My name is Levi, and I work in anime.

"You're a seasoned bandit of this generation, you must be quite knowledgeable, right?" the boy asked. "Are there any powerful forces or demons around here?"

He's practically moldy here. He's planning to go out soon. This guy should be considered knowledgeable.

"I don't know anything about big shots, I only heard that the big fool in Owari seems to have won a great victory." Onigumo was more obedient than a kindergarten child in the face of the Silver Needle's Great Memory Restoration Technique: "I have heard of some demons, though. It is said that the Lord of a Hundred Demons, Hagoromo Gitsune, fought with a foreign demon a few days ago and was seriously injured. Shuten-dōji and Akagi-dōji, who were sealed in the Oni Kingdom of Ōeyama, are restless. The cat demon clan was defeated by Inu no Taisho some time ago."

I think I heard a very familiar name.

"Also, there was a village near here before I came here. They say a daughter was born who could see death. It's all very mysterious and unbelievable. I don't know if it's true or not."

"What's her name?" Li Wei felt like she was someone he knew.

"I think it was called something like... something love?" The robber couldn't quite remember, clearly not taking such trivial matters to heart.

"Enma Ai?"

“Yes, yes, that’s it!” Onigumo affirmed. “I heard that the villagers there believe she will bring disaster and want to offer her as a sacrifice to the mountain god.”

This is no longer an ordinary act of debauchery; we must strike hard!

Volume 6: Chapter 16 The Shrine Maiden is a Good Civilization

Human sacrifice, in the era of civilization, is considered an absolute form of illicit worship in any country, and must be eradicated by destroying mountains and temples.

No matter what kind of deity it is, or what great deeds it has accomplished, once it starts using living people for sacrifice, there's no room for discussion. The main reason why there are no witches in the neighboring Celestial Empire is that they were always thinking about arranging marriages for the River God, only to be thrown into the river by Ximen Bao.

After repeatedly confirming the information with Onigumo, the other party only provided a general direction to the village.

"There are countless small villages like these, scattered throughout the deep mountains, fleeing from the war. I don't know their exact locations." The wounded bandit was truly desperate; who would bother with such things anyway?

It might sound like a tragedy, but in chaotic times, such tragedies are insignificant. Even if he were a bandit, or even an ordinary person, upon hearing the story, they would at most lament the girl's bad luck and then go about their business.

“Okay.” Li Wei nodded, confirming that he couldn’t get any more information from him.

However, this one point alone is very valuable and enough to save his life.

"So, Onigumo," Li Wei nodded, looking very seriously at the bandit before him, "you want to live, right?"

"Of course, Master, can you save me?" A fierce will to survive shone in the eyes of the bandit who had been burned into a mummy.

My injuries were really quite serious. When I was carried up, all I wanted was to die with less pain. I didn't expect this strange monk to actually have some skills.

What a question! It's better to live a miserable life than to die. Who would want to die if they could live?

"Someone just told me about your situation. When you were a bandit, you committed many murders, arson, and bullying acts. You have accumulated a lot of negative karma. In every sense, you deserved to be betrayed by your own subordinates."

"Forehead……"

"But in this chaotic world, it's good enough to be alive, and I can't ask too much of those who are barely surviving. So I'll pretend that the sins you committed in the past never happened."

"Master, you are simply the reincarnation of Buddha, a bodhisattva descended to earth!"

"But I have a request."

The young man looked down at him, his gaze sharp as a sword, as if piercing through Onigumo's heart, causing him to shiver involuntarily: "After I heal you, you must turn over a new leaf and repent for the rest of your life. Can you do that?"

"Of course." What a joke; at this point, you have to say yes even if you can't.

"Okay, then make a vow."

"I, Ghost Spider, swear to Buddha that if you can save my life, I will repent and start anew, never again doing anything that is immoral or harmful!"

"Very good, the contract is established."

Swearing oaths is something that robbers do far too often; nobody really considers it a shackle.

But this time was different. The robber felt as if he were locked onto by something, an unprecedented sense of tension filling his heart. The words he had spoken now felt like a thousand pounds, firmly fixed on his neck. The slightest carelessness would result in his head being severed from his body.

Li Wei didn't say anything more. He raised his hand, picked up a strip of cloth, covered Onigumo's eyes, and began the surgery.

Because of a lack of anesthetic, they had to use some less effective herbal remedies instead. During the surgery, the guy fainted several times from the pain and almost couldn't get out of bed. But his tenacious will to live saved him. Several times, Li Wei thought the guy was beyond saving, but when he turned around, he was already breathing again.

After about an hour, the surgery was successfully completed after another alchemical pill from Sister Meryl was placed in his mouth.

"It's over. You'll be fully recovered in an hour. I have other things to do, so I won't stay with you any longer." After packing his things, the young man had more important things to do: "Leave on your own when you feel better later. Remember to be a good person."

