Chapter 103: May 1st, the First Wave Arrives (7k, please vote for monthly tickets!)

What's going on?!

Just recalling what he'd just thought made Uesugi Toru feel a wave of nausea—was that something a normal person could come up with?

He fixed his gaze on the status bar that was still flashing—the buff from Soul Incense Ash (Small) was still ongoing.

No need to think; it had to be caused by using that thing.

Uesugi Toru gathered his mind, trying his best to keep his mental state calm.

He looked at Shizuku again and found that, under his current vision, she was still beautiful, but those strange thoughts from just now no longer popped up.

Uesugi Toru let out a slight sigh of relief.

If this had happened before the attribute enhancement, or before he'd learned Technique · Zan Shin and fallen into such a state, he couldn't guarantee how long it would take him to escape that bizarre condition.

What Shizuku would become, whether she'd break... that was hard to say.

Fortunately, Shizuku had acted at the critical moment, changing her breathing rhythm to bring his sanity back.

At this moment, Shizuku's voice interrupted Uesugi Toru's thoughts,

"Uesugi-kun, did you say something just now?"

"Ah, no..."

Uesugi Toru shook his head, and after confirming he was basically normal, said: "Let's save the extra talk for later; cultivation is most important."

Shizuku really liked this attitude.

Thus, the unpleasantness from before and before coming dissipated together.

She cleared her throat and detailed to the two people in the Kendo Hall the two control techniques regarding "Jing Shen" that she had researched,

"Essentially, the core of both techniques is to master the Jing, Qi, and Shen of the human body.

"Jade Heart Technique converges the overflowing Jing Shen, making the flesh an almost leakless existence. Thus, Unshinjutsu can use them more efficiently, whether nourishing the flesh for a long time or briefly dealing with yokai..."

Saying this, Shizuku glanced at Uesugi Toru, who blinked knowingly.

This was roughly the same as what Uesugi Toru had thought, though Shizuku had thought more deeply and understood the principles more clearly.

Because she was in a teaching state, the girl was expressionless, but in her heart she hehe'd—this feeling of someone understanding before she even spoke was not bad.

Pausing a moment, Shizuku continued: "Regarding the three of Jing Shen, they're actually not only related to my two techniques, but likely also deeply connected to 【Breathing Technique】."

She sighed regretfully: "Unfortunately, there's no expert in this area to systematically teach me."

Because although Kondo Tomoya also cultivated Corona Breathing Technique and had refined it to an extremely profound, extremely proficient realm, even reaching the terrifying degree where his exhalation could make Shizuku suffocate from heat.

But!

Kondo Tomoya only cultivated according to Corona Breathing Technique, a typical example of "knowing the what but not the why."

However, Shizuku felt this was normal, because Kondo Tomoya held a high position, was entangled in official business every day and hard to cultivate, and most of his remaining energy was only enough to support his study of swordsmanship.

If he seriously studied breathing techniques, he'd probably just be at a loss.

In swordsmanship, Shizuku still admitted she was far inferior to that Kondou Taikou.

Shizuku sorted through the fragmentary knowledge in her brain for a while, then said to them,

"First, view the three separately: 'Jing' represents the body, 'Qi' is everywhere, I still can't figure out what it actually is, and 'Shen' is a person's awareness."

Shizuku snapped her fingers,

"If viewed from this angle, then whether it's the cultivation of swordsmanship or the cultivation of breathing techniques, it's all clear at a glance."

"For example, my swordsmanship realm is very high, so cultivating swordsmanship gets twice the result with half the effort—this is typical 'Spirit' linkage.

Breathing techniques train Qi. Using Qi to drive the body is 'Jing Qi' linkage, but at the same time, the 'Shen' aspect will gradually fall behind."

Shizuku took out a bamboo sword and said to them,

"—This is also why most practitioners of breathing techniques need to learn a skill; this not only enhances combat power, but also strengthens awareness, so the body and awareness don't develop too large a gap."

