Chapter 143: The Truth About The Black-haired Giant Lolita Who Excels In Both Civil And Martial Arts
“Of course, Lord Ii, please watch closely.”
Shangshan Che extended his right hand and slowly spread his five fingers before the girl’s eyes.
He then held his breath in concentration, fully focusing to make a small red flame sprout from his fingertip, then manipulating his spiritual power to make it dance in midair, elongate, and extend.
—Finally, it became the perfectly square characters “Ii” outlined in flames, illuminating the girl’s dark pupils.
Immediately after, fine lightning spread, plating the flaming characters with a layer of shining lightning edges.
Ii Naomasa felt the faint heat coming at her face, staring at the name woven from lightning and fire, subconsciously wanting to extend her fingertip to touch it and feel if it was real.
Snap.
Shangshan Che clenched his five fingers, making the “Ii” floating at his fingertip vanish before the girl’s finger arrived,
“This fire is no different from ordinary flames; touching it rashly will burn your hand.”
Ii Naomasa then reacted.
She retracted her fingertip, embarrassedly using it to tuck back the hair falling over her forehead, and smiled,
“Sorry, Lord Che’s Onmyōdō is truly exquisite, revealing truth in the finest details; I couldn’t help but become entranced.”
This Ii Naomasa… she can read characters, and her discernment isn’t bad either.
Simultaneously manipulating basic Onmyōdō and Five Thunder Technique · Ki-Ai with spiritual power to form such a complex shape at the fingertip—even for Shangshan Che, this was his first attempt.
Moreover, if he weren’t currently in the Four-Tailed Fox Incarnation state, he probably would have failed.
Because low spiritual power attributes would lead to imprecise control of one’s own spiritual power, causing the Onmyōdō to collapse halfway through writing the characters.
Shangshan Che withdrew his slightly numb palm and glanced at Shiraishi beside him, who had only looked twice before averting his gaze with no change in expression.
—This showed that Shiraishi neither knew how to read nor understood the importance of mastery over one’s own power.
He probably still crudely believed that more was better, bigger was greater, thinking this tiny flame was nothing compared to that lightning bolt from the exorcism a couple days ago.
This was the normal reaction.
Shangshan Che turned his gaze back, looking at Ii Naomasa, who had one hand supporting her chest and the other propping her chin, smiling as she stared at him.
—And this “Ii Naomasa” before him had an abnormally broad perspective.
Because she was a warrior!
Reading characters was one thing.
But spiritual power, an energy almost no one in this era could even perceive, and she could recognize at a glance the depth of his proficiency…
Shangshan Che thought to himself:
This “Ii Naomasa” is absolutely not simple.
Ii Naomasa stared fixedly at Shangshan Che—or more precisely, at the priest’s robe on him.
Because staring at someone’s face and eyes without permission for a long time was extremely impolite.
“—No matter what, I must make him become mine, Imagawa Yoshimoto’s, or at least a vassal of the Imagawa Clan!”
She hadn’t even noticed her smile was more exaggerated than usual, merely thinking slowly in her heart: “If he won’t become a vassal, equal cooperation isn’t out of the question.”
Through that display just now, Ii Naomasa…
No, now it should be said as Tokaido’s Number One Archer, currently Japan’s only daimyo holding a million koku, Imagawa Yoshimoto.
Imagawa Yoshimoto had confirmed that this “Che” was undoubtedly the long-missing onmyoji, and his Onmyōdō proficiency was absolutely high.
Such a rare talent in the world could only be befriended, and even if not usable for herself, must absolutely not be antagonized.
And now, her side had the advantage… first come, first served.
However, this Lord Che must have heard some false rumors about her from somewhere, so his impression didn’t seem good.
This was normal, extremely normal.
Because those guys called daimyo but actually weaklings couldn’t compare to her at all in politics, economy, military, or agriculture and livelihood.
So they could only use such despicable methods, spreading rumors to smear her, creating negligible obstacles on her path to ruling Under Heaven.
But rumors would crumble before reality.
