Chapter 182: Zashiki Warashi’s Master Craftsman Trial, Tide Yellow Alert! Kaga Kiyomitsu, Super Evolve For Me!
Shangshan Che gazed at the girl standing behind the threshold of the ruined temple, staring blankly at him… perhaps he should call her a young lady now.
The Zashiki Warashi had grown a bit taller since they parted ways in Arakawa Village, and her face had also matured slightly.
But these were minor changes.
Compared to external aspects like height and appearance, the biggest change in the Zashiki Warashi was her demeanor.
The childish immaturity of the past was gone, replaced by a calm like water.
The Zashiki Warashi also stared at him openly, her face filled with surprise and joy, no longer the socially anxious one who used to hide in her robes and avoid eye contact.
Her already full muscles had become stronger, and uneven scars covered her incredibly healthy tanned skin.
Her entire being practically screamed “ascetic training.”
It was hard to imagine how much the Zashiki Warashi had experienced alone in the Eternal World to become so mature.
She stood inside the threshold, smiling brightly at Shangshan Che, who had a Hannya Mask hanging from his waist,
“Mr. Hannya, it’s really you.”
—Without a doubt, this was the Zashiki Warashi he had bid farewell to in Arakawa Village, who had refused to become his Shikigami, and who had promised to make her a bowl of red bean rice every year.
But this made it even stranger.
The Zashiki Warashi wasn’t a Walker; how could she have returned to this Mortal Realm five hundred years in the past from the Eternal World five hundred years in the future?
And based on the age and words of the blacksmith at Sunpu Castle, he had met the Master Craftsman when he was a child, so the Zashiki Warashi must have been in this ruined temple on Mount Yamajira for a long time.
At least, over a decade.
It didn’t make sense.
Shangshan Che withdrew his thoughts from his brief contemplation and looked again at the young lady with a sweat rag draped over her shoulder.
However, since the Zashiki Warashi herself was right here, he could ask her later and all these questions would be resolved.
“Since Mr. Hannya said earlier that he came here to find the Master Craftsman… that means you came looking for me.”
The Zashiki Warashi scratched her cheek, looking a bit embarrassed: “I’ve just been blacksmithing and forging here for years. I’ve only occasionally saved and taught a few people, the rumors just keep getting bigger.”
“Calling me a Master Craftsman is a bit of an exaggeration.”
She said this, then noticed that Shangshan Che and the other person were still surrounded by the Mountain Whale swarm, so she waved at them.
“Mr. Hannya, why don’t you and the lady behind you come in first?”
—The Zashiki Warashi seemed unable to leave the vicinity of the ruined temple?
Shangshan Che nodded: “That would be fine.”
Imakawa Yoshimoto, standing slightly behind him, raised an eyebrow: “Do you know each other?”
“Yes,” Shangshan Che patted Kaga Kiyomitsu, who was happily vibrating at his waist, “Little Jia was forged for me by the Zashiki’s Master, and it has accompanied me for a long time.”
“But strangely, she shouldn’t be here, so we are both surprised.”
Imakawa Yoshimoto pondered for a moment after hearing this and made a simple judgment based on the previous fragments.
She nodded silently in her heart.
Well, this young lady called “Zashiki” should not be her rival.
Shangshan Che took a step forward after speaking.
Just as he was about to step into the temple, the King of Kujira, who had been bowing his head for a long time, finally couldn’t help but lower his voice and ask softly, trying to be gentle,
“Master Craftsman… what about me?”
“Little Pig, you came in once at the beginning. I already told you that once you leave, you can never come back in.”
The Zashiki Warashi spread her hands: “So, if you’re willing, I’d trouble you to continue staying in the mountains, guard the door for me, and look for anyone in trouble.”
“I’m willing! Of course, I’m willing!”
The King of Kujira immediately responded with a rumbling sound that made the surrounding trees tremble slightly.
It slammed its massive head twice on the ground as a sign of loyalty: “It is my honor to serve you, Master Craftsman!”
“There’s no need to go that far…”
The Zashiki Warashi stuck out her tongue, then wagged a finger to admonish: “Also, don’t call me Master Craftsman anymore! I still have a long way to go before I can be a Master Craftsman!”
