Although the Money Witch liked to complain coldly,

She was really a very warm-hearted and compassionate old lady.

For example,

She picked up the White Dragon's corpse and brought it back.

She placed it in the forest at the bottom of the swamp and used the witch's power to help the White Dragon, who had turned back into a river, recuperate its soul. She also planted the precious plants she obtained from the Tibetan Horse in the White Dragon's heart.

Another example,

She had always said that it was very troublesome to receive the Tibetan Horse's mother's order for the peace rope,

It took her a lot of time and effort, but she still made the peace rope properly. In order to prevent the Tibetan Horse's mother from accidentally dropping the peace rope, the old lady even put in a lot of effort to coil a small peace buckle on the peace rope.

Another example was now,

She said, "Since the Fu Mourning God has already recognized me as its master, what memories do I need?",

But she still accepted the gift box from Kanai, took one of the spirits that increased speed from the gift box, and returned the rest of the gifts to Kanai. She asked Kendo and the other three to follow her into the Misty Forest at the bottom of the swamp.

"It's impossible to forget what has already happened,

But looking at the situation of your Fu Mourning God,

Someone must have sealed the memories. "The Money Witch held a dim yellow lamp,

She explained to the three Fu Mourning God behind her.

"In the forest at the bottom of my swamp,

There is a spring that can recall memories,

When the shadow of the moon is reflected in the spring water,

The gods who are immersed in the spring water can see their original bodies and experiences. "

"This Wang Wuming Spring is not something useful, but it was once a place where a certain god of Takama-ga-hara reflected on himself every year,

Ever since he became a high god,

He hasn't been here for more than a hundred years. "

"There's a moon now." The Money Witch pointed at the faintly glowing spring water in the depths of the forest,

"Go over by yourself, boys.

Remember to stand in the spring water, where the moonlight can shine. "

"Thank you for your generosity."

On behalf of the two child-like Fu Mourning God, Sanchū sincerely thanked the witch. He then walked through the forest to the spring that the witch had pointed out.

"Will the three suns and moons and Yao Yan want to regain their memories?"

Ying Maru, who had taken off all his clothes except for his shorts, was the first to walk into the spring water. He turned his head and asked Teng Shiro, the pharmacist who was slowly following behind him.

"I really don't think those memories are important."

The silver-haired little boy was chilled by the cold spring water. He frowned and said, "… As long as I'm master's now, it's fine. The missing things are no longer important."

"Actually, I think the opposite."

Yao Yan shook his head. The young man's pure white chest shone brightly under the moonlight. "If in this missing memory, Yao Yan Teng Shiro's protective blade had been cursed by someone, or if he had set up any spell that could endanger the Great General, if because of my ignorance and laziness, the Great General had suffered the slightest loss, how could I forgive myself?"

"… I think what you said makes sense, Kendo."

Firefly thought for a while and nodded vigorously. "Yoshi, in order to protect the master, you should work hard toward the goal of recovering all your memories."

"The little girl didn't bring us to the Land of the Holy Relic to recover our memories for this reason."

Sanchū slowly took off his overcoat. "According to her personality, in the beginning, she didn't have the intention to keep Firefly and me."

He remembered that when the little girl learned the name of Sanchū Sōjin, her first reaction after being stunned was fear and resistance.

… How can I use the Five Swords of the World?

… How can I control such a precious ancient sword, Fu Mourning God?

… How can I persuade this master to leave?

Sanchū Sōjin was a national treasure of Japan. A Fu Mourning God like this could be the foundation for the rise of a small family.

Many people longed for such a treasure, and would not hesitate to steal, rob, or use all kinds of methods to get it.

Only the little girl in front of him was thinking about how to "return" the precious Sanchū Sōjin with a terrified expression.

In her eyes, she and Firefly were precious swords that were out of reach. They were completely different from Kendo Shiro. Sooner or later, they should return to the hands of a suitable and worthy master.

It was because of this that Sanchū deliberately led Kaoru Renchi to talk about the examples of Fu Mourning God when they went to Renchi's house. He wanted to remind their master that since they had already contracted the old man with their blood, the old man might become evil if they casually left him out.

Firefly was confused and did not understand the situation. Kendo was wary of the new two-vibrating sword. Sanchū took advantage of the situation and made jokes. When the little girl finally agreed to let Firefly go, he was secretly relieved.

For Sanchū Sōjin … What was the most important thing?

— — Fame?

Wealth?

Strength?

Or glory?

