Chapter 183: All Demons Gather in One Hall, the Buddha's Kindness Remains Unrepaid

Mikawa Province, Nishio Castle.

In the afternoon, the prayers of the faithful chanting "Amitabha" echoed both inside and outside the Pure Land True Sect.

Before the golden statue of Amitabha Tathagata in the Hondo.

Although the wooden doors of the Hondo were all thrown wide open, the monk-soldiers and monks coming and going could only see the Dharma Master Renko sitting alone in lotus position before the golden statue, eyes half-lowered, imposing without anger.

Commanding the tens of thousands of monks throughout the Pure Land True Sect within Mikawa Province, he sat upon a worn-out meditation cushion.

The Dharma Master called Renko had muscles knotted all over his body, a physique like a bear's, thick oak-colored Buddha beads hanging from his neck, a gray, worn, ancient robe draped over his shoulders, chanting sutras, his face dignified and compassionate.

On the other side of the Hondo, the dull sound of the mallet striking the wooden fish's head echoed evenly, as if it would never stop.

At Renko Dharma Master's side, a clean little novice monk lifted a paint-chipped teapot, smiling as he poured tea for him.

Trickle, trickle...

Slap.

The tea's pouring abruptly halted.

Renko Dharma Master's chanting motion likewise stagnated for a moment.

He extended his rough five fingers, picked up the not-yet-full teacup, sipped a mouthful of scalding tea, then asked faintly,

"Benefactor Sickness and Suffering, what has happened?"

The clean little novice monk answered after blinking: "At a certain spot on the edge of Mikawa, all contact with the dependents under me suddenly severed completely."

"And it was all at once, not a single bit remained."

The little novice monk gestured with some surprise.

Speaking, a trace of worry appeared on that childish small face of his, he retreated half a step, set down the teapot, made a gesture of parting,

"Renko Dharma Master, these recent days, thank you for your care..."

Renko raised his palm, gently placed it on the novice's shoulder, turned his head and looked at him expressionlessly,

"Benefactor need not worry, that Sword Saint old man was lured away to cultivate at the southernmost tip of Nankaido ten days ago."

"Right now, it is absolutely impossible for him to reach Mikawa in time."

Renko loosened his five fingers and said coldly.

Thereupon the little novice monk sat back down, revealing a cheerful smile.

"This loss of Benefactor's dependents is perhaps because of Imagawa Yoshimoto's arrival."

Bang, bang, bang.

The sound of mallet striking wooden fish suddenly stopped.

Replacing it was a voice hoarse like two rough pieces of wood rubbing: "Imagawa Chubu Daifu Suke Yoshimoto, huh... Ever since he came into Mikawa territory, this poor monk has often heard this name from the conversations of passersby on the roadside.

It seems he is the ruler of this region, also called a Daimyo."

Before the round, smooth wooden fish, the monk with a body the color of wood set down the mallet in his hand, pressed his palms together in prayer, and spoke stiffly.

"Damo, you are mistaken."

Renko turned his head and corrected sternly,

"——He is a Great Daimyo who can make the whole of Mikawa Province stable and peaceful again, where nothing happens."

This scene, however, is one no one wished to see.

Everyone, from long before, had joined forces and plotted for who knows how long to turn Mikawa into this ideal state it is now.

Now that Imagawa Yoshimoto has come, he wants to turn it back?

Where would there be such a good deal.

Damo did not speak, and resumed striking the wooden fish.

The little novice monk, or rather Sickness and Suffering, blinked after hearing this, touching his chin thoughtfully.

A few seconds later, Sickness and Suffering took out an incomparably detailed map from inside his clothing lining, spread it before Renko, then pointed upward: "Here."

The spot Sickness and Suffering pointed to was precisely the first village where Uesugi Toru and Imagawa Yoshimoto encountered a large number of Corrupted Ones!

Without waiting for Renko to speak, Damo sprang up with a scrape, speaking hoarsely,

"Then let this poor monk go solve this person."

At this moment, a white dove flapping its wings flew in against the warm afternoon sunlight, passed through the wide-open doors, and landed on Renko's heavy shoulder.

Renko opened the small wooden cylinder by its claw, took out the rolled paper inside, and after a single glance couldn't help but laugh heartily,

"Everyone, that Imagawa great army only just set out this morning; this is merely the vanguard.

