Everything Is Entrusted to You

This time, the Silver Treasury had undoubtedly rewarded him with good things.

Although Gu Mo was not as expectant as he had been last time, and knew it was impossible for him to get another top-tier Guardian Spirit on the level of the Nine-Tails, he still held out some hope. If he could not get a top-tier Guardian Spirit, getting another ordinary one would still be a good thing.

But in the end, what he drew was not a Guardian Spirit. This sort of low-probability event was never something he could expect to happen twice in a row.

What he got instead, however, was a powerful Skill. It was an unexpected delight, and it was even the very Skill he had mentioned not long ago—the secret technique that drew forth a Guardian Spirit's power and housed it within a weapon... It was hard to say whether this Skill was worth more than a Guardian Spirit, but one thing was certain: it could make Guardian Spirits even more valuable.

Skill Emblem: Ninety-Nine Weapons Mastery

Quality: Rare

Level: 0

Effect: Summon one of the Guardian Spirits possessed by the user, allowing its immense power to reside within a chosen weapon. Greatly increases the weapon's attack power, attack range, and durability. Requires 10 Energy to use, and consumes 1 Energy per second while active.

Gu Mo looked over the Skill description and felt completely satisfied.

The explanation was simple, but just as he remembered, he knew this Skill worked exactly this way. If the information he possessed was not false advertising, then its effect was this simple, direct, and brutally overbearing. As long as the user was strong enough, and the Guardian Spirit was strong enough—

Then gods would be slain if they stood in his way, and Buddhas would be slain if they blocked his path. It was a secret technique that turned common iron into an asura blade capable of bringing down gods and Buddhas.

But why was that bald Kukai teaching me this technique?

He frowned slightly, showing no respect whatsoever toward Divine Monk Kukai, who had just imparted teachings to him. Of course, that was not a living person in the first place. It should have been a reenactment of some "record" embodied by the Skill he had drawn, a way for the Idiot System to let him experience that impact most directly and understand that power most deeply.

Thus allowing him to immediately grasp the essence of the Skill and directly obtain the corresponding Skill Badge.

It was indeed effective, but did this mean that the secret technique of "Ninety-Nine Weapons" had originally been created by that bald Kukai? It seemed very possible. That bald monk had lived in the early Heian Period and had even been from the same era as Ōtakemaru...

He himself had been quite extraordinary. After thinking it over carefully, Gu Mo realized that, on the timeline, that bald monk seemed to have been the earliest human to use Ninety-Nine Weapons.

If it really had been an ultimate technique created by the legendary Master Kobo—the man who had once entered Great Tang with an envoy to China, studied under Master Huiguo of Chang'an, and mastered in two years the esoteric Buddhist scriptures that normally took decades to learn—then it made sense.

After mulling it over for a while, Gu Mo subconsciously rolled his head, loosening his somewhat stiff neck, and glanced at the sky outside.

The sun was beginning to set in the west, and its light had softened... He had set out for the mountain early this morning and swept through the way ahead. Near noon, he had found an excuse, saying he wanted the soldiers to rest properly, when in fact he had slept for two or three hours himself to adjust his allocation of online time.

Then, during the afternoon, he had already ventured deep into Viper's Divine Realm and uncovered the truth behind the demons' rampage, though that truth had made his teeth itch. After that, he had rushed all the way back to Sagiyama Castle without stopping. Naturally, it was now nearly dusk.

It was all that old bastard's fault for losing his mind. He had not even completed his daily tasks today.

He had not even gone to the dojo yet. Otherwise, after another round of enhanced training, he should have been able to grind up the proficiency of Body Nourishing Talisman and Barrier Talisman some more. In another week or so, he might be able to master both skills.

Still, this trip had yielded quite a bounty, so for Axiu's sake, he would not hold it against the old man.

He had gained two levels in total, unlocked the class system, and received an extra Silver Grade draw chance from the scene settlement reward. That draw had also given him a highly valuable Skill. He did not know whether the treasury was simply designed that way, or whether he truly was blessed with absurd luck, drawing good things twice in a row... Wait. The first time, he might have hit the jackpot by drawing the Nine-Tails, so perhaps this time was a bonus brought by the Nine-Tails?

Thoughtfully, he glanced at the large fiery-red fox beside him. The noble phantom beast, normally as large as a horse, was quietly lying on its side with its eyes closed, seemingly dozing. Its posture was dignified, while its huge nine tails swayed slowly behind it like burning flames, lending it an additional touch of bewitching allure.

Gu Mo recalled the special attribute among the great fox's permanent protection effects—"Luck +70."

Perhaps that was the reason. But could this effect not only work in ordinary circumstances, but also influence the Idiot System's drop rates? Or did the Idiot System itself acknowledge attribute modifiers like this, allowing such a possibility within its mechanics?

