Tokyo Sword Saint Online Dealing

"Many farmers, in order to avoid high taxes, cultivated land in the wilderness and formed villages centered around their families. Logically speaking, they should have prospered over time."

"But that's not the case."

“Those villages typically only last a few years, or even less.”

"Because the mountains and fields are full of man-eating monsters, and there are things even more terrifying than monsters!"

"On my way from Tokyo to Musashi, I killed no fewer than a hundred bandits."

"These bandits make a living by looting villages. Without the protection of cities and towns, and without the presence of armed forces, those ordinary people are just lambs to the slaughter."

“Ghosts and monsters feed on them, bandits come to burn, kill, and plunder, and even many regular soldiers disguised as officials are seen as easy prey by these refugees—their heads can be used as military merits for suppressing bandits, while food and wealth naturally go into their own pockets.”

"Pacifying the bandits and troublesome monsters in Musashi Province has taken a lot of effort from Aki and me, but the results have been remarkable."

“I gathered the scattered population and reduced taxes. Refugees from neighboring countries flocked to me because it was safe here, and with the protection of the Genji clan in Musashi, their lives were much more stable.”

"And so the name gradually spread."

"However, unfortunately, the good times didn't last long."

"Jealousy is the most unavoidable original sin in the human heart."

He let out a soft sigh, a sigh that carried the lingering scent of war and battle; clearly, he was recalling past events of bloodshed and violence.

"There are eight countries in the Kanto region, and the officials in each country are different."

"Coincidentally, the only provincial governor under the Minamoto clan is the original yokai from Musashi Province."

“Some of those rulers were either lackeys of the Fujiwara clan or colluded with bandits who ruled the mountains, all for the purpose of exploiting the people. Some were even replaced by ghosts and gods.”

"Seeing that I was growing stronger day by day, they did not want to see this happen, so they raised an army to attack me."

"And guess what happened?"

The Lord of a Hundred Demons kept everyone in suspense, but Uesugi Kiyoshi didn't mince words, stating matter-of-factly, "Of course you won. Someone of that caliber wouldn't dare to bully you, would they?"

Nodding, the Lord of a Hundred Ghosts said softly, "Achi and I split into two groups and took the heads of seven state officials in less than three days."

"I'm going to assassinate the leader directly, to strike at his root."

"Without a leader, the group was disorganized and my army swept through the land with unstoppable force, advancing straight into the territory. The local people knew of my benevolent rule and lined the streets to welcome me."

"In less than a month, the eight kingdoms of Kanto changed hands."

"One-eighth of Japan's territory now belongs to me."

“My reputation spread to Tokyo, and the Kanto Genji clan became very popular among the nobles in Kyoto. My father benefited from my achievements and was able to stand tall, even surpassing Minamoto no Yorimitsu’s branch.”

"Everything was on track, and I thought things would go smoothly from here on out."

"Disaster has struck."

Chapter 259 Earthquake

As the tone of his voice turned somewhat eerie, the scenery around Uesugi Kiyoshi changed, and he found himself atop a high mountain.

There is a shrine on the mountain, and Uesugi Kiyoshi can tell at a glance that this is the Inari Shrine.

Inari, the goddess of inari, is widely known in Japanese folklore, and even today, her shrines are famous large shrines.

Because Inari is the god of grains and food in Japanese mythology, and is in charge of the harvest.

Food is the most important thing for people, and the gods who control the harvest will never lack believers.

In Japan, foxes occupy a significant place in mythology and legends, and are divided into "good foxes" and "evil foxes".

The evil fox is a typical example. One of the three great demons, Tamamo-no-Mae, the nine-tailed fox, has basically taken the blame for a lot of things and was chosen as the representative of the "evil fox".

If we're talking about the "benevolent fox," then it refers to Inari, the god of rice.

Looking at the fox statues scattered throughout the shrine, the bright red torii gates, and the flourishing incense offerings, Uesugi Kiyoshi frowned slightly.

Why did you bring me here?

The Lord of a Hundred Ghosts shook his head and remained silent.

Uesugi Kiyoshi didn't have to wait long.

Not long after, he suddenly felt a pang of panic and trembling.

Several seconds passed before he realized that it wasn't him trembling, but the earth.

The mountain beneath my feet was shaking, and the shaking was getting stronger and stronger.

"earthquake?!"

Uesugi Kiyoshi's eyes widened, and he gasped.

Earthquakes, even in modern times, are a type of disaster that can cause devastating damage to human society. Japan has been a region prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes since ancient times, so he was no stranger to this kind of thing.

With a heavy gaze, Uesugi Kiyoshi stared at the mountain and the villages stretching out below it, gritting his teeth.

This mountain might collapse!