"Speaking of this, we must again view the three mutually complementary as one body, and not neglect any of them..."

Uesugi Toru, blessed by Soul Incense Ash, nodded understandingly, looking at the prompts constantly popping up before his eyes, and couldn't help but click his tongue.

【Tokugawa Ririko is teaching you Technique · Jade Heart Technique...】

【Tokugawa Ririko is teaching you Technique · Unshinjutsu...】

【Tokugawa Ririko is teaching you Basic Knowledge · Jing Shen, Three in One...】

【Your skill, Corona Breathing Technique's proficiency is rising...】

【Your Sword Heart Realm is slightly rising...】

Just obediently sitting and listening to a lesson could harvest a bunch of prompts; Shizuku's reputation as a treasure girl was well deserved.

Uesugi Toru also found it hard to imagine how Shizuku without Soul Incense Ash's help came up with these, and could even teach them to others.

He looked at Shizuka Mami beside him and found that although she was seriously taking classroom notes, it was obvious that the confusion all over her face betrayed her.

Half an hour later.

Shizuka Mami's complexion turned pale; even as a Tokyo University academic star, she was left dizzy and overwhelmed.

She felt Shizuku had been talking about theoretical foundations the whole time, completely not explaining practical techniques—that is, not telling her what to do or when to do it, only saying "go do what."

Like being asked to play an extremely complex strategy game that had lost all beginner tutorials, utterly bewildering.

After all that, it was practically a gilded but rotten castle in the air—good-looking and good-sounding, but incapable of doing anything.

Shizuka Mami looked at the boy on the other side: "Uesugi-kun must be thinking the same, right..."

Shizuku: "Uesugi-kun, do you understand?"

【You have learned Technique · Jade Heart Technique.】

【You have learned Technique · Unshinjutsu.】

【Your Sword Heart Realm slightly rose.】

【Your skill, Corona Breathing Technique proficiency +100!】

【Your understanding of Basic Knowledge · Jing Shen, Three in One has deepened.】

Uesugi Toru glanced over the string of prompts and unhesitatingly gave her a thumbs-up,

"Fully understood. Worthy of Teacher Shizuku — concise words, clear logic, moderate pace! Please give another serving next time."

Shizuku crossed her arms: "Hmph, naturally."

This scene stuffed the words Shizuka Mami had been about to say right back down her throat.

She lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then rose with a gentle smile: "I'll go get Tokugawa-san some water first; you must be thirsty after talking so long."

Shizuku interlaced her fingers, pinched her voice: "Mami Knot, so thoughtful, love~"

Uesugi Toru instead felt Shizuka Mami wasn't simply going out to pour water.

But never mind — they're all adults surviving in the workplace; this little blow probably isn't as big as a delayed half-hour overtime.

Better check the harvest from the CPU-speed operation just now and the one lesson learned from Shizuku —

【Jade Heart Technique】

【Effect: Converges all essence-spirit-spirit that differs from ordinary people, making the cultivator's appearance tend toward ordinary.】

【——Being too self-centered loses you friends.】

The Jade Heart Technique's effect was obvious — obvious enough that after learning it, Uesugi Toru took out his phone, opened the selfie camera, and doubted whether the person inside was himself.

Its rough effect was equivalent to turning Uesugi Toru from a "very handsome gloomy muscular high-school boy" into a "muscular male passerby who's fine everywhere but has zero highlights."

Although the Charm attribute on the panel didn't change, the external manifestation dropped at least 2-3 points.

Uesugi Toru sighed: "This technique is truly formidable……"

Able to directly turn a powerhouse with extremely strong presence into an utterly ordinary passerby — a divine skill tailor-made for backstab ambushes; viewed this way, Shizuku's original intent in creating it ranks second.

He looked downward.

【Unshinjutsu】

【Effect: Gradually accumulates essence-spirit-spirit over time, can slowly nourish the flesh, or burst forth in an instant.】

【——Some battles, one sword is enough to end them.】

Shizuku, previously only around one-star level, relied on Unshinjutsu to repel and even injure the Nue that was at two-star half.