Therefore, no need to rush for now."

Sickness and Suffering, who was just lifting the teapot and continuously pouring scalding tea into his mouth, curled his mouth up after hearing this.

Great army?

That's what he likes best...

Damo was just about to sit down and continue striking the wooden fish while reciting sutras in his heart, when he heard the dong-dong of a bell from outside the door.

The bell sound was slow and grand, making Renko's smile deepen by a degree.

In just a moment, a little novice monk came running hurriedly from outside the door, respectfully bowing to remind the Renko Dharma Master sitting alone in the empty Hondo,

"Dharma Master, the once-daily 'Gratitude Lecture' is about to begin; today's benefactors coming to pray and make wishes are even more numerous than the previous days, please..."

"This poor monk knows."

Renko rose from the meditation cushion, dragging his robe worn through in many places, walked to the little novice monk's side, pressed his palms together, and bowed kindly,

"Many thanks, little monk, for the timely reminder."

"No... no no, I merely fulfilled my due duty..."

The gray-robed little novice monk who hadn't been initiated long waved his hands in some fluster, so nervous he even got his self-reference wrong.

Renko didn't say anything more, but directly walked toward the direction of the vast Broad Square.

The young monk standing in place first gazed at the Amitabha statue, bathed in sunlight as if his whole body radiated dazzling golden light.

Then he looked at Renko, whose cloth shoes and robe were worn through, yet he still could not bear to replace them.

"Venerable Adult... you are truly frugal in daily life."

The young monk was sighing when he suddenly saw two monks, one tall and one short, appear beside Renko.

"Huh? Am I seeing things wrong?"

"—I've already planted a seed on that monk, since you wouldn't let him leave first and saw me and Damo suddenly appear."

Disguised as a timid young monk, Sickness and Suffering murmured.

"It's fine, Benefactor Sickness and Suffering." Renko showed a warm smile. "That is his destined fate."

"Uh..."

This human is too hypocritical.

Even Sickness and Suffering couldn't help but feel nauseated by those words, so he cursed twice in his heart and then said nothing more.

Not long after, Renko walked unhurriedly into the vast Broad Square, then raised his foot to mount the steps and ascended the high platform built within the square.

Renko shifted his gaze from the Buddha statue behind him, already half-filled with Wish Power.

He turned around, facing the square and the temple gate, as well as the hundreds and thousands of steps leading down to the mountain foot beyond.

Likewise, he faced the countless believers packed into the square, outside the temple gate, and on the steps.

Renko smiled as he listened to the dense, wonderful sounds of prayer.

Sickness and Suffering walked behind him, casting his gaze downward—

No matter man or woman, old or young, or what plague they suffered, at this moment they all knelt devoutly before him, this Culprit.

He murmured softly,

"Humans are truly a foolish kind of creature."

"Yes, these unenlightened fools are no different from stupid pigs; it's only thanks to Benefactor Sickness and Suffering that you can squeeze every bit of value from them."

Renko replied without changing expression, then raised both hands, letting his voice carry throughout the temple inside and out at the moment the bell stopped,

"Silence!"

Only after the crowd instantly fell quiet did he reveal a pitying smile and continue loudly,

"Because of your long-standing devout faith, the Tathagata Amitabha has been moved, and today specially bestows Buddha's grace capable of curing one hundred and fifty-two people!"

Warm Buddha Light blossomed around Renko's body, complementing the Buddha statue behind him with its raised palm, as if a compassionate Buddha had come into the world.

Renko pressed his palms together,

"Greeting."

Instantly, a prayer like a mountain collapsing and sea surging rose,

"Greeting!"

Next, Renko stepped back several steps, letting Sickness and Suffering, this "pure young monk bestowed with the Buddha's grace," stand at the front, and "seriously" select those to be cured from the crowd.

Sickness and Suffering pointed randomly: "This Benefactor, please step forward!"

Below, the woman holding a boy who had been in a coma with a high fever for days immediately showed ecstasy, scrambling up the steps to stand before Sickness and Suffering.

The woman raised the boy in her arms, kowtowed heavily, and couldn't help but shed tears of joy,

"Please bestow Buddha's grace, Master!"