Stretching hard, he pushed the basin of water aside, then got up and fetched the incense burner that had been quietly placed in the corner of the room.

Naturally, it was for burning incense, a habit he had only developed recently. Of course, it was not some refined practice of a cultured scholar meant to cultivate his mind and spirit. Gu Mo approached such things with purely practical thinking.

He placed some of the incense Abe no Seimei had given him into the burner, efficiently lit it, and put on the exquisite lid. What had begun as awkward motions had now become so practiced that they were nearly muscle memory. A faint wisp of smoke drifted from the incense burner, filling the room with a fragrant aroma that regulated the breath, cleared the nose, opened the senses, and harmonized body and mind, both tangibly and invisibly.

Time to sleep. Otherwise, he would be forcibly logged out...

In any case, he had already given his instructions. No one should come disturb him. Besides, the old man and his family of three surely had much to say to one another today. They probably would not think of an outsider like him...

With those thoughts in mind, Gu Mo, who had just been brimming with energy from leveling up, quickly grew hazy amid the lingering fragrance and soon slipped into sleep. The rather long day seemed to have come to an end just like that.

The next day.

Gu Mo sat formally in the dim Japanese-style room, frowning as he struggled to adjust, while silently cursing that damn old bastard. He had only just woken up early in the morning and finished washing up when someone had come urgently summoning him, saying there was something to discuss.

Yet now that he had arrived and waited quite a while, the old bastard had not even shown up?

That alone would have been fine, but on top of that...

He raised his eyes and found Axiu and her sister quietly seated across from him. These identical twins not only looked as though they had been cast from the same mold, with delicate, doll-like features and tear moles at the corners of their eyes that made them look especially pitifully charming, but their long black hair was as smooth and glossy as silk.

Even their clothes were very similar today. Both wore deep blue kimonos. It was rare for girls their age to dress this way, naturally giving people a refreshing impression.

But once the novelty and admiration wore off, Gu Mo felt helpless. They were too similar—he could even say they were exactly alike. He simply could not tell who was who. Which one was Saito Hidechiyo? Which one was Saito Yoshitatsu?

Their faces matched, their clothes were similar, and even their expressions and bearing did not differ much. Hidechiyo had always been relatively calm and quiet, while her younger sister, who bore the name Yoshitatsu—a name that ought to sound quite bold—was exactly the same: aloof and silent.

They were completely identical. How was he supposed to tell them apart?

??? (100%)

??? (100%)

Seeing the rows of question marks displayed above the two black-haired girls' heads, Gu Mo could not help cursing the Damn System inwardly.

But that was only natural. If he could not identify a target, their specific ID would not appear. Just as when he did not know who someone was, that person's specific ID would not be displayed, only appearing as question marks.

The current situation was slightly different, but essentially the same in nature. He knew the sisters' names, but he could not distinguish between them. In other words, he did not know who was who... The Idiot System's labels in this regard seemed to be based on his own awareness, so this was naturally the result.

When he had just arrived, he had greeted them as well, but both had merely nodded in response without speaking... Axiu could not help that, but was the other one being a little too cold?

As Gu Mo pondered this, he could not help sighing. He wanted to distinguish them by the differences between their Guardian Spirits, but when Guardian Spirit power was not in use—or when it was deliberately restrained—only the hosts themselves could see their Guardian Spirits through their connection.

Just as he was wrestling with this, heavy footsteps sounded outside.

It was Saito Dosan. It was hard to imagine that this elderly man, broad of body and covered in a thick beard, had once been Soyah's leader of demon hunters, highly skilled in martial arts, and even capable of attracting Suzuka Gozen's attention... Perhaps after living as a Daimyo for over a decade, no longer needing to act personally, he had grown rusty in his skills and lost his former awareness.

"Hmph, boy, you finally came... You really are hard to invite."

Saito Dosan slid open the door and strode in. The moment he spotted the pensive Gu Mo, he snorted and launched the first attack before Gu Mo could say anything.

"Hm?"

Gu Mo raised his brows. You were the one who was late, old man. Before he could even say anything, this old man had the nerve to accuse him first? And what did he mean by hard to invite? Gu Mo had arrived much earlier than him. He had come over as soon as he received word.

"Hmph, isn't that so? Yesterday evening, I sent people to invite you countless times. Later on, Yoshitatsu and the others even went to fetch you themselves. Yet you, brat, stayed in your room without making a single sound..." Saito Dosan blew his beard and glared.

"..."

"..."

Gu Mo suddenly understood why, even though only the elder sister could not speak, the younger sister had worn that expression as well. Tugging at the corner of his mouth, he said, "I... I was too tired yesterday, so I fell asleep as soon as I got back..." He had already spent more than half the day continuously active and had little online time remaining. What else could he have done but sleep?

