Chapter Six: Generous Earnings
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The little boat drifted gently along, Murata clumsily rowing from behind. Fortunately, the current flowed toward Saitama, so he only needed to slightly adjust the direction.
After about ten minutes of drifting downstream past the Yamanba Cave, they left the mountain stream, and the scenery suddenly opened up before their eyes.
The once somewhat turbulent river had calmed considerably, and a few scattered small boats appeared in the distance.
Li Xia sat inside the cabin, gazing at his spoils with the joy of a seasoned farmer during harvest.
Such small boats always had a relatively concealed compartment used to store miscellaneous items or personal belongings.
Although Murata wasn’t a boatman, he was aware of this little secret. Upon opening it, they found it full of treasures.
First, there were three gleaming silver coins.
Next was a dagger, a brass-cased pocket watch, and even a bloodied gold tooth.
What delighted Li Xia the most was discovering a gun inside!
[Colt M1873]
[Grade: White]
[Origin: Demon Slayer·Colt Second Workshop, Connecticut]
[Ammo Capacity: 6 rounds of 0.45in Colt cartridges]
[Damage Strength: 3 (Tier One)]
[Attack: 5–10]
[Evaluation: A classic masterpiece—fast and accurate at close range! A friend to beginners!]
Li Xia’s gaze lingered on the damage strength—a concept unfamiliar to him.
Fortunately, the Hall provided a helpful prompt.
Damage strength measures the ability to break through defenses, while attack indicates the damage dealt after defense is breached.
In other words, if damage strength is insufficient, even a high attack value is useless.
Li Xia took a breath; this was undoubtedly the weapon’s core attribute, far more important than raw attack power!
What about the dagger?
[Ordinary Dagger]
[Grade: White]
...
[Damage Strength: 2 (Tier One)]
[Attack: 1–3]
[Special Cold Weapon Note: Damage strength and minimum attack reflect the damage dealt by an average human’s full-strength swing in this world; the maximum attack is the damage from a full-strength stab.]
(This note appears only when first obtaining melee equipment.)
[Evaluation: Its power may pale in comparison to a gun, but the charm of a cold weapon lies with the person who wields it, does it not?]
In that instant, Li Xia’s eyes seemed to shine; he fixed his gaze on the dagger’s evaluation and special note.
Though the Hall seemed silent, it revealed something crucial.
Interesting—was the Hall... giving a hint?
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He glanced at his axe, which was probably so poor it barely qualified as equipment, with only a simple remark:
[A very common axe, useful for self-defense or chopping firewood.]
Li Xia felt his mind suddenly ignite with activity; his breath quickened slightly as he placed the dagger and gun side by side.
The dagger’s attack and damage strength were both much lower than the pistol’s; with a rifle or sniper rifle, the gap would be even wider.
But combining the dagger’s “special note” and “evaluation,” he drew a conclusion.
The power of a cold weapon depended on the wielder—the stronger the person, the greater the weapon’s effective power.
Was the Hall trying to tell him... choosing a cold weapon was the right path?
Li Xia’s eyes flickered as he thought of the trial dungeon and the ultimate main quest: the Breath of the Sun.
This breathing technique used controlled respiration to enhance strength; theoretically, as long as the lungs remained the primary organ, it could be effective indefinitely.
Seemingly ordinary, but a power that could last a long time.
Upon reflection... it felt almost “tailor-made.”
Was it a coincidence—or deliberate?
Li Xia pondered for a moment, then stowed away his equipment and left the cabin.
No matter what, having chosen to step into this world, his move was irrevocable.
As for the exquisite white treasure chest... better not mention it.
...
Early May was a time of lingering chill despite the warming days. Even with sunlight shining, the river’s surface exhaled wisps of cool air that slipped through the gaps in clothing.
One instinctively wrapped up tighter, trying to embrace the wind in one’s arms.
The rural village, bathed in a golden halo from the sun, resembled a serene oil painting.
Inside the restaurant, Li Xia rubbed his chopsticks together twice to remove the splinters from the new pair.
With anticipation, he looked at the noodles before him. It was a rare sight—never would he have imagined eating Chinese-style noodles in a small Japanese country eatery in 1910!
Perhaps the bowl, costing eighteen sen, was too expensive, so few people ordered it.
The shopkeeper didn’t leave but wiped his hands on his apron and said proudly:
“I personally went to ‘Lai Lai Xuan’ to learn these noodles from Master Liu Xing. Unlike soba or udon, these noodles use meat broth, giving them a rich flavor.
They have been very popular.”
“So impressive!!” Murata’s eyes widened in awe. After the shopkeeper left satisfied, Murata clasped his hands together and bowed slightly: “Thank you, sir, for your hospitality!”
Li Xia was quite hungry, and the noodle’s flavor was indeed very similar to the old braised noodles he had eaten for over twenty years, so he ate heartily.
He was also surprised to find that after eating his fill, even his life regeneration rate increased slightly—a small but welcome bonus.
Once full, Li Xia began inquiring about the Kamado family.
“Kamado? Sounds like a family dealing with fire... Oh, do they sell charcoal?”
The shopkeeper stroked his chin, recalling carefully before shaking his head:
“Sorry, our village’s charcoal seller is Saburo. Maybe they’re from another village.”
Li Xia nodded; he had only asked casually during the meal, so no news was to be expected.
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Leaving the small restaurant, Li Xia stood by the roadside, watching the bustling street with some helplessness.
This place was near Tokyo, an important waterway hub, so the population was complex. Yet, after choosing the Breath of the Sun, he hadn’t expected finding Kamado Tanjirou to be so difficult.
But soon, Murata once again proved his value, whispering:
“Sir, I have an idea—maybe we can find him.”
Li Xia looked up, following Murata’s finger.
“The post office?”
...
“Sir! Sir! I’ve gotten information!”
Murata burst out excitedly from the post office.
He really found something? Li Xia couldn’t help but feel amazed. His four coins—no, the miscellaneous items gathered earlier were quite valuable; he had given Murata two coins.
He had also gained [Loyalty +5]. Truly, those six sen were well spent.
Panting, Murata came before Li Xia and whispered:
“The Kamado family lives in Tambayama Village, Kitatsuru District, about four ri from here. I’ll hire an ox cart; we should arrive by evening.”
Four ri? So close, yet he needed to hire a cart?
Li Xia was surprised but quickly realized Murata’s “four ri” might differ from his understanding.
As expected, after talking to the cart driver, Li Xia learned that one ri in the Japanese shakkanho system was about four kilometers.
That meant roughly sixteen kilometers—a considerable distance for a village scale.
No wonder the restaurant owner hadn’t heard of Tanjirou.
...
The sun gradually tilted westward, and Mount Kumotori grew nearer. The towering mountains cast a shadow as the ox cart crested a small hill.
Not far ahead, the village came into view. They actually arrived at Tambayama Village nearly twenty minutes later.
Murata paid the driver with silver and copper coins while Li Xia stood at the village entrance, curiously examining the village that appeared only in the first chapter of the anime.
At that moment, a man called out loudly: “Tanjirou, can you come help me?”
Li Xia’s expression grew serious. Not far off, a youth carrying a large bamboo basket turned around.
A burn scar marked his forehead. He wore a green-and-black checkered haori, his face radiant with a warm smile.
The boy raised his hand energetically and called out:
“I’m coming right now!”