Chapter 206

When Uesugi Toru's consciousness recovered again, it was already the next day.

Hazy sunlight filtered through the thin lattice window paper into the room, falling squarely on Uesugi Toru's eyelids.

"Hah..."

Uesugi Toru breathed hard, opening his eyes a slit to see his surroundings.

Beams, wooden floor, tatami... furnishings nearly identical to what he had seen before, indicating this was a typical noble's room.

The labored, exhausted opening of his eyes signaled that the forty-eight hours of Wrath's aftereffects had not yet passed.

But as Uesugi Toru shifted his gaze slightly and moved his wrist, he discovered his clothes had actually been changed, replaced by a clean, neat kimono.

His body, which should have reeked unbearably after ten-odd hours soaked in yokai and his own blood, now gave off a fresh, clean, subtle fragrance.

Uesugi Toru sniffed and found the scent similar to the incense used during his previous passive bath, only with slight differences in detail.

As for what those details were, Uesugi Toru, who knew nothing about incense, could not tell.

After wriggling several times under the blanket, Uesugi Toru finally braced his back against the wooden wall and relaxed as he began reviewing the prompts that had piled up like a mountain.

— That's right, his body was actually covered with a rectangular cloth similar to a blanket; though still thin, it was better than nothing.

【Current Stage Quest Completion: 63%.】

"The Imagawa Clan's efficiency is not bad... in just a short while they've raised the completion by 3%."

Uesugi Toru listened sideways for a good while before hearing, from far outside, the continuous sound of armor rubbing and samurai roars, and the unending thanks of common folk.

Naturally, there were also the shrill, miserable screams of Sickness Retainers at the brink of death.

"Don't let a single one escape! The cleanliness of this castle is the Lord's face!

The squad that kills the most yokai gets a meat pill tonight!"

Across the vast distance, Okabe Motonobu's distinctively cold voice penetrated layer upon layer of obstacles into the room.

Since Okabe Motonobu is leading, by tonight all remaining Sickness Retainers in Nishio Castle should be cleaned up.

Next, using the ashigaru armies outside Nishio Castle and Mikawa Province as a starting point, they will purge all Sickness Retainers in the whole of Mikawa Province.

"However... there are still high-ranking Retainers like the Coughing Kami."

Uesugi Toru frowned, but then smoothed his brow.

Because high-ranking Retainers of Three-Star Level and above with high intelligence, like the Coughing Kami, would definitely sense Sickness's death at the first moment.

And thus realize their cause is lost.

Aside from the reason "avenge Sickness by killing the Great Onmyoji," there is no reason for such high-ranking Retainers to pointlessly fight to the death with the Imagawa Clan's army.

On the contrary, he still needs to be careful.

Uesugi Toru actually hopes more of them come — each arrival turns into hundreds or thousands of Soul Ash points.

Setting aside the read prompts, Uesugi Toru was about to look further down when he heard familiar footsteps.

He looked toward the sliding door.

Crash.

Draped in a magnificent, heavy Twelve-Layered Robe, expressionless, her thoughts unreadable, the Great Daimyo, Head of the Imagawa Clan, appeared at the doorway.

Imagawa Yoshimoto slid open the door, sighed wearily as usual, rubbed her nose bridge, the indifference on her face slowly melting like ice and snow under a warm sun.

"Lord Imagawa, if you're tired you can have someone else look after me," Uesugi Toru said. "Wouldn't it be better to use the extra time to catch some sleep?"

Just taking off her geta, about to step onto the room's floorboards, Imagawa Yoshimoto froze, looking at Uesugi Toru already leaning against the wall.

She blinked rapidly twice, then decisively shook her head,

"I don't feel at ease."

That reason is flawless.

After all, Imagawa Yoshimoto doesn't know he can revive.

If a yokai or another clan's spy mixed into his caretakers, the unconscious Uesugi Toru would have zero power to resist.

Uesugi Toru said nothing more, just watched her walk over step by step and sit before him.

Imagawa Yoshimoto examined him repeatedly, musing, "Tetsu-kun... compared to last time you seem much more at ease?"

Uesugi Toru took a breath, incidentally sensing his internal condition.

Now that she puts it that way, it does seem true.

