Chapter 1488 - 1150: Persistence

After setting the schedule to trace the source of the [Residual Filth] starting tomorrow, Wuming put on the red ghost mask and was about to leave.

Lann watched her back, tilted his head, and raised his hand to call out.

"Wait a minute."

Seeing Wuming stop and turn back, Lann spread his hands towards her.

"Where are you staying now? We should keep in touch, right?"

At this point, Wuming scratched her head: "I’m staying... remember that alley we just passed on that street? I’m staying overnight at a tavern there."

Looking at the somewhat clumsy Demon Hunter in front, Lann recalled slightly.

The place Wuming mentioned, even in Iwamura Castle’s not-so-large Castle Town, was the most rudimentary place.

What she referred to as a tavern was essentially a household supplementing income by converting their house into a tiny shop that could seat two people.

So Lann just crossed his arms and tilted his head at her: "Are you... really short on money?"

Wuming scratched her head more frequently: "Who isn’t short of money in this world? Of course, it’s not just..."

She didn’t finish her sentence, but Lann sort of understood.

Death, epidemic, fire... these events leave [Residual Filth] in the world and attract demons and evil spirits.

So what about Demon Hunters specialized in killing demons?

Although they have mastered the technique of clearing [Residual Filth] from themselves, in ordinary people’s view: You’ve already become ’dirty’, and even after ’cleaning’ afterward, it’s better to stay away if necessary.

Put more starkly: a bowl that has been in contact with poison, even if washed clean, most wouldn’t continue to use it without some resistance.

Being disliked is only natural.

In the Magical Middle Ages’ world, Demon Hunters’ situation isn’t much different, so Lann can understand.

Even more, the rejection of Demon Hunters by commoners in the Magical Middle Ages primarily stems from ignorance, prejudice, and rumors, but in this world, the rejection of Demon Hunters actually has some practical significance.

After all, there really is a phenomenon like [Residual Filth] here.

Reducing contact with Demon Hunters truly makes things safer.

Though Wuming is possessed by a [Guardian Spirit], ordinary [Residual Filth] doesn’t affect her, but she obviously can’t tell each person about this.

Moreover, [Guardian Spirits] aren’t visible to just anyone.

Thus, she could only live like a regular Demon Hunter.

"If you’re not put off... do you want to stay there for a while?"

Watching Wuming still scratching her head awkwardly, Lann pointed his thumb behind him.

In that direction was the Tenshu of Iwamura Castle.

Wuming’s eyes examined Lann up and down, her gaze occasionally drifting from where he pointed up to the Tenshu.

"You," she didn’t have envy or jealousy in her eyes, just a look of ’it’s not surprising’, "are not an ordinary person, are you?"

"Are you a Monarch noble interested in hunting ghosts?"

The Demon Hunter responded mockingly with a chuckle: "It’s clear you haven’t truly seen any Monarch nobles."

"Around here, Monarchs are trendy with white powder and blackened teeth now."

Wuming looked at Lann expressionlessly, merely snorting coldly: "Hah."

But afterward, she walked straight past Lann, directly heading towards Tenshu.

Lann lowered his head, spread his hands at Rong Buqiu.

The kitten, wobbling its head, ’meowed’ before jumping onto a nearby rooftop and quickly disappearing.

Lann turned and soon reached Wuming’s side, walking with her.

The Tenshu, the tallest and most extravagant building in the fortress, was unquestionably the Lord’s residence.

However, aside from being a power symbol, it naturally functioned as a military facility for ’observing, commanding’ purposes.

In a military stronghold like Iwamura Castle, the Tenshu’s military attributes were even more pronounced.

On the square base built from large stones should be the pure white walls of the Tenshu’s main body.

But the walls of Iwamura Castle’s Tenshu had turned yellow and black, with no attempts to refurbish or paint them.

From the outside, it even looked a bit shabby.

Yet having entered and met City Lord Ando Shouji, Lann knew beneath the shabbiness, the military equipment in Tenshu was very sufficient and reliable.

The building wasn’t filled with the scent of luxury but the odor of oil for weapons and armors.

The awareness of proper weapon maintenance alone made it surpass many contemporaneous Japanese daimyos.

Moreover, while moving inside, Lann faintly picked up a scent of gunpowder.

One could imagine that even firearms, which were considered new weapons in Japan then, were already utilized in Tenshu.

Ando Shouji of the ’Mino Three’ isn’t just some fool, he has some skills.

Inside the Tenshu, Lann and Wuming relaxed a lot in a rather spacious suite.

Lann’s Lady of the Lake’s Sword was placed ceremoniously on the sword rack, while Wuming’s uniquely shaped weapon called [Glaive Scythe] was propped against the wall by the doorframe.

Lighting without supernatural powers was still a luxurious commodity.

Two floor lamps, slightly shorter than a human kneeling, were placed beside them, at least adding some warm firelight to the dim environment.

Lann had already taken off his armor and was sitting with one leg propped up against the wall.

Behind him, on this wall, hung a sizable painting of a fierce tiger, as if symbolizing the spirit of the military family.

