I became the Lord of the Eternal World in Tokyo.

She knew she wasn't telling the truth.

For some reason, this thought came to Uesugi Tetsuya's mind.

“Che”.

Motonobu Okabe addressed Uesugi Tetsuya by his full name, neither exposing the half-truth nor pressing for details.

She simply said, "As long as your actions benefit our lord, I don't care about anything else... I don't care what you want to gain from the Imagawa clan, nor do I care how many other plans you have."

She emphasized again,

"As long as everything you do benefits our lord, that's fine."

"Otherwise, even if you run to the ends of the earth, I will personally twist your head off and deliver it to my lord~"

Motonobu Okabe's idea was simple.

She only wanted Imagawa Yoshimoto to be better, and she was loyal only to Imagawa Yoshimoto.

However, coincidentally, although their ideas were slightly different, their goals were the same.

Feeling the sudden weightlessness, Uesugi Tetsu nodded to her, looking directly into her narrowed eyes, and said without changing his expression,

"I'm relieved that you have this thought in mind, Lord Okabe."

Upon hearing this, Okabe Motonobu smiled and extended his fist: "Then let's wholeheartedly assist our lord in becoming the ruler of the land."

Uesugi Tetsu gently bumped fists with her.

"Then, Lord Okabe, you're going back to Imagawa next..."

Before Uesugi Tetsuya could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

"Lord Yuan Xin! Mr. Che!"

Asahina Yasutaka rushed in with his hurried voice and figure. Judging from the many things he was carrying, he must have been ordered to go out and purchase something.

This trip is probably just a stopover.

He almost tripped over the tiny, symbolic threshold because he was walking too fast.

Asahina Yasutomo, watching the two men bumping fists in the courtyard in a "very friendly and harmonious" atmosphere, chuckled and asked,

"Mr. Che, regarding Lord Yuanxin's sleep problems..."

"It's resolved," Uesugi Tetsu interrupted him, answering succinctly.

"Ugh?"

He was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise after realizing what Uesugi Tetsu had said, "It was resolved in just a day or two!?"

Asahina Yasutomo took a deep breath and said sincerely and admiringly,

"Mr. Che is truly a genius."

Although this statement would have been a complete compliment in the Warring States period, Uesugi Tetsu, deeply influenced by modern culture, found it all rather off.

He could only give an awkward laugh.

After he finished speaking, Asahina Yasutaka finally noticed Okabe Motonobu's radiant appearance today.

He first made no attempt to hide his joy, and then asked curiously,

"So, Lord Yuanxin, what exactly is causing your poor sleep?"

"Look, this is the little guy."

Okabe Motonobu recounted the entire story to Asahina Yasutomo, then chuckled and patted the grime on his shoulder with his fingertip, causing it to squeak contentedly.

"So that's it..."

After hearing this, Asahina Yasutaka stared intently at Gokusho, his eyes sharp. If there hadn't been two other people present, he probably would have already killed him.

The mouse immediately squeaked twice in fear and hid behind Okabe Motonobu's collar.

The woman shook her head at him: "Tai Chao, don't do that, you'll scare it."

"Besides, Xiao Gouchang only meant well but did something wrong. Now that I've taught him a lesson, he won't disturb other people's sleep anymore."

Asahina Yasutomo immediately looked away and bowed deeply.

"I'm so sorry! I lost control of my emotions for a moment, Lord Yuanxin!"

After apologizing, Asahina Yasutaka, who had other matters to attend to, didn't exchange many pleasantries. Instead, he simply said goodbye to the two of them and left the courtyard.

—Watching Tai Chao's figure disappear from sight, Uesugi Tetsu continued speaking, having not finished his sentence.

"Shall we go back to the Imagawa residence?"

“Go back, go back.” Okabe Motonobu clapped his hands with a smile. “I also need to go and report to the lord on the recent situation.”

"Then, Lord Okabe, let's go together."

"Okay, okay."

……

On the way, Uesugi Tetsu first took out the katana he had bought at the blacksmith shop the day before.

The tachi has a wider blade, meaning the blade is thicker and heavier, with a larger overall curvature. Its blade length is also about 15 centimeters longer than that of Kaga Kiyomitsu, thus covering a slightly more subdivided attack range.

A small "mouth clasp" was specially inserted into the mouth of the scabbard, which served as a "safety" that had to be removed before the blade could be drawn.

The katana was unremarkable overall, not much different from the katanas sold in ordinary blacksmith shops in Sunpu Castle, but it gave people an unexpected sense of solidity.

Next, Uesugi Tetsu carefully scanned each of its attributes—

【Tachi】

[Quality: Rare]

[Effect 1: Sharpness. The katana is extremely sharp, capable of cutting through iron like mud.]

[Effect Two: Toughness. The katana is extremely tough, combining both strength and flexibility.]

[Effect 3: Bleeding. Wounds inflicted by the katana will be extremely difficult to heal and will bleed continuously.]

[A katana meticulously forged by the blacksmith of Junpu Castle.]

However, because the blacksmith failed to push his own limits when forging it, this katana, like most of the weapons he created, doesn't deserve a unique name.

Sharp, tough, and bleeding.

The names and descriptions of the three effects are simple and straightforward, without any magical effects or anything fancy.

