Chapter 178: Eight Sufferings’ Affliction, Omen Stick Foretells Doom! The People There Need Me For The First Rewrite!
On the rugged country road of To-ōmi Province, Sakata said hoarsely,
“Perhaps it was a certain day a week ago, or perhaps a certain moment… In any case, after a while, something changed.”
Under Shangshan Che’s gaze, the strong and robust samurai’s face turned pale as if recalling something unpleasant.
“Before this turning point, as long as ordinary people stayed at home and weren’t conscripted as ashigaru, they would basically be fine. At most, their lives would be a little tighter afterward.
But after that—
Unheard-of diseases appeared and began to spread at an abnormally and completely unreasonable speed. Crops that were about to be harvested withered inexplicably… leading to famine at some point.”
Sakata continued dryly,
“Besides that, strange demonic ghosts, like the ones you, Great Onmyoji, killed with lightning magic just now, began to appear from nowhere.”
“Unable to communicate, slaughtering people, spreading plague…”
Imagawa Yoshimoto listened silently, her expression growing increasingly grim.
Her fingernails dug into her palm, causing bright red blood to drip from her knuckles, seeping into the soil.
Shangshan Che, his expression impassive, looked at the kill prompt that had just appeared.
【You killed, Affliction Kin · Miasma Demon （ Half-Star ） and obtained 3 points of Soul Ash.】
One of the Eight Sufferings.
The suffering of illness, among birth, old age, illness, and death.
This was the second time he had encountered an Eight Suffering.
And the first time he had encountered an Eight Suffering, in those days, only a Three-Star Ai Bieli had caused the “Red Tide” in a large city like Tokyo, under the watchful eyes of the Special Affairs Office, which nearly destroyed Arakawa Ward.
Although Ai Bieli was able to achieve this by taking advantage of the cover of the First Wave.
However, compared to Arakawa Ward in the current era, Mikawa Province in the Sengoku Period could not compare in terms of the number of cultivators or reaction speed.
Moreover, Mikawa Province was much, much larger than just Arakawa Ward.
Even if the population and population density were not as high, with such a “fertile” land for unrestricted development, the current situation in Mikawa Province would definitely be much worse than during the Red Tide.
Fortunately, there was still good news that had been confirmed.
That is, the historical Mikawa Province and the historical Imagawa Clan were not destroyed by this. In 1560, Imagawa Yoshimoto still chose to march to Kyoto.
Now, there were just over three years left until 1560.
This meant that the Imagawa Clan’s losses were not too severe.
In other words, the current Affliction should not be too powerful yet.
It might not even be as strong as a Three-Star Ai Bieli.
Otherwise, let alone Mikawa Province, the entire Tokaido region, including the areas ruled by the Imagawa Clan such as Sunpu and Totomi, would likely be engulfed in plague, death, and famine.
This was probably the only piece of good news so far.
“Then this sixty-two-day mission countdown…”
Shangshan Che thought, “I didn’t quite understand it before, but now it seems to be related to Affliction.”
After sixty-two days, Affliction should, like Ai Bieli waiting for the First Wave, smoothly advance to the next stage.
Therefore, something must be done before then to interrupt Affliction’s “progress.”
Shangshan Che glanced at the remaining mission countdown and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Forty-two days.
There were still a full forty-two days before Affliction could complete its plan.
Time was still somewhat sufficient.
It was fortunate that Imagawa Yoshimoto had enough influence within the Imagawa Clan and that he had made her take the matter of Mikawa Province seriously.
Otherwise, if only half a month or even ten days remained, it would truly be hopeless.
But new problems followed.
—Even if he and Imagawa Yoshimoto entered Mikawa, how would they find Affliction?
When they faced Ai Bieli before, they had Sister Mafuyu use the Ouija Board alone to successfully lure the opponent out before the First Wave arrived, preventing greater losses.
But such a method could not be used for Affliction.
Because until now, Shangshan Che had only learned of its existence for the first time.
—Also, is an army of sixty to seventy thousand people entering Mikawa Province a good thing or a bad thing?
Setting aside the samurai who had cultivated Breathing Techniques, Shangshan Che felt that the ashigaru would only be a hindrance when facing the situation in Mikawa Province and the kin of Affliction.
