Chapter 153

Uesugi Toru shook his head in his heart, and asked Akechi Yusuke, whose eyes were determined, "How do you want to compete?"

"How do you want to compare?"

Akechi Yusuke was slightly stunned upon hearing this, and actually fell into deep thought quite seriously.

After a good while, he then looked straight at Uesugi Toru and said,

"Uesugi-kun, in order to maximize the possibility of avoiding injury, how about we judge the winner by who first 'pats the opponent's back' or 'grabs the opponent's wrist'?"

No sword drawing, not even counting as exchanging blows.

On the contrary, it's like a harmless, healthy little post-meal digestion game.

——This was probably a rule Akechi Yusuke came up with to avoid both sides suffering mutual destruction due to their similar strength, which would affect the subsequent Shinken Shiai.

Therefore.

Uesugi Toru scratched his head.

——This little brother, does he really believe he can win against me, and then take my place on stage in perfect condition?

"Naturally."

Having said that, Uesugi Toru stood up.

He asked the youth who was taking a deep breath and placing his waist-worn sword here, "Come to think of it, I haven't asked your name yet."

"Akechi Yusuke."

Akechi Yusuke stood straight, bowed slightly to Uesugi Toru: "See you later at the small training ground at the end of the right turn out the door, please give me your guidance, Uesugi-kun."

Actually surnamed Akechi......

Don't know if it's because he's too sensitive, but the first person he thought of was "Akechi Mitsuhide".

However, in this current era, there should still be quite a few people surnamed "Akechi", right?

Uesugi Toru didn't think too much about it, just scanned the surroundings, confirming only Hattori Ayako and three burly men in Special Affairs Bureau uniforms wearing sunglasses wanted to come watch.

Hattori Ayako he could still understand, but what was the reason for the latter three coming, to watch the excitement?

Seemingly seeing Uesugi Toru's doubtful gaze, one of the staff members stepped forward and said: "Our purpose in following you here is to protect you all from harm."

The staff member paused, then added: "Especially you, Uesugi-kun."

Uesugi Toru understood.

These three roughly three-star strength Special Affairs Bureau staff standing here were to prevent the Oboro Moon Hall people from pulling some shady tricks on him before the battle.

Judging by the miserable methods the Oboro Moon Hall disciples used on local Yokai and criminals, this possibility was small, but not completely non-existent.

"Then I'll trouble the three of you."

Uesugi Toru nodded in greeting to the three sturdy figures, then pulled up the two-shaku Adult who was squatting next to Nure-Onna playing games with a grin, and left the assembly room.

The moment he stepped out of the assembly room door, Uesugi Toru could immediately feel the atmosphere emanating from the three beside him instantly shift from lax to vigilant and serious.

This was only natural——with Minami Rituna's presence in the assembly room, there was no need for them to act.

Walking halfway through the empty corridor, Uesugi Toru suddenly stopped, and asked the staff beside him doubtfully,

"Three big brothers, do you feel a sense of being watched by someone?"

The three staff looked at each other in dismay, and after confirming they each had gained nothing, shook their heads in unison, giving a negative answer.

That makes it strange.

Uesugi Toru continued forward, pondering thoughtfully.

This "being watched" feeling had existed since he first arrived at the edge of the Dojo.

It's just that this strange feeling vanished completely the instant he saw Tokugawa Hoshi, making Uesugi Toru think it was an illusion.

And while he was with Minami Rituna just now, nothing happened either, but not long after leaving, it appeared again at some unknown time.

Twice, it couldn't be an illusion.

"Someone is watching everyone in the Dojo, except around Tokugawa Hoshi and Nanjo Sister......"

Uesugi Toru thought silently in his heart, and quickly determined the target by process of elimination.

If there's anyone in this Oboro Moon Hall Dojo who can do this, only one name remains.

Kujou Rōya.

The Dojo Master of Oboro Moon Hall Dojo, the last remaining Sword Saint of Shadow Stream Swordsmanship, said to have lived over a hundred years, the ultimate executioner old hag who has slain at least five or six figures' worth of Yokai.

——This is what Minami Rituna's information given to him said.