Perhaps it's because of the Qi Sea.

Even though all his attributes have dropped and maintaining Qi circulation is difficult, the Qi Sea anchored by the Incarnation Card still continuously produces Qi, which then feeds back into his body.

Uesugi Toru nodded, casually making up a reason: "Indeed, because I was well prepared, the consumption wasn't as great as last time."

"That's good."

After Imagawa Yoshimoto spoke, the two in the room began staring at each other, falling into a silence with a strange atmosphere.

Still, she broke the silence first, briefing Uesugi Toru on what happened outside while he was unconscious,

"Motonobu has already arrived with several hundred samurai, and the main army has entered Mikawa Province, preparing to begin sweeping the whole of Mikawa in these two days."

Speaking of this, Imagawa Yoshimoto also let out a rare breath of relief: "The remaining yokai and turmoil are about to end."

Uesugi Toru lowered his chin slightly, signaling he understood.

Imagawa Yoshimoto recalled the sights and sounds since entering Totomi Province, and spoke slowly,

"Tetsu-kun, this time too it's thanks to you that things have progressed so smoothly to this point."

"Just doing my duty."

Uesugi Toru has lost count how many times he's said this line.

Because frankly, a large half of the reason he does these things is for himself.

Whether for the quest, or to grind up the favorability of the girl before him.

— Helping Imagawa Yoshimoto is merely an objective fact, not a strong subjective desire.

Probably.

After a brief exchange, the room once again fell into a subtle silence where no one spoke.

Silence, silence.

Imagawa Yoshimoto silently stared at the weak Uesugi Toru on the sickbed, and subconsciously the majestic image of him wearing a Hannya mask last night, with a red fox tail swaying behind him, surfaced in her eyes.

She knew that if she asked the words in her heart now, their relationship might never return to what it was before.

Or perhaps, this Great Onmyoji who had assisted her for only a month or two, yet had helped her with countless big and small matters, would soon leave her and the Imagawa Clan.

But Imagawa Yoshimoto still asked.

Without any beating around the bush, nor any foreplay or buildup.

Just like that, she got straight to the point at the critical crossroads of her life.

Without hesitation.

Imagawa Yoshimoto looked straight into Uesugi Toru's pupils, her lips and teeth colliding, and clearly spat out six words to him,

"Toru, are you a Yokai?"

Uesugi Toru, who had already prepared his draft and was ready to respond fluently, was stunned; he didn't expect Imagawa Yoshimoto to ask so bluntly.

He opened his mouth, and for a moment felt that hundreds of possible responses were unusable before these six words.

Damn, she asks like that without fear that he might really be a Yokai, that this appearance is just a disguise, and then after being exposed, in anger and embarrassment he'd claw her to death with one swipe.

But at the same time, Uesugi Toru could only helplessly laugh in his heart.

This is very Imagawa Yoshimoto.

Only she would, after knowing a bad ending might occur, still do things her own way.

So he also responded extremely bluntly: "No, I am not."

Imagawa Yoshimoto quietly watched him, waiting for facts to prove these four words.

Uesugi Toru said no more, and right before the girl's eyes transformed into a four-tailed fox.

A terrifying Charm Value of over twenty points appeared in this not-so-large room, but it couldn't make Imagawa Yoshimoto's complexion waver in the slightest.

"Hmm..."

The girl wearing the Twelve-Layered Robe examined the fox ears, then examined the four fluffy fox tails swaying in midair.

She extended her five fingers and rubbed the fox ears somewhat forcefully, thus proving their reality.

Imagawa Yoshimoto withdrew her hand, gazing at the pure white fur on her fingertip, and couldn't help but raise her eyebrows: "Isn't this just it?"

"The appearance of a four-tailed fox is merely one of my outward forms."

Uesugi Toru, wearing this Hua Hu appearance, explained completely unconvincingly,

"You can also understand it as a Great Yin-Yang Art that allows me to transform into various Yokai, thereby becoming stronger."

—The Oni Incarnation Card also counts as a kind of "Great Yin-Yang Art," no problem.

—The omnipotent Great Yin-Yang Art, isn't it miraculous?

Imagawa Yoshimoto placed her hand on her knee and said lightly: "Toru-kun, whether you are human or Yokai, it actually doesn't matter."

"I don't care about that like many people do."

Imagawa Yoshimoto propped her chin with her palm, looking down from above: "Human or Yokai, as long as they are my Retainers, I must fulfill my duty as Lord."

"So."

She looked at the pale-faced Hua Fox before the bed with a half-smile,

"I just want to know, will you, and have you deceived me."

Uesugi Toru grunted in acknowledgment, then asked back: "Then Lord Imagawa, what do you think now?"

Imagawa Yoshimoto answered immediately: "From what I see now, there isn't."

"Don't deceive me, Toru-kun." The girl raised her finger to emphasize, "I really don't like others deceiving me, no matter who they are."

"I won't."

Uesugi Toru said without changing his expression.

"That's good."

By this time, a smug, gentle, and relieved brilliant smile finally bloomed on Imagawa Yoshimoto's cheeks,

She lowered her head, and her scorching gaze filled with extremely strong expectation fell upon Uesugi Toru's eyes.

—The Heaven and Earth Revival is approaching, and the pattern maintained for decades will be rewritten in the blink of an eye.

—And she possesses the strongest Great Onmyoji under all Tenka.

Uesugi Toru felt this scorching and blunt gaze, and suddenly a bad premonition arose in his heart.

He was just about to crawl into the corner when a fair palm pressed onto his shoulder, pressing his weak body ruthlessly onto the tatami that was simply covered with a layer of cushion.

"Don't even think about running."

The sunlight was blocked.

The Twelve-Layered Robe hung down, a heavy and huge shadow cast, completely covering Uesugi Toru's upper body.

If someone were to slide open the door and enter now, they would see such a scene—

A weak Hua Fox with fox ears and a beautiful appearance was pressed underneath, and the one pressing him was none other than the Head of Family of the Imagawa Clan, the Great Daimyo famous throughout the world, Imagawa Yoshimoto.

Uesugi Toru glanced at the palm pressing on his shoulder.

On it burst forth a huge yet just-right force, rendering him unable to move.

Now, no matter how much he struggled, it was impossible for him to break free from Imagawa Yoshimoto's Binding.

Uesugi Toru raised his hand and said: "Lord Imagawa, I think the distance between us should be more reasonable..."

"Toru."

Imagawa Yoshimoto called his name directly, interrupting his words.

Then, in a gap so brief no one could react, Imagawa Yoshimoto leaned down without the slightest hesitation.

Uesugi Toru, still calculating how to coax the girl into leaving, already felt an undeniable scorching heat against his cheek.

Forceful, searing, and stiff.

Finally, a deliberate clash of lips and teeth brought a stab of pain.

Uesugi Toru shuddered, hearing someone beside his ear announce word by word, as if reading an imperial edict, in a tone that brooked no argument,

"You belong to me, Imagawa Yoshimoto. No one can take you away, no one is allowed to take you away."

In his shock, Uesugi Toru saw the girl in splendid robes rise, and under his gaze she gently wiped away that strand of silver thread at the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.

The same place, a second experience.

Only this time, it was far more intense, and the impression left on him was, without a doubt, far deeper.

Uesugi Toru fell into wordless silence.

After a long while, suppressing his twitching expression, he asked, "Lord Imagawa, does this count as a declaration of sovereignty?"

"Suppose it does."

Imagawa Yoshimoto straightened her disordered clothes hem, her complexion cheerful and self-satisfied.

"Right, where's Nisun?" She asked as if nothing had happened just now, casually, "How come I didn't see her?"

Uesugi Toru subconsciously touched his cheek with his fingertips and replied, "Because she absorbed too much wish power, she had no choice but to fall into a long slumber."

"Is that so..."

Imagawa Yoshimoto discerned Uesugi Toru's emotions at a glance, so she pulled him into her embrace: "You don't need to worry about any external matters anymore, Tetsu-kun. I'm still here for everything."

"Sounds truly reliable."

Uesugi Toru knew he couldn't resist anyway, so he settled in peacefully without moving.

Imagawa Yoshimoto laughed, she rubbed his fox ears twice and said, "If I can't even handle this much, what qualifications would I have to be your Main Lord?"