Generally speaking, hunting pictures, battlefield paintings, warrior ghost hunting legend drawings, or these fierce beast pictures are commonly seen decorations in warrior homes.

Meanwhile, under Lann’s intrigued gaze, Wuming looked quite curious.

She occasionally tapped the reflective tung oil floor beside her leg under the candlelight, or stood up to fiddle with the room’s screen cloth.

"If sharing a suite with me makes you uncomfortable, I can mention it to them and get you a single room instead."

"I’m not uncomfortable. I’m certainly not some delicate Princess. There are plenty of shared lodges where men sleep in the same room."

Wuming continued to survey the items in the room, responding indifferently.

She was picking up a gauzy lampshade with a camellia design from the floor, trying to place it on the standing candle holder.

"But doesn’t it seem like you’re more unusual?"

"Me?" Lann used his large hand to accurately and effortlessly pick up chopsticks, clamping down on a piece of pickled plum from the small tray before him, biting off a piece and chewing the sour taste.

Once his palate was enlivened, he picked up a small cup of sake with great interest and drank it.

The combination of flavors felt somewhat novel to him, but it wasn’t exactly dazzling.

To his taste palette, this sensation was too bland.

In this era’s Japan, even food flavors were absurdly divided into ’noble and inferior distinctions.’

The taste favored by the Monarch was called ’elegant,’ while bold and strong flavors were naturally denigrated as ’vulgar, the taste of lower-class people.’

Yet, even if he wasn’t fond of this taste, Lann’s casual use, marked by effortless and carefree movements, still imbued his every gesture with the ritualistic feel that had almost become innate in the Son of the Emperor.

The so-called ’noble aura’ was originally a construct shaped and imbued through various intricate and mysterious etiquettes.

However, the Son of the Emperor’s ’nobility’ could never be underestimated, even across planets or through various galactic visits, regardless of differences in local ritual cultures.

"You certainly aren’t an ordinary person, are you? You can casually open your mouth in the Tenshu of Iwamura Castle and receive such hospitality."

Wuming successfully placed the lampshade over the standing candle and sat cross-legged behind her dining tray with a casual demeanor.

Very casually, she picked up a bowl, eating while watching Lann speak.

"And those snake-like eyes that glow in the dark... If we were meeting at night, not just sprinkling a pinch of salt, even with a handful of salt in hand, I wouldn’t easily let my guard down."

The Demon Hunter’s eyes are rather eerie at night.

But Wuming’s remark was mostly a jest.

She had a Guardian Spirit, whether Lann had demon Qi or impure Qi would be perceptible upon meeting.

"What about you then?" Lann smiled, dodging Wuming’s question, as the counterpart wisely avoided persistence, "Clearly blessed by gods and buddhas, there are plenty who wish to entertain you nowadays, eh? Why endure meals under the open sky and face financial constraints?"

"These things you say?" Wuming raised the bowl in her hand, eating with indifference, "White rice, miso soup, and grilled sea bream are delicious, but as long as I can kill demons, nothing else matters."

Lann toyed with the cup in his hand.

He could discern that Wuming’s tone, so casual it resembled a chat, hid determination and... hatred.

The Chuye Shizong Demon Hunters are, after all, different from Demon Hunters.

Demon Hunters are not only a profession but even a race. Whereas Demon Hunters can choose to quit.

But it also meant that those who remained in this profession after hardships and difficulties must be exceptionally dedicated to it.

Be it out of a desire to help others or a hatred for demons.

Wuming surely held curiosity towards the Tenshu but cared little for the relatively good life within.

Lann was able to confirm this.

"Don’t worry," the Demon Hunter smiled, "If I’m not mistaken, tomorrow? Or in a few days? Anyway, the City Lord of this castle will formally invite us for a good meal."

"Eh~?"

Wuming’s mouth emitted a Japanese-style sound of doubt.

She didn’t understand why Lann was so confident, while, in her view, the meal was already very luxurious.

Yet, Lann was indifferent.

He knew why Ando Shouji treated him so courteously, and to truly ascertain his background and origins, he’d need more interaction, a banquet being an ideal setting.

But the fact that he was not invited to a banquet tonight, Lann showed no outward reaction, yet already had a vague suspicion in his heart.

Perhaps Ando Shouji is waiting for someone?

A companion for the banquet, someone who can help him perceive the situation.

And who could it be?

The Demon Hunter glanced at the insipid liquor in his hand.

Ando Shouji’s son-in-law, Takeda Hanbei. Praised as the ’Jin Kongming,’ ’Jin Nanmu’ Wise General.

Zhuge Kongming’s wisdom, spread through the tales of the Three Kingdoms to Japan, also won the admiration of the Japanese.

Whereas Nanmu Shouei was a renowned local commander in Japanese history.

With such a reputation, even if Lann felt some exaggeration, he surely must possess some abilities.

All because of tonight that Ando Shouji did not invite him to a banquet that Lann reasoned what might ensue and whom he might meet, pondering thus.