"See you, guys! Gotta leave for the western part!"
After going back to the city, Yoichi decided to speedrun the collection of gods and meet up with the last monk since it was completely monotonous and uninteresting to stay in one place. Also, a good way to visit these landmarks in a singular sweep before submerging into the research once more.
"What?! Wait a minute, you are leaving us for that? Can you rest for a little bit more?" Maki and the rest unwillingly nodded.
They merely even stepped inside and now he's leaving once more? What about them?
"That's right! What about your promised vacation? Maybe, you are hiding something from us..." Satomi narrowed her eyebrows and hoisted herself into Yoichi's back, carefree and smelling his scent deeply.
"It's a barren wasteland! It's in the name itself, an endless amount of sand! There are no destinations or even a specialty... Well, maybe a grilled scorpion? Anyway, I will be back in two weeks, so it will be easy for me to tread the path to the land..." Yoichi bitterly smiled yet didn't fazed a bit by their dejected faces and pleading eyes.
"Be careful there... We couldn't stop you with your feet but visit us regularly, these children are waiting for you..." Makima shook her head and smiled at him, agreeing with his departure while the others were still recovering from the downcasted mood.
"Don't try to plant a red flag! I am only leaving for 2 weeks and you are sad like I am going to die or something! I need to visit the last monk from the western part since they have a plan concerning all of your eventual death. It's like this..." Yoichi stated his reasons and laid out the 3 monks' great plan.
After hearing his discovery, the rest were stunned. A new bud of respect and admiration seeped through the hearts of his wives and students for the 3 great monks' compassionate plan. The selfless sacrifice of the monks to build a Pure Land for the people was something so admirable and incomprehensible for them. Hence, Yoichi could establish a piece of land whenever they eventually die due to old age and revive them back to the exciting world Yoichi has been describing for them all the time.
"Ooohhh... That's why you wanted to meet them." The rest nodded voluntarily... It would be good if they established a statue for these 3 monks for creating such a benevolent gift for humanity.
"Anyway, I will be back soon!" Yoichi left with his space pouch carrying enough supplies for his journey as the others waved their hands, a cheerful farewell to their clan leader.
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After 1 day, he reached the branches of rivers and forestry near the barren wasteland. On Yoichi's description, it looked like it was the Pre-Land of Rivers. Countless tributaries and swamps along with the hostile Indigenous tribes living in these lands. The notable difference was the water going to the ocean due to the countless rains and moisture from Kurikara Town, the Pre-Land of Rain.
Therefore, he went ahead on his journey since there was nothing new about the land due to muddy lands yet rich in water. Based on his trajectory, Yoichi could meet the monk in just 2 days of traveling with ease until...
"Greetings, sir. I would like—Oh! It's the Benefactor that Monk Ananada and Monk Chaiya were talking about! Greetings, Benefactor! My name is Bu from the Sunago Shrine..." The khaki-dressed monk bowed with a smile, looking at Yoichi like a Buddha in the forsaken land.
"Hello, old monk! My name is Yoichi Murakami! I would like to ask you, what are you doing here?" Yoichi politely bowed and curiously asked the monk. Although he knew the monk's intention of taking water here, why not live in the rivers?
"Hahaha, we are trying to take these water supplies for our city near the oasis... There were still merchants buying gold around these parts so the economy was still quite steady at least." Bu carried the water buckets with his people toward the city meanwhile Yoichi followed suit, carrying water buckets was an easy task and posed no problem.
"Benefactor, do you think it is salvageable living in this barren wasteland with greed in mind?" Bu asked without any malice, pure curiosity lingered.
"In honesty, no. However, I understand their plight. These people were just gamblers of fate, still struggling to find the right cards in the wrong deck." Yoichi merely followed through with his small talk since there was nothing else to do.
"How about they should stop that risky wager? They will be stable and freely enjoy their lives in a meaningful manner!" The monk exclaimed and enthusiasm skyrocketed in his mood.
