The Ming Dynasty began from Sarhu

Chapter 700-Awakening
Jiang Liuer's nasal cavity was burning with pain, and he regained consciousness first, followed by his cheeks, which seemed to be swollen.

Although he was not fully awake yet, he could feel that he was tied up tightly and his body was hung up.

There was a buzzing sound all around, similar to a swarm of bees, like a group of customers surrounding a pork stall, constantly asking about the price.

"Is he a Tartar? Can he understand what we are saying?" someone said.

"He just killed four of his fellow brothers," another person said.

"Look, he's awake. Let's offer sacrifice to the ancient gods."

An old, hoarse voice sounded: "Quiet, he can understand what we say."

The host Chunshen waved the bell, and the mysterious sound echoed around.

Jiang Liuer tried hard not to be distracted. He knew that this was a shamanic sacrificial ritual and he must not let the other party take away his soul.

The darkness was filled with a strong smell of blood. His gaze refocused. There were two corpses lying on the ground, surrounded by octopus tentacles and sticky mucus.

The two soldiers were covered in mucus, and their faces, like Jiang Liuer's memory, became blurred.

Rice, pickles and sake appeared in front of me.

"Have you been hungry for a long time? Try the vegetarian food at Motenori Temple. Even the Shogun likes it."

Jiang Liu'er was put down by the monks, his body touching the ground, and his weapons had been searched away.

Pain was like a swarm of wasps, crawling in and out of his head.

"A mortal body, can you stand on equal footing with a god? You have destroyed the gods' sacrifices. Do you know what will happen to you?"

The face of the lord of Shanhe Domain emerged from the corner illuminated by the whale oil lamp, like a giant sardine.

What happened not long ago appeared before Jiang Liuer's eyes like a shadow play.

The octopus tentacles, as thick as buckets, broke through the wooden door and instantly entangled the three people like jumping flames, dragging them into the darkness.

A soldier fought desperately with a musket, and the lead bullets shot off the octopus's limbs, but such damage could not stop the monster's attack. The next second, half of the soldier's head was bitten off by the giant beast. When the monster roared and opened its bloody mouth to eat Jiang Liuer, Jiang Liuer threw a grenade into its mouth...
"You're from the north? Kuyi Island?"

Master Chunshen looked at Jiang Liuer curiously, "Do you know how to communicate with gods?"

A group of monks were surrounding the house, and a woman was tied to the pillar in the middle of the house.

The woman had her head drooping, unconscious, her body covered in blood. The room was dimly lit, and no one knew what the blood was.

"The God you're talking about, is that the octopus?"

Jiang Liuer glanced at the shattered limbs scattered across the ground and said with disdain, "I greeted it, stuffed a grenade into its mouth, and then, bang!"

"Stop making such sarcastic remarks, Jiang Liu'er," Chun Shen said expressionlessly, "We are not children anymore."

How did the evil monk know his name? Before this, he had never seen Chunshen, and had never even been to Japan.

There was a loud explosion outside the Zen room, and Wu Xiao and Li Zicheng were still fighting in the yard.

"More than 20 years ago, in Shenyang, soldiers from Kaiyuan fought against soldiers from the Later Jin Dynasty."

Chunshen presided over the meeting and waved his arms, as if he was gathering a huge net of fate.

"Liu Zhaosun's men saved your life."

"From now on, you will be completely devoted to the Tatars, acting as a lackey for your Emperor, committing crimes and slaughtering people everywhere."

"Nonsense! The Japanese pirates have been harassing the coastal provinces of Da Qi, burning, killing, and looting. This Eastern Expedition is nothing more than revenge..."

Jiang Liuer struggled hard to break free from the ropes, but found it was in vain.

"We both have tragic experiences. We were gifted, able to hear the whispers of the ancient gods since childhood. My father abandoned me because he wanted to become the Master of Shiranui. And you, your family was killed... and you even raised a tiger? It's a shame to waste your talent on herding wild beasts."

"We are the same, intermediaries between God and man." Master Chunshen's eyes were full of regret.

"But you wasted your talent by becoming a butcher, and now you've become a ridiculous assassin, trying to kill me. It's like hitting a rock with an egg."

Jiang Liuer said angrily: "Shut up!"

He stared into the mage's eyes and said word by word:

"If I can kill you, many people will be spared!"

The surrounding monks laughed foolishly.

"Can you kill me?"

The remains of limbs and bodies that were scattered around suddenly disappeared.

Jiang Liuer suppressed his fear and looked back at Yui Aragaki who was tied to the pillar.

"I won't let you harm other people, other innocent girls!"

"So you're still a good wizard? And what about the tiger? Where is it?"

"Don't worry, it will tear you apart and dig out your heart and liver and eat them."

Chunshen host laughed dryly and walked to Jiang Liuer. His face under the blue cloak transformed into an octopus head.

Jiang Liuer glared at the monster and found that there was a faint blue fire dancing in his eyes.

"Although you have the talent of a wizard, you cannot kill a god. Your companions and your emperor will all die."

"Everyone will go to hell, just like the Mongols did three hundred years ago. Of course, you can be an exception."

"Don't try to fool me, I'm not well-educated. The army has already occupied Kyushu," Jiang Liu'er's voice trembled. "The Emperor has supreme magical power. It's you who will die. You descendants of the evil god will all die."

"Do you believe what you say? Have you ever wavered?"

Chunshen drew a circle in the air and tapped Jiang Liuer's forehead with his index finger.

The hesitation I felt while climbing the mountain trail came to mind again:
If the emperor died, would Da Qi fall apart?

"Your army has been burning, killing, and looting all the way from Tsushima Island, not even sparing women and children. Liu Zhaosun is no longer the same person he once was. He is no longer a human, but a demon, an evil spirit! You are using you to kill people and cities to gain magical powers and become an immortal. Disaster will soon befall the people of Qi."

Jiang Liuer remained silent.

"A wizard with extraordinary talent like you shouldn't be buried, and shouldn't be buried with Taqi. Now, you have a better choice..."

Under Jiang Liuer's surprised gaze, Chunshen began to untie the ropes on him.

"Liu Zhaosun is now hell-bent on becoming an evil god and burying everyone with him. You must stop this impoverished, warlike, and reckless emperor."

Master Chunshen rang the bell to summon the souls.

Jiang Liuer was drowsy.

Abbot Chunshen took out a dagger and carefully cut off the hair of the sleeping Jiang Liuer, then took an ancient-looking bottle from a monk.

The host ignited flames with his fingers and burned the hair in his hand to ashes.

The next second, the ashes turned into a wisp of black smoke and were all sucked into the bottle.

Chunshen held up the bottle and muttered to himself:

"Back then, this soul-soothing bottle devoured countless souls in the Hun River. Now that it has seen the light of day again, it needs even more dead bodies."

(End of this chapter)