This Japanese Monogatari Isn't Lame
Chapter 510 - 331: Where Did the Wooden Hammer Come From? (4000 words)

Chapter 510: Chapter 331: Where Did the Wooden Hammer Come From? (4000 words)

Shen Gu Jiro set down the can in his hand and glanced at Shen Gu Chiharu, who was drinking from a water bottle, then turned to Beichuan Si:

"Mr. Beichuan, we owe you a lot this time."

Beichuan Si’s arrival was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for the two, who had been at their wit’s end, as he had brought a lot of food and drinking water, allowing Shen Gu Jiro and Shen Gu Chiharu to keep going.

But Shen Gu Jiro still had a question to ask—

"Mr. Beichuan, do you know how to get out of here?"

Indeed, though Beichuan Si had come to rescue them, it wouldn’t mean much if he didn’t know how to get out.

After all, food and water were finite.

"Yes. There is an exit over there, from where we should be able to get out," Beichuan Si nodded, stretching out his hand to point in the direction he had just come from.

The spiritual space was unexpectedly sturdy, apart from the place where Beichuan Si had first entered, which was somewhat fragile, it was quite difficult to leave from any other place.

Beichuan Si threw the firewood in his hand into the bonfire, watching the flickering flames as he answered the questions of Shen Gu Chiharu and Shen Gu Jiro.

Although he was answering questions, Beichuan Si was still his usual self, preferring to explain things as briefly as possible.

From the initial speculations at Sanseiyuan Tenzi’s place to the current situation in Ihui Island.

He briefed through the process in just a few words.

"This really seems too coincidental," remarked Shen Gu Chiharu after hearing Beichuan Si’s explanation, blinking her eyes while nudging Shen Gu Jiro with her elbow and making faces, "Jiro, if Mr. Beichuan hadn’t reacted in time, our situation wouldn’t have been too good."

Indeed, if Beichuan Si hadn’t arrived in time, he and Shen Gu Chiharu would have had to try their luck at that ancient village.

But, due to the lack of sufficient information, even if they wanted to investigate, they were essentially blind and the possibility of escaping alive was slim.

"...We indeed need to thank Mr. Beichuan for this," Shen Gu Jiro gently nodded to Beichuan Si: "And also, thank you very much for looking after Chiharu and my daughter on your way here."

Beichuan Si waved his hand dismissively and asked, "More than that, I’d like to ask what exactly does this ancient village mean?"

Before Shen Gu Jiro could respond, Shen Gu Chiharu pointed to the dense forest behind her, "Jiro and I have also explored the surroundings for the past three days. In that direction, there is an ancient, dilapidated village."

After saying this, she sat back down and pouted, "However, Jiro and I just lingered on the outskirts and didn’t enter any of the buildings directly. But from some of the totems, Divine Patterns on those buildings... that place should also belong to the Ihui Island residents."

At this, Shen Gu Chiharu’s eyes gleamed with the same brightness as her daughter’s, she prodded a piece of luncheon meat, and quickly finished it off, mumbling unclearly:

"I’m really curious, you know, but Jiro always stopped me from going beyond that, so it was postponed until today. If it weren’t for... mmm, this luncheon meat is really good."

Beichuan Si timely handed his can to Shen Gu Chiharu.

"Hehe."

Shen Gu Chiharu beamed broadly, eating and continuing, "Even just wandering around the periphery, Jiro and I could tell that this area must have just been enveloped by this dead zone. Those buildings aren’t made up of resentments, but are real, existing buildings. In other words..."

Shen Gu Chiharu split the luncheon meat in the can in two: "If you considered this whole piece of luncheon meat as Ihui Island, then the first half would be the current activity area for the Ihui Island residents, and this latter half—"

Juices splashed.

Shen Gu Chiharu picked up the latter half of the luncheon meat: "Then this latter half is the area where we are right now."

"It might be because of some reasons that the Ihui Island residents abandoned this latter half of the land, surviving only in the first half. The Divine Forest might just be a barrier set up by the villagers to keep outsiders from discovering this area."

Beichuan Si raised an eyebrow, "If we follow Aunt Shen Gu’s reasoning, the investigation team you two are leading shouldn’t have been allowed to enter the Divine Forest in the first place."

Indeed, if from the beginning the Divine Forest had been a barrier to prevent others from discovering this spiritual realm, then the exploration team led by Shen Gu Jiro and Shen Gu Chiharu should not have been allowed by the villagers to enter the forest.

"It’s due to Chang Ze." Shen Gu Jiro, who had been silent, spoke up.

He squinted his eyes, slowly stating, "Initially, Chiharu and I wanted to bypass the Divine Forest and investigate other areas, but it was Chang Ze who insisted that we investigate the Divine Forest. Honestly, I felt that he was a bit strange back then."

Shen Gu Jiro continued, "For a long time, the Divine Forest has been guarded by the /Ihui Island residents/, but Chang Ze came to me that day, saying he discovered that the Divine Forest Path was unguarded and suggested we go to investigate."

"Is Chang Ze referring to Chang Ze Aoba?" For confirmation, Beichuan Si still asked the question.

"Hmm."

Upon receiving Shen Gu Jiro’s confirmation, Beichuan Si also raised his eyebrows.

Chang Ze Aoba was currently with Shen Gu Mirai.

However, he wasn’t particularly panicked.

Because before leaving, Beichuan Si had secretly instructed Nishijou Kurenai to watch Chang Ze Aoba’s movements closely, and if there was any slight sign of trouble, Beichuan Si had instructed Nishijou Kurenai to take him down.