Chapter 181: Eight Sufferings · Sickness and Suffering, Divine Oracle · Great Misfortune

On the rough country roads of Totomi Province, Sakata said in a hoarse voice,

"Maybe it was one day a week ago, or maybe it was a certain moment... anyway, after a sudden instant, something became different."

Under Uesugi Toru's gaze, the sturdy and robust samurai seemed to recall something unpleasant, so his complexion turned pale,

"Before this turning point, as long as ordinary people stayed at home and weren't conscripted as ashigaru, basically nothing would happen, at worst the following days would be a bit tight."

"But after this—"

Unheard-of diseases appeared, spreading at an abnormal and completely unreasonable speed, and crops meant to be harvested all inexplicably withered and died... to the point that a famine situation appeared at some unknown time."

Sakata continued speaking in a dry voice,

"Besides this, there are also strange yokai appearing one after another from who knows where, just like the yokai Your Excellency the Great Onmyoji killed with thunder techniques earlier."

"Unable to communicate, killing people, bringing plagues..."

Imagawa Yoshimoto listened silently, her complexion only getting worse and worse.

Her fingernails had already embedded into her palm, causing bright red blood to drip from her joints and seep into the dirt.

Uesugi Toru, on the other hand, had an indifferent expression, looking at the kill prompt that had popped up earlier.

【You killed Sickness Retainer · Miasma Ghost (Half-Star), gained 3 Soul Ash.】

One of the Eight Sufferings.

The sickness and suffering among birth, aging, sickness, and death.

This was his second time seeing the Eight Sufferings.

And the first time he saw the Eight Sufferings, in just those few days, Ai Parting Li, who was only a three-star, in a big city like Tokyo, under the eyes of the Special Affairs Division, stirred up a "Red Tide" that almost destroyed the entire Arakawa Ward.

Although Ai Parting Li was able to do this under the cover of the First Wave.

But compared to Mikawa Province in the Sengoku Period and Arakawa Ward in the modern world, neither the number of cultivators nor the reaction speed could compare at all.

And the area of Mikawa Province was far, far larger than just a single Arakawa Ward.

Even if the number of people and population density wasn't that high, having such a piece of "fertile" soil where it could develop freely, Mikawa Province's current situation must be far worse than the time of the Red Tide.

Fortunately, there is still a piece of good news that has already been confirmed.

That is, historically, Mikawa Province and the Imagawa Clan were not destroyed because of this, and in 1560 Imagawa Yoshimoto still chose to go to Kyo.

Now, there are only a little over three years left until 1560.

This shows that the Imagawa Clan's losses were not too severe.

That is to say, the current Sickness and Suffering should not be too powerful yet.

It might even not be comparable to a three-star Ai Parting Li.

Otherwise, let alone Mikawa Province, I'm afraid the Suruga and Totomi regions under the Imagawa Clan's rule, and even the entire Tokaido, would fall into the shadow of plague, death, and famine.

This is probably the only piece of good news for now.

"Then this sixty-two-day mission countdown..."

Uesugi Toru thought: "Earlier I didn't quite understand, but now I think it should be related to Sickness and Suffering."

After the sixty-two days are over, Sickness and Suffering should be able to smoothly advance to the next stage, just like Ai Parting Li waiting for the First Wave before.

So something must be done before this to interrupt Sickness and Suffering's "progress."

Uesugi Toru glanced at the remaining mission countdown and sighed slightly in relief.

Forty-two days.

There are still a full forty-two days until Sickness and Suffering completes its idea.

The time is barely sufficient.

Fortunately, Imagawa Yoshimoto has enough influence within the Imagawa Clan, and I made her value this matter of Mikawa Province.

Otherwise, if there were only half a month or even ten days left now, that would truly be hopeless.

But new problems followed one after another.

—Even if he and Imagawa Yoshimoto enter Mikawa, how would they find Sickness and Suffering?

When facing Ai Parting Li before, it was by letting Mafuyu Knot alone hold the Spirit Board that they successfully lured out the other party before the First Wave arrived, avoiding greater losses.

But such a method cannot be used on Sickness and Suffering.

Because until now, Uesugi Toru only learned of the other party's existence for the first time.

—Also, is an army of six or seven thousand people entering Mikawa Province a good thing or a bad thing?

Not to mention those samurai who cultivated Breathing Techniques, Uesugi Toru felt the ashigaru facing the situation in Mikawa Province and Sickness and Suffering's retainers could probably only drag others down.

This point is easy to decide.

The current situation is undecided; to avoid letting so many people become Sickness and Suffering's provisions, let a large number of ashigaru wait for now, only letting the kumigashira and samurai who can stand on their own enter Mikawa Province.

Wait until things settle down, then let the numerous ashigaru come over to clean up.

As for how to deal with Sickness and Suffering.

Uesugi Toru looked at the History Key in the Storage Backpack—the Special Affairs Division definitely has a lot of relevant materials, he can definitely get some by asking Nanjo Sister.

But as long as it concerns the Eight Sufferings, no matter the current situation, it absolutely cannot be considered a small matter.

Even if it's Rituna Minami, she will definitely ask him what happened and why he asked her this at that time.

—This kind of small matter, let's just cross the bridge when we come to it.

Sakata continued speaking, causing Uesugi Toru's gaze to shift back to him,

"The death toll in Mikawa Province rose rapidly from that time, and the situation in various cities and villages also began to deteriorate significantly."

He slowly said: "Many places are simply no different from 'Hell'."

"—So I hurriedly escaped from Mikawa Province, and by chance became the boss of this band of bandits, active on the country roads and official roads in this area."

"On one hand, it's to find some food for myself and them."

Sakata looked at the man still kneeling on the ground now, and snorted displeasedly,

"On the other hand, it'll also make those who still want to go to Mikawa Province to do whatever scram back, so they don't pointlessly die over there."

The middle-aged man who had brought most of his belongings, wanting to do business in Mikawa Province, gaped, his expression blank; he hadn't expected there to be such a reason behind it all.

Sakata's words hadn't stopped yet,

"Yet even with Mikawa reduced to this state, those bald donkeys of the Buddhist Sect still haven't stopped their same old actions, even intensifying their efforts……"

"It's my fault." Imagawa Yoshimoto gently closed her eyes, "From the first day I began ruling Mikawa, I should have uprooted the Demon Gate from the map entirely."

After all, that is the very nature of the Buddhist Sect.

Rather than calling them monks who eat vegetarian and chant sutras day in and day out to ferry others across, it would be more accurate to call them war merchants who hold resources, a pack of scavengers wearing a skin of benevolence.

She silently turned her head again, and saw Uesugi Toru's brows knitted almost into a single knot, and a face silent and cold like pig iron.

This was the first time Imagawa Yoshimoto had ever seen Uesugi Toru reveal such an expression.

Before this, whether facing demons and ghosts, the Elder, or the Mikawa Revolt, Tetsu-kun had almost always worn a look of calm indifference, unhurried, everything firmly in hand.

Therefore, the situation in Mikawa Province was definitely extremely dire, dire enough to exceed even her current imagination.

She bit her lip, suddenly recalling that afternoon at the Imagawa Residence.

So she asked,

"Mr. Toru, that…… can the Divination Sticks still be used now?"

Uesugi Toru, his train of thought interrupted, blinked.

Right, the Divination Sticks haven't been used yet.

He'd almost forgotten the Sticks' cooldown was long since ready…… right now, before making a critical choice, wasn't that precisely the best time to use the Sticks?

Uesugi Toru took the Divination Sticks from his Storage Backpack and solemnly placed them into Imagawa Yoshimoto's hands.

He slowly said,

"Lord Imagawa, among the Great Demons we are about to face, there is at least the existence of 'Sickness and Suffering'; please proceed with that as your premise."

"Sickness and Suffering……"

Before this, Imagawa Yoshimoto had never heard this name.

Yet even just hearing it for the first time, just murmuring those two characters for the first time, she inexplicably felt a bone-deep chill and revulsion.

She tightly gripped the Divination Sticks, and after closing her eyes and waiting for ten-odd seconds, began to slowly shake the not-light-not-heavy Sticks in her hand.

Clack.

A few seconds later, an Omikuji fell onto a protruding stone on the road.

Uesugi Toru, about to bend down and pick it up, froze, his breath hitching along with the motion.

He didn't even need to pick it up; Uesugi Toru could already tell what the suffix of this Omikuji fallen on the ground, red as blood, would be.

But in the end he still picked up this Omikuji, fresh red like blood.

Under the joint gaze of him and Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had opened her eyes, the introduction of the Omikuji engraved with the square, upright characters "Daikyo" on its back popped up——

【Omikuji·Daikyo】

【——Natural disasters, famine, plague, demonic calamities, man-made disasters…… boundless darkness and despair breed in Mikawa Province.】

Uesugi Toru didn't speak.