And so, as time passed, the robber who had been lying in bed suddenly jumped up and was surprised to find that he had recovered almost completely.

Not only did his burns heal completely, but even the spider-shaped scars left behind disappeared—which is where his name comes from.

Great! He'll get his revenge on those bastards who betrayed him, one by one. As for the oath he just made, he didn't take it to heart at all.

That foolish monk is so easily fooled; he actually believed the oath. Once I become someone important, I'll take him under my wing as a doctor. Hmm, that witch is quite nice; I've got my eye on her.

The bandit, who had abandoned his vows and was about to start a second life, was shocked to find a long sword enshrined not far away before he was about to leave.

Although it is not a common Japanese sword, its dazzling appearance clearly indicates that it is no ordinary item and is definitely quite valuable.

"There's actually such a treasure?" Onigumo stared greedily at the sword of light and slowly walked towards it.

……

"What are you doing again?"

Inside the Ruri Shrine, the red and white shrine maiden suddenly sensed a strange energy fluctuation, and faintly heard a scream. She subconsciously looked at the boy opposite her.

"It's nothing, it's just that someone broke their oath and was punished." Li Wei didn't take it too seriously and continued the previous topic: "Anyway, I have to leave the shrine for a while, I have some very important things to take care of."

I'll leave you some medicine. You've also grasped the basics of medical knowledge; that should be enough to manage until I get back.

"When do you plan to leave?" Kikyo didn't say much. The belief that men should support each other wasn't just something the Busujima family held.

Or perhaps, from the moment she picked up the boy and brought him back to the shrine, she knew that this man wouldn't stay here with her forever, quietly getting married, having children, and living a peaceful life.

"I'll send someone to find out the news. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning." This kind of thing can't wait too long; if we're a step too late, we'll have nowhere to turn to cry.

It's the living Yama-nee! We have to save her no matter what.

However, before that, the boy keenly sensed that the red and white shrine maiden's emotions seemed a little different, as if she wanted to say something to him.

"Is there something you need?" Logically speaking, the two of them were already quite close, so there was no need to hide anything from each other.

The response I received was a somewhat resentful look in the other person's eyes.

Is he genuinely ignorant or just pretending?

Even though the door wasn't locked and her feet were sticking out in front of him, why did she still want to keep talking?

"It's late, get some rest," Li Wei said.

"Yes, it's late." The red and white shrine maiden continued to look at the boy, but made no further move, neither offering to see him off nor saying anything to keep him.

"Well, since it's so late, how about I stay?"

"..."

"If you don't deny it, I'll take that as your agreement."

"it's up to you."

Volume 6: Chapter 17 The Young Girl Enma Ai

"Seriously, what's going on?"

The next morning, Li Wei, riding down the mountain, rubbed the spot on his head where he had been hit and muttered to himself.

Wasn't everything fine last night? The two of them were perfectly in sync, and when I woke up this morning, I saw that she looked adorable while sleeping like a begonia, so I wanted to be intimate with her again, but I ended up getting a good beating on the head.

The archers in the game are all cute and cuddly girls, and Li Wei can now confidently conclude that Kikyo is definitely not one of them.

Can't accept daytime intimacy yet? That's okay, we can take it step by step later.

The scene after descending the mountain was completely different from that around the shrine on the mountain. To be precise, the further away from the Ruri Shrine, the more dilapidated the area appeared. The people there looked pale and sickly, their faces showing numbness and indifference ravaged by life.

The density of bandits along the way was getting higher and higher. The first ones he encountered recognized him and called out, "Master Li Wei, please be careful on your way down the mountain," before leaving. They probably had sought his medical treatment before. The later ones were complete strangers. They dared to do business without any capital right away, which was truly audacious.

That's how it is these days. In times of war and chaos, it's impossible to survive. People dare to rob you if you cut two bamboo poles. If you can get food, your family can survive. If you can't get food, you have to carry the elderly up the mountain to die. You might even have to abandon a few more children.

In this situation, Li Wei, riding a tall horse alone down the mountain, stood out conspicuously, as if he had "I am a fat sheep" written all over his head.

By the way, this horse is a demonic horse named Flame Hoof that broke free of its seal last month. After being beaten up by the boy, it became much more obedient and is now a well-behaved mount. Its speed and stability are quite good. Previously, Kikyo rode it, but today it's finally his turn.

After killing six or seven groups of bandits and outlaws along the way, letting them experience the same treatment Pei Yuanshao received when he robbed Zhao Yun's horse, the young man finally arrived at his destination—an unknown little village deep in the mountains.

Faced with his arrival, the villagers did not hesitate to choose the most instinctive option—to hide.

Although this master's hairstyle looks a bit strange, his clothing and demeanor clearly indicate that he is no ordinary person. In this day and age, if you want to survive, you have to stay away from abnormal beings, whether they are good or bad.

