Chapter 15 Chapter Fourteen
On this day... the first one standing at the bottom of the vertigo slope was Morihiko Toriguchi.
At this time, Toriguchi also stopped at the bottom of the ramp for a while, imagining the ordinary scenery on the ramp.But for some reason, his memory was chaotic, and he was unable to condense a clear scene for a long time.Toriguchi had no choice but to take a deep breath, and then rushed up the twisted ramp with vigor.
I was out of breath.
For this robust young man, the only recognized advantage was his physical strength, and it was rare for him to be out of breath.Even if Toriguchi ran up the steps of Konpira Shrine with a bag of rice on his shoulders, he would only let out a small sigh of relief.
—Is it because of lack of sleep?
Toriguchi thought so.
For the past half month, Anmian stayed away from Bird's mouth.Insomnia is an extremely rare physiological phenomenon for Toriguchi.
No matter how bad the environment is or how tragic the incident is, Toriguchi is the only one who can sleep soundly. This is what he is proud of.As long as he wants to sleep, he can sleep on his head.This is not a metaphor, but a fact.And once Toriguchi fell asleep, he wouldn't wake up no matter if he was kicked or punched, or even when the air raid siren sounded.He used to fall asleep at the scene of a homicide, and another homicide happened while he was asleep, and he still fell asleep amidst the commotion.
Toriguchi is an out-and-out sleeper.
However……
He couldn't fall asleep anyway, and his sleep was very light.
But he probably knew why.
--Sense of loss.
Half a month later, the whereabouts of Atsuko Chuzenji are still completely unknown.Of course, Saeki Buyu also disappeared.
Then, Enokizu, who went out to chase the two that day, never came back.
Toriguchi and Masuda searched desperately for half a month, but in vain. The three of them disappeared.
that day...
When Kyogokudo learned that Atsuko had been kidnapped, Toriguchi panicked.Chuzenji reprimanded him to be calm, but he threw away Chuzenji and rushed out.He can't be calm, he can't sit still, he can't do nothing.
Toriguchi rushes to the Rose Cross Detective Agency, but Enokizu is nowhere to be seen.
Only Yinji was walking up and down restlessly with a face full of weeping tears.Toriguchi grabbed Tokichi's shoulder and shook it, questioning the situation.
The kidnapping appears to have occurred under incomprehensible circumstances.
While Enokizu was not in the room for a short time, a man with glasses appeared.If Yinji read it right, it was a man named Miyata from Tiaoshanfang Pharmacy.Yinji said that Miyata uttered an inexplicable spell, Atsuko and Buyu stood up at the same time, and left the room silently.Masuda wanted to catch up, but at the entrance of his debut, he couldn't catch up for some reason, so he fell down at the door.
It's hypnotism.
Toriguchi thought so at the moment.
Oguo, who is manipulating behind Hua Xiangu, is a hypnotist.
And he seems to be able to cast spells in an instant.Is it the same method?When asked afterwards, Masuda said that he felt as if he had been sprinkled with some kind of powder.
Because it is a pharmacy, it is possible to use drugs.But the actions of Atsuko and Buyu are obviously post-hypnosis that Oguni is good at.So is Tiao Shan Fang related to O Country...?
After nightfall, Enokizu still did not come back.
Toriguchi didn't close his eyes that night, waiting for them.Masuda came back, but Enokizu didn't come back in the end.
Then……
Enokizu also disappeared.
The next morning, Toriguchi and Masuda launched a search.
Toriguchi went to Jozanbo first, but the owner was not at the pharmacy, and neither was Miyata.Said he hadn't come back since yesterday.Masuda was in charge of investigating the Hallyu Chido Association, but there seemed to be some dispute in the Chido Association. The situation was so chaotic that it was impossible to investigate, and there were no other clues. The two could only run around and tried to follow, but it was in vain.
A week after the search started, Tiaoshanfang was empty and the door was not even locked.Rather than going out, it was closer to absconding overnight.At the same time, the Qi Dao Society also closed the dojo.In any case, the two are definitely related to the incident, but the clues stop there.
Every day after that, Toriguchi not only used his body but also his brain, so tired that he was beyond the shape of a human being.Even so, as soon as he went to bed, his nerves became so excited that he couldn't fall asleep for a long time.Even if he falls asleep, he wakes up immediately.