"Do not rush, Benefactor." Sickness and Suffering extended his glowing finger, smiling to comfort her, "With the grace of the Tathagata Amitabha, your child will surely be safe and sound."

Sickness and Suffering lightly touched the boy's forehead, absorbing all the plague and aftereffects on his body.

Immediately, the boy, whose high fever had nearly brought him to death, opened his eyes, sat up by himself, and said dazedly to the woman, "Mother..."

The woman covered her mouth in disbelief, pulled the boy into her arms, and wept while lowering her head,

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

Sickness and Suffering: "Benefactor should not thank me, but thank the Tathagata Amitabha."

So the woman immediately changed her words: "Greeting! Greeting!"

Sickness and Suffering nodded,

"Alright, next..."

Those randomly selected were overjoyed, either going up the steps themselves or bringing their families, kneeling before Sickness and Suffering to receive "Buddha's grace."

—Sickness and Suffering could easily cure these plagues originating from him, then completely heal these Ordinary People.

But at the same time, he would make everyone who stepped forward become new potential Pathogens, scattering seeds so that scattered Ordinary People would gradually become reserve followers.

Renko listened to the thanks rising from below, felt the Wish Power in the Buddha statue grow ever purer and deeper, and his smile became a touch more sincere.

Until evening, the Buddha's grace healing of fully one hundred and fifty-two people finally ended.

Sickness and Suffering also "inevitably" showed signs of fatigue.

Renko, who had been watching the rising Wish Power from behind, supported his body and waved his wide sleeve,

"Today's Gratitude Lecture ends here; please descend the Mountain in an orderly fashion! Do not harm yourselves or others!"

No one complained.

Only voices of Amitabha, who had witnessed the Buddha's grace with their own eyes and thus grew ever more devout, were transmitted.

Renko looked down on the human tide receding like water, thought of the Wish Power gathered over this past week—more than accumulated in the past hundred years—and sighed, "Truly easy."

"Truly easy." Sickness and Suffering smiled and repeated, "It seems choosing to cooperate with Venerable Adult Renko was indeed correct."

"These humans, under Venerable Adult Renko's manipulation, are just like trash that appears and recedes on schedule."

Damo, who had stood to the side watching for almost an entire Afternoon, listened to their conversation, recalled the scenes he had seen, took out the smooth Wooden Fish from his bosom, and said hoarsely,

"Teacher, I don't quite understand."

Damo asked: "Why did I clearly follow your 'open and aboveboard,' 'leave a line when doing things' approach last time, inform that family in advance that they would be killed, and even deliberately spare that sensible child?"

But in the end, he hated me beyond measure.

Why do Renko and Lord Sickness and Suffering toy with people, letting none escape, yet with just a little disguise, harvest such sincere gratitude and Wish Power?

The Wooden Fish stirred slightly, and from within came a rich, mature voice: "Haha! That's because you haven't realized it yet, Damo!"

Laughter rang out from within the Wooden Fish,

"Why this, why that—Teacher tells you now and you still won't understand—wait until you've seen more in the future, and you'll naturally understand!"

Watching the crowd recede, Renko waved to him and said: "Damo, will you eat the Vegetarian Meal tonight?"

"Eat, eat!"

Sickness and Suffering whistled.

Human food is truly interesting; compared to it, the food made by his followers one by one is simply worse than garbage!

Damo pressed his palms together and bowed slightly,

"Then today, we have troubled the Dharma Master."

The Evening Sun set in the west.

The Buddhas within the Pure Land True Sect vanished.

……

……

……

"Mountain Whale Village."

Imagawa Yoshimoto repeated it once more.

She pondered for Two Seconds, then revealed an expression of sudden understanding.

The "Heavenly Craft" mentioned by the blacksmith of Sunpu Castle earlier seemed related to it.

This was also something Tetsu-kun had kept in mind for a long time.

"If so." Imagawa Yoshimoto suggested, "Tetsu-kun, let's still go ask in that village."

"Alright."

Having finally found a clue, Uesugi Toru would not let it slip away.

But the necessary Vigilance cannot be lacking.

He drew the Plain Spear from his Storage Backpack, rode his Horse to Imagawa Yoshimoto's side, and said: "Lord Imagawa, please follow closely behind me for the road ahead."

Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had been wearing Tosei Gusoku and wanted to say there was no need for this, hesitated for a moment upon seeing Uesugi Toru's serious Expression.

In the end, she still nodded: "Alright."

The brief exchange ended here; only the sound of Horse hooves striking the ground echoed in the night.

This mountain was not far from the Village, at most two or three thousand Meters, so although he deliberately slowed the Horse's pace, they reached the vicinity of the Village within a few Minutes.

Upon approaching, Imagawa Yoshimoto murmured in her heart: "This village... why does it have complete watchtowers and anti-horse barriers?"

She was about to warn the approaching Uesugi Toru to be careful when several arrows shot out immediately from the village's watchtowers.

Swish swish swish!

But these arrows of ordinary force were, to Uesugi Toru, no different from feathers drifting down slowly.

He swung the Plain Spear and struck down all the incoming arrows.

Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had been made the target, not only did not get angry, but revealed a slight Xi Kan: "Tetsu-kun, there are still many living people in this village."

——Given the dire situation in Mikawa Province, she understood the act of attacking unknown targets in the night first.

——If those monsters were placed in the village, it would be more than just a tragedy.

"Stop!"

Amid the taut sound of bowstrings, a vigorous voice came.

Immediately, a bright torch appeared on the watchtower, illuminating a face weathered by Wind and Frost, full of Vigilance, and several young youths so Nervous their faces turned white.

The man holding the torch swept his Gaze over Uesugi Toru, then abruptly stopped on Imagawa Yoshimoto, who wore a full set of Gusoku behind.

The man immediately shouted loudly: "They are not Yokai! Open the door..."

"No! I will personally go down to open the door and check if they have been infected by Yokai!"

Having said this, the man went down the watchtower, first slipping out from the Seam of the thick wooden door, then walking out from among the anti-horse barriers.

Uesugi Toru moved his Gaze from the large "Mountain Whale Village" on the signboard and landed on the man who held a torch in one hand and drew his Tachi vigilantly in the other.

"I am the Village Chief of Mountain Whale Village, Jing Wulang."

Jing Wulang, exhaling some Internal Qi, spoke: "I do not know which Adults the two of you are..."

"Onmyoji, Toru."

Uesugi Toru flicked a faint bolt of Lightning at Jing Wulang's face, causing the latter to be Startled and immediately tense his whole body.

He said lightly: "Behind me is a Big Figure of the Imagawa Clan... this Lightning can prove my Identity; let us go in first, lest Yokai take advantage of the vacancy to enter, how about it?"

Onmyoji... Toru!?

Jing Wulang stared at the Lightning constantly leaping in Uesugi Toru's hand, recalling the Rumor that had been discussed countless times in recent days, and thus doubted nothing.

After all, could Yokai possibly control Heavenly Thunder?

And if he refused to obey the Command, he feared that in the next moment he would turn into a lump of black charcoal under this Thunder.

Jing Wulang immediately bowed and called for people to come down and move away the anti-horse barriers,

"Two Adults, please enter."

Those young Villagers, under the Village Chief's Command, said not a word of complaint or Doubt, but moved obstacles and opened the door with extreme Efficiency, letting Uesugi Toru and the other lead their Horses into the Village.

Naturally, there was no dog-blood incident where someone took umbrage and jumped out to provoke.

Walking into the Village, Imagawa Yoshimoto discovered that the buildings and furnishings within Mountain Whale Village were almost unaffected; instead, the Villagers had actually made preparations to leave the Village.

Jing Wulang had already vaguely guessed the identity of this adult clad in Tosei Gusoku, so upon noticing where Imagawa Yoshimoto's gaze fell, he immediately spoke up to explain,

"Recently, reports of yokai appearing have been coming from within Mikawa Province without cease... our side's situation is comparatively lighter."

Saying this, Jing Wulang, who was about to be forced to leave his homeland and become a refugee, clenched his fist and revealed a resentful expression,

"If we had been any later, we might not have been able to escape."

Imagawa Yoshimoto stopped walking and said, "Then, Jing Wulang."

"This lowly one is here!"