"What you experienced was the very thing that changed my understanding back then."

"Yes, there was an earthquake, but it wasn't a natural disaster."

"Look there."

The Lord of a Hundred Demons pointed at the Inari Shrine, his eyes blazing with fury.

Uesugi Kiyoshi took a closer look and immediately used the knowledge of yokai he had crammed on at the Collectors Association to find the relevant location.

"Is this... an earthquake catfish?"

"How could there be such a large earthquake catfish??"

"Is he trying to collapse this island nation?!"

Uesugi Kiyoshi's expression had already turned somewhat pale.

Legend has it that in ancient Japan, there lived a kind of fish in the muddy ponds of rural villages. It never moved, no matter how much you hit or kicked it. But whenever it moved, it was a sign that an earthquake was coming soon. Many people said it was an animal that could predict earthquakes.

However, many ignorant mortals regarded it as a harbinger of disaster, an ominous sign that would bring earthquakes, and hunted it down indiscriminately.

This type of fish is called the earthquake catfish.

Or perhaps the vengeful spirits of the catfish that were killed gathered together and, after a long period of brewing, gave birth to a monster that could manipulate earthquakes, called the "Earthquake Catfish."

Ancient books record that earthquake catfish range in size from three fingers long to no more than a person's length, and depending on their size, they can manipulate earthquakes of varying degrees.

However, the catfish that Uesugi Kiyoshi sees is probably almost as big as the blue whale, the king of the sea.

An earthquake catfish of this size would be large enough to cause an earthquake that would destroy the eight provinces of Kanto.

It struggled to twist its body, letting out a hoarse roar that stirred the entire mountain and the land with restless unease.

People who came to worship at the Inari Shrine scattered in terror.

Many of them saw Uesugi Kiyoshi standing there, his desperate eyes gleaming with intense hope.

"Lord Gen! Lord Gen! Please save us!"

"A monster! It's an earthquake monster!"

"Sir! Our fields and villages are all down the mountain. If an earthquake comes, everything we have will be destroyed!"

The cries of despair were incessant, and these pleas, gathered in Uesugi Kiyoshi's ears, became a heavy burden weighing on his shoulders.

He turned his head and saw that the Lord of a Hundred Ghosts had vanished without a trace.

He instantly understood that if the demon-slaying in Edo Castle was the first act, then this was the second act.

He needs to give his own answer.

Facing the earnest gazes of the disheveled commoners, Uesugi Kiyoshi gritted his teeth, nodded heavily, and headed straight for the backyard of the Inari Shrine without saying a word.

The closer he got, the more immense the pressure felt by Uesugi Kiyoshi.

If he were to encounter such a colossal creature in reality, he would probably only be able to activate his Inugami form and deliver a few fatal blows in order to achieve a swift victory.

What can he do now?

Before he could think any further, Uesugi Kiyoshi had already arrived in front of the restless catfish.

He appeared extremely small as he drew his sword.

"Stop right there!"

He roared, but it was to no avail. Covered in dirt and moss, the catfish crashed against the rocks again and again, creating a strange rhythm between it and the earth. The tremors of the earth were becoming more and more obvious.

"Damn it"

Without further hesitation, Uesugi Kiyoshi channeled his power into his sword and struck the earthquake catfish with a single blow.

There was no impenetrable defense; with a full-force strike, he immediately cut into the giant catfish's body.

Unfortunately, it didn't work.

For the massive earthquake catfish, this is like being bitten by a mosquito—it doesn't hurt them much, and they continue to do as they please.

"At this point, I had been practicing the extraordinary sword path for a long time, and my sword energy cultivation had reached a minor level."

"Boiling Awakening! Use Sword Qi!"

The voice of the Lord of a Hundred Demons echoed in Uesugi Kiyoshi's heart.

In a moment of inspiration, Uesugi Kiyoshi's conviction suddenly erupted.

If he were just an ordinary person, he wouldn't have risked his life; he would have simply tried to escape.

However, he is now a superhuman, playing the role of the ruler of the eight kingdoms of Kanto, the king of his subjects.

He can't back down even a step.

If you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight; this is the weight of the crown.

Memories of being a "ruler" faintly surfaced in his mind, and Uesugi Kiyoshi recalled many things.

The belief in "protection" grew wildly in my heart, my spiritual power extended endlessly, and every cell in my body seemed to be in sync with my brain's thoughts.

A burst of dazzling light appeared out of nowhere on the blade of the katana in Uesugi Kiyoshi's hand, slicing across the Earthquake Catfish's body and causing numerous wounds.

The catfish was probably in pain, but instead of learning its lesson, it became even more aggressive and began to leap around—it even did a somersault and rolled down the mountain.