Ningning, who used to own him, was called the Northern Political Office. When she was fourteen, she married Toyotomi Hideyoshi. She spent her life in the military and fought countless battles. She even became Hideyoshi's strong supporter and political adviser, making great contributions.

For her, Hideyoshi even broke the convention that women were not allowed to use swords and gave her Sanchū Sōjin.

She was famous, had a high position, and everywhere she went, there was no one who did not submit to her … Was Ningning happy?

She watched her husband with other women and had no children. In the end, ten years after her husband's death, she became a monk and changed the name of her sword Sanchū Sōjin to Five Amiches.

If she could really cut off the five kinds of pain and troubles in life, why would she die in depression?

Sanchū, who claimed to be a thousand-year-old old man, slowly stepped into the nameless spring.

So, for Sanchū Sōjin, what did he want the most?

*

"Mr. White Dragon … Is he sleeping now?"

Kanai squatted by the beautiful river and quietly looked at the smooth marble-like surface of the river. The bright stars in the night sky fell on the gentle river, and the light waves flowed and a gentle breeze blew.

"Yes." Standing beside Kanai, the Tibetan Horse rubbed the girl's head. "So we have to be gentle, don't wake him up."

"After all, even with the soul-nourishing fruit, it will take a long time to recover."

Hearing this, the girl nodded obediently and gently pulled at the reeds on the shore with her hands.

"Wake up quickly, get better quickly." Kanai whispered to the river and encouraged, "You said you would go find her, you can go find her soon.

She has been waiting for a long, long time. "

A drop of tear silently slid down the girl's cheek and dripped on the river.

Unexpectedly, this drop of tear did not disturb the tranquility of the river, not even the slightest ripple. It was as if half of the tear was swallowed by something, leaving no trace.

Kanai did not notice the subtle difference in front of her eyes, but she carelessly wiped the tear off her face with her hand.

The eyes of the Demonic Fox, who was standing beside the girl, flashed. Her lips moved for a moment, glanced at the Miko-sama with a complicated look, and then quietly withdrew her gaze.

"… Mr. Zang Ma." After a long time, the little girl's gloomy voice rang out in the dark forest.

"Yes?"

"In the story, Grandma Tang was so bad, those high gods should be able to 'see', but why didn't the gods punish her?

Why … can she still run the hot soup house, still collect money, and still treat … the humans who accidentally broke in?

Why … didn't she get punished? "

This time, the Tibetan Horse was silent.

"Because … what she did was a normal 'promise'."

"She let the human girl go because she made a deal with the White Dragon, and the White Dragon did indeed agree to this contract, so what's the point of others?

Even if the means are fierce, the White Dragon is her disciple, even if his soul is destroyed, so what? "

"What's more …" The red-haired man's mouth slightly curved into a sarcastic smile, and said lightly, "Don't the high gods enjoy the oil soup very much?

Why would they find trouble with the owner of the oil soup? "

"…" Kanai opened her mouth and hesitated, "But, they … are gods.

They are the gods that humans worship, consecrate, and hope for. "

The Tibetan Horse didn't explain any more. He looked at Kanna Hyuga, who was still a child, and said, "They seem to be back, let's go back to the house and wait."

After saying that, he took Kanai around the lake that was transformed by the White Dragon, and walked toward the Money Witch's house without looking back.

The little girl, who was full of doubts and anger, didn't dare to ask more, and could only follow the Tibetan Horse back. On the way back, Kanai couldn't help but turn her head to look at the river, and said goodbye to the Hu Pochuan in her heart.

The moment she opened her eyes, Kanna Hyuga vaguely saw the figure of a young man in white appear on the river from the corner of her eyes, and when she looked over, he disappeared again.

She rubbed her dizzy eyes and followed the Tibetan Horse to greet the Money Witch and the others who came back from the nameless spring.

Seeing Kendo and the others coming back safely from afar, the little girl secretly sighed in relief and went up to greet them. She first greeted and thanked the Money Witch, and then asked the Fu Mourning Gods who were a few steps behind the Money Witch, who had become a little strange.

"How is it?

Did you get your memory back?

Are you okay? "

Kanai tilted her head and looked worried.

"Master …" Firefly was the first to speak. He looked hesitant and wanted to say something to Kanai, but in the end, he just pursed his lips.

"… What's wrong?" The confused and uneasy witch habitually looked at Kendo.

"Admiral." Kendo closed his eyes and forced a smile, "… Let's go back and talk."

"… Okay."

