Hanamoge Grass

Yingjie and Xiaotan searched for high disciple Bowen and asked him how to defeat a Sword-Leg Spider.

“I see. A way to defeat a Sword-Leg Spider with an ordinary sword or spear, huh? There are martial arts like that, but you cannot learn them unless you become an inner disciple. The easiest way would be to obtain something like a treasured sword.”

“We do not have much money.”

“…I see. In that case, you will have no choice but to obtain a yōma part that can be used as a weapon and process it into a weapon with power on par with a treasured sword. It is a method your junior Kou is good at.”

“Thank you very much. We will ask Kou.”

“That would be best. With your skills, you should be able to defeat a Sword-Leg Spider. Provided that you can obtain something like a treasured sword.”

The two went to the Old Immortal Cave to meet Kou.

When I was thinking about the Spiritual Cherry-Orchid Sword in the Old Immortal Cave, I heard voices calling my name from outside. When I went toward the entrance, I saw Yingjie and Xiaotan.

“This is unusual. For the two of you to come here.”

When I called out to them like that, Yingjie spoke on their behalf.

“We came because we have a request.”

“What is it?”

“We are thinking of taking the inner disciple examination soon, but to pass, we have to defeat a Sword-Leg Spider.”

“With the two of your skills, a Sword-Leg Spider should be… I see, it’s the weapons, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. Do you know any yōma we can defeat that have parts that can be made into weapons?”

Sword-Leg Spiders, White Wolves, and Serpent-Blade Goats came to mind.

“Under those conditions, Serpent-Blade Goats would be best. But those things move in herds.”

I discussed it with Yingjie and Xiaotan while we worked out a plan. During that, Yingjie told me there was a plant that gave off an odor yōma hated. It was a plant called Hanamoge Grass. Who had given it a name like that? Well, whatever. Apparently, if its leaves were ground up and dried, they gave off an odor yōma hated.

“Does that work on Serpent-Blade Goats too?”

When I checked, Yingjie shrugged.

“We won’t know unless we try.”

If we learned that Hanamoge Grass was effective against Serpent-Blade Goats, we might be able to hunt them even if they were in a herd.

Starting the next day, we gathered Hanamoge Grass growing in the demon realm, ground it up, and made it into powder. This Hanamoge Grass powder began to give off an intense smell like mint mixed with a rotting stench. Since it had not dried yet, it was bearable, but apparently, once it dried, it would be far worse. We divided the powder into small portions so it could be thrown and wrapped them in oil paper.

We had no choice but to test its effect in practice, so I headed to the demon-realm grassland where Serpent-Blade Goats lived together with Yingjie and Xiaotan. If one proceeded west through the demon-realm forest, West Edge Lake, the breeding ground of Man-Piercing Birds, lay along the way. If one continued west without going there, a grassland came into view.

“Kou, do you come this far west to hunt?”

I nodded at Xiaotan’s question.

“Yes. There is a place a little north of here where Demon Twin-Spear Deer live, so I came because I want their antlers.”

“Ah, so this is the place called the Yōma Deer Grassland.”

Apparently, this grassland had a proper name. I had been calling it the western grassland, but it was called the Yōma Deer Grassland.

The Yōma Deer Grassland was a vast grassland, so various yōma had settled there. Demon Twin-Spear Deer lived in the north of the grassland, while Serpent-Blade Goats lived deeper in the west. As we advanced, the grass growing there became taller.

“Something is approaching.”

What approached us was an ordinary bear.

“We’ll defeat this one.”

Xiaotan, who specialized in Plum Blossom Spear Art, stepped forward with a spear, and Yingjie, who specialized in Heavy Resonance Sword, stepped forward with a sword. The bear was two meters long and resembled a brown bear. Since it was not a yōma, the two of them should be able to defeat it.

The bear stood up on its hind legs and attacked Xiaotan. Xiaotan swept aside the approaching claws with his spear, struck the bear’s head with the spear as he reversed it, then leapt backward.

Yingjie jumped in there and drove his sword into the bear’s neck. A moment later, blood sprayed out, and the bear collapsed. Considering the ability of the two, who had defeated the bear with such splendid skill, I thought they could defeat a Sword-Leg Spider.

“Well done.”

Yingjie gave a wry smile.

“No need for flattery. We’re taking the bear pelt and bear gallbladder back, so wait a bit.”

After that, they skinned it and also cut out the bear gallbladder, called bear gall.

“Let’s hurry. The Serpent-Blade Goats are a little farther ahead.”

When we advanced farther across the grassland, we arrived at the grassland where Serpent-Blade Goats lived. Since there were hill-like landforms here and there, the visibility was not good. So I activated my Lone Awakening Eye and searched for demonic qi.

“They are that way.”

When I pointed north, Yingjie tilted his head.

“How do you know? I used my Lone Awakening Eye too, but I couldn’t sense anything.”

“When your qi tier rises, you become able to sense farther away.”

“Huh, so that’s how it is.”

The three of us went to where the herd of Serpent-Blade Goats was. In the upwind direction about thirty meters away, a herd of eight Serpent-Blade Goats was grazing.

“Let’s choose that herd.”

“There are eight of them. Will we be all right?”

Xiaotan raised his voice anxiously. He seemed worried about what would happen if the Hanamoge Grass powder did not work.

“If the Hanamoge Grass does not work, I will help.”

“I’m counting on you. I don’t want to die before fighting a Sword-Leg Spider.”

I thought being cautious was better than being an idiot who charged recklessly. However, Xiaotan’s personality was not suited to being a martial artist. It would probably be better for him to become a disciple of a master of alchemy or treasure tool crafting.

Yingjie and Xiaotan approached the herd of Serpent-Blade Goats from downwind and targeted a Serpent-Blade Goat with magnificent horns. Then they ran out with their weapons and attacked the Serpent-Blade Goat they had targeted. Yingjie tore open its chest, and Xiaotan thrust his spear into its neck.

It happened in an instant. The Serpent-Blade Goats, which noticed that one of their companions had been killed, went mad with rage and chased the two of them.

“Seniors, the Hanamoge Grass!”

I shouted to the two, who were desperately running away. Remembering it because of my voice, the two threw the packets containing Hanamoge Grass powder behind them. The powder spread through the air and enveloped the two running downwind.

The herd of Serpent-Blade Goats stopped. The Hanamoge Grass powder had taken effect. The Serpent-Blade Goats glared at Yingjie and Xiaotan for a while, but then left to get away from the smell as quickly as possible.

The two approached.

“Stop. You stink.”

When I said that, the two looked hurt. It really did stink, so it could not be helped.

“Kou, that is a little cruel.”

Yingjie complained.

“It is the truth, so it can’t be helped.”

I instructed the two to cut the horns from the Serpent-Blade Goat’s corpse. If they made weapons from these horns, they should be able to kill a Sword-Leg Spider too.