Leaving Everything to You

The rewards from this Silver Treasure Vault were undoubtedly good things.

Although Gu Mo wasn't as excited as last time, and he knew it was impossible to get another top-tier Guardian Spirit like the Nine-Tails, he still held out some hope. If he couldn't get a top-tier Guardian Spirit, getting a regular one would still be a good thing.

However, what he ended up getting wasn't a Guardian Spirit. It was a low-probability event that he couldn't expect to happen twice in a row.

But what he did get was a powerful Skill, which was a pleasant surprise. Moreover, it was the very Skill he had mentioned not long ago – the secret technique about channeling the power of a Guardian Spirit and housing it within a weapon... It was hard to say if this Skill was more valuable than a Guardian Spirit, but what was certain was that it could make a Guardian Spirit even more valuable.

"Skill Emblem: Living Weapon Mastery."

"Quality: Rare."

"Level: 0."

"Effect: Summon one of the user's Guardian Spirits, allowing its powerful energy to reside within the selected weapon, significantly increasing the weapon's attack power, attack range, and durability. Requires 10 energy points to activate, consumes 1 energy point per second during duration."

Gu Mo checked the Skill description and felt completely satisfied.

Although the description was simple, it was just as he remembered. He knew this Skill was like this. If the information he had wasn't false advertising, then the effect was this simple, direct, brutal, and ruthless. As long as the user was capable and the Guardian Spirit was also capable, then it was a secret technique that could turn mundane metal into an Asura's blade capable of striking down gods and Buddhas.

—But why was that bald monk Kukai the one who taught him this technique?

He frowned slightly, showing no respect for Divine Monk Kukai, who had just imparted the knowledge to him. Although that wasn't a living person, but rather a recreation of a certain "record" that his extracted Skill had materialized, the Idiot System used this method to give him the most intuitive sense of that impact and the most profound understanding of that power.

This allowed him to directly grasp the essence of the Skill and immediately obtain a corresponding Skill Emblem.

It was indeed effective, but did this mean that the secret technique of the "Living Weapon" was actually first created by that bald monk Kukai? It seemed very possible. That bald monk was born in the early Heian period, and was even from the same era as Ōtakemaru...

He himself was quite extraordinary. Gu Mo thought about it carefully and found that on the timeline, that bald monk seemed to be the first human to use the Living Weapon.

If it was indeed a unique skill created by the legendary Master Kobo, who had followed the Japanese envoys to Tang China, studied under Master Huiguo in Chang'an, and mastered the esoteric Buddhist scriptures that would normally take decades in just two years, then it made sense.

After thinking for a while, Gu Mo subconsciously turned his head, stretched his slightly stiff neck, and also glanced at the sky outside.

The setting sun began to slant westward, and the sunlight became softer... He had set off for the mountain early this morning, then swept through the area. Around noon, he found an excuse to let the soldiers rest, but in reality, he slept for two or three hours himself to adjust his online time allocation.

Then, in the afternoon, he had already penetrated deep into the Viper's Divine Realm and found out the truth behind the Yokai's disturbance, although the truth made his teeth ache a bit. After that, he rushed back to Sagiyama Castle without stopping. By this time, it was naturally close to dusk.

It was all because of that annoying old man's crazy behavior. He hadn't even done his daily tasks today.

He hadn't even gone to the dojo yet. Otherwise, with some more intense training, he should have been able to increase the proficiency of the Body Nourishing Talisman and Barrier Talisman a bit more. In another week or so, he might be able to master these two Skills.

However, his gains from this trip were also quite substantial, so for Axiu's sake, he wouldn't bother arguing with the old man.

He had leveled up twice in total, unlocked the profession system, and the extra reward from the scene settlement, the silver-grade draw opportunity, had also yielded a very valuable Skill. He didn't know if it was because the treasure vault was set up this way, or if he was truly blessed with luck, getting good things twice in a row... Hmm, wait. The first time might have been a stroke of luck drawing the Nine-Tails, so maybe this time was the bonus brought by the Nine-Tails?

He thoughtfully glanced at the large fiery-red fox beside him. This noble mythical beast, normally the size of a horse, was quietly lying on its side, its eyes closed as if dozing. Its posture was imposing, and its enormous nine tails slowly swayed behind it like burning flames, adding a touch of bewitching aura.

Gu Mo remembered the special entry in the Nine-Tails' permanent protection effect – "Luck +70".

Perhaps it was because of this reason. However, could this effect not only work in ordinary situations but also influence the Idiot System's drop rate? Or was it that the Idiot System itself recognized this kind of attribute, so the mechanism allowed this situation to exist?