Moreover, the tall horse he rode was taller than a person at the shoulders; it was clearly a monster.

Although running away is shameful, it's useful.

"Master, what brings you to our village?"

So, a villager who seemed to be the village chief led several elderly people to Li Weima with trepidation. After feeling the demonic power of Yan Ti, his knees buckled and he knelt down, unable to get up: "We are a poor village and cannot afford to pay for incense."

Throughout history, while people have become poor, monks in temples have always been wealthy. This is also true in Japan, where monks are even more extravagant.

After abdicating, emperors of all dynasties would often become monks, and major temples would openly employ monk soldiers to protect them. Large temples could even have hundreds of monk soldiers, a force comparable to that of some mid-ranking daimyo.

Whether Li Wei is a monster or a monk, he is definitely not someone to be trifled with.

"Well, last night when I was chanting sutras, the Buddha gave me enlightenment and told me that there is a girl nearby who can communicate with life and death and is suitable to be my disciple. Is she here?" Being made a monk is fine, this identity is quite convenient. In the end, it is also for saving people. The enlightened one should not be angry with me.

Let alone in front of the villagers, even if a monk came by on a motorcycle playing the Great Compassion Mantra, he would still say these words without batting an eye.

"The master seems to be referring to a child from the Enma family, right?"

"Isn't that an offering to the mountain god?"

"Master, you haven't made a mistake, have you?"

Whispering, basically just whispering.

After discussing it for a while, the group decided to bring the girl they had been holding captive over to Li Wei to see, just in case it wasn't her they were talking about.

Besides, even if it were true, the mountain god's punishment would only happen later. If we angered this master, the whole village might have to suffer a terrible fate.

That's pretty much it. A few minutes later, a young girl version of Enma, dressed in tattered clothes and petite in stature, appeared before him, even younger than the boy remembered.

She had beautiful long, straight black hair, an incredibly cute and delicate face, and a youthful face filled with fear and unease. She timidly hid behind her parents, occasionally peeking out to cautiously look at Li Wei, just like a small animal that had just arrived in an unfamiliar environment.

"Master, you must be referring to her," the village chief said, his tone ingratiating. "She's a child of the Yama family, but according to custom, she should be offered as a sacrifice to the mountain god first..."

"She is a child bestowed upon me by Buddha. If there are any problems, let the mountain god come to the Ruri Shrine to find me." If any mountain spirits or monsters really come to his door, he wouldn't mind destroying the mountain and cutting down the temple.

In Japan, a land of eight million gods, what kind of prestige does a mountain god have?

Of course, he couldn't just take them away like that, as that would be too heartless: "This is a reward for you. Your village's taxes will be waived next year. If anyone asks, just say that the Ruri Shrine accepted your seeds."

After saying this, he handed over a certificate bearing the shrine's seal and then stopped looking at the group of people.

"Are you Enma Ai?" The boy smiled kindly at the little girl in front of him and said, "Come a little closer. Don't be afraid, I'm not a bad person."

Hearing Li Wei say this, the young girl first turned to look at her parents. After her parents nodded to her, she timidly continued to approach Li Wei.

What a good kid! After a brief interaction with Li Wei, she gradually lowered her guard and began to develop feelings for him—and those feelings were growing rapidly.

"Big brother, would you offer me as a sacrifice to the gods?"

After a brief encounter and becoming acquainted, the seven-year-old girl asked this question with a hint of bewilderment.

She didn't quite understand what sacrifice meant, but she could keenly observe from her parents' daily sighs that it was probably not a good thing.

"That won't happen." Li Wei said very solemnly to the young girl, "From now on, no one will bully you, no one will take you away from me, and you will not be made into a sacrifice. From now on, you and your parents will live with me at the shrine and live a happy life. I will not let anyone who dares to harm you get away with it. Heaven and earth bear witness, if I break this promise, may I be condemned by gods and men! This is my guarantee to you, Li Wei, in the name of a disciple of the Master."

The last time he made a vow was when he helped Castor complete his pilgrimage and ring the bells.

Although she didn't know who the teacher was, the confidence and magnanimity in the boy's words still touched the young girl, Xiao Ai.

For a moment, she felt a lump in her throat. So she just kept nodding. Then she broke into a bright smile.

Volume 6: Chapter 18 Keep your mouth shut

Thus, before sunset, Li Wei and his party finally returned to the shrine safely, avoiding the fate of having to spend the night outdoors.

What he didn't know was that before he carried Xiao Ai back to the mountain, another little girl, who had already received the news, had already run to her older sister to complain.

"Sister, sister, Brother Li Wei is flirting with other girls outside, and now he wants to bring them back up the mountain to raise them."

"Maple, don't listen to rumors and strange talk." The red and white shrine maiden frowned, clearly disdainful of it.

Although they had only known each other for two months, their time together convinced her that the boy was not a frivolous or dissolute person and that he would never do such a thing.