Toriiguchi was confused, he fell asleep more easily than anyone.From the moment he was born to the mother, he has not even once thought about what to do when he can't sleep.He tried drinking strong drinks and reading difficult books, but in vain.He didn't have the strength to go to Huajie, nor was he in the mood to find a girlfriend he knew well.This feeling is a bit like being too hungry to sleep, so Toriguchi finds something to fill his stomach.But no matter what you eat, a comfortable sleep just refuses to visit.It took him a week to realize that it wasn't his stomach that was dissatisfied, but his chest.
If you are hungry, you can fill it by eating, but there is no way to fill the hole in your chest.
In this way, the physical dross reporter known for his dullness was deprived of the happiness called lazy sleep.
Atsuko, Hua Xiangu, Enokizu, Josanbang, and the Hallyu Chido Association, all related people disappeared.This feeling of loss is like forgetting where to put the wallet with the treasure.On the other hand, it's also a feeling of emptiness like being left alone in a foreign land.
Can't describe it exactly.
Worried, lonely, this is indeed Shi Yan, but when I say it, I feel a little different.
Toriguchi looked up at the sky.
The sky should be vast and boundless, but now it feels extremely narrow.
Used bookstores are open.
Between the gaps in the books on the other side of the glass door, Chuzenji still had a stinking face.Toriguchi hesitated again.For some reason, he didn't know how to face Chuzenji.Toriguchi knew less about Chuzenji than before.
—what is he thinking?
Toriguchi didn't understand.
The day after Atsuko disappeared, Chuzenji left home for three or four days.Toriguchi contacted several times, but he was never available.Toriguchi always thought he was looking for his sister.He wishfully believes that since it is Chuzenji Temple, he will definitely use all means to find out the whereabouts of his sister by following clues that Toriguchi and others can't think of.
--But.
really?
Toriguchi was busy acting on his own, and Chuzenji didn't mention his solo actions at all. In fact, no one knew where he went and what he did.Having said that, Toriguchi also felt that Chuzenji might go out for other things at this juncture if he didn't say anything.However, Chuzenji later stopped operations altogether and did not ask Toriguchi about the progress of the search.Afterwards he acted as if nothing had happened at all...
—reading a book.
Chuzenji seems to be still reading.
—what is he thinking?
What should I say to him?Toriguchi was confused.It's impossible for him not to worry, right?The missing one was his own sister.Toriguchi made up his mind, opened the sliding door forcefully, and stepped inside.He walked directly between the book walls and came to the counter without saying hello, and immediately asked, "Yes... have you contacted me?"
"Whose contact?"
He didn't even look up.
"Who is that? Master, Mr. Enokizu or..."
"No."
"No……?"
Toriguchi was confused, he really didn't understand.
"Master, master, aren't you worried? You actually read the book so calmly. You, why don't you go to Miss Dunzi?"
"Where can I find it?"
"I'm just looking for it if I don't know."
Chuzenji had a very impatient expression on his face.
"No brains. What's the matter with you?"
"Where is the mindless? Master, master, Mr. Chu, Mr. Chuzenji, do you know? Even Mr. Enokizu is gone. I said, uh, you must be a little flustered!"
"Mr. Enokizu disappeared, isn't this a common thing? Maybe you don't know, but he once lived on the second floor of the warehouse for a month, and he had a great time playing there by himself. He also went fishing in the stream. That's it. I haven’t come back, I’ve been playing shogi in the hot spring hotel.”
"This...maybe so, but, but what about Miss Atsuko? It's impossible for Miss Atsuko to hire a geisha in a hot spring hotel, right?"
Chuzenji raised one eyebrow, stared sideways at Toriguchi and said, "You're worried about Atsuko's words, why bother talking about Enokizu?"
"I, I'm both worried."
Chuzenji let out an "oh" and stroked his chin.
"Hey, okay. Then again, I can't agree with your words. If I panic, will Atsuko get in touch? If I stop reading, will she come back? If so, I can stop reading .But there shouldn’t be such a cheap thing in the world.”
"It's true to say so, but human nature..."
"I am human too"
Toriguchi quickly covered his mouth.
