The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 782: Enemy at Honnoji Temple Part
This banquet ultimately exceeded Qian Xiaoyi's budget. Even with those vouchers, Qian Xiaoyi still spent a lot of money, which made him feel painful when he looked at his empty wallet. Fortunately, he brought enough money, otherwise he would have to borrow from others. As a Chinese, he still wanted to save some face.

After the banquet, Inuyama Heita and Nanajo Masato went back with their big bellies covered. The two guys treated themselves as outsiders as if they were at a high-end buffet. They ordered several extra servings of meat and ate to their heart's content. While everyone else at the banquet was chatting and drinking, they and Suzuki were the only ones who were eating.

Seeing the useless look of Qijiao Zhengren, Qian Xiaoyi almost couldn't help but say to him: "You, sit at the table with children from now on."

However, even though it was painful, such a meal was still necessary. After Qian Xiaoyi revealed that the leader of the Exorcist Alliance, old man Ashiya, might have a relationship with the Hundred Demons, although it was not very obvious and only a few people knew about it, Qian Xiaoyi found that everyone's morale was still low to a certain extent, so it was better to gather them together to relax.

With this preparation, they will not reveal their flaws so easily when facing Ashiya Yoshisuke in the future. After all, they are only in the stage of collecting intelligence now, and Ashiya Yoshisuke should not have discovered their purpose yet.

The next time everyone would face Ashiya Yoshisuke would be a few days after the banquet, when the Yellow Springs House opened every half a month.

"I always feel a little nervous..." Inuyama Heita and Qian Xiaoyi walked in the deserted alleys of Kabukicho, looking for the entrance to Huangquanya.

Inuyama Heita couldn't help but say, "After knowing that, stepping into that place again is like stepping into an enemy encirclement. It's creepy."

"Don't reveal our purpose, Heitaro." Qian Xiaoyi said, "Although we don't know when that black-hearted old man will stab us in the back, maybe it will be after we win a staged victory over the Hundred Ghosts, but before that, we are still safe. He established this Exorcist Alliance, probably for his own purpose, so there is no need to worry that he will attack us now."

Inuyama Heita was a little surprised: "You mean... Mr. Ashiya and the Hope Cult are not in the same group?"

"It's just speculation." Qian Xiaoyi said, "The Hundred Ghosts are an organization formed by various interest groups. The leaders of each interest group have ulterior motives. It is impossible for such an organization to be united, so it is not surprising that there are factional struggles. If there were no hope for the deterrent power of those saints in the ghost realm, I am afraid that the Hundred Ghosts would have been in turmoil long ago."

"That's why we have to deal with the Hope Church first~" Inuyama Heita nodded.

"Okay, stop talking like that." Qian Xiaoyi said, "We should be entering the enemy's territory soon. Don't talk nonsense or show any abnormality after entering. There are only two opportunities to enter Huangquan House every month. We must try our best to collect information there. If I can break the magic circle there, then Ashiya Yoshisuke will not be so scary."

The reason why Qian Xiaoyi didn't do that before was that once such behavior was discovered, it would be disrespectful to his allies. He was an outsider and would easily be isolated if he did such a thing, but now it is different.

"Even if he's not in Huangquan House, he should be very strong, right?" Inuyama Heita said in a low voice.

"No matter how strong he is, he is just an old man. People's spirits will weaken. If he really surrendered to the Hundred Ghosts, it means that he is already old." Qian Xiaoyi said: "And our goal is to find evidence that he is the Hundred Ghosts. Naturally, we have to investigate his Huangquan House first. This place has always been of concern to me since I first came here."

After hearing Qian Xiaoyi's explanation, Inuyama Heita stopped talking. He could also feel that they had begun to enter the ghost realm. If they continued talking, they might be overheard.

They walked to the end of the alley as if they were familiar with it, and finally saw the familiar izakaya. The lively sounds could still be heard from inside, as if this was just a very common pub in Kabukicho.

He opened the door and walked in. It was still the same as before, plain and unremarkable. "Welcome." Ashiya Yoshisuke's granddaughter, Kiku, turned around with a plate in her hand and said, "Ah, it's Mr. Qian. Please go in directly. Grandpa and the others are already there."

"Oh, thank you, Xiaoju." Qian Xiaoyi greeted with a smile. This lovely little girl was also the focus of his secret attention.

Walking along the aisle, although they could not see other people behind the booth, Qian Xiaoyi and Inuyama Heita knew that behind the curtain were other exorcists gathering here. After more than ten years of operation, Ashiya Yoshisuke's Yoquanya has become a stronghold for exorcists in the Kanto region.

According to Ashiya Yoshisuke's prestige, with just one order, he, an outsider, would become the enemy of all exorcists.

Qian Xiaoyi walked forward slowly, feeling the structure here. He could vaguely sense that this place also adopted some formations, and there was even a familiar smell to Qian Xiaoyi. However, many things like Yin-Yang magic originated from Taoism in China, and some theories even directly adopted those in the Taoist Canon. Therefore, even Qian Xiaoyi could not easily conclude that this place must be related to the lair of hundreds of ghosts.

After passing through the corridor of shoji gates, they came directly to a corridor. The door at the end of the corridor was open, as if inviting Qian Xiaoyi and others to come in.

Inuyama Heita couldn't help but say, "It seems that every time I come to Huangquan House, the route I take changes."

Qian Xiaoyi said: "It is stupid to use your naked eyes to observe and record the route in other people's territory. You still have a lot to learn."

They walked into the room. Several exorcists who had eaten barbecue together before were there, as well as some other exorcists that Qian Xiaoyi was not familiar with, and the host, Ashiya Yoshisuke.

Qian Xiaoyi also saw an unexpected person.

"Ms. Yangzi?" Qian Xiaoyi asked, "Are you okay?"

Fushigi Yoko said politely: "Ah, thanks to you, it's fine now. I just need to recover for a while."

She looked a little haggard. Qian Xiaoyi remembered that when she first saw her, she was still a carefree and energetic woman.

Because Fushigi Yoko had just been discharged from the hospital not long ago and Fushigi Yin had just held a funeral, Qian Xiaoyi did not invite her to attend the banquet. Unexpectedly, she came directly to Huangquan House this time.

"Mr. Qian, are you here?" Ashiya Yoshisuke greeted him and said, "Please take a seat. We are planning to discuss how to fight against the Hope Cult next."

(End of this chapter)