Chapter 25: Key Item: The Complete Ksitigarbha Statue
【Natural Reason School（ Beginner 230/500）】
【Effect: Solid foundation, concise and practical, flexible and versatile】
【Due to your Natural Reason School reaching Beginner, your Physique +2!】
【Due to your Natural Reason School reaching Beginner, you have learned a new Sword Technique!】
【Shangshan Che】
【Physique: 8】
【Willpower: 8】
【Charm: 9】
【Spiritual Arts: 1】
When Shangshan Che opened his eyes again, the first things to enter his sight were various data panels and Teacher Lili Zi’s small face.
Unfortunately, blocking his view was not the half-exposed dojo ceiling like before.
“This is pretty good too, it doesn’t affect Sword Practice.”
Lili Zi: ?
With a sigh, Shangshan Che detached himself from Teacher Lili Zi’s lap pillow without any reluctance.
In his eyes, Lili Zi = good brother, and a good brother’s lap pillow was not something to miss.
Although Lili Zi’s thighs were indeed more comfortable than a pillow—muscles trained with long-term high-intensity exercise only harden like stone and iron when exerting force, but when relaxed, they are as soft as cotton.
“Shangshan Jun, how does your body feel?”
“Very good, better than ever.”
Shangshan Che’s answer stunned her, and the words “Do you want to come to my house for a Medicinal Bath” that were about to slip out were naturally swallowed back quickly.
Actually, Teacher Lili Zi was thinking very thoughtfully.
For normal people, the body after breaking through limits in high-pressure training would certainly be quite weak, and soaking in a Medicinal Bath at this time would have a good recovery effect.
But is Shangshan Che a normal person?
Which normal person could leap from the better-than-average physique of an ordinary person to the level of a national-level athlete right after waking up from sleep?
The increase of two Physique attributes not only swept away the previous fatigue and damage in his body but also let Shangshan Che feel the explosive power surging within him at every moment.
Now, whether it was a 100-meter sprint in 10.5 seconds, a 10,000-meter run in 29 minutes 45 seconds, or bench pressing 200 kilograms, Shangshan Che believed he could accomplish them effortlessly.
This was the near-unscientific comprehensive enhancement brought by the increase in Physique attribute.
And besides that, some new Sword Techniques and skills of the Natural Reason School also surged into Shangshan Che’s mind.
But that was a later story; he couldn’t demonstrate them in front of Lili Zi.
After tentatively moving his body and seeing the still empty dojo, Shangshan Che asked, “How long was I unconscious?”
“A little over two hours; school should be out soon.” Lili Zi stood up and smiled: “What, want to keep training?”
Shangshan Che looked at the pale-faced girl, thinking that she had probably knelt motionless on the ground for so long, and said, “No, let’s try relaxing for once.”
“Hmph…” Lili Zi let out an ambiguous hum, then said: “During that time, your Mobile Phone rang; I saw the other party calling repeatedly and answered for you without permission.”
“Sister Nanjo’s call?”
“No, the caller said they were that cop’s lackey and to meet us at the doorway after school.”
Shangshan Che: “Perfect then, I’ll take a quick shower and change clothes. How about I treat Teacher Lili Zi to some grilled meat tonight?”
“I don’t mind.”
Lili Zi was expressionless—as long as you ignored her hands that were tightly clutching her stomach to keep it from making noise.
……
Though it was a shower, Shangshan Che didn’t forget to enter the Eternal World on the way and pick up the Weapon the Blacksmith had finished.
But when Shangshan Che arrived at the Blacksmith Shop, he found that the once dazzling shop was now completely empty of Weapons.
The place was deserted.
Shangshan Che frowned and quickly stepped inside, looking around, only to find that the sleeping Blacksmith who had been sitting behind the counter was gone.
In his place was the little fellow who had been standing beside him before, the one whose face he hadn’t seen.
Good, someone was still there.
