A samurai who doesn't want to be a daimyo is not a good onmyoji

Chapter 66
While continuing to drive away the possible venomous snakes in the grass, Tokichiro told Asai Nagamasa the stories spread here.

"That's right. I don't know when it started, maybe a few decades ago? In short, a large number of snakes began to appear around here."

"They are all different in type and size, but the only thing they have in common is that they are all poisonous and deadly, which directly causes nearby residents to move away from here, making the place eventually become deserted."

"It wasn't until Master Dao San chose to build a mountain city here that the number of snakes began to become scarce. There were not so many people bitten or poisoned by snakes every year. Therefore, the local residents had a deep hatred for Dao San. They were in awe, and they thought it was Master Dao San who drove away the snakes."

"Later, Lord Daosan built a White Snake Shrine in the mountains. In addition to his long-standing nickname, this vast area was eventually called the Viper God's Domain by nearby residents."

While speaking, Tokichiro's face was full of yearning.

If one day, he can have such a resounding title like the other party, then when he returns to his hometown in the countryside of Qingzhou City, he can straighten his chest and tell everyone that he is not just a farmer's son!
Asai Nagamasa nodded, then leaned forward and gently crushed a blade of grass with his fingers. After feeling the tingling sensation the dark green juice brought to his skin, he finally confirmed his suspicion.

This special grass is recorded in Abe Seimei's inheritance, and they will not appear in the wild casually, because their survival rate is very low and their growth conditions are more harsh.

Even if some onmyojis deliberately cultivate it in order to use it as raw material to increase the venom power of their poison attribute shikigami, it is difficult to gain much, let alone such a large area of ​​healthy and lush grass.

Among all the records in history, if such a large area of ​​grass can grow smoothly, there is only one reason: there is a special guardian spirit named Yatakushin nearby.

This kind of poisonous weed is actually a companion creature that appears under the influence of its spiritual power, because it possesses special poisonous power. Those poisonous snakes spontaneously gathered because they felt its presence.

And unlike ordinary snakes, in addition to being able to entangle the enemy with its body to suffocate it, and inject venom into the enemy with its fangs to kill it, Yadao Shen has other attack methods that are different from snakes, that is, using the sharp point on the top of the head to attack the enemy. Ultimately, it attacks with a sharp blade-like horn.

Could it be Saito Douzan who has mastered the power of Yatogami?
In this way, Asai Nagamasa can understand why he is willing to spend a large amount of money to purchase spiritual stones from Tokichiro.

As one of the guardian spirits, spirit stones can of course also be used as food or supplies for Yato God, they can make it stronger, not to mention that Saito Michizo himself is very likely to know how to borrow the power of spirit stones.

This can also explain why Saito Douzan was able to go from a mere first-level oil seller to successfully conquer all the way up, and eventually became a famous name in Mino, while many people who were unfavorable to him died in various inexplicable ways. s reason.

After mastering the power of spells and having a sinister and sinister personality, it couldn't be easier to kill ordinary people.

It's just a pity for the local residents who were forced to leave their homes. They probably made one mistake from the beginning.

Saito Dozo may not be their savior, on the contrary, it is very likely that he brought those poisonous snakes.

However, at least most of them are still alive and can continue to provide food and tax revenue to Saito Dozo. This behavior is very consistent with his style of doing things.

"The Viper God Realm? Haha, let's go, Tokichiro, let's go to meet Master Daosan together."

However, Tokichiro did not take action immediately. Instead, he seemed a little hesitant: "Um, Lord Asai."

Asai Nagamasa was a little puzzled: "Why, aren't you a regular visitor here? Is there anything difficult about you?"

Tokichiro looked even more embarrassed. He rubbed his hands and said, "Although I have been here many times before, I always brought spiritual stones with me."

Asai Nagamasa was suddenly enlightened. It seemed that Saito Douzan really regarded Tokichiro as a pure tool. Listening to Tokichiro's words, if he didn't bring the spiritual stone, Saito Douzan wouldn't necessarily let him in?

Then he couldn't help but sigh: "Sorry, Tokichiro, it's all my fault. I used up all your precious spiritual stones, leaving you empty-handed."

He then changed his tone: "But don't worry. After I finish my travels, you can go to Xiaogu City to find me at any time. No matter whether you are willing to work for my family or not, I will never let you down."

Although it was because they were all in danger before, so he had to do it, but no matter what, it was indeed him who used the spiritual stone that Tokichiro finally found. He also needed to make a promise to the other party, if he hadn't proposed it According to the request, Tokichiro could actually evacuate safely with the spirit stone at that time.