Uesugi Toru was speechless. Why does everyone who comes close like to ruffle his ears?

After speaking, they shared intimacy for another ten-odd seconds, then Imagawa Yoshimoto also rose and paced toward the door.

She waved her hand, her voice firm,

"Tetsu-kun, from now on, please take care of me as well."

……

Watching Imagawa Yoshimoto's departing figure leave his field of vision, Uesugi Toru's thoughts were in some disarray for a time.

He indeed wanted to raise Imagawa Yoshimoto's favorability, but he never expected to raise it in this direction.

— Can't it be something like good brothers, brothers who've risked their lives together?

— Good brothers, for a lifetime (trembling voice)!

The moment Uesugi Toru thought about returning to the Genjitsu and Imagawa Yoshimoto discovering his existence, he got a headache.

With her temperament, who knows what she might do.

"That's really becoming more and more troublesome..."

Leaning in place, engaging in fruitless wild speculation for a while, Uesugi Toru finally decided to set aside these matters that might exist or might not exist for now.

— Better to first click away all the red dots on the prompts.

Improving strength is what matters most!

If he had four-, five-, or six-star strength, whoever it is, they'd all have to listen to Uesugi Toru and ask for his opinion!

Though that kind of scene is probably still very, very far away...

Uesugi Toru sighed, bringing the still-refreshing prompts before him—

【You obtained, Wish Crystal (Special Material)!】

【Wish Crystal (Special Material)】

【Quality: None】

【Effect 1: Direct consumption. All attributes significantly increased, may select any Yokai Avatar for quality upgrade, rank upgrade.】

【Warning: After consumption, will fall into an unknown state.】

【Effect 2: As a refining material, adds unknown effect to Equipment Item.】

【Effect 3: Place before the Shinto Path Shikigami's plaque, slowly raises that Shikigami's upgrade progress without side effects.】

【— The twisted wish of all beings, the wish of all living beings.】

Having read the Wish Crystal's description in one go, Uesugi Toru took a deep breath, temporarily set aside the matter from just now, and entered analysis mode.

He took out the Wish Crystal, holding up this small, pale gold prismatic crystal.

Every facet of the prismatic crystal was incomparably flat, exquisitely crafted, only the internal color arrangement was somewhat chaotic.

This is the only material that dropped after killing Renko; even the Soul Ash portion is inside here.

One would think its quality and effects should be very good.

But to eat it directly like the Mountain God Rock Heart, or give it to Kaga Kiyomitsu like the Qualified Spirit Gold, Uesugi Toru absolutely could not do such a thing.

Because anyone with eyes can clearly sense the massive power solidified within this crystal.

Chaotic and twisted.

Moreover, this thing might become the key to rescuing Adult Nisun later.

When he returns to the Genjitsu, he'll go ask Nanjo Sister and Huijue — especially the latter.

Huijue is originally Hongan-ji, that is, the Pure Land True Sect successor's number one disciple, and also an innate Dao body... heaven knows why an innate Dao body would enter the Buddhist Sect.

But such a small matter is unimportant; the key is Huijue most likely won't refuse his request.

So it cannot be moved.

This is a foregone conclusion that needs no thought.

Uesugi Toru threw it back into the Storage Backpack: "Come, next one."

【You gained, Panacea (Special Prop)!】

【Panacea】

【Quality: None】

【Effect: After taking, can cure all diseases, and forcibly restore the taker's body to Best State for two hours.】

【Current Remaining: 3/3】

【——Medicine bottle carried by Sickness and Suffering, to avoid repeating the Previous Time's serious mistake.】

"This……"

Uesugi Toru looked at the Effect column, and for a moment couldn't help but be somewhat at a loss for words.

Cure all diseases?

Is this statement not a bit too absolute?

But thinking that this is a No-Quality Special Prop dropped from the Plague Source · Sickness and Suffering, Uesugi Toru felt this might actually be achievable.

And that two hours afterward, if given to some dying old monster, what effect would it have?

Temporarily living a second life?

Uesugi Toru didn't dare think about it.

He took out the Small Porcelain Bottle containing the Panacea, reached out and pulled the small stopper at the Top, and looked inside.

In the bottle, three Crystal-clear, Blue-Green small balls like Liquid lay quietly at the Bottom.

