The Legend of Tokyo Taoist

Chapter 785: Enemy in Honnoji Part 4 ()

The next day, Qian Xiaoyi rode his motorcycle to the entrance of Iwama Shrine. Looking at this long-missed place, Qian Xiaoyi couldn't help but sigh. The battle that allowed him to gain a foothold after coming to Japan took place here. Now it has been more than a year, and a lot of things have happened in the meantime.

Inuyama Heita had already started school for several days and had classes during the day, so he didn't come along, but there was nothing for him to do this time.

Iwama Shrine is still as plain-looking as before, even a little old. If you are not an acquaintance, you would never guess that some ancient family of exorcists lives inside. At this time, there is no one coming to worship, and there is no shrine maiden at the door. It is estimated that the last time Qian Xiaoyi came was New Year, so the shrine hired people to work part-time as shrine maidens to attract customers.

However, as soon as he entered, he was greeted by a short old man who was sweeping the floor. He seemed to be another staff member of the shrine.

"Are you Mr. Qian Xiaoyi?" the old man said, "Please go inside. The Lord and the others are in the side hall."

"Thank you." Qian Xiaoyi nodded.

Although the old man did not lead the way but just pointed, Qian Xiaoyi had been here twice before. He walked into the shrine with ease and came to the reception room in the side hall. He saw Liuliyuan Hongming and Xingchang Rang had already arrived and were sitting inside drinking tea.

"Ah, it's Mr. Qian." The young chief of the shrine, Lingtang Yanci, said, "Please sit down, have some tea and take a rest."

"Sorry to bother you." Qian Xiaoyi took off his shoes, walked into the house, and sat next to Xing Changrang.

While Yan Ci went to get a cup, Qian Xiaoyi asked, "Where were you talking about?"

Xingchang Rang said, "We just got here too, so we're waiting for you. We just exchanged a few pleasantries before, but haven't gotten to the point yet."

Liuliyuan Hongming said: "To be honest, that kind of topic is a little difficult to talk about. After all, it involves that incident..."

"What's the topic?" Yan Ci, the mourner, poured a cup of tea for Qian Xiaoyi and asked, "If it's within my ability, please feel free to talk."

"Look, that's what they said." Qian Xiaoyi said to Xingchang Rang, "Don't let them down."

Xingchang let out a "tsk" sound and muttered, "You're not the one who asked me to do this, but you really know how to order people around..."

There was no other way, because it involved the expedition against the Slit-Mouthed Woman nineteen years ago. The words of Qian Xiaoyi, an outsider, were really not convincing to the other party, so they could only let Xingchang Rang and Liuliyuan Hongming come.

"Actually..." Xingchang Rang chose his words carefully and said, "The main purpose of my visit this time is to tell you something. We have recently obtained some new information about your father's death. Or, in other words, that incident... I'm afraid it's not as simple as it seems. It may not be an accident."

Lingtang Yanci's calm face immediately turned confused. He asked, "You are talking about... the incident nineteen years ago? The commission to defeat the slit-mouthed woman?"

"That's right." Xingba Rang said, "It was that incident that caused the death of four masters in the Kanto region, including your and Mr. Liuliyuan's father, and my grandfather."

"The slit-mouthed woman..." Lingtang Yanci murmured. Qian Xiaoyi observed his expression. There was no anger or sadness on Lingtang Yanci's face. He was just a little confused: "If it's not an accident... could it be man-made? But, Mr. Liuliyuan, haven't you tried it over the years? The slit-mouthed woman can't be subdued or sealed. How could someone use the slit-mouthed woman to kill them?" Liuliyuan Hongming looked at Qian Xiaoyi awkwardly. Qian Xiaoyi had visited him before, and he also knew the truth about the slit-mouthed woman, as well as the affairs of the cognitive school. Thinking back on what he had done in the past ten years, Liuliyuan Hongming could only sigh that if the direction was wrong, no matter how hard he tried, he would not succeed.

"That's exactly what we want to say." Xingchang Rang said, "The Slit-Mouthed Woman can be controlled... Your father was probably killed by someone using the Slit-Mouthed Woman."

"Eh? Really?" Lingtang Yanci was a little surprised, but still not too angry. He was more confused and puzzled. He said, "When my father died, I was still very young and I don't remember what happened at that time... If my father was killed by someone, then what was the reason? The Lingtang family has never made enemies with anyone."

Qian Xiaoyi said, "As for the reason, it's probably because your father was one of the top exorcists at the time. He was killed because the other party was afraid of his ability and wanted to get rid of these people before they were discovered. Or, they had already discovered the traces of those people."

"Hundreds of ghosts?" Yan Ci frowned in the mourning hall.

"It's very likely." Qian Xiaoyi nodded.

Lingtang Yanci said: "So you all came here this time to ask me to join the Kanto Exorcist Alliance? Sorry, my grandfather doesn't allow me to join, and about what you said... I can't believe it..."

Liuliyuan Hongming and Xingchang Rang turned their eyes to Qian Xiaoyi. Qian Xiaoyi did not say anything, but took out an iron box from his bag and put it on the table.

Looking at the iron box covered with seals, a complicated expression flashed across Liuliyuan Hongming's face, and Xingchang whistled: "I see this guy appear again... Every time I see him, I feel a little creepy."

Lingtang Yanci was confused and asked, "What's in this?"

Qian Xiaoyi said: "Do you remember that I visited you during the New Year? At that time, we talked about the Slit-Mouthed Woman... Since you don't believe it, then I will let me explain it to you."

He opened the iron box. In the eyes of the four psychics, a black ominous aura crawled out of the iron box and began to wriggle like hair. Under this ominous aura was a pair of rusty sharp scissors.

“This is it!” Lingtang Yanci stood up suddenly, took a step back, and looked at the scissors as if facing a formidable enemy. Cold sweat oozed from his head, and he muttered in disbelief: “Slit-mouthed woman?!”

Qian Xiaoyi said: "Arjan has just said that the slit-mouthed woman can be controlled. If you want evidence, is this enough..."

He picked up the scissors from the iron box, and in an instant, Qian Xiaoyi's whole aura changed. Yan Ci in the mourning hall saw that behind Qian Xiaoyi, a blurry shadow was looking at him with resentful eyes. Although he had never seen this famous lady, he could feel that this was the real thing.

This is the real woman with slit mouth!

"Please put it away and stop scaring him." A voice came from outside the house. Everyone turned around and Qian Xiaoyi saw the short old man who had greeted him at the door standing outside. He looked at the scissors and said with a complicated expression: "You... have you even subdued this guy..."

When Yan Ci, the mourning hall, saw the person coming, he said respectfully, "Grandpa."

(End of this chapter)