This was easy to decide.
The situation was still uncertain. To prevent so many people from becoming sustenance for Affliction, it was best to have a large number of ashigaru wait for a while, and only send the kumigashira and samurai who could act independently into Mikawa Province.
Once things were settled, then send the large number of ashigaru to clean up.
As for how to deal with Affliction.
Shangshan Che looked at the Key of History in his Storage Bag—the Special Affairs Office must have a lot of relevant information. He could surely get it from Sister Nanjo.
However, anything concerning the Eight Sufferings, regardless of the current situation, was definitely not a minor matter.
Even Nanjo Emi would surely ask him what had happened and why he was asking her this.
—For such minor matters, let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.
Sakata continued speaking, drawing Shangshan Che’s attention back to him.
“The death toll in Mikawa Province began to rise rapidly from that time, and the situation in various cities and villages began to deteriorate significantly.”
He said slowly, “Many places were no different from ‘Hell’.”
“—So I quickly escaped from Mikawa Province, and by chance, I became the leader of this group of bandits, operating on the country roads and official roads in this area.”
“On one hand, it was to get some food for myself and them.”
Sakata looked at the man still kneeling on the ground and snorted unhappily.
“On the other hand, it was to make those who still wanted to do something in Mikawa Province leave, and not die there for nothing.”
The middle-aged man with most of his belongings, who had intended to do business in Mikawa Province, gaped, his expression bewildered, having not expected such a reason behind it.
Sakata’s words were not yet finished.
“But even though Mikawa had become like this, those bald donkeys of Buddhism still hadn’t stopped their usual activities, and had even intensified them…”
“It is my fault,” Imagawa Yoshimoto closed her eyes gently. “From the first day I ruled Mikawa, I should have eradicated all the demonic sects from the map.”
After all, the essence of Buddhism was such a thing.
Rather than monks and priests who ate vegetarian meals and recited scriptures all day, they were more like war merchants holding resources, and scavengers wearing a guise of kindness.
She turned her head silently again and saw Shangshan Che’s brows almost furrowed, and his face as silent and cold as cast iron.
This was the first time Imagawa Yoshimoto had seen Shangshan Che wear such an expression.
Before this, whether facing demonic ghosts, elders, or the Mikawa Uprising, Tetsu-kun had always appeared calm, unhurried, and in control of everything.
Therefore, the situation in Mikawa Province must be extremely dire, to the point of exceeding her current imagination.
She bit her lip, suddenly remembering that afternoon at the Imagawa Residence.
So she asked,
“Mister Che, that… Divine Fortune Stick Cylinder, can it still be used?”
Shangshan Che, his thoughts interrupted, blinked.
Right, he had forgotten that the cylinder’s cooldown had already finished… Now, before making a crucial decision, wasn’t it the perfect time to use the cylinder?
Shangshan Che took the Divine Fortune Stick Cylinder from his Storage Bag and solemnly handed it to Imagawa Yoshimoto.
He said slowly,
“Lord Yoshimoto, among the Great Demons we will face, there is at least ‘Affliction’. Please envision based on this premise.”
“Affliction…”
Imagawa Yoshimoto had never heard this name before.
But even though it was the first time she heard it, the first time she uttered these two words, she inexplicably felt a bone-chilling dread and disgust.
She clutched the Divine Fortune Stick Cylinder tightly, waited for more than ten seconds with her eyes closed, and then slowly began to shake the not-too-heavy cylinder in her hand.
*Pat.*
A few seconds later, a Divine Fortune Stick fell onto a raised stone on the road.
Shangshan Che, who was about to bend down to pick it up, suddenly froze, along with his breathing.
He didn’t need to pick it up; Shangshan Che could already understand what the suffix of this blood-red Divine Fortune Stick that had fallen to the ground was.
But he still picked up the Divine Fortune Stick, as red as blood.
Under the simultaneous gaze of Imagawa Yoshimoto, who opened her eyes, the description of the Divine Fortune Stick, engraved with the square characters “Great Ill Fortune,” popped up—
【Divine Fortune Stick · Great Ill Fortune】
【—Heavenly disasters, famine, plague, demonic spirits, man-made disasters… Boundless darkness and despair are breeding in Mikawa Province.】
Shangshan Che said nothing.
