Chapter 1489 - 1151: Legends and Knowledge

Not sure where Takeda Hanbei is now, or how far away he is from Iwamura Castle.

But at least today, he won’t make it.

After Lann and Wuming had eaten, they talked a bit about the Guardian Spirit on Rong Buqiu, named "Zansha," then rested separately.

According to Wuming, "Zansha" is actually a small Demon with no real harm.

But in the customary practices of Shintoism, transformations among the identities of demons, ghosts, gods, and Buddhas are frequent.

Demons and ghosts can be venerated through rituals and long-term worship to be canonized as gods and Buddhas, and if gods and Buddhas manifest themselves as malicious or evil incarnations from the legend, they can also be considered demons and eradicated.

So although Wuming had neither seen nor heard of the Guardian Spirit "Zansha," she accepted it easily when she saw the phenomenon on Rong Buqiu.

Unfortunately, Wuming, the leader of the Demon Hunter "Chuye Shizong Group," only had opinions limited to ’how to slaughter them conveniently’.

As for the deeper understanding of a demon’s origins and stories, according to her, it is completely beyond the comprehension of a crude person like her.

That knowledge is precious and accessible only to aristocrats, grand families, or wealthy book collectors.

Lann didn’t feel disappointed; at least from Wuming, he learned the basic concept of "Guardian Spirit".

Guardian Spirits, equivalent to divine protection, instinctively select a person who matches their characteristics well, or to say in a more mystic term: is fated.

They dwell in that person’s body.

Generally speaking, those who have a Guardian Spirit possess the ability to achieve something remarkable in this world.

Whether the Guardian Spirit enables them to achieve success, or whether it’s their personality and willpower that accomplishes great things and thus attracts the Guardian Spirit, no one can say for sure.

However, typically, those who are possessed by Guardian Spirits can, like Wuming, see the filth on demons or ghosts and purify it.

But there are Guardian Spirit hosts who aren’t even aware they have been chosen.

Regardless of awareness, it doesn’t affect the special abilities the Guardian Spirit bestows.

Initially, Lann intended to approach the topic via the identity of the "Zansha" demon, leading to the subject of "Guardian Spirit" unobtrusively.

Unexpectedly, Wuming candidly shared her own situation with the "Guardian Spirit".

Clearly, she is a straightforward, frank woman.

Wuming’s Guardian Spirit is named "Eight Hundred Waves," a legendary woman from ancient Japan who ate mermaid flesh to become immortal and also turned into a mermaid.

This Guardian Spirit grants her affinity with water and efficient recovery abilities.

Even so, Wuming isn’t entirely certain if she has fully understood all abilities "Eight Hundred Waves" has bestowed upon her.

Like demon lore, the abilities given by Guardian Spirits are mostly hidden in the fragments of ancient legends.

Without a noble family or book collectors, in this age where knowledge is precious yet scarce, ordinary people struggle to compile records.

And perhaps because of gaining fundamental insights about "Guardian Spirit" from Wuming, Lann feels an increasing sensation of perceiving the still shapeless and formless force around him.

He lies on a bed he made with two futons spread on the tung oil wooden floor.

In the dim, lightless room, only the steady breathing of him and Wuming remains.

Even with his eyes closed, Lann distinctly feels as if a vigorous and energetic beast is quietly lying beside him.

This beast’s body radiates warmth and makes him feel safe, as if it’s guarding him.

Yet when he truly wants to open his eyes and look beside him, there’s always nothing there.

Knowing the "Guardian Spirit" is benevolent and beneficial, Lann considers temporarily withdrawing his "Body Light" to let the force in the void operate more directly.

After all, both Qilin and Rong Buqiu manifested their Guardian Spirits overnight. Although they don’t know yet what powers these Guardian Spirits provide, and Qilin doesn’t even know his Guardian Spirit’s name—but they have taken form.

But his "Body Light" still shows chaotic lines, not even a contour drawn.

Significantly lagging in efficiency.

However, it seems once the power starts carving on the complete "Body Light," it can’t be redirected.

Even withdrawing "Body Light," the force doesn’t settle on him—rather, it churns aimlessly in the void.

It’s only when he unveils "Body Light" again that the power resumes its intended course, carving on the "Body Light" independently.

So, Lann decides not to demand efficiency anymore, knowing it can’t be forced.

Though he remains curious about what Guardian Spirit has chosen him.