Stretching vigorously, he pushed the washbasin aside, then got up to find the incense burner that was quietly placed in the corner of the room.

This was naturally for burning incense, a habit he had only recently developed. Of course, it wasn't some elegant cultivation practice for literati and refined scholars to cultivate their sentiments. Gu Mo was guided by the principle of pragmatism in this regard.

Putting in a bit of the incense that Abe no Seimei had given him, he skillfully lit it and covered the exquisite lid of the burner. His movements, which were initially awkward, had become skillful now, almost forming muscle memory. A faint wisp of smoke wafted from the incense burner, and the room filled with a fragrant aroma, subtly regulating, clearing the nose, opening the orifices, and harmonizing the body and mind.

Time to sleep, or he would be forcefully logged off...

Anyway, he had already given instructions, so no one should disturb him. Plus, with the old man there, the family of three would definitely have a lot to say today, and they probably wouldn't remember him, an outsider...

With these thoughts in mind, Gu Mo, who had been full of energy and in great spirits from leveling up just moments ago, slowly became drowsy amidst the fragrant aroma and soon fell into a deep sleep. The slightly long day seemed to have come to an end just like that.

The next day.

Gu Mo frowned, feeling somewhat unaccustomed to sitting formally in the serene Japanese-style room. At the same time, he cursed the annoying old man in his heart. He had just woken up early in the morning and finished washing up when someone came to rush him over, saying there was something to discuss.

As a result, he was here now, and had been waiting for a while, but the old man hadn't even arrived yet?

If it were just that, it would be fine, but on top of that...

He looked up and saw the Axiu sisters also sitting quietly opposite him. These identical twins not only had faces that seemed to be carved from the same mold, with delicate, doll-like features and tear moles at the corners of their eyes that made them look pitifully charming, but their long, black hair was also as smooth and shiny as satin.

Even their clothes were very similar today, both wearing dark blue kimonos. It was rare for young girls to wear such attire, which naturally gave a refreshing feeling.

But after the novelty and appreciation wore off, Gu Mo felt a bit helpless because they were too similar, even identical. He couldn't tell who was who at all. Which one was Saito Hidechiyo? And which one was Saito Yoshitatsu?

Their appearances were the same, their clothes were similar, and even their expressions and demeanor were not much different. Hidechiyo was originally a more calm and silent person, and her younger sister, who had the name Yoshitatsu, which should have been very heroic, was also the same, cold and silent.

They were completely identical! How could he tell them apart!

—"??? (100%)."

—"??? (100%)."

Gu Mo looked at the string of question marks displayed above the two black-haired girls' heads and couldn't help but curse the dog System in his heart.

But this was also natural. For target objects he couldn't identify, the specific ID wouldn't be displayed. Just like when he didn't know who someone was, that person's specific ID wouldn't be displayed, but would instead appear as question marks.

Although the current situation is slightly different, it's essentially the same. He knew the names of the two sisters but couldn't tell them apart – he didn't know which one was which... The Idiot System's specific display in this regard seemed to be based on his perception, so this was the natural outcome.

When he first arrived, he had said hello, but both of them just nodded in greeting without speaking... That was understandable for Axiu, but wasn't the other one a bit too aloof?

Gu Mo pondered, sighing inwardly. He wanted to try and distinguish them by their different Guardian Spirits, but without using the power of the Guardian Spirit, and even deliberately concealing it, only the host could see its existence through the link and connection.

Just as he was struggling with this, heavy footsteps came from outside.

It was the voice of Saito Dosan. It was hard to imagine that this horizontally built, full-bearded old man was once the leader of the monster hunters for Soyah, highly skilled in martial arts, and even caught the eye of Suzuka Gozen... He wondered if living the life of a daimyo for the past decade or so, no longer needing to do things himself, had made his skills rusty and his former awareness dull.

"Hmph, kid, you're finally here... You're really hard to get a hold of."

Pulling open the door and striding in, Saito Dosan immediately saw Gu Mo deep in thought. Without waiting for Gu Mo to say anything, he snorted coldly and took the offensive first.

"Hmm?"

Gu Mo raised an eyebrow. Weren't you the one who's late, old man? I haven't even had a chance to say anything, and you have the nerve to say that first? And what do you mean by 'hard to get a hold of'? I got here much earlier than you, old man. I came over as soon as I heard the news.

"Hmph, isn't that right? Yesterday evening, how many times did this old man send people to invite you? Later, Yoshitatsu and the others even went to invite you, but you, kid, just stayed in your room without a sound..." Saito Dosan puffed his beard and glared.

"..."

"..."

