Taigong, Delivering a Letter

After entering the residence, you looked around in surprise. The mansion was far from luxurious, containing only a few simple furnishings. It was worlds apart from the homes of the truly rich and powerful.

The man introduced himself as well. His name was Jiang Shang, courtesy name Zi Ya. He was a disciple under Primordial Heavenly Lord and had been ordered down the mountain to assist Marquis of the West Ji Chang in overthrowing the Yin Dynasty's tyrannical rule.

You considered this for a moment before giving your name. However, you did not reveal your identity, only saying that you were an independent cultivator.

Jiang Shang looked at you and chuckled softly. For some reason, you felt as though he had already seen through your identity.

Jiang Shang led you into the main hall, where three people had evidently been waiting for quite some time. The slightly older man immediately came forward upon seeing you and Jiang Shang, addressing you as "esteemed guest" and Jiang Shang as "Chancellor."

You recognized him as Marquis of the West Ji Chang. The two behind him were likely his retainer San Yisheng and his son, Ji Fa.

Curiously, you asked Ji Chang why he called you an esteemed guest. Ji Chang explained that he was skilled in divination and had calculated that a distinguished person would visit the residence today.

Understanding dawned on you, and you regarded Ji Chang more highly. Ji Chang then introduced the two people behind him. Just as you had guessed, one was San Yisheng, while the other was Ji Fa.

They had set aside their duties today solely to await your arrival. Ji Chang had divined that you did not yet have a clear understanding of the current situation, which was why they had specifically waited here to explain it to you.

You found a room and sat down, and Jiang Shang explained the current state of affairs.

The Yin Dynasty's ruler, Di Xin, had always been cruel and tyrannical. Now, bewitched by Demon Fox Daji, he spent every day indulging himself in the inner palace and neglecting state affairs. Across the realm, countless people were dissatisfied with the Yin Dynasty's brutal rule.

However, though the Yin Dynasty was declining, it was still not something people like them could contend against. They had been waiting for a leader to emerge.

Of the four regional marquises of east, south, west, and north, three were already dissatisfied with Di Xin's tyranny. Only Marquis of the North Chong Houhu remained loyal to Di Xin. Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was a member of the Sect of Interception and was excessively, blindly loyal. Then there was Jiang Shang's senior brother, Shen Gongbao. None of them would be easy to deal with. Still, Xi Qi had planned for many years and could now contend with the Yin Dynasty to some extent.

Yet the most troublesome of all was Demon Fox Daji, who had thrown the court into chaos. If Daji was not eliminated, the Yin Dynasty would never fall.

At present, Marquis of the West had already won over two of the regional marquises. Many within the Yin Dynasty could no longer endure Di Xin's tyranny and had also drawn close to Marquis of the West. All they lacked was the right opportunity.

You gained a clear understanding of the current situation. Jiang Shang even showed you a list of the many civil officials and military generals within the dynasty who had been won over, displaying considerable trust in you.

You believed that the Yin Dynasty was already rotten to the core and in decline. You had previously thought it would not last more than a few years, but you took that back. If they raised the banner of rebellion, the Yin Dynasty would undoubtedly perish within three years.

Still, you felt that Jiang Shang's wariness toward Demon Fox Daji was somewhat exaggerated.

But you did not say so aloud. You merely kept it in mind, intending to test her when an opportunity arose.

You settled down in Marquis of Xi's Mansion for an extended stay. Jiang Shang would occasionally seek you out to discuss the Dao, saying that such discussions with you had benefited him immensely. But wasn't the same true for you?

One month, two months, three months... Half a year passed before you finally received news that Xi Qi was fully prepared and ready to raise the banner of rebellion. That day, Jiang Shang came to find you as well. Ji Chang intended to have you secretly inform the many officials within the Yin Dynasty who had already been won over. You solemnly accepted the task and declared that you would see it done properly.

That very day, you left Xi Qi without pause and headed for the territory of Jiang Wenhuan, Marquis of the East. His father, Jiang Huanchu, had long since died in Chaoge.

The reason Jiang Wenhuan had continued to endure without raising the banner of rebellion was that, under Jiang Shang's persuasion, he had remained confined to one corner. To avoid being held accountable by Di Xin, he had even drastically reduced his territory. Only then had he managed to endure until now.

Marquis of the South E Chongyu had died in Chaoge alongside Jiang Huanchu.

His territory had been inherited by his son, Chong Yingbiao. However, before you set out, Ji Chang said there was no need to visit Chong Yingbiao. He did not explain further, but you had your own suspicions.

So after visiting Jiang Wenhuan, you planned to head to Chentang Pass. Li Jing there was much the same, while his son Nezha was still in Xi Qi. During one of his previous "discussions of the Dao" with you—really just casual chatting—Jiang Shang had sighed that Li Jing was exceptionally stubborn and had agreed only after repeated persuasion.

You traveled tirelessly and reached Jiang Wenhuan's territory on the third day after leaving Xi Qi. Without anyone noticing, you slipped into Jiang Wenhuan's room.

It was already late at night, but Jiang Wenhuan had yet to sleep. The moment you entered, you sensed a fierce gust of wind striking from behind.

