After Ogata and Fuma quickly defeated the four uninvited guests, A-machi and A-tsuki also came down from the ceiling where they had been hiding.
The interrogation of Scarface and Tall Guy, the two men who were deliberately spared, was quickly concluded.
They were just a bunch of gangsters who made a living by committing crimes, and they were not professionally trained assassins. When Fuma used his wakizashi to hold the scarred man's neck, the scarred man immediately revealed everything he knew.
The tall guy who was suppressed by Ogata was even more spineless - Ogata hadn't even started to threaten him yet, but he begged for mercy on his own and said that "he was willing to tell anything."
From the cooperation between the "Big Buddha Clan" and the "Blood Mist Clan", to their commission by Big Buddha Xun to cut the Wind Demon into ten pieces - these two people denied all these things.
After asking about their identities and purpose, Fengmo's usually kind face turned expressionless, and he looked... unhappy.
"The Great Buddha Clan and the Blood Mist Clan..."
"That Daibutsu Kaoru is too arrogant... His brother came to my house to steal, and I sent him to the magistrate's office. It was such a reasonable thing, but he didn't teach his useless brother a lesson, but instead came to teach me a lesson..."
"As expected, Yakuza are Yakuza... They only cause trouble to others. They don't do anything that normal people should do..."
"It's really annoying... I got into trouble with the Yakuza for no apparent reason."
Anyone with eyes can clearly see that Fengmo is in a very bad mood.
But Ogata could understand it very well. If he were to encounter such a thing, he would also be very unhappy.
He had done nothing wrong and was just defending his rights by sending the thief who had stolen from his home to the magistrate's office. However, he was met with unjustifiable retaliation.
If they had not had a little ability to protect themselves, they would have been hacked to death by these four men.
Ogata took a deep look at Fuma, who lowered his head in thought, and said:
"Master Feng, how about delaying the date of departure for Osaka a little bit?"
"……May I?"
"Of course. It doesn't matter if it's delayed for a day or two."
"Thank you very much... If I don't get rid of this group of Yakuza who are causing trouble for me before I set off, I really can't go with you with peace of mind... After all, I don't want to find that my house has been burned down after returning from Osaka..."
"If you need help, please feel free to ask me," Ogata said. "I will do my best to help."
Given his friendship with Fuma, and the fact that Fuma has always spared no effort to provide him with various kinds of help, Ogata could not think of any reason, either emotionally or logically, not to help Fuma, who was now in a little trouble - although Ogata felt that this matter probably did not require his help.
"Oh?" A smile finally appeared on Fuma's face. He changed his tone to a half-joking one, "Are you willing to help me? Then I feel that I will not be afraid of anything, let alone a group of Yakuza. Even if it is the enemy of the Kyoto Magistrates, I will not be afraid."
Ogata smiled at Fuma's half-serious joke: "How do you plan to deal with this 'Great Buddha Clan'? Are you going to go straight to their base?"
"That's impossible. I'm not familiar with this 'Great Buddha Clan' at all. I don't even know where their bases are in Kyoto."
"Then do you know any friends who are familiar with the 'Great Buddha Clan'?" Ogata asked.
"...Really. But..." At this point, Feng Mo sighed, "I don't really like dealing with him..."
A-Machi and A-Tsuku, who were not far away, had been listening to the conversation between Ogata and Fuma.
At this time, Azhu suddenly poked A-Ming beside him with his elbow, and after A-Ming leaned his ear over, he asked with a complicated expression:
"Master Feng, is he...going to settle accounts with the Yakuza? Are all the old men in Kyoto so...tough?"
Azhu took a long time to come up with the adjective "fierce".
In Azhu's worldview, it is hard to imagine that he would take the initiative to cause trouble to the evil Yakuza...
"...That's right." After a moment of silence, Atachi nodded vigorously and answered seriously, "All the old people in Kyoto are like this."
…
…
The next morning -
"...Master Feng, your friend...could it be that Enohara's Yinxin?"
"Oh? You know Yinxin?"
"It's not that we know each other, we just met once."
"Then I've kept you in suspense for nothing..." Fuma said with a wry smile, "That's right. My friend is none other than Enohara's Inshin."
At this moment, Ogata and others were standing in front of Shimabara's gate.
Come on, I'll take you to find my friend who must know the information about the "Great Buddha Clan" - these were the exact words that Fuma and Ogata said before leaving home.
Now Fengmo is being targeted by the "Big Buddha Clan". If he stays in Fengmo's home, he may be attacked by them again.