The following morning, an uneventful night passed.

Wuming and Lann donned their respective outer garments and armor, looking as usual.

Long laborers in slaughter and travel work aren’t prone to being fussy.

Just as Lann had anticipated: before someone capable of analyzing Ando Shouji arrived, the lord of Iwamura Castle adhered to the principle of ’the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make’ and chose not to interact much with him.

The Demon Hunter also thought that worked well for him, as he was currently focusing his efforts on dealing with the [Residue]. Socializing could wait for later.

Early in the morning, the two of them left the Tenshu and headed straight to the place where Wuming had accepted a commission.

The castle town of Iwamura Castle was already bustling; workers clad only in jackets and loincloths began laboring hard, while carts collecting manure headed towards the outskirts of the city.

The few sundry shops opened their doors, while more people left the city to farm the land.

In times when commercial activities weren’t thriving, there weren’t many jobs in the city to sustain people, leaving the majority of the population engaged in agriculture.

Low wooden houses formed a continuous row, representing the typical appearance of a military fortress settlement.

It wasn’t long before Wuming led Lann to the client’s house.

In the residential division of Iwamura Castle, this particular household was listed as House No. 16 in Block C.

The room was unremarkable, similar to the one occupied by the old woman who had briefly engaged in a misunderstanding with the two, nestled among other civilian houses.

The combination of a Demon Hunter and a tall figure donned in strange armor made people instinctively step back.

Consequently, the house belonging to Wuming’s client received strange looks as well.

However, as their client, despite an aversion to dealing with Demon Hunters, they had to engage now.

"Please, please come in!"

The wooden door was opened by a man with a scarf on his head, his face confused.

He bent forward to invite them inside, though an unwilling expression lingered subconsciously on his face.

Fortunately, both the leading Demon Hunter Wuming and Lann were entirely accustomed to ignoring the mild rejection from others.

As Lann bent down to enter the doorframe, Wuming had already slipped inside gracefully.

The male homeowner didn’t quite feel it before, but upon lifting his head to see Lann’s form, he stumbled back, almost falling to the ground.

"Yikes~!" he exclaimed in a sharp, woman-like voice, "Demon, demon...!"

Before he could finish uttering the word ’Demon’, Wuming familiarly patted his shoulder.

The man’s legs indeed turned to jelly, and Wuming’s friendly slap landed him sitting on the floor.

The not-too-spacious room also accommodated an elderly couple, a woman, and a young boy, who instantly gathered around to help the man move away from the two while watching them with wary, fearful eyes.

It seemed to be a well-intact family from the Japanese Sengoku Era.

"Alright, he’s not a demon."

Wuming had grown entirely used to others’ fearful gazes.

Unlike the occasional self-regret that might appear with Demon Hunters, Wuming’s dedication to her profession sprang from hatred, making her even more carefree than that old fellow Geralt.

While speaking, she boldly seated herself on the only wooden platform in the small house.

This wooden platform was the family’s usual resting spot.

If they had guests, they would also be invited to sit there first.

The disparity between the wooden platform and the earthen floor of the house symbolized the difference in status, and perhaps it was the semantic source of the ’dogeza’ posture for sincere apologies.

The person receiving an apology sat on the wooden platform steps, while those apologizing knelt on the ground.

It illustrated the difference in status and an attitude of sincere humility.

"I accepted your commission, but it seems things are not peaceful around here lately."

Wuming spoke boldly, propping her elbows on her knees.

Seeing that, the family calmed down a bit, realizing that although the two newcomers seemed formidable, their demeanor wasn’t all that aggressive.

"Can we pay more?" The man, the head of the family, gritted his teeth and spoke with difficulty. "I beg you! We have no other place to live, and moving to another place where we don’t know anyone... I have five people in my family!"

"Please help us clear the [Residue]!"

"Do you think," interjected Lann, standing by the door and blocking most of the sunlight, "that what you’re experiencing now can be solved just by moving?"

The family looked at Lann in confusion, not understanding what he meant.

Exchanging a brief glance with Wuming, Lann saw her nod in agreement.

The client wasn’t intentionally hiding anything; they just hadn’t realized the problem themselves.

With this realization, Wuming stopped holding back.

"The [Residue] in your house is unusual." The Demon Hunter said, tapping the ground with her foot, her expression serious. "To solve it, I need to ask you a few questions."