Chapter 76: Tatami Story

"You mean, this child was born while you were out doing something?" The imperial carriage director repeated.

"Yes, Lord Nagamasa." Katsuragi looked at him nervously. "You've always hoped that I would get married and start a family, and carry on the family line. Now I have a successor, that child."

“…”

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Gojo Nagamasa didn't know where to start. It was like the shogunate issued a policy encouraging everyone to have children, and his envoy Katsuragi saw a cute child and insisted that he wanted the child.

What's more, this warrior can't even think of a good excuse!

He was coming back from some business when he passed by Mingzhui Beach and picked up a broken wooden basin. He found a child inside, laughing happily. He was about to pick the child up when the child's laughter got louder, and with each laugh, it seemed to grow a year older...

Is that what you mean?

"Ha!" One year older.

"Ha!" One year older.

"Ha!" The child has grown taller again.

…

Yu Yuchang couldn't help showing an expression that was hard to describe, but he thought that he was a kind person after all. It must be that Guimu had been with him for a long time and had learned to "become arrogant because of his favor."

Guimu was still a little nervous, but there was nothing he could do. He knew that what he said was lame, but who could blame A Chong for coming up with it with such enthusiasm?

He made the decision as soon as he slapped his forehead, and muttered happily something like "Brother Chong has grown taller again, haha, a giant..." It was too late for Guimu to think of another excuse to bring him into the Tatarstan Sand.

Playing with the kids is fine...

Katsuragi: Forget it, who asked me to spoil him?

Yu Yu Changzheng: Forget it this time, since I am your guest rider.

I'm almost 30, and I haven't married or had children yet. I just have a teenage son. Although this statement is a bit rough... well, it's rough to the extreme.

But he didn't break the law!

The two looked at each other, and Katsuragi breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the matter was over.

"So, Katsuragi, did you find the sword hilt in the garden?"

When Katsuragi heard Lord Metsuko asking about serious matters, he hesitated and looked embarrassed, which aroused the vigilance of Lord Gojo Nagamasa.

"Did you forget everything you were doing when you saw the child at Nashihara Beach?"

"This...this..." How could Guimu tell him that more than half of the garden on Bayun Island had accidentally collapsed? He then searched in the ruins for a long time, but had only turned over half of it.

So he nodded, "My apologies, Master Metsuki. I wanted to share this with you as soon as possible, but I was momentarily overwhelmed by joy."

The title unknowingly becomes a position.

The imperial carriage commander was about to scold him, but after thinking it over, he gave up.

He sent Katsuragi to the former sacrificial ground to look for the sword hilt left by his adoptive mother, Chiyoko Miyano. His original intention was to study the objects with some kind of power that came out of the giant beast in the abyss, so as to forge a sword with higher skills, so as to wash away the stigma left by his adoptive mother who betrayed the general. After all, this was his personal idea.

After his adoptive brother Daoqi abandoned him, Yu Yuchang was furious and left without taking the [Mingwei Zhizhan] left by his adoptive mother. Instead, he left it at the sacrificial ground where his adoptive mother had been...

I recently heard that a secret realm was about to form there, so I was anxious to send Katsuragi there, otherwise this matter would be troublesome. And Miyu Nagama was obsessed with forging it. In short, he was determined to retrieve the "Mingwei Zhiban" at all costs.

The formation of a secret realm means it will be more dangerous and unpredictable, and if the person who gave the order is unwilling to give up, then only Guimu will be in danger.

This is also the reason why the imperial carriage chief is hesitating.

He had to admit that it was difficult to maintain a kind heart and not give up his pursuit at the same time.

Feeling upset, the imperial carriage chief waved his hand and told him in a muffled voice to remember to complete the task, then let Guimu leave.

A silly smile gradually appeared on Guimu's face. Having followed Yu Changzheng for so long, it was impossible for him to be completely unaware of the other person's thoughts.

However, if he answered that he met A Chong at the sacrificial site and that they had gone through a lot of twists and turns, it would only make Lord Changzheng feel more resentful towards the child.

It would be better to cooperate with A Chong and pretend to be stupid. Lord Changzheng, who is ambitious but still kind-hearted, will not say a few words.

This is also one of the reasons why Katsuragi is willing to be loyal to him.

…

As soon as Guimu left the palace of the Imperial Vehicle Chief, he saw the child A Chong making gestures above the head of the Chief of the Military Construction Department.

"...So, this tuft of hair of yours must be something special." Ming Chong said with a solemn promise, "Anyway, just leave it to me and take good care of it! Who knows, when it grows out, it might even be useful for forging weapons!"

"Haha! Okay, then my hair—" Niwa Hisahide was smiling and was halfway through agreeing when he caught a glimpse of a samurai from the Takatsuka Sanda Metsuki sect coming towards him aggressively. He quickly grabbed him and whispered, "Let's talk about it later, the Metsuki's subordinates are here—"

With Katsuragi's physique, he is still quite intimidating even when he has no expression on his face.

Niwa Hisahide watched helplessly as his face changed into a farmer's honest and apologetic smile, his hands clasped together, and he spoke with a slightly hunched back:

"I'm so sorry, my child has offended Master Si Zheng..."

"..." Niwa Hisahide's pupils were shocked, and his mouth was wide open in astonishment. Although he had heard for a long time that Tadokoro Sandamoto was kind and upright, even though he was in the position of inspector, responsible for intelligence and other mundane affairs, he was able to get along well with the sensitive position of the Weaponry Department...

