Chapter 889: Chapter 561: Meeting Masamune Arasaka (Part 2)
And the main issue is...
Among the three of them, Finn Xi, who perhaps has the weakest combat abilities but the strongest intuition and capability to perceive the larger trend, felt that there was something amiss with this situation, which means...
She believes that it is related to the peculiar situation they sensed in Fusang.
It might even be the key point of this task.
"......"
And will tomorrow’s meeting with Arasaka Masamune unravel these doubts?
Lin Guang remained silent for a while, a flash of dark gold in his eyes.
He actually thought of more things.
——In Great Xia, the status of Terran beings also isn’t much better, filled with prejudice, they are labeled as "Terran Demons."
But there are so few Terran beings in Great Xia, describing them as one in a billion might not be far off.
So why can such a small group gain public attention? Even on the internet, information about them can be seen and their hazards discussed?
From Lin Guang’s current knowledge, information channels, and some of the materials left by Kaelis, perhaps the origin of all this comes from Fusang.
From the Beastmen of Fusang, a group that conceals the majority of Terrans on Blue Star.
"......"
Seeing Su Yue and Lin Guang both caught in heavy contemplation, Finn Xi chuckled softly, collected the "White Emperor" into her Sea of Spirit, and then suddenly stood up, moving towards the door, her skirt swaying.
Lin Guang came back to his senses, somewhat curious: "Didn’t you say you weren’t going to soak?"
"I changed my mind."
Finn Xi lazily smiled: "Since I’m an old lady, I should absorb some youthful girlish energy."
She turned around, walking farther and farther: "It’s a rare holiday... not soaking would be a waste."
.........
The next day.
Personally escorted by Arasaka Koichi, everyone boarded the flying spirit artifact outside Heikawa Yue’s residence.
Inside, there was not a trace of noise, extremely stable, making one almost forget it was ascending at high speed, the sprawling vast city below shrinking into tiny, blurred blocks to denote changes in altitude.
The flying artifact crossed over tall city walls, galloping over vast wilderness, mountains and ridges like short shrubs and dense clusters of mining factories could be seen, many industrial zones orderly arranged on the wilderness, vehicles and spirit beasts travelled back and forth, exporting products.
——Without a doubt, at the core positions of Fusang, the quality and resources of mineral veins are the highest, Arasaka Group naturally taking charge of extraction.
Until the massive cone-shaped mountain appeared in sight, the industrial zones disappeared, as if fearing to disturb something.
As if something below was curled up, arching the earth above, a massive mountain stood silently between heaven and earth, snow eternally caps the peak, reflecting brilliant rays in the morning sunlight.
Mount Fuji.
The Holy Mountain of Fusang.
However, the flying artifact did not stop on the sunlit side, but rather circled once, landing in the shadowed location at the mountain foot.
"We have arrived, foster father is here."
Arasaka Koichi let everyone off in front of the building.
He hesitated a moment, then bowed slightly: "I shall wait here for you all."
"Here? Does the person live here?"
Vishdair stood with hands on hips, puzzled.
Though others did not speak, their eyes carried the same confusion.
Even Su Yue and Lin Guang showed traces of surprise.
——Live here?
The founder of Arasaka Group, Arasaka Masamune... lives here?
Amidst sparse trees devoid of direct sun, a dilapidated ancient shrine stood.
At the shrine’s entrance, the massive spirit wood torii that should remain vibrant vermilion was now gray and dingy, entwined with withered vines and dark green moss.
Inside the shrine, it was utterly desolate, stone lanterns long toppled, shattered pieces scattered all over the ground, the path leading to the main hall was completely overrun by waist-high weeds, the air filled with a cold scent mixed with soil and decayed wood.
... It seemed abandoned no matter how you looked at it.
Coming at night, it could well be the perfect horror film location—after all, Fusang shrines indeed possess special powers, linked to human Spiritual Power and faith, even when abandoned they can easily be occupied by various mysterious Spiritual Spirit Beasts.
Remyu showed no signs of doubt, proactively stepping forward to clear the weeds, revealing a plaque that had fallen to the ground.
Also made of spirit wood, similarly decaying, inscribed with the shrine’s name.
——"Eight-headed Serpent Shrine."
The red-haired girl sighed slightly: "Indeed."
"Since I was little, Uncle Masamune has lived here, rarely going out."
"The last time I came was over three years ago."
"Let’s go."
The group passed through the dilapidated torii, walking on the path almost unrecognizable from its original form.
The paintings on the walls were similarly made with spirit materials, and thus retained most of their content.
They depicted various bizarre beasts, serpentine and fierce, with long necks evoking monsters, differing only in faces and postures.
Some bore lion-like faces with protruding fangs, others sat cross-legged atop piles of skulls.
Wind and cloud embraced these divine figures, myriad peculiar citizens below worshipping in terror, as if a night parade of a hundred demons, or a sovereign over the world.
Before the shrine’s main hall, long decayed leaving only the framework, the group saw a seated figure.
A man in a simple grey kimono with graying hair, looking thin yet upright from the back.
"Uncle Masamune!"
Remyu shed her former restraint, ran forward excitedly, a true joy lighting her face, happily speaking in Fusang language.
"Haha, Haruhi came."
He stood up slowly, responding likewise in Fusang tongue.
Then... turned to speak standard Great Xia language.
"There are quite a few distinguished guests as well."
His appearance didn’t seem particularly old, aside from the graying hair, he could easily be called a middle-aged man, though those eyes were profoundly deep, carrying the ravages of time, smiling at the group.
He was Arasaka Group’s president, one of Fusang’s oldest surviving Six-star True Masters, theoretically second only to Heikawa Yue in all of Fusang, standing at the pinnacle of power—
Arasaka Masamune.
Yet at this moment, upon seeing him for the first time, everyone showed various expressions.
The elderly man before them gave an overwhelming sense of...
"Emptiness."
Though he stood there speaking and smiling, it seemed as if most of his True Intent and soul were not present.
Arasaka Masamune seemed to also notice Lin Guang and Su Yue’s scrutiny, smiling gently as he voluntarily explained.
"Pardon me."
"The majority of my True Intent and strength have been entrusted to my contracted Spirit Beast, to maintain Kyoto’s ’foundation.’
"As for me... I’ve somewhat fallen behind the times, just resting here now."
"Arasaka’s current leader is not me anymore."
The statement spoke candidly, showing no fear of Lin Guang and others pursuing this topic further.
He looked at Remyu with eyes full of genuine affection and care.
Yet soon shifted to a trace of helpless exasperation.
"You, my girl, are too headstrong."
Arasaka Masamune used a doting tone to reprimand: "Your father repeatedly told you to stay in Great Xia, not to return. Fusang isn’t safe now."
"Yet you still ran back?"
"It’s just... worry."
Remyu shyly stuck out her tongue: "Worried for Dad... and of course worried about Uncle Masamune too."
And at this moment...
Lin Guang’s "Greed Monarchy" could clearly "hear."
The elderly man’s doting care for Remyu... entirely genuine, without the slightest pretense.
Arasaka Masamune shook his head with a resigned smile, then directed his dignified yet gentle gaze towards Lin Guang and his companions.
"Please, have a seat."
He gestured, inviting everyone to sit on the few clean stone benches before the main hall.
Vishdair sat unreservedly, amber crossed pupils boldly sizing up the legendary Arasaka Group founder.
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