Alone and Infinite

"Boom! Boom!"

"The ninth time!"

That means at least a dozen people were eaten. Li Xia stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Because the transformed ghosts have no reason at all, only endless hunger, they can only regain their sanity by eating enough people.

A ghost that knows how to coerce humans into hunting for it must have regained its senses.

Murata, standing nearby, widened his eyes and was about to shout, but was stopped by Li Xia's gaze and could only glare angrily at Funami.

This scumbag has already done it nine times!

Whether someone is a scumbag or not has nothing to do with Li Xia, and he can't empathize with them, but he's more interested in knowing the specific details.

Have

During one voyage, they encountered a monster that looked like a human, incredibly fast and with immense strength.

Everyone else was killed, and the monster began to devour the corpses in front of Chuan San, finally threatening to eat him and his family if he didn't bring more people.

Terrified, Ship 3 followed the monster's instructions, using poisonous mushrooms to paralyze the passengers before tying them up and sending them over.

"I...I didn't want to harm my own village, but I had no choice. No merchants from other places have been sailing here these past few days, and the deadline is fast approaching."

Chuan San cried out in anguish:

"Please spare me, I'll never do it again."

Li Xia continued, neither confirming nor denying:

Where did you send all those people?

"There's a tributary ahead, and at the end of the tributary is a cave. I always leave after dropping people off in the cave."

"Shan Lao Cave?!"

Murata exclaimed in shock, and he hurriedly whispered an explanation to Li Xia:

“Long ago, when people couldn’t get enough to eat, they would leave their parents and elderly parents in caves to fend for themselves in order to save food. This cave is said to be the place where parents were abandoned in ancient times.”

Legend has it that the old man's resentment transformed into a mountain hag, who sharpens her knife day and night, wanting to vent her resentment at being abandoned.

Nobody dares to go into that cave.

Li Xia nodded, abandoning the idea of ​​confronting the ghost.

Knowing how to coerce boatmen into giving people away to avoid the risk of being preyed upon, and also knowing how to use legends to cover up their hiding place, such a ghost is very clever.

I'm currently powerless to deal with this, perhaps I should tell the Demon Slayer Corps?

I just don't know if I'll get a reward for this.

"My lord, are we... are we going to Yamanbagiri Cave?"

Loyalty -1

Li Xia was jolted awake from his reverie. "This is what lowers loyalty?"

But he saw that Murata's face was full of fear, he kept swallowing his saliva, and his body was trembling.

Uh... I misunderstood you because you were so scared.

Li Xia glanced at the blazing midday sun and pondered for a moment:

"Go, take a look from a distance in the sunlight."

This is very likely a side quest; at the very least, I should check if there's an opportunity.

Sunshine is the best protection for yourself.

Murata let out a sigh of relief, then looked at Funamichi and asked in a low voice:

"Sir, what about him?"

Li Xia countered with, "How do you plan to handle this?"

Murata hesitated for a moment: "I feel that if what he said is true, then Funami was also forced into it, but I feel unwilling to let him go like this."

As the boat gradually approached the tributary, Murata clumsily steered it into the tributary.

"Murata, do you still remember the bloodstains on my body?" Li Xia stood up and walked towards Funamichi.

"Of course I remember!" Murata was a little embarrassed. He had always thought that Li Xia was a bad person and that he had gone out with him to join the gang, and that he probably wouldn't come back.

That's why he asked for five silver dollars as payment for his life, but now he feels that his adult might not necessarily be a bad person.

"The monsters in the Yamaba Cave are called Oni. They cannot live in the sunlight, like to eat people, are very strong and fast, and can quickly regenerate even if their arms are cut off."

As Li Xia watched the cave on the cliff in the distance getting closer, he picked up Chuan San.

"And the blood on my body is from fighting with a ghost."

The three men opened their mouths, staring blankly at Li Xia. Even Murata stopped what he was doing, looking extremely shocked.

"Ghosts dare not eat or kill people indiscriminately, because that would attract ghost hunters to eliminate them, but some people are more terrifying than ghosts."

Li Xia turned around and looked at the exquisite silk lining under the three-clothed mantle. The first time might have been forced, but later…

"Murata, has the Funaza family suddenly gotten better off?"

Murata nodded in confusion:

"Yes, sir, the three boatmen suddenly started renovating and rebuilding, and his wife also bought a lot of new clothes. We thought..."

Murata's voice grew softer and softer, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the oar turned slightly white from the excessive force.

It seems he understood; once the boatman discovered that this was a faster way to make money, he was no longer forced into it.

Li Xia looked at the seemingly bottomless cave in front of him and sighed with some regret.

He had hoped to see if there was a chance to kill the ghost using sunlight.

If I'm not mistaken, this is very likely a side quest...

It seems that this ghost is probably quite cunning.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chuan San creeping about, and suddenly he shouted hoarsely towards the cave entrance:

"Master! Help me! I brought the rations as you instructed!"

"Save me! Master!"

Murata's face suddenly turned pale. He looked around in panic, as if a terrifying monster might appear at any moment.

In the darkness, a pair of scarlet eyes seemed to slowly open.

Bathed in sunlight, Li Xia slowly pulled out his axe and, amidst Chuan San's desperate curses, slowly raised it.

This time, the cut wasn't off.

A notification popped up abruptly.

Side Quest: Ghost Ship Completed

[Completion Level: Barely Satisfactory]

[Gain a 4% chance of transcendence]

[Obtained Exquisite Treasure Chest (White)]

Murata's loyalty +5

Good haul?

Chapter 6 Generous Income

The small boat drifted along, with Murata clumsily rowing behind. Fortunately, the journey to Saitama was downstream, so he only needed to slightly adjust the direction.

After passing the Yamaba Cave and flowing downstream for less than ten minutes, we left the mountain stream and the view suddenly opened up before us.

The once turbulent river had become much calmer, and a few small boats appeared in the distance.

Li Xia sat in the cabin looking at his spoils, his heart filled with the joy of a farmer with a bountiful harvest.

These small boats typically have a relatively secluded compartment for storing miscellaneous items or personal belongings.

Although Murata wasn't a boatman, he knew about this little secret, and once he opened it, he found a lot of treasures.

First, there are still pure white silver dollars, only 3 of them.

Then there was a dagger, a brass-cased pocket watch, and even a bloodstained gold tooth.

What surprised Li Xia the most was that there was actually a gun inside!

Colt M1873

Grade: White

【Origin: Demon Slayer - Colt, Connecticut, Workshop 2】

Magazine capacity: 6 rounds * 0.45in Colt ammunition

Damage Intensity: 3 (Tier 1)

Attack: 5-10

[Review: A classic! Fast and accurate at close range! Perfect for beginners!]

Li Xia's gaze lingered on the damage intensity, a concept unfamiliar to her.

Fortunately, the hall also provided corresponding hints.

Damage intensity is used to measure whether the defense can be broken, while attack is the damage caused after the defense is broken.

In other words, if the damage output is insufficient, even a high attack power is useless.

Li Xia took a breath. This was definitely the core attribute of the weapon, much more important than attack power!

What about the dagger?

[A common dagger]

Grade: White

Damage Intensity: 2 (Tier 1)

Attack: 1-3

[Special Note for Melee Weapons: Damage intensity and minimum attack limit are based on the average damage caused by a human swinging the weapon at full power in the current world; maximum attack limit is the damage of a full-power thrust.]

(This tip is unique to when you first acquire melee equipment.)

[Comment: Its power may be far less than that of a gun, but the allure of cold weapons lies in the person wielding them, doesn't it?]

Li Xia's eyes seemed to light up at that moment as he stared intently at the evaluation and special instructions for the dagger.

The hall seemed to say nothing, yet it revealed something crucial.

Interesting. Is the hall leaking information?

He looked at his axe; it was so trashy it wasn't even considered equipment, except for a note on it.

A very common axe, which can be used for self-defense or chopping wood.

Li Xia felt his brain become completely active, his breathing became slightly rapid, and he placed the dagger and gun together.

The attack and damage intensity of a dagger are much lower than that of a pistol, and the difference in power would be even greater if it were replaced by a rifle or sniper rifle.

However, by combining the 'special tips' and 'evaluation' of the dagger, one can arrive at a conclusion.

That is, the power of a cold weapon is related to the person wielding it; the stronger the person wielding it, the stronger the power it will naturally be.

Is the temple trying to tell me that choosing cold weapons is the right path?

Li Xia's eyes flashed, and he immediately thought of this trial instance and the final main quest, Breath of the Sun.

This breathing method uses breathing to enhance one's strength. Theoretically, as long as the lungs remain the primary organ, it can continue to function effectively.

It may seem ordinary, but it's a skill that can be used for a long time.

Upon closer inspection, it even has a sense of being 'tailor-made'.

Is it an illusion or intentional?

Li Xia pondered for a moment, packed up his equipment, and left the cabin.