Yashiro the Blind

She had understood this principle in her previous life, so when the so-called Dragon Palace Treasure Token, this pie that fell from the sky, she was not particularly surprised. Instead, she was subconsciously wary and suspected that there was something else going on behind it. As soon as she had the chance, she quickly got rid of this trouble.

Of course, this is mainly because she doesn't have any urgent desires to fulfill. Without desires, one is invincible and can naturally deal with things with a calm mind. If she were to encounter a truly enormous problem, she would be like a drowning person, even if she knows it's just a straw, she would desperately grab onto it for a glimmer of hope.

In any case, now that the precious token has been given away, how things develop from here on out is no longer her concern.

Yashiro was overjoyed and spent the next few days eating and drinking, traveling around, visiting mountains and rivers, enjoying a leisurely and carefree life.

Ultimately, this trip didn't have a clear purpose. She was simply dragged out by her master and told to stop staying at home all the time and to take advantage of her youth to see more of the world and broaden her horizons. Although the statement itself made sense, it carried a hint of mockery for a blind person.

Based on her understanding of her master, she was certain that the other party did it on purpose, which was the most hateful thing about it.

Unfortunately, she was no match for that old woman, so she could only suppress her anger. But a gentleman takes revenge even after ten years. Once her swordsmanship was perfected, she would settle all the scores she had suffered over the years with that old woman...

The burning flames of revenge burning in her heart were soon extinguished by a sudden spring rain. She hurried and finally found a hotel before dark, asking for a private room in the corner—these rooms are often cheaper because of their poor lighting and dampness—and ordered a small pot of wine. She poured herself a drink while listening to the pattering rain outside the window.

After four cups, I slept soundly.

When he groggily woke up, the rain hadn't stopped, and his flat stomach, which hadn't eaten a single grain of rice, was rumbling incessantly. Yashiro tugged at his wrinkled clothes, yawned, and reached for the sake bottle, but before his hand was even halfway there, footsteps sounded first.

It was the hotel maid who had led the way for her last night. Young girls like her always walk with a light and quick gait, their sock-clad feet pattering down the corridor. When she reached the door, she knocked twice, and only after receiving a response from Yashiro did she open the door.

"Sir... oh, did you just wake up?"

"Ba-almost."

In broad daylight, while young girls of similar age were working hard, she had just woken up and was thinking about drinking. Even with her thick skin, she felt a little embarrassed and hurriedly withdrew her hand, coughed lightly twice, and smiled somewhat awkwardly.

Whether she didn't see what she had just done, or was simply used to this kind of customer, the young waitress didn't comment on it. She just smiled sweetly, revealing two cute dimples: "Good morning, I've come to bring you breakfast."

"breakfast?"

Yashiro was stunned when she heard this. She had indeed smelled the aroma of the food the other person was carrying from a distance, but she assumed it was other customers' food. After all, she knew her own situation. She hadn't received much money from that "kind" bandit, and she had already spent most of it on food, drink, and entertainment over the past few days. She had to cut back on expenses.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have wanted to drink on an empty stomach so early in the morning. She just wanted to have a few drinks to fill her stomach and stop her stomach from protesting, so she could take the opportunity to find out if there was any good way to make money.

Unexpectedly, another windfall came along.

She sat there, holding her cane, listening blankly as the maid put down the plates and laid out the dishes one by one, while introducing them: "...This is fish that was just caught this morning, it's very fresh, and this pickled seaweed and dried octopus are also delicious..."

In later generations, these would be nothing more than ordinary simple food and drink, but now they are different.

Despite Totomi's advantageous location and its relatively prosperous status under Imagawa Yoshimoto's rule, ordinary people still struggled to make ends meet. Not to mention the fragrant grilled fish in front of them, even common snacks like pickled seaweed and dried octopus were quite expensive at the time. Apart from daimyo and high-ranking samurai, only wealthy merchants with extravagant spending habits would be willing to spend so much money to indulge in such delicacies.

A penniless wanderer like Yashiro, who relies entirely on the charity of his "friends from all directions" when he travels, usually just smells the aromas and reminisces about the delicious food from his past life, and almost never thinks he will have the chance to actually eat it.

No matter how tempting the taste is, you still need to ask the right questions first.

"Oh, sir, don't you know?"

