Chapter 477: Route

"Fuso consists of three islands. The central mainland is called Honshu, the southern island is called Shikoku, and where you are now is Kyushu on the southwest side."

"Starting from here, if you go to Honshu, you can pass through these places."

Matsuura Takanobu's fingertips slid, outlining a route on the map.

"Izumo Province, Daimyo Amago Haruhisa, Izumo Taisha."

"Nara, Toshodai-ji within the sphere of influence of Kofuku-ji, which is also where the remains of Master Jianzhen are located."

"Tsuruga, Daimyo Uesugi Kenshin, Hachiman-gu."

"Izumo Taisha is the oldest and most distant shrine of Shinto, while Hachiman-gu is where Honoring God sword technique is most prosperous. As for the significance of Toshodai-ji, it goes without saying; Shinto's second decline is closely related to Master Jianzhen. Going from west to east, you can walk through these three places."

"By then, the answer you seek might come to light."

He said it extremely sincerely.

Since falling into Li Miao's hands, he could be said to have said everything he knew, not letting Li Miao waste a word, taking the initiative to connect everything he knew and presenting it all.

It seemed he had truly submitted.

Even Nanako, who couldn't understand Central Plains official language, recognized this.

But after Matsuura Takanobu finished speaking, Li Miao looked at him with a smile, saying nothing.

The dojo fell into an eerie silence.

Time passed bit by bit, Matsuura Takanobu's breathing became more and more chaotic, sweat dripped from his forehead, staining the map drawn with blood in front of him into a blur of blood.

But he never spoke again.

After a while, Li Miao sneered.

"Can you hide it?"

Matsuura Takanobu didn't speak, just kept trembling.

Li Miao extended a finger and pointed at the map that was already blurred in front of Matsuura Takanobu.

"Then I'll supplement it for you."

"Since we are talking about Buddhism, Shinto, and the Emperor, how can we miss this place?"

He pointed to a spot in the middle of the map.

With this point, Matsuura Takanobu's shoulders slumped, and he fell to the ground. He didn't want to listen, but Li Miao's voice continued.

"Kyoto."

"The center of Buddhism, Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei; the residence of the Japanese Emperor, Kyoto Imperial Palace; and—"

He moved his finger slightly by an inch.

"The shrine dedicated to the main deity of Shinto, Amaterasu, Ise Grand Shrine."

"The secular regime, Shinto, and Buddhism, the centers of all three are here. Even if you don't mention it, it's impossible for me to ignore it. Why, do you really think I have no understanding of Japan?"

Matsuura Takanobu trembled like chaff.

"L-Lord, please forgive me."

"I didn't deliberately hide it, it's just—"

Li Miao smiled and took over his words.

"Just want to leave yourself a way out, right?"

"Want to bet that I'm not interested in the Emperor, or that I can get what I want without going to Kyoto, and then leave Japan, right?"

"As long as I let you go today, and the trouble I cause isn't too big, you'll have a chance to cover up today's events and hide the fact that I got my information from you, right?"

Three questions completely broke Matsuura Takanobu's defenses.

Yes, he was just a remote Daimyo who threw his weight around in his own territory, not some loyal subject of the Emperor. How could he risk being discovered by Li Miao and deliberately skip Kyoto?

What he did was just to save his own life.

Having his thoughts exposed by Li Miao, Matsuura Takanobu fell to the ground, his teeth clashing continuously, making a chattering sound.

Li Miao supported his knees and stood up, approaching him.

"Don't, Lord, don't!"

"Don't!"

Matsuura Takanobu supported the ground with both hands, his two legs scratching on the ground, desperately retreating, trying to distance himself from Li Miao.

But just after retreating a few feet, his lower leg was stepped on by Li Miao.