"But even a Four-Star Ghost God Level, it's impossible to constantly watch every position of the entire Dojo without stopping, right?"

Until Uesugi Toru walked up to the wooden sign marked "Small Training Ground Number Three", he still hadn't figured out this problem.

But one thing can be confirmed.

That is——best not to transform into a Yokai in this Dojo.

Otherwise, if this old hag who takes pleasure in slaying demons and exorcising evil all day "sees" it, who knows, you might die without knowing how.

Uesugi Toru estimated that with his combat power fully unleashed, he could contend with the strong among Three-Star Half.

But if the opponent reaches Four-Star, becoming Ghost God Level, then everything is completely different.

The reason Four-Star is called "Ghost God Level" is because "Ghost Gods have unfathomable might", a fundamental distinction arising at the level of life essence.

After warning himself in his heart, Uesugi Toru walked out of the corridor, and instantly felt the view before him open up.

Before him, a towering stone arena stood prominently.

The arena's length and width were roughly 25m, not very large but quite reasonable considering the word "Small" on the wooden sign.

The edges had no protective measures, simply surrounded by stones, only leaving an entrance on one side.

"This stone, seems to be specially made."

Uesugi Toru mobilized his Corona Qi, and confirmed this after knocking hard on the stone wall.

He smiled slightly——this way he didn't have to worry about breaking someone else's home arena.

Stepping onto the arena, Uesugi Toru raised his eyes and looked out.

Shigemitsu Yusuke was already standing on the arena with a completely serious face, Qi Coating flowing around his body surface revealing a layer of pure white Qi Coating.

It was clear he had already cultivated the Breathing Technique to at least the "Mastery" level.

As for more detailed information, Uesugi Toru could not tell, because the Breathing Technique the other party cultivated was not within his Cognition range; it should be some relatively special and rare Breathing Technique.

"Mm..."

Uesugi Toru sized up Shigemitsu Yusuke's clear eyes that had not been polluted by the secular world in the slightest once more, then waved his hand first and said,

"Nita Adult."

The girl who had been obediently following behind Uesugi Toru peeked out her head, Blinked: "Toru-sama, Let Me come?"

"Mhm." Uesugi Toru nodded, "Did you hear when he spoke of the Rule earlier?"

Nita Adult crossed her waist proudly: "Although I was playing a game at the time, I remembered every single word without missing a character!"

"That's good."

Uesugi Toru laughed and patted her hat: "If you win, I'll give you a hearty extra meal afterward; whatever you want to eat, just say it!"

"Oh!"

Nita Adult clenched her fists tight, only feeling strength continuously erupting within her body.

Across the arena, Shigemitsu Yusuke, who had not expected Uesugi Toru would let a Shikigami fight him, revealed a stunned expression.

He Opened Mouth: "Uesugi-kun, I am to fight you..."

Uesugi Toru made a "stop" hand gesture at him, feigning Dissatisfied: "Shigemitsu-kun, as a qualified Onmyoji, Shikigami are naturally also part of my strength."

"So if you want to challenge me, then first pass my Shikigami this barrier."

Shigemitsu Yusuke gazed at the black-haired little girl who was not even as tall as his own legs, probably only sixty-some centimeters in Height, and Hesitated:

"No... this is too much bullying her..."

Uesugi Toru's face turned cold: "Shigemitsu-kun, are you looking down on my Shikigami!"

These words made Shigemitsu Yusuke on the opposite side immediately stop his mouth, making Uesugi Toru unable to help but sigh that a youth shallow in worldly experience is indeed easily swayed by others' Emotions.

"Since that's the case, let's begin."

Uesugi Toru said to the fired-up Nita Adult: "Give full play to your whimsical ideas, Nita Adult!"

"Po!"

A string of "whimsical ideas" tools had already been arranged in Nita Adult's Brain.

She knew Uesugi Toru's purpose in letting her fight was to Observe how she applied her sole idealistic new ability.

——And she, Nita Adult, shrinking in the Jizo Statue and binge-reading Light Novels and manga for so many days was not for nothing!

Before Shigemitsu Yusuke could formally bow to Nita Adult, the latter had already stepped on a Floating Board that had inexplicably Appeared.