And this technique — even when not fighting — Uesugi Toru could feel it making his body more…… rounded, smooth? every single moment.

In short, it's wonderful like 【Physical Strength +1】 popping above his head every second.

Uesugi Toru checked the proficiency of the three grindable skills he currently possessed —

【Corona Breathing Technique (Entry 670/1400)】

【Tennen Rishin-ryu (Proficient 420/1000)】

【Spirit Control Technique (Not Entered 80/100)】

Among them, Corona Breathing Technique proficiency was high but still far from the next level; Tennen Rishin-ryu and Spirit Control Technique were both about to break through.

Spirit Control Technique was previously uncultivable because Spirit Technique Attribute was too low; now it has risen considerably, so casual practice should break through.

But Uesugi Toru didn't hold much hope for it.

Spirit Control Technique boils down to "manipulating spirit objects," and the Nanjo Doll doesn't need him to manipulate it — it runs out to protect him on its own when danger appears.

Stepping back, maybe Spirit Control Technique becomes strong late-game, but at merely Beginner Level it can't help Uesugi Toru much.

Tennen Rishin-ryu is different.

Currently, Tennen Rishin-ryu is only 80 proficiency points away from using the "Kata Scroll" to raise it to Mastery; after resting he'll just spar with Shizuku and be done.

Uesugi Toru looked at the girl who had just finished teaching, faint steam rising from her head as she rested with eyes closed, and didn't disturb her.

He also closed his eyes to rest — too much knowledge had been infused just now, and the Soul-Calming Incense Ash (Minor) buff was gradually fading.

And later he still needs to spar with Shizuku and then explore Chang Shi; recovering energy in time is what matters.

A few minutes later, Shizuka Mami walked in carrying three bottles of chilled mineral water.

Seeing both people in the dojo resting with eyes closed, she made no sound, tiptoed over, and gently placed the mineral water — caps twisted open then closed again — beside them.

"Thanks. ×2"

Shizuka Mami was about to sit to the side and continue studying her notes when she heard the thanks come in unison.

She smiled wryly — perhaps only this kind of tacit understanding lets Uesugi-kun so easily comprehend Tokugawa-san's teaching.

But since both were awake, Shizuka Mami also took out her phone, opened a picture, and said to them,

"Lately a four-headed JK has been appearing unscheduled on train station platforms at night; also, the number of lunatics and mental patients in Arakawa Ward has increased considerably — you two be careful."

Four-headed JK?

Hearing the keyword, Uesugi Toru's brow arched — isn't that the target I beheaded on the train? Didn't expect it to run from the train into Genjitsu.

And mental patients…… so Shizuka Mami also doesn't know those people are Ai Betsuri's seeds.

In that case, Uesugi Toru has no need to run his mouth — Nanjo Ai chose this; there's definitely her own or Special Affairs Division higher-ups' intention.

Nodding in acknowledgment, Uesugi Toru glug-glug drank half a bottle, then after using Soul-Calming Incense Ash (Minor) raised his bamboo sword toward Shizuku.

He didn't use Soul Incense Ash (Small) because that thing's mental burden is too heavy, and there was just a problem.

Just a few dozen proficiency points — Uesugi Toru didn't want to invite extra trouble and create a big mess over it.

The girl twisted her neck, dispelled the Jade Heart Technique disguise, and pointed the bamboo sword's tip straight at his face: "Come!"

Two bamboo swords collided viciously, letting out a crisp sound.

Shizuka Mami watched the pair with faint envy for a while, then quietly sat to the side, laboriously running her half-baked breathing technique while gnawing her fountain pen cap and studying her notes.

——How to cultivate breathing technique, converge essence-spirit-spirit is nothing but one assignment after another; perhaps currently very hard to understand, leaving one nowhere to start, but under time's passage flaws will ultimately surface.

Just like the tens of thousands of times before, conquered alone by her.