Everyone has a different way of expressing emotions.Even if the surface is calm, it does not mean that there are no emotional fluctuations in the heart.Chuzenji is usually a person who can’t see his heart, but no matter what, relatives are irreplaceable, maybe he just can’t see it, in fact Chuzenji is very anxious, in that case, Toriguchi’s complaints are too much of nosy up.He wanted to speak up to defend himself, but he was restrained first...
"It's not just crying and yelling that is human. The important thing is... If you are so worried, you don't have to come to this kind of place. It's not too late to start, just go find it wherever you want, until you find what you are satisfied with."
"I've searched everywhere I can...but..."
"Since we have done everything that can be done, there is nothing we can do, right? Are you so worried about that guy?"
"This……"
Toriguchi was really worried.But... thinking about it carefully, maybe Toriguchi just hopes that Chuzenji, who is in the same situation, can share some of the sense of loss and anxiety that he cannot bear alone.
Why would I be pushed to the point where I couldn't even sleep?Toriguchi didn't understand either.
"You misunderstood, Toriguchi"
Chuzenji closed the book he was reading.
"Misunderstand?"
"That's right, a misunderstanding. You are not responsible. Listen, you are chasing after Hua Xiangu. Atsuko was involved in an incident related to Hua Xiangu and disappeared. Not only that, but you also once concealed from me that Atsuko and Miss Buyu were acting together That's why you are brooding about it, that's all."
"Uh, that's right..."
"You entrusted me to assist you in investigating Hua Xiangu very early on, right? Before that, we have been sharing information about Hua Xiangu. For you, hiding the big news of finding Hua Xiangu from me makes you very guilty, right? Not only that, you have to hide from me that Atsuko was attacked and injured by villains. Atsuko is my relative, of course you will feel hesitant. In other words, you have double guilt towards me. So for Atsuko missing, you Feeling needless self-blame."
This is the truth, but... Toriguchi doesn't understand, how can this be a misunderstanding?
Chuzenji was still the same, and said with a dull face: "This is an encounter on the suspension bridge."
"what?"
"So it's a misunderstanding. By the way, the editor-in-chief of "Rare Tan Monthly" Nakamura is also very worried about that guy. Hey, generally speaking, if you are absent for half a month without reason, you will be fired as a matter of course. So I ask the editor-in-chief to say , after that guy comes back, she must be punished as a social person deserves, but I was wrong. The editor-in-chief Nakamura seems to have misunderstood me, and even asked that if that guy comes back, she must be his wife .”
"Hey!"
"What a headache," said the heartless brother. "The editor-in-chief said that if Atsuko had any problems, it was all his responsibility, and he kept apologizing to me. He said that he was the one who allowed Atsuko to interview the Chidao Society, and he was the one who allowed the report to be published. He did not find that Atsuko was raped by the Chidao Society. , he is also bad."
"That's it."
"Even so, if you apologize to me, you've found the wrong person, right? I'm not that guy's guardian."
"Then, about... the daughter-in-law..."
"Why are you panicking? Well, I heard that besides the twenty-nine-year-old elder Xiunan, the son of the editor-in-chief also has Zhengnan, Longnan, and Nianzi under him. There are three sons alone. He said he would bring Come over with photos and resumes, let me choose. But I solemnly declined him."
"oh, I see……"
"Of course. Atsuko acts on her own will, and she has to take responsibility for herself. The editor-in-chief has no responsibility, and it has nothing to do with the editor-in-chief's son. Speaking of which, this is two different things from marriage, right? But it looks like he will What are you talking about?"
Chuzenji smiled slightly, but this topic was too leisurely.
There is no sense of urgency.Chuzenji suddenly stared at Toriguchi fiercely, and said, "Similarly, you don't have to feel guilty."
"Uh, is that so?"
"Of course. I heard from Masuda that Atsuko and Ms. Buyu met by accident. They acted together because of the fate formed by interviewing the Korean Wave Club, right? Then it has nothing to do with you. And please hide this matter Atsuko is responsible, right? Because of this, you have to feel unnecessary guilt, and to save you, even Hua Xiangu, the target of the investigation, escaped. You are the one who got into trouble, right?"
"It's true to say that..."
Having said that...it's not a misunderstanding.
Toriguchi still didn't understand why he had misunderstood.even so……
even so……
"master."