The young waitress blinked her bright eyes and looked at Yashiro curiously. "Last night, shortly after you checked in, someone came to settle your bill. Not only for this meal, but that kind gentleman also paid for your accommodation and meals for the next three days in one go, saying that you could rest assured and he would come to visit again in three days... Although our boss asked him, he said he didn't need to give his name. He said that as long as he told you about this, you would know which old acquaintance it was."

"This……"

Upon hearing this, several figures flashed through Yashiro's mind. After thinking for a while, she nodded slightly and took the rice bowl and chopsticks from the maid. The kind-hearted girl seemed afraid that she couldn't see them, so she held her hand and pointed out the location of each dish. Before leaving, she reminded her again and again: "Be careful when eating fish, don't get a fish bone stuck in your neck!"

Snapped!

The sliding door closed again, and the room fell silent once more, with only the sound of rain continuing as always.

Yashiro picked up his chopsticks, poked at the steaming grilled fish, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, then suddenly put down his chopsticks, reached into the rice, grabbed a couple of times, and pulled out a small wad of paper.

When unfolded, the crumpled paper turned into a square piece of paper, thin and light, with a familiar feel.

"……interesting."

She twirled the palm-sized piece of paper, chuckled softly after a moment, then tucked it into her sleeve. She licked the rice off her fingers, picked up her chopsticks again, and began to enjoy her exceptionally lavish breakfast.

……

The rain was exceptionally long-lasting, continuous and fine, showing no signs of stopping even by the next day.

Not only that, but by evening the rain intensified, gradually turning from fine raindrops into raindrops the size of soybeans, pattering against the window with a loud crackling sound.

"This scene perfectly matches that ancient poem, 'It slips into the night with the wind, nourishing all things...' (A loud, thieving sound.) *Pfft...*"

Yashiro sat by the window, twirling her small wine glass. She took a small sip and, suddenly inspired, recited a string of classical Chinese poems. Before Du Zimei could even appear in her dream to scold her, the girl herself couldn't help but laugh.

Because of the heavy rain, she had been trapped in this hotel for two days. Although she had nothing to do but stay in her room, she was provided with good food and drink from morning to night, so she didn't complain. Occasionally, she would think of the conflict in the grove, the middle-aged ronin named Aota Inosuke, and the woman in monk's robes who single-handedly took on the bandit camp...

In a chaotic world, there's no shortage of extraordinary people. Looking back, she encountered several skilled warriors while passing through Owari, especially that eccentric fellow who wielded a long spear. She wondered if he was one of the fierce warriors who would later leave his mark on history; in Owari, he was likely a member of the Oda clan.

That's it, it's none of my business who it is.

Perhaps the lofty ambitions that once existed have been worn away in the darkness of the past ten years. If there is any wish left now, it is probably just that I and my loved ones can live peacefully and not be swallowed up by the flames of war.

"Oh, ancient moon, you shine on me today. But four hundred years from now, when the 'me' of the past looks up, will it still be you? Or will it be another world, another bright moon... Alas, on this stormy night, even the poet I once was could not invite a sliver of moonlight with his cup, let alone me. Come, shadow, it's just the two of us now. I'll toast you."

The room was dimly lit, with only a single candle burning quietly, casting a lonely shadow on the wall not far away. Yashiro raised his cup, offered a toast from afar, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. He then picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth.

"Delicious... Hmm? This taste..."

While chewing, she seemed to pause for a moment, but did not make any other movements. She continued to eat the sumptuous meal slowly in small bites, tidied it up, and placed it by the door for the maid to come and clean. She then sat back down, poured herself another glass of wine, and, taking advantage of the wind and rain, sipped it slowly, turning the rim of the glass.

Unbeknownst to them, the subtle sounds inside the room had quieted down. Through the sliding door, only a small shadow could be seen curled up in the corner, its shallow breathing faintly audible and quite rhythmic, clearly indicating that it had fallen into a deep sleep.

Outside the window, the wind howled faster and the rain poured down, with layers of dark clouds, through which electric lightning could be faintly seen.

Crack! Pop!

The candlelight flickered suddenly, scattering a few sparks.

Between the darkness and the light, a long shadow suddenly appeared outside the sliding door.

Silently, the door was quietly pulled open a crack, a short knife was wedged in the middle, and with a little force, the door was opened completely. A large, dark foot, barefoot and hairy, stepped in, moving with the lightness of a water strider.

