Chapter Sixteen: The Lost Volume of the Great Yin-Yang Arts: Spirit Mastery

Just as he stepped out of the grass, before Uesugi Che could speak, the two apprentices crouching by the stream spotted him and excitedly began chattering away.

The effect of this outfit was especially remarkable.

Feigning surprise, Uesugi Che asked them, “Are you apprentices from this workshop? Why do you look so shabby?”

The two apprentices quickly nodded, knelt before him, and began to lament tearfully.

Though their complaints sounded somewhat odd, Uesugi Che understood the gist of what they were saying.

They were simply cursing their workshop master for being heartless—exploiting their rest time, never allowing them out of the cramped workspace...

Uesugi Che sighed, “How pitiful, truly pitiful.”

Bowing and clasping the hands of the two apprentices, Uesugi Che said earnestly, “Come with me to our factory. We strictly enforce an eight-hour workday, forbid rotating shifts, provide comprehensive social insurance, and pay piece rates on top of a base salary.”

The many new terms left the apprentices somewhat confused, but one thing was certain:

This noble-looking man before them was willing to lead them out of this hell!

“Thank you… thank you!”

By the time Uesugi Che helped them to their feet, the apprentices were weeping uncontrollably.

“Then come with me,” Uesugi Che said. “I will lead you to a new life.”

...

[You have slain the scattered wandering souls “Clumsy Worker Apprentice” and gained 7 Soul Ash.]

[You have slain the scattered wandering souls “Clumsy Worker Apprentice” and gained 6 Soul Ash.]

Inside a dingy thatched hut, having completed his backstab, Uesugi Che gently wiped the blood from his chopping knife with a burlap cloth.

There was one thing he hadn’t spoken falsely about.

Death could indeed be a kind of new life.

“Didn’t expect them to be so easy to deceive. No wonder they’re called ‘clumsy’ little monsters.”

With a sigh, after ensuring no blood stained his clothes, Uesugi Che returned to his original position, using his Hyakume Demon Eye to watch the workshop, waiting for apprentices to sneak out for fresh air.

After several hours of waiting and employing the same trick twice more, having taken down five workshop apprentices, Uesugi Che decided to pause.

This matter shouldn’t be rushed; if the foreman noticed something was wrong too soon, it would be problematic.

Besides, it was already early morning. Uesugi Che needed rest—not only to attend school normally but also to have enough energy for tomorrow’s ki energy and swordsmanship training.

Yet this life still had to be put to good use.

So Uesugi Che left the eerie Arakawa village, entered Edo Castle, and began to boldly explore.

As expected, after rummaging through two corpses with nothing on them and gaining just 1% exploration progress, he was beheaded by a wandering samurai from the Sengoku period passing by, who slashed him three times.

But last time it was two slashes; this time three—already a fifty percent improvement!

—

Uesugi Che clutched his neck and sat up, shaking his head as he felt himself growing somewhat accustomed to the sensation of being beheaded.

Picking up his phone, just as he had anticipated, his overworked workmate replied late at night.

[GoDieAtWork]: From your description, it sounds like a wandering samurai or ronin from the Sengoku period, but what’s with the Noh mask? Is this a cosplay from a CP convention or something?

Noh mask?

What’s that?

Uesugi Che looked it up online and found it bore a striking resemblance to the Peking opera and Kunqu theater of his hometown.

Turns out it was a theatrical mask.

[MoonSand]: What does that have to do with Noh?

[GoDieAtWork]: Kid, you really don’t know any traditional culture. Based on your description, that samurai was wearing a “Fang Xiangshi” Noh mask.

Uesugi Che’s expression stiffened slightly, and he unconsciously gripped his phone tighter.

Fang Xiangshi?

Perhaps his unclear description led the other to mistake the facial paint for a mask...

But whether paint or mask, the overworked workmate didn’t know that “Fang Xiangshi” was the final boss of Edo Castle.

Suddenly, Uesugi Che found it all quite ridiculous.

The first time he entered Edo Castle and pushed through the spawn gate, he had already come face to face with the final boss.

Originally, Uesugi Che had planned to grow stronger and then hang that red-faced samurai and give him a good beating. Now, that seemed forever out of reach.

[MoonSand]: Okay, got it. (heart.jpg)

Following the original owner’s style of thanking others, Uesugi Che was about to go to sleep but quietly put down his phone and decided to practice ki energy for another two hours.

Meanwhile, in the smoldering ruins of the Friendly Club branch...

Having just finished overtime, Nanjou Aimi, smoking and squinting drowsily under the little sun, murmured, “Maybe the kid ran into a samurai ghost?”

She took a deep drag and exhaled, “The world’s too chaotic. Better teach him some skills first.”

Next to Nanjou Aimi lay Hasegawa Ken, covered in dust and dirt, his torso visible but the rest of his body buried under rubble.

Once a cheerful man, he would never smile again.

Fortunately, the Special Affairs Division had overnight promoted him to “Apprentice,” so at least his tombstone would bear that title, fulfilling his last wish.

Irritated, Nanjou Aimi tore off the tattered remnants of her battle-worn pants and began typing.

[GoDieAtWork]: Kid, did you bump into something unclean? Don’t be scared. I’ll teach you a move to ensure peaceful sleep.

Teach me a move?

Just as Uesugi Che entered a meditative state, he frowned and picked up his phone.

Probably some low-tier folk exorcism.

—

He didn’t have time to learn such things now; wouldn’t it be better to just ask Nanjou Aimi directly?

Still, he gave the netizen face.

[MoonSand]: You’re amazing, boss. (looking forward.jpg)

Nanjou Aimi curled the corner of her lips, recalling the doll she had given him, and rapidly began typing long messages.

Glancing briefly but unable to understand, Uesugi Che was about to reply casually and return to ki energy practice when a prompt suddenly popped up.

[GoDieAtWork is teaching you the Great Onmyōdō Fragment: Spirit Control…]

[MoonSand]: ?

[“MoonSand” retracted a message.]

[MoonSand]: Sorry, clicked the wrong button. Please continue, boss.

Uesugi Che quickly opened a window, letting the cold breeze sweep in, instantly refreshing his mind.

Still practicing ki energy? What for?

Scolding himself briefly, Uesugi Che focused intently on memorizing and trying to comprehend the lengthy text.

Though he understood nothing, the system would help him grasp it; all he needed was to watch closely.

After a few minutes, the text stopped appearing, and a new prompt appeared.

[You have learned the Great Onmyōdō Fragment: Spirit Control.]

[Spirit Control (Uninitiated 0/100)]

[Effect: Command the energy of heaven and earth, communicate with the spirits of all things.]

The description sounded incredibly mystical.

After absorbing the newly added basic knowledge related to Spirit Control, Uesugi Che looked back at the phone.

[GoDieAtWork]: It’s not a precious technique. Feel free to teach your friends, just don’t spread it online.

Uesugi Che stared at the words “Great Onmyōdō” for a long time and, puzzled, replied “OK.”

Could it be that this overworked netizen was heir to a great family who, for various reasons, ended up working as a corporate drone?

Imagining that wildly clichéd scenario, Uesugi Che typed a thank you, then pondered where he could apply Spirit Control.

At the uninitiated level, Spirit Control contained limited knowledge—at most, it could summon spiritual energy to warn off mindless wandering souls or allow communication with certain spirit entities.

After a brief moment of thought, Uesugi Che slapped his thigh, remembering the doll Nanjou Aimi had given him.

That doll was a spirit entity, wasn’t it?

With that realization, Uesugi Che opened the door and swiftly snatched the spinning doll from the grass rope into his palm.