Yoshiwara is not the only place where you can find girls’ houses.
Vegetable shops, rain shops, pharmacies, grocery stores... Yoshiwara has all the shops you can imagine that are necessary for daily life.
The people who live in Yoshiwara are not just wandering women, there are also many ordinary people - most of them are employees who work in the wandering women's house, or officials who work at the Shirobei Club.
The above-mentioned shops specialize in the business of traveling girls who cannot leave Yoshiwara, as well as the townsfolk living in Yoshiwara.
Although Yoshiwara is a city with everything you need and complete functions, at the end of the day it is just a red light district.
Small is by no means small, but big is not that big either.
It only took more than half an hour for Qingdeng and Guashengxiu to search all the places Baiju often visited and might go to - and found nothing.
Since just now, Qingdeng and Guasheng have both fallen silent due to their heavy hearts.
Throughout her life, Gua Shengxiu regarded it as her responsibility to "protect wandering girls".
A wandering girl... and a wandering girl with whom she had a pretty good relationship disappeared without any reason, and she could not be found - it goes without saying how big a blow this had to Gua Shengxiu.
Not to mention Qingdeng.
Bai Ju is the only clue he currently has to track down the gang.
In order to obtain this line, he even had a head-on conflict with the Huo Fu thieves.
He had worked so hard to finally get such a precious clue, but it was cut off in such an inexplicable way... How could Qingdeng feel relieved? How could he swallow this frustration?
"Hanada-kun, we're here. This is the last place I could imagine Baiju might come to..."
Hearing this, Qingdeng raised his eyes and looked around - a huge lantern came into view.
"here it is?"
As soon as this question came out of his mouth, Qingdeng realized the answer himself.
Huge lantern... There is only one place in Yoshiwara that has a huge lantern.
Guashengxiu’s next answer confirmed the correctness of Qingdeng’s conjecture.
"This is the Akiha Idori dedicated to Akiha Gongen."
Akiha Gongen: A deity born from the combination of the mountain faith and Shugendo in Mount Akihabara in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, under the combination of gods and Buddhas. It is also known as "Akiha Sanshakubo Daigongen".
[Shugendo: a type of traditional Japanese asceticism that combines the characteristics of Chinese Buddhism and Japanese Shintoism. It was once very popular in Japan, and believers practiced strict asceticism in various spiritual mountains. 】
[The combination of Shinto and Buddhism: Japan’s native Shinto beliefs and Buddhism are compromised and then combined into a belief system. Generally refers to the phenomenon of the unification of Shinto and Buddhism in Japan.]
Akiba Gon is now a household name in Japan. She is regarded as the "fire god" who can prevent fires.
Why is Akiha Gongen enshrined in Yoshiwara to prevent fires?
The reason is not complicated.
First, the "Kanyei Fire" that burned the entire "Moto Yoshihara" to ashes two hundred years ago and turned most of the wandering girls into humanoid charcoal, left a deep shadow on the public's minds.
Already.
Second, Yoshihara is one of the areas where fires occur most frequently in Edo.
Although according to Yoshiwara rules, yandere girls can retire at the age of 28, but this does not mean that yandere girls can sit back and relax after reaching the age of 28.
First of all, in this era without advanced hygiene concepts; in this working environment where day and night are reversed and there is no rest day to speak of, the wandering girls who can live to the age of 28 are all "chosen people" with extremely good luck.
.
Even if you are really favored by God and manage to survive until the age of 28 when you can retire, you still have to overcome another obstacle as difficult as the natural chasm before you can truly embrace freedom - pay off your debts.
All the wandering girls in Yoshiwara are deeply in debt.
Daily food and clothing expenses, etc., are all recorded in the personal accounts of the traveling girls.
Wandering girls with some reputation are obliged to take the newcomers with them and be responsible for their upbringing. The newcomers are responsible for taking care of the seniors' daily life, and their food and clothing expenses are recorded in the senior's account.
The girls who were sold to Yoshiwara by their families were even worse. While they had to pay off their living expenses, they also had to spend a large amount of money to redeem their deeds.