"what."
"Miss Atsuko... are you really all right?"
"It's okay." Chuzenji said.
"But master, you said that Miss Dunzi acted out of her own will, but Miss Dunzi was hypnotized..."
"Same." Chuzenji said.
"It is the same?"
"Same. Or, because of this, nothing will happen."
baffling.
"Leave that alone... It seems to me that you don't get enough sleep. You don't get enough sleep. Your heartbeat will increase, and your autonomic nervous system will also be out of balance."
"Uh, um, the master said..."
"Then rest. Today's matter has nothing to do with you, and you don't need to sit with me. And speaking of it, I heard that it was Sekiguchi who introduced me to Mr. Mitsuho."
"But it's me who wants to introduce you."
"However, Mr. Mitsuho came to visit here because Mrs. Yukie knew the address here. Speaking of Sekiguchi, I heard that he went to Izu five days ago and is still on the road."
"I heard about it from my sister. Is it because of Mitsuho-san's incident, and also for an interview for our magazine?"
Tracing the massacres in the disappearing villages——this is such a project.But Toriguchi didn't know the details.He didn't even go to the editorial office for a while.
"That's Sister Tail's plan."
——The disappearing village.
--massacre.
I always feel a little concerned.
"It seems to be." Chuzenji said. "I haven't heard the details yet... But Mr. Mitsuho's visit today has nothing to do with this matter. I heard that Mr. Mitsuho wanted to ask me something, but didn't Tadara say that we must talk to Mr. Mitsuho? So I I also contacted Tatara and arranged a meeting, that's all."
"But how should I put it? As the saying goes, one rides a tiger and two never stops."
"What with what?"
"It's okay, please let me sit at the same table." Toriguchi replied.He didn't want to be alone, anyway, he felt at ease with Chuzenji.Toriguchi originally felt bewildered and at a loss, but after chatting with Chuzenji for a few minutes, he regained his composure.
Chuzenji stood up with a straight face, walked silently past Toriguchi, walked to the door, hung a "resting" sign in front of the door, locked the door, instructed Toriguchi to go to the living room, and entered the room by himself in.
In the living room, the lady is silently preparing to welcome the guests.Madam looks a little more lonely than usual, are you worried about my sister-in-law's safety?Toriguchi nodded, and Mrs. Chuzenji smiled as usual and said, "Welcome." Toriguchi couldn't speak, and then sat down in the same position as last time.
It's okay - Chuzenji said so.
How is it all right?
Because of this, nothing will happen...
--What does it mean?
Hallyu Airway is a gangster group.From Atsuko's words, those people would take people's lives on impulse.On the other hand, Tiao Shanfang, who abducted Atsuko and Buyu, was also criticized constantly, and he was not an opponent that could be dealt with in the usual way.
Not only that, but Buyu, who should be with Atsuko, is also the same as those guys, she is the virgin Hua Xiangu, the inspiration fortuneteller.Hua Xiangu herself seems to be just being used, and Buyu doesn't look like a bad person, but since she is controlled by a black hand, it doesn't make much difference.
Who is against whom?The current interrelationships are completely unknown.At present, Hallyu Airway Association and Joo Sanbang seem to be hostile to each other, but it is hard to say.Dunzi said that she was saved by Tiao Shanfang, but it was Tiao Shanfang who took the two away.Tiaoshanfang and Hallyu Airway will not guarantee that they will not collude with each other behind the scenes.As for the relationship between Makoto Okuni behind Hua Xiangu and these two organizations, to be honest, I don't understand at all.
——Where is it all right?
Toriguchi felt that it was extremely dangerous, and there was no guarantee that Atsuko would not be harmed, even his life.
—Is she no longer alive?
As soon as Chuzenji left, Toriguchi immediately became uneasy.
Would it have been...
With a sound of "Ringling", the wind chimes rang.
Looking up, the small short sign under the wind chime is spinning continuously.
- only the scenery...
as always.
Same as half a month ago.
Not long after, Duo Liang came in wiping his sweat.
When Tatara saw Toriguchi, his small round eyes slantedly stared at him, and as if he remembered it not long after, he smiled and said, "Oh, Mr. Toriguchi." He seemed to really remember it, The previous ones were all forgotten.Tatara's appearance makes people forget it after one glance, but Toriguchi's appearance does not seem to have any characteristics, which is also unavoidable.