He looked at the girl who had taken the blood-colored Omikuji.

Imagawa Yoshimoto also didn't speak.

Sakata, not far away, upon seeing this blood color, likewise pressed down his palm, silencing the bandit subordinates behind him.

The surrounding atmosphere was still as a deep pool.

A moment later, Uesugi Toru remembered the Divination Sticks' other function.

Resign Token.

But before that, he conveyed this Omikuji's introduction to Imagawa Yoshimoto, word for word, completely and entirely, without missing a single character.

The latter used her blood-stained fingertip to stroke the Omikuji, unknown what she was thinking.

Uesugi Toru continued,

"There is still one chance to Resign, Lord Imagawa."

Imagawa Yoshimoto spoke softly: "Then let's try, Mr. Toru."

Uesugi Toru touched the Sticks, used his mind to click the Resign effect, then placed it back into the girl's hands,

"Please shake once more, Lord Imagawa."

Imagawa Yoshimoto complied.

Under the gaze of the onlookers, whether solemn or confused, she shook for a full half minute before the second Omikuji slid out from the narrow opening.

This time Uesugi Toru caught it before it hit the ground, gripping it in his palm.

Then, under Imagawa Yoshimoto's intent gaze, he slowly opened his hand.

It was black.

Pitch black without a single trace of mixed color, only the blood-colored characters "Daikyo" on it displayed before everyone's eyes.

【Omikuji·Daikyo】

【——Ahead lies plague, ahead lies death.】

Uesugi Toru took a deep breath, and in the most indifferent, most calm tone, read this interpretation out to Imagawa Yoshimoto: "Ahead lies plague, ahead lies death."

Imagawa Yoshimoto took the black Omikuji and placed the two Omikuji together.

Sakata, hearing this, hurriedly retreated two steps, afraid Uesugi Toru's blood might splash by his feet in a moment.

——To dare speak such words to the current Head of the Imagawa Clan, he truly must hate living too long!

Dead silence spread through the air.

The blood-colored Omikuji, and the black Omikuji obtained from the Resign.

In short, as long as he went to Mikawa, Imagawa Yoshimoto would face a "Daikyo" situation.

Uesugi Toru couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

——Compared to Imagawa Yoshimoto, is this "Lord of Tokaido's" first stage mission, whether or not to suppress Mikawa Province, really that important?

The answer was no.

The mission to suppress the Mikawa Uprising was indeed important, but if Imagawa Yoshimoto carelessly died of Sickness and Suffering in Mikawa Province, then everything would become empty.

Right now, Imagawa Yoshimoto herself still had to be the priority.

Moreover, Mikawa Province bordered Owari and Mino Province; even if left alone, Sickness and Suffering could cause severe impact on the Oda Clan.

Perhaps, after some time, the impact on the Oda Clan would be even greater than on the Imagawa Clan!

The Lord of Tokaido's mission also couldn't completely fail just because the stage mission failed — two million koku could still be accumulated afterwards.

Thinking of this, Uesugi Toru spoke to the girl who had been silent for a long time: "Then Lord Imagawa, there is a method right now."

He tried his best to maintain an indifferent tone and said,

"Abandon Mikawa Province, withdraw the deployed army, and then build a strict defense line at the border of Mikawa and Suruga, letting the calamity caused by Sickness and Suffering spread towards Oda Nobunaga's territory."

Imagawa Yoshimoto listened silently to the end, then raised her eyes; upon discovering Uesugi Toru seemed to truly think this way, she shook her head.

Not even half a shred of hesitation.

She replied just as flatly, her tone resolute: "Tetsu-kun, I absolutely cannot do that."

Uesugi Toru had long anticipated this answer, so he brought out the second plan: "Then Lord Imagawa, you return to Sunpu Castle first, return to the Imagawa Residence, and let me and Motonobu-nee go handle this……"

Imagawa Yoshimoto stood on tiptoe, raised her fingers stained with warm fresh blood, and pressed them against Uesugi Toru's mouth, cutting off the words that would have made her a coward and weakling she could never forget.

Blood wound along the wound on her palm, flowing down, leaving a dazzling trace on her snow-white skin; Imagawa Yoshimoto was incomparably serious,

"Just as Tetsu-kun you said before, my role does not lie in doing something, in helping how much."

"——But in being a symbol!"

