The afterlife blew up Gensokyo

"........."

Faced with the gray-haired girl whose emotions had suddenly become unusually agitated, Shi Bai silently turned his head away.

On the third day after he fell into a coma due to exhaustion, the pharmacy reopened. However, from that day on, a gray-haired girl appeared by his side to help him prepare the medicine.

During this time, the Mononobe clan sent people to search for Mononobe Futsu once, but they returned empty-handed. On the fifth day after the pharmacy reopened, Soga no Tokiko joined them with several cartloads of medicinal herbs, and another girl joined him to help. On the sixth day after the pharmacy reopened, Toyosato Mimiko arrived with even more supplies, food, and medicinal herbs, and the original four-person group was reunited, adding another girl to help him...

In the end, just like a repeat of the last snow disaster, the nobles finally chose to help, or rather, they were forced to do so by the circumstances.

Large sums of money were spent as if they were free, but in the end, the plague gradually subsided. This sudden epidemic was eventually brought under control after a huge expenditure of financial and material resources.

The Qin family, which was originally quite wealthy, became destitute by the middle of the pandemic. If it weren't for the arrival of the Soga and Mononobe clans, someone probably wouldn't even be able to afford food...

After a long period of hard work and a significant investment of financial, material, and human resources, this sudden and terrifying epidemic has finally come to a relatively satisfactory conclusion.

P.S.: I hope the pandemic ends soon. Amen, Amitabha, Hallelujah, Infinite Heaven.

Chapter Forty: No Traitor Within, Just a Joke

Although the pandemic has ended, its far-reaching impact continues.

Thanks to proper control measures in the later stages, the death toll from this plague was less than two thousand, but the money, manpower, and resources spent on it were countless.

The once wealthy Qin family was reduced to poverty, and the amount of money spent by other noble families was even more staggering. Qin Hesheng, the number one figure in the Divine Path who was the instigator of all this, was expelled from the Qin family, even though his popularity among the people soared.

As the saying goes, public anger is hard to quell. There were already quite a few people in the Qin family who disliked Qin Hesheng. The previous snow disaster was alright, but this epidemic has completely emptied the Qin family. A once powerful and influential family is now struggling to even eat.

If Qin Hesheng continues to cause trouble within the Qin family, what will happen next? Will the Qin family be wiped out?

Although the current head of the Qin family still tried his best to protect Qin Hesheng, he ultimately could not withstand the anger of the people in the vast Qin family, and coupled with the threats from other powerful families that had suffered heavy losses in this epidemic, he had no choice but to make the decision to expel Qin Hesheng from the Qin family.

Wouldn't it be better to just go back to how things were before? After all, pandemics like this happen roughly every ten years or so. Once most people are dead, the pandemic will be over, right? Then we can work together to clean up the mess, minimizing the losses, won't we?

It must be said that the ideas of these nobles are remarkably similar to the herd immunity approach proposed by a certain country.

An epidemic broke out? No problem. As long as everyone infected with the epidemic dies, the epidemic will end. The survivors will get antibodies. What does it matter if many people from the lower classes die?

However, these nobles never expected that Qin Hesheng, who was exceptionally stubborn and also an expert in pharmacology, would suddenly appear.

Heaven knows how much those nobles secretly wished for Qin Hesheng's early demise while he was tirelessly brewing medicine to cure the sick and save lives. When they learned that he had fainted, they collectively celebrated.

It was precisely because all the nobles were closely watching to see when Qin Hesheng would die that Mononobe no Futo and the others were able to learn the news so quickly.

Although they had strictly confined the children, including the goddess Mutobuki, to their homes after the snow disaster, Mutobuki still managed to sneak out of her house after learning about the news.

With the subsequent large-scale support from Soga no Toshiko and the Divine Child, the nobles had no choice but to pretend to be dead. If they continued to stay at home and play dead, a large-scale riot was likely to break out among the people, and the situation would spiral out of control.

...and then things turned out the way they are now.

Not only was Qin Hesheng expelled from the Qin family, but Mononobe Futo was also completely confined by her brother, Mononobe Moriya, the modern head of the Mononobe clan. After all, if Mononobe Futo hadn't run away first, the situation might not have turned out this way.