But the King of Kujira stared with its bell-like eyes and said earnestly: “In my heart, you are no less than a true Master Craftsman!”
*Sigh*, there’s nothing that can be done about it.
The Zashiki Warashi tugged at her hair, unsure of what to do.
But when she saw Shangshan Che approaching, she perked up, stood on her tiptoes, and enthusiastically threw an arm around his shoulders.
“Mr. Hannya, it’s been so long since we last met!”
Instantly, Shangshan Che felt the Mountain Whale Dynasty cast resentful glances at him from not far away.
He clicked his tongue in his heart.
Why did this King of Kujira always feel like a simp, no, a simping pig…
And the current Zashiki.
If it were before, she would have at most weakly waved at him and bowed, not thrown her arm around his shoulder as soon as they met.
As if sensing Shangshan Che’s slight discomfort, the Zashiki Warashi, unable to suppress her joy at seeing an acquaintance, immediately let go and stepped aside.
She leaned forward, close-up, and carefully examined Shangshan Che’s “face beneath the mask” for a while.
Hmm…
The Zashiki Warashi tapped her chin and muttered to herself.
This was completely different from the ferocious, terrifying appearance she had imagined; Mr. Hannya’s face under the mask was so delicate.
So, what Master said wasn’t entirely true!
Hooray, another life experience gained today!
Shangshan Che felt the focus of two pairs of eyes on him and coughed: “Zashiki, is something wrong?”
“Actually, nothing,” after wiping the sweat from her forehead and underarms with the cloth on her shoulder, the Zashiki Warashi grinned, “I just feel that Mr. Hannya is very good-looking.”
Shangshan Che was speechless; how was he supposed to respond to that?
He could only look inside the temple.
And so, just like Imakawa Yoshimoto behind him, he fell into a state of profound, shocked silence.
Because what was laid out before Shangshan Che’s eyes was, in the most literal sense of the word, “mountains of weapons.”
And not just one mountain.
But three entire mountains!
Shangshan Che swallowed hard and slowly looked up, but even looking straight up at the sky, he could not see the end of the weapon mountains.
These three weapon mountains seemed to be bound by some mysterious power, allowing them to pile up indefinitely without collapsing.
Thus, the present spectacle had been created!
A tidal wave of prompts flooded Shangshan Che’s vision, making him dizzy for the first time due to the sheer number.
After clearing all prompts with a thought, Shangshan Che first looked at the leftmost, gray weapon mountain.
Gray prompts appeared one after another—
【 Discarded slag】
【 Deformed armor】
【 Quenching-failed Tachi】
【……】
This weapon mountain seemed to be entirely composed of failed forging scrap metal of a gray color.
Crooked impurities and black-gray “weapon coke” were layered and intertwined; without the prompts, it would be impossible to tell what anything was.
Shangshan Che then shifted his gaze to the middle weapon mountain.
Immediately, white, green, and blue colors intertwined, so dazzling like LED lights in a neon nightscape that it was hard to open one’s eyes.
Weapons and armor of complete form and various styles were neatly stacked, almost making Shangshan Che drool.
If he sold so many weapons to Katsumi… how much Soul Ash would he gain?
Then, not only Hundred Eyes Demon, but even higher quality “Thousand Eyes, Ten Thousand Eyes Demon” could be pulled from the gacha with a ten-pull!
Wait.
Shangshan Che suddenly realized.
If the first mountain was gray, and the second was white, green, and blue, then the last mountain must be—
Shangshan Che’s eyes filled with a view of purple.
The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
Light purple, purple, deep purple…
These were all equipment forged by the Zashiki Warashi?
Countless “Epic” and “Super Epic” characters rained down, almost making Shangshan Che dizzy again.
Who had ever seen such a scene!?
At this point, Shangshan Che finally couldn’t help but turn and ask,
“Zashiki, what about these weapons…”
“Oh, these weapons were all forged by me using materials from the Trial, so they will disappear if taken out of this temple. I’m sorry.”
The Zashiki Warashi sighed with some regret: “Otherwise, I could pick the best one to give to you, Mr. Hannya.”
Trial?
Shangshan Che broke free from his ineffable shock and caught the keyword.
But before he could ask for more details, the Zashiki Warashi leaned down and looked softly at Kaga Kiyomitsu, which was in a vermilion scabbard.
