Chapter 31: Awakening Spirit Mist (Seeking Follow-up Reads!)

After finishing this silent dinner that tasted like chewing wax, Uesugi Toru put down his chopsticks and looked at Shizuku.

He asked, "Shizuku, have you decided?"

Choose to stay and face the successive supernatural events, or choose to leave, escape, and bury your head in being an ordinary person.

The crossroads of fate has never been as clearly visible as it is at this moment.

If they miss each other, perhaps this face-to-face moment is the closest distance between the two from now into the future.

Silently putting the last piece of greasy A5 Wagyu into her mouth, Shizuku, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, also put down her chopsticks, yet it was like a samurai placing a tachi horizontally before him.

Calm and resolute.

"A swordsman cannot flee before the battle, Uesugi-kun."

Shizuku pulled out a napkin, elegantly wiping the grease from the corner of her lips: "Besides, the target is right in front of you, what is there to hesitate about?"

"You'll die, Hasegawa is a living example."

Uesugi Toru sighed.

"Then Uesugi-kun, would you consider running away? Even for an instant?" Shizuku asked in return.

【12】 Without a moment's thought or hesitation, Uesugi Toru shook his head: "I won't."

Without a moment's thought or Hesitation, Uesugi Toru shook his head: "I won't."

"——So I won't either."

Shizuku smiled, gripping his hand tightly, with exceptional force: "It's just that simple a principle."

……

After parting with Shizuku, returning to the safe house where Oni Taisho was stationed, Uesugi Toru decided to accelerate the strategy for Arakawa Guicun tonight and tomorrow.

Having easily endured the immense water pressure, Xiao Banruo opened his eyes in the dilapidated thatched hut.

And after several days of training and combat, his attributes had become——

【Uesugi Toru】

【Physique: 15】

【Will: 10】

【Charm: 6】

【Spirit Arts: 3】

If he mobilized the Proficient Level Kiai Technique, he could see Physique jump from "15" to "17" in an instant; there is no doubt this is already a terrifying supernatural physical quality.

Let alone that Uesugi Toru now holds the sharp Kaga Kiyomitsu; even a robust farmer appearing before him would probably be solved with one slash.

"Shiro Banruo is a one-star or above floor boss, let's wait a bit for now."

Uesugi Toru stroked the sword hilt and thought: "First solve the Nekomata whose positions are confirmed, then wait for Xiao Banruo to finish upgrading and go subdue the Eight Shaku Figure."

Having decided thus, Uesugi Toru's figure transformed into a gust of wind, traversing through the ghost village.

And on the way, some unknown change seemed to have occurred at that large factory, for Uesugi Toru actually encountered a few factory workers who had gotten separated.

Facing the Soul Ash delivered to his door, Uesugi Toru naturally accepted all comers.

Kaga Kiyomitsu left its scabbard, easily taking several heads.

【You killed the Stray Spirit "Exploited Factory Worker", gained 14 Soul Ash.】

【You killed the Stray Spirit "Exploited Factory Worker", gained 11 Soul Ash.】

【You killed the Stray Spirit "Exploited Factory Worker", gained 10 Soul Ash.】

【You obtained, "Factory Worker's Jacket (Damaged)".】

The Soul Ash that dropped was not little; one can only say the Factory Master hasn't exhausted the remaining value of these spirits yet; unlike reality, 【he】 still needs more practice.

Harvested another damaged quality worker's jacket; this thing adds no effects and no attributes.

But Uesugi Toru estimated that if he collected this whole set, maybe he could mix into the factory and do something.

But regrettably, the real situation doesn't allow him to open another time-consuming, life-consuming side quest.

About twenty minutes later, Uesugi Toru halted his footsteps before a familiar gray field.

He lowered his head, staring fixedly at the mud and stinking ditch under his feet.

Last time it was because he looked at Nekomata a few extra times that he was sent away; the same mistake Uesugi Toru won't make a second time.