He looked at the girl who had taken the blood-colored Divine Fortune Stick.
Imagawa Yoshimoto also said nothing.
Sakata, not far away, also lowered his hand upon seeing the blood color, silencing his bandit subordinates.
The surrounding atmosphere was as still as a deep pool.
A moment later, Shangshan Che remembered another function of the Divine Fortune Stick Cylinder.
Changing the fortune.
But before that, he informed Imagawa Yoshimoto of the introduction of this Divine Fortune Stick completely and verbatim.
The latter rubbed the Divine Fortune Stick with her blood-stained fingertips, lost in thought.
Shangshan Che continued,
“There is one more chance to change the fortune, Lord Yoshimoto.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto said softly, “Then let’s try, Mister Che.”
Shangshan Che touched the cylinder, clicked the “change fortune” effect with his thought, and placed it back in the girl’s hand.
“Please shake it again, Lord Yoshimoto.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto did as instructed.
Amidst the solemn or puzzled onlookers, she shook it for a full half-minute before the second Divine Fortune Stick slid out of the narrow opening.
This time, Shangshan Che caught it before it landed and held it in his palm.
Then, under Imagawa Yoshimoto’s earnest gaze, he slowly opened his hand.
It was black.
The Divine Fortune Stick, so black that it had no trace of other colors, with only the blood-red characters “Great Ill Fortune” on it, was displayed before everyone’s eyes.
【Divine Fortune Stick · Great Ill Fortune】
【—Plague ahead, death ahead.】
Shangshan Che took a deep breath and, in the most indifferent and calm tone, interpreted for Imagawa Yoshimoto: “Plague ahead, death ahead.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto took the black Divine Fortune Stick and placed the two sticks side by side.
Sakata, who overheard this, quickly took two steps back, afraid that Shangshan Che’s blood would splash near his feet later.
—To say such a thing to the current Head of the Imagawa Clan, he must really think his life is too long!
Silence spread through the air.
The blood-colored Divine Fortune Stick and the black Divine Fortune Stick obtained after changing the fortune.
In short, it meant that if Imagawa Yoshimoto went to Mikawa, she would face a “Great Ill Fortune.”
Shangshan Che couldn’t help but fall into thought.
—Compared to Imagawa Yoshimoto, is suppressing Mikawa Province, the first stage of the “Lord of Tokaido” mission, really that important?
The answer was no.
Suppressing the Mikawa Uprising was indeed important, but if Imagawa Yoshimoto were to die in Mikawa Province due to Affliction, everything would be in vain.
For now, Imagawa Yoshimoto herself must be prioritized.
Moreover, Mikawa Province bordered Owari and Mino. Even if left unattended, it could cause serious damage to the Oda Clan from Affliction.
Perhaps, after some time, the Oda Clan would be even more affected than the Imagawa Clan!
The mission for the Lord of Tokaido could not completely fail just because of the failure of a stage quest—two million koku could still be accumulated later.
Shangshan Che thought of this and said to the long-silent girl, “Then, Lord Yoshimoto, there is a method now.”
He tried his best to maintain his indifference and said,
“Abandon Mikawa Province, withdraw the dispatched troops, and then build a strict defense line at the border between Mikawa and Suruga, allowing the disaster caused by Affliction to spread towards Oda Nobunaga’s territory.”
After Imagawa Yoshimoto listened silently, she looked up. Upon realizing that Shangshan Che seemed to genuinely think this way, she shook her head.
Without the slightest hesitation.
She replied just as calmly, her tone firm: “Tetsu-kun, I cannot do that.”
Shangshan Che had already expected such an answer, so he brought out the second plan: “Then, Lord Yoshimoto, you should return to Sunpu Castle and the Imagawa Residence first, and let me and Sister Motonobu handle this…”
Imagawa Yoshimoto tiptoed and raised her finger, stained with warm blood, to press against Shangshan Che’s lips, interrupting the words that would make her an unforgettable coward and weakling.
Blood trickled from the wound on her palm, leaving a striking mark on her fair skin. Imagawa Yoshimoto was incredibly serious.
“As you said before, Tetsu-kun, my role is not to do things or to help much.”
“—It is to be a symbol!”
Her tone was calm, yet Shangshan Che felt her words were almost a roar.
“To the people within Mikawa Province, to my subjects, and to the Affliction lurking in the shadows, spreading death and despair, and to those Great Demons, I declare!”
“—I! The Lord of Mikawa Province, Imagawa Yoshimoto, have arrived!”
The Head of the Imagawa Clan stared into his eyes, took a deep breath, and her dark pupils, without a sound, ignited like fire, as if forged from lava into iron.
“My people there need me, Tetsu.”
Shangshan Che was momentarily at a loss for words.
What she said was indeed true.
In such a desperate situation, if Imagawa Yoshimoto could proactively stand before the eyes of the people of Mikawa Province, the benefits and hope it would bring would be immeasurable.
Her fame would also skyrocket.
However, at the same time, she would inevitably come into the sight of Affliction.
But at the same time, she would also inevitably enter the sight of Affliction.
For this one matter, I am being targeted by one of the Eight Sufferings.
Is it worth it?
Shangshan Che fell into thought, feeling the heat before his lips and the willpower of the girl, which was far more resolute and harder than steel.
But if Imagawa Yoshimoto were to return now, her possibility of existing in the Eternal World in the future would be diminished by one point.
How to choose…
After a long while, Shangshan Che opened his mouth slightly and took Imagawa Yoshimoto’s hand.
It seems I’ve overlooked something.
He chuckled helplessly, “Lord Yoshimoto, no matter what I say or how I answer, will it change your mind?”
“Mm, no.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto replied thusly.
“Although I said everything depends on you before, the current situation is slightly different, and I have already understood my own thoughts.”
She bowed her head slightly towards Shangshan Che and said faintly,
“Tetsu-kun, please forgive me.”
If he were to knock out Imagawa Yoshimoto here, their relationship, whether as lord and vassal or as friends, would likely end here.
“Lord Yoshimoto, your stubborn temper is truly a bit of a headache.”
“That’s why I’m apologizing.”
This exchange, a question and answer, brought Shangshan Che’s final attempt at persuasion to an end.
He rubbed his temples, took a handkerchief from his Storage Bag, wiped the blood from Imagawa Yoshimoto’s palm, and then dripped a drop of Awakening Spirit Mist onto it.
Seeing the small wound heal, Shangshan Che sighed and knelt on one knee towards the one-meter-forty-tall Head of the Imagawa Clan.
“Then, Lord Yoshimoto, please give me your orders.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto was slightly stunned, but then she couldn’t help but curl her lips, her joy evident on her face.
She placed her hand on Shangshan Che’s shoulder and said solemnly,
“Great Onmyoji Che, I order you to accompany me to Mikawa Province to exterminate the Affliction demons, stabilize the people, suppress the rebellion, and protect me from even the slightest harm.”
“Che, I obey Lord Yoshimoto’s command.”
…
After getting up, looking at the fiery, blazing black-haired girl beside him, Shangshan Che couldn’t help but fall into thought again.
Although he and Imagawa Yoshimoto had reached an understanding, since the Affliction, one of the Eight Sufferings, had appeared in Mikawa Province, their previous plan would require a major adjustment.
Because the situation was now completely different.
Firstly, he could no longer return to the Imagawa Residence in Suruga with Okabe Motonobu in three days to deal with those old fools.
Those Elders deserved to die, and they would die sooner or later.
But they were ultimately not as important as the Affliction, and their threat level was not even one ten-thousandth of the Affliction’s.
Those Elders were, at most, just roadside weeds that could be kicked to death with a casual foot.
But the matter in Mikawa Province could not be delayed any longer.
Merely finding a Master Craftsman within Mikawa Province might take a lot of time, and Shangshan Che couldn’t afford to waste more time on such unimportant matters.
“I need to tell Sister Motonobu about this news and the changed plan.”
Shangshan Che mused, estimating that relying on himself or sending Two-Foot Adult to talk would likely be useless.
Even if he didn’t go, Okabe Motonobu would go by herself.
It was necessary for Imagawa Yoshimoto to write a letter by hand, and then have Two-Foot Adult deliver it to her.
Only then would Okabe Motonobu understand the severity of the situation in Mikawa Province.
Shangshan Che thought, “Once I get horses later, I’ll have Two-Foot Adult go by herself.”
Otherwise, the travel speed without horses was still too slow.
He couldn’t possibly carry Imagawa Yoshimoto the whole way; that would be not only troublesome and a waste of energy but also make it difficult to deal with sudden situations.
For now, he would have to ride on Two-Foot Adult’s Floating Board to get to a city first before discussing anything else.
Before leaving, Shangshan Che said to the middle-aged man preparing to go to Mikawa to do business, “Give Sakata and the others one-third of the money and food, and then return from here.”
“After all, without them, your family would likely have died miserably in Mikawa Province in a few days.”
With that, Shangshan Che and Imagawa Yoshimoto got back on the Floating Board and quickly ascended amidst the thanks of Sakata, the bandits, and that family.
After they disappeared from sight, no one gave another thought to the two groups of people on the country road.
Shangshan Che thought for a moment, then held up a finger towards Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was restlessly tapping her knees, appearing somewhat anxious.
“Lord Yoshimoto, because of the existence of that Affliction, you must agree to three rules with me before entering Mikawa Province.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto paused, let out a breath, “Tetsu-kun, please speak.”
“First, you are forbidden from leaving my sight, as there may be demons that even I have not encountered.”
The girl nodded, “So it should be.”
“Second, when facing any person or event within Mikawa Province, all methods of dealing with them must be according to my decisions.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto pursed her lips and finally replied, “Mm, I will not interfere.”
“Third, and most importantly.”
Shangshan Che said earnestly,
“If by chance we are separated, do not trust anyone, and do not eat any food or drink any water given to you by anyone.”
“I remember.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto also nodded seriously, and after a few seconds, she repeated Shangshan Che’s three rules verbatim.
“I hope Lord Yoshimoto will keep her promise.”
“I will certainly not fail Tetsu-kun’s trust.”
Shangshan Che took out a small Life and Death Taiko Drum from his Storage Bag and handed it to her.
Imagawa Yoshimoto took the small drum and, gazing at the characters “Life” and “Death” on it, hesitated, “Tetsu-kun, this is…”
“The Life and Death Taiko Drum.”
Shangshan Che meticulously explained its two different effects to her and said solemnly, “Please, Lord Yoshimoto, do not strike it incorrectly out of haste.”
A small drum that can attract and repel demons…
Imagawa Yoshimoto carefully tied it up and placed it inside her lining, “Thank you for your trouble, Tetsu-kun.”
“It’s just a small Item, nothing to speak of,” Shangshan Che said lightly, “I will only be at ease if Lord Yoshimoto returns safely from this trip.”
Afterward, a long silence fell upon the Floating Board again.
Imagawa Yoshimoto used the pen and paper Shangshan Che had given her to write a temporary letter as he requested and slipped it into Two-Foot Adult’s hand.
As for Okabe Motonobu violating her orders and wanting to slay the Elders in advance, that was no longer a concern at this point.
The disturbances along the road from To-ōmi Province to Mikawa Province were gradually increasing, but overall, To-ōmi Province was not much affected and remained stable.
The influence of the Affliction was still limited to Mikawa Province.
The two bought two “tall horses” in To-ōmi Province, with thick hooves and about the same height as Imagawa Yoshimoto.
In the Sengoku Period, these were already considered top-notch horses that could be bought directly in the marketplace.
Thus, Two-Foot Adult left alone, carrying a map and the letter, and headed back towards the army led by Okabe Motonobu.
Since they had already arrived at a city on the border of Mikawa and To-ōmi, even though the roads were bumpy and rough, it only took them a few hours on horseback to enter the somewhat desolate territory of Mikawa.
However, after riding on the main road for about ten minutes, Shangshan Che felt something was wrong.
It wasn’t any sound, the air, or the atmosphere that felt off.
It was that,
the entire Mikawa Province was off.
Shangshan Che subtly glanced at Imagawa Yoshimoto beside him and found that she was still unaware.
“In any case, let’s find someone still alive to ask about the current situation…”
Following the direction Imagawa Yoshimoto pointed, the two headed towards the nearest village.
After another half an hour, Imagawa Yoshimoto could see the not-so-large village in the distance and could faintly make out a few dark figures moving at the edge of the horizon.
She said with a hint of joy, “Tetsu-kun, that’s the Village!”
