Chapter 1496 - 1158: Prince’s Revenge?

The sound of Bai Ze, although slightly comedic due to the tremor akin to a goat’s bleat,

yet his tone was filled with the calmness and enlightenment of an elder seeing through the changes in the world.

On the back of the Qilin, the Elu Cat suddenly jolted and was thrown into a disoriented state, now looking up thoughtfully at the old goat.

Then it looked down again at the big cat ball in its arms, its little paws comforting the big cat ball by patting its head.

"So, you’re actually a little kitten without a mom, meow?"

"Meow~"

"Alright!" Rong Buqiu seemed determined, clenching its fist vehemently! "I will take good care of you from now on, meow!"

And Shancu happily jumped up: "Meow!"

But right after, in this cute and heartwarming atmosphere...

"Ugh!"

Rong Buqiu’s mouth emitted an unpleasant sound again, and Lann swiftly crouched down, covering the kitten’s mouth and tilting its head to the side.

Luckily it didn’t vomit on Shancu’s head... Speaking of which, whether a host and a guardian spirit can touch each other, but can vomit touch a guardian spirit? It truly makes one curious.

"Ninja Cat, and this noble steed."

After Rong Buqiu settled under Lann’s soothing, Takeda Hanbei cautiously asked, having kicked the Qilin’s hoof specifically.

"Dare I ask: are these creations made by you using the [Spirit Stone]?"

[Spirit Stone]?

Lann instantly caught this unusual term keenly.

His first impression of the term aligned with novels he had read before, believing it to be some super-natural power storage medium, perhaps able to serve as the universal equivalent in extraordinary power trading.

But this first impression was soon sealed away by Lann himself, only recorded by Mentos.

After all, he didn’t know if the [Spirit Stone] referred to by others was the same as his initial impression.

Just like when he was in the New Continent, his first impression of [Dragon Jade] was more akin to [Dragon Crystal] in many novels, but over there, it was merely a biological calculus, more similar to bezoar.

With plenty of experiences in world adventures, Lann knew better than to rely on his stereotypes.

"No," the Demon Hunter expressed no fluctuation as usual, saying leisurely, "Rong Buqiu and the Qilin, were already like this when I encountered them. Later, we became friends and traveled here, then they were possessed by guardian spirits."

A sincere conversation, introducing Rong Buqiu and the Qilin in the process.

’Born majestic creatures?’

Takeda Hanbei’s eyes shifted between the cutely armored kitten and the extraordinary, noble, aloof Qilin.

He found it hard to believe such coincidences existed in the world.

Yet his guardian spirit sensed that Lann wasn’t lying, these were indeed not creations modified or accelerated using [Spirit Stone].

But rather natural-born beings.

When a confident and wise person encounters a coincidence that he perceives as improbable, the impact on his worldview is unspoken.

Takeda Hanbei remained outwardly calm, though his pupils were already shaking intensely.

’Western chase of the Qilin? Qilin’s Jade Manual?’

Instantly, the vast knowledge of Western continental tales resurfaced in Takeda Hanbei’s mind with his gaze.

’What does this entail? His ambition and aspiration? Or truly... divine mandate?!’

Instances of ambitious people using ancient stories for their own elevated reputation and fame, Takeda Hanbei had read countless under his teacher’s guidance.

In legends, the most sacred Confucius in the Confucianism circle was said to have been born from the Qilin delivering the child, and later having ’Qilin’s Jade Manual in three volumes, read by Confucius leading to great achievement.’

Within the Confucian cultural circle, this supreme sacred symbol is not something anyone dares to speculate about lightly.

As for Lann naming his mount ’Qilin,’ Takeda Hanbei wasn’t too surprised.

After all, this Ancient Dragon from the New Continent, at first glance, closely fits the definition of Western Unicorn.

But in the East, the image of ’Qilin’ varied greatly.

Some with one horn, others with two. Some bodies resembled horses with scale armor, and limbs were hooves. Some bodies resembled a scaled lion-tiger beast, with claws for limbs. And so on, diverse and varied.

It’s said that on the Western continent in Ming Country, there was also a precedent for calling a creature with yellow-brown spots and a super long neck a Qilin, and offering it to the imperial family.

Advancing auspicious omens earns merit, after all, who doesn’t want the reward falling to themselves?

However, Takeda Hanbei’s focus on ’Qilin’ was only slightly different, while his guardian spirit Bai Ze,

Upon hearing Lann introduce the name of the Qilin, the small round-framed glasses on that goat-face hurriedly slipped down the nose!

The old man has seen everything, has he?

My gosh! This old man has not seen this!

Bai Ze’s three eyes blinked bewilderingly, first glancing at the Qilin, then at Lann... accurately speaking, looking at the void beside Lann.

"No reaction... that looks to not be an issue."

The old goat muttered.

"What ’not an issue’?" Lann, with keen hearing, turned with curiosity to ask.

"Nothing, nothing." The old goat’s ears flapped twice, floating back beside Takeda Hanbei from Lann’s front, "Just an old man’s casual remarks."

Meanwhile, Ando Shouji had quietly moved his small table closer to his son-in-law.

That hand still kept tugging on the son-in-law’s clothes beneath the table, where nothing could be concealed.

