Chapter 388: The destroyed town

The weather on **Yashiori Island** was perpetually gloomy. Thick clouds blanketed the sky, and even during the day, the world seemed shrouded in a dark, oppressive atmosphere.

Li Mo found **Washizu** near a shrine. As he approached, Washizu appeared visibly nervous and quickly walked toward him, seemingly trying to prevent Li Mo from getting too close to the shrine.

Stopping in his tracks, Li Mo asked, "Chief Washizu, what are you doing here? Are you offering sacrifices to the serpent god?"

The shrine wasn't far from the **Serpent's Head**, and with Li Mo's keen eyesight, he could tell that the offerings weren't for a fox or any other deity…

"Priest, have you… seen it?" Washizu's tone grew somber.

Li Mo replied, "I don't care about your beliefs. This isn't something I'll interfere with."

"Sorry, I don't mean any hostility toward you," Washizu said, adjusting his breathing. "Living on Yashiori Island means we have to pay our respects to it. After the miners arrived, everyone became worried that the **Tatarigami**'s power would affect us. We hoped this would help appease it."

Mortals were powerless before the gods. Even the corpse of a fallen god could pose a deadly threat after centuries.

Li Mo nodded. "I understand. That's not why I'm here. Chief Washizu, please raise your hand."

Without question, Washizu raised his hand. Li Mo grasped it firmly.

"Priest?"

"Don't speak."

Focusing, Li Mo could sense a trace of Tatarigami energy within Washizu's body. The man was being slowly eroded by the Tatarigami energy around him. If left unchecked, he would either go mad or die.

It wasn't an illusion.

When Li Mo saw Washizu near the shrine, he noticed the man was interacting with the Tatarigami energy in the area. **Higi Village** was close to **Musoujin Gorge**, where the remnants of the **Raiden Shogun**'s power suppressed the Tatarigami energy. However, in this area, the Tatarigami energy was more active, allowing Li Mo to clearly see it seeping into human bodies.

"I should have realized this earlier." Memories of the records he had seen at **Narukami Shrine** resurfaced.

Yashiori Island was where the Raiden Shogun had slain **Orobashi no Mikoto**, the serpent god. The remnants of Orobashi's power, known as Tatarigami, still lingered. According to the records at Narukami Shrine, after Orobashi's death, the shrine's former head priestess, **Lady Saiguu**, had set up wards to suppress the Tatarigami energy.

Washizu asked nervously, "Has something happened, Priest?"

"The wards suppressing the serpent god's power have failed. The Tatarigami energy is now eroding human bodies. I initially thought the miners' condition was due to the explosion, but now I realize it's the Tatarigami energy at work. I forgot that the air itself is filled with it."

Li Mo continued, "I've just removed the Tatarigami energy from your body. Go back to the village and gather everyone. I'll go check the condition of the wards."

With that, Li Mo moved. Washizu couldn't comprehend how he left—it was as if the priest had vanished in the blink of an eye.

If that speed weren't used for travel but for killing…

Washizu touched his neck, realizing that resistance would be futile against such speed.

Remembering his duties as village chief, he hurried back to Higi Village to organize the villagers. The failure of the wards and the spread of Tatarigami energy were far more urgent than the war between the Shogunate and the resistance.

---

Washizu returned to Higi Village and began gathering the villagers. Despite the confusion, everyone trusted him and willingly put aside their work to assemble.

They didn't have to wait long before Li Mo returned.

With Washizu's help, Li Mo purified the Tatarigami corruption from each villager. Washizu explained the situation, and no chaos ensued.

Li Mo told the truth, but his Narukami Shrine priest robes and calm demeanor reassured everyone. His smile made it seem like the problem wasn't insurmountable.

After purging the corruption, Li Mo used a small spell to temporarily shield the villagers from further Tatarigami erosion.

The extracted Tatarigami energy was absorbed by Li Mo, replenishing his magical reserves.

Once everything was done, Li Mo went to Washizu's house, and the chief followed him inside.

Alone, Li Mo's smile faded. "I've confirmed it. The wards suppressing the serpent god's power have been damaged. And it was done deliberately."

There were two possibilities for the wards' failure. The first was natural decay over time, which would be the responsibility of Narukami Shrine. Given that the wards were set up centuries ago, during Lady Saiguu's time, and considering the upheaval of the **Cataclysm** 500 years ago, it was understandable if historical issues hadn't been properly addressed.

But the second possibility was sabotage.

This was why Li Mo was in a bad mood.

"Sabotage?" Washizu was stunned, then his forehead bulged with veins. As a native of Yashiori Island, he knew all too well the dangers of Tatarigami energy.

Li Mo nodded. "Yes, sabotage. Did you start offering sacrifices at the shrine because you felt the Tatarigami energy surging?"

Washizu shook his head, smiling bitterly. "Actually, it's a habit. Our ancestors have lived here for generations. Whenever we face trouble, we offer sacrifices at the shrine for comfort."

"I see. I overthought it. Regarding the wards, I don't have replacements on hand. I'll need to return to Narukami Shrine. In the meantime, I'll set up a barrier around Higi Village to protect against the Tatarigami energy. Also… I assume you've been buying food from outside. I'll create talismans to protect those who leave the village from Tatarigami erosion."

After a pause, Li Mo added, "I won't interfere with who you trade with—that's not my responsibility. But I advise them not to come here. The Raiden Shogun's power at Musoujin Gorge blocks the Tatarigami energy from spreading further. Before I go, tell me more about the surrounding area. I need to make specific arrangements."

Yashiori Island's situation was complicated. The wards suppressing the serpent god's power had been sabotaged. Li Mo had studied them earlier and found them too complex to replicate quickly.

The knowledge system of **Teyvat** was different from Li Mo's own magical system. Even the **Yin-Yang Arts** he had learned couldn't fully explain the wards.

The wards were more troublesome than Li Mo had anticipated. More importantly, he realized that the wards were inherently tied to the land, not something that could be easily recreated.

If Li Mo had time, he could handle it. The simplest solution would be to devour the serpent god's entire corpse.

But that would undoubtedly cause a major uproar, so he decided to postpone that plan.

Washizu remained silent for a moment, then said, "I understand, Priest. I'll tell you everything."