Once again, Asai Nagamasa made it clear that he could join the Asai family and become a real samurai in the future. Tokichiro suddenly burst into laughter, and his dark face wrinkled up. If it weren't for the fact that he had been reminding himself to pay attention to etiquette, He wanted to jump up and cheer on the spot.

By joining the Asai family, does Asai-sama imply that he can become a true samurai?Of course, he still had to be polite and polite on the surface: "No, Master Asai is serious. You are also trying to eradicate the evil monsters and save my life."

Asai Nagamasa waved his hand: "No need to say any more, Tokichiro, but now we also have a way."

As he spoke, he casually took out the piece of spiritual stone that Maeno Nagayasu gave him: "Use this, although the quantity is slightly less, but the purity of this piece of spiritual stone is extremely high, I think the three masters must I’d also like to meet you for this.”

In fact, he has another way, which is to directly reveal his identity.

Due to political needs and exchange of interests, Saito Yoshiryu married his adopted sister from a relative's family, and the two families were also related by marriage.

But using this method, he was actually not sure whether Saito Dozo would be willing to see him.

After building such a mountain city, having a guardian spirit like Yato God, and wantonly buying spirit stones from Tokichiro, if it is said that Saito Dozo has no other conspiracy or ambition, and he is willing to live here in seclusion, who would believe it? ?
If Saito Michizan thinks that Asai Nagamasa's arrival may affect one of his plans, he may not be willing to see him, so he'd better use Tokichiro's method first.

When Tokichiro saw Asai Nagamasa taking out all the spiritual stones, he immediately waved his hands: "Master Asai, this spiritual stone is a treasure given to you by Master Maeno Nagayasu, how can you take it? "

"Just take it as you are told, don't be nagging, this is my way of compensating you a little."

This is Asai Nagamasa's true inner thought. Although it is very pure, he really doesn't take it too seriously. What's more, with Tokichiro here, will he really lack spiritual stones in the future?

Tokichiro can sell the spiritual stone to Saito Douzan for money, and naturally he can also sell it to Asai Nagamasa.

What's more, although they didn't get along for a long time, Nagamasa Asai could tell that Fujikichiro wasn't all for money, what he really wanted was to get ahead, and money was just a tool to help him get ahead faster.

Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the times, Saito Douzan could not give him what he really wanted. Even in the entire Nibon, apart from himself, only a few people, including Oda Nobunaga, could really give him Bar.

Who told him that he was just the son of a farmer, Ashigaru, and not a descendant of a samurai?

Seeing Asai Nagamasa's extremely determined attitude, Tokichiro stopped insisting. After thanking him repeatedly, he carefully took the spirit stone and then led the way towards Sagiyama Castle again.

Since they had to keep using wooden sticks to drive away possible poisonous snakes in the grass, the speed of several people's progress was not fast. Even if Axiu quickly restrained her disgust and acted together with Fujikichiro, there was no progress. How much improved, even slower.

Because the further you go up the mountain, the higher the height of the weeds becomes, and there are more and more various things hidden in them.

It wasn't even just venomous snakes. Later, there were not only common poisons such as centipedes, spiders, toads, scorpions, and lizards, but also some poisonous insects that Asai Nagamasa couldn't name, but one look at their appearance and knew that they were not good things.

Now even Tokichiro couldn't help but complain, because he had never encountered such a situation when he came here before.

Asai Nagamasa was thoughtful when he heard the words. He then looked around and found that there were weeds in all directions and there were no roads opened at all. He couldn't help but ask: "Fujikiro, has there always been no road in this mountain?"

"Yes, Mr. Asai, when I was here before, I had to do this every time, but this time I don't know why there are too many things in the grass."

"Then do you know how many people usually live in Lushan City?"

Tokichiro wiped his sweat. His physical strength was completely incomparable to Asai Nagamasa or Axiu, and he had to always be wary of possible poisonous insects. So even though the mountain road was not long, his face was still covered in sweat, and now he looked like a mud monkey. .

"As far as I know, there are probably more than 100 people. There don't seem to be any civilians up there. In addition to the maids, Lord Dosan also retained some samurai and ashigaru as guards."

Asai Nagamasa's eyes flickered when he heard the words, and he began to quickly calculate in his heart: "More than 100 people? Then the daily food consumption is close to one stone. If you look around, there is no road on the mountain. How do they use the food?" Where are the ones that were transported up the mountain?"

(End of this chapter)