Besides, making himself fall asleep instantly anytime and anywhere while he was full of energy and not remotely sleepy was not easy in the first place. The incense Abe no Seimei had given him was not simply a sleep aid. It did not merely lend a helping hand, but had a forceful and powerful effect.

The amount he had used then had been meant to keep him asleep until this morning. It was not that he truly could not wake up no matter what, but if people had merely called out to him a few times, he might indeed have failed to notice.

"Hmph, asleep that early?"

Saito Dosan did not seem to believe him at all. He felt that the boy was simply upset over what had happened yesterday and still held a grudge.

The two identical black-haired girls across from him showed some reaction, though more precisely, one of them opened her mouth, then let out a soft, helpless sigh... That one was Axiu. But she could not speak, so she had no way to explain things for him.

Gu Mo made his judgment, and at the same time saw the question marks over the twins' heads turn into specific names.

"Forget it. You're just that sort of boy, unable to suffer even the slightest loss. Sooner or later, you'll suffer for it..."

Saito Dosan waved his hand and sat down as well, his tone suddenly much gentler. "If you're truly angered over what happened yesterday, then this old man apologizes to you here. I also hope you won't take it out on Yoshitatsu and the others. After all, everything was my own decision. They merely obeyed my orders."

Gu Mo froze. This really was rare. This Viper was actually apologizing to him?

It was not that he was truly angry for that reason, but the other party was, after all, a famous Sengoku Daimyo who controlled all of Mino Province and was known for his ruthless methods... Gu Mo's opinion of the old man changed somewhat. No wonder this man had been able to accomplish great things.

He asserted himself when he needed to, and lowered himself when the occasion called for it.

What Gu Mo did not understand was why the man was lowering himself before him. Gu Mo was clearly penniless and of unknown origin. What could the old man possibly want from him? He was not like Abe no Seimei and the other man. Surely he did not know Gu Mo from before or something.

Carefully studying the changes in Gu Mo's expression, Saito Dosan spoke while pondering inwardly. This boy really did respond better to gentleness than force, though that was hardly surprising. He had once been the son of someone of incomparably noble status. Even if someone like that had fallen this far, even if he appeared calm, he must still be holding a fire in his heart.

But that also showed that this boy had great spirit. He seemed mild, but he was still proud beneath it all, and he had never given up the things he once possessed... That was exactly what Saito Dosan admired about him!

As he thought this, the old man's expression grew even gentler, taking on a grave and earnest look. "Besides, you know those things are of great importance. No matter what, I had to test your character. Otherwise, I could not rest assured entrusting them to you, along with Mino..."

"...Wait, wait a moment. What did you say?" Gu Mo raised a hand to stop him, his face full of disbelief. "Mino? Entrust it to me?"

"That's right."

Saito Dosan looked at his expression with great satisfaction. He had always spoken vaguely and ambiguously before, only making things clear now. This boy was probably stunned as well. How could he have expected that Saito Dosan's promise to help him with all his strength would be such a generous act of handing over an entire province?

"No, that's not..."

Gu Mo was genuinely shocked. Was this Viper really going that far? Had he gone senile and confused Gu Mo with Oda Nobunaga? He really would hand over his domain; history said as much. But the person he was supposed to hand it to was Owari's Great Fool!

Instinctively, Gu Mo looked toward Axiu, feeling that she should stop her father's impulsive behavior.

But Saito Dosan misunderstood. Shaking his head, he said calmly, "You don't need to worry. Yoshitatsu herself has no interest in it... If she did, this old man would not mind letting her govern Mino. I care nothing for the foolish opinions of the world."

Examples of women becoming clan heads were relatively uncommon in this era, but it was not as though there were none.

Others could do it, so with Saito Dosan's free-spirited nature, how could he possibly find it unacceptable? His beloved daughter simply had no desire for it, which was why the matter had gone nowhere.

"Fine, catch it—"

His eyes suddenly widened, a sharp glint flashing within them. Saito Dosan shouted, pulling Gu Mo's attention back at once.

The latter had barely turned around when his pupils instinctively contracted, reflecting a huge white shadow. It was an enormous white snake covered in fine, snow-white scales. It appeared beside the old man, coiled its body, flicked its tongue, and pounced at Gu Mo like lightning!

Gu Mo's body swayed. A flood of images and voices abruptly filled his mind, and dizziness washed over him.

Watching the huge white snake that had left him and was now circling around the boy, Saito Dosan's face suddenly revealed exhaustion. He gently waved a hand, yet he seemed as though a weight had been lifted after settling a long-held concern.

"Boy, from today onward, everything this old man has is entrusted to you. I hope you won't disappoint me... And take good care of my daughters, or this old man will never forgive you!"

He had spoken properly enough at first, but by the end, he could not help blowing his beard and glaring again, his tone gritted and fierce.