No one can tell whether they will resort to some dirty and unpredictable method to attack them after seeing that strong attacks are ineffective.
So for safety reasons, Ogata, Amachi, and Azuki acted together and followed Fuma to find his so-called friend.
They followed Fuma all the way to the gate of Shimabara.
Shimabara - one of the three famous places that men of this era dreamed of, along with Yoshiwara in Edo and Shinmachi in Osaka.
After discovering that Fuma's destination seemed to be Shimabara, Obe immediately realized that the friend Fuma was talking about seemed to be Yinshin, whom he had met once before, so he asked the question just now.
More than half a year ago, when he first arrived in Kyoto, Ogata had visited the famous Shimabara.
But he was not here to enjoy himself, but was brought here by Mucun to avoid the government's search.
Deep in Shimabara, lies "another Kyoto" - Eihara.
To put it simply, Enohara is a hidden slum in Kyoto, gathering countless people who cannot live openly and honestly in Kyoto.
The one in charge of this filthy plain is an old man named Inshin.
Inshin and Makimura were old acquaintances. At that time, Makimura entrusted Inshin to help hide Ogata and avoid the government's search.
Although Ogata has never been to Enohara or met Inshin since then, this place, which is in sharp contrast to the glamorous appearance of Kyoto and serves as a "hideaway of filth and dirt" for Kyoto, and Inshin who is in charge of this area, still leave a very deep impression on Ogata.
"Let's go." Fengma waved to Ogata and the others, "Let's go in."
Although Shimabara is as famous as Yoshiwara in Edo, its scale is far smaller than Yoshiwara, which is said to have 3,000 prostitutes.
Because Shimabara is smaller than Yoshiwara, it does not have a Shirobei Kaisha to specifically manage Yoshiwara like Yoshiwara.
After Fuma led Ogata and others into Shimabara, they strode straight into the depths of Shimabara.
At this time, most of the girls in Shimabara are resting, so every corner of Shimabara is quite quiet.
After reaching the depths of Shimabara, Fuma made a sharp turn and rushed straight into an alley nearby.
Ogata remembered this alley - this alley was the entrance and exit to Uehara.
Compared to the last time I came here, the alley has become cleaner and there is a lot less garbage on the ground.
While walking through the alleys that connected to the Enohara, Ogata said to Fuma who was walking in front:
"Master Feng, I didn't expect that you and Enohara's Inshin are actually friends."
"This Yinxin... used to be a very important person." Fengma said slowly, "His status and identity are somewhat difficult to describe. Simply put - in the past, all the Yakuza in Kyoto and the surrounding areas only followed Yinxin's lead."
"I once had a conflict with a Yakuza group, and then by chance, I met Yinxin."
"Among all the friends I know, Yin Xin is the one who is most likely to have detailed information about the 'Great Buddha Clan'."
"Inshin faded from everyone's sight a long time ago and moved to Enohara to live in seclusion."
"He's a bit of a nitpicker, so I don't really like dealing with him, and I don't like this place called Enohara either. So I haven't seen Inshin for a long time. I hope he's not so old that he can't even speak clearly."
While Ogata was talking to Fuma, a cold voice suddenly came from a dark place not far away:
"Who is it..."
Before this person could even utter the last syllable, Feng Mo spoke first:
"I need to find Yin Xin for something. Is Yin Xin here now?"
"Who are you?"
"If Yinxin is here, go and inform Yinxin, and say - the wind is coming."
"……Just a moment please."
In the darkness where the voice came from, there were the sounds of footsteps quickly leaving.
Ogata and his companions did not have to wait too long - not long after, a dwarf who Ogata felt looked familiar appeared in their field of vision and walked towards them quickly.
After carefully studying the dwarf's face for a while, Ogata remembered who he was - it was Inshin's attendant whom he had also met once.
If I remember the name correctly, this dwarf should be called Agong.
"I'm very sorry to have kept you waiting." The dwarf walked quickly to the front of Ogata and the others and bowed impeccably. "Please follow me. Master Yinxin has prepared tea and is waiting for you."
Feng Mo nodded: "Lead the way."
Under the guidance of Amiya, Ogata and his companions passed through the dark and narrow alley and officially entered the "other Kyoto" that Ogata had not seen for a long time - Eihara.
The scene in the Enohara was exactly the same as what I saw half a year ago.
Because the terrain of the filthy area is relatively low, a lot of sewage from the nearby area has flowed here, making most of the soil here soaked into mud.