Shangshan Che thought for a moment and asked in as gentle a tone as possible: “Where’s the old Blacksmith?”
“Master has already left.”
The little fellow huddled entirely under the gray cloak spoke up; he laboriously took out the Weapon from under the counter and placed it on the table: “This is the Weapon Master made for Mr. Hannya; he said you’d definitely like it.”
“Please accept it.”
What was placed on the old wooden tabletop was clearly a Daito housed in a Crimson Scabbard.
Misunderstanding cleared.
“Thank you.”
He first sincerely thanked him, then Shangshan Che picked up the Daito with both hands.
He first touched the Scabbard.
【Regeneration Scabbard】
【Quality: Excellent】
【Effect: Slowly repairs the durability of the equipped blade.】
【—Matching Scabbard crafted by the nameless Blacksmith for Kaga Kiyomitsu Replica】
Good stuff.
Durability is extremely important for a Cold Weapon.
For example, his Woodcutting Knife had already worn down quite a bit from clashing with the farmer’s Bone and the Crowbar; the Blade had dulled and chipped, and its killing power was no longer as strong as before.
If used for much longer, the Blade might even break directly.
But with this Scabbard, those problems wouldn’t exist.
—This Blacksmith was such an honest guy!
Shangshan Che was elated inside; if the Scabbard was already this satisfactory, what surprise would the main item bring?
After slowly drawing out the Blade, Shangshan Che began to carefully examine the entire Daito.
Blade length seventy-two centimeters, the Blade as clean and sharp as a windless lake surface, without any complex patterns or decorations; the edge was very thin yet chilling like midwinter, the entire sword much heavier than the Woodcutting Knife, but it felt very comfortable in Shangshan Che’s grip.
Then he looked at the popped-up Weapon Panel.
【Kaga Kiyomitsu Replica】
【Quality: Superb】
【Effect One: Thrust Enhancement. Deals massive additional damage when using Thrust-type Sword Skills.】
【Effect Two: Soul Slaying. When using Kaga Kiyomitsu Replica to Slay Demons and Monsters, Kaga Kiyomitsu Replica’s Quality will gradually improve.】
【—Daito replicated by the nameless Blacksmith from memory of Kaga Kiyomitsu, but this time, he poured in his Effort.】
Shangshan Che fell silent.
He was wondering what he had done to make the Blacksmith craft such an overpowered Weapon for him.
Could it just be because he helped eliminate the noise in the Workshop? Unlikely, since the Blacksmith had now left the Aragawa Ghost Village, and whether there was a Workshop didn’t matter to him anymore.
So it could only be…
Shangshan Che looked at the little fellow behind the counter: “Little Fellow, did your master tell you to have me take care of you?”
The gray cloak trembled slightly, and a timid voice came from within: “Master said it depends on you, Mr. Hannya; he only made you an ordinary Weapon, and there’s no further connection beyond that.”
“How could there be none…”
Shangshan Che sighed and sheathed the Blade: “In the future, come find me if there’s anything.”
The cloak shook twice more, as if the little fellow inside was nodding.
Then, Shangshan Che saw him take out a…
Miniature Ksitigarbha Statue?
“Master also said, if Mr. Hannya you voluntarily offer protection, then give you this statue.”
“And if I don’t volunteer?”
“Then use this statue as the price to request your protection.”
Shangshan Che paused, then leaned close to the counter with the Laughing Hannya Mask on: “What if I decide to just take it by force?”
The cloak shook even more violently, but the little fellow said: “Master said you wouldn’t rob; he said you’re not one of those Demons and Monsters.”
“Tch.”
Shangshan Che cursed inwardly.
That old guy had said all the good and bad things; he seemed so honest, yet had so much Mind’s Eye.
“Give me the statue.”
The little fellow obediently complied.
And the moment Shangshan Che took the miniature Ksitigarbha Statue, his eyes narrowed.
【You have obtained the key Item for Side Quest One—the complete Ksitigarbha Statue!】