"Easier said than done, old monk... The pendulum still swings regardless of the outcome... The world has been unfair toward them as if like a joke slapped into their faces... It's their last-ditch effort, a desperate struggle against fate even though they have a safe and stable choice." Yoichi sighed with a knowing look in his eyes, seeing the sight of blowing sand across the distance.
Race, ethnicity, class, and social standards were just the same old prejudices that humans have been fighting for over their entire lifetime. They will create more problems without any solutions and vice versa. It's like reinventing a wheel.
"However, Monk Bu could lead the way and give guidance to the strayed people... I know these people here are stubborn but there are others needed to be protected... Isn't that your mission here in this forsaken land?" Yoichi smiled along the way with his water buckets, looking at the greenery from the distance, an oasis small enough for the few people living there.
'Benefactor's right... Just because we can teach them doesn't mean all of them will follow our path. We have our missions in life and teaching obstinate people who are still blinded by desire will be time-consuming. Guidance must be mutual.'
After comprehending Yoichi's words, the old monk looked at him with gratitude and clarity in his mind.
Finally, he figured out his mission.
"Benefactor, thank you for your vital advice. I hope you can forgive us in the impoverished state of the oasis." Bu bitterly smiled and bowed slightly.
"Hahaha! You don't need to be polite to me, old monk. I can help you with this small oasis!" Yoichi understood their predicament and shook his head.
It was a desert, what did he expect? Nothing.
"Yin-Yang Release: Nirvana!"
In an instant, a mystical scene happened as the lush grasses and palm trees widened along with the lake in the center. The constant stretch of the vibrant life began encompassing the wide array of sands into a soil, enough to construct a village around the oasis as an occupiable space for people. It would potentially stay for a few centuries until it deteriorates.
"Whoa! Water! Water! HAHAHA! We have a water now!"
"We can live here in this oasis for a long time!"
"HAHAHA! These trees were so beautiful!"
"Benefactor... I couldn't find a way to be thankful for your supernatural ability! It was stunning to see it by myself!" Looking at the joyful scene, Bu smiled and was reasonably grateful for the blessing.
"It is unnecessary for courtesies, it was goodwill toward these people! I merely did what I thought was right..." Yoichi awkwardly ruffled his hair and smiled cheekily, an optimistic attitude soared.
Bu merely nodded in response as they enjoyed the delightful occasion of the people in the distance.
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"Is there any kind of god here, old monk? I want to seal them so the people can't be deceived by these forces of nature... Perhaps you might know their locations?" Yoichi explicitly revealed his reason while Bu frowned upon hearing the word 'god' from his benefactor.
"I advise taking drastic measures, Benefactor... It was a calamity back then and the avaricious merchants became its underlings! That god was in the deep tumultuous sandstorm near the center... Maybe I should—" Bu grew serious and narrowed his eyes, the severity of the neighbor issue must be resolved until...
"No, just stay here in case of emergency. I will be venturing forth deep into the center and fighting this creature once and for all... Thank you for the valuable information but I could handle it. Anyway, see ya!" Yoichi left without any discussion, leaving Bu in a dumbfounded state.
"I could only pray for your safety, Benefactor." Regaining his mind, Bu shook his head and looked at the endless vast sands in the distance.
"..."
"It would be easy to seal this creature and speedrun their fate. Based on my speculation, these elementals lived in their natural habitat... It's their existence corresponding to the elemental attributes of the Chakra itself... How amusing!"
Beneath the extreme sunlight and vast world of sand, Yoichi looked at the occurring sandstorm right before his eyes. Tempestuous winds along with a few tornadoes made it so pretty gorgeous yet its destructiveness was unmistakable.
"Let's finish this quickly without any interaction with these egotistical idiots, I don't have time to dawdle for trivial matters such as talking!" Yoichi stretched his fingers and cackling sounds came out, disappearing in an instant.
"Universal Swap!"
"Eight Trigrams Seal!"
Without a chance to talk, the raging tempest gradually calmed down and began to scