Chapter 3

Walking through a wasteland, feeling the pungent and irritating smell in the air, Chi Shangzhen knew that there was a large amount of nuclear radiation and other pollutants here. If it weren't for the protective clothing he was wearing, which could shield him from these toxic substances, he wouldn't dare to believe he could survive and walk out of Hiroshima Prefecture alive.

"Almost half a day has passed, and I haven't seen a single living person. It seems the atomic bomb dropped by the devils has caused tremendous destruction to Hiroshima. When I read about it in books before, it felt very satisfying, but why do I feel a faint sadness now? Could it be because I am now a Japanese? Sigh... It's all the fault of the war!"

Chi Shangzhen thought to himself as he walked, feeling a deep sense of emotion about the surrounding scenery.

After walking for about another half a day, Chi Shangzhen noticed a sparse crowd ahead. As he approached, he saw that most of these people were injured, with gaunt faces and tattered clothes, clearly identifiable as refugees.

Quickening his steps, Chi Shangzhen found a relatively healthy young man and asked, "Konnichiwa" (Hello) (Please allow the author to use Chinese from now on, as I am a poor student. Thank you for your understanding!)

Yamada Kumaichi walked numbly towards the relief station. He could still recall the events of three days ago. Three days ago, Yamada Kumaichi had gone to the basement to move winter vegetables, which saved him from the disaster.

Yamada Kumaichi, who had been complaining about having to work in the dark and stuffy basement, never expected that this would save his life. No one in his family was as strong as him, and his name, Kumaichi, meant the second son as strong as a bear. Perhaps it was related to his name, but Yamada Kumaichi had been very strong since birth. He was the only male in the family; his older sister had already married, and he had three younger sisters who couldn't work. Despite his constant grumbling about why he always had to do the work, he never slacked off. After all, his father and mother had worked hard all their lives and were no longer able to do heavy labor, so all the heavy work at home fell on him.

As Yamada Kumaichi was about to leave the basement, he heard a loud explosion and then lost consciousness. When he came to, he found his home gone, his parents gone, his three noisy sisters gone, and all the neighbors gone. Yamada Kumaichi didn't know what had happened or why it had turned out this way. He sat dumbfounded on the ruins of his house until a plane flying overhead yesterday woke him up. Seeing the leaflets dropped from the plane, Yamada Kumaichi picked one up and read it, learning that the destruction around him was caused by an atomic bomb dropped by the American devils. The government required the people to gather at relief stations in nearby Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, and Yamaguchi Prefectures because Hiroshima Prefecture was heavily contaminated with nuclear radiation and no longer suitable for human habitation. Since Yamada Kumaichi's home was closest to Okayama Prefecture, he set out for Okayama. As for the remains of his family, he had searched but found nothing, possibly because they were buried under the rubble.

While Yamada Kumaichi was lost in painful memories, he heard someone speaking to him. Turning around, he saw a tall young man, about 175 cm (which was very tall for this era in Japan, where the average male height was just 160 cm and the average female height was 150 cm). The young man looked about 16 or 17 years old, clean and tidy, unlike himself and the people around him, who were dirty. What surprised Yamada Kumaichi the most was that the young man was dressed as an onmyoji (yin-yang master). In Japan, onmyoji were very noble and mysterious, revered by everyone from the nobility to the common people. After all, those who could communicate with spirits were worthy of respect. So, despite his sadness, Yamada Kumaichi quickly bowed, fearing that any delay might anger the young onmyoji.

"Hello, is there anything I can help you with, respected onmyoji?"

Chi Shangzhen, slightly stunned by the first Japanese person he encountered in this time and space, quickly recovered and asked with a smile, "Where are you going? And where are these people heading?"

Hearing the young onmyoji's question, Yamada Kumaichi felt a bit calmer.

"Respected onmyoji, I am heading to the relief camp in Okayama Prefecture. The others are likely going there too, as the government leaflets instructed. After all, Okayama Prefecture is the closest to us."

After hearing Yamada Kumaichi's words, Chi Shangzhen thought for a moment and said, "I'll go with you then. I'm also homeless now and can only rely on the government. Hiroshima is no longer suitable for living."

With that, Chi Shangzhen pretended to reach into his chest, but actually took a hard biscuit from his spatial ring and handed it to Yamada Kumaichi.