But perhaps a breeze blew in from outside, and the candlelight flickered again.

The figure had reached the center of the room, reached out and picked up the girl's bundle. A short knife was drawn, and the bundle's tight strap was cut open. Through the firelight, the figure's eyes swept around, searching for something. From a change of clothes to specially made books, one item after another was pushed aside by the tip of the knife. As time passed, the figure's movements became more and more hurried...

boom--

A sudden clap of thunder!

The arm holding the dagger trembled involuntarily. Turning his head, he saw that the girl, who was curled up and fast asleep, seemed to have been startled by the thunder and swayed her body.

The lightning that followed illuminated the entire night, the pale light revealing a kind-looking face dressed in the dusty clothes of a traveling merchant, and also a pair of wary eyes filled with malice.

The traveling merchant gripped his dagger, staring intently at the girl. As the lightning faded, the girl clicked her tongue and stopped moving. Relieved, he turned away to continue his search. This time, it didn't take long for him to find what he wanted from a tattered garment—the Dragon Palace Treasure Token, made in a special way and impossible for others to replicate.

"It seems this drug really works. It was worth the high price I paid to buy it from that Kato guy. He was right, you get what you pay for, that's definitely true... Ah, I found it..."

As he grumbled, the second bolt of lightning struck again:

boom!

Lightning flashed like thousands of golden snakes. The merchant clutched the treasure token tightly and turned to leave, but after taking only a few steps, he suddenly turned back. His gaze toward the girl in the corner held less wariness and more ferocity.

"This girl is no simpleton. It's a rare opportunity to nip this in the bud, we can't let her go..."

Rumble, rumble——

The third clap of thunder arrived as expected. The girl's shoulders trembled, as if she was finally about to wake up. Seeing this, the merchant did not hesitate any longer. He steeled his heart, took a few steps forward, and raised his short knife high, his expression becoming increasingly fierce...

The sharp blade plunged down fiercely!

pat!

At the same time, the rickety window, as if finally unable to bear the weight, was suddenly blown open by the gale, and icy raindrops poured in, pelting his face and body with a burning pain. The merchant's expression changed, and he raised his hand to shield himself, having no time to worry about the blade thrusting down. Outside the window, it was as bright as day—

"Um!?"

The blade had clearly fallen, but there was no dull sensation of it piercing flesh.

He lowered his hand, only to find the room empty; the sleeping girl had vanished without a trace.

The lightning outside the window had long since subsided, leaving only a half-burnt candle behind me, its flame flickering violently in the wind and rain, as if it might go out at any moment.

The traveling merchant felt a chill run down his spine. He hurriedly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the entire room's furnishings: the open bundles, the neatly shaved fish bones by the door... but the girl was nowhere to be seen, nor the cane she was clutching.

"If you don't ultimately decide to kill... you don't actually have to die."

A soft voice, tinged with a hint of intoxication, suddenly rang out from behind him.

But I couldn't sense any sign of life.

"Pretend to be a ghost, get out of here!"

With a shout, he turned around abruptly and saw once again the dark, cloud-covered sky outside the window—still no sign of the person he was looking for.

"After all, I really don't like killing people. First, it's bad for one's karma, and second, burying corpses is tiring... Yes, I'm a good kid. I not only kill... but I also bury them, hiccup."

The ethereal voice followed him like a shadow, ringing out again behind him, ending with a drunken burp.

The merchant gritted his teeth and thrust his short knife straight into his own back!

boom--

A deafening roar shook the earth. A stab was thrust out, but it struck nothing. Only the girl's voice continued, "But this time, with that Dragon Palace Treasure Token in hand, I should... not have to bother myself? Hmm, by the way..."

The short sword was swung again, bringing with it gusts of wind in the night. With a whoosh, the candlelight in the room suddenly went out, plunging the surroundings into complete darkness. The traveling merchant was about to shout and curse to bolster his confidence, but the words caught in his throat as soon as he opened his mouth.

It was as if something was blocking his throat, preventing him from uttering a single word.

In the darkness, he subconsciously lowered his head, as if he saw something, but it was not very clear. Then the whole world lit up again, and the scene in front of him became clear... He saw a light and narrow, thin double-edged longsword, like a pool of moonlight, shimmering and shining, piercing his throat.

A bright red liquid, like a stream, trickled down the blade.

This was the last sight the traveling merchant saw.