Kanai suppressed the doubts and uneasiness in her heart and looked at the Money Witch and the Tibetan Horse. The Demonic Fox had already said goodbye to the old lady with a smile.

The Money Witch waved at Kanai, and the little girl ran over to help her.

"Your Fu Mourning Gods have indeed lost part of their memory." The witch whispered to Kanai, "As for what they have remembered, only they know."

"I think those children must have experienced something serious. Since they don't want to talk about it here, you should go back."

The old lady patted Kanai's hand and pretended to drive them away, "Go, go, it's already so late, I should go to bed."

"Granny Qian." The little girl shook the witch's hand, "Can I still come and see you?"

The Money Witch couldn't help but laugh, "No, because you are a big trouble."

Although she said that, the witch took out a roll of Haiyuan's tram ticket from her pocket and stuffed it into the little girl's hand.

"Next time you bring so many people to disturb me, I won't entertain you!"

*

Kanai originally thought that the Tibetan Horse would take her and the Fu Mourning God directly back to the original waiting room, and then go through the corridor back to the car.

The Tibetan Horse took Kanai off the train in advance at the station where the oil soup was.

"It's not easy to come here, no matter what, I have to let you experience the worship of the gods." The gentle red-haired Demonic Fox explained and went through the town located in front of the oil house.

When the sky was completely dark, these small buildings that looked barren and dilapidated during the day radiated a unique vitality under the colorful lights and red lanterns.

Large and small wine shops, restaurants, and food stores were everywhere. From time to time, frogs or maids stood in front of the shops to attract customers.

The streets were full of low-level gods. There were guardian gods who dressed like the Earth Deities, ghosts with sharp horns on their heads who came from hell for a vacation, and some monsters who walked on the streets in their original forms. The bustling streets were a little crowded. Because of Kanai's identity as a witch, no gods noticed her.

Kanai noticed a strange notice on the blank wall next to the wine shop at the end of the street: Please try to maintain your human form when you travel, for convenience with others and for your own convenience!

The little girl was speechless.

"That …" After the Tibetan Horse saw the little girl staring at the notice, he signaled the puzzled Kanai to look at the door of a nearby wine shop.

This tavern was considered one of the bigger ones among these shops. At this moment, the 'person' who seemed to be the owner of the tavern was looking at the entrance with a distressed expression. In front of him was a huge …. What looked like a Hami melon (?)

A monster.

"Mister customer."

The wine shop owner saw that the Hami melon was about to enter and hurriedly stopped it. "Mister customer, if you don't transform into your human form, you will break the shop's door, tables, and chairs.

Please understand a little. "

"What?" The huge Hami melon actually spoke.

Kanai looked back and forth at the Hami melon, very curious about where its mouth was.

"I came all the way here just to drink some wine, and you actually want me to transform into my human form?

Are you discriminating against us monsters who come from Nanyang? "The Hami melon monster was very dissatisfied.

"Not at all." The wine shop owner waved his hand. "It's just the rules of our street …"

"What?

You don't allow me to drink if I don't transform into my human form?

You Japanese gods only know how to transform into your human form all day long.

We monsters who can't transform into our human forms, do we have any demon rights?

If you continue to be like this, I will report your shop to the Demon Rights Protection Association. "

"Mister customer, please calm down —" The wine shop owner looked like he was about to cry, and kept explaining to the Hami melon customer.

"Pfft —" Kanai hurriedly covered her mouth to suppress her laughter. The wine shop owner was already pitiful enough, so there was no need to gloat anymore.

"Kendo, Kendo —" Kanai, who habitually grabbed the familiar Fu Mourning God and wanted everyone to take a look at the Hami melon, grabbed nothing for the first time. She turned her head and saw that Kendo's eyes were empty, and she didn't know what he was thinking.

"Kendo?"

"… Yes, Admiral.

What's wrong? "Snickersnee, who just came back to his senses, asked the Miko subconsciously.

"…" The little girl pursed her lips. "… Nothing."

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

In the end, Sanchū held Kanai's shoulder and tried to smooth things over. "The Tibetan Horse is calling for us, let's go first." After that, he pushed Kanai towards the Tibetan Horse with a slightly forceful attitude.

Firefly, who was left behind, looked at Kendo worriedly, and then stepped forward to catch up with them.

Kendo Shiro, who was left behind, stood alone on the busy street, his hands clenched into fists.

"What the hell am I … thinking?"

Snickersnee, who unconsciously revealed a bitter smile, took a deep breath, and then strode forward to catch up with them.