Then summarize, grade, from shallow to deep, peel away layer by layer like silk from a cocoon, and expound everything about breathing technique cultivation.

Then, Shizuka Mami will let those ordinary people like her also not be shut out by the threshold called "talent."

Shizuka Mami knows this is hard — one person makes it harder.

But she wanted to try.

……

Half an hour later.

After being knocked to the ground by Shizuku's sword as if spinning a top, Uesugi Toru instead revealed a harvest-like smile.

——Tennen Rishin-ryu, Breakthrough!

He let out a long breath and reached for the mineral water bottle placed at the rear, only to discover an ice-cold Coca-Cola shoved into his hand.

Uesugi Toru raised his head and saw Shizuka Mami winking at him: "Training tired you out, right? Replenish some sugar."

Shizuku across from him was already happily drinking the happy water, letting out a comfortable shout like she was chugging beer: "Phew! So refreshing, why don't you be my mom, Mami Knot!"

Taking the Coca-Cola, Uesugi Toru scratched his head: "I keep feeling a bit embarrassed making you, a patient, run around like this, Shizuka-san."

"What's there to be embarrassed about, Uesugi-kun." Shizuka Mami smiled, "I have no talent for Yin-Yang Technique, and my Breathing Technique cultivation isn't great either. In the words of another Minor Officer, I'm 'born to be a runner.'"

"In the future, you may have to risk your lives facing those terrifying abnormal Yokai, but I cannot provide you any help on the front lines."

Shizuka Mami faced him and said seriously,

"So please don't feel embarrassed, just leave these trivial small matters to me with peace of mind."

Facing the serious Shizuka Mami before him, Uesugi Toru recalled what she looked like the first time he saw her at the school gate.

——Compared to then, Shizuka Mami not only had much sharper muscle lines all over her body, even the temperament exuding from her had undergone a fundamental qualitative change, completely transforming from an intern female college student who had just entered society into a qualified Special Affairs Bureau Staff.

But how many days has it been since she joined?

A week? Perhaps not even.

Uesugi Toru couldn't help but exclaim: "Mami Knot, you're amazing."

Shizuka Mami shook her head: "Just small things achievable with effort, what's amazing about that. You should save that praise for Nanjou-sama."

She's completely Nanjou Sister's solo stan.

Watching her sit alone to the side doing who knows what, Uesugi Toru drank his Coca-Cola and checked the prompt for Tennen Rishin-ryu's breakthrough——

【Your skill, Swordsmanship·Tennen Rishin-ryu has risen to Mastery Level!】

【Tennen Rishin-ryu (Mastery 0/3000)】

【Effect: A towering building starts from level ground; this is the first, and most important, cornerstone on the path to Sword Saint.】

【Due to your Tennen Rishin-ryu rising to Mastery Level, your Physique +3!】

【Due to your Tennen Rishin-ryu rising to Mastery Level, all your sword move damage increases!】

【Due to your Tennen Rishin-ryu rising to Mastery Level, your Will +2, Swordsmanship mental state medium increase!】

This time no new stances or moves surged into Uesugi Toru's mind; he only felt his understanding of all moves already mastered had deepened by more than a little.

At the same time, he also felt his connection with the bamboo sword in his hand had grown a degree tighter, wielding the sword more effortlessly; this must be the important symbol of taking a step toward the realm of "Jinken Gōitsu."

"Mastery over power has also become more exquisite……"

After gaining a full 3 points of Physique bonus, Uesugi Toru instantly became vigorous again, wanting to pick up his sword and fight Shizuku for three hundred rounds once more.

However, Uesugi Toru glanced at the exhausted girl already sitting in place meditating, and still decided to let her off the hook for now.

This precious swordsmanship teacher must not be drained dry; sustainable development is most important.

He recalled there was still a Yokai in Kisaragi Station that had once mechanism-killed him until he had no power to fight back.

Now, it's time to make it understand what "a scholar of three days' separation" means.

Uesugi Toru touched his chin, revealing a smile: "High-Speed Grandpa, huh, interesting."

He sat to the side and closed his eyes.

Water pressure brushed past like a clear breeze.

The Three-Tailed Fox wearing white tabi, stepping on tall geta, landed on the dust-covered platform, fastening the vividly pale Evil Demon Mask at her waist onto her face.

"These geta feel weird to wear……"

Uesugi Toru took two steps, twisting his ankles unaccustomedly.

But this pair of geta that came with the Three-Tailed Fox seemed to have a slight effect of increasing running speed, and even the seemingly unremarkable tabi could automatically remove impurity, keeping both feet dry and fresh.

Between comfort and strength, Uesugi Toru chose the latter without question.

After checking at the convenience store first and confirming Kisaragi Station still hadn't restarted, Uesugi Toru headed for High-Speed Grandpa's location.

On the way, Uesugi Toru didn't switch to White Hannya Incarnation to hurry, but used the travel time to grind with the Three-Tailed Fox Incarnation that was still somewhat unfamiliar to use.

"Looks like I need to go learn some Yin-Yang Technique afterwards."

Uesugi Toru released his innate talent "Bewitch" at a stray Chi, and upon seeing it just blankly spinning in place without obeying his command, he sighed.

This Bewitch talent should only work as an instant-cast control skill, but combined with the Hannya Mask's passive control effect the result is still not bad.

Even counting the folding fan and shaking bell, he only has four usable "Yin-Yang Techniques" right now.

Earlier Shizuku said a normal Onmyoji cultivating Four Paths Five Elements masters at least seven or eight Yin-Yang Techniques.

Compared to that, although his mastered Yin-Yang Techniques are all not low in strength and are instant-cast, his means are too few after all, lacking reasonable variation.

Before long, the Three-Tailed Fox with Physique as high as forty-one points arrived before the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar railway.

Uesugi Toru didn't approach the railway nor hear High-Speed Grandpa's shouts, but sensed that abnormal yet stable Spiritual Power Fluctuation from far away.

"Hasn't discovered me yet."

Uesugi Toru released the Hyakume Oni Medama and took out the Komainu Bell: "In that case, don't blame me for using you as a test subject."

Ding-ling-ling~

A faint shaking bell sound rang out.

Two massive, thick-limbed, deep-black-chest-armored, sharp-and-fierce-gazed Komainu emerged from the void, landing nimbly beside Uesugi Toru.

Upon seeing Uesugi Toru they immediately let out friendly "woo-woo" sounds, squatting at his two sides.

Gazing at these two majestic evil beasts nearly reaching his thigh height, Uesugi Toru couldn't help but let out an "Ah."

Is this still that small Komainu woven from straw, the length of a forearm?

A moment later, a status window popped up above the heads of the two dogs——

【Komainu Soldier (One-Star Half)】

One-Star Half!

The Komainu summoned when transforming into the Three-Tailed Fox Incarnation are actually this powerful.

You have to know the Three-Tailed Fox Incarnation main body is only One-Star Half; even if Uesugi Toru's combat power cannot be simply measured by star rating, being able to summon two Komainu of the same star rating absolutely counts as no small help.

"Go, go attack that old man I marked."

After guiding the two Komainu with spirit power, Uesugi Toru walked to a slightly elevated terrain from which he could directly see the slope where High-Speed Grandpa was.

The two Komainu had flexible bodies and extremely fast speed; even in the mountain forest they moved as if on flat ground, and in less than ten seconds after Uesugi Toru took position they had already approached High-Speed Grandpa, drawing his attention.

"Hmph, want to teleport?"

Watching High-Speed Grandpa begin to move, muttering words, Uesugi Toru lightly waved his folding fan, making two-thirds of the spirit power inside his body vanish instantly.

Rumble——!

The next moment, blue-purple intertwined lightning plasma poured down like an inverted sea from the sky, not waiting for High-Speed Grandpa to make any move before landing on his body.

