Chapter 184

The night deepened.

Drifting clouds finally swallowed the silver moon in the sky whole, letting a viscous darkness where one could not see their own five fingers fall upon the earth.

Not to mention, Jing Wulang, carrying a torch, had already left a moment ago.

But this had no effect on Uesugi Toru; wearing a Hannya mask at his waist, he saw the night as bright as day.

After simply clearing the dust from the room with his Gang Qi, he had Imagawa Yoshimoto sit on the dry bamboo mat.

Compared to a room for people to live in, this place was more like a small storage room, so there was no distinction between earth seat and earthen floor, nor a heated kang for cooking and sleeping.

The girl was doffing her armor.

Even in the darkness, Imagawa Yoshimoto could, relying on past experience, remove the complex pieces of her Tosei Gusoku one by one and place them neatly to the side.

Once the heavy Gusoku was removed, the padded silk Kosode worn underneath for warmth was revealed.

The Kosode exists to prevent the Gusoku from chafing directly against the skin, so it wraps the body quite tightly and closely.

Therefore, her curves were obvious.

However, Imagawa Yoshimoto did not mind these things; after all, at this time, even she needed to put her palm before her nose tip to see clearly.

"Lord Imagawa, please rest early."

Uesugi Toru took off his loose Chief Priest Robe and placed the edge of its sleeve into Imagawa Yoshimoto's hand.

He stood up and said: "I'll go out and walk a couple of circles to check for any accidents."

"Thanks for the trouble, Tetsu-kun."

After responding, Imagawa Yoshimoto pulled the still-warm long robe over herself and covered her body with it.

——The Sengoku Period did not yet have the concept of "blankets," so the vast majority of people slept by taking off the clothes they wore daily and covering themselves with them.

——And it was not uncommon for retainers to take off their warm clothing and give it to their lord.

Uesugi Toru didn't say much more, but deliberately let his footsteps sound so Imagawa Yoshimoto could hear he had gone out the door.

Then he held his breath and controlled his steps, not letting himself make even a single sound.

In less than half an hour, the extremely fleet-footed Uesugi Toru had circled Mountain Whale Village twice.

Aside from a few night watchmen holding torches, including Jing Wulang, he discovered no extra situations.

However, Mountain Whale Village's defensive strength was still quite complete; this was probably due to the existence of "Mount Kujira" not far away.

It was precisely because of this that Jing Wulang said they were able to repel the sporadic Sickness Retainers.

Uesugi Toru quietly returned to the doorway of the small house.

But he discovered Imagawa Yoshimoto on the grass mat was still tossing and turning, letting the long robe and grass mat rub together, constantly making rustling sounds.

The girl still had her eyes open, wondering what she was thinking, not showing a shred of sleepiness.

"Lord Imagawa, still not asleep?"

!

Uesugi Toru could clearly see the girl wrapped in his long robe shudder violently, even the worried expression on her small face freezing for a moment.

But it was only a moment; she let out a light breath with a slightly annoyed expression.

Only now did he remember he seemed to have come over without a sound.

Suddenly speaking out like this probably gave Imagawa Yoshimoto a scare.

But Uesugi Toru did not apologize, because Imagawa Yoshimoto seemingly still didn't know he could see clearly in the dark night.

He simply sat cross-legged on Imagawa Yoshimoto's outer side,

"Lord Imagawa, sleep quickly. From now on, the pressure every single day will only grow greater... to resolve the Sickness and the Great Demon, it will take at least a month and more."

Uesugi Toru said: "So you must ensure sleep quality, to better nurture essence and store strength, to face these powerful enemies."

He leaned against the wall, preparing to close his eyes for a brief rest — staying with Shizuku for long, one always learns a bit of her sleep technique.

The current situation suits this kind of sleep method where one can hear the wind stir the grass.

Imagawa Yoshimoto responded: "Okay."

But when Uesugi Toru turned his head to look, he discovered she hadn't closed her eyes at all, merely stopped the rolling to-and-fro motion.

After a long time, he saw Imagawa Yoshimoto open her mouth, murmuring in a tiny voice like a mosquito's hum,

"Tetsu-kun... I feel a bit guilty."

Although she spoke like this, her expression didn't change in the slightest, still that cold, hard, proud look that keeps people a thousand miles away.

Only those pair of eyes were brimming with regret.

"Why... why couldn't I save so many of my subjects... why didn't I take this matter to heart earlier..."

"If I had taken it seriously earlier, would the situation have improved a little?