"It seems that something happened last time, what happened afterwards?"
Tatara asked peacefully. "Nothing." Toriguchi replied.So the monster researcher frowned and said, "That's really nerve-wracking."
Then Tatara folded his arms, and murmured "Hmm", "Didn't Mr. Toriguchi leave in a hurry last time?"
"Uh, it was really rude at that time."
"The person who came to inform later—is his name Masuda? I want to explain the situation to Chuzenji. Although I am an outsider, how should I put it, I feel like I am riding a tiger..."
"This is it!"
"What? Well, it's the kind of state of mind that can only do one thing and keep doing two things..."
"this!"
"What the hell are you talking about? Well, I've been listening to the explanation, but there's one thing I can't figure out."
"Is there anything... suspicious?"
Tatara let out a low "huh" again.
"That's the attitude of Chuzenji."
"manner?"
"He looks very dignified. I haven't known Chuzenji for too long, but it's the first time I saw him showing such a sad expression. Hey, no one would be happy when my sister was taken away by villains, but that picture expression……"
Chuzenji was really worried.Toriguchi felt a little relieved.
"That expression..." Tatara repeated. "...I'm hiding something."
"Huh." An unexpected development.
"Chuzenji... yeah, um, rather than hiding something, I think he knows the core part of this incident, but he is hiding it. But as for this incident, I don't know at all What happened..."
"What does the master know?"
what happened?
"Masuda... didn't mention it at all..."
"That person was so panicked that he was at a loss, and he seemed to be deeply reflecting on himself. At that time, he probably couldn't detect the change in other people's expressions. But didn't Chuzenji talk about the phone call for a long time that day?"
"exactly."
"I think that call ... had something to do with the incident."
"what?"
Does that mean you received a notice?
"Uh... what basis do you have?"
"Oh. Whenever that Masuda said something, Chuzenji seemed to suddenly realize it, but at the same time he showed a very sad look, not a worried or flustered look. Although maybe it's just me being paranoid, but... yes, I think that It's the expression of knowing the truth to a certain extent, and then thinking of the answer."
the truth.
—What truth?
What did I not understand yet?Where is the mystery?This incident... which incident is it?There are so many things I don't understand.In fact, Toriguchi doesn't even know where Atsuko is, or why she was taken away.Even if she was involved for no reason, she still doesn't know why Xiangu Hua was kidnapped.
If you don't understand the purpose of Wei Country, the movements of Tiaoshanfang and Qidao Society, then you really don't understand.
But, in this way...
What on earth happened?
Atsuko and Enokizu have indeed disappeared, and the streets and alleys are full of suspicious guys domineering.
But... can this really be said to have happened?No one died.It was said that he was kidnapped, but the prisoner did not ask for a ransom.The theme of crime is not clear.A lot happened, and these things are vaguely related to each other in some places, even so...
still……
—No event that counts as an event occurred.
Toriguchi sensed this and felt a shudder.
For example, someone was deceived by Hua Xiangu - Wei Guo.But as far as the incident is concerned, it is over.Josanbang seems to be doing some dubious business, and so is the Hallyu Association.Also Chido would attack Atsuko, leaving her injured.But as far as the incident is concerned, it is over.Fraud incidents and violent incidents, their respective victims and perpetrators are very clear, and there is no mystery.However……
I don't understand anything.
It's just confusion.It also felt like nothing happened.In this sense, Toriguchi Del understands on the same level as Tatara.
--but.
Something must have happened.
What exactly does Chuzenji know?
Is there really a truth?
"Chu... What did Chuzenji-san say?" Toriguchi pressed Tatara.Tatara tilted his short neck and said, "Well, no, this is just my impression, it's not clear, but... why do I think so? By the way, because he said a word: the game can't be still alive continue……"
"game?"
"Yes, I don't understand what he's talking about. But he did say that. If he didn't know something, wouldn't he say such a thing? That's why I think so. You can ask him himself. He's coming soon."
--it's useless.
It is impossible for Chuzenji to say that.
If it could be said, Chuzenji would have said it long ago.Since he didn't say anything, it would be a waste of time to ask.