“It’s so nostalgic… this Daito that Master forged and told me to give to the Adult.”
She tapped Kaga Kiyomitsu’s hilt with her finger, sighing,
“It feels like so much time has passed.”
*Buzz~*
Kaga Kiyomitsu hummed softly, greeting the Zashiki Warashi cheerfully.
—The relationship between the Zashiki Warashi and Kaga Kiyomitsu was probably like “Your sister held you when you were very little.”
And since Kaga Kiyomitsu was a weapon, even if it didn’t have spirituality from the beginning, it had indelible impressions of everyone who had come into contact with it.
“Huh?”
The Zashiki Warashi froze in surprise. She blinked and asked, “Kaga Kiyomitsu, has it gained spirituality?”
*Buzz, buzz, buzz!*
Kaga Kiyomitsu responded with a vigorous and proud blade hum, as if it had its hands on its hips, making a “hum hum hum” sound.
The Zashiki Warashi was first stunned, then an uncontainable joy spread across her small face.
It was as if she had finally found the weapon she had always dreamed of.
Shangshan Che, however, was still mulling over the words “Trial” and “so much time” that she had just spoken.
He pondered for a moment and asked, “Zashiki, how long have you been here?”
“How long, hmm.”
The Zashiki Warashi rubbed her temples with her fingers for a while before answering with some uncertainty, “At least, I’ve been in this temple for about a hundred years.”
A hundred years?
Even Shangshan Che was rendered speechless by the outrageous number.
No wonder the Zashiki Warashi said it had been a long, long time.
—Do you Yokai casually talk about tens or hundreds of years?
The Zashiki Warashi scoffed with some annoyance,
“Because I’m in a Trial, my personal time flows very slowly. Even after all this time, I haven’t grown much taller.”
Shangshan Che: “Trial? Can you explain that in detail?”
The Zashiki Warashi didn’t answer directly, but instead asked, “That’s a long story… Mr. Hannya, do you have the patience to listen?”
Shangshan Che glanced at Imakawa Yoshimoto, who was quietly examining the weapons, and nodded: “I’ve taken up your time.”
“Not at all! In fact, Mr. Hannya, you bringing Kaga Kiyomitsu has given me a lot of inspiration.”
The Zashiki Warashi pointed at the vibrating Kaga Kiyomitsu and blinked,
“Can I borrow it to touch later?”
“Of course, no problem.”
Shangshan Che thought that he would need her to forge it later, so Kaga Kiyomitsu wouldn’t be able to resist being touched however she wanted.
—With the Zashiki Warashi’s forging skill, capable of creating mountains of Epic Grade weapons, strengthening Little Jia with Suitable Spirit Gold should be no problem.
The Zashiki Warashi patted her chest after hearing this and said slowly, “Ever since I parted ways with the Adult in Arakawa Village, I’ve been traveling alone.”
Traveling alone, then being stopped and robbed by hundreds of Restless Ones. Fortunately, I shot most of them dead with my gun before they fled.
Traveling alone, then encountering a group of master blacksmiths from a thousand years ago and exchanging technical insights with them.
Traveling alone, then having my money bag stolen by a pickpocket, causing me to faint from hunger on the roadside in Heian-kyo.
Traveling alone…
It seemed like she had finally found someone to confide in, so she began to talk endlessly, detailing all the exciting experiences she had on her journey in the Eternal World.
Even though these were just brief fragments of a long and lonely journey.
“Then the tide came, and at that time, I happened to encounter a whirlpool, so I thought there must be a rare treasure inside!”
The Zashiki Warashi raised a finger: “Master said so!”
She said this and showed a speechless expression,
“As it turned out, after I painstakingly reached the center of the whirlpool, I found nothing inside, just an empty hole.
But I thought, since I’ve come this far, it would be a waste of all the effort and time if I didn’t go in.”
Shangshan Che’s eyebrows twitched as he heard this, recalling the Snow Woman who was sucked into a rift and has been missing ever since: “You just went in like that?”
“Yes! I didn’t think for long before I went in,” the Zashiki Warashi snorted twice, “And then I was inexplicably sent to the Master Craftsman Trial.
It was said that by completing the Trial, I could become a formal Master Craftsman, just like Master!”
