The Blade-Wielding Legend

Chuyun Shrine?

Upon hearing the ronin’s words, everyone was a bit taken aback.

However, being clever and experienced in the pugilistic world, they quickly guessed the reason upon a little thought.

They had read the intelligence report before coming.

Though Japan harbors malicious intent, it has admired Central Plains culture since the Tang envoy’s missions. During the Tang and Song dynasties, it even specifically sent people to follow the masters, and whenever there was a fine work, it quickly became popular in Japan.

Of course, ordinary people cannot learn this knowledge.

Therefore, speaking fluent Central Plains official language became a symbol of the noble class, and Shen Guan needed to study scriptures extensively, being of special status, naturally included.

And Chuyun Shrine is a significant place of Japan’s Shintoism.

What intrigued them was what this ronin was secretly plotting here...

The others remained expressionless as Li Yan and Kong Shangzhao exchanged glances.

Kong Shangzhao immediately stepped forward and made a Shen Guan’s salute.

Though his movements were somewhat stiff, they matched his coarse fabric’s attire, truly resembling a wandering ascetic.

"We are indeed here under the command of the Grand Shrine."

Kong Shangzhao spoke fluent Japanese, "How is your preparation for the tasks instructed, and why were you possessed by Fusang God?"

A flash of shame crossed the ronin’s one eye, which was then replaced by malevolence: "Master, we were just about to report after obtaining the information..."

He glanced at the remnants of the Sword Demon on the ground, "But the opponent discovered us. During the escape, we don’t know what evil skill they used, summoned Fusang God to possess the weapons..."

Before he finished speaking, his face turned hideous.

His skin turned bluish-purple, and black veins spread from his neck to his face.

Evil energy attacking the heart?

Everyone immediately realized what had happened.

Being possessed by demons and evil spirits has never been a good thing.

It might temporarily increase your power, even manifest unbelievable abilities, but it always squeezes one’s vital essence, letting the evil Qi circulate within.

Ordinary people who bump into ghosts need months of recuperation.

These ronin, having been possessed for so long, had already lost their vitality.

Previously, it was just their last gasp before death. No wonder they didn’t discover such a big flaw, as their minds had been clouded by obsessions.

Time was pressing, and Kong Shangzhao dared not delay. He immediately stepped forward and spoke, "Quick, tell me what you’ve discovered, the Shrine will remember your deeds!"

By now, the ronin’s eyes were bloodshot, he swallowed and gritted his teeth, "I...we discovered, along the Shanyin coast, there are a few smuggling ships that operate at night. They don’t carry cargo but ’materials.’

"These were their exact words, and just as Master suspected, they are used by those mysterious people in the capital city to create Ghost Gods."

"Last month, I overheard in a tavern in Luye City, Inaba Country, two drunken ronin talking about these materials being shipped to Tanba. There is ’Ghost God protection,’ and it’s very safe."

"Tanba?" Li Yan frowned.

He recalled the smuggler Ping Zhu mentioning that Tanba Country was mountainous, famous for ghost tales in Japan.

"Yes, Master should be careful."

The ronin’s energy grew weaker, "They have the ’Seven People of the Imperial Court’ helping them, we were trapped by those guys."

"What is that?"

"From Four Countries Kagawa, there are stories of Evil Spirits, saying that seven vengeful spirits of war-dead samurai roam along the coast at night, taking the lives of the living at sight..."

"Specific location?"

"On the coast between Tanba and Danma, there is a place called ’Ghost Cape.’ With many reefs, ships find it hard to approach, so smugglers choose it for delivery..."

His voice faded away, and he completely expired.

"Roar!"

Before the group could check, he suddenly lifted his head and roared.

Being possessed for so long, his body was already shrouded in the aura of death.

Once vitality was cut, it could no longer be suppressed and completely transformed into something akin to a walking corpse.

Li Yan swiped his foot upon a stone.

BANG!

With added power, the opponent’s head directly shattered like a watermelon, falling to the ground, completely silent.

"Looks like we need to detour to Tanba."

Li Yan looked at his companions, his face serious.

"That’s right, it’s also a clue."

"It seems that those involved with Jianmu in Japan haven’t revealed their identities, even the Chuyun Shrine members don’t know. Going straight to the capital city might be hard to investigate."

"These Japanese aren’t completely united either..."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

After the discussion, they decided to detour to Tanba.

...

They traveled north along Yamano Road.

Three days later, they finally reached the coast at the junction of Tanba Country and Danma Kingdom.

It was twilight, and fog began rising over the sea.

In the distance, the reefs resembled ferocious beast teeth, piercing through the waves.

This area was sparsely populated, with only occasional fisherman’s huts seen, their doors and windows tightly closed, shimenawa and demon-breaking arrows hanging under the eaves, typical protective methods of ordinary Japanese households, if only slightly better than nothing.

Li Yan and the others did not disturb them and instead detoured to halfway up the mountain.

Looking up, the turbulent sea was in sight, the sky was overcast, and the seawater dark and gloomy.

Wang Daoxuan took out the Turtle Shell Compass, the needle trembling slightly between the Dui and Kan positions, shook his head, and said, "This place is interwoven with Water Evil, with accumulated yin energy, indeed a good place for Ghost Cultivation."

He frowned and said, "But the distribution of evil energy doesn’t seem naturally formed, rather like... someone set up an array."

"Most likely it’s some ghost cultivation technique."

"Didn’t the ronin mention that it appears at night? Let’s wait..."

Li Yan had everyone conceal themselves in the pine woods by the coast, quietly awaiting nightfall.

At the beginning of the hour of the Pig, the sound of oars came from the sea.

A customs ship without lights or fire slowly arrived from the mist.

The ship had a deep draft, clearly loaded with heavy goods.

It stopped in the reef area over a hundred zhang from the shore and dropped anchor.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!