You spun around and subdued Jiang Wenhuan with a backhanded move. You swiftly explained your purpose, and only then did Jiang Wenhuan lower his guard.

The instant Jiang Wenhuan saw the letter you handed him, his eyes reddened. Choking up, he told you that he did not know how long he had waited for this moment. At last, heaven had not failed one who persevered. Unable to bear Jiang Wenhuan's sniffling and rambling, you flashed away and left the place directly.

As you departed, you sharply noticed that someone nearby was watching Jiang Huanchu's residence.

You turned back and quietly tossed a stone with a note attached through the window into Jiang Huanchu's room.

Sigh~

What a coincidence—it struck the poor kid right on the head. He had been choking back sobs when the stone knocked him unconscious.

Was this revenge? Or was this revenge?

You traveled tirelessly, visiting no fewer than ten officials' residences in just a single month.

You had originally planned to go to Chentang Pass after leaving Jiang Huanchu's place, only to discover that Chentang Pass lay on the opposite side of Jiang Huanchu's territory. So you could only make your way there while visiting people along the route.

As you neared Chentang Pass, you suddenly sensed something off in the area. It was an aura unique to demons. Realizing that something might have happened in Chentang Pass, you immediately hurried over.

The moment you arrived at Chentang Pass, you saw a general battling a woman. The general was at a disadvantage and was injured by the woman from time to time.

You sensed that the aura came from the woman. Without hesitation, you intervened in the battle.

Forming several hand seals, you launched a fireball at the woman. She was struck directly, let out a scream, and transformed into a pile of stones before vanishing.

You saw that the woman had been transformed from a Stone Spirit Monster. After being injured, she realized she was no match for you and fled at once, but you did not pursue her.

Having taken your attack, her injuries were hardly light. She would not be appearing here again anytime soon.

The general came over and thanked you. You handed him the letter, already knowing that the man before you was most likely Li Jing of Chentang Pass.

After handing him the letter, you bade farewell and left. At the same time, you sighed inwardly, somewhat regretting why you had accepted such a thankless task.

(PS: Let me clarify something here. I'm also a little confused about the relationship between Daji and Tamamo no Mae. It has been clearly stated that Daji and Tamamo no Mae might be the same person, but she herself says they are not. Some people also say Tamamo no Mae is Daji's Beast corpse. Amaterasu also has some connection to both of them, as does Golden-Furred White-Faced. Anyway, these four definitely have some kind of relationship, but it is all vague and ambiguous. Mushroom never explained it clearly either, so I'm not in a position to sort out their relationship.

But Tamamo no Mae has said that she is one of Daji's nine tails, and one of the primary tails at that. The story has also hinted that Daji is her. Yet Kaguyasansai next door refuses to accept that. She is indeed a Beast, but her original form is a damn rabbit! This is the part I do not understand. Is it really just a mishmash?

I asked some people, and to summarize: Kaguyasansai is an aggregate of the resentment of all animals from the Tunguska explosion. She also imitates the divinity of White-Faced, and her tails seemingly came from the Lostbelt. Yet her true form is a rabbit!?

It really is a mishmash, and Amaterasu also has some connection with both of them.

Her imitation was just too convincing, so when Taigong saw her, he thought she was Daji and immediately opened with the ultimate move specifically prepared for Daji. Laugh)

Tamamo no Mae: "I didn't do anything or provoke anyone, and you opened with an ultimate move? You even turned me into a satellite!?"

Next, since Taigong was released on the Japanese server first and still hadn't come out on the Chinese server, I didn't know much about the Tunguska storyline. But I did know that Daji had been sent by Nuwa to destroy the Yin-Shang dynasty.

And one more thing: (YLS can go die.))

The only natural god still alive in the Fate setting—the sun god Amaterasu. (In mythology, Amaterasu stuffed part of her soul into the corpse of the Golden White-Faced Nine-Tailed Fox. After being revived, the White-Faced Fox became another Amaterasu.) The White-Faced Fox severed her own tails, and after the eight tails left the main body, each developed an independent personality. (The nine tails were collectively known as Tamamo Nine.) Tamamo no Mae was the White-Faced Fox's original tail, so she possessed several special traits unlike those of the other tails. That was why she believed she was the White-Faced Fox's true body. (Maybe she didn't really believe that—perhaps she only said it to raise her own value, or to brag and show off.) Kaguyasansai, meanwhile, was not a fox at all, but a patchwork chimera imitating Tamamo Vitch, one of the Tamamo Nine. She was a nature spirit (vengeful spirit) formed by gathering the cries and suffering of the animals and nature during the Tunguska explosion, collecting the resentment of animals persecuted by humanity to this day and thereby gaining a physical body. When she incarnated, she chose to imitate Tamamo Vitch, who shared the same attributes. (Her appearance?)

I found the above on Zhihu. The currently living Amaterasu was the White-Faced Fox, and the White-Faced Fox was Amaterasu. Anyway, I really didn't quite understand the relationship between these people.

All I could say was, Mushroom, you really were good at setting up lore and digging holes.)