As one of the two powerful clans that opposed the Soga clan, the Mononobe clan lost a third of its wealth during this pandemic. Although the Soga clan suffered the same fate, it was impossible not to feel heartbroken after so much wealth was swallowed up.

"Phew, thank goodness for the resources of the two of you, otherwise I'd probably be begging on the street with a metal box by now."

In his own little courtyard, the only one that hadn't been taken back by the Qin family, he breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at the two people who had specially brought him food and various utensils.

While it's true that Qin Hesheng's death by starvation could be a legendary tale, dying of starvation is undeniably shameful...

"Why can you still laugh when something like this happens?"

Toyosatoshi Miko's lips twitched as she glanced at the person sitting leisurely by the pond, fishing with a rod in hand.

"Do you know that you are in extreme danger right now? Without the protection of the Qin family, there are many people who want you dead."

"The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is in turmoil, all for gain. What do worldly affairs have to do with me?"

While intently watching the buoy on the water in front of him, the person answered rather casually.

"If I don't laugh, am I supposed to cry?"

"You... this is something I can't talk to you about. Can't you think things through before you act? Or you could come and discuss it with us!"

Feeling inexplicably angry, Toyotomi sat down on the stone chair in a huff.

“I knew you would do this when the plague started, but putting everything else aside, how come I never knew you were so knowledgeable about pharmacology all these years ago? If I had known you were so knowledgeable about pharmacology, I should have left home to find you sooner. But now…”

"It's always good to have many skills, right? When I was a kid, I suddenly became very interested in pharmacology in the library at home, so I taught myself. Forget about healing people, I can even perform a few magic tricks for you now, believe it or not?"

Tokihachi leisurely interrupted Toyosato Miko's words and turned his gaze to Soga no Toshiko, who was standing quietly to the side, looking quite curious.

"But speaking of which, Budu has been placed under house arrest by her family, but Tu Zigu, you haven't been? I remember the Soga clan suffered heavy losses as well, didn't you?"

“My father loves me very much, and he also admires you.”

Faced with someone's probing gaze, Soga no Toshiko nodded slightly.

"Admiration? Uh... are you sure it's not the kind of admiration that makes you want to kill me?"

After hearing Sugato's answer, Shi Bai's expression became slightly strange.

Soga no Toru's father was named Soga no Umako, the current head of the Soga clan. To be honest, when he first heard this extremely misleading name, he almost subconsciously thought of a certain Ono no Imoko...

Putting aside names for now, Soga is from the Buddhist faction, while I am the number one Kagura master in Shinto. Shouldn't I be a thorn in their side?

She admires... Mononobe Moriya, the representative of the anti-Buddhist faction, now wishes he could eat her alive. What could Soga no Umako possibly admire?

No... this name is really catchy...

"No, my father truly admires him."

Soga nods quite seriously.

"Oh well, whatever, these things have nothing to do with me anyway..."

Shi Bai waved his hand and then turned his gaze back to the buoy in front of him.

As the saying goes, "You raise fish for a thousand days, but only use them for one." He hadn't eaten all day, and now he was counting on the fish he had raised in the pond.

While it's true that Shenzi and Tu Zigu brought food, the problem is I've already been fishing here for three hours! If I give up now, it means all those three hours have been wasted, damn it!!!

"What time is it? You're still thinking about your fish?"

Seeing that someone didn't care at all, Toyosatoshi was immediately furious.

"Do you know how dangerous you are right now? Many people want you dead. Until Qing'e returns, Tu Zigu and I will be keeping a close eye on you. It's best if you don't go out. Once Qing'e returns, I will go to my father and ask him..."

"Hmm... does 'dangerous' mean someone will come to kill me?"

Before Toyosato Miko could finish speaking, the person fishing by the pond in front of him turned his head thoughtfully.

"Don't worry, with me here, they won't dare to do that."

A cold glint flashed in Toyosato Miko's eyes.

"No one can kill you in the city unless they're suicidal."

"Oh."

Someone turned their head away with a look of disinterest.

"coward."

