"Dong—"
The bamboo tube naturally tilted to pour out the water inside, then tilted back, returning to its original balance, the end striking the striking stone, emitting a crisp sound.
Akechi Mitsuhide saw everyone off right after the eting ended, quietly listening to the crisp sound that periodically rang, feeling an unusual calmness in his heart.
These past few days, he had been negotiating with various Japanese figures daily, exhausting himself in trying to appease their emotions.
"Everyone wants to erge to overshadow the Imperial Family, everyone wants to seize power when the opportunity arises, yet they've forgotten that Japan is now in turmoil, how can it endure such chaos," Akechi Mitsuhide said with a bitter smile, closing his eyes.
Except for a few, others thought he was trying to muster factions to overshadow Oda Nobunaga, but in reality, Akechi Mitsuhide was trying to stabilize their emotions and prevent them from running amok.
"Aren't you dissatisfied with Lord Oda, Mitsuhide-kun?"
A sudden voice ca from the courtyard, yet Akechi Mitsuhide seed to have anticipated it, replying, "They do not understand the majesty of the Strongest; you and I certainly should know.
If it was just Lord Oda, then his presence or absence is insignificant. But the problem is, Lord Oda is not rely Lord Oda; he is also Suzan Ming Venerate, an existence on par with the Great God Amaterasu.
With so few at the Divinity Realm in Japan now, what talk is there of rebellion."
"You're not avoiding showing your dissatisfaction with Lord Oda at all."
A figure akin to a thin monkey walked from the courtyard, taking off his wooden clogs, stepping indoors to kneel across from Akechi Mitsuhide.
"Xiuji-kun, have those who've been watching my residence these days been yours," Akechi Mitsuhide spoke with closed eyes, "even before you returned to Japan soone was already observing my residence. Are you suspecting I might betray Lord Oda?"
"Haha, Mitsuhide-kun indeed noticed my n."
Toyotomi Hideyoshi laughed without embarrassnt, "My subordinates are useless, I still had to co in person."
"Then, have you confird?" Akechi Mitsuhide asked lightly.
"I have indeed mostly confird, confird that Mitsuhide-kun will not betray. But······"
Suddenly, Toyotomi Hideyoshi reined in his smile, his gaunt face with protruding eyes staring intently at Akechi Mitsuhide, "I want to truly confirm once more. Mitsuhide-kun, will you indeed not betray Lord Oda?"
Word by word, stern and intense, striking at the heart's door of the counterpart.
Akechi Mitsuhide seed to have felt the severity of those gazes, opened his eyes, and t Toyotomi Hideyoshi's with no intention to evade, replying, "I do have dissatisfaction with Lord Oda, but swearing upon the honor of the Akechi Family, I, Akechi Mitsuhide, will not betray Oda Nobunaga."
A vow resonant and resolute, demonstrating undying loyalty.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi's face, so stern as to be ferocious, seed frozen by this loyalty, softening only after a while, "Haha, if that's the case, then I too believe in Mitsuhide brother's loyalty. The surveillance, I'll have them withdrawn right away."
With that, Toyotomi Hideyoshi imdiately stood up, eager to prove his trust in Akechi Mitsuhide.
"Xiuji-kun, why not stay for a small drink before leaving?"
"No, no, I must leave imdiately. I cannot permit further mistrust of Mitsuhide brother."
No matter how Akechi Mitsuhide tried to persuade, Toyotomi Hideyoshi insisted on leaving, showing a decisive deanor.
Akechi Mitsuhide, though realizing the pretense involved, greatly appreciated Toyotomi Hideyoshi's actions.
'At this mont of turmoil, it is precisely individuals like Xiuji-kun we need for everyone to unite and overco the challenges.'
Toyotomi Hideyoshi could be said to be exactly whom Japan needed now, for only by banding together in tis of great peril is there a chance to overco challenges.
Therefore, he personally escorted Toyotomi Hideyoshi out, not returning in until the other's silhouette disappeared from sight.
Afterwards, Toyotomi Hideyoshi withdrew the surveillance on Akechi Mitsuhide's residence, never dispatching spies there again.
For it was no longer necessary.
························
In the dark of night.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi went alone to a small temple in the mountains behind his suburban residence.
"For Japan's sake, Akechi Mitsuhide has willingly conspired with Suzan Ming Venerate, he cannot be left alive." He spoke murderous words to the earth deity's statue within the temple.
"What is your plan?"
The shadows moved, and a dark green silhouette appeared behind the small temple.
"Kill Akechi Mitsuhide and let impersonate him. I've been associating with Akechi Mitsuhide for many years and have planted many spies within his household, so I am extrely familiar with his habits, speech, and actions, and can ensure not being discovered," Toyotomi Hideyoshi replied.
"Agreed. But what about yourself?"
Toyotomi Hideyoshi's status was no lesser than Akechi Mitsuhide's; if he suddenly disappeared, it would pose a problem as well.
"Rest assured, Master, I have a Shadow Warrior doppelganger to ensure the plan proceeds smoothly," Toyotomi Hideyoshi said with confidence.
The upper echelons of Japanese society liked having a couple of Shadow Warriors to take the fall, and in so sense, it had beco a trend. However, for a True Pill Realm expert like Toyotomi Hideyoshi, it was difficult; cultivating a highly suitable Shadow Warrior was quite the task.
"You certainly have talent; no wonder the Daoist Master approached you."
A shadow flickered and vanished, leaving behind a voice ringing in the ears, "I will help you deal with the ninjas around Akechi Mitsuhide, so you can carry out your plan in peace."
After this sentence, there was no further sound.
'Have they already uncovered the presence of the ninjas?' Toyotomi Hideyoshi was secretly startled by the other party's ans.
Raising ninjas was another trend among the upper echelons of Japan.
Everyone in a high position had so ninjas conducting affairs in the shadows. Akechi Mitsuhide, as Oda Nobunaga's lieutenant and the person Great God Amaterasu sent to monitor Oda Nobunaga, certainly had ninjas at his service.
According to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Akechi Mitsuhide had Sorata Riyue, a ninja commander whose fa was on par with Hattori Hanzo back in the day, serving at his command, with quite formidable ninja forces.
That the other could discover the ninjas by Akechi Mitsuhide's side in such a short ti since arriving in Japan, and had the confidence to address them, was a feat and thod that left Toyotomi Hideyoshi secretly shaken.
Simultaneously, he was also alerting himself to strive to render great rits.
'People under the Daoist Master have already entered Japan; with their power and ans, as long as they don't provoke Suzan Ming Venerate and Yueyejian in today's Japan, no one can obstruct them.
If I don't quickly achieve notable feats, I'm afraid even my value of existence will be replaced by them.'
Those under the Daoist Master might harbor useless individuals but will never nurture useless defectors. Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to survive and to stand out under Qing Yu, must amass enough achievents.
'Mitsuhide brother, may your corpse pave the way for my first step to success.'
Under the night's shadow, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's thin monkey-like face bore a grim smile, as terrifying as a mountain demon.
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