Drawing Kaga Kiyomitsu, Uesugi Toru slowly closed his eyes, shifting his attention to hearing, smell, and touch.

In an instant, the originally blurred sound of steam spouting became deafening, the direction of the wind flow also became clear; Uesugi Toru could even hear the movement of unknown insects drilling into the soil under his feet.

Too far.

Need to let the sensory range contract a bit.

In the rhythmic breathing rhythm, Uesugi Toru's keen five senses range gradually shrank, finally settling on the front, just barely wrapping this small patch of field.

This is good.

A blurred noise kept transmitting from a certain point not far away; Uesugi Toru knew in his heart that was Nekomata.

He took a deep breath, one foot stepping into the dilapidated field.

Although legend says Nekomata has no other attack methods besides assimilating those who look directly at it, that is after all just legend; it can be referenced, but cannot be taken entirely as truth.

Gripping Kaga Kiyomitsu tight, Uesugi Toru heard a subtle change in the noise.

It noticed him!

No longer advancing quietly, Uesugi Toru immediately changed strategy, fully circulating the Kiai Technique.

Uesugi Toru's muscles bulged distinctly all over; his subconscious having conveniently assumed the Heijougan stance, he took large strides charging toward Nekomata's direction.

Under the condition that Kaga Kiyomitsu can strengthen thrusting swordsmanship, Uesugi Toru sought to go all out in one strike to heavily wound the enemy.

Buzz buzz buzz——

As the distance between the two rapidly closed, the noise by his ears also grew exponentially; although the influence is not as great as directly seeing it, it is enough to make an ordinary person fall into madness, dancing along with it.

But Uesugi Toru had long anticipated this.

The Heart Like Still Water smile, Hannya suddenly curled the corners of her mouth upward.

Under the circumstance of greatly increased willpower, the terrifying smile instantly stopped the surrounding buzzing noise for a moment!

At this moment, Uesugi Toru's chest suddenly swelled, the Kiai Technique resounded like muffled thunder, and he executed the simplest and cleanest sword move, yet one requiring the most exquisite skill.

——Tenraku!

Ten meters distance, gone in a flash!

Even before Uesugi Toru himself had reacted, Kaga Kiyomitsu had already embedded into the twisting, viscous mist-like body, causing it to emit a piercing cry.

The suddenly increased volume made Uesugi Toru, clinging close to the twisting figure, bleed from all seven orifices, but his hand movements were without hesitation.

Gripping the sword hilt, he delivered a decisive Kesa-giri.

Ripping sound!

A sound like tearing cloth rang out, Kaga Kiyomitsu's sword tip bringing forth a streak of flowing ghostly white, causing the incessant noise emitted by the twisting figure to stop abruptly.

【You killed One-Star Grudge "Twisting and Turning," gained 132 Soul Ash!】

Uesugi Toru's body trembled, kneeling in the field; at this moment he even felt his brain trembling along with the already dispersed noise, about to turn into thick water and flow out from his five orifices.

Just a little more, and Twisting and Turning's death rattle counterattack would have succeeded.

Fortunately, his skill was still superior by a hair!

Uesugi Toru curled his mouth, using the last of his strength to pat the uchigatana in his hand that had turned the tide of battle.

Kaga Kiyomitsu's blade trembled slightly, emitting a clear sword cry, as if pleased.

In less than two seconds, Uesugi Toru blacked out, sent back to Genjitsu by Twisting and Turning's unceasing death rattles.

【You used Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation to slay One-Star Grudge "Twisting and Turning"; the quality of Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation slightly improved.】

【Your skill, Kiai Technique Fragment proficiency +19!】

【Your skill, Tennen Rishin-ryu proficiency +7!】

【Side Quest Two — White Straw Man completed!】

【You may choose to immediately claim the reward for this side quest! Or wait to claim accumulated rewards after multiple tasks are completed!】

【You gained Awakening Spirit Mist (Special Prop)!】

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End of Chapter