Her tone was clearly flat, yet Uesugi Toru felt these words were nearly a roar,

"Towards the people within Mikawa Province, towards my subjects, and towards that Sickness and Suffering lurking in the shadows spreading death and despair, towards those Great Demons, I declare!"

"——I! The Lord of Mikawa Province, Imagawa Yoshimoto, have come!"

The Head of Family of the Imagawa Clan stared into his pupils, took a deep breath; those dark pupils were silently ignited by fire, like iron forged a thousand times from molten lava.

"The subjects there need me, Toru."

Uesugi Toru didn't know how to answer for a moment.

The words were indeed as Imagawa Yoshimoto said.

In this situation that could be called despair, if Imagawa Yoshimoto could actively stand within the gaze of the Mikawa Province subjects, the benefits and hope brought would absolutely be immeasurable.

Her fame would also skyrocket because of this.

But simultaneously, she would also unavoidably enter the sight of Sickness and Suffering.

Just because of this little matter, she would be marked by one of the Eight Sufferings.

Was it worth it?

Uesugi Toru felt the scorching heat before his lips and the girl's will, harder and more unyielding than steel, and fell into deep thought.

But if he let Imagawa Yoshimoto go back now, the possibility of her existing in Chang Shi in the future would decrease by a fraction.

How to choose……

After a long time, Uesugi Toru opened his mouth slightly, and grasped Imagawa Yoshimoto's hand.

It seemed, he had overlooked a problem.

He smiled helplessly: "Lord Imagawa, no matter what I say, no matter what answer I give, it won't change your mind, will it?"

"Mhm, it won't."

Imagawa Yoshimoto replied as such.

"Although I said everything depends on you before, the situation is slightly different now, and I have also understood my own feelings."

She lowered her head slightly towards Uesugi Toru, and said faintly,

"Tetsu-kun, please forgive me."

——If he knocked Imagawa Yoshimoto unconscious here, then his relationship with her would probably end here, whether as lord and retainer or friendship.

"Lord Imagawa, this rotten temper of yours really gives one a bit of a headache."

"That's why I'm apologizing."

One question, one answer, ended Uesugi Toru's last thought of persuasion.

He rubbed his sun temple, took out a handkerchief from his storage backpack, wiped away the blood in Imagawa Yoshimoto's palm, and then dripped a drop of Awakening Spirit Mist on it.

Seeing the tiny wound heal, Uesugi Toru sighed, and knelt on one knee before the Imagawa Clan Head who was 1.4 meters tall,

"Then Lord Imagawa, please give me your order."

Imagawa Yoshimoto blanked for a moment, but then couldn't help but curve her lips upward, joy overflowing beyond words.

She placed her palm on Uesugi Toru's shoulder, and said solemnly,

"Great Onmyoji Toru, I order you to go to Mikawa Province together with me to exorcise the Sickness and Suffering demonic calamity, calm the people's hearts, suppress the rebellion, and protect me from not even a shred of harm."

"Toru, I humbly obey Lord Imagawa's command."

……

After rising, looking at the black-haired girl beside him burning like fire, Uesugi Toru couldn't help but fall into deep thought again.

Although he had now reached a consensus with Imagawa Yoshimoto, since Sickness and Suffering, one of the Eight Sufferings, had appeared in Mikawa Province, the previous plan needed a major overhaul.

Because the situation was completely different now.

First, he could no longer return to the Imagawa Residence in Suruga Province with Okabe Motonobu in three days to deal with those undying old geezers.

Those Elders certainly had to die, and would die sooner or later.

But they were ultimately not as important as the Sickness and Suffering; one could even say they did not amount to one ten-thousandth of the threat posed by the Sickness and Suffering.

Those Elders were at most just a dog by the roadside; if one wanted to kick them to death, a casual stomp of the foot would suffice.

But the matter of Mikawa Province could not be delayed any further.

Simply searching for the Heavenly Artisan within Mikawa Province's borders would likely take no small amount of time; Uesugi Toru could not waste time on such irrelevant places.

"I must convey this news and the changed plan to Motonobu-nee."

Uesugi Toru mused, and he estimated that relying on himself alone, or sending the Two-Shaku Adult to merely move his lips, would most likely be useless.

Even if he did not go, Okabe Motonobu would go there alone herself.

It had to be a letter handwritten by Imagawa Yoshimoto, and then have the Two-Shaku Adult deliver it into her hands.

Only then could Okabe Motonobu understand the severity of the current situation in Mikawa Province.

Uesugi Toru thought: "After we get horses later, I'll have the Two-Shaku Adult go alone to speak."