If I had listened to your opinion, Tetsu-kun, at the first moment, would fewer people have died?"

Imagawa Yoshimoto was regretting.

But she would never say such words in front of anyone, only able to speak them to herself in this pitch-black night where one cannot see their five fingers.

Because Imagawa Yoshimoto has always been proud, confident, perfect.

Uesugi Toru stared at those disappointed pupils for a while, then softly spoke: "Although I really want to comfort you and say yes."

"But Lord Imagawa, at this point, regret and remorse cannot save people."

Uesugi Toru saw the girl's face instantly show a stunned expression, as if surprised he was still awake at this point and had heard such vague murmurs.

He continued: "The only thing we can do now is to figure out those Yokai's purposes as fast as possible, then exorcise the Retainers place by place, and tell the people of Mikawa Province that you have come.

Finally, slay all those Great Demons and Sickness to the last."

"Yes, only thus."

Imagawa Yoshimoto extended her fist before her, silently clenching it tight: "Sorry... Tetsu-kun, complaining so much to you."

"No matter."

Uesugi Toru touched the trembling sword hilt at his waist and replied,

"I will become the blade and sword in your hand, and cut down every last one of those yaoguai who dare to cause trouble."

He heard Imagawa Yoshimoto let out a laugh.

So cheerful.

"That sounds truly reliable."

The girl, pressed by the current state of Mikawa Province until she could barely breathe, pursed her lips, curled into a ball, and wrapped the Chief Priest Robe tighter around herself,

"From now on, I'll have to trouble you even more, Tetsu-kun."

Uesugi Toru withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes,

"My honor."

After this, a night passed without words.

Early the next day.

From all over Mountain Whale Village came the rustling sounds of conversation and footsteps; a rough listen put it at no fewer than a hundred spots.

Uesugi Toru, who had been dozing, had just pushed open the half-closed wooden door when he saw Jing Wulang hurrying over from not far away and addressing him respectfully,

"Toru-sama, we are leaving the village today and heading for Totomi Province."

Uesugi Toru glanced over; everywhere he looked were villagers carrying their belongings in cloth bags on their backs.

This Mountain Whale Village does whatever it's told; being under high pressure for a long time has indeed made their efficiency very fast.

"Do you have any omamori or other small items?" Uesugi Toru asked.

Jing Wulang was startled for a moment, but he didn't ask further and simply nodded: "Yes! My lord, yes!"

The Village Chief took out several roughly made omamori from the cloth bag he carried — they were ones he had prepared to distribute to a few children.

Uesugi Toru took the omamori, and after a few deep breaths infused a measure of Thunderbolt Power into them,

"I have already blessed these omamori; if an emergency arises, throw them at the yokai — killing weak yokai will be no problem."

He handed them back to Jing Wulang: "Consider it payment for sheltering us for a night and providing intelligence."

Jing Wulang lowered his head, and upon seeing the omamori in his hand emitting fine threads of lightning, as if surging with a righteous aura, he quickly bowed deeply,

"Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!"

"Each takes what they need; no thanks necessary." Uesugi Toru turned away, leaving the words, "We're leaving too... Good luck, Village Chief Jing Wulang."

Yet Jing Wulang maintained his ninety-degree bow and called out loudly,

"— Jing Wulang will never forget today's kindness!"

……

After bidding farewell to Jing Wulang, Uesugi Toru also waited for Imagawa Yoshimoto, who had finished putting on her gusoku inside the room.

He took out a convenience store rice ball from his Storage Backpack, unwrapped the packaging, heated it for a moment with gang qi, and handed it to her.

"This... is a bit delicious."

After taking a bite of the soft, sticky nori-smoked salmon rice ball, Imagawa Yoshimoto's eyes widened slightly.

"If Lord Imagawa wants to eat, there are still plenty."

Uesugi Toru reckoned this era probably couldn't yet make the sauces inside rice balls, so he pushed it onto his non-existent hometown: "This is a specialty from my hometown."

The girl finished eating, patted her small belly, and said with a touch of embarrassment,

"Then... I'll have another one."

After a simple breakfast, the two mounted their horses and left Mountain Whale Village, where a vast, surging crowd was flowing out the other side.

Imagawa Yoshimoto looked back, a hint of puzzlement in her voice: "Why are some villagers still not leaving?"

"Probably because it's hard to leave one's native soil and they fear the unknown." Uesugi Toru opened the map and checked it again, "If one could live on securely, how many people would like to walk into the unknown?"

