I, Wang Ha, the Assassin of Three Red Warriors

His body was stained with blood, his robe was ragged, and his disheveled and unkempt appearance was no different from that of a fleeing mud leg.

Even the majestic hundred-eyed ghost in the past is now sluggish and weak nestling beside its master, its vitality greatly injured.

After several rounds of investigation, Tsuchimikado Mototora, who found no danger, let out a sigh of relief, and slumped down under the shade of a tree.

"The group of monsters didn't seem to be able to catch up... So the man succeeded...?"

Thinking back on what he saw and heard in Shikoku during this period of time, Tsuchimikado Mototora couldn't help but feel a little bit like another day.

According to the instructions of Yasuhito Tsuchimikado, Ka Mao Cairen and Tsuchimikado Mototora led a team of elite exorcists to infiltrate into the interior of Shikoku.

At the beginning, the demon masters in disguise did not search for any clues in the periphery of Shikoku, nor did they notice any abnormalities.

It wasn't until they wanted to contact the local government that the truth hidden under the dark side of the four countries emerged before the eyes of the exorcists.

Those officials and petty officials turned out to be monsters! !

The local landowners and nobles have all disappeared, and the once luxurious houses are dilapidated, and the walls are blackened, as if they have been burned.

The human beings in the four countries have been living under the jurisdiction of monsters for some time.

The ignorant commoners can't recognize the true appearance of the monsters, and there is no trace of the demon masters who have the ability to see through the changes of the monsters in the local area.

Shrines, temples, yin and yang houses...

The former residences of these exorcising demon masters have long been reduced to the lairs of demons.

The monsters put on the clothes of exorcising demon masters, and act like monkeys and crowns, so as to deceive the common people.

People work and pay taxes as before, but the object of paying tribute is no longer the landlord and the court, but the demon kingdom of monsters.

Seeing this, Tsuchimikado Mototora and his party wished to expose the dirty tricks of the monsters on the spot.

But frightened by the disparity in strength between the two sides, and the task of this trip is mainly to investigate, the exorcists suppressed their anger.

Later, Tsuchimikado Mototora also saw monsters collecting taxes.

Ten taxes are one, and those who can pay the full amount will be safe, while those who cannot pay the tax will be arrested and transported to the demon country.

At that time, most of the exorcists were hiding in the wilderness, but Cai Ren and Yuan Hu went to the village to inquire about information and were negligently prepared, so they were almost detained.

At the critical moment, an old lady who had never met before stood up and said that they were her sons who had been away from home for many years, and that they had paid taxes for them.

In order not to arouse suspicion, Jae-in and Won-ho went home with the old woman, and by the way wanted to find out more about the situation.

Entering the house, closing the door tightly, the old lady brought bowls of water to the two of them.

"Both adults, are you from another place? The monsters can't tell the difference, but they can't hide it from the locals."

"Huh? Old man, do you know that those officials outside are transformed from monsters?"

He Maocai was a little surprised, but Tuyumen Mototora frowned and couldn't help questioning.

"Since you all know that those guys are monsters, why do you submit to their jurisdiction?"

"Hey, Yuanhu, you..." He Maocai hurriedly pulled Yuanhu back, knowing that this guy was on the mend again.

The old woman was not annoyed, and sighed: "So what if we know? We are just ordinary people who have no ability to resist. Besides, the tax for monsters is also lower. As long as they don't kill people indiscriminately, it's fine."

After hearing the first half of the sentence, Tsuchimikado Yuanhu was not so angry.

However, the second half of the old woman's words revived Yuan Hu's anger that had just subsided.

"So what if it is ten taxes and one? Even if the monsters collect less tax, are they not monsters? You can be ruled by monsters willingly? Stupid! Stupid!"

"My lord, do you know how much the court's tax burden is?"

"I don't know, so what if it's more than the monsters!?"

"It's three taxes and one..."

Tsuchimikado Mototora froze suddenly, his eyes widened, and he looked at the old woman in disbelief.

Even though he is an onmyoji and doesn't do farming, Tsuchimikado Mototora can also realize how terrible the three tax rates are.

It turns out that the old woman's words of "be lower" were really trying to save face for the court. Compared with the court, the monsters were simply too charitable.

"But, but... If you can't pay the tax, you will be captured by monsters. Those who are captured must be eaten."

Tsuchimikado Mototora stammered to refute, repeating the old saying that monsters cannibalize people, trying to win a game for the court.

