Alone and Infinite.

Chapter 4 It turns out he was still a ghost.

Before leaving, Li Xia carefully examined the map one last time, a habit he developed while playing games.

Sure enough, they found some scattered and miscellaneous items, such as a dozen or so silver dollars and some small silver and copper coins.

The coins range in denomination from fifty coins to one cent, but these coins cannot be taken out of the trial and can only be used within the trial.

The most valuable item is a hairpin, made of pure silver, with delicate patterns that meander and entwine like vines, and inlaid with a pearl.

The hairpin was sewn into the ghost's belt. If one end hadn't pierced through the belt and protruded, it probably wouldn't have been discovered.

Li Xia turned it over and discovered that there were two words engraved on the hairpin.

"Sachiko?"

Just from the name, Li Xia had already conjured up a series of love stories in his mind, such as a poor boy leaving his hometown to work hard and then returning to marry the girl he loved.

But on the way back, they encountered Muzan.
All we can do is wish Muzan Kibutsuji could bask in the sun every day and cause Yoriichi trouble in the Infinity Castle every night.

As dawn broke and the distant mountains gradually revealed their undulating outlines, Li Xia walked slowly along the ridges of the fields.

The morning air was unusually cool, causing strands of hair to flutter lightly across my forehead, and the moist air carried the unique scent of rice paddies.

Before I knew it, my tense mood had eased considerably.

The ridges between the fields are narrow, and the soil is firm from being trampled for a long time, but it becomes extremely slippery when wet with dew.

It was twenty minutes later when he crossed the rice paddies and arrived at another house.

The farmhouse in front of us wasn't large. A small courtyard enclosed by a wooden fence had some vegetables growing inside, and a sloping thatched roof was built on the wooden walls.

Just as Li Xia was about to knock, the wooden door slid open, and a man dressed in dark blue coarse cloth "work clothes" stood in the doorway carrying a hoe and shouted loudly:
"Yumi, I'm going to the fields!"

The man turned his head and found that it seemed to have gotten dark. He looked up in surprise, his gaze gradually moving upwards, finally settling on Li Xia's smile, which was still stained with blood.

"what!!!"

Li Xia took a cup of hot water, sat cross-legged by the stove, and thanked him.

"It is extremely rude of me to have mistaken you for a bad person."

Murata lowered his head, his gaze shifting back and forth between the bloodstains on Li Xia's clothes and the axe, offering a half-hearted apology.

His wife, Yumi, huddled behind him, shivering, holding their two children.

Li Xia didn't pay any attention. He looked down at his clothes and saw that the hall had given him a Western-style suit, which was what the Japanese commonly called "Western-style clothing" at that time.

Having just fought a ghost, his suit was now riddled with tears and stained with blood, though his trousers fared somewhat better.

The consequences of wearing such clothes to town are predictable.

Li Xia took out a dragon talisman that couldn't be taken out of this world, placed it on the ground, and pushed it over. He noticed that Yumi, who was holding the child, immediately stopped trembling and just stared at the dragon talisman.

"This one yuan can buy a piece of clothing and a meal."

Then he took out another one and placed it next to him:

"In addition, I would like to ask you to be my guide and take me to a place."

The allure of two silver dollars to the farmers was undeniable. Murata even forgot his fear, and under his wife's longing gaze, he asked:
"Where would you like to go, sir?"

"Yunkokuyama"

"Mount Kumotake is very large. Do you have a more specific location, sir?"

Li Xia opened her mouth, as if she really didn't know where to go.

"It should be a village at the foot of Mount Kumotsu?"

“Then we’ll have to find it.” Murata suddenly knelt down and said sincerely, “Sir, I will lead you to it. Please give me some more money.”

As Murata handed all the money to his wife, the two hugged each other and whispered to each other.

As she spoke, Yumi burst into tears, which puzzled Li Xia.

It's just leading the way, why does it feel like we're going to war?
It wasn't until the hall gave a hint that Li Xia realized the extra dragon dollars he received were for Murata's life.

[Note: You have acquired a follower (valid for this trial)]

[Name: Ichiro Murata]

Category: Attendant

[Status: Schistosomiasis infection (mid-stage)]

[Attribute: Standard Template (Weakened, all attributes reduced by 1)]

[Skills: Planting Expertise Lv2, Basic Bamboo Weaving Lv3, Basic Wilderness Survival Lv2]

【Loyalty: 80】

[You cannot leave this world]

[Comment: This frail farmer's only commendable act was selling himself after learning he had an incurable disease, leaving a final inheritance for his beloved wife and children.] [Your generosity earned the loyalty of an insignificant man.]