In the end, he was nominally free, but he still had to work hard to repay debts that he didn't know how long it would take to repay...perhaps he would never be able to repay them in his lifetime.
The extremely harsh living environment has distorted the minds of countless wandering girls.
In order to retaliate against society, a large number of psychopathic wandering girls deliberately set fires.
The incidence rate of "man-made fires" in Yoshiwara is astonishing.
Not to mention the distant past, just talking about the man-made fires that have occurred in Yoshihara in recent years include:
In the second year of Honghua (1845), Yuqin (16 years old), a traveling girl in the Kawajin House, and three other people set fire to the house.
In the second year of Kayei (1849), three man-made fires occurred one after another in this year. The arsonists of the first two fires were Kiyokawa (25 years old) and Daiharu (15 years old). As for the last fire...
The number of arsonists was unprecedented - sixteen wandering girls from Umemoto House set fire to the house together.
In the fifth year of Jiayong (1852), Yuju (35 years old) set fire to the house.
In the third year of Anzheng (1856), Mei Zhi (27 years old) set fire to the house.
These are only the major disasters. As for the intentional arson incidents with a smaller scope of damage, there are countless more.
Fortunately, these fires were put out quickly and did not cause much damage.
But... no one can guarantee that they and this Yoshiwara can escape the next fire.
Yoshihara's closed environment is destined to have disastrous consequences if the fire gets out of control.
Arson incidents broke out every three days... The people of Yoshiwara felt helpless and placed their hope in the protection of gods.
Therefore, the Mount Akiha Illumination located in the deepest part of Nakano-machi is considered one of the most popular places in Yoshiwara.
Wandering girls and ordinary people living in Yoshiwara often come here to worship in their spare time, praying to the "Fire God" Akiha Gongen to protect them from being killed by "fire and smoke".
It was obviously night time, but there were still many people gathered around the Akiba Mountain Tsunemei.
Qingdeng raised his eyes and looked around.
The flow of people passing by on his left and right sides could not be said to be crowded, but they could also be said to be bustling.
Because it is the working hours of the yandere girls, the people still walking on the streets of Yoshiwara at this time are either tourists, residents of Yoshiwara, or entertainers and handymen who work for the yandere girls' houses.
"Damn... there are too many people..."
While Guashengxiu struggled to stand on tiptoes, she stretched her neck to the extreme limit - she tried to look for Baiju's figure "condescendingly".
However... no matter how she stood on tiptoes and stretched her neck, it would only change her height from a "short winter melon" to a "slightly better short winter melon".
Wherever you look, you still see other people's backs and chests...
At this time, Qingdeng suddenly said:
"Grandma Guasheng, please sit on my shoulders!"
After saying that, Qingdeng squatted down with his back to Gua Shengxiu.
Qingdeng didn't know what Bai Ju looked like. If he wanted to find someone, he could only rely on Gua Sheng. Therefore, "lending" his height to this "pocket old man" was the best solution at the moment.
"Okay, then I'll trouble you!"
Guashengxiu also didn’t include the lake, so he readily agreed to Qingdeng’s proposal.
She took a step forward, kicked off the ground, and sat down neatly on Qingdeng's shoulders.
Although his body is old and decayed, his skills are still strong.
Gua Shengxiu's body was lighter than Qingdeng expected.
After she sat up, Qingdeng didn't even feel her weight.
Anyone who has seen a women's kimono knows that the hem of a women's kimono is very tight and narrow, so narrow that even walking quickly is difficult.
Therefore, Gua Shengxiu could not spread her legs and sit directly on Qingdeng's entire neck. She could only close her legs and sit on one of Qingdeng's shoulders.
Yoshiwara Toshin, a female swordsman who is good at wielding wooden swords... These names can easily give people the impression that "Hide Kuanao must be a rough and arrogant woman".
In fact, it is not the case.
Gua Shengxiu's demeanor is surprisingly well-mannered.
Her sitting posture at this time is too elegant. For this reason, she does not look like "sitting", but more like "floating" gently on Qingdeng's shoulders.