From the outside, they looked Ordinary, exactly like the Water Baby many people raised in Childhood after Growing Up.

"If this works on existences above Ghost God too……"

Uesugi Toru's thoughts began to diverge: "Then wouldn't that mean my Qi Sea's Defining Object has a lead?"

Or a More Complete Breathing Technique, able to complete both the Sea of Qi and Flesh Palace stages.

If Panacea truly has Not Reduced effect on existences above Ghost God……

Then these, perhaps aren't Fantasy!

Uesugi Toru extremely, even twelve-tenths Satisfied, stuffed the Panacea back: "Makes sense, really makes a lot of sense."

As for Panacea's True Effect…… Special Affairs Division always has means to Detect it, they couldn't possibly let medicine of this level escape, right?

Then a dense cascade of Prompts for who knows how many Soul Ash and Soul Spirit Points exploded out.

Uesugi Toru waved his hand and Deleted them all, then Directly brought up the Data Panel for both.

In an instant, two somewhat exaggerated numbers made Uesugi Toru's breath Stagnate.

【Soul Ash: 6122】

【Soul Spirit Points: 2188】

Holy cow.

Uesugi Toru Rubbed Eyes, confirming he hadn't Looked Wrong.

Two thousand Soul Spirit Points is secondary, upgrading one or two effects would Consume them Exhausted.

Just…… six thousand Soul Ash?

One moment Careless, and I've actually become a Soul Ash Tycoon?

This is a Huge Sum enough for Forty Consecutive Draws in the Edo Castle Gacha Pool, No Matter what should be able to smash out the Hundred-Eyed Demon Transform.

Thinking of this, Uesugi Toru suddenly remembered he still had a pile of useless Item Props in his Backpack.

——So Many Things, selling them all to Katsumi would at least net one or two thousand Soul Ash.

Then wouldn't he have Divine Power for Fifty Consecutive Draws?

"Then just waiting for Hundred-Eyed Demon to Evolve to 【Epic+】 Quality……"

Uesugi Toru spoke, only to discover a Dense pile of Compound Eye Beads in his bag that would give one Trypophobia just looking at them.

These are all his Harvest After Coming to Nishio Castle, mostly Swept up after killing Sickness and Suffering and Renko.

"Almost forgot to feed these eyeballs to Hundred-Eyed Demon."

Uesugi Toru opened the Edo Castle Card Pool Page, and discovered Hundred-Eyed Demon Loli was actually Bored enough to start playing Barefoot in Muddy Water.

One foot light one foot heavy, covered in sticky mud, from afar looked like a Small Flower Cat.

She seemed not to have Discovered his arrival.

Uesugi Toru thought, simply Took Out one eyeball and Threw it into the Gacha Pool.

Plop.

The eyeball fell from Heaven, smashed into the pit, landing before Hundred-Eyed Demon Loli's eyes.

Muddy water splashed up, making her stare at this eyeball blankly for a good while.

Long Time, Hundred-Eyed Demon abruptly Raised Head, several completely different Expressions appearing on that Small Face white to Crystal.

Shock, Startle, Shyness, Anger……

Finally, unified into a vicious threat.

Uesugi Toru chuckled: "Caught red-handed and embarrassed?"

He didn't say more, Big Hand directly waved, instantly emptying the eyeballs from the Backpack.

Next Moment, in Edo Castle's Background, those falling Raindrops were instantly replaced by creepy Complex Eyes.

Eyeballs like violent rain, pattering, smashed head-on onto Hundred-Eyed Demon's Face.

Ah?

That originally vicious Small Face froze, for a moment unable to understand what happened in the Surroundings.

But eyeballs regardless of her thoughts, just kept falling Down.

Crackle crackle crackle crackle.

Thousands upon thousands of Senior Sister Insect compound eyes were already enough to completely fill the area beneath the Hundred-Eyed Demon's feet, even piling up to her calves.

Very soon, the Hundred-Eyed Demon reacted and realized that what was happening before her eyes was no illusion.

——In such a short time, to actually be able to harvest this many!?

A look of shock surfaced on her face.