Then, with a whoosh, she rushed over at a speed difficult for the naked eye to capture!

——After all, when fighting that bunch from Oboro Moon Hall, who would greet you before a fight!

Before Shigemitsu Yusuke could figure out Nita Adult's purpose in flying toward the arena edge, he suddenly saw her Turn Around, using her Finger to make a shooting gesture at him.

"Po, po."

Accompanying Nita Adult's mouth shape, two gray-white Bullets actually appeared out of thin air, and amid intense gunshots they rushed toward Shigemitsu Yusuke.

Hearing these two gunshots no different from a real gun firing, Shigemitsu Yusuke's whole body actually stiffened for a moment, frozen in place unmoving.

——Done for, I didn't bring a sword to slash apart these two Bullets, and the agreed Rule was clearly equivalent to Prohibited Harm to the other party, why is Uesugi-kun's Shikigami shooting at me...

In the emergency, countless complex thoughts surged into Shigemitsu Yusuke's Brain, making him Dazed and frozen in place.

The result was, the two gray-white Bullets "Slap" exploded when they got close to Shigemitsu Yusuke, Transforming Into white ropes that tightly Bound his wrists.

Nita Adult, won.

This unexpected result even Nita Adult herself had not anticipated —— this was merely the first link of her Smooth little combo, just used to "force movement".

There were still links two, three, four, five; even if they all failed there were still continuously nested Plan B, Plan C...

The girl stepped on the Floating Board that had already lost power, very speechlessly huffed once.

——She hadn't let Toru-sama see results yet, how did the opponent just fall down on his own.

Would Toru-sama still give her extra meal like this?

Uesugi Toru, on the other hand, was not surprised by this result.

He looked at Shigemitsu Yusuke still staring at the white ropes on his wrists, not having Reacted, and commented: "Pure academy style is like this."

Only cultivating sword practice, fighting under delineated Rule ranges, yet never truly experiencing Life and Death Struggle.

——Once encountering the unexpected, a serious situation endangering life, they become like Shigemitsu Yusuke, momentarily not knowing what Should Do.

From paper strength, it is indeed Correct that Shigemitsu Yusuke is stronger than Nita Adult, yet he was subdued by the latter in one move.

Probably in the eyes of the three from Oboro Moon Hall, myself with actual Achievement on record not exceeding five times is also "academy style".

So, them looking down on me also has a bit of reason in it.

Uesugi Toru waved at Nita Adult, letting her jog over and untie the bindings on the hands of the little junior brother kneeling on the ground with a face full of disbelief.

"This..."

Shigemitsu Yusuke looked toward the tiny Nita Adult.

He thought of how he had cultivated for so long, been praised for such good talent, yet actually lost in one move to such a small girl, and his face couldn't help but rapidly flush red.

From shame.

"Regardless, I have lost!"

Shigemitsu Yusuke shouted loudly, deeply pressing his head against the arena Surface, assuming a Dogeza posture toward Uesugi Toru and the other,

"Uesugi-kun! I was too arrogant, I'm sorry!"

"Not necessary to that extent."

Uesugi Toru reached out and pulled the little junior up, smiling at him: "Being able to recognize your own deficiencies is a good thing; thinking of it that way, I've helped you too, Akechi-kun."

Akechi Yusuke listened to these words and looked at Uesugi Toru with emotion, his eye sockets turning a bit red.

"Thank you."

He bowed deeply to Uesugi Toru.

After responding, Uesugi Toru led Two Shaku Adult off the platform.

Next, he needed to find a secluded place and seize these dozens of hours before the Shinken Shiai to cultivate the Corona Breathing Technique.

Because Uesugi Toru believed that even without transforming into a Yokai, he had full confidence in victory against Akatsuki Ran and Crow Takes Time Rain, both Two-Star Half.

But Kuzuha Chihaya was different.

She was a genuine Three-Star, and had experience single-handedly killing multi-headed Three-Star Yokai; her achievements were fully verifiable.

Even though Uesugi Toru had previously called her Big Sister, and opposed this woman who gave him an intimidation tactic at first meeting, he had to admit Kuzuha Chihaya's power.