Residents of Enohara of all shapes and sizes can be seen everywhere on the road.
It was the first time for both A-Machi and A-Tsuku to come to Eihara. After entering, they kept looking around at everything with stunned and surprised eyes.
The Enohara was not very big, and Ogata and his companions soon reached the deepest part of the Enohara and arrived at their destination - a beautiful house that was completely different from the dilapidated shacks around it.
A Gong led them into the house, and then all the way to the living room.
Inside the living room, behind a large table, sat an old man who was old but still energetic—it was Yin Xin.
Opposite him, there were four cups of steaming hot tea.
After bringing Ogata and the others over, Agong bowed to Inshin and then consciously suggested going to the living room.
After seeing Ogata and the others, Yinxin did not greet them first, but asked Fuma first:
"What should I call you now?"
When asking this question, Yinxin glanced at A-Ming and A-Tsuku, two people he had never met before.
"Just call me 'Wind'." Feng Mo replied.
"Feng, huh... Well then - Mr. Feng, Ogata Ittosai, long time no see. Come, please take a seat."
Seeing Ogata and Fuma walking together, Inko did not show too much surprise and greeted them both in a friendly manner.
"Yinxin, you seem to be in much better spirits than I thought." Fengmo sat down opposite Yinxin carelessly.
"I haven't gotten involved in things that take my mind away for a long time, so I'm naturally in a good mood."
Yin Xin took a sip of tea, then said slowly:
"Okay, tell me why you're here. If you need any help, just tell me."
"You are really direct, Yinxin." Fengmo laughed.
"Don't I know you well?" Yin Xin smiled and shrugged. "Besides asking me for help, what other reason could you have for you to suddenly visit me when you normally never come to see me?"
"In that case, I won't waste any more time talking." Feng Mo cleared his throat, "This is what happened—"
Fengmo told Yinxin everything that happened last night.
"...I see." Yin Xin nodded, "' Dafo Clan'?... Hmph, this does sound like something that a fool like Dafo Xun would do."
Yin Xin's face showed a blatant disdain: "This Great Buddha Xun doesn't have any special ability. The reason he was able to establish the 'Great Buddha Clan' was purely due to luck."
Having said that, Yin Xin took a sip of tea.
"So - you want to settle accounts with the 'Big Buddha Clan'?"
"I'm not looking for him to settle accounts." Feng Mo said calmly, "I just don't want to be harassed by them again in the future, so I'm just taking some defensive measures."
"Yin Xin, tell me where the base of the 'Great Buddha Clan' is, and the reward and other things, so we can discuss it."
Yinxin raised the corner of her mouth, laughed a few times, and then took a sip of tea.
"No need for compensation. It's just a small favor, not something I should ask you for."
"The 'Big Buddha Clan' is a fragile house, supported entirely by a huge pillar, and this pillar is the Big Buddha Kaoru."
"So as long as we kill Big Buddha Xun, their 'Big Buddha Clan' will probably collapse on its own in just a few days."
"So - you guys should go to the Wisteria House in Hiyanagi-cho tonight."
"That is the largest underground casino run by the 'Big Buddha Clan'."
"Dafo Xun is addicted to gambling. He goes to various casinos controlled by the Dafo clan to gamble almost every night."
"But he never went to a fixed casino every day."
"So you guys just have to try your luck - go to the largest casino under their jurisdiction tonight and see if you can catch that Daibutsu Kaoru. Generally speaking, Daibutsu Kaoru has the highest probability of appearing in the largest casino under their jurisdiction."
"If I can't meet her tonight, I'll go again tomorrow night. There's always a night when I can meet Daibutsu Kaoru in the Wisteria House."
"On the surface, Wisteria House is an izakaya."
"It uses a 'code system'. As long as you say 'Wanfo Chaozong' to the person at the counter, they will take you to their casino."
"Can't you just tell me where their base is?" Fengmo raised his eyebrows.
"Mr. Feng, I haven't been concerned with worldly affairs for a long time." Yin Xin shrugged. "After more than 20 years of living in seclusion, I am no longer the 'Kyoto know-it-all' that I used to be. As long as it's related to Kyoto, I can answer whatever you ask me."
"I really don't know much about the 'Big Buddha Clan', a group that has only been around for a short time. If you want me to tell you the location of their base or something like that, I really can't help you."
"...Well. Then do you know what that big Buddha Xun looks like? Can you give me his portrait?" Feng Mo asked.