Realizing this, she scooped up the sea of eyeballs beneath her feet in one grab, no longer having the leisure to threaten that guy who happened to be peeping at her at this time point in anger or whatever.

Croak croak croak, croak croak croak.

Uesugi Toru gazed at the Hundred-Eyed Demon in the Gacha Pool page, rooting around like a hungry tiger pouncing on prey, then looked at the quality improvement progress bar that kept rising.

And revealed a harvest smile like that of an old father.

"Eat, eat more..."

Although that many eyeballs piled together was indeed somewhat grotesque, the Hundred-Eyed Demon's "eating manner" was particularly enticing, so Uesugi Toru also watched her mukbang with patience.

Several minutes later, like a demon-subduing deity descending from heaven, the Hundred-Eyed Demon who had swept clean thousands of eyeballs like a whirlwind collapsed on the White Bone Throne.

She patted her bulging belly, which had risen in a high arc, not yet fully digested.

The Hundred-Eyed Demon rarely narrowed her eyes, and for the first time an expression called "happiness" appeared on her small face.

She waved her hand casually, signaling that the previous matter was written off.

Uesugi Toru then saw that the long, wide progress bar was firmly stuck at the 【80%】 position.

"Still quite a ways to go..."

The remaining 20%, at minimum, would take thousands of Senior Sister Insect compound eyes to fill.

In the Sengoku Period, going around scraping them up one by one would make it a bit difficult to gather these eyeballs.

Looking at it this way, Shizuoka Prefecture definitely still requires a trip.

Once he goes there and gets high-quality big eyeballs for the Hundred-Eyed Demon to eat, he can then use the 50 pulls in hand to forcibly marry her home!

But the time until the gacha pull shouldn't be short either, Soul Ash can't just be left sitting there, must make the best use of it...

Spending 2000 points to unlock the third "Fishing Master", or finding Katsumi to buy the Qi Sea's Five Elements Boundary Object when selling things are both good choices.

Especially Katsumi, at that time he can also ask him if he has a method to rescue Adult Erchi.

Smiling and bidding farewell to the Hundred-Eyed Demon in the gacha pool, Uesugi Toru, heart full of joy, turned his gaze to the present, looking into the sea of prompts that remained unfathomably deep no matter how much he looked.

There really are a lot of these prompts.

Not bad, not bad.

Looking further back, prompts related to Tennen Rishin-ryu suddenly spurted forth!

【Your Skill, Sword Art · Tennen Rishin-ryu has risen to Expert Level!】

【Tennen Rishin-ryu (Expert 0/10000) (Remaining 198 Proficiency points unused)】

【Effect: Foundation established, the path of the Sword Master lies beneath your feet.】

【Due to your Tennen Rishin-ryu rising to Expert Level, your Physique +5!】

【Due to your Tennen Rishin-ryu rising to Expert Level, all your Sword Move damage significantly increased!】

【Due to your Tennen Rishin-ryu rising to Expert Level, your Will +10, Sword Heart Realm significantly increased!】

【Due to your Tennen Rishin-ryu rising to Expert Level, you have learned Tennen Rishin-ryu Ultimate Technique · Mumyo Ken!】

【Your understanding of Stance has deepened!】

【Your understanding of Sword Technique has deepened!】

【Your understanding of Sword Principle has deepened!】

【Note 1: Due to your Xin Zhi Chen not yet formed, Mental State temporarily cannot increase.】

【Note 2: Due to you not yet choosing Tennen Rishin-ryu's Focus Direction, Proficiency temporarily cannot be used.】

【Please choose the future Focus Direction for your Sword Art · Tennen Rishin-ryu as soon as possible.】

After the prompts, only two options, one gold one silver, remained before Uesugi Toru's eyes——

【Sword Technique】【Sword Principle】

【Please choose your future Focus in Tennen Rishin-ryu.】

Two great paths reaching heaven were placed before Uesugi Toru's eyes.

Just like clearly not having dropped an axe, yet a kind River God suddenly burst from the river, holding an axe in each hand, benevolently asking him,

"Excuse me, is the axe you dropped this gold axe, or this silver axe?"

Uesugi Toru stared at the two glittering options, falling into long contemplation.

Finally, puzzled, he countered,

"Why, can't I have both?"

(End of Chapter)