Chapter 23 Former Master
As soon as Han Zhou came out, he saw Qing Ye pacing anxiously at the door. After briefly explaining the situation, the man's anxious expression turned into relief and gratitude towards Han Zhou.
"Thank you very much. You can take the spiritual power you want at any time." Qingye remembered the price he had to pay and even brought it up himself.
But Shokudaikiri and Mikazuki, who were following Hanzhou, knew that this condition was just a test, and only Qingye took it seriously.
Do you think I'd need your spiritual power?
Qingye is usually a calm person, but because Yu Yuwu has been unconscious for a long time, he is at a loss and in his anxiety, he has no time to think and only wants to save Yu Yuwu.
Although they don't contact each other often, they still share a bond as S-rank Saniwa, not to mention that Yuyuwu was Qingye's mentor.
Qingye, reminded, suddenly realized that Hanzhou was the Saniwa of S001 Honmaru. How could she possibly be interested in his spiritual power?
"So what do you want?" Qingye wasn't stupid; sometimes what's free is the most expensive.
"Which is more important to you, the tsukumogami or the government of time?"
"Tsukumogami"
Although Qingye works for the current government, he has a clear understanding of the advantages and disadvantages involved.
He was already alone in the mortal world, but the people in the citadel made him feel warmth again, which is why he resolutely chose to become a tsukumogami.
"That's enough. It seems we're on the same page. Come to my citadel when Yuugiri wakes up, and we'll discuss things then."
Han Zhou extended an invitation to them. She was quite satisfied with these two Saniwa; their spiritual energy was pure and serene. This meant that they possessed unwavering conviction.
"good"
The two had just left the castle tower when Han Zhou spotted the government officials again. Fearing another attack from Han Zhou, they hesitated to approach.
Han Zhou frowned slightly upon seeing the tainted spiritual energy emanating from the other person. The movement was subtle, but it was noticed by the two spirit mediums constantly watching her and by Qing Ye.
"Didn't I just tell you to go back first? Why aren't you leaving yet?" Qingye spoke first. He had just left the bedroom in the castle tower and had told the other party to leave the Honmaru of Yuyugiri first.
"I... need to confirm Lady Yuyuwu's condition before I can leave." Seeing the man sweating profusely, Qingye felt a surge of annoyance.
He's been here for two days and hasn't been able to help at all, and now he's just hanging around refusing to leave. Does he really think he's an easy target?
He instinctively reached for his waist, but found nothing there.
Qingye is also skilled in swordsmanship and usually carries a sword and saber. But this time, like Hanzhou, his purpose was to save Yuyuwu, so he didn't bring a saber.
"roll"
Han Zhou was quite direct, and even unwilling to say more than a few words.
To be honest, Shokudaikiri hadn't expected his lord to be so...sharp today. He showed absolutely no respect to the person before him, and he felt there must be some unknown reason behind it.
"Lord Hanzhou, this is about current affairs..." The man stopped speaking before he could finish, a sharp pain in his neck causing him to halt.
Golden threads tightly bound the other's fragile neck. Condensing divine power into threads was a simple matter for Han Zhou, but in the current political climate, only a handful of people possessed this skill.
"What's the point of your two days of rescue efforts? Go back now, and if I ever see you again..."
As the golden thread loosened, the man, drenched in a cold sweat, ran without looking back towards the time-space converter in the courtyard. As for Kitsune-no-Suke, she didn't spare it either, silently altering the array within its body.
After the unrelated people left, Han Zhou's sharp aura subsided. She reverted to the calm demeanor that Shokudaikiri was most familiar with, but... there were quite a few tsukumogami who wanted to see her.
Hanshu watched as the Genji brothers approached her, along with a white crane, the Shinsengumi's swords, and Yagen of Awataguchi.
"Qingye, go and keep an eye on Yuyuwu. I have some things to take care of here."
"I understand," Qingye said without asking further questions. He wasn't that curious; sometimes, the more you know, the more dangerous it becomes.
Mikazuki, who had been standing behind Hanshu, walked up to her companions in the citadel. Her beautiful eyes were filled with longing. He and all the tsukumogami bowed to her.
Hanshu looked at them, and paused slightly when his gaze swept over the Shinsengumi's swords.
"You...you're just like them. Looking at you is like seeing Brother Yu, Souji, and Toshi standing in front of me."
"Lord Kanshu! It really is you..." Yamato no Kami Yasusada's eyes glistened with tears. Kiyomitsu had his sword tip broken at the Ikedaya shop, and Kanshu had taken him to Okita Souji, who was recuperating at the time.
That's why he knew that Okita Souji, on his deathbed, was still hoping to see Kanshu one last time, but... he didn't get to see Kanshu return.
"Lord Hanshu, I never expected to see you again~ Don't you think so, little brother Maru?"
"It's Hizamaru, Anika! We're so glad to see you again."
They now have a lord to whom they pledge allegiance, and without a word, they all refrain from calling out "Master of the Household."
"I'm happy to see you all, but..."
"We shouldn't reveal your identity, right?" Tsurumaru Kuninaga replied with a smile.
"Well, it's not the right time yet. I'll tell Yu Yuwu my identity after she wakes up." Han Zhou paused for a moment.
The words he uttered stunned the swordsmen.
"I'm sorry, I entrusted you to someone else back then."
Tsurumaru chuckled twice upon hearing this and exchanged a glance with Mikazuki beside him.