Imagawa Yoshimoto acknowledged and silently committed the words to memory.

— Tetsu-kun always manages to say such philosophical lines.

— No inexplicable yokai suddenly appeared at this time; the Mountain Whale Village party departed safely.

The two of them followed the map to the edge of Mount Kujira, then had no choice but to dismount and tie the horses at the mountain's foot.

Because within Mount Kujira, not only is it surrounded by miasma, but just looking at the outermost roads one can discover they are incomparably rugged.

If they encountered a yokai in there, a single careless moment could mean death for both horses.

Although it had not been long since the separation, Uesugi Toru found himself somewhat missing the existence of Two-Shaku Adult.

Without further words, the two stepped into the mountain.

Inside Mount Kujira, just as Jing Wulang had said, there were no mountain whales — that is, wild boars — to be found.

— Regarding this naming issue, Imagawa Yoshimoto had already explained it to Uesugi Toru when they first entered the mountain.

Moreover, not only were there no mountain whales, in the entire mountain one could hardly hear a single insect cry or bird call; ever since entering, Uesugi Toru had not seen a single living creature.

Abnormally silent.

The sound of him snapping a single tree branch could carry over ten meters.

As the saying goes, when things are abnormal there must be a yaoguai; so Uesugi Toru felt the probability of Tenko dwelling in this clear, quiet mountain was truly not small.

Not speaking more to make noise, the two followed the rugged and steep natural road upward.

After a full hour-plus, Uesugi Toru suddenly halted, squeezed the small hand in his — holding hands to avoid getting separated in the thick fog and having an accident is perfectly normal behavior.

Imagawa Yoshimoto looked at him.

Uesugi Toru held his breath and focused, listening intently.

Because he had already heard the faint, continuous sound of forging transmitting from ahead.

The corner of Uesugi Toru's mouth couldn't help but hook upward: "The destination should be right at the very top."

He pulled Imagawa Yoshimoto upward.

Before long, a ruined temple that looked somewhat dilapidated appeared within Imagawa Yoshimoto's line of sight.

Presumably, this is the location of the legendary Tenko that the Sunpu Castle smith and Tetsu-kun spoke of.

She raised a finger, then clenched her hand tightly twice.

Uesugi Toru nodded in understanding.

But just as he lifted his foot, Uesugi Toru's footsteps came to a sudden halt once more.

He slowly turned his gaze, locking eyes with that pair of enormous crimson pupils, like headlights, within the thick mist.

……

Simultaneously, the lost Ni-chi Adult finally used the thermal imager she had pinched into existence to spot the great army resting at high noon in the mountains.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness."

She patted her chest, thinking that she was fortunate to only be a few hours late and not have caused a major disaster.

Otherwise, she wouldn't know how to explain herself to Toru-sama.

—After all, who made these two mountains, these two official roads, look almost exactly the same!

At that time, when Ni-chi Adult went to the other side and saw nothing, she suspected for a long time, wondering if Okabe Motonobu's army could travel hundreds of miles a day and reach Mikawa overnight.

"This is more like it."

Ni-chi Adult found the main camp, put down the thermal imager, and maneuvered the floating board to descend slowly, finally dropping from the sky in one go.

*Thud*, she landed right in the center of the main camp.

Very quickly, this drew the vigilance of the gate-guarding, patrolling red-armored Hatamoto.

*Shing-shing-shing! *

Before Ni-chi Adult could even speak, rows of long spear tips were already aimed at her in perfect alignment.

—The Samurai who have met Ni-chi Adult are only a minority.

"Uh……"

Ni-chi Adult hurriedly raised both hands and shouted clearly at the top of her voice: "Big brothers, don't kill me! I'm Onmyoji Toru-sama's Shikigami! I'm here to deliver a letter to Okabe-sama!"

But the moment the four words "Onmyoji Toru" came out, the Hatamoto started looking at each other in bewilderment, and the spear tips shifted upward slightly.

After all, this white-dressed girl falling inexplicably from the sky was indeed something only the legendary Shikigami could do.

Yet the Hatamoto still did not lower their guard.

The squad leader, surging with Gang Qi, narrowed his eyes and spoke in a deep voice: "Then you stand right there and don't move, I'll go call……"

"Ni-chi Little Boss!"

Before the squad leader could finish, a cheerful voice rang out from a corner nearby.

The squad leader paused briefly, but said nothing more.

Because he heard clearly — this was the voice of the little boy who led the horse for Okabe-sama.

And Okabe-sama treated him with a pleasant countenance; his status appeared not low.

In no more than two seconds, Shiraishi's little head poked out from the encirclement of red-armored Hatamoto, blinking his big eyes and looking left and right,

"Where's Boss? Did Boss come?"

Hearing this, the squad leader immediately raised his hand: "All of you put down your weapons, go back to doing whatever you should be doing."

The Hatamoto sheathed their weapons, didn't say much more, and continued with their respective duties.

Seeing this, the squad leader revealed a faint smile — if he didn't send these colleagues away, his chance to make contact with that Adult would be greatly reduced!

He likewise sheathed his Tachi, rapidly rolling his eyes, wanting to locate Uesugi Toru's presence.

"——Huh? Ni-chi Little Boss, how come I can't see Boss's figure?"

Before Ni-chi Adult, two Shiraishi who looked exactly alike were speaking in exactly the same tone.

Ho…… when did this brat learn Bunshin no Jutsu?

And the difference is completely indistinguishable.

Ni-chi Adult shook her head: "I was sent by Toru-sama alone to deliver the letter. Shiraishi, quickly take me to Okabe-sama."

"Sigh……"

Before her eyes, both Shiraishi sighed in unison, then simultaneously went *pop* and shattered into phantoms, vanishing.

Ni-chi Adult suddenly felt a pat on her shoulder; just as she turned her head, she saw a gloomy-faced Shiraishi beckoning to her and walking toward a tent.

Ni-chi Adult blinked.

It seemed she had completely failed to detect the approach of footsteps from behind.

The girl gazed at Shiraishi striding along with big swings, and smiled.

This little radish head works hard too.

Standing not far away, the squad leader who had been shifting his gaze but didn't dare listen to their conversation grew increasingly puzzled.

—Even the Shikigami has appeared, so where is that Great Onmyoji? Why hasn't he shown himself?

Before the main camp tent.

Shiraishi was stopped by two Hatamoto.

He explained for a good while, but the Hatamoto turned a deaf ear, letting the troublemaking of this child they couldn't handle go in one ear and out the other.

So Shiraishi raised both hands high at the doorway, jumping anxiously: "I already said! There's an urgent matter to report!"

The Hatamoto, faces fully covered by armor, replied coldly: "Okabe-sama is conducting a sand-table deduction; outsiders are prohibited from disturbing him."

Shiraishi was going crazy: "Waaaaah! You two!"

But Ni-chi Adult, arriving from behind, ignored those two Hatamoto, crashing straight into the tent as if she simply couldn't see them.

"Audacious!"

The complexions of the two Hatamoto behind their face guards changed drastically, then they froze in place at the indifferent voice transmitting from within the tent, cold sweat instantly soaking their backs,

"——Didn't I say we're doing a sand-table deduction? Don't let anyone enter the command tent!"

Okabe Motonobu, his train of thought interrupted, turned his gaze — and saw a completely unexpected figure.

Toru's shikigami?

She narrowed her eyes, temporarily suppressing her anger, wanting to open her mouth to ask.

But the Adult Nihaku was a step faster, pulling a crumpled letter from her bosom: "It's an urgent letter from Lord Imagawa!"

The displeasure and coldness on Okabe Motonobu's face instantly dissolved.

She strode over, carefully took the letter from the Adult Nihaku's hand, and quickly yet carefully scanned the letter.

Then, she froze in place.

A full minute later, Okabe Motonobu finally frowned deeply and muttered to herself: "In this world, there's actually such a thing?"

She nodded to the Adult Nihaku, then shouted outward,

"Go summon all Taishou and above!"

"Now! Immediately!"

……

——【Mountain Whale King (Three-Star Half)】.

A huge prompt tinged with a hint of red popped up.

Three-Star Half, huh.

Uesugi Toru released his grip, placing his palm on Kaga Kiyomitsu's sword hilt, but didn't draw it yet.

He said loudly: "Lord Mountain Whale King, I bear no ill will."

This Mountain Whale King could be considered the strongest yokai he'd seen since coming to this Sengoku Period.

Able to casually see ranks exceeding the map's star rating... looks like high-star yokai appearing in hidden maps isn't rare.

It's just that the color of the label atop its head is somewhat different from the few high-star prompts he'd seen before.

Like Aibetsuriku, and the Ten Hina Night Parade Lord's label back then were both blood-red, yet this Mountain Whale King, also Three-Star Half, only carries a slight touch of red.

Looks merely big, but not very scary.