When Chuzenji didn't say anything, it was because there was a definite reason why it couldn't.
For example, if his conclusion lacks sufficient evidence, or his reasoning contains uncertain elements, no matter how comprehensive the answer he derives, Chuzenji will never say it.Even if these conditions are met, he will keep silent if disclosure would make the situation worse, as long as anyone suffers any damage.
Sometimes it's useless to talk.
At this time his rapping will stop completely.So even if, as Tatara said, Chuzenji knew something, he still had a reason not to say it now.
--It's fine.
What basis does he have to be sure that Atsuko is safe and sound?
--game.
What game is this referring to?
A gust of wind blows, and the wind chime makes a crisp sound and spins.
"Excuse me, is anyone there?" A voice sounded.
After a while, the wife came in with Guangbao Gongping.The man was full of character and very fat.Tatara is also fat, but overall it feels compressed, but Mitsuho gives the impression of being inflated.Duo Liang looks hard, but Guang Bao feels soft.Not only that, Guangbao's head and eyebrows are very sparse, his complexion is also fair, and his shape looks like a boiled egg or a huge baby.
"Oh, Mr. Toriguchi, are you Mr. Toriguchi?"
Seeing Toriguchi, Guangbao called his name twice.
Madam introduced Duo Liang, brought out tea and said, "my husband will be here soon, please wait a moment, three."
Chuzenji came really fast.
The face that was revealed the moment the paper door opened was indeed as sad as Tatara said.Toriguchi swallowed.But as soon as Chuzenji saw Guangbao, it immediately returned to normal.
"Welcome, I am Chuzenji. This is..."
Chuzenji pointed at Tatara.So Guangbao hurriedly said: "Mr. Duoliang, is it Mr. Duoliang, right? Mrs. Cai just introduced me. Hello, my name is Guangbao."
Guangbao took out his business cards and respectfully gave one to each of them.
Mitsuho also handed it to Toriguchi, and Toriguchi said, "I took it before."
"Ah, I gave it to you, I gave it to you. Well, like the title above, I'm an interior decorator. Although I work in interior decoration, I also study wild castors. No, it's not so much a study. It’s amazing, just a good-natured person. Then, at the end of last month, through Akai’s introduction, I met the writer Sekiguchi-sensei. At that time, I also talked a lot about Mr. Chuzenji. Wait for the attainments to be extremely deep."
"Hmm... the title belongs to youkai researcher, this Tatara..."
Duo Duoliang saluted again with bear-like gestures.
"Ahhh, and then, I heard about the literature on the Chinese wild castor workshop, so I want to ask for details. What is it, a woman in red with no face..."
"Ah, you mean the part about the woman in red in "Night Tale Supplement"?"
Duo Liang reacted immediately.
"What? Please say it again." Guangbao said, taking out his notebook.Duoduoliang repeated it, and Guangbao wrote it down while repeating it.
"Is that a woman without a face?"
"There is no face, the white face is blurry. The story itself is the same as the common wild grate story."
"Is there a wild grate in China?"
"Well, yes there is..."
Tatara looked towards Chuzenji.Chuzenji said relaxedly, "It's just a variation of the strange face."
"You mean, that's not a wild grate?"
"It's just that it has no face. If the faceless monsters are all called Ye Gang Fang, then they are also called Ye Gang Fang. But China does not have that kind of special monster. There are similar stories in "Sou Shen Ji", but the mentioned The monsters are simply terrifying in appearance. Hey, no need to think about it, faceless monsters are probably a unique product of our country..."
"Maybe." Dodora said.
Toriguchi watched Chuzenji's expression.
Nothing much has changed.
The ancient bookseller who can't see through his heart at all said:
"If you want to find the origin of our country's wild castor in the mainland, I think Tai Sui and Shirou are relatively close."
"I see." Guangbao showed a satisfied smile and patted his bare forehead.
"Exactly in line with my claims! Exactly in line."
Guangbao repeated again.
"Actually, I once dug Tai Sui."
"what!"
Duo Liang yelled.When Chao Guangbao saw it, his eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Really. When the Japan-China Incident was mentioned, we were digging trenches, but we reached Tai Sui. Then, as the legend says, more than half of the troops died because of infectious diseases."