So Uesugi Toru had to seize this short time to increase the Corona Breathing Technique's proficiency.

Then, using the high-intensity battles with Akatsuki Ran and Crow Takes Time Rain, break through the breathing technique again, letting it advance to "Mastery Level" in combat.

In this way, this Shinken Shiai would become a sure thing.

But before that, promised words naturally had to be fulfilled.

"——Two Shaku Adult, extra meal!"

The girl raised both hands and cheered,

"Oh ho! Toru-sama banzai! Loyal! Orange!"

……

Deep in Oboro Moon Hall, in a pitch-black room.

Crow Takes Time Rain, withdrawing his vision from the stone crow beside the small training ground, felt waves of intense nausea,

"How many times has it been and still get sick, can't the body adapt a little……"

Akatsuki Ran, polishing the White Bone Dagger nearby, wearily lifted her eyebrows: "Then go ask Teacher to remodel you into a gargoyle."

Crow Takes Time Rain couldn't be bothered to answer such a stupid question; he merely said: "But fortunately there was some harvest."

He said softly: "That Shikigami always following Uesugi Toru is confirmed not weak, and its ability is somewhat strange and eerie."

Crow Takes Time Rain recalled and speculated: "Perhaps a spatial ability to conjure items from nothing. And from appearance, that Shikigami is most likely the urban Mononoke 'Eight Shaku Figure', only it seems to have undergone a unique mutation."

"In short."

He flipped open the densely packed notes regarding "Uesugi Toru" beside him, and concluded,

"Uesugi Toru likely relies heavily on his Shikigami, but previously also revealed powerful physical ability; data says his Corona Breathing Technique and Tennen Rishin-ryu are also not weak."

Crow Takes Time Rain closed his eyes, tossing the notes toward the writhing shadows beside him.

Soon, creepy chewing sounds rang out, and the entire notebook disappeared.

"——I judge he uses his Shikigami as vanguard to draw fire, while he himself waits for an opportunity; though his Yin-Yang Technique is relatively weak, his Mental Cultivation is not bad, ordinary Mental Illusions should have no effect on him."

Akatsuki Ran lightly placed her index finger on the bone dagger, then saw a blood crack split open on the motionless fingertip surface before withdrawing it,

"Get to the point."

"To deal with him, divide the battlefield and attack vital points, but don't expose too large a flaw, or you might be one-hit killed by hidden means."

Hearing this, Akatsuki Ran jumped down from the rock she was sitting on, startling the crows clustered on the ground into flying toward the rock walls on both sides,

"Thanks for the intel, little crow."

She took a card from her chest lining and tossed it over: "Tonight's hunting target is also arranged, remember not to let Senior Sister disturb my digestion exercise."

After speaking, Akatsuki Ran melted into the darkness like a puddle of liquid, making her once again feel the phantom pain faintly transmitted from all over her body.

She thought indifferently:

——A mere flower carefully nurtured in the Special Affairs Division's greenhouse, how could she possibly be stronger than them who walk the edge of life and death daily hunting Yokai?

Special Affairs Division, stop looking down on people.

……

On the other side, before cultivation, Uesugi Toru suddenly received a message from Minami Rituna on line asking him to go to the assembly room again.

Nothing specific was said about what to do, just to come quickly.

And facing Nanjo Sister's rare request, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

Arriving before the assembly room, Uesugi Toru, about to knock, discovered the door was ajar, not closed.

So he didn't knock, directly pushed the door and entered, seeing Minami Rituna still sitting in the previous sofa position in the assembly room, and also……

Uesugi Toru shifted his gaze, and saw a burly, muscular man, wearing a black-and-white short haori, stubble on his chin, looking extremely rugged just at a glance.

Uesugi Toru's pupils shrank slightly, sensing on the rugged man a surging Spirit Power fluctuation like ocean tides.

Just this leaked Spirit Power quantity exceeded his own by at least ten-odd times.

Strong, very strong!

This man, meaningless as it is, is a Ghost God Level!

And from this Spirit Power fluctuation, most likely a Great Onmyoji!

