The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 408 Huang Quan Invitation (14)

In the end, Inuyama Heita was defeated at the fourth level just like King Kong.

Of course, this result is already better than that of most exorcists. Most challengers basically fail at the second and third levels.

Originally, the reward for Inuyama Heita's challenge was supposed to be a pot of "Dreamlike" spiritual wine, which would help psychics increase their spiritual power. However, since Inuyama Heita was not old enough to drink and said he could not, Ashiya Yoshisuke gave him a different prize.

—A rice ball?
Looking at the rice ball on the paper shikigami's plate, Inuyama Heita had a strange expression on his face. He asked cautiously, "Is this... for me to eat?"

Just kidding, who knows if if you eat it, it will turn into a toad or something like that and then you have to vomit it out!

Ashiya Kichisuke smiled and said, "You can eat it if you want, but this rice ball is not for humans, but for ghosts or shikigami."

"Ghost rice ball?" Qian Xiaoyi also looked at the rice ball on the plate held by the shikigami curiously. It looked like an ordinary seaweed rice ball, nothing special about it. It looked a bit like a special tribute, but if you smelled it carefully, there was a faint rice fragrance.

"It smells so good!" The sound of Ken swallowing his saliva could be heard. He frantically whispered in Inuyama Heita's ear: "Let me eat it! Inuyama! Take it down quickly, I want to eat it!"

Ashiya Yoshisuke explained: "Don't underestimate this rice ball, but this is the secret of my Ashiya family. For ghosts, this rice ball is extremely tempting. You can throw it as bait in a critical moment to save your life, or you can throw it to some spirits, maybe you can tame them. Some of my shikigami came from this way."

“Tamed?” Inuyama Heita murmured, “Just like Momotaro’s glutinous rice balls?”

“Hahaha~ That’s somewhat the meaning.” Ashiya Yoshisuke laughed.

In Japanese folk tales, Momotaro conquered his three animal companions by using glutinous rice dumplings.

"Take it, Heitaro." Qian Xiaoyi said, "It's a good thing. Who knows, it might be useful someday."

Inuyama Heita picked up the rice ball: "Then I'll take it. Thank you, Mr. Ashiya."

The moment he picked up the rice ball, it was attracted by the yang energy from Inuyama Heita's body and immediately turned into a piece of talisman paper folded into a triangle. The fragrance it emitted also suddenly disappeared.

Ashiya Kichisuke said, "Just activate the seal on it when you need it."

"Yes, I understand." said Inuyama Heita.

Next, Yoshisuke Ashiya needed to continue hosting the challenge, so he didn't talk to them too much.

Originally, Qian Xiaoyi wanted to see if there were any schools or people worth paying attention to among the challengers below, but basically nothing caught his eye among the rest. There was even a funny guy who was throwing salt at the Shikigami, but he was knocked out with one blow and became a laughing stock.

Since the challenger was nothing interesting, Qian Xiaoyi wanted to find other exorcists to talk to and get some information he didn't know. However, it seemed that his appearance and reputation had spread, and everyone was respectful to him, but kept their distance, so normal chat was impossible.

Xingchang Rang yawned and said, "I'm going to go back first. There's nothing good to see here. Several customers have placed orders, so I have to go back and finish the work."

After that he left.

Qian Xiaoyi estimated the time. It was really late now. Inuyama Heita had to go to school the next day, so it would be better to leave early. He had nothing to do here anyway. So the two of them walked out of the shoji gate together. The izakaya outside the gate became familiar again. The warm lights shone on them, just like an ordinary izakaya, completely different from the bizarre world inside the shoji gate, making people feel like they were in another world.

"Are you leaving? Take care, guests." A little girl in a kimono bowed to them and said goodbye. She was the only one in the pub now, cleaning the place.

Qian Xiaoyi knew her. She was the granddaughter of Ashiya Yoshisuke who had died long ago. Qian Xiaoyi even suspected that Ashiya Yoshisuke built this Yellow Spring House just to give her a place to live.

"Well~ Goodbye, Xiaoju." After saying hello, the two left Huangquan House and came outside.

Walking in the dark alley, Inuyama Heita asked, "Brother Yi, do we have any commissions during this period?"

The reason I asked this question is that it has been more than half a month since the last commission, and Inuyama Heita doesn't have any club activities. He goes home after school every day and is a bit bored watching TV and reading comics every day, so I asked this question.

Qian Xiaoyi smiled and said, "Why? Didn't the Supernatural Department find something for you to do?"

Because he was afraid that those people might cause some trouble again, Qian Xiaoyi asked Inuyama Heita to help keep an eye on them while he was busy with WTV's affairs, just in case.

Inuyama Heita shook his head and said, "Minister Kawasaki has been very quiet recently. Maybe it's because of the influence of the last school festival? Also, they are already in the third year and have to prepare for the exam. I heard that he wants to apply for a folklore major at a university and travel around the country to study folklore in the future."

"This guy... is hopeless." Qian Xiaoyi said speechlessly: "Is being quiet for a while just to make a bigger fuss later?"

"So there are no commissions during this period?" asked Inuyama Heita.

"No." Qian Xiaoyi replied, "We just received such a big order, and there are enemies watching us in the dark, so it's better to wait and see for a while. Before accepting another commission, we should make some preparations. For example, my copper coin sword is broken again, and I'm collecting materials to make it again."

"Oh." Inuyama Heita was a little disappointed. The challenge just now made him realize his own shortcomings. He had originally wanted to take on more commissions and gain some practical experience.

Qian Xiaoyi noticed his disappointment and said, "Don't think you don't have to do anything during this period of time, isn't it enough to give you such a long vacation? It's time to get busy."

"Eh?" Inuyama Heita asked, "But didn't you just say that you won't accept commissions during this period? How come..."

Qian Xiaoyi said: "Didn't I tell you that this period is the 'preparation period'? After this period, guess what we are going to face?"

Inuyama Heita asked uncertainly, "Is it... [One Hundred Demons]?"

Qian Xiaoyi said: "Yes, after this period of hype has passed, those people will feel that all risks have been suppressed. Then, do you think they will let go of us exorcists who may pose a threat to them? After all, we have successfully defeated one of their companions."

"Then what should we prepare?" asked Inuyama Heita.

"I don't trust that old man in Ashiya, so I still have to continue collecting intelligence, and..." Qian Xiaoyi looked at Inuyama Heita and showed a malicious smile: "...The second special training for a certain guy should also begin. You don't want to become the weakness of the agency and be targeted by the enemy, right? Heitaro~"

(End of this chapter)