"That's fine." Yin Xin nodded, "Is there anything else you want to ask or want?"
"Can you help me clean up the bodies of the four guys who dared to attack us last night?" Feng Mo said, "Those four guys died of internal injuries, so it should be easier to clean up."
Last night, after asking for the information they wanted to know, Scar and Tall's necks were twisted at a new angle by Fuma and Ogata - Ogata and Fuma had the same opinion about those who tried to kill them: there was no need to show them leniency.
"That's easy." Yin Xin nodded, "I'll send someone to your place later to clean up the four bodies. Is there anything else you want or want to ask?"
Feng Mo: “No more…”
"I want to ask——"
Fuma was about to say "that's all" when Ogata, who was sitting next to him, suddenly spoke up.
"Do you know how the prostitute named Choone and another prostitute named Hatsukaze of Shimabara Yoshiya are doing now?"
"Dieyin and Chufeng from Jiwu?" Yinxin frowned.
Die Yin - More than half a year ago, when Yin Xin was entrusted by Makimura to arrange Ogata's hiding place, he hid Ogata in Die Yin's room in Yoshiya.
While hiding in Dieyine's room for a short time, in addition to getting to know Dieyine, Ogata also got to know her good friend, Hatsukaze, who was dying of an illness and had been taken care of by Dieyine.
A-Machi had heard Ogata introduce these two people before, so she knew who they were, so she looked calm. Only Fuma and A-Tsuku gave Ogata a puzzled look.
"I don't have any impression of these two people." Yin Xin said calmly, "Wait a moment, I'll ask someone. Agong!"
Yin Xin shouted outside the living room.
Soon, the dwarf Agong appeared in everyone's sight again.
"Agong, go check on Dieyin and Chufeng in Jiwu." Yinxin quickly gave his orders.
"Yes!" A Gong responded loudly and quickly retreated.
"Brother Ogata, who are those two people?" Fuma asked puzzledly.
"I guess... he is someone who once helped me." Ogata answered softly.
A Gong moved quickly - after a while, he came back.
"Ms. Hatsufu passed away due to illness last fall."
Agong said loudly.
"Miss Dieyin was redeemed by a wealthy businessman last winter. I heard she has moved to Meinong now. As for her current life, I don't know."
"...Thank you for letting me know..." Ogata let out a sigh.
Then he gave a wry smile that contained mixed emotions.
…
…
That evening——
Kyoto, Hiyanagi-cho, Wisteria House, in an inconspicuous alley outside the house——
"Is that the Wisteria House..." Ating murmured as he looked at the Wisteria House not far away.
"So do we really have to go to that casino to look for that Daibutsu Kaoru?" Azhu looked at Fuuma, then at Ogata, "What if Daibutsu Kaoru happens to be in another casino tonight? Didn't Yinxin say this morning that Daibutsu Kaoru would go to a completely random casino?"
"We can only try our luck." Feng Mo scratched his shiny bald head, "Apart from this stupid method, we have no other options."
"A-Ming, A-Tsuku, you guys stay outside." Ogata lowered his bamboo hat a little, "Master Feng and I will go into the casino to look for Dafo Xun."
"Do you want to go in with Lord Feng?" Ating asked back.
"We can't let Master Feng go in alone, right?" Ogata smiled. "It would be safer and more efficient if two people could look after each other and search for the Great Buddha Kaoru together."
"I want to go with you too." Azhu said quickly, "I want to see what a casino looks like."
"You and Atachi can stay outside and help us keep watch." Ogata said, "It's too conspicuous for a woman to enter a casino. It will attract a lot of attention. If possible, I want to get rid of the 'Big Buddha Clan' in a low-key and inconspicuous way."
Ogata deliberately emphasized the words "low-key" and "inconspicuous".
Hearing what Ogata said, Azuku pursed his lips and looked unhappy, but did not say anything else.
"Anyway - the security outside is left to you two." Ogata adjusted the scarf covering his mouth and nose.
Going to a casino to gamble is a rather shameful thing, so many people who value their reputation and do not want to be recognized by acquaintances will use various methods to cover their faces when they go to the casino to gamble.
Therefore, Ogata's current appearance of wearing a bamboo hat and a turban on his face is not uncommon in casinos.
"Master Feng, let's go."
"Yeah." Fengma joked again, "Joining forces with you... I feel like this combination of the two of us might even be able to assassinate the Shogun."
"It would be great if I really had that ability." Ogata responded jokingly.