Under One Person: The Puppet Immortal in the Tang Sect

Yoshimura has already arranged a room.

Cui Ming was led to a suite on the fifth floor. He opened the window and could see Osaka Bay in the distance.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the sea, making it sparkle.

Yongen and Bailian lived next door, while Meifumen and Guitun lived across the street.

Several cyborgs were stationed downstairs, ready to be deployed at any time.

Cui Ming washed his face, changed into clean clothes, and sat down by the window to rest.

A moment later, there was a knock on the door.

Yongen walked in and said in a low voice.

"Master, Mr. Yoshimura sent someone to inquire whether tonight's banquet is convenient for you, as it is scheduled for seven o'clock."

Cui Ming nodded.

"That's convenient. Tell him I'll definitely come."

Yong En responded and turned to leave.

Cui Ming leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Osaka was more complicated than he had anticipated.

Those tycoons appear enthusiastic on the surface, but in reality, they each have their own agendas.

While he controls Mitsubishi and Sumitomo, he does not yet control other chambers of commerce and other forces.

But their enthusiasm is a good thing for Cui Ming.

However, tonight's banquet is unlikely to be peaceful.

But he needs these people.

We need their resources, their channels, and their influence.

More importantly, we need them to provide the materials.

More than fifty people have been renovated along the way, and the inventory of materials has been depleted.

Several shudderwocks have been destroyed, and only two or three ground bugs remain.

If this continues, let alone continuing the renovations, he'll probably have to personally deal with clearing out the remaining enemies.

But now that he's in Osaka, things are different; here he has everything he needs.

The shipyard has a large amount of metal materials, and the chaebol's warehouse has all kinds of precision instruments, and even rare parts imported from the West.

If we can get these, we can create more mechanical puppets.

As for those forces...

Cui Ming opened his eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Tonight, I'll take a look at their quality.

7 p.m., the banquet hall on the second floor of the hotel.

When Cui Ming pushed open the door, it was already full of people.

The long dining table was covered with a snow-white tablecloth and was filled with exquisite dishes and sake.

More than twenty people were sitting on both sides. When they saw him come in, they all stood up.

Yoshimura came forward and led Cui Ming to the main seat.

There was an empty seat there, clearly reserved for him.

"Yamashita-kun, please take a seat."

Yoshimura said.

Cui Ming sat down, his gaze sweeping over the people present.

Tanaka of Mitsubishi, Watanabe of Sumitomo, Yamada of Osaka Chamber of Commerce, and a few others who were unfamiliar, but judging from their clothing and demeanor, they should also be important figures in other conglomerates or chambers of commerce.

Besides these, there were a few unfamiliar faces.

Sitting opposite Cui Ming was an elderly man in his sixties, dressed in a traditional kimono with a short sword hanging at his waist.

He had a thin face, sharp eyes, and exuded an aura of authority without being angry.

Next to the old man sat a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a black suit, but with a tattoo faintly visible on his cuff.

He had a smile on his face, but there was no smile in his eyes.

To the side were two people dressed in Onmyoji robes.

He was a younger man, in his early twenties, with a handsome face;

The other was in his fifties, with a long beard and a sinister look in his eyes.

When Yoshimura noticed that Cui Ming had noticed them, he introduced them in a low voice.

"That is Mr. Yagyu Muneyoshi of the Yagyu family, a master swordsman."

The man next to him is the owner of Sumiyoshiya and the leader of the Watanabe-gumi.

Those two are Onmyoji (yin-yang masters) of the Tsuchimikado family, Tsuchimikado Yasunaga and Tsuchimikado Yasufuku.

Cui Ming understood.

The Yagyu family was a renowned swordsmanship family in Japan and had close ties with the Tokugawa shogunate.

Sumiyoshiya, ostensibly a trading company, is actually Osaka's largest ronin organization, similar to a yakuza gang.

The Tsuchimikado family is the orthodox lineage of Onmyōdō (the Way of Yin and Yang), descendants of Abe no Seimei.

These forces, which usually do not interfere with each other, have all gathered here tonight.

It seems that this "mysterious figure who fled all the way from Hiroshima to Osaka" has indeed aroused the interest of many people.

Yoshimura raised his glass and said loudly.

"Gentlemen, tonight is a welcome dinner for Mr. Yamashita. Mr. Yamashita is the military advisor for the 37th Regiment and an important partner of Sumitomo and Mitsubishi. I hope you will continue to support him in the future."

Everyone raised their glasses and exchanged polite words.

Cui Ming responded with a smile, secretly observing everyone's reactions.

Yagyu Muneyoshi merely glanced at him indifferently and said nothing more.

The leader of the Watanabe group was very enthusiastic and toasted them three times in a row.

The two Onmyoji from the Tsuchimikado family, one expressionless and the other with a half-smile, were unfathomable.

After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

The leader of the Watanabe group leaned closer and whispered.

"Yamashita-kun, I heard... you encountered quite a bit of trouble on your way from Hiroshima?"

Cui Ming nodded.

"Indeed. The Curse-Binding Society has been chasing us."

A glint of light flashed in the team leader's eyes.

"Haha, those guys from the Curse Binding Society wouldn't dare to be so arrogant in Osaka."

"Don't worry, Yamashita-kun. Now that we're here, with Yoshiya here, no one will dare to touch you."

Cui Ming smiled and thanked him, but in his heart he was thinking...

It seems there's quite a conflict between the Sumiyoshiya and the Curse-Binding Society.

But if you actually believe him, you'll probably be swindled out of everything.

These forces in the island nation must have many conflicts among themselves.

Just then, Tsuchimikado Yasunaga, the young Onmyoji of the Tsuchimikado family, suddenly spoke up.

"Yamashita-kun, I heard that you encountered some... strange things when you were in Okayama Prefecture?"

Cui Ming's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at him strangely.

"Hmm? Something strange? May I ask what you mean?"

Tsuchimikado Yasunaga gave a strange smile.

"For example, people who have died and come back to life."

After these words were spoken, the banquet hall fell silent for a few seconds.

Cui Ming felt a chill run down his spine, but his face remained impassive.

"Tsuchimikado-kun is quite well-informed."

We have indeed encountered some Cursed Society pursuers who have returned from the dead.

Tsuchimikado Yasunaga stared at him.

Why did the pursuers from the Curse Binding Society come back to life?

Cui Ming shrugged.

"Perhaps Tsuchimikado should ask the Cursed Bound Society about this."

Perhaps the curse contains some secret technique? Or perhaps those aren't dead at all, but some kind of illusion?

Tai-Chō wanted to ask more questions, but the old man beside him, Tsuchimikado Tai-fuku, coughed lightly, interrupting him.

"Yamashita-kun is right."

Taifu spoke slowly.

"This cursed society acts strangely, and there are indeed many things that cannot be understood."

"Our Tsuchimikado family has dealt with them several times, and we understand their experience all too well."

He paused, looking at Cui Ming.

"Yamashita-kun was able to escape unscathed from the Cursed Association's pursuit, so he must be quite powerful."

If you have time in the future, you are welcome to visit the Tsuchimikado family.