Before Uesugi Toru could speak, he saw the man raise an eyebrow and ask toward the side: "Nanjo, this is that genius you spoke of?"

Minami Rituna said indifferently: "How is he?"

As the two conversed, Uesugi Toru understood Minami Rituna's intention in calling him over.

This was to let him get acquainted in front of this Great Onmyoji, equivalent to helping him build connections in advance.

He moved his gaze to Minami Rituna's expressionless face.

Nanjo Sister, why are you so good to me……

Also arriving at Oboro Moon Hall as one of the Referees, Kujou Shinya from Onmyoryo sized up Uesugi Toru and evaluated,

"The seedling is indeed quite good, but he's not as much of a genius as you say, Nanjo."

Kujou Shinya shook his head: "Once in a thousand years is too unrealistic. In my view, this Uesugi-kun's future achievements should be about the same as mine, or perhaps a bit higher."

——To have a Ghost God Level figure personally evaluate that he will definitely reach Ghost God Level or even higher in the future is, without a doubt, already an extremely high honor.

But Nanjo Ai smiled,

"Then please, Lord Kujou, remember today's thoughts before you leave, and quietly wait for time to pass."

She said to Kujou Shinya: "Time will prove everything."

Kujou Shinya stared at Uesugi Toru for a while, then nodded noncommittally and walked toward the door.

Just as he was about to leave the assembly room, Nanjo Ai spoke up again as if suddenly remembering something: "Lord Kujou, you made the decision to expel Kujou Tsubaki from the family — will you regret it?"

The crisp sound of the door closing answered Nanjo Ai's question.

Seeing the already not-so-strange Ghost God Level figure leave the room, Uesugi Toru and the Adult both subconsciously relaxed.

——After all, with a humanoid nuclear bomb constantly emitting a threat standing beside them, no one could possibly turn a blind eye.

Uesugi Toru let out a breath, but his gaze couldn't help being drawn to the computer screen Nanjo Ai had open on the side.

He slowly read out the document's huge title,

"《Rough Report on the Current Territory Situation of the Various Sengoku Daimyo》?"

Uesugi Toru blanked for a moment: "Nanjo Sister, does the Special Affairs Division's work also include researching history?"

"What history……"

Hearing the question, Nanjo Ai displeasedly crushed the aluminum can in her hand: "This is the current situation of Chang Shi."

She rubbed her sun temple: "Right now Takeda Yoshinobu is leading troops to attack Yamanashi Prefecture, and if we take Yokohama City afterwards, we might have to face that guy."

Takeda Yoshinobu?

Hearing the familiar name, Uesugi Toru narrowed his eyes.

Isn't Takeda Yoshinobu just the samurai who was the first to greet me at the Genpuku Ceremony before, and had no other highlights besides that.

Oh, and he's also the son of the "Tiger of Kai" Takeda Shingen……

That's not right.

Uesugi Toru asked puzzledly: "Nanjo Sister, you mean people from the Sengoku Period have revived in Chang Shi, and are leading troops to probe and attack Genjitsu?"

Nanjo Ai nodded: "Good summarization ability."

She tapped her knee with her finger: "Heard that on the Shikoku side there are also Sengoku Daimyo probing."

"But that's not within our Special Affairs Division's jurisdiction anymore, let the Onmyoryo with too many troops and nowhere to put them have a headache over it."

Uesugi Toru was stunned upon hearing this.

Sengoku Period Daimyo or famous figures reviving in Chang Shi — it sounds like a common phenomenon?

He asked this question.

"Not necessarily so."

Nanjo Ai explained to him: "It's just that the more famous a famous figure, the greater the probability of their existence."

She counted on her fingers: "Like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu — these widely known Three Heroes of the Warring States are definitely all in Chang Shi, which is who knows how many times more vast than Genjitsu, having carved out their own territories."

"It's just that they should still be lying low accumulating strength, wanting to wait for an absolutely perfect opportunity, so they haven't rashly moved against Genjitsu."

Uesugi Toru listened quietly, then suddenly, as if possessed, asked Nanjo Ai,

"If that's the case, then is it possible that Imagawa Yoshimoto is also currently in some corner of Chang Shi?"

(End of Chapter)