Jing Wulang swallowed his saliva, hearing that armored woman say in an unquestionable soft voice: "From now on, if you see refugees likewise fleeing Mikawa Province, tell them..."

She deliberately abbreviated the formal name representing "etiquette," speaking the taboo that she would normally consider disrespectful, even enough to have someone dragged out and beheaded after saying it once,

"—The Head of Family of the Imagawa Clan, Imagawa Yoshimoto, has already arrived."

Jing Wulang was struck as if by lightning, and upon reacting, immediately knelt on the ground,

"You are..."

"Yes, I have come to turn the tide of Mikawa and slay all these meddling great demons."

Imagawa Yoshimoto lowered her head, guaranteeing word by word to Jing Wulang kneeling on the ground,

"Everything will be fine."

Jing Wulang deeply bowed his head to the ground, turning the thousands of words in his heart into three words spoken aloud,

"Thank you."

Only after Jing Wulang and Imagawa Yoshimoto finished their conversation behind did Uesugi Toru ask the former who had led them to the empty house,

"Why was this place given such a strange village name as Mountain Whale Village? Is there some reason?"

Jing Wulang: "So that later generations do not forget the matter of the Mountain Whale—nearby there is a mountain in which there are particularly many large Mountain Whales that dare to harm people."

"There was even a legend of the existence of a 'Mountain Whale Demon King' in the past."

Uesugi Toru, upon hearing this, couldn't help but reveal a flash of joy on his face.

It matched!

They all matched!

This really is, gaining something without effort!

As Jing Wulang entered a house that had been idle for a long time and seemingly no one had come to for a long while, Uesugi Toru heard him say,

"Two adults, now only this place is available, somewhat shabby..."

"No need to explain." Imagawa Yoshimoto waved her hand, "Jing Wulang, you only need to tell us everything you know of the current situation, and then bring us a map."

Because the samurai Sakata met in Totomi Province escaped a week ago, the information from his mouth definitely has many things that have lost their timeliness.

"Yes, Adult."

Jing Wulang, as the Village Chief, was not vague, immediately pulling a young night watchman from the roadside and having him go fetch the map.

Next, he began to describe the current state of East Mikawa bit by bit to the two.

—Strange plagues are rampant in the city.

—Yokai that only exist in legends constantly appear.

—The Mountain Whales that were previously active have instead made no movement at this moment.

After listening, Uesugi Toru summarized in his heart.

Then, he was shocked to discover that the situation in Mikawa Province, at least East Mikawa, was far better than he had estimated.

Because although various strange plagues are prevalent in cities, Sickness Retainers also often appear.

—But tragic situations like the entire village being wiped out that they saw before are almost nonexistent.

But this isn't right.

If one says Sickness Retainers cannot gnaw on cities with many samurai, that is understandable... but if wanting to wipe out a village, is there any difficulty?

In his view, there is absolutely none!

"Sickness and Suffering, what tricks are they playing..."

Uesugi Toru clicked his tongue, then immediately saw Jing Wulang take the map from the doorway, place the torch to one side, and spread it out.

He was stunned for a moment.

Because this map was unexpectedly somewhat exquisite and detailed.

Uesugi Toru crouched down and asked, "Where is the mountain where Mountain Whales often appear?"

Jing Wulang asked no more, using his finger to draw a circle beside the village with clear markers,

"Here, if riding a horse it takes about twenty minutes on foot."

The Village Chief hesitated for a moment, but still reminded: "Although Mountain Whales have appeared less recently, for the safety of the two adults, it is best not to enter."

Meeting the gazes of the two, Jing Wulang took a deep breath, then spoke with a somewhat trembling voice,

"Because, when I was a child I once personally saw the Mountain Whale Demon King in the legend that almost no one believes... it is almost as big as a small mountain, a true existence worthy of being called 'Mountain Whale'."

Mountain Whale Demon King, it really exists?

Could the legend actually be true?

Combined with the phenomenon of those Mountain Whales suddenly disappearing recently...

Uesugi Toru pondered for a moment, thinking that if the Mountain Whale Demon King possessed intelligence to communicate, perhaps there was still a chance to convert it into a temporary assistant?

That would be excellent.

Since the existence of Tenshu and the Demon King are now clear.

—Then let's set off tomorrow morning!

End of Chapter