She, Imagawa Yoshimoto, would use real actions to show the Che before her what the true “Imagawa Yoshimoto” was like as a wise lord!
I absolutely won’t let you escape from my palm!
After sorting her thoughts, Imagawa Yoshimoto, with eyes curved in laughter, spoke: “Lord Che is indeed impressive; my lord will surely be very happy to meet you.”
Shangshan Che gave a formulaic reply, then chuckled inwardly.
—Compared to Imagawa Yoshimoto, he’d rather follow this girl of unknown identity who was perfect in every way.
But considering the Walker’s Chronometer required him to have a greater impact on history, this choice would have to wait.
Seeing Shangshan Che unmoved, Imagawa Yoshimoto wasn’t anxious.
She looked out the window at the vast unclaimed wasteland, pondering future reclamation and tax strategies while thinking how to make Shangshan Che fall for her.
Yes, exactly.
Fall for her.
Imagawa Yoshimoto believed that in the relationship between vassal and lord, beyond benefits, whether her personal charm could captivate her vassals was also an extremely important factor.
If relations with vassals were maintained merely through fiefs, rewards, or breathing techniques and such benefits, those relations would never be stable or lasting.
After all, “gekokujō” was a tradition of the late Muromachi Period.
Of course, the reverse was true as well.
“Lord Ii, I’m still quite curious about Takechiyo on his coming-of-age day.”
Shangshan Che suddenly asked: “Though Takechiyo came here as a hostage from his family, Lord Yoshimoto personally held his coming-of-age ceremony for him, so he must be quite talented.”
He asked: “So I wanted to ask, what does Lord Ii think of him?”
—First probe his image as the Old Turtle Tokugawa in his childhood form from someone else’s mouth, to accelerate his understanding of him.
If Tokugawa Ieyasu was already promising at this point, then soon there’d be another option when choosing sides.
Conveniently, he could also probe about the “Four Extremes Breathing Technique” from his mouth.
Though the possibility was slim, if he could steal and learn it, it could definitely fuse with his own Corona Breathing Technique to create a brand-new super powerful breathing technique.
Shangshan Che was very interested in this.
“Takechiyo, huh.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto blinked and smiled: “His face is plain, and many secretly say he won’t become a daimyo.”
“But in truth, he has courage and boldness, and at this age has already accumulated considerable knowledge and wisdom; perhaps he’ll become a daimyo contending for Under Heaven in the future.”
Such sharp eyesight?
Hearing this, Shangshan Che inwardly raised this “Ii Naomasa”‘s status another notch.
Because the current Old Turtle Tokugawa had just turned twelve, or even not yet by Western reckoning… and he was just a hostage sent to her family to threaten his own clan.
He could be said to have no bright future.
For this girl to detect part of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s potential right now was truly not simple.
Shiraishi in the corner listened to their conversation and felt exceptionally bored.
But he didn’t dare move, so he could only silently fiddle with his fingernails, watching the withered grass outside change batch after batch, sighing that winter was almost here.
Luckily, this year he met the boss and wouldn’t have to lie on the street freezing anymore.
……
In less than half an hour, Shangshan Che could clearly hear the surroundings becoming lively and noisy.
This warhorse-pulled carriage was different from ordinary pony or packhorse carriages; even dragging a wooden carriage behind, its speed was much faster, let alone with two warhorses!
So in no time, the carriage arrived at the outskirts of Sunpu Castle—at the entrance to the “Seven Blocks Town” commercial district specially chosen by Imagawa Yoshimoto.
Seven Blocks Town was a free trade zone specially designated and heavily nurtured by Imagawa Yoshimoto within Sunpu Castle.
Every day, countless merchants from the Kinai, Kanto, and even Nankaido traded here in lacquerware, swords, silk, grain, alcohol, and countless other goods.
Choosing to enter the city from here was also Imagawa Yoshimoto’s way of letting Shangshan Che see Sunpu Castle’s prosperity.
