, “So that’s how it is.”
Opening a Void Qi Sea was akin to giving him a piece of land.
What he wanted to do on this land afterward, whether to farm it or build a skyscraper, depended entirely on himself and could only be built by himself.
But what did “confirm the path” mean? And how should the path be set?
Shangshan Che was temporarily bewildered.
He figured that such matters could only be clarified after returning to the Mortal Realm and asking Sister Nanjo… perhaps even she wouldn’t have this experience and would have to consult a master who had opened a Sea of Qi.
With a hint of regret, Shangshan Che withdrew his consciousness from the Void Qi Sea, not forgetting to bring the wisp of Corona Qi with him.
Just as he was about to go out and tell Imagawa Yoshimoto that he was finished, he noticed that the panel of his storage bag had forcibly popped out to the side.
Shangshan Che cast his gaze over and saw that two cards of Demon Incarnation, arranged in a single row, were emitting a rare golden glow.
The two gilded cards rotated slowly, and the White Hannya and Four-tailed Fox on them stared at him with lively and lifelike eyes.
What’s going on?
Could it be because he had just opened a Void Qi Sea?
Shangshan Che couldn’t think of any other reason.
Otherwise, the cards, which had been motionless since he drew them, had no reason to be glowing now.
This is possible too?!
Shangshan Che materialized the two cards, which felt warm and smooth in his hands, and then sank his consciousness back into the Void Qi Sea.
This time, it was different from the darkness before.
Because two cards, identical to the ones in reality, were floating at the center of the Sea of Qi.
Automatic mode?
Shangshan Che blinked and saw threads of “Qi” emerging from the edges of the two cards.
Like boundless water, it flowed continuously.
One was deep black and red, exuding the aura of a Ghost God; it should be Hannya Qi. The other was pale pink, possessing a captivating power; it was the Four-tailed Fox Qi.
“Qi exists in all things,”
Shangshan Che murmured, and he now understood this sentence.
Because even the cards of Demon Incarnation—these inanimate objects—possessed Qi!
Through the Spirit Control Technique, Shangshan Che could clearly feel his Void Qi Sea slowly expanding under the nourishment of the Qi flowing from the two cards.
Moreover, it seemed that they could generate Qi on their own, without him needing to focus his intention on them.
In other words, in the future, the Void Qi Sea could be expanded through passive cultivation by the Demon Incarnations?
Shangshan Che couldn’t help but rejoice.
This was truly a situation where he was getting stronger even while sleeping.
But before that, he still needed to figure out what the Void Qi Sea actually did for him.
In the quiet room, Shangshan Che fumbled and experimented for a long time.
About an hour later, he confirmed that the Void Qi Sea had at least two effects.
The first was that he could draw upon the Qi in the Sea of Qi and transform it into Corona Qi to replenish the Qi Barrier consumed by his body.
This should be the most basic effect of the Sea of Qi.
The second was quite different.
If these two types of Qi produced by the Demon Incarnations were directly applied to the body, one could gain a portion of the power of the Hannya or the Four-tailed Fox.
The more Qi was called upon, the more power was gained.
—The power here refers only to attributes.
As for those complex Talent effects, Shangshan Che hadn’t figured out how to use them yet.
But Shangshan Che discovered that within the Void Qi Sea, the Hannya Qi and the Four-tailed Fox Qi were clearly separated, each occupying half of the Sea of Qi’s capacity.
Even at the edges where the Qi met, it was constantly surging.
Clearly, because the so-called “path” hadn’t been decided yet, the Void Qi Sea was still in a state of “wild growth and warring states.”
As for what changes would come after the Sea of Qi expanded… it should become clear in a few days.
Shangshan Che watched the two cards that continuously produced Qi for a while longer, then tested that it didn’t affect his normal Incarnation, and happily clapped his hands.
“Then let the Demon Incarnation bear the brunt of the hardship of cultivating the Sea of Qi!”
Withdrawing his consciousness from the Sea of Qi, Shangshan Che stretched his sore muscles and noticed the sky outside had already grown somewhat dark.
Outside the door, Imagawa Yoshimoto’s figure remained seated in the same spot.
Unmoving.
He walked forward and opened the door, causing the meditating Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was kneeling at the doorway, to look up and blink with some confusion.
“Tetsu-kun, why do I suddenly feel like you’ve become a little different.”
He didn’t expose Imagawa Yoshimoto’s transition from “Che” to the original “Tetsu-kun” after just one afternoon, wanting to secretly mend their relationship like a child.
Shangshan Che also asked in confusion,
“Do I?”
“I just feel like you’ve become a bit more serious…”
Imagawa Yoshimoto paused, then changed the subject and asked, “Was your cultivation successful?”
“Very successful.” Shangshan Che nodded. “I also have Lord Yoshimoto to thank for guarding me.”
Just as he was about to invite Imagawa Yoshimoto to dinner, he felt a familiar Qi appear within a larger sensory range.
Shangshan Che looked up in surprise, “Hanzō’s Qi is approaching. He’ll be here soon…”
Upon hearing this, Imagawa Yoshimoto stood up, a look of joy appearing on his face.
Because usually, Hanzō’s return after a long absence meant the acquisition of valuable intel and information.
The two stood in place.
Less than a minute later, a somewhat unfamiliar black figure half-knelt before Imagawa Yoshimoto.
Hanzō said nothing, but instead took out a slightly thick Document from his embrace.
“Thank you.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto took it and quickly opened it.
Shangshan Che leaned in, gave a slight start, and revealed a look of joy.
Because on it was the current situation and intelligence of more than half of Mikawa Province!
8k!
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I’ll delete this single chapter for now and post it tomorrow at noon.