"Wouldn't you be arrested if you can't pay the taxes required by the court? In the end, it's not the same as death."

The old woman asked back disapprovingly, she looked up at Mototora Tsuchimikado, her weather-beaten face was covered with wrinkles and her eyes were numb.

"Also, monsters will neither capture strong men nor conscript labor."

"Originally, I had three sons, all of whom were taken away by the imperial court and forced labor, and then never came back."

Chapter 527: Everyone knows that ghosts are scary

night.

He Maocai and Tsuchiyamen Yuanhu sneaked out of the village, joined the large army and prepared to sneak into the hinterland of the demon country in the deep mountains overnight.

Before leaving, Tuyumen Yuanhu saw He Maocai looking back at the village with a lonely expression.

"A tyrannical government is stronger than a demon..."

He Maocai recalled the allusions he had read in ancient books, and this outstanding onmyoji who used to be high-spirited and high-spirited sighed in a low voice.

"Wonho, did we ever stand too high? That's why we only pay attention to the scenery in the distance, but can't see the soil under our feet."

Tsuchimikado Mototora didn't answer, and he didn't know how to answer.

He has been on the road of eliminating demons all his life, and he doesn't understand people's livelihood, and he would not pay attention to things that are not helpful for eliminating demons in the past.

"Perhaps. But this is something that Fujiwara-sama and other officials need to worry about, and our onmyoji's duty is to kill demons and eliminate evil."

"Then what if... people's hearts are more terrifying than demons?"

Kamo Saito stopped Tsuchimikado Yuantora from asking again. He knew that Saito had something to say, but he did not dare to tell the answer.

In the hinterland of the demon country, the demon masters saw the settlements first built by the monsters, the patrolling guards, the trading market and the raised human race.

The human race in the demon country was divided into two parts by the monsters.

Some of them were imprisoned in shacks and raised like animals.

Most of these people were once landlords and nobles of the four countries.

After the defeat in the war, they were captured here as food reserves, and their property was divided up by the monsters, and the land was distributed to the common people for cultivation.

The other part is those who can't pay the tax burden, and they are all helping the construction of the demon country.

Looking at those human races working on the construction site, Tsuchimikado Mototora couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu while being angry.

Those who are unable to pay taxes will be captured by landlords to become domestic servants or slaves, and will also be captured by the court as cannon fodder or labor.

Monsters squeeze their flesh and blood, nobles squeeze their value.

Compared with the rough use of the monsters, the nobles' approach is the real sustainable way to drain the water.

The monsters are trying to establish a real country, but they have not become more civilized, but are bound by the rules set by the superiors.

Different from the Youkai Mountains and Oe Mountains of the Tengu and Onizu, the newly established Yao Kingdom in Shikoku can be called a 'country' in the true sense.

During the period, He Maocai raised a doubt. He felt that the ruler of the demon country seemed to hate the landlords and nobles.

Otherwise, it would be too abnormal to treat nobles and commoners in two completely different ways.

In order to find out the true face of the ruler of this place, Tsuchimikado Mototora decided to venture close to the residence of the Demon King.

But unfortunately, the attempt by the exorcists to touch the core of the demon country failed.

Although the clepsydra and Hanayu have already turned into nourishment for the Westbound Demon at this time, Ashiya Michimitsu, who is sitting here, has already calculated the arrival of the Demon Exorcist.

The traces of the exorcising masters were discovered by monsters, and Tsuchimikado Mototora had no choice but to lead the team to break through immediately.

Because most of the high-level monsters turned into human forms and scattered all over the four countries, the monsters staying in the monster country are all middle and low-level monsters with weaker strength.

However, the number of monsters occupies an absolute advantage, making the powerful elite monster extermination masters pay a great price in breaking through.

Afterwards, while fleeing all the way, he was chased and killed by a high-level monster who heard the news.

Until the end, He Maocai was injured in his legs and feet, so he decided to lead the wounded to stay for the rest.

"Smoke and mist, spread out the thick fog! Everyone, find a place to ambush."

"Wait! Saito, what are you doing!!"

"Wonho, let's go quickly. I'm injured and can't run. This time, just think that I saved your life."

Being pushed hard by Ka Mocai, Tsuchimikado Mototora felt the determination of his old friend, and subconsciously took steps.

