After leaving the Kujou Encampment, Ember rushed non-stop towards Yashiori Island.
As soon as he stepped onto Yashiori Island, Ember noticed the changes here. Although the Sky was gloomy, more light was able to penetrate through.
The drizzle no longer fell incessantly like before, and many areas on the ground were dry.
It seemed his last visit to the Grand Narukami Shrine was quite effective. At least the tatarigami on Yashiori Island had truly begun to weaken.
This also indirectly proved that the Grand Narukami Shrine lived up to its reputation as Inazuma's largest shrine. Of course, it would be even better if it could be a little more diligent and responsible.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken Ember's visit for them to discover that the tatarigami seal on Yashiori Island had been broken.
Rushing along the road, Ember quickly saw the extremely conspicuous Golden Tree at the entrance of Higi Village.
Equally conspicuous were the throngs of people gathered on the flat ground at the entrance of Higi Village.
"Charge!"
"Hoo!"
With a loud shout from Dan Oni Roku, the villagers, dressed in various clothes, roared in unison and thrust out their weapons.
Their voices were full of vigor, their actions firm and capable. Their momentum even carried a hint of military discipline—if one ignored the pitchforks, hoes, and shovels in their hands.
Dan Oni Roku nodded in satisfaction. Ever since Higi Village was attacked last time, everyone in the village, regardless of gender or age, had shown immense enthusiasm for martial arts.
No one wanted to wake up one day to find themselves in a sea of fire again. With this thought, the villagers of Higi Village were surprisingly enthusiastic about their training.
"Retract!"
"Ha!"
After another loud shout, the various weapons that had just been thrust out were retracted, their movements equally fluid.
Just as Dan Oni Roku was about to proceed to the next step, he suddenly felt something touch his shoulder.
Dan Oni Roku instinctively wanted to give the newcomer an over-the-shoulder throw, but the voice from behind made him stop his movements.
"Good! Very spirited!"
"Ember? Why are you here?!"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Dan Oni Roku immediately recognized Ember.
"Dismiss! Dismiss! No more training today, everyone go reclaim land!"
Turning his head and seeing that the person was indeed Ember, Dan Oni Roku immediately waved his hand, sending the villagers to clear wasteland.
"Reclaim land? It seems the Grand Narukami Shrine's methods are even more impressive than I imagined!" Ember watched as the villagers, holding their training 'weapons,' began digging the earth on the spot, and couldn't help but marvel at the Grand Narukami Shrine's swift actions.
Previously, the land on Yashiori Island had been corroded by tatarigami, and it was no exaggeration to say that not a blade of grass grew. He hadn't expected the Grand Narukami Shrine to restore it to such an extent in such a short time; it was truly not to be underestimated.
"Haha, it's all thanks to you. I never thought you'd actually be able to get to the Grand Narukami Shrine!" Dan Oni Roku took a deep breath; there was still a slight stinging sensation in his nostrils, but compared to before... this slight sting Dan Oni Roku even found somewhat comfortable.
"To be honest, ordinary people really can't get up there! The broken road up the mountain is too difficult to traverse, and I don't know if they've fixed it yet."
Upon hearing Dan Oni Roku's words, Ember immediately complained to him about the Grand Narukami Shrine's mountain road.
It was lucky he was him; if it were an ordinary person, they probably wouldn't be able to climb it even after a day and a night.
"You're doing quite well now. If this were in the Shogunate or the resistance, you'd at least be a captain."
Ember scanned the young adults nearby. Their numbers were not small; in this area alone at the village entrance, there were hundreds.
Higi Village could no longer be called a village; it should be called "Higi Town." If the war continued for longer, allowing Higi Village to absorb more people, it wouldn't be long before it would become "Higi City."
"Just self-preservation, nothing to mention?" Dan Oni Roku scratched his head humbly. What Ember said was still conservative; he could now interject in the training of all the young adults in the entire village.
The official position he hadn't achieved in the Shogunate had been elevated in Higi Village. Although this "official" was only recognized by the people of Higi Village.