"Here, eat this. Consider it a reward for answering my questions."

Looking at the hard biscuit, Yamada Kumaichi's stomach churned. He really wanted to grab it and eat it, as he hadn't eaten for over a day. However, he controlled his desire, as the young man in front of him was a mysterious onmyoji.

"Just a simple question, how can I accept your gift, sir? You should..."

Before Yamada Kumaichi could finish, he saw the determined look on the young onmyoji's face and realized that the respected adult's decision wouldn't change because of him. Since that was the case, it was better to accept it. After all, he was really hungry.

Thinking this, Yamada Kumaichi quickly took the biscuit and started eating it. He noticed the hungry, covetous looks from the surrounding crowd. He recognized these looks; they were the looks of hunger. Yamada Kumaichi knew that the young onmyoji holding the biscuit was nothing to fear because the Japanese revered and even feared onmyoji. Even though the onmyoji was just a young man, no one around him dared to have any other thoughts. After all, the spirits in Japan were terrifying, and the eight hundred spirits from ancient times were still widely accepted. With the recent disaster brought by the American devils, who knew when they might die? Offending an onmyoji would mean no peace even in death. Therefore, no one had any ill intentions towards Chi Shangzhen, but if the biscuit were in his hands, it would be different. Yamada Kumaichi was sure that someone would try to take it. As if to confirm his thoughts, the crowd started to gather around him as soon as he took the first bite.

"Boy, put down that biscuit now, or you'll regret it."

Seeing the few men and some of the elderly and weak surrounding him, Yamada Kumaichi estimated there were nearly twenty people. Following the principle that a wise man doesn't fight a losing battle, he decided to hand over the biscuit. After all, no matter how good the biscuit was, he needed to be alive to eat it. Given the situation, Yamada Kumaichi was sure that if he hesitated, the crowd would attack him. Besides, he had already taken a bite, so he had already gained something.

Just as Yamada Kumaichi was about to hand over the biscuit, a voice came from the crowd.

"Wait!"

Everyone stopped and looked over. The voice belonged to the young onmyoji who had given Yamada Kumaichi the biscuit. Seeing him, everyone's hearts raced. Was the noble onmyoji going to stand up for this person?

Chi Shangzhen, seeing the refugees about to take the biscuit from Yamada Kumaichi, couldn't help but speak up. It wasn't that he intended to stand up for Yamada Kumaichi, but he felt pity for the refugees, some of whom were so hungry they could barely walk. If they didn't eat soon, they would starve to death. Besides, his current identity was Japanese, and he could help if he could. After all, he had plenty of biscuits in his spatial ring.

"Leave him alone. I'll give you all a biscuit, one for each person."

Saying this, he reached into his chest, just as he had done for Yamada Kumaichi, and handed out a biscuit to each person. This act of creating biscuits out of thin air shocked the refugees even more. Truly, the onmyoji was a mysterious and powerful figure. They were glad they hadn't offended him, or they would have faced dire consequences.

The people who received the biscuits immediately started eating voraciously, regardless of age or gender, displaying surprising strength. Some even choked but continued to stuff the biscuits into their mouths. This scene left Chi Shangzhen amazed. These were the same people who had been on the verge of collapse just moments ago. He doubted he had the same strength as them.

After eating the biscuits, the people continued their journey to the relief station. However, their respect for Chi Shangzhen, the young onmyoji, had grown even more. After all, the ability to create biscuits out of thin air was not something an ordinary person could do.

Yamada Kumaichi and the five strong men became Chi Shangzhen's followers. Although Chi Shangzhen never said anything, they considered themselves his followers. Whenever Chi Shangzhen needed something, they competed to help him, with Yamada Kumaichi taking the lead. After all, he was the first to interact with the respected onmyoji, so he felt it was his duty to be the leader. The five men who had tried to take his biscuit earlier also accepted this arrangement.

From this, Chi Shangzhen realized that Japan was a country with strict rules and order. Perhaps this was why this small and populous nation could be so united and unleash tremendous energy. He decided to learn to integrate into this country and this culture. After all, his current identity was Japanese, and he was the heir to a traditional and mysterious onmyoji family. If he didn't learn to integrate, he would be abandoned by the group. This was Chi Shangzhen's decision.

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