Toyosatomimi no Miko: "..."

"Qin Hesheng, you don't understand. Before, they didn't dare to do anything because you had the protection of your Qin family. But now that you've been expelled from the Qin family, they have a lot of ways to do things behind the scenes."

He reached up and pressed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

"So the best solution right now is for you to return to the Qin family or join another family."

"Join another family?"

Looking at the buoy on the pond in front of him, which remained motionless, Shi Bai curled his lip.

"You wouldn't believe it, when Mononobe Moriya came to pick up his sister, the way he looked at me was like he wanted to pull out a sword and chop me up right then and there. The Mononobe clan is the top leader of the anti-Buddhist faction. With him giving the order, would any other family be willing to let me join? Don't be ridiculous. I'm the number one Shintoist, after all. I can't possibly go to the pro-Buddhist faction, can I? I might even get beaten to death on the spot..."

"Well... by the way, why don't you join our Uemiya family?!"

He first frowned slightly, and then after a moment, Toyosatomimi no Shinko's eyes lit up.

"Our Shanggong family is royalty; no noble dares to offend us!!"

"Oh, so what's your reason for joining?"

Shi Bai didn't even bother to turn around.

"Without a suitable reason, it's impossible to convince the public, right? Please, don't just come up with something on a whim, let alone join your Uemiya family..."

"I will find a suitable reason."

After a moment's thought, Toyosatomimi no Miko hurriedly stood up.

"In short, during this period, before Qing'e returns, you must not leave the city, and it's best not to go out at all!!"

After saying this, Toyosato Miko hurriedly ran out the door, even leaving Soga no Tojiko behind in her haste.

"........."

Silently watching his divine son's swift and decisive departure, Soga no Toru didn't linger. After exchanging a few words with Shibai, he also left.

However, on her way home, she kept thinking about this matter. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she almost bumped into her father when she entered the house.

A moment later, in a spacious and quiet room, Soga no Umako, the head of the powerful Soga clan and Soga no Toru's father, raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.

"Oh? The predicament Qin Hesheng is currently facing?"

"Yes."

Facing his father, Soga no Toshiko nodded earnestly.

"Father, may I ask if our Soga clan can accept him?"

"Then what's the reason?"

Looking at her serious-looking daughter, Soga no Tsubasa had a playful expression on her face.

"Do you know Qin Hesheng's true identity? He is revered as the foremost figure in Shinto. We are the most steadfast supporters of Buddhism. Do you really think he is suitable to join our Soga clan?"

"...My daughter thinks it's suitable."

After a moment of silence, Soga no Tokiko nodded firmly.

"Does Father think Qin Hesheng did something wrong? If he did nothing wrong, why did he have to suffer like that?"

"In politics, there is no right or wrong."

Soga's mom shook her head.

"Yes, Qin Hesheng did nothing wrong, but his mistake was being born into a noble family and breaking the unspoken rules that have always existed among nobles."

"Are rules really that important?"

Soga no Toko subconsciously bit his lip.

“That’s right, rules are that important. Unless you have the power to ignore the rules, you can’t break them; otherwise, you can only abide by them.”

Soga nods slowly.

"Unfortunately, Qin Hesheng did not have the strength to ignore the rules, so he naturally had to bear the consequences of breaking them."

"So there's still no way..."

Hidden in his sleeve, Soga no Toko quietly clenched his fist, and lowered his head with a hint of resentment.

"A solution? Of course there is a solution, but it depends on whether you're willing to do it."

Soga no Umako gave a slightly strange smile.

"Speaking of which, you should be of marriageable age by now, right? Do you have someone you like?"

"What Father means is..."

Somewhat surprised, Soga no Toku raised his head. After a moment, he understood the meaning behind his father's words, and his face immediately turned red.

"It seems you're willing, daughter, then there's no problem."

Seeing the change in her daughter's expression, Soga Umako laughed and stood up from the floor.

"As long as there's a proper reason, then it's within the rules. That's right, the best way to get Qin Hesheng into our Soga clan is to have him marry you, since you're also interested in him, aren't you?"

"In that case, from now on he belongs to our Soga clan!!"