“There are only three rings in the Trial—the first ring is to temper willpower, and the second ring is to have me forge qualified weapons.
Now, with Mr. Hannya’s arrival, I am about to complete the second ring!”
She chuckled smugly and gave Shangshan Che a thumbs-up.
Dove into a mysterious hole that appeared in the Eternal World, and also managed to turn misfortune into good fortune by becoming a true Master Craftsman immediately…
Shangshan Che fell silent.
This was probably something only a Little God of Fortune could do and still get a good outcome.
The Zashiki Warashi pointed at the ruined temple, the three piles of weapons, and the perpetually full material pile not far away,
“The second trial is to have me stay in the temple until I forge a spiritual weapon similar to my little handgun, or one with spirituality, using those most normal materials, and then it will be considered complete.”
Spiritual weapon.
Shangshan Che touched Kaga Kiyomitsu at his waist, recalling that Aoyama Yoshimitsu and the Sunpu Castle blacksmith had also said the same thing.
“Although I haven’t been able to go out all these years… people and monsters from the outside have been able to come in once.”
The Zashiki Warashi pointed at King Kujira, who was already facing away from them, and drew a circle with her hands: “For example, I rescued the little wild boar not long after I arrived, and now it’s grown so big.”
“But I probably don’t have much talent. I’ve been forging iron here almost non-stop for almost a hundred years, and I’m still a little short.”
She sighed: “The legends of several Master Craftsmen I heard on the road all achieved their status in ten or twenty years.”
“—Then I think I can help you make up this last little bit.”
Shangshan Che took the spirit gold from his backpack, placed it with Kaga Kiyomitsu again, and handed it to the Zashiki Warashi.
He asked solemnly, “Zashiki, can you help me strengthen Little Jia with this?”
“Can you do it?”
The Zashiki Warashi shifted her gaze to the Suitable Spirit Gold, and then her pupils shrank to the size of needle points.
As an academic who was forced by the blacksmith to read books before starting to forge.
She naturally recognized what this was.
Suitable Spirit Gold.
And also… this Kaga Kiyomitsu, which had already birthed spirituality.
Even though the Zashiki Warashi had been forging iron for a hundred years, her heart had long since grown as cold as the iron hammer in her hand, but at this moment, she couldn’t help but hold her breath.
If the appearance of Kaga Kiyomitsu before had increased the possibility of her forging a spiritual weapon.
Then Shangshan Che’s current actions were no different from handing her the entrance ticket for the third trial.
The hundred-year trial, so long that dynasties changed, ended here!
She covered her mouth forcefully, took a few deep breaths, and only then suppressed her surging emotions.
The Zashiki Warashi bowed deeply to him,
“Mr. Hannya, thank you.
With this forging experience, I will definitely be able to complete the trial requirements soon.”
“Isn’t that great.”
Placing the spirit gold and Kaga Kiyomitsu into the Zashiki Warashi’s rough hands, Shangshan Che smiled at her, “I’ll leave it to you, Zashiki.”
“Yes, please leave it to me, Mr. Hannya.”
The Zashiki Warashi confidently raised the corners of her lips and walked to the front of the anvil in the center of the temple’s courtyard.
She opened her hands, and the iron hammer flew from afar with a swish, landing steadily in her hand.
At this moment, Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was holding back the urge to hug the weapon pile, walked over and looked around, asking,
“Zashiki… Your Excellency the Master Craftsman, don’t you need to light the furnace?”
“The furnace?”
The Zashiki Warashi chuckled and spread her other hand.
With a whoosh!
The bright and stable “Blessing Fire” rose from her palm, burning fiercely, bringing a bright and cheerful feeling to the hearts of the two onlookers.
She lowered her gaze, casually letting the flames fall on the Suitable Spirit Gold: “I’ve long been a master of this little trick!”
“Oh, by the way, Mr. Hannya.”
The Zashiki Warashi drew Kaga Kiyomitsu, examined it back and forth, and nodded with immense satisfaction,
“This forging may take quite some time, you two can sit in the room.”
After saying that, she stopped talking, raised the iron hammer in her hand, and brought it down on the Suitable Spirit Gold as if it weighed nothing.