One look and you can tell that Gua Shengxiu must have received a pretty good education in the past.
Such behavior, coupled with her serious surname... Qingdeng couldn't help but speculate that the old man sitting on his shoulder at this moment must have been a little girl, even if she was not a lady in the past.
"Hanada-kun! Can you please go under the cherry blossom tree?"
The sound of melons growing beautifully came from overhead.
After saying this, Gua Shengxiu stretched out his hand and pointed to a bare cherry tree not far away.
Every spring, Yoshiwara hires tree planters to plant cherry blossom trees side by side on both sides of the streets in Nakano-machi.
In spring, Nakano Town will be transformed into a veritable "street of flowers" surrounded by countless cherry blossom trees.
For the people of Edo, "Oiran Road surrounded by cherry blossom rain" is one of the sights that must be witnessed in this life.
[Oran's Way: The journey where the oiran leads a large group of servants from the maid's house to greet the guests is called "Oiran's Way", also known as "Oran's Tour"]
In 2 months, it will be the cherry blossom season.
Tree planters have now begun planting cherry trees.
Bare cherry blossom trees can be seen everywhere on the streets of Nakano-machi.
Upon hearing this, Qingdeng quickly put away the messy thoughts in his mind, followed Gua Shengxiu's instructions to squeeze through the crowd, and walked to the foot of the cherry blossom tree she pointed to.
The location chosen by Guashengxiu is very good.
You can have a panoramic view of the Akiba Mountain Tomelight and the surrounding area.
Gua Shengxiu held Qingdeng's back with one hand, and put his fingers together on his brow bone with the other hand.
Just move your eyes like this, and scan every location within your field of vision back and forth several times...
"No... I still haven't seen Bai Ju..."
Gua Shengxiu let out a frustrated sigh.
Was it in vain again? Qingden curled his lips.
"Grandma Guasheng, apart from the places we just visited, are there any other places Baiju might go to?"
Qingden asked in a low voice.
Gua Shengxiu pondered for a moment, then shook his head.
"No more...Baiju is not the kind of girl who particularly likes to wander around outside. These are the only places she likes to go and where she might go."
As Gua Shengxiu finished speaking, Qingdeng couldn't help but look solemn.
Since they had indeed searched all the places where Baiju might be present as Kuwahide said...then, even Kuwahide, who insisted that "it would not be that easy for a wandering girl to escape from Yoshiwara", could not
If we don't face the following reality - Baiju may no longer be in Yoshiwara, but somewhere outside Yoshiwara.
If so, that would be troublesome.
How big is the world outside Yoshiwara?
If Baiju is really no longer in Yoshiwara...then Aoden and Guashu may not be able to find Baiju even if it takes them a month, a whole year, or even a lifetime.
After all, the information at hand is still too little.
I don’t even know whether Bai Ju escaped on her own for some reason or was kidnapped...
Whoosh——!
Suddenly, just when Qingdeng and Guashengxiu were at a loss what to do, another gust of cold wind struck.
Gua Shengxiu does not wear her hair in a bun.
Her hairstyle is exactly the same as Souji's - neat bangs on her forehead and a neat short ponytail on the back of her head.
While Gua Shengxiu reached out to hold down her ponytail that was blown up and down by the cold wind, she raised her eyes and looked at the evergreen lights of Mount Akiye not far away.
"Speaking of which... half a year ago, Fenghua and her lover had such a windy night..."
"Because Fenghua was chosen on a windy night and in the hearts of her lovers, so the later imitators such as Hongmei were also chosen on windy nights and in the hearts of their lovers..."
"Oh...what a bunch of silly girls..."
"Life is everything..."
"If you lose your wealth or love, you can try to get it over again, but if you lose your life, you really have nothing..."
Qingden smiled bitterly and looked up at Gu Shengxiu who was moved by the scene.
Just at this time.
Just when Qingdeng's eyebrows were raised and his eyes were raised to look at Gua Shengxiu who was still sitting on his shoulder.
His eyes suddenly froze.
Out of the corner of his left eye, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a scene... a scene that made him very concerned.