Otherwise, the movement speed without horses would still be too slow.

—He could hardly carry Imagawa Yoshimoto and run all the way; that would not only be troublesome and waste physical strength, but also risk being too late to respond to sudden situations.

For now, they still had to sit on the Two-Shaku Adult's Floating Board and hurry to a city first before discussing anything else.

Before leaving, Uesugi Toru said to the middle-aged man preparing to do business in Mikawa: "Give Sakata and them one-third of the money and food, then return."

"After all, without them, your family would most likely die miserably in Mikawa Province within several days."

Having spoken, Uesugi Toru and Imagawa Yoshimoto boarded the Floating Board again, rising swiftly into the air amid the voices of thanks from Sakata, the bandits, and that family.

After they disappeared from sight, no one kept the two groups on the country road in mind any longer.

Uesugi Toru thought for a moment, then raised a finger toward Imagawa Yoshimoto, who was constantly tapping her knee and appeared somewhat restless.

"Lord Imagawa, because of the existence of the Sickness and Suffering, before entering Mikawa Province you must agree to three rules with me."

Imagawa Yoshimoto's movement paused; she exhaled: "Tetsu-kun, you speak."

"First, you are prohibited from leaving my sight range, because there may exist Yokai that even I have never seen before."

The girl nodded: "It should be so."

"Second, when facing any person or event within Mikawa Province, all disposal methods must follow me."

Imagawa Yoshimoto pursed her lips, and finally replied: "Mm, I will not meddle."

"Third, and the most important point."

Uesugi Toru spoke seriously,

"If we are accidentally separated, please do not believe anyone, and do not eat or drink any food or water given by anyone."

"I have remembered it."

Imagawa Yoshimoto nodded equally seriously, and after a few seconds recited Uesugi Toru's three rules back verbatim without missing a word.

"I hope Lord Imagawa can keep the promise."

"I will certainly not fail Tetsu-kun's entrustment."

Uesugi Toru took out the small Life and Death Taiko from his Storage Backpack and handed it to her.

Imagawa Yoshimoto took the small drum, gazing at the "Life" and "Death" characters on it, and hesitated: "Tetsu-kun, this is……"

"Life and Death Taiko."

Uesugi Toru carefully explained the different effects of the two sides, and said solemnly: "Please, Lord Imagawa, certainly do not strike the wrong side out of anxiety."

A small drum that can attract and repel Yokai……

Imagawa Yoshimoto carefully tied it up and placed it inside her inner lining: "Thank you for your trouble, Tetsu-kun."

"Just a small prop, it counts for nothing." Uesugi Toru said lightly, "If Lord Imagawa can return safe and sound this trip, then Toru will be at ease."

Next, the Floating Board fell into a long silence again.

Imagawa Yoshimoto used the brush and paper Uesugi Toru gave her, and wrote a temporary letter according to his requirements, stuffing it into the Two-Shaku Adult's hands.

As for Okabe Motonobu violating her command and wanting to execute the Elders early, that now didn't count for much.

The chaos along the way from Totomi to Mikawa gradually increased, but overall Totomi Province had not been affected much and was considered stable.

The influence of the Sickness and Suffering was still confined within Mikawa Province.

The two bought two horses in Totomi Province with thick, sturdy hooves and legs, about as tall as Imagawa Yoshimoto — "fine steeds."

—In the Sengoku Period, this already counted as among the top-tier good horses one could directly buy in a market.

Thus the Two-Shaku Adult departed alone, taking the map and letter and heading back toward the large army led by Okabe Motonobu.

Because they had already reached a city at the Totomi-Mikawa border, even though the road was bumpy and rugged, the two rode horses and entered the slightly desolate Mikawa territory in just a few hours.

However, just over ten minutes after riding along the main road, Uesugi Toru felt something was wrong.

It wasn't any sound, or any aspect of the air or atmosphere being off.

Rather,

The entirety of Mikawa Province was wrong.

Uesugi Toru glanced at Imagawa Yoshimoto beside him without leaving a trace, and discovered she was still unaware.

"In any case, let's first find living people to ask about the current specific situation……"

Following the direction Imagawa Yoshimoto pointed, the two hurried toward the nearest village.

After several dozen more minutes, Imagawa Yoshimoto had already spotted that village of no large scale in the distance, and could faintly see a few black shadows shaking at the edge of the horizon.

She said with a hint of joy: "Tetsu-kun, that is the village!"

(End of Chapter)