To let him know “even under the Imagawa Yoshimoto said to be unforgivably evil in rumors, there is such a prosperous area.”
Shangshan Che curiously peered out the window, seeing batch after batch of dense, bustling heads.
“Quite a crowd…”
The population density here was far below modern Shibuya or Shinjuku’s intersections, but it was already comparable to ordinary streets in Arakawa Ward.
He slightly turned his gaze and saw neat shop signs（storefronts）from one end of the street to the other, and banners with different kanji（advertising signs）hanging in the air, swaying in the wind.
So the commercial form in the Sengoku Period was already this mature.
Somewhat unexpected.
Once inside the city, the carriage slowed, allowing Shangshan Che to clearly and carefully see every shop.
Among them, he saw more than one blacksmith shop and rows of openly displayed weapons.
But at a glance, they were all dull weapons, nothing rare; even if given to him, he’d disdain they took inventory space, and even sold by the pound, Katsumi might not recycle them.
There were also small shops selling grains and daily goods, mostly clustered together like real estate agents in the modern world, probably aiming for a “scale effect”?
As he watched, Shangshan Che suddenly noticed something odd.
“Lord Ii.” He asked, “Why do I see that the scales in different shops are all the same type?”
Hearing this question, Imagawa Yoshimoto’s lip corner subtly curved up: “This is naturally thanks to Lord Yoshimoto’s personal inspection.”
“To facilitate buying and selling for merchants and guests from all over, Lord Yoshimoto specially established the ‘Suruga Scale,’ unifying measurements to prevent short-weighting, ensuring fairness and justice to promote commerce.”
Shiraishi, who hadn’t spoken in a while, stared tightly at the rice shop they’d passed, swallowing saliva as he said: “Imagawa… is indeed impressive in this regard.”
He looked back reluctantly: “I’ve been to many countries, and only Nagoya Castle can compare to here.”
Nagoya Castle?
The territory of that big fool from the Oda Clan?
Imagawa Yoshimoto immediately retorted: “Seven Blocks Town is far better than that big fool’s Nagoya Castle; in the future, I… ah no, Lord Yoshimoto plans to lower the commercial tax by another 20%.”
“At the same time.”
She raised a finger: “Lord Yoshimoto will also consolidate those complex taxes as much as possible, greatly simplifying them to increase merchant mobility.”
Huh?
This is something Imagawa Yoshimoto would do?
Shangshan Che couldn’t help but want to pop up question marks hearing this; the encyclopedia said Imagawa Yoshimoto was a pleasure-seeker who died because of it.
If pleasure-seeking, she must spend vast sums.
But now Imagawa Yoshimoto was willing to let so much money slip through her fingers; this was too unrealistic.
Shangshan Che gazed at the prosperous commercial district, falling into thought.
—Which side is real? I can’t tell, really can’t tell!
Discussing her own territory, Imagawa Yoshimoto subconsciously continued along commerce and agriculture,
“As for agricultural taxes, we’ll maintain the status quo.
Hmm… this is unavoidable; lately Lord Yoshimoto has noticed unrest in surrounding areas. Reducing agricultural taxes would not only cut military funds but increase instability in many places.
Though beneficial, the harm is greater.”
After finishing this long explanation, Imagawa Yoshimoto realized Shangshan Che and Shiraishi were both looking at her.
These gazes were saying “How do you know so much”?!
“Ah haha… these are things Lord Yoshimoto said in a meeting a few days ago.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto lifted her chin, giving them a sincere smile: “I recorded every word without missing any.”
Shangshan Che inwardly marveled at how good that was, then asked,
“Lord Ii, is it really okay to tell us these things?”
“Of course.” Imagawa Yoshimoto placed a finger to her lips and smiled lightly, “These are just superficial ideas; implementing them will require who knows how many changes and hurdles.”
Shangshan Che nodded, but his peripheral vision suddenly caught several scantily clad women exposing large expanses of snow-white skin standing at a shop doorway.
This kind of shop openly on the main street… no way…
He wanted to ask Imagawa Yoshimoto what the shop was for, but before the words came out, Shangshan Che felt it wasn’t quite appropriate.