Schistosomiasis? Li Xia thought for a moment and closed the notification. Actually, there's some not-so-uncommon knowledge: the full name of schistosomiasis is 'Schistosomiasis japonicus'.

"My lord, if you are going to Kumotori Mountain, I suggest you take the waterway first. You can reach Saitama by following this river. It will take about a day's journey."

Taking the main road would take two to three days; going through the mountains is faster, but more dangerous.

Murata quickly proved his worth, which is why Li Xia wanted a guide.

He had lived in the mountains during his childhood and knew how dangerous it was to be in unfamiliar mountains.

Moreover, ghosts exist in this world, so who knows if a few will suddenly appear on the road.

If you don't have strong enough personal skills, hiring a local as a guide is undoubtedly the best option.

They at least have a basic sensitivity to rumors or danger.

These are the things Li Xia needs.

As for the dragon coins that were paid, they were originally taken from corpses and could not be taken out of this world. Could they generate money if kept?

"Okay, we'll go by water."

With a total of 15 days, the sooner the better.

Murata agreed and led Li Xia down the winding mountain road. There weren't many residents here; they were scattered across the gentle hillside.

When they encounter farmers working in the fields, they will stand up, wave their arms, and greet the farmers loudly.

Before long, the two arrived at the riverbank. Murata greeted the boatman warmly, and soon they agreed on a price. He said excitedly:
"Sir, it's 20 coins per person, plus a bento box."

Li Xia naturally had no objections; in fact, he still didn't understand the current prices.

The boat was not large, similar to a covered boat, and the boatman wearing a straw hat stood at the stern.

Li Xia sat at the bow of the boat, leisurely watching the scenery on both banks. The unusually cool morning breeze invigorated his somewhat drowsy spirit.

Murata chatted with the boatman for a while longer, and when he returned, he was carrying two wooden trays.

The food on the plate was simple: a small rice ball, a small fish that had been dried and then steamed, and a small dollop of natto.

Murata, however, ate with great relish and said to Li Xia, "Sir, we usually pay forty coins for a boat ride! We have to add five coins for a bento box."

"Oh?" Li Xia, who was about to eat, paused and asked in a low voice, "Did you ask why it's so cheap?"

"I asked—" Murata mumbled, his mouth full of rice balls, "Brother Shipsan said he was planning to go to Saitama today, so he'll give me a discount."

Because it's on my way, they offered me a discount?
Li Xia was silent for a while, then used her body to cover herself and poured everything from her wooden tray to Murata. Then she took out the rice ball that Yumi had prepared when they set off from her pocket.

They crushed the pieces, placed them on a wooden plate, and ate them slowly.

Anything unusual is suspicious; even if the price is reduced, there's no need to eat an extra meal.

Of course, it's also possible that I'm being too sensitive, but I simply can't afford the cost of trial and error.

Murata stared in astonishment at the extra item on the wooden tray: "Sir, this—"

Shh, don't make a sound! Just pretend nothing happened.

Well, although he didn't know why, the joy of being able to eat an extra serving put Murata's questions at ease.

Hey! It's great to be able to eat two portions!
If possible, Li Xia would rather he had guessed wrong.

But seeing Murata suddenly lose all his strength and collapse limply to the ground, he could only let out a long sigh.

I wonder if it will be 'wonton' or 'knife-cut noodles' later.

"Don't blame me if I don't do this, or that monster will come and eat me."

The boatman's trembling voice came from behind, slowly approaching.

Hmm. I guessed wrong again. It's neither 'wonton' nor 'knife-cut noodles'.

Li Xia slowly pulled the axe from his belt, turned around and stood up.

The wind by the river seemed to pick up a lot at that moment, blowing open the simple robes on my body.

His bare upper body was covered with hideous scars left from fighting with ghosts.

Simply standing there with an axe in hand exudes a fierce and awe-inspiring aura.

Just a day ago, Li Xia was a lukewarm young man, but now he seems to have found his true self through trials.

He looked at the boatman, who was standing there, staring at his upper body.

Li Xia inhaled the moist air into her lungs little by little.

"So, it was a ghost after all!"

(End of this chapter)