After a brief silence, a deep voice carrying a thick accent, halting and intermittent, interrupted the forging sounds, slowly transmitting from the dense mist,

"I've warned you several times already."

After those words, Uesugi Toru could feel a gaze like a high-beam headlight vigilantly sweep over him several times, then felt the surrounding ferocious murderous intent gradually subside.

The Mountain Whale King said indifferently: "Since you have nothing to do with that disgusting fellow, then quickly leave."

Disgusting fellow?

Uesugi Toru guessed: "Does Your Excellency mean that fellow spreading plague-carrying yokai everywhere?"

A loud clattering sound rang out.

"Looks like you humans have encountered those things too." The Mountain Whale King said in a deep voice, "Alright, I have little interest in you lot, quickly go down the mountain."

"Going down the mountain right now would be improper."

Uesugi Toru cupped his hands: "I came this time to find the Heavenly Craftsman forging weapons in the temple, and hope the Mountain Whale King..."

"Scram!!!"

As if a sore spot had been poked, the Mountain Whale King roared, even temporarily dispersing the surrounding deep dense mist.

Thus, that massive body, two to three stories high, like a small mountain, was revealed before the two's eyes.

The Mountain Whale King stood at over ten meters tall just by standing up, two pale winding fangs flashing cold light, its body surface crisscrossed with countless large and small scars.

It lowered its head, coldly looking down on the comparatively minuscule humans.

Uesugi Toru tapped the sword hilt.

——The Mountain Whale King having wisdom and awareness is a good thing, but it wouldn't be good if it came to hinder me.

But considering its Three-Star Half strength and the possibility of it becoming an ally against Sickness and Suffering, saying a few more words doesn't hurt.

He patiently explained: "The source of that plague and monsters is called 'Sickness and Suffering'; if left unchecked, within a month everything on this mountain will wither and die.

And I came to Mikawa to deal with that Sickness and Suffering."

Speaking, Uesugi Toru extended an invitation to the Mountain Whale King: "Wonder if Your Excellency can understand this simple logic, and lend me a hand?"

"Dealing with plague yokai, fine."

The Mountain Whale King, who knew not how long it had lived, opened its mouth to reply, but before Uesugi Toru could even exhale, it emphasized with heavy tone,

"But the Heavenly Craftsman Adult, won't let you see him!"

Heavenly Craftsman Adult...

Uesugi Toru tilted his head, feeling there was a deeper relationship within.

But this isn't too important.

What's important is, this wild boar still wants to block me even after already warning.

"Then looks like we can't reach an agreement?"

Uesugi Toru calmly drew his sword, pale color dripping from the blade tip, drawing the Mountain Whale King's vigilant gaze.

"Human, sheath your sword and retreat now, and we can still discuss cooperation."

It said coldly, its voice waves echoing in the mountains, lingering without end,

"Otherwise..."

Before it finished speaking, Uesugi Toru felt one ferocious gaze after another transmit from the surrounding mist.

He casually swept a glance, and could see row after row of 【Mountain Whale】 prompts pop up.

Although most among them are Half-Star and One-Star, such quantity in the mountains indeed cannot be underestimated.

Uesugi Toru shook his head, dazzling thunder and lightning blooming around him: "Truly, given face but don't want face."

Imagawa Yoshimoto said nothing, drawing his twin blades as well.

"The little ones……"

Mountain Whale King was about to speak when the sound of forging suddenly vanished completely.

The next moment, a loud voice came from within the ruined temple,

"——Stop!"

Uesugi Toru raised an eyebrow, finding the voice unexpectedly somewhat familiar.

Strange.

And upon hearing this voice, Mountain Whale King's originally fierce face immediately softened, even becoming fawning.

It no longer paid any heed to Uesugi Toru and the other, but instead knelt toward the direction of the ruined temple, deeply lowering its head, speaking in a trembling voice,

"Adult of Heavenly Craft…… Long time no see!"

But that voice paid it no mind, instead filled with doubt and disbelief,

"Banruo…… Xiansheng?"

Banruo Xiansheng?

Who would call themselves that?

Uesugi Toru froze, first glancing at the Hannya Mask at his waist which had already changed in appearance, then looking toward the sound.

And then, behind the threshold of the ruined temple, he saw a face both familiar and somewhat strange, but no matter how one said it, absolutely should not appear here.

Was it her?

But how could that be?

Uesugi Toru sheathed his blade and remained silent for a long time, finally gazing at her, probing as he replied,

"Zashiki, long time no see."

End of Chapter