……

"Alright, now... we can start questioning you. I advise you to be honest and answer whatever I ask... Don't, hiccup, don't try anything funny. There's an old saying in my hometown, it's called... what's it called again?"

In the pitch-black room once again, Yashiro groped her way to a seat, leaning on her cane which had inexplicably shortened, and deliberately struck a fierce pose to make the interrogation go more smoothly.

"First of all, your goal is this Dragon Palace Treasure Token, right? You even went so far as to use such an expensive sleeping potion. It's clear that you really need this thing. I'm not saying I wouldn't give it to you if we just sat down and talked it out, but you had to make a big fuss..."

"By the way, your medicine is fake. You bought a counterfeit... I vaguely remember this smell. If I'm not mistaken, you probably bought it from that shady Kite. That guy is the most unreliable... But that's not the point. The point is..."

Holding her slightly dizzy head, the girl thought blankly for a while, then suddenly got angry again, "Hey, I'm talking to you, I'm asking you, why didn't you say a word..."

She reached out her cane and tapped the person in front of her twice, but the person still didn't react. She stood there for a long time, until she noticed the long sword still stuck in the person's throat, and then she suddenly realized what was going on.

"Oh, dead... I killed him. Dead men tell no tales... Hmm, I should have asked him first before killing him, a mistake, a mistake..."

Outside the window, the rain was pouring and the wind was howling; inside, you could hear a pin drop. Yashiro rubbed his forehead repeatedly, and a gust of cold wind made him feel the effects of his drunkenness rise, causing him to burp again.

But as the coolness seeped into my heart, my drowsy mind cleared up a bit... at least I could think about things seriously again.

"...Speaking of which, he really was the traveling merchant who struck up a conversation with me at the teahouse, the one who would specifically come to steal things...In other words, this guy doesn't know that I've already given the treasure slip to someone else. My companions in the woods didn't make it back alive. Were they killed by Qing Tian, ​​or by that masked guy...Never mind, that's not important. What's important is that someone else put this paper inside the fish's belly..."

boom--

Compared to the deafening thunder outside the window, the girl's voice, as soft as a feather, seemed almost insignificant. Yet, this very light feather twirled and swirled in the wind and rain, lingering for a long time.

She turned her head to the side, her dry, lifeless eyes slightly opening. They reflected nothing, but it was as if an invisible gaze was looking through this movement at the distant, desolate, and stormy landscape.

"Everyone has arrived... We meet again, Dragon Palace Attendant."

no respond.

However, amidst the vast expanse of white, a poorly made fire mask appeared out of thin air and "floated" in the middle of the window on the second floor of the hotel.

……

Chapter Six: Three Wishes

Neither the mask nor the person wearing it can float in mid-air without any support.

While a yokai might be able to do that, at least in the more than ten years since Yashiro transmigrated to the present day, although she has encountered many strange and inexplicable events and met many powerful and skilled people, she has not yet encountered anything that can truly be called supernatural or bizarre—aside from herself, the transmigrator.

The uninvited guest outside the window failed to break or reshape Yashiro's fragile worldview. He was still wearing that black short-sleeved shirt, soaked through by the rain, clinging tightly to his body, making him look more like a skinny bat.

Even their movements are very similar:

He rested one hand on the windowsill, his whole body hanging there silently and motionless, making no sound except for his faint breathing and heartbeat. So much so that the merchant who had just sneaked into the room did not realize his presence until his death.

But for Yashiro, such a tiny commotion was enough.

As soon as she spoke, the masked figure darted in through the window, splashing raindrops all over the floor. He frowned at the sight: "Sorry..." His voice was high-pitched and shrill, somewhat like the noise of fingernails scraping against glass in later times.

"It's okay, it's not my job to clean anyway."

Yashiro chuckled, pulled the longsword from his throat, wiped the blood off the blade against the other man's clothes, and put it into his cane. He casually extended his hand and said, "Sit down... By the way, please speak properly. Stop using your half-baked ventriloquism. My eyesight isn't good, and if my hearing also fails, I'll really be unable to move an inch."

"Forehead……"

The mask concealed her expression, but she paused for a moment, hesitated slightly, and then spoke again. Her voice clearly came from behind the mask: "Miss Yashiro is indeed very capable. She was able to tell at a glance that I was using ventriloquism. I thought my skill was quite rare."