In the afternoon, Ren took the women from the Daimyo's mansion to the temple for worship.
He had heard that Yukiko might be planning to build a new temple. It was said she intended to replace the deity statue with a likeness of himself and name it "Oden Thunder God Shrine." This aligned with the rumors she had been spreading.
These rumors, claiming the Daimyo of Kuri was the reincarnation of a thunder god, were secretly spread by Yukiko's people.
Like the saying "three people make a tiger," this unfounded rumor quickly spread and was believed by the superstitious people of Kuri. More importantly, the people of Kuri chose to believe it willingly. After all, the thunderstorm had only been days before; who else could possess such power besides the true god of thunder?
Naturally, this belief became deeply ingrained.
After this happened, the people of Kuri came to see Ren as the embodiment of the Thunder God. In the past, people would only look at him with respect when he went out, but now, if they saw him on the street, they would immediately kneel and bow.
Yukiko was quite satisfied with their reaction, but the daimyo from the provinces and even the Shogun in the Flower Capital might not be.
Especially Kozuki Sukiyaki.
If all the daimyo started seeing themselves as gods, where would that leave him, the Shogun?
But he wouldn't go to war with Kuri over such a trivial matter. In his view, it was just a form of entertainment for the people of Kuri. No one outside of Kuri would acknowledge this Thunder God.
These pointless rumors were nothing compared to the tribute Kuri could offer each year.
However...
"Shimotsuki Ushimaru seems to be planning to forge a Great Meito as a gift and visit Kuri," Kozuki Sukiyaki mused, stroking his chin. Ushimaru had only returned to Ringo a few days ago, and Sukiyaki understood why he wanted to foster good relations with Kuri.
But...
"A Great Meito? Last time, the Daimyo of Kuri brought a gift worth ten thousand gold, and we only reciprocated with a single Meito. If Ringo now offers a Great Meito, it will make our Flower Capital look rather stingy," one of Sukiyaki's retainers whispered.
"That last Meito was a bit cheap, I admit. I didn't expect the Daimyo of Kuri to come out with ten thousand gold," Sukiyaki sighed, his gaze falling on the Nidai Kitetsu sword. Then he shook his head.
The Nidai Kitetsu wouldn't do. This sword held a different significance.
"Should I try forging swords again?" Sukiyaki wondered.
But the idea was quickly shot down by his retainer.
"Shogun-dono, your health is the priority. The Daimyo of Kuri is your subject, so it is only right that he offer ten thousand gold, let alone a hundred thousand. Why concern yourself with this?"
"You have a point," Sukiyaki nodded. "Alright, let's go ring the bell first."
"Dong—"
The melodious sound of the bronze bell echoed from the temple. Ren struck it one hundred and eight times, symbolizing the disappearance of one hundred and eight worldly troubles. To be honest, he disliked the religious atmosphere. For someone like him, why seek protection from a fictional deity?
He was only participating to keep Yukiko and the others company.
"Yuriko, you'd be better off praying to me than to the gods. After all, I'm the Thunder God of Kuri now," Ren laughed.
Yuriko smiled. To an ordinary person, Ren's power might truly seem no different from a god's, but because they were so close, she felt none of that awe.
A god should be an unreachable idol, not someone you could touch, or even sleep with.
"Then, might I ask, Thunder God, could you help my daughter get pregnant sooner?" Yuriko teased, making a wish to Ren. The woman was now bold enough to flirt with him.
"Ask again in thirty years," Ren replied. He had no intention of raising a child right now. With his Life Return ability, he could control the process perfectly and prevent any accidents.
"In thirty years, I'll be an old woman."
"Don't worry. You won't be an old woman."
When he returned to the Daimyo's mansion, Ayame and Yayoi were waiting for him at the entrance.
"Lord Ren, the assassins have been caught."
Ayame and Yayoi were referring to the assassins. While Ren was at the temple, these men had tried to infiltrate the Daimyo's mansion. They thought that with Ayame and Yayoi's help, they wouldn't be exposed. But they didn't realize that Ayame and Yayoi had already set a trap, and now the men had been captured.
Ren nodded. He wasn't really interested in these small-time players. The only reason he hadn't killed them immediately was to use them to save Ayame's daughter and Yayoi's sister.
"Here." Ren handed out a white snake. It slithered along his arm, coiled around Ayame's wrist, and then disappeared into her sleeve. "How you deal with them is up to you."
"Yes!" Ayame nodded. She and Yayoi already had a plan.
The two women brought the small snake to a cage. The samurai trapped inside immediately showed their fangs, cursing them viciously the moment they saw them.
"Ayame! Yayoi! You two actually betrayed your husbands and submitted to the enemy! Aren't you ashamed?"
"Disgraceful women!"
"Shut up!" Ayame glared at them coldly. She slowly walked over, a contemptuous smile on her face. She raised her left hand, the small white snake coiled around it, its head held high as it flicked its tongue. Her right hand gently stroked the snake's cold head.
This sight made the samurai involuntarily think of the term "femme fatale."
"As for shame, it's Suzuki Kaen who threatened me with my daughter. He's the one who should be ashamed," Ayame said with disgust. As for betrayal, it was as if they had ever been loyal to begin with.
"If you know your daughter's life is still in the boss's hands, why do this? Don't you care about her life? And what about you, Yayoi? Isn't your sister in the same situation?"
"That's none of your concern. Or rather, you should be the ones worrying about this." Ayame walked to the cage and placed the white snake on the ground. In an instant, the small white snake shot out like white lightning and bit them on their necks.
"Rescue our daughters and sisters, kill Suzuki Kaen and the yakuza boss, and then commit seppuku. That is your fate."
Ayame declared coldly.
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