At this moment, Shangshan Che felt as if the Zashiki Warashi had drifted away from the entire world in an instant, cast aside everything in the world, and focused solely on the hammer and materials.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Accompanied by the burning of the Blessing Fire, the sounds of the hammer striking the anvil echoed, occasionally mixed with a few cries from Kaga Kiyomitsu.
After watching for a while, feeling that it was exceptionally safe here, Shangshan Che said to Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was watching with fascination,
“Lord Yoshimoto, I want to go into the room to divine the future… it will take about an hour.”
In reality, Shangshan Che wanted to use this almost absolutely safe ruined temple to return to the Mortal Realm for a bit and ask for some information on dealing with affliction from the Special Affairs Office.
Imagawa Yoshimoto didn’t ask further: “I’ll guard the door for you.”
“Thank you.”
Glancing back at the exceptionally focused Zashiki Warashi twice more, Shangshan Che walked into the temple, where there were almost no traces of life, and after closing the door, set a lock with a Qi Barrier.
This prevented the possibility of accidentally opening the door.
He took out the Key of History and pondered for a moment.
An hour, which was ten minutes.
This time, it was quite sufficient, so in addition to the issue of affliction, he could ask about other things.
After deciding in his mind for dozens of seconds, Shangshan Che poured his spiritual power into the Key of History in his hand.
…
The water pressure, almost non-existent, swept past.
Shangshan Che had just taken out his mobile phone to call Nanjo Emi, but found a large yellow warning filling the entire phone screen.
【 Warning! Warning! 】
【 Recently, a tide is approaching, please act with caution, follow arrangements, and be prepared to respond! 】
【—Special Affairs Office, Astronomy Path Division. 】
A tide…?
Shangshan Che was startled, recalling the giant wave at the edge of his vision that he had seen before entering the Sengoku Period.
After the First Wave, another one was coming?
It’s only been a few days?
He quickly dialed Nanjo Emi’s number.
This time, the phone rang for over thirty seconds before being answered.
“If it’s about the warning and the tide, you don’t need to worry too much.”
As if she knew what he was thinking, Nanjo Emi’s voice, unusually lazy, came through,
“It’s just the aftershocks of the First Wave… it won’t bring anyone famous or noteworthy, just be careful yourself.”
—At the Special Affairs Office, Nanjo Emi, leaning back in her boss’s chair, glanced at Shizuma Manatsu, who was busy working diligently, and Akatsuki Ran, who had a sullen expression, and couldn’t help but show a look of joyous harvest.
That giant wave was merely the aftershocks of the First Wave?
Shangshan Che recalled the “world-ending giant wave” that was at least a thousand meters high and felt somewhat bewildered.
All he could say was that the scale of both the Eternal World and the Mortal Realm seemed far beyond his imagination.
However, since Nanjo Emi had said so, this matter should not concern him.
So Shangshan Che asked as per his original plan: “Then Sister Nanjo, do you have any methods for dealing with affliction, preferably simple and direct ones.”
“Oh, that, of course there are many…”
On the other end, Nanjo Emi, who was about to hang up, suddenly fell silent as she spoke.
She repeated: “Affliction?”
Shangshan Che: “Yes, to be precise, I encountered Affliction Kin in a strange place, so I wanted to ask how to kill affliction just in case.”
Nanjo Emi: “Strange place? Not in the Mortal Realm?”
“Not in the Mortal Realm.”
Shangshan Che could feel that Nanjo Emi had clearly sighed in great relief after he said those four words.
She cursed: “You little brat… good thing you didn’t really run into Affliction Kin in the Mortal Realm, otherwise things would have gotten really serious!”
This was because, to this day, affliction had been constantly clashing and probing with one of the Five Person Council.
“Since it’s not in the Mortal Realm… hmm, I’ll report this situation first and then get the relevant information.
Affliction has been very active, and has been fighting with the Onmyo-ryo Special Affairs Office for a hundred years; there is still a lot of information related to them.”
Nanjo Emi said irritably: “Come to the Special Affairs Office to see it then!”
“Received, received.”
Shangshan Che showed joy, then asked: “Recently, my Spiritual Arts have also hit a small bottleneck, is there anything that can quickly break through a little…”
“—Roll over to the Special Affairs Office to get it with everything else!”
“Alright, Nanjō Great Officer, this subordinate has received it!”