"Wow, that's so sad. Chuzenji, isn't it...?"
Tatara looked at Chuzenji with great excitement.Chuzenji seemed completely unmoved.But Duo Liang straightened his eyes rounder and asked, "Have you seen Tai Sui too?"
"No, if I saw it, I would be dead," Guangbao said.
Chuzenji smiled, changed the subject and said:
"By the way, I heard that Mr. Mitsuho lived in the mainland for a long time. I heard from Toriguchi..."
"It's been a long time." Guangbao replied. "The life there is very suitable for me. I have lived there for twelve years. What did you say when you talked on the phone yesterday? Do you want to know the legends around the Yangtze River?"
"Yes, I'm very interested." Tatara said. "I heard that you also saw the sacrificial ritual?"
"I saw it, I saw it." Guangbao repeated. "I have lived in Sichuan for quite a long time. I don't know how it has become since the Declaration of the People's Republic, but when I was there, it was like the end of the world. It was completely remote and there was nothing. The longest I lived It is Guanghan County, in the Chengdu Basin of Sichuan Province. In ancient times, it was the Kingdom of Shu. The ruler of Shu ruled the Kingdom of Shu. It is dark, dark and wet, and it is a quiet place."
It's really quiet - Mitsuho repeated.
"There is no road, it is the end of the world. Isn't there a poem by Li Bai? The road to Shu is as difficult as going to the blue sky..."
"Yiyu, the danger is high! Isn't it?" Chuzenji said.
"Yes, the record there is like cutting the edge of a cliff. It is horrific. I heard that it was the road that Emperor Xuanzong walked when he was in trouble, so he kept it as it was. The journey was extremely difficult and dangerous. I was very hungry at the time. I heard that Sichuan is rich in food, and I am moving towards the food of my dreams only relying on this little hope. It is like hanging a radish in front of a horse's nose."
"How long have you lived there?"
Duo Liang's tone was full of curiosity.
Guangbao moved his little nose, and replied:
"Well, I've lived here for about five years... The climate in that area is warm, but it's easy to breed sticky microbes. In the whole continent, it's considered a relatively suitable place for people to live, so I lived there for a long time. It’s been a long time in other places. But Sichuan is very vast, and I moved from place to place, and lived for about five years in total.”
Tatara pursed her lower lip slightly.
"Actually, Mr. Guangbao... I am somewhat worried about China's transformation. No, I am not against communism, but I am very worried about abandoning the religion and etiquette of the past. Moreover, the ancient history around Sichuan is still Not very clear, right? Although the history after the Three Kingdoms era is clear, but..."
"Well, that area was used by Zhuge Liang as his base camp. The heroes who appeared in "Three Kingdoms" are still worshiped, and there are also temples such as Wuhou Temple. Also, ah, the Giant Buddha in Leshan is bigger than the Giant Buddha in Nara. Very Big."
"Oh, that's a cliff Buddha. I remember it was built in the Tang Dynasty, right? Before that... Yes, are there any folk beliefs before that? Like ceremonies, or small ancestral halls."
"Well, let me think about it. By the way, there are silkworm gods and water gods. There are temples and festivals."
"Silkworms. Hey, Chuzenji, raising silkworms."
Duo Duo Liang shouted.
It seems that this monster researcher likes to make a fuss at every turn.
"What's the name of that silkworm god?"
"Uh, by the way, it's called Qingshen. There is also a village called Qingshen. Sericulture is popular in that area, so it's the patron saint of silkworms."
"Qingshen?"
"Well, the statue is called Qingshen because it wears green clothes. Ahh, it seems to be also called Cancong. Maybe."
"Cancong! Zhongchan Temple, Cancong is the name of the king of Shu before the "Three Kingdoms" recorded in "Huayang Guozhi". It is the first king in the legend. The ancient kings really lived in folk beliefs .”
"That Huayang... what is it?"
"An ancient book that records the events of the ancient Shu Kingdom. It was written in the Jin Dynasty, but the content is weird and absurd, and it is not regarded as official history at all."
"Weird and absurd? Isn't the ancient history of the mainland very strange? Just because of this, isn't it considered official history?"
"Well, if you say that, it's true." Tatara looked at Chuzenji.Chuzenji laughed.