So he looked at Shiraishi.
Shiraishi looked up, met Shangshan Che’s gaze for an instant and understood, so they both tilted their heads to look out that window.
Then, he turned back and whispered: “Whale House, Whale House, boss—it’s a place selling ridiculously expensive alcohol and doing that kind of thing…”
As Shiraishi spoke, his hand gestured subtly, then he gave Shangshan Che a “you know” smile.
Imagawa Yoshimoto blinked, said nothing, and pretended not to see.
Shangshan Che swiftly gave a light hand chop to the top of Shiraishi’s head, sighing.
He was just short of saying “Kid, can’t you see there are others around?!”
But this also reminded Shangshan Che that such industries in the Sengoku Period were not only legal but thriving, sometimes even frequented by nobles and courtiers for pleasure.
Shiraishi, hit for no reason on the head, naturally glared back indignantly.
Shangshan Che read his look too—”This wasn’t me saying it on your orders, boss?!”
“No need for this, you two; it’s just a very ordinary entertainment venue.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto’s expression barely changed as she calmly said: “Merchants arriving in Sunpu Castle have mostly traveled long distances and earned plenty here; a bit of stress relief is normal, nothing unspeakable.”
Shiraishi kicked Shangshan Che’s leg under the seat and whispered: “Boss, see how magnanimous she is, now look at you…”
Shangshan Che hadn’t anticipated the girl’s reaction.
He’d thought a young lady so obviously from a martial noble family would be mildly angry or at least cold-faced hearing this.
Nodding to Imagawa Yoshimoto, Shangshan Che then saw several similarly impressive warhorse carriages heading in the same direction not far away.
These people were all here for today’s coming-of-age ceremony?
—Who would’ve thought the Old Turtle Tokugawa was so valued before even adulthood.
This Japanese Sengoku history full of conflicting accounts really wasn’t reliable!
……
Though the carriage’s journey inside Sunpu Castle was short, it took longer than before entering the city.
But no matter how slow, the carriage finally arrived at one of Imagawa Yoshimoto’s residences, today’s site for Takechiyo’s coming-of-age ceremony—Imagawa Residence.
Imagawa Yoshimoto still pushed open the carriage door first, letting the two disembark before gracefully stepping down in her wooden clogs.
Upon seeing her alight, the two armored samurai who had coordinated ahead and were placed at the side gate bowed to her,
“Lady Ii.”
Hearing this address, Shangshan Che puzzledly glanced back at the girl.
Could she really be Ii Naomasa?
Honestly, for the historically burly Ii Naomasa to be a civil-martial prodigy who maxed out people-reading skill as a super-beautiful black-haired giant-breasted loli was too weird.
“You two, please follow me.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded slightly to the bowing pair, making the strictly trained samurai on both sides stiffen slightly.
Without further words, Shangshan Che followed behind Imagawa Yoshimoto into this Imagawa Residence, far more massive and exquisite than any building he’d seen since entering the Sengoku Period.
The well-arranged gardens, lifelike reliefs, and thoughtful designs all showed that Imagawa Residence was no nouveau riche home but the ancient mansion of the long-inherited Imagawa Clan.
Though if nothing unexpected happened, Imagawa Residence would become Tokugawa Ieyasu’s “Suruga Mansion” in a few decades.
Shiraishi didn’t dare say a word, not even smile.
He always felt everyone inside was eyeing him strangely, as if one wrong word would mean drawing swords to behead him.
Better stick close to the boss…
The two followed Imagawa Yoshimoto to a relatively quiet side hall.
Imagawa Yoshimoto slid open the sliding door, smiling faintly upon seeing the tea set she’d ordered placed neatly beforehand.
She made a welcoming gesture: “Please sit, gentlemen; there’s still some time before Takechiyo’s coming-of-age ceremony. Please wait a moment.”
The girl knelt before the tea set and said to the two seated across the small purple sandalwood table: “Before that, allow me to brew a cup of tea for you both.”
With that, Imagawa Yoshimoto pinched the tea scoop with thumb and forefinger, skillfully scooping the perfect amount of matcha from the antique tea can beside her.
After precisely dividing it into two portions and pouring into two tea bowls, the girl ladled hot water, pouring it like a shining oil column along the bowl walls into the tea bowls.
Then Imagawa Yoshimoto picked up the tea whisk—the wooden brush-like tool for mixing matcha and hot water.
She stirred the whisk, in mere seconds producing two cups of evenly colored, enticing, bubble-free thick fragrant hot tea.
The entire process flowed seamlessly without the slightest hesitation or pause, perfectly demonstrating to Shangshan Che the charm of the tea ceremony.
If before today someone told him flower arranging or tea ceremony had any necessity, Shangshan Che would have laughed and inwardly dismissed it.
But now…
Shangshan Che gazed at the serene, elegant girl before him, her spirit, energy, and vitality highly focused, inhaling the rich matcha aroma, thinking the tea ceremony seemed pretty good.
At least, if the “Ii Naomasa” before him had hesitated or trembled even a moment, she absolutely couldn’t have brewed this—at least in his eyes—perfectly flawless matcha.
Shangshan Che couldn’t help sighing: “The tea ceremony is also a form of cultivation.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto paused at his words, her smile widening: “Lord Che speaks truly.”
Moreover, throughout the tea brewing, Imagawa Yoshimoto hadn’t rigidly followed the tea ceremony’s complex steps.
Like requiring the two to do something, or passing the tea bowl through water to warm it, wiping the tea set with cloth, and so on.
Imagawa Yoshimoto lifted her sleeve, pushed the two bowls of tea forward at even speed, then withdrew her hands and bowed her head,
“Please.”
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
Shangshan Che nodded to her, reached for the tea bowl, and upon feeling the perfect temperature, directly poured it into his mouth.
He drained it in one gulp!
Instantly, Shangshan Che felt the rich tea aroma rush straight to the top of his head, the warm coolness clearing his senses.
If attributes below 1 point could show prompts, Shangshan Che figured one would appear now—
【Due to consuming tea, Willpower Attribute +0.1】
He slammed the tea bowl on the table, unable to hold back his praise,
“Good tea!”
Shiraishi beside him, about to teach Shangshan Che how to drink tea, twitched at the eyebrow, thinking trouble.
These noble samurai lords valued etiquette most, especially women… with the boss’s bold drinking style, she’d surely be furious!
But unexpectedly, when Shiraishi turned, he saw Imagawa Yoshimoto across the table pleasantly say,
“My honor.”
Huh?!
Shiraishi froze like stone in place until Imagawa Yoshimoto’s gaze swept over, then he hurriedly picked up his tea bowl, trying to bring the tea to his mouth.
The girl saw his awkwardness and explained,
“—The tea ceremony, at its root, is simply a way of brewing tea to please oneself and guests.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded to Shiraishi: “So please don’t be bound by fixed etiquette and forms.”
Shiraishi silently set down the tea bowl inches from his face, lowered his gaze, thinking this beautiful woman was completely unlike the haughty young ladies in his impression.
Shouldn’t it be like this?
At this moment, a servant girl’s shadow appeared at the doorway, bowing into the room.
Then the voice came: “My lady, the coming-of-age ceremony is about to begin.”
Imagawa Yoshimoto stopped her motion of brewing a second bowl for them, stood and slightly bowed: “Sorry, Lord Che, I may need to go ahead first.”
Shangshan Che: “Only natural.”
“Lord Che, a attendant will notify you before the coming-of-age ceremony starts; please come attend then.”
The girl swayed her waist gracefully toward the door, but turned her head just before sliding it open.
She placed her forefinger to her vivid lips, revealing a sly and expectant smile: “You must come; there might be some unexpected surprise.”
Her words fell.
Without waiting for Shangshan Che to think or reply, “Ii Naomasa”‘s figure vanished from his sight.