But that's the sense of solidity, the feeling that "this is a weapon that can last a long time."

Sharpness ensures armor-piercing effect, toughness is essential for prolonged battlefield combat, and bleeding maximizes the effect of each armor-piercing strike.

You could say this is a "battlefield treasure".

Uesugi Tetsu stroked the blade with satisfaction for a while before putting it away.

This katana is perfectly adequate as a secondary weapon.

He couldn't help but think of the epic-level katana displayed in the blacksmith's shop. It was a real pity that he hadn't reached out to touch it and check its stats yesterday.

A katana forged under the thunder must surely possess extraordinary effects and power.

But Uesugi Tetsu didn't miss it too much.

After all, compared to Kaga Kiyomitsu, who was also a katana wielder, that sword was nothing special.

—Secondly, Uesugi Tetsuya briefly listed the tasks he needed to do after returning to the Imagawa-kan.

First, of course, I need to hurry up and read through all the breathing techniques I agreed on with the elders.

Because who knows what will happen in a few days, or later, when those old guys might suddenly fall ill and refuse to let him see them, and then come up with all sorts of strange and bizarre reasons.

Having to kill people before even starting cultivation is too much trouble.

Speaking of spiritual practice...

Uesugi Tetsu looked at the woman beside him who was smiling and greeting many passersby.

—Okabe Motonobu is now at least in the meat-refining stage, and he must have accumulated a lot of unique experience during his training in the Flesh Palace stage.

I should be able to learn a lot from her.

"Lord Okabe, it seems that everyone in Sunpu Castle adores you."

After Okabe Motonobu waved to another shop, Uesugi Tetsu couldn't help but sigh.

Motonobu Okabe was slightly taken aback, and asked in confusion, "Hmm? Is that so?"

She muttered softly, "I just did what I was supposed to do... It's more like I like it, but it's far from being called love."

In Junpu Castle, I think only my lord deserves the word 'love and respect'.

Just as she was speaking, a thin child dressed in light clothing darted out of the alley and blocked their way.

The disheveled child carefully pulled half a craggy, cold pancake from his pocket and held it up in front of Okabe Motonobu.

"Okabe-nee-nee, thank you for last time! This is for you!"

"Wow!"

Okabe Motonobu squatted down and took the cold pancake with both hands as if it were a treasure, saying solemnly, "Thank you so much for knowing that I haven't eaten all day!"

As she spoke, she immediately swallowed the entire cold pancake in a few bites, revealing a satisfied smile.

The child was stunned for a moment, then thanked them again and disappeared back into the alley.

Seeing this, Uesugi Tetsuya, who was standing next to her, did not say anything.

He recalled Okabe Motonobu's words and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Gentle, beautiful, and powerful.

When Okabe Motonobu is compared to other nobles and samurai in this world...

No, perhaps there's no need for comparison at all.

How could such a good woman not be loved and respected by the people of Junfu City?

On the way back to the Imagawa residence, Uesugi Tetsu discussed many details about the Mikawa riots and his conjectures about the Great Demon with Okabe Motonobu.

Motonobu Okabe only responded with interjections like "um" and "oh," but he stopped teasing even Kosho, and sometimes he didn't even notice when others greeted him, so he must have been listening very attentively.

They might even be mentally planning how to most efficiently crush the rebels of the Three Rivers Kingdom.

"In the days to come, I will likely come to Lord Asakabe again to seek his guidance on matters related to breathing techniques. I hope..."

"Mr. Che, you must come."

Okabe Motonobu, unusually, interrupted him, saying with a hint of eagerness, "Because I also happen to lack a companion with whom I can exchange and verify our spiritual practices!"

There aren't many samurai in the Imagawa family who have completed the Qi Cycle, and even fewer who have made significant achievements in the Flesh Palace.

Okabe Motonobu happens to be extremely loyal to Imagawa Yoshimoto, and it's highly likely that he wouldn't get along with the samurai under the other chief retainers.

Uesugi Tetsu's eyes brightened slightly: "Then I will have to trouble you, Lord Okabe, many more times in the future."

She smiled and said, "I'm afraid that if I practice meditation every day, Mr. Che will avoid me."

"Absolutely impossible!"

Uesugi Tetsu, who considers himself half a workaholic, shook his head.

As they spoke, the two men and the mouse arrived at the entrance of the Imagawa-kan.

At the entrance, two guards, one of whom was not wearing armor, immediately straightened up and bowed deeply to Okabe Motonobu upon seeing her, making no attempt to conceal their respect.

Okabe Motonobu seemed to be used to it, so he didn't help the two up, but instead led Uesugi Tetsu directly into the Imagawa building.

"Hmm... judging from the current time, the lord should be there."

Without asking any maids or servants for Imagawa Yoshimoto's address, Okabe Motonobu led Uesugi Tetsu quietly down another deserted, dark alley to a secluded room with its door closed.

Stepping out of the path, Okabe Motonobu closed his eyes and listened intently for a while.

A moment later, she grinned, put a finger to her lips, and made a shushing gesture towards Uesugi Tetsuya.

'Shh'

Uesugi Tetsu nodded secretly, wondering what she was up to.

Next, she carefully handed the saliva to Uesugi Tetsuya, then tiptoed to the other side of the room, moistened her finger with saliva, and poked a hole in the paper-covered window.