"Enough about me, what are you doing here? Is the war outside about to end?" Dan Oni Roku boasted a bit about his recent situation, then turned the topic to Ember.
He scrutinized Ember, his eyes filled with hope. Although the tatarigami had improved significantly, due to the shared experience of the Higi Village villagers being corroded by tatarigami, few people would venture outside the village to see what was happening, let alone inquire about news from the outside.
"Well..." After hearing Dan Oni Roku's words, Ember looked left and right, giving off a sneaky impression.
Then he really did sneakily lean in close to Dan Oni Roku's ear and whispered softly.
"It's actually like this..."
Ember babbled a lot of words into Dan Oni Roku's ear, but all he got in return was Dan Oni Roku's gasp of surprise.
"What?!"
Seeing the gazes directed at him from all around, Dan Oni Roku belatedly shut his mouth.
He glared fiercely at Ember, then likewise said in a low voice, "I can't make this decision, we need to find Washizu!"
With that, Dan Oni Roku strode towards the depths of the village... If one were to ask what was most important and most secret in Higi Village, it was neither the village chief Washizu's residence nor some secret room for storing gold and jewels.
The most important thing in Higi Village was the entire village's reliance for survival—the granary.
Higi Village's granary was half above ground and half underground. This was an experience gained during years of famine and war.
In earlier years, Higi Village had been harmed by bandits and soldiers; whenever they came, not a single grain of food would be left in the village.
Over time, the villagers of Higi Village learned the habit of hiding half their grain above ground and half underground.
Now, in the dark cellar of Higi Village, a faint candlelight flickered.
"What?!"
Then a startled cry almost blew out the candlelight. The flame on the short candle swayed and flickered, bright and dim, just like the wildly fluctuating hearts of Washizu and Dan Oni Roku.
"Can't you say anything else? Dan Oni Roku is like this, and so are you?" Ember said, somewhat speechless, as he picked his ear upon hearing the familiar gasp.
"What do you want me to say?! This is rebellion?! If anyone hears us, all three of our heads will be kicked around like soccer balls!"
Washizu immediately flared up. As he spoke, he glanced around the cellar, as if afraid someone might be eavesdropping.
"Don't worry! I warned everyone earlier that the cellar would be fumigated for insects and rats during this time, and there would be poisonous gas, so I made everyone leave."
Dan Oni Roku saw Washizu's guilty look and waved his hand, reassuring him.
But despite this, Washizu was still a little uneasy. His gaze shifted to the cellar door. And when Ember saw this, he said in a prepared tone:
"You can also rest assured about the door; I've thickened it with soundproofing cotton, a full fifty centimeters thick!"
Ember spread his five fingers, deliberately speaking loudly. Fifty centimeters of soundproofing cotton; he didn't believe anyone could truly hear through it.
Seeing that Ember and Dan Oni Roku were so well prepared, Washizu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and suddenly felt his breathing become rapid.
Looking down and around, Washizu only saw darkness. The only light in the cellar was the faint flicker of the short candle in Ember's hand.
"Hoo... ho..."
Washizu's breathing was as heavy as an old ox that had just plowed a field. This unusual phenomenon naturally caught the attention of Ember and Dan Oni Roku.
"Washizu! What's wrong with you! Speak!" Ember placed his hands on Washizu's shoulders and shook him vigorously.
"Did you scare him into a heart attack?!" Dan Oni Roku saw Washizu's ashen face and immediately thought of a possibility—that Washizu had a heart condition he didn't know about, and now Ember's news of rebellion had triggered it!
"Heart attack? I don't think so? Washizu's face looks exactly like a corpse that's been strangled."
Ember shook his head, indicating it was impossible. Because no one understood corpses better than he did.
Hearing Ember and Dan Oni Roku's nonsense, Washizu rolled his eyes. He tremblingly stretched out his hand, pointed at the candle, and stammered:
"Can... dle... ox... ygen... suf... focating..."
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