【8100】

The first year of Wanyan (1860), August 29——

Edo, Xiao Town——

The weather today is very sunny...or it can be said to be too sunny.

The sky was clear and clear early in the morning.

The puddle of blue in the sky is as clear as if it had just been washed by rain. It reaches to the other side, and even the distant sky scenes can be seen clearly.

It is obviously the end of August, which is approaching September, but there is no sign that summer is far away.

The midsummer sun is blazing and scorching.

Edo Castle was shrouded in a sticky heat wave, and the scenery as far as the eye could see was filtered by the heat wave, and the whole world melted into a viscous liquid state.

The trees planted on both sides of the street and the potted plants in the courtyards of private houses rustled under the hot wind, and countless summer cicadas on the trees chirped tirelessly.

The sound turned into a thunderous sound, surrounding Aomori's sound waves as he was walking straight along a certain street in Xiao Town with an overwhelming sense of presence.

Covered with a lot of dust unique to dirt roads, but quite orderly, the street continues along the rows of shops on both sides.

The time now is around 7 o'clock in the morning.

Although it is still early, many shops are already open.

"Master Samurai! Autumn is coming! Our store has a new batch of autumn clothes! Do you want to come and take a look?"

From time to time, some very enthusiastic shopkeepers would ask Qingdeng to take care of their business, but they were all declined by Qingdeng who was currently busy... to be more precise, he had a mission.

After passing this commercial street and walking down a set of stone steps with mottled wooden railings, the buildings on both sides of the street began to change.

It has become no longer just shops, it has become old and sparse.

There are many more alleys of different lengths. The interlacing alleyways make this neighborhood like a maze.

In this extremely hot weather, even if you do nothing, you will sweat like rain just by doing it.

Qingdeng stopped and took out the pocket paper that he always carried with him. It could be used to wipe sweat in normal times and wipe swords during battles. He wiped the sweat off his face with the pocket paper and raised his head.

He looked around at the street scene.

"This should be the 6th-chome of Xiao Town..."

At this time, Qingdeng saw an old man walking towards him, walking towards him.

"Old man!"

Qingdeng called to the old man.

The old man who was suddenly stopped by the famous warrior was so startled that his body shook a few times, and then he quickly looked up.

"Sir Samurai, what can I do?"

"Old man, is this the 4th-chome of Xiao Town?"

"Ah, yes, yes."

"Then do you know where Tsukinomiya Shrine is? There should be a shrine named 'Tsukinomiya' nearby."

"Tsukinomiya Shrine?"

The old man tilted his head and frowned slightly, showing an expression of confusion and contemplation.

Seeing that the old man was silent, Qingdeng couldn't help but ask aloud:

"Old man, don't you live here?"

"No, I am a resident of Xiao Town. Wait a minute, Tsukigong Shrine...I seem to have some impression. There seems to be a new shrine opened nearby..."

The old man turned sideways and pointed behind him.

"Samurai-sama, you walk along this street to the end. When you hit the first intersection, turn right. Then go straight. When you go to the end, you can see a set of stone steps. Go down the stone steps and turn left.

Go straight along the path on the left and you will see a newly opened shrine. As for whether that shrine is the Tsukinomiya Shrine you are looking for, I am not sure."

"That's it...I understand. Thank you for your guidance."

After Qingdeng bowed to the old man to thank him and said goodbye, he walked straight along the road pointed by the old man.

After a while, Qingdeng discovered that the further he walked, the more desolate the surrounding streets became.

At the beginning, there were some private houses on both sides of the street.

Gradually, there are fewer and fewer houses...and the smoke and fire atmosphere becomes duller and lighter.

Xiao Town is located in a remote area near the outskirts of Edo.

Ayoto felt sincerely: He was now heading to a remote area of ​​​​Edo...

Finally——Aoden found the newly opened shrine that the old man just mentioned.

"Is this right here...Is this Tsukinomiya Shrine...?"

Qingden looked up at the huge red torii gate with a rope hanging in front of him... A complex emotion, mainly confusion, gradually climbed up his cheeks.

"So..." Qingden took a deep breath, and then sighed heavily, "Why on earth are you asking me to find a witch...?"

…

…

Turn back time to yesterday——

Edo, Edo Castle, Black Academy——

"Tsukinomiya Shrine? Yutoku Miko?"

Aomori's eyes widened even more, and he repeated in astonishment the two words that Tokugawa Iemo said just now that made him very concerned.

"Yes."

Tokugawa Iemo nodded.

"Due to various reasons, I can't tell you too much in detail right now... When you arrive at Yuegong Shrine tomorrow and meet the Yu Du Miko, you will know the details and reasons for this mission."

"The only thing I can reveal to you at the moment...is that this task was personally assigned by me, Tokugawa Iemo, and it is very important."

When he said the words "very important", Tokugawa Iemo specifically emphasized his tone, the solemn look on his face gradually became thicker, and the lines on his face became much colder.

"Please don't neglect or slack off."

After finishing speaking, Tokugawa Iemo pursed his lips and remained silent, saying no more, leaving Aonto time to digest.

It has to be said that Tokugawa Iemo's move to leave enough time for Aototo to digest was indeed very considerate.

As soon as Tokugawa Iemokata appeared, he said straight to the point that he had a very important task for you...

The so-called "extremely important task" is to go to a shrine that I have never heard of and find a witch named "Yutu"...

Why are you looking for this witch? I don’t know...

Why could a mere task of finding a miko become an "extremely important task" that made Tokugawa Iemo, the general who conquered the barbarians, show a very serious expression? I don't know...

Why give this task to him? I don’t know...

The thick "fog" instantly captured Qingdeng's brain.

Qingden really needs some time to digest this huge amount of information.

There was a paucity of information, and Tokugawa Iemo refused to disclose anything to Aonto on the grounds that "I can't tell you too much details yet."

The lack of information made it impossible for Qingdeng to think and clear up the "fog" that trapped his brain layer by layer.

Therefore, after only a moment, Qingdeng gave up thinking about these "whys".

Confusion is still confusion, but what should be done now is still very clear.

"...Yes." The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and he bowed to Tokugawa Iemo, "I understand."

Who is the young man in front of me? The de facto "Emperor" of Japan today... Aoshito's most qualified boss.

Could it be that Qingdeng could still say, "I won't be free tomorrow, General, please hire someone else?"

I have no choice but to bite the bullet and take on this bizarre mission...

Tokugawa Iemo nodded slightly towards Aomori who responded to him loudly and saluted.

Immediately afterwards, the lines on his face slowly relaxed.

That friendly smile appeared on his face again.

"Okay, I've finished talking about the important business... I can finally start talking to you about some relaxing and pleasant things."

As the facial lines relaxed, Tokugawa Iemo's sitting posture gradually became natural and casual.

"Ju-kun, the first time I heard your name was at Jing Yi's place."

"Elder Jingyi?" Qingdeng was startled.

The old face of Ii Naobi, who had once had a relationship with him, appeared in Yu Qingdeng's mind.

"When Jing Yi was still alive, he recommended you to me..."
To be continued...