The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 344: The Bizarre Adventures of Shichijo Masato (16)

Shichijo Masato sat on the cushion, looked at his grandfather in front of him, clenched his fists, frowned and said, "Grandpa, what are you talking about?"

"You're really unwilling?" Nanajo Hiroshi slowly poured himself a glass of sake, holding the glass and said, "It's no wonder. You've been a very strong-willed child since you were young. You really hate being said that you achieved your success with the help of your family, but you also value the honor of your family very much and don't let your actions bring shame to your family... Now that I say this, I'm sure it's very difficult for you, right?"

Nanajo Masato couldn't help but say, "Grandpa, WTV was founded by my great-grandfather. Now it has become like this. Can you just watch it continue to degenerate?"

Shichijo Hiroshi sighed and asked, "So what do you mean?"

"I think..." Nanajo Masato said seriously, "Now might be a good opportunity for Nanajo family to return to the core of the group. If we delay any further, those things will sooner or later drag everyone down uncontrollably. So we might as well make a decision now and remove that lesion. This way, we can purify WTV and put it back under the control of Nanajo family. If we delay any longer, it may be too late."

"It's a good idea. Or should I say... you think too well." Shichijo Hiroshi put down his glass and said, "What you said is all about the best side, but what if you don't succeed? What will be the consequences?"

Nanajo Masato said, "That's why I came to ask you what you think."

"This is a huge gamble." Nanajo Hiroshi said, "Xiaozheng, you have really grown into a good person. In addition to the high-sounding excuse of doing this for the family, you actually have another reason in your heart, right?"

Nanajo Masato was silent for a few seconds and said, "Yes."

"It's for the victims, right?" Nanajo Hiroshi said, "You are a very proud person, so you can't stand the fact that WTV, founded by the Nanajo family, did that. You can't ignore those who have been swallowed by the darkness, so you want to open the lid and let the sun shine into the darkness, exposing those pests to the scorching sun, wriggling and then dying ugly... But as I said, you grew up too well, so you can't do this."

"Grandpa, what do you mean?" Qiji Masato looked at the old man in front of him in confusion.

Nanajo Hiroshi smiled, then said somewhat desolately: "Your family sent you abroad to prevent you from getting involved in this kind of thing, but now it seems that you are still involved. You are too clean, both in your heart and your hands, and because you grew up in a privileged environment, you are too proud to compromise. No matter what difficulties you encounter, you will face them head-on... However, this matter is different. Only those who know how to compromise and have a dirty heart can grasp the degree and control the situation without hurting themselves, and you are not one of them."

"But now I am the only one in our family who can do it." Nanajo Masato said, "This is my responsibility, and... there is one more thing, which is the reason why I must do it."

Nanajo Hiroshi looked at him curiously and asked, "What is it?"

"Although this may sound absurd to you, but..." Nanajo Masato hesitated for a moment before speaking: "It's a curse. I suspect that my brother's illness may not be just an accident, but caused by a curse. Now, they have also attacked me..."

Nanajo Hiroshi was shocked. He opened his mouth and asked slowly, "Curse? Why do you think so? Xiaozheng? Did you come into contact with some messed up sect abroad?"

His grandfather's words made Shichijo Masato feel a little embarrassed, and his reaction was the same as before.

Nanajo Hiroshi looked at him strangely: "I never taught you to believe in these weird things. If these things are useful, then we won't work hard and just worship the gods every day. People sometimes experience some suffering, but the more it happens, the more we must face it, instead of blaming it on something as illusory as a curse. The Nanajo family didn't grow strong by believing in such things."

Nanajo Masato had a headache. He knew that his grandfather was such a practical man and didn't believe in such nonsense at all. If he had not really been to that place, he would be the same as his grandfather.

Just when Shichijo Masato had the urge to immediately tell his grandfather what he had seen and heard in the ghost realm to prove that he was right, an unpleasant voice came from behind.

"Maybe Master Masato was trying all kinds of medical treatments for his illness and believed some liars?" Nanajo Masato's heart sank. He turned around and saw a person he hated very much standing at the door.

"Master Ashin." Nanajo Masato greeted him with a grim expression.

The man who came was a slicked-back man with one-third of his face burned. He didn't look young anymore, probably around 50 or 60 years old. He wore a dark kimono and walked in, kneeling beside Shichijo Hiroshi, tidying up the wine utensils in front of him. He complained, "Master Hiroshi, you drank again. This is against the doctor's orders."

Nanajo Hiroshi laughed and said, "Oh Shin, you are so silly. The doctor just told me to drink less and set a weekly dosage for me. He didn't tell me not to drink."

The man called Ashin said helplessly: "But you already drank yesterday, if you drink again today you will exceed the limit."

"Really? I don't remember." Nanajo Hiroshi pretended to be confused and said, "Maybe I'm getting old and my memory is declining?"

A Xin said: "Then sometimes I hope you can forget about drinking."

"No, I can't forget it." Nanajo Hiroshi said dryly, "It's already engraved in my bones."

A Xin said: "I hope you can carve something better."

Shichijo Masato felt a little uneasy as he watched the friendly interaction between the two old men. The Grandpa Axin in front of him was his grandfather's right-hand man. Although the two were not related by blood and were only master and servant, they were like brothers. He was brought up by this Grandpa Axin when he was a child. Compared with his grandfather's friendly personality, this old man with a scary face seemed much more serious, and he didn't like him very much.

"Anyway, Xiaozheng," said Nanajo Hiroshi, "although I really don't want you to get involved in this mess, but since you have your own ideas, just do it. Maybe a young and energetic person like you can do better than old men like us...Although your actions may be dangerous this time, the Nanajo family is not a pushover. Even if they can't keep the original status of the consortium, they can still keep you...I'm a little tired, Shin, can you see Xiaozheng off? Oh, leave the wine."

"Yes, Master Hiroshi. I'll see you out, Master Zhengren," said Shin, standing up with the plate with the wine jug on it.

Nanajo Masato followed Ashin to the gate in silence. Before leaving, Ashin took the initiative to say, "Curse or something... Young Master Masato actually believes in this? It's ridiculous."

There was a mocking smile in his words. Nanajo Masato turned around and looked at him intently, but Ashin still had a serious look on his face, as if the tone just now was an illusion of Nanajo Masato.

Ashin continued, "I heard that Master Zhengren was hanging out with some shady guys in the company? Master Zhengren, you are still young and sometimes don't understand. Some quacks have some skills that can make people see hallucinations. Maybe you were deceived by someone... Since Master Zhengren is the heir of the Shichijo family, I hope you can draw a clear line with those guys and don't believe in some illusory things. Master Bozhi and I both hope so."

"Is this a warning, Master Shin?" Nanajo Masato looked at him.

"No." Ashin replied, "This is advice."

Nanajo Masato looked at him for a while, then left the old house without looking back.

(End of this chapter)