"Yuanhu, don't stop. Run away, you must escape, and tell His Majesty and General Affairs Master everything here!"

"I wish you, Wu Yun is prosperous!"

........................

"He Maocai, the concubine of the He Mao family."

"When I was young, my mother died because of the jealousy of the mistress, and the head of the family, He Mao Zhongxian, ignored her. He was bullied by his peers, and his status was no different from that of a servant."

"I can't eat enough, I don't wear warm clothes, I sleep in a stable, I do dirty work, I don't get paid, until I was rescued by Mototora Tsuchimikado when I wanted to commit suicide by jumping into the water."

Hiding in the darkness, Ashiya Michimi watched Ka Mo Saito surrounded by monsters, recalling the information he got from Tsuchimikado Yasuhito.

"Afterwards, Cairen He Mao and Yuanhu Tuyumen were inseparable. In order to help Cairen get ahead, Yuanhu beat up all the children of He Mao's family on the grounds of competing in Yin and Yang, and even beat up his son-in-law every now and then."

"At that time, the Tuyumen family was competing with the Ka Mao family for the control of Yinyangliao, so they took advantage of the situation and indulged Tuyumen Mototora's actions."

"Later, Kamo Saito showed extraordinary talent as an onmyoji. When Ka Mo's family wanted to ease the relationship with him, Kamo Saito resolutely refused, and worshiped Mototora Mototora's father as his teacher, and formally joined the camp of the Tsuchimikado clan."

Relying on the dense fog created by the smoke and smoke, He Maocai drove the shikigami to wander in the jungle to ambush, disrupting the encirclement of monsters.

With his legs and feet injured, he climbed onto a tree, changing the principle of onmyoji not to stay away from shikigami, and doing the opposite to avoid the pursuit of monsters.

"No wonder they can be called 'Twin Heroes' together with Tsuchimikado Mototora."

Seeing that the other demon extermination masters were wiped out, and only He Maocai was still struggling, Ashiya Michimitsu praised him.

"Although they are far behind me and Qingming, these two little guys do have some skills."

Ashiya Michimitsu ordered the monsters to retreat through a voice transmission, and let Kamo Saito escape in a direction different from Tsuchimodo Mototora.

He needs this pawn to live.

This is the established script, let Ka Mocai go back to report the situation of the four countries to Tsuchimikado Taiqin.

Otherwise, all the elite demon extermination masters who were sent to the four countries to investigate disappeared without a trace. Such a major event would be enough to shock the government and the public.

Although there is not much difference between going back alive and annihilating the whole army, but it is more or less a consolation, isn't it?

Ashiya Michimitsu still doesn't want a direct conflict between the demon country and the imperial court, so he has prepared more than one backup for this.

For example, exposing Yakumo Lan's true identity to Tsuchimikado Yasumo made the exorcists all energized for the emperor's safety.

"Okay, it's time to revive Su Nuo."

Ashiya Michiman disappeared like a ghost, only the voice before leaving still echoed.

"Heh, I heard that he is a domineering guy who is not easy to get along with. I wonder how it compares to Qingming?"

A black shadow flitted across the forest, moving around, staggering from time to time, as if he was injured.

In the silent night, in the silent jungle, on the rugged mountain road, there is only the lonely figure of the survivor rushing towards the light in his heart.

Tsuchimikado Mototora ran wildly towards the seaside of Shikoku Island, and Domeki accompanied him around, alerting to danger and protecting his master.

He plans to arrive at the shore tonight, go to sea immediately tomorrow morning, and rush back to Heianjing to persuade the emperor to gather an army of exorcising demons to attack the demon country.

This time, in order to achieve his goal, Tsuchimikado Mototora is willing to use any means, vowing to avenge his sacrificed colleagues.

Suddenly, Domeki floated in front of Tsuchiyamon Mototora and stopped him, staring warily at the dark road ahead.

"My lord, be careful, there are people blocking the way ahead."

Tsuchimikado Mototora stopped suspiciously, holding a stack of charms in his hands, and coordinated with the Domeki, posing as horns to echo each other.

"This Hundred-Eyed Ghost has been well trained. He looks like an ace shikigami."

A stranger dressed in black stepped out of the shadows, came into the moonlight, and stood in front of the master and servant of Tsuchimikado Gentora.

The visitor had a handsome face but an unruly expression, with an eagle watching a wolf, and an ominous aura of the dead shrouded his whole body.