"Hanbei!" He muffled his mouth, asking in a low voice, "Even his horse! Even his cat! Have divine and Buddha protection!"

"...What is going on? What was the Ming Country emperor’s last name again? Don’t stay silent, speak up!"

Takeda Hanbei’s mouth twitched involuntarily; he felt his father-in-law might bite his tongue from nervousness at any moment.

"Father, the Emperor of the Ming Country has the surname Zhu, not Lann."

He could only whisper to calm his father-in-law.

"Even so, he must be a big figure! A colossal one!" Unfortunately, this reassurance seemed to have no effect, as Ando Shouji frantically repeated, "Look at his horse! Look at his cat!"

"There was a General with the surname Lann among the founding generals of Ming Country, and he did marry into the royal family, but his entire clan was exterminated soon after the founding. Father, don’t scare yourself."

And then, Ando Shouji’s eyes widened like two Yongle Tongbao coins.

Takeda Hanbei slapped his own forehead.

He was actually stunned just now, which is why he gave his father-in-law some random comfort.

Now... the founding General of Ming Country, married into the royal family, exterminated...

—Isn’t this like Hamlet?!

Such story patterns, although turned into world-renowned tragic templates by Shakespeare half a century later, have always existed throughout history, never short of audience and influence.

Seeing his father-in-law’s expression, he probably had already scripted the entire drama in his mind!

At this moment, Bai Ze happened to float back to Hanbei’s side, leisurely stabbing his student once more: "Well, I told you, Lord Ando is a block of wood that cannot be carved."

For a moment, the young warrior, later famous as a ’Wise General,’ felt his thoughts in a mess.

He could only look at his teacher helplessly, yet annoyed.

"It’s all the teacher’s fault!" He communicated with his teacher in a Guardian Spirit manner, "First it was all about benevolence and peaceful reign, then..."

Takeda Hanbei felt like he might have made progress in his breathing exercises, sitting here calmly after hearing those words.

Who among ordinary people could remain seated hearing any of those terms previously mentioned?

"In any case, I think I’ve shown enough sincerity on my side, right?"

Lann placed the Rong Buqiu beside his seat; the Qilin wandered to the other side of Lann and lay down quietly.

Opposite, Ando Shouji rubbed his eyes vigorously, suspecting he had drunk too much, seeing an Ukiyo-e print depicting mythological content come to life.

Someone like him with no Guardian Spirit, lacking wisdom, could usually only see creatures like demons and evil spirits.

Images like Rong Buqiu and the Qilin, which stood out even alongside a Guardian Spirit, were truly rare for him to witness.

Not to mention, these two images were wisely placed by Lann’s side.

Beasts displaying intelligence could be seen as Mountain Gods, Wild Gods, etc., let alone the Elu Cat and New Continent Ancient Dragon.

Thinking about the mumblings of his son-in-law earlier in the tea room,

"The world... people!"

Ando Shouji’s eyelids trembled, and he mumbled those three words without realizing it.

"What did you say?"

Lann raised an eyebrow.

Ando Shouji, the City Lord of Iwamura Castle and the head of the Three Lords of Mino, looked toward Lann with a wakeful expression as if in great fear.

"No, nothing!"

He reflexively, responded to Lann’s casual question with the solemnity of a warrior facing a lord of the country.

Not only that.

With a sudden swish, the large hakama (a loose pair of warrior’s trousers) Ando Shouji wore rubbed against the glossy tung oil floor.

Maintaining a kneeling posture, he slid backward a step away from the small dining table.

This step meant stepping out of the dining context, rendering his upcoming actions more solemn and serious.

He then very solemnly placed both hands on the ground, bowing forward.

This action bewildered Lann.

Despite the movement’s lack of amplitude, it was remarkably formal, even to the point of being respectful.

"I heard Lord Lann is concerned with demon elimination; could it be that you need to consult the household records in this city?"

"Is... is that what it is?"

Lann affirmed, but his tone bore a hint of confusion.

"To have someone as talented as you focusing on demon elimination is a blessing, not just for me... no, for Iwamura Castle... no! It is a blessing for all of Mino!"

"Should you need anything, please help yourself! Many thanks!"

No, according to etiquette, shouldn’t I be thanking you?

The Demon Hunter, Elu Cat, New Continent Ancient Dragon, and Beautiful Demon Hunter, four pairs of eyes blinked at Ando Shouji.

"Hmm." Bai Ze tilted his head, observing the formal Ando Shouji. "I misspoke; a block of wood that cannot be carved, yet a little wit and decisiveness can indeed be interesting."

Takeda Hanbei then looked at his father-in-law with complex emotions. A moment later, he turned to Lann, showing a similarly serious expression on his gentle face.

"As for shorthand and analysis, thanks to the teacher, I do have some confidence. Should you need, I can scour all household records in Iwamura Castle within an hour and find the culprit."

Takeda Hanbei’s eyes seemed to want to see through Lann.

’If indeed you are someone who can usher in a world of benevolence and peace... let me witness it!’

Lann scratched his head, confused why Hanbei deviated from previous discussions, seemingly making it difficult for him just now.

But why does it feel like both of you suddenly got fired up?

Did the Japanese start being so over-dramatic from this point on?