Gu Mo suddenly understood why, even though only the elder sister couldn't speak, the younger sister had the same attitude. He twitched his mouth: "I... I was too tired yesterday, so I fell asleep as soon as I got back..." He had been continuously active for most of the day and didn't have much online time left; what else could he do but sleep?

Moreover, being full of energy and not sleepy, yet being required to fall asleep quickly anytime, anywhere, was not an easy task in itself. So, the incense given by Abe no Seimei was not just a simple sleep aid but had a forceful, powerful effect.

The dosage he used at the time was intended to make him sleep until dawn today. During this process, it wasn't that he couldn't wake up no matter what, but if someone just called out a few times, he might indeed not have noticed.

"Hmph, sleeping so early?"

Saito Dosan seemed to not believe this explanation at all. He felt that this kid was just upset about what happened yesterday and was holding a grudge.

The two identical black-haired girls opposite him had some reaction. To be precise, one of them opened her mouth and then sighed lightly with a hint of helplessness... This was Axiu. However, she couldn't speak, so she couldn't explain herself.

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

"Forget it, you're just like this, can't take any loss. Sooner or later, you'll suffer for it..."

Saito Dosan waved his hand and sat down, his tone suddenly much gentler. "If you're really angry about 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, it was all this old man's decision in the first place, and they just followed my instructions."

Gu Mo was stunned for a moment. This was really strange; this Viper could actually apologize to him?

It wasn't that he was actually angry for that reason, but how could the other party, who was a famous Sengoku period daimyo, controlling the entire Mino Province, and known for his ruthlessness... He had somewhat changed his opinion of the old man. It was no wonder such a person could achieve great things.

He knew when to be firm and when to humble himself.

He just didn't quite understand why the other party would humble himself to him. He was clearly dirt poor and of unknown origin, what could there be to gain? The old man wasn't like Abe no Seimei and the other one; it wasn't likely he knew the former him.

Carefully observing Gu Mo's expression changes, Saito Dosan spoke while also pondering in his heart. As expected, this kid responded to kindness but not force. But it was also understandable; he was once a noble young master of immeasurable value. Even if such a person fell to this state, no matter how calm he appeared, he was actually holding a lot of frustration inside.

However, this also showed that this kid was indeed full of ambition, appearing calm but actually still very proud, and had never given up on what he once possessed... This was exactly what he was optimistic about!

Thinking this, the old man's expression became even more peaceful, looking earnest and sincere. "And you also know, those things are of great importance. This old man must test your character no matter what, otherwise, this old man cannot rest assured entrusting them, along with Mino, to you just like that..."

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

"That's right."

Saito Dosan looked at the other party's expression with satisfaction. He had always been very vague before, and only now did he finally say it clearly. This kid was probably shocked too. How could he have expected that his promise to help him to the best of his ability would be such a generous act of ceding a country?

"No, no..."

Gu Mo was truly startled. Did this Viper have to be so generous? Was he senile and confusing him with Oda Nobunaga? He would indeed cede the country, and he did so historically, but the recipient was clearly the fool of Owari, wasn't it?

Subconsciously looking towards Axiu, Gu Mo felt that he might need her to stop her father's impulsive behavior.

However, Saito Dosan misunderstood. He shook his head and said calmly, "You don't need to worry, Yoshitatsu herself has no intentions regarding this... If she did have intentions, then this old man wouldn't mind letting her take charge of Mino. I don't care about the foolish opinions of the world."

Examples of women becoming lords were relatively rare in this era, but not unheard of.

Since others could do it, with Saito Dosan's unrestrained personality, how could he possibly find it unacceptable? So, it was indeed because his beloved daughter had no intentions in the first place that the matter was dropped.

"Alright, catch it—"

Suddenly widening his eyes, a hint of brilliance flashed in them, Saito Dosan roared like this, instantly pulling Gu Mo's attention back.

The latter, who had just turned his head, instinctively constricted his pupils, reflecting a huge white shadow. It was a giant white snake with fine, snow-white scales all over its body, appearing from beside the old man, coiling up its body, and darting towards him like lightning, flicking its tongue!

Gu Mo's body swayed. He felt a rush of images and sounds entering his mind at once, and a wave of dizziness came over him.

Looking at the huge white snake that had left him and was circling around the kid, Saito Dosan's face suddenly showed a look of fatigue. He waved his hand gently, but it was as if he had settled a matter on his mind, looking relieved:

"Kid, from today onwards, everything this old man has is entrusted to you. I hope you won't disappoint this old man... Also, treat this old man's daughter well, otherwise, this old man will definitely not spare you!"

He had been speaking well before, but when he got to the end, he couldn't help but puff his beard and glare again, speaking with a gritted teeth tone.