"We have never blamed you, Lord Hanzhou."
During the years they were with him, he never neglected their care, and he was reluctant to part with them when entrusting them to someone else. It was clear that Han Zhou had no choice but to give them away.
So don't blame yourself. You are our proud former Lord.
"Haha, I still have to thank you for saving our lord," Mikazuki said with a smile.
The current situation didn't allow them to talk for too long. Han Zhou shared some speculations about current affairs with them, warning them to be careful of government officials in the future.
"So, why did you target that man, my lord?" Shokudaikiri asked curiously.
"He is a spy planted in politics by the three major families, and his spiritual energy is very impure."
"No wonder I had this urge to chop him up," Higekiri said, seemingly suddenly realizing something, though he might have been secretly on guard the moment he saw the man.
As it turns out, he wasn't the only one with this feeling. Hizamaru, another demon-slaying sword, shared the same sentiment. Yagen, Mikazuki, and Tsurumaru all felt the same way.
Having been imbued with the power of the Cold Boat over the years, it's not surprising that they possess such keen insight.
Han Zhou wasn't worried about anything else, as Mikazuki would take care of it. Although the old man usually liked to slack off, he was still very reliable when it mattered.
After explaining some things about Miyugiri, Hanshu took Shokudaikiri back to his Honmaru.
Han Zhou, who had just returned, saw Kogitsunemaru passing by the courtyard. He was wearing his inner robes and carrying a basket of vegetables, heading towards the kitchen.
"My lord, you're back?" Kogitsunemaru stopped and greeted Han Zhou with a smile. Those two strands of hair on her head really did look like fox ears.
Han Zhou nodded in response; she remembered... today's duty officer was Kogitsunemaru and Mikazuki. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she directly pointed it out.
"Is Mikazuki slacking off again?"
Kogitsunemaru stiffened, a helpless expression appearing on his face.
"More or less..."
Before Han Zhou could say anything, he heard a commotion.
"Don't move! How can you drink while working!"
"Wow—Hasebe, you're so rigid!"
"What did you say?!"
As Fudou Yukimitsu and Hasebe rounded the corner, they saw Kanbune watching them. Compared to Hasebe's thought, "How could the Lord see such an immature side of me?", Fudou Yukimitsu was much more straightforward.
Holding the amazake in her hand, she ran to Han Zhou's side; she could even smell the sweet aroma of the sake emanating from him.
"My lord, welcome back!"
"Yes, I'm back."
Could it be that their relationship is so good that they can argue? Han Zhou watched the two of them arguing again in such a short time, and a thought flashed through his mind.
"Ahem," Shokudaikiri coughed twice to remind the two people arguing in front of Kanshu.
Realizing they had left their lord standing there, the two wanted to apologize, but were interrupted by a time-space converter that suddenly flashed red light in the courtyard.
Han Zhou frowned and stepped forward to check the situation.
boom--!
The deafening explosion startled all the swords within the citadel. Hanshu looked up at the sky above the citadel. The normally concealed protective array materialized, and ripples spread across the barrier, clearly indicating that something was attacking the citadel.
"The people from the three major families are quite capable; they actually deduced the core coordinates of my citadel by working backwards."
Han Zhou, having realized what was happening, already knew what was going on.
When she traveled to Miyugiri's Honmaru, the passageways between the two Honmaru were connected. Someone seized this opportunity to deduce the core coordinates of her Honmaru using Miyugiri's core coordinates.
It seems that the terminals they are currently using are under surveillance; otherwise, how would the other side know when they would be heading to Miyugiri's citadel and thus be able to lie in wait for them?
"It's alright, they can't break my magic circle," Han Zhou reassured Zhutaiqie, calming his tense emotions.
"Let Fudo and Hasebe tell everyone the situation first, so they don't worry. I also want them to know that not everyone can be offended."
As Han Zhou finished speaking, his light golden eyes transformed into the vertical pupils of a beast, revealing his normally hidden fox ears and tail. Golden divine power swirled within them, and his eyes gleamed with barely perceptible, fragmented light.
The divine power disregarded spatial distance, following the fluctuations of the other's power directly. The vertical pupils, gleaming faintly, saw a man seated beneath a complex array. Han Zhou had no interest in knowing who he was.
Since you're so dishonest, then let's say goodbye to this filthy power of yours.
After all, the other party was not a person from the "worldly realm," so Han Zhou naturally wouldn't have many concerns when making a move.
Hidden divine power condensed into a spear, aimed at the man's soul.
Snap—
With an aura that pierced through illusion and filth, the golden spear pierced directly through all the corrupt power within the man's body!
Click
The spiritual energy surrounding the man shattered instantly, and blood gushing from his mouth stained the magic circle beneath him, a result of the double damage of a soul impact and the stripping away of his power.
This person will become mentally impaired even if he doesn't die.
She withdrew her power, and the golden divine energy that had dissipated around her quickly returned to her body. The fox ears on her head twitched involuntarily.
Turning around, Han Zhou saw Ran looking at his tail with expectant eyes. He sighed, his tone clearly showing helplessness.
"Can I let you touch me after we finish talking about business?"
"Okay! Thank you, Aruji!"
The Awataguchi family mostly consists of adorable, short swords. Kanshu rarely reveals her fox-like characteristics, partly because she's used to maintaining her human form, and partly because... these children always love to jump into her tail.
It's nothing serious, it's just that Hanzhou isn't used to it.
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