The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 145: Training trip (18)

"Yes, that's it." Qian Xiaoyi said.

It is not feasible to destroy the Feng Shui pattern in reality, so the only option is to go to the ghost realm.

Inuyama Heita said, "But I shouldn't be able to do it, right? Last night in the ghost realm, when we faced Kawasaki-senpai and the others who were controlled, they were subdued in an instant. What should I do?"

"You can't do it alone." Qian Xiaoyi said, "That's a strange thing that has been formed by the guardian spirits of countless dead people and the consciousness of living people over the past 20 years. Not to mention you, even if I go there myself, I can't break it head-on. I can only find its weakness from the side. The cognition of a single person is still too weak compared to this kind of aggregate. But don't we still have friends?"

"You mean... the fox in the shrine?" Inuyama Heita perked up and asked, "I've always wondered why they abandoned the shrine?"

Qian Xiaoyi said: "According to our cognitive school, it is to compete for the faith power of the shrine. If the shrine is not abandoned, the villagers will place some of their spiritual hopes on the god. The shrine itself is the god of Inari, blessing the harvest, but it is of no use to the problem of population loss, so it can only be abandoned.

Since then, the scarecrows in the fields have become the villagers’ new object of faith, and a special common understanding of “hometown” has been formed. Therefore, many people who come here will feel that “this is life” and the seeds of wanting to stay are planted in their hearts. ”

"Well, what should I do?" asked Inuyama Heita.

Qian Xiaoyi continued, "Under normal circumstances, with the nature of this array, its accumulated aura will not be revealed at ordinary times, so we didn't feel anything when we came. It is very concealed. This means that its ghost domain cannot be opened at ordinary times. On the contrary, if it wants to work, it must have a corresponding ritual to release its accumulated aura at a specific time. If I guess correctly, this time point is tonight."

Inuyama Heita said: "I understand. The village's summer festival is actually a ceremony to open the magic circle. Only then will we have the opportunity to enter the ghost realm here."

"So the person who set up the formation is an expert." Qian Xiaoyi said, "On a practical level, the villagers are guarding the scarecrow, using the excuse of deceased relatives to legally prevent outsiders from threatening the scarecrow. Once there is a problem, they will be forcibly expelled and no one can get close. The effect is also extremely hidden, the formation is only opened once a year, and it is covered by a festival, so ordinary people really can't see it."

Inuyama Heita said sincerely: "Fortunately, Brother Yi is capable enough to discover the trick here."

"Haha~ Of course I can see that, after all..." Qian Xiaoyi suddenly changed his words and said, "Haha, after all, it's because I'm very strong~ Next, I will tell you what to do..."

After giving some instructions, Qian Xiaoyi said, "I've found a car that's willing to go to the village. If we're lucky, we might be able to catch it in the evening. Anyway, just act like you normally do and go to the festival happily."

"Happy..." Inuyama Heita felt helpless. How could he be happy after knowing these inside stories?

After hanging up the phone, Inuyama Heita pretended nothing happened and went to the cafeteria to eat lunch. Apparently because today was a festival, the lunch was very rich. They ate Japanese mountain product hot pot. Everyone seemed to have forgotten the previous unpleasantness and gathered together in a harmonious atmosphere to eat and drink. Ono Haruna also said that she was too excited before, and she decided to go back to Tokyo to finish her studies first.

Inuyama Heita was eating hot pot absentmindedly, and was not surprised by Ono Haruna's decision. Qian Xiaoyi said that the effect of this magic array was not overbearing, but it was a way of boiling a frog in warm water, which subtly influenced people. It might take several years for people to make up their minds, but as long as they had an emotional breakdown, they would think of life here involuntarily, so if nothing unexpected happened, Ono Haruna would eventually return here.

But this time, he wanted to let this accident happen.

After spending some time in the hotel after dinner, the power of the sun weakened a little and everyone came to the village in groups. At this time, the festive atmosphere in the village was already very strong.

Tourists and residents all came out, wearing cool and comfortable yukatas, and were talking excitedly. The villagers were busy carrying things for the festival to an open space in front of the field, where the festival was held. A series of lanterns were hung on wooden racks, and a huge bonfire was being built. I think at night, this place will be brightly lit, contrary to the dim appearance of the mountain village roads before. Sato asked, "Minister, what will be done in the festival here?"

Kawasaki said: "It's nothing special. The village chief will ask people to put out some food and drinks later. Everyone will eat and chat around the bonfire, then dance together. Finally, throw the collected old clothes into the bonfire to drive away the bad luck of the year. That's it."

"Folk dance~ Is it the kind where a group of people gather in a circle?" Miyamoto Yuzhi laughed and said, "I danced it during the school festival in junior high school... Eh? Where did Inuyama go now?"

"He just said he had a stomachache and went to the bathroom." Suzuki said.

"It's really worrying." Kawasaki breathed a sigh of relief: "I thought that guy was missing again."

Ono Haruna asked, "Again?"

Everyone was in a panic and started talking at once, changing the subject.

When the festival was about to begin, Inuyama Heita finally arrived. He said sweatily, "Sorry, I'm late. It hasn't started yet, has it? I just forgot to get my old clothes."

"I see." Kawasaki said, "Grandma Taniguchi is over there too. Give the clothes to her. They will be burned together when the event is over. By the way, Suzuki-san, it seems that you are the only one who didn't take out your old clothes. Aren't you going to throw away the bad luck of the year?"

Suzuki said, "I'm sorry, I didn't bring many changes of clothes."

"That's really a pity." Kawasaki said.

After everyone waited for a while, the ceremony finally began. A blazing bonfire was lit, infecting everyone's emotions. Everyone looked at the huge bonfire and ate, drank and had fun around it. Led by the villagers, more and more people joined the folk dance and began to dance a funny folk dance around the bonfire.

Inuyama Heita did not join in, but he had a strong urge to join in. Just now, he felt that he had established a strange connection with this village. Everyone was laughing happily, forgetting worldly troubles and becoming as close as a family.

Above the blazing bonfire, Inuyama Heita seemed to see a huge scarecrow standing there.

A cloth bag filled with old clothes was thrown into the bonfire from the platform, becoming the fuel for the flames, making them jump higher and causing cheers from the crowd.

Without any complicated rules or solemn announcements, this ceremony was like a small but joyful carnival that brought everyone together as one.

In this atmosphere, Inuyama Heita looked at the fields in the distance, and the scarecrows turned their heads and looked at him with their human heads.

(End of this chapter)