The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 140: Training trip (13)

"What? The police station in the city?! Just released?" Inuyama Heita was shocked. It had only been a day since they last met, and Qian Xiaoyi had gone so far. He asked, "What happened? Did you commit a crime?"

"No!"

Qian Xiaoyi said on the other end: "Oh~ It's a long story. However, there is definitely something wrong with this village. But I may not be able to go back for the time being. The bus to the village only runs once a week, which is the day when the training camp ends. No car here is willing to go to such a remote place. The road is too roundabout... By the way, I'll send you a photo, you go ask Ono Haruna to see if she recognizes it."

The internet speed in the countryside was very slow, and it took Inuyama Heita's phone a long time to load the photos sent by Qian Xiaoyi. Inuyama Heita took a look and saw a scarecrow dressed in strange clothes. He immediately went to the girl's room, knocked on the door, and asked, "Um, is everyone asleep? I have something to ask Ono-senpai."

Komaeda Yui opened the sliding door and asked cautiously, "What are you doing? Men are not allowed in this room. Are you trying to sneak in? Sorry, Senior Miyamoto has already used this trick before."

In the room, Suzuki and Ono Haruna also looked at him strangely, not knowing what this boy wanted to do.

Inuyama Heita took out his phone and said, "I have something urgent to ask Senior Ono. Have you seen the clothes on the scarecrow in the photo?"

Ono Haruna seemed to have recovered her mood at this time. She walked over, took the phone and looked at it in confusion. After a while, she showed a surprised expression: "This is... my clothes from last year?"

Suzuki asked, "Why are Ono-senpai's clothes on the scarecrow?"

Ono Haruna frowned and thought, "I remember... there was a ceremony in the summer festival in the village last year, saying that throwing old clothes into the bonfire can eliminate bad luck, so I gave a set of spare clothes to the old man who presided over the festival... but they actually used my clothes as a scarecrow costume? Forget it, they are just old clothes anyway..."

"Is there such a thing? Did you take this video?" asked Yui Omaeda.

Inuyama Heita said: "What? Oh, yes, I saw it while walking on the roadside, and thought it was a bit strange, so I..."

Suzuki looked at Inuyama Heita with scrutiny and asked, "Speaking of which... where did Mr. Qian go? I haven't seen him today."

Inuyama Heita said, "He said he had something urgent to do and has taken a bus to a nearby city to take care of it. He will meet us in two days."

Suzuki thought this matter was a bit strange, but did not ask any further questions. He just looked at Inuyama Heita, and the questioning look in his eyes was self-evident.

"It's okay now. I'll leave first." Inuyama Heita fled away. Qian Xiaoyi had instructed him not to make it public for the time being so as not to cause panic among others.

After arriving outside the hotel, he continued to talk to Qian Xiaoyi and said, "Brother Yi, it has been confirmed that it is Senior Xiaoye's clothes."

"Really? That's troublesome." Qian Xiaoyi walked on the neon-lit street with his mobile phone and suitcase, and told Inuyama Heita what happened before. Inuyama Heita was speechless: "Being regarded as a spy? This is too..."

"In short, it took a lot of effort to clarify." Qian Xiaoyi said, "But it is obvious that they deliberately drove me out of the village in order to prevent me from continuing to investigate the scarecrow. I guess even if I can find a car to go back, as soon as I show up, they will force me away again. I am afraid I have become the most unwelcome person in the village."

Inuyama Heita asked curiously, "But why? Is there anything strange about those scarecrows? Mr. Ken and I didn't notice anything."

"Because what's strange is not them themselves, but..." Qian Xiaoyi took out a notebook and opened it. On it were dots symbolizing a scarecrow. Qian Xiaoyi then took out a pen and used lines to connect these dots in a regular pattern. As these lines were combined, a complex and mysterious pattern appeared.

Qian Xiaoyi said on the phone, "It's a magic circle. These scarecrows form a magic circle, which gives the whole village a unique Feng Shui pattern. I'm afraid the village is still so vibrant, instead of gradually dying out like other villages, all thanks to this magic circle. Now it seems that the people in the village have begun to use the magic circle to attack outsiders."

"Then there's Ono-senpai too?" Inuyama Heita asked in surprise, "Why is there such a magic circle in this village?"

Qian Xiaoyi said: "I don't know about this, but one thing is certain, this magic circle has begun to become harmful to target groups like Ono Haruna. Their emotions change too quickly, which means that their mental state is very unstable, and then they are prone to impulsive and evasive behavior, just like mice attracted by bait."

Inuyama Heita asked, "Then what should we do? When can you come back? Tomorrow night is the summer festival, maybe they will do something then."

"I can't come back today." Qian Xiaoyi said, "I plan to find a hotel to stay for one night, and then look for a car to take me back tomorrow. But I can't show up anymore, so the next move depends on you, Heitaro."

"Eh?!" Inuyama Heita asked in surprise, "Me? Brother Yi, I can't do it. We have only started special training for a few days."

Qian Xiaoyi said: "When I can't intervene, isn't that what an assistant does? But if you don't want to, then forget it. Anyway, the purpose of this village has nothing to do with me. I don't get any commission fees. Ono Haruna's stay or departure is none of my business. I will not attend tomorrow's summer festival..."

"I know, I know, don't say anymore..." Inuyama Heita sighed, "Then, what can I do?"

Qian Xiaoyi said, "When I'm not here, you will complete the rest of the investigation. There are some things that need to be investigated clearly before you know what to do. I will mark a few points for you later. You need to investigate the remaining clothes on the scarecrows, and then you can determine whether my speculation is correct. So be prepared to stay up all night. During the day, I'm afraid you will be discovered like me. At night, they probably won't be guarding."

"I understand." Inuyama Heita sighed again. He had to stay up late again. He didn't sleep well these days.

Speaking of lack of sleep, a white furry shadow flashed across his vision, and cold sweat flowed down Inuyama Heita's forehead. He seemed to have forgotten that he was still "marked" by the foxes.

(End of this chapter)