Free Web NovelChapter 927: Chapter 923: The Fujiwara Clan’s Mission
Following Fujiwara Daisuke all the way to his residence, Xiao Tian observed that whether it was the size of the place or the choice of materials, it clearly exceeded the surrounding buildings, and he couldn’t help but sigh at how different it is to have power in one’s hands.
After a simple lunch, the three of them, led by a guide, arrived at Fujiwara Akita’s home, which looked very dilapidated from the outside, far inferior to Fujiwara Daisuke’s residence.
Fortunately, the interior was reasonably tidy, but there were only two habitable rooms. The rest included one room for storing sundries and a not-so-spacious reception room, with habitable rooms on either side.
The guide leading Xiao Tian and the others here apologized, saying, "I’m sorry, we can’t provide each of you with a separate room, but our Clan Leader specifically asked me to tell you that if you find it too crowded, one of you can stay at his residence."
Adison Claire initially intended to reply that it was no trouble, she could share a room with Xiang Yiting, but then she remembered her somewhat terrifying appearance and thought the other might not be willing to stay with her, so she swallowed her words.
Xiang Yiting was naturally unaware of Adison Claire’s thoughts at this moment, and the latter was wearing sunglasses, making it even more difficult to glean anything from her eyes.
However, Xiang Yiting still naturally took Adison Claire’s arm and said, "The two of us can stay together; there’s no need to bother!"
These words gave Adison Claire a great sense of relief, feeling that her previous anxiety over Xiang Yiting’s critical condition was not in vain.
The guide, hearing this response, naturally had no objections. After giving the three a quick tour, he soon took his leave to report back to Fujiwara Daisuke.
...
Inside Fujiwara Daisuke’s residence, six or seven well-known figures from the village had already gathered, each of whom, by age, was senior to him.
After listening to the clan member’s report, Fujiwara Daisuke waved his hand with an impassive expression, signaling for him to leave, then turned his gaze to the faces around him, casually asking, "Gentlemen, now you can speak freely."
As soon as he finished speaking, an elderly man with graying hair spoke up, "Clan Leader, if I may speak frankly, those three individuals today are quite peculiar, and we should remain vigilant."
"Where exactly do you find them peculiar?" Although he had a rough idea, Fujiwara Daisuke still asked, intending to find any overlooked aspects.
Soon enough, the old man stood up and said, "Everyone surely saw the previous scene; those three had no reaction to our Star Staff, doesn’t that raise enough questions?"
"At that time, the Clan Leader was not specifically targeting those three people, so even if there wasn’t much of a reaction, it’s understandable, isn’t it?" An older man of a similar age was the first to voice opposition.
"You’re right!"
The elderly man calmly acknowledged the other’s point but then suddenly shifted his tone, saying, "But don’t forget that it was the Star Staff; even if it doesn’t exhibit a strong reaction, shouldn’t it have shown some influence? Do you think it’s possible it wouldn’t have any at all?"
The one who initially opposed intended to respond immediately, but the elder’s reasoning was too sound to refute. So, he quieted down, observing, waiting for someone else to speak.
A moment later, Fujiwara Daisuke nodded in agreement with the elder’s assessment and then asked, "According to your understanding, who might these three people be?"
The old man pondered for a while, took a sip of tea from the table, and began to outline his deductions one by one.
"First of all, I believe those three are definitely not lost tourists; that theory doesn’t hold water!"
A moment later, someone immediately asked, "Do you mean to suggest that those three might be government spies sent to investigate us?"
"They shouldn’t be!"
The elder shook his head, "Over the years, due to the persistence of us old folks, the government has long given up on planning for us here, leaving us to fend for ourselves."
"Once we old folks are gone, the younger generations likely won’t insist on staying here. You see those tempting conditions; aren’t they designed to lure the younger generation away? All the government has to do is be patient, and they will eventually see that day."
After this statement, the people around couldn’t help but look upset. Although the elder stated the truth, it wasn’t a truth that was easy to accept.
After a moment of silence, someone else sighed deeply and said in a sorrowful tone, "These days, the young people in the clan are probably secretly longing for us to die."
Hearing this, the elderly man nodded in agreement, "This can’t be helped. After all, aside from us, the younglings in the clan no longer know what it is we are protecting!"
What the elder referred to as protection is actually the Fujiwara Clan’s treasured Life-taking Demon Blade, hidden in the village’s ancient well.
The Life-taking Demon Blade was once the sword that earned the Fujiwara Clan its fame. It’s said to have been stained with the blood of over ten thousand people, hence its terrifying name.
On the eve of the Fujiwara Clan’s decline, the clan’s then Clan Leader left a command for descendants to guard the Demon Blade for generations until the one who could awaken it appeared, brandishing the blade to restore the clan’s former glory.
The process to awaken the Demon Blade is said to be straightforward: drop a few drops of blood onto it. If it meets the awakening conditions, the blade will autonomously react, acknowledging the individual as its master.
Over the years, each newborn in the village has had a drop of blood secretly taken, and someone attempts to awaken the blade. Yet, after several decades and many generations, no one has met the conditions to awaken the Demon Blade.
To prevent the news from spreading, the matter of the Demon Blade hidden in the ancient well is only known among the Fujiwara Clan’s high-ranking members, with a very limited circle, and the younger generation is unaware of this.
...
The topic drifted, and Fujiwara Daisuke quickly gestured, saying, "If those three are not from the government, what do you elders believe brought them here?"
At this, the elders around the long table exchanged confused looks; none could offer a conclusive explanation.
Yet, to say Xiao Tian and the others were completely innocent seemed unlikely, so their eyes turned back to Fujiwara Daisuke, awaiting the insights of the younger current Clan Leader.
Fujiwara Daisuke waited for a moment. With no one else speaking, he calmly said, "I have a bold speculation, but it lacks substantial evidence, and revealing it could potentially destabilize us internally. I hope you elders are prepared."
The elders on both sides couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding...
