Chapter 533: Route

"Japan is composed 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 line on the map.

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

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

"Tsuruoka, Daimyo Uesugi Kenshin, Hachimangu."

"Izumo Taisha is the oldest and most distant Shinto shrine, while Hachimangu is where Venerated God swordsmanship is most prosperous. As for the significance of Toshodai-ji Temple, it goes without saying; Shinto's second decline is closely related to Master Jianzhen. From west to east, you can walk through these three places."

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

He said it extremely sincerely.

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

It seemed he had truly surrendered.

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 and didn't say a word.

The dojo fell into a strange silence.

Time passed bit by bit, and Matsuura Takanobu's breathing became more and more scattered. 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 long while, Li Miao sneered.

"Can you hide it?"

Matsuura Takanobu didn't speak, just kept trembling.

Li Miao extended a finger and pointed to the blurred map in front of Matsuura Takanobu.

"Then let me 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, Mount Hiei Enryaku-ji Temple; the residence of the Japanese Emperor, Kyoto Imperial Palace; and—"

He moved his finger slightly by an inch.

"The Ise Grand Shrine, which worships Amaterasu, the main deity of Shinto."

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

Matsuura Takanobu trembled like chaff.

"My, my lord, please forgive me."

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

Li Miao smiled and took over his words.

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

"Wanted to gamble that I'm not interested in the Emperor, or that I could get what I wanted without going to Kyoto, and then leave Japan, right?"

"As long as I let you go today, and the things that happen later aren't too big, you'll have a chance to cover up today's events and cover up the fact that I got the news from you, right?"

Three questions completely crushed Matsuura Takanobu's defenses.

Yes, he was just a remote Daimyo who acted like a tyrant in his own territory, not some loyal minister 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 constantly colliding, making a chattering sound.

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

"Don't, my lord, don't!"

"Don't!"

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

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