Qingden slowly turned his head and eyes, looking directly at the scene that concerned him the most - a young man sitting peacefully on a bench in a tea house.
This is a tea house open on the right side of Aoto, adjacent to Mount Akiba, with its ever-lit lights on.
The scent of tea floats in the air, the word "tea" is written in big letters on the door curtain, and there is a bench for guests to sit outside the shop door... It is a very standard and common tea house in Edo.
I saw the young man who was fixed by Aoshito's gaze. He was holding a Shamisen frame in his left hand and a well-proportioned orange cat in his right hand. He was carrying a medium-sized bag on his back that could not be seen from the outside.
Bamboo basket.
The orange cat in the young man's arms shrank its body tightly, its limbs and tail were extremely stiff, and its pair of cat eyes seemed to be in a daze.
"..." Qingdeng lowered his eyelids and thought.
At this time, a girl dressed as a geisha, holding a shamisen in her arms, passed by Qingnobo.
Just when the geisha was about to cross paths with Aoto, Aoto stopped her.
"Girl, stay."
Qingdeng put down the melon shengxiu on his shoulders and continued.
"Can you lend me your shamisen? I'll return it to you soon. Don't worry, I won't damage your shamisen."
"Ah? This..."
The geisha's face was full of reluctance.
Musical instruments are the bread and butter of musicians like them who make a living by playing and singing.
Borrowing a musical instrument from them is like borrowing a sword from a samurai.
However, despite her full reluctance, the geisha did not dare to say "no" - she looked at the sword on Aoto's waist with fearful eyes, and reluctantly handed the shamisen in her arms to Aoto.
Deng.
"Hanada-kun, what are you going to do?"
Gua Shengxiu looked puzzled.
Qingdeng did not answer Guasheng.
After taking a cursory look at the shamisen that the geisha temporarily lent him, he strode towards the young man holding the cat in his arms.
On the way, he held the shamisen steady and then started playing.
Of course Ayoto doesn't know how to play shamisen.
All he played were notes of unknown meaning.
Qingdeng's strange behavior naturally attracted the attention of many people around him - the young man holding the cat was no exception.
The young man and the cat in his arms both raised their heads and cast doubtful glances at Qingden, who was playing the piano and walking toward them.
Qingdeng ignored the strange looks from all around and strode towards the young man as usual.
His eyes were fixed on the young man... no, to be more precise, he was staring at the orange cat in the young man's arms.
"Hey." The young man frowned, "Who are you? What are you doing... Wow!"
The young man's voice suddenly turned into a miserable wail.
Soon after, Qingden suddenly let go of the shamisen in his hand, then stretched out his hands, held down the young man's left shoulder and right wrist respectively, and knocked him to the ground with superb grappling techniques!
Peng!
The body collided with the earth, making a dull sound that was neither light nor heavy.
Meow~!
The frightened orange cat screamed and then jumped to the side.
The bamboo basket on the young man's back rolled to the ground.
"Hanada-kun!"
Gua Shengxiu rushed forward quickly.
"What are you doing?!"
Qingdeng still ignored Gua Shengxiu’s accusation.
"Miss Guasheng."
He said in a solemn voice.
"Hurry up and check out this guy's bamboo basket!"
"Bamboo basket?"
Although she didn't understand what Qingdeng wanted, but perhaps she was forced by the momentum Qingdeng was showing at the moment, Gua Shengxiu didn't ask more "why", she walked towards the bamboo that fell not far away in three steps and two steps at a time.
basket.
"Wait, wait a minute! No!"
The young man who was pinned to the ground by Qingdeng screamed.
Gua Shengxiu opened the bamboo basket - the next breath, her eyes widened in shock.
In the bamboo basket, there was a living, sleeping person lying.
"Baiju?!"
Gua Shengxiu exclaimed.
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How did Aoshito discover that there was something wrong with this young man holding a cat? This may be difficult to guess because it involves a lot of historical knowledge about the Edo period. People who do not have the corresponding knowledge reserves may not even know why.
If anyone can guess the answer, the author will update it by 10,000 tomorrow!
This chapter has been completed!