It was because of the stereotype of Mezuke that Niwa Hisahide had always been a well-behaved person and dared not overstep the line with Mezuke. He also thought that the close relationship between Mezuke and his subordinate, Zoheiyou, was just a formality.

Therefore, for a long time, he just regarded it as a distorted rumor.

——But isn’t this too friendly?

"Ah, no, nothing..." It took Niwa Hisahide a long time to find his voice. However, didn't this guy say that he was from Liyue?

The two were about to exchange a few pleasantries to maintain this false relationship when Ming Chong interrupted them enthusiastically, "Gui Mu, I don't need to stay at your house. I think this guy with red leaves on his head looks very familiar."

As soon as Ming Chong saw the chief soldier named Niwa Hisahide, he was attracted by the red highlights on his head and immediately went up to him to start a conversation.

——A Chong didn’t know, it was the one that started it first!

Anyway, he's made up his mind! In the travel simulation, Chong raised a smart grass, so he should at least raise a lucky leaf, right?

"It just so happens that we have just discussed an important matter, why don't we--"

No--! ! !

Even Niwa Hisahide, who was not familiar with the people of Metsuke, could see this opposition on Katsuragi's face.

—Didn't you say you were going to buy a bell? Why are you following me to someone else's house?!

Listen quietly to the sound of Guimu's heart breaking and defense being broken.

It's true that every facial feature is trying hard to express rejection.

However, there is no time to worry about the bell now.

Katsuragi made a weak sound, "Si, Sizheng-sama must be very busy on weekdays, right?"

As he said this, he looked at Niwa beside him.

"I do get along very well with this young man..." Niwa Hisahide said slowly, but in his heart he was almost laughing like crazy at the changes in expression on Katsuragi's honest face.

"However, since you already have an appointment with this guest rider, why not stick to your original plan?"

Katsuragi immediately nodded in agreement.

"Okay..." Ming Chong regretfully gave up the idea of ​​moving directly into Jiliye's house.

To be honest, Niwa Hisahide quite likes this pair of friends. It can be seen that they both have interesting personalities.

"Of course, Brother Chong, the Weaponry Department and Mufu Residence in Tatsusha are not far away. You can also come to me. I will be happy to help you at any time."

"Okay!" Ming Chong agreed immediately.

Hehehe, the reproduction of Jiliye is stable!

Gui Mu watched helplessly as the two of them made an appointment to meet for the second time, and then there would probably be three or four more times, with back and forth visits. By then, he would probably have to stay at someone else's house.

——Master Changzheng, you often urge me to get married and have children, but I just want this one child. Is that too much?

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To be honest, if Guimu didn't have something else to do, he wouldn't have let Ming Chong accept Niwa Sizheng's invitation.

What can I do?

"It just so happens, Chong, that I have to go to Bayun Island later. I'm worried about you being alone at home, so I'd like to trouble Lord Si Zheng to take good care of you." The last sentence was said to Niwa Hisahide.

But reality does not allow it.

Alone at home... Ming Chong's eyes suddenly lit up.

Although he had only known Guimu for a short time, Ming Chong had also witnessed Guimu's attributes as a male mother, and she was the talkative Tang Monk version.

This is so deadly.

real.

"Oh, you have something to go on a long trip for, no problem!" Niwa Hisahide agreed readily, with a smile on his face without any gloom.

Before leaving, Katsuragi turned around and looked at Ming Chong who tried to pull Niwa Hisahide's ahoge several times. It was only after the passing soldier reminded him that Ming Chong woke up from his dream.

"Oh, be careful on the road. Remember not to eat the violet melons on the roadside." Ming Chong suddenly remembered something and raised his hand to throw something over. "Oh, this is for you."

Jingle Bells——

——I think you’re the only one who eats violet melon raw.

Guimu secretly retorted in his heart, but caught it quickly and subconsciously wanted to crush it as if it were a hidden weapon. From the touch in his hand, he immediately determined that this was the thing Ming Chong had been tinkering with for a long time in the Kameyama Courtyard.

This action moved the tough guy to tears again.

"Ah——" Just as he was about to speak, he found that Ming Chong turned his head and touched Niwa Hisahide again.

“…”

Of course I forgive him!

Alas, it’s a pity that such a good child was picked up. It seems that he can’t be raised in his own home... Niwa’s family... is still pretty good.

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Katsuragi: Lord Nagamasa, it looks like I'll soon be returning to a childless life.

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Watching Katsuragi's figure gradually getting smaller and finally disappearing from sight, in order to maintain the atmosphere of farewell, Niwa Hisahide, who had fought with Ming Chong many times, finally saw through the reason why Katsuragi was worried about the young man.

Guimu’s heart is like——

Of course not. If it weren't for me, the first "violet melon cannibalism case" in the history of Teyvat would have occurred.

This guy is really giving up!

Niwa Hisahide turned his head to look at him... and the hand that was about to move.

"Jiliye!" Ming Chong, who was discovered, acted as a beggar with a clear conscience.

"Ah--" He sighed tiredly. This shouldn't be the case. After all, Niwa Hisahide had raised a son before and didn't consider himself an irresponsible father. How could he suddenly come up with the idea that... children are just full of energy?

——Am I old?

Niwa Hisahide fell into self-doubt. This shouldn't be the case, right? After all, he was still young enough to become a military commander, and he was also one of the few who already had a wife and children and a happy family.

He is only in his twenties, which is the age to work hard!