The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 126: Yellow Springs House (7)

After calming down, Qian Xiaoyi asked, "Is there anything else I should know?"

"Originally there was, but it's gone now." Ashiya Kichisuke said with a smile, "There is actually another step for newcomers to my store, but Qian-kun is a smart man, so it's not necessary."

"To show your power, huh?" Qian Xiaoyi said, "Teach the newcomers a lesson, and make those pretentious guys behave themselves. That way they will be more disciplined."

"That's right." Ashiya Jisuke said admiringly, "Generally speaking, after I send an invitation letter to a new exorcist who has just come to prominence, it often takes one or two months, sometimes even half a year, for them to find me. The faster ones take half a month, and it's rare for them to get here on the same day. Newcomers who can get here so quickly show that they are quite talented, so I don't mind giving them some preferential treatment, which can be regarded as an advance investment. So, do you have any questions?"

"Yes, for example, the ghost girl..." Qian Xiaoyi turned his head to look at the happy and busy little girl in kimono and said, "She has been dead for a long time, right? Letting such a young girl work here is a violation of the labor law and employs child labor."

Inuyama Heita was a little surprised. He didn't even feel that the girl was a ghost. She felt like a real person. If it was Ken in front of him, he would definitely realize at the first moment that the other person was a spirit.

"She was discovered? You're the first one to discover it among so many newcomers. It seems that you are really extraordinary, Qian Jun..." Ashiya Yoshisuke was also a little surprised, but then he smiled bitterly: "She is my granddaughter. She died in an accident, so I built this place for her to move around. Don't tell her about this."

"I see." Qian Xiaoyi said, "You were the one who spread those rumors about Huangquan House in order to consolidate the existence of this pub in this narrow space between life and death. You even kept inviting new people here for this purpose. Is everything because of her?"

Ashiya Jisuke's face became more and more ugly, and he said hurriedly: "Hey, hey, hey~ This is my secret, only people close to me know it. How can you see it at a glance? It's too outrageous, right? Are all the newcomers nowadays monsters? Don't say it anymore, what if others hear it?"

"With the barrier in place, what's there to be afraid of?" Qian Xiaoyi smiled and asked, "Then when do you plan to free her? Although this place can keep her soul in form, it's too pitiful to be locked up here all year round."

Ashiya Jisuke said helplessly: "Please forgive the loneliness of an old widower. I am very old now and I will probably be gone in a few years. When that time comes, I will go with her... Can you change the subject?"

"Okay." This was someone else's private matter. Qian Xiaoyi only asked about the little girl's spirit. As long as it wasn't something that was against the will of heaven and earth, he didn't bother to get involved in other people's private affairs. He looked at Inuyama Heita and said, "You have been secretly looking at this old man just now. Do you have anything to ask? Ask now."

Yoshisuke Ashiya also quickly said: "I'm sorry, I was so engrossed in chatting with Mr. Qian that I forgot about you, young man. Just ask." He didn't want to talk about related topics with Qian Xiaoyi anymore. This young man who came from across the sea made him feel uncomfortable. His eyes were too sharp.

Hearing this, Inuyama Heita asked, "Excuse me... Um, may I ask, Mr. Ashiya, since you are the descendant of the legendary Onmyoji Ashiya Doman, does that mean that the Onmyoji on Abe Haruaki's side is still around?"

Ashiya Kichisuke said, "The Tsuchimikado family? Just like the Ashiya family, there aren't many people left, but they are still around. It's just that they usually only move around in Kyoto." Seeing that the old man was not arrogant, Inuyama Heita asked curiously, "Are you still enemies with them?"

"It's not the case anymore." Ashiya Kichisuke said with a smile, "Those hatreds disappeared when the Onmyojis were disbanded more than a hundred years ago. Now everyone is struggling to survive. We are lucky to be able to pass on the legacy. Why would we care about the grudges from a thousand years ago?"

"Ah, that makes sense..." Inuyama Heita suddenly thought of something and asked, "The little girl just now was your granddaughter. Are there other people in your family?" If he was really the only one left, wouldn't it mean that the famous Ashiya Doman would have no descendants in this era?

"Of course there are." Ashiya Yoshisuke said, "There are still many people in the family who stay in their hometown in the countryside to enjoy their lives, and the young people don't want to learn these things. Only I came to Tokyo. Even though I am old, I still have to work. Otherwise, the reputation of the Ashiya family will really decline. It's really... Speaking of work, young people nowadays are too lazy. The child of a friend of mine only worked for one or two days and then shouted that he didn't want to do it anymore..."

Ashiya Yoshisuke started to complain to them about the political situation and the current state of society like an ordinary old man, and finally moved to other izakayas that were no match for his. How could he be a Yin-Yang master with his nagging? Qian Xiaoyi looked at Inuyama Heita in reproach: What kind of stupid questions are you asking? Are we here to chat?
Inuyama Heita gave him an apologetic look: I didn’t expect it to be like this…

But after a while, Ashiya Yoshisuke noticed it. He coughed awkwardly and said, "Ahem... well, I become more verbose as I get older, and my brain is not working well. Sorry."

"It's okay. This is an izakaya anyway." Qian Xiaoyi said politely, "Free speech is the essence of an izakaya."

"That's right~" Ashiya Yoshisuke laughed: "That's a good saying. Many people come here and are afraid to say something wrong. But if that's the case, why would I open an izakaya~ It seems that Mr. Qian and I get along very well, so I'll give you a piece of advice."

"Please speak." Qian Xiaoyi said.

Ashiya Jisuke put away his smile and said, "Don't focus all your attention on those ghosts. People are much scarier than ghosts."

Qian Xiaoyi was stunned and asked, "Are you telling me to be careful of Gui Teng Longguang's revenge?"

Ashiya Yoshisuke said: "I didn't intend to intervene in the business conflicts between you guys. You are an outsider, so you will naturally attract more hatred, so you are destined to conflict with those exclusive small groups. Their ability to exorcise spirits is average, but they like to use some unconventional tricks.

But I know you are capable. Even if they get you out, they won't be any better off. They will both lose and the situation may get out of control. So let's do this. I have changed my mind. I will arrange a fair competition for you. The winner will be the king and the loser will be the enemy. Do you want to accept it?"

(End of this chapter)