Forearm-thick lightning dragons roared, causing High-Speed Grandpa to tremble all over, unable to move from his spot; surrounding trees and grass leaves were instantly ignited by stray lightning light, turning into a towering blaze in a short time.

The two Komainu leaped out from the fire curtain, their deep black chest armor reflecting the swaying firelight; one left, one right, one low, one high, they charged at High-Speed Grandpa.

Copper teeth and iron jaws clamped shut, making the cane-leaning one-legged old man emit a painful howl belonging to a yokai.

"Bewilderment."

Seeing High-Speed Grandpa's cane move, Uesugi Toru smiled faintly and said softly, letting the remaining one-third of spirit power in his body vanish completely.

High-Speed Grandpa's head was like it was attracted by a magnet with extremely strong magnetism, staring fixedly from a hundred meters away at the Three-Tailed Fox standing on the opposite slope.

Naturally, he also saw that pale, solemn Raksasa mask.

Thus, unable to move, he let the two ferocious Komainu tear and bite his mangled, charred flesh at will.

Slap.

Uesugi Toru yawned, turned around, and lightly tapped his folding fan against his palm: "It's over."

This slaying of yokai and exorcising of demons is unexpectedly pleasant.

In less than two minutes, a line of prompts after killing High-Speed Grandpa popped up before his eyes.

——Main Quest Three, Complete.

A while later, the two Komainu ran over happily, their blood-stained mouths panting with tongues out.

Uesugi Toru touched their heads and smiled.

Last time, High-Speed Grandpa used a mechanic first-encounter kill on himself; this time, it was himself using a skill combination to hard-control the opponent to death.

Unknowingly, he had actually become the mechanic monster he used to hate.

Uesugi Toru originally wanted to stay at Kisaragi Station a bit longer, to see the duration of the two Komainu, but the "string" in his heart suddenly transmitted fluctuations.

It was Adult Two-Shaku calling him.

Did something major happen in the present world?

Did Aibetsuriku come?

Without delay, Uesugi Toru immediately returned to the present world.

He opened his eyes and immediately asked seriously: "Did Aibetsuriku appear?"

Shizuka Mami, Shizuku, and Adult Two-Shaku who had crawled out of the Jizo Statue on his own all shook their heads, but the three still had serious expressions.

Uesugi Toru breathed a sigh of relief and asked with a smile: "That's good then, what could be more serious than this?"

Shizuka Mami silently raised her mobile phone toward him; on the crimson warning page, words were clearly written——

【News from the Astronomy Dao side: the First Wave is confirmed to arrive on May 1, 2024.】

Uesugi Toru's complexion stiffened slightly; he glanced at the current time——

April 28, 2024, 17:49 PM.

Until the First Wave arrives, only 54 hours 11 minutes remain.

The Kendo Hall fell into silent silence, gradually filled bit by bit by the cheerful laughter of students from outside.

Uesugi Toru was silent for a few seconds, then picked up his bamboo sword and pointed it at the girl, simultaneously accelerating the operation of the Corona Breathing Technique.

Shizuku took a deep breath, shaking off fatigue and sweat together.

She shouted loudly,

"Come!"

Shizuka Mami didn't say much, just silently did the logistics work on the side, letting the two of them almost not need to consider anything except improving their strength.

……

Time passed unexpectedly peacefully and swiftly.

In two cycles of sun and moon, Uesugi Toru sparred with Shizuku day and night without distinction.

At the same time, he explored the Constant World during rest intervals, wanting to complete two more main and side quests of Kisaragi Station before the First Wave arrived, to obtain rewards that could further improve his strength.

Unfortunately, he neither found the Mountain Inn nor encountered the driver from the Main Story Mononoke, only harvesting a not-insignificant amount of Soul Ash.

In a blink, the date arrived at April 30, the day before the First Wave arrives——

Aibetsuriku triggered 【Red Tide】 early on this day.

Because of Shizuka Mami.

Month-end, brothers who haven't voted, cast your monthly tickets!

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End of Chapter