The Tibetan Horse, who was more familiar with this place, brought Kanai to a restaurant that was said to be the most delicious food on the street. As soon as they entered, they saw a customer sitting at the bar, angrily shouting at the chef who was making sushi, "Are you doing this on purpose?

Are you deliberately feeding me octopus? "

The octopus customer stretched out his tentacles and pointed at the plate of wasabi octopus in front of him, unable to restrain his temper.

"Dear customer, this is one of the eight seafood sets you ordered," the chef explained slowly.

"If you don't mind, we can replace the octopus with grilled cuttlefish, but cuttlefish's flavor is far inferior to octopus."

"That's true." The octopus monster heard this and could not help but nod proudly. "I'm not bragging, but only the octopus family can be called the top of the eight seafood sets. As for cuttlefish … Sigh, they're not delicious."

Kanai: … It's a little difficult to hold back her laughter.

"Then … we're not changing?" the chef asked.

"Of course I won't! Why not?

Quickly change it for me! "

The octopus monster's angry words immediately caused a roar of laughter.

Kanai could not help but laugh as well. The little girl laughed as she looked back at Sanchū and Firefly, only to see that they were just like Kendo just now. Their eyes were complicated and did not show the slightest hint of a smile.

For some reason, the Miko-sama's heart suddenly felt empty.

A feeling of panic and uneasiness came over her. Reluctantly, she sat down in the booth. Under the warm hospitality of the owner, she tasted the excellent dishes that the owner had recommended, which were said to be the favorite of the gods.

It was strange. She could smell the bone-crispy three-yellow chicken's aroma, which was first stir-fried and then roasted, but there was no taste in her mouth at all.

It was the restaurant's centuries-old specialty, buttery crispy grilled prawns with minced garlic and beef cubes, but she could not taste even a little bit of garlic butter.

Kanna, who was quite perceptive, had long since noticed the strange atmosphere between Kanna and Death God Fu. He slowly finished tasting his own food and took a sip of hot tea to clear his mouth. Only then did he finally ask Kanna, who was slowly taking small bites of her food.

"Everyone here is also a god. The one who runs the restaurant is also a god. The one who runs the restaurant is also a god. What do you think a god … is?"

Hearing this, Kanna Hyuga put down her chopsticks and smiled bitterly.

"… I think, everyone is a very good 'person'."

Being a god did not mean that they had divinity, no matter if they were a low-level god or a high-level god.

In the end, the eight thousand gods in Japan were completely different from the 'gods' in the Chinese tradition of the ancient eastern countries. The essence of the eight thousand gods in Japan was human.

A god who could be indifferent because it had nothing to do with him.

A god who could cry because of a customer's complaint.

It was precisely because of human nature that they were the most lovable … and hateful.

"Your Fu Mourning God called Kendo is still outside, go tell him to come in." After getting a satisfactory answer, the Tibetan Horse gestured to the door and hinted to the little girl.

"… Yes, please excuse me."

Kanai put down her chopsticks without hesitation, bowed to the Tibetan Horse, stood up, and walked out of the restaurant.

Fu Mourning God … is also a kind of god.

Seeing the little girl open the door and run out, the red-haired Demonic Fox asked the owner for a bottle of cold wine, poured himself a glass, and raised his glass to the expressionless Sanchū Sōjin and the obviously embarrassed Firefly.

"No matter what you did before," the Tibetan Horse's green eyes flowed with ruthlessness and warning.

"… Please don't hurt her."

…

"— Kendo, Kendo!"

Looking at the young man in a military uniform standing quietly at the corner of the street, Kanai, who left the restaurant, hurriedly ran in his direction.

"General, aren't you eating … What's wrong?"

Reiko was astonished to see Kanna run up to her. She seemed to have thought of something as her expression darkened. "Or did someone in the restaurant offend you?"

"No, no, everyone is fine."

Kanna Hyuga panted and hesitantly held Kendo's hand.

"Let's go back."

She said.

"… Let's go back after we finish eating.

If there's anything you want to say, if there's anything you want to say, it's okay. Let's go back and talk. "

She smiled, half entreatingly, half expectantly, a sincere and tender smile.

"After all, you are all my weapons. No matter what happened in the past, I will not leave you behind.

I said it before. "

"…"

Kendo Shiro opened his mouth, but he found that he could not say anything.

The pain in his heart was even more unbearable than when he was burned.

"General …"

The short sword stared closely at the girl who was trying to comfort him. His voice was hoarse and painful.

Kendo resisted the urge to cry and asked Kanai,