"Sichuan is far away from the capital, and it is the border of a remote place. By the way, Mr. Guangbao, you just recited a part of Li Bai's poem. Do you know its continuation?"
"Uh... I remember it was... Cancong and Yufu, how at a loss was the founding of the country... I guess. Ah, the Cancong in that poem is that Cancong. It turns out that he was the founder of the Kingdom of Shu."
"Yes. Yufu was also the name of the king. So in the Tang Dynasty when Li Bai lived, those kings were not legends, but history. However... this is not the case now. Why, because the historical materials that record this incident have been preserved. The only thing left is "Huayang Guozhi" written in the later generations. There are no other records at that time. Maybe there are, but since they have been lost, there is no way to confirm them. Even if these things will become legends, they cannot become legends. official history."
"Because... there are no other records?"
"Yes. The unrecorded past will disappear with the disappearance of memory. The only thing that can maintain the past is matter. Only the physical changes caused by time to matter are the proof of the past. But matter will Annihilation, so as long as the information is not passed on to the next generation, the past has no choice but to disappear. The past will disappear, and if you want to keep the past, you have to record it... or remember it."
"No... there is no record of the past, can we only rely on memory?"
For a moment, Guangbao's expression became extremely disturbed.
"If the memory is cut off..."
"It will disappear."
"Will it disappear? Will it disappear...?"
Guangbao sweated slightly.Chuzenji replied;
"That's why it's so important to convey folklore and oral literature of the unrecorded past. Right? Tatara?"
"That's right."
Duo Duoliang was a little excited, and nodded solemnly.
"That's it. That's why fieldwork is so important."
The researcher leaned out a little, and blamed Chuzenji, saying, "You should go out more." Then he turned back to Mitsuho, leaned forward and continued, "Mr. Mitsuho, how are you? The silkworm of Wang Cancong is the old word for silkworm. It is believed that Cancong is the king who passed the technology of raising silkworms to the Kingdom of Shu. Sacrifice, this is entirely out of the gratitude of the people. But now this belief will also be banned out of political interests, and it will gradually disappear soon.”
"Could it have disappeared?" Chuzenji said.Guangbao once again showed a frightened expression.
"If the ceremonies I saw disappear, will the history before "Three Kingdoms" really disappear? Will it disappear?"
Guangbao asked repeatedly as if confirming.This seemed to be his habit when he spoke.
Tatara still said solemnly:
"But Mr. Guangbao, haven't you seen it? Since you have seen it, it means that the information is still alive. Yes, if Cancong is still worshiped by people, maybe the legends of the second generation Wang Baiguan and the third generation Wang Yufu are still alive. Keep it. These are the names of people recorded in "Huayang Guozhi"..."
“柏灌吗？字怎么写？柏树的柏、灌溉的灌吗？这个嘛……是有个地方叫做灌……是在成都盆地的西北呢。扬子江不是有个都江堰吗？那是个规模浩大的水坝各位知道吗？”
“那是世界最古老的水坝呢。”中禅寺说道。
“是的，据说是西元前建立的。那个脏兮兮的水坝，看起来就像木筏还是栈桥一样。那一带就叫这个地名。那里有个祭典，叫清明放水节，场面非常壮观唷。和日本的祭典不同，怎么说呢，色彩缤纷，像这样竖着一大堆旗帜……”
光保似乎看开了什么，比手画脚地滔滔不绝起来。
“他们会供上一整只烤猪，然后用青铜的酒樽盛酒，人们五颜六色地打扮成道士等等等……就像京剧那样。男女会一起舞蹈，然后还有龙，额头上像这样长着一只奇怪的角，像长崎的蛇般扭来扭去……。我也素描下来了。”
“那叫什么祭典？”
“清明放水节。是重现都江堰完成时的情景，大肆庆祝，意思是治水成功，万岁万万岁，所以是治水祭。治水呢。”
“这样啊。第二代的王叫柏灌，看他的名字，我一直猜测他会不会是个擅长治水灌溉的王。符合我的猜测呢。那么鱼凫呢？”
“鱼凫……鱼我知道，但是凫……”
“是水凫吧。”多多良答道。
“那里的人家饲养鹈鹕呢。”
“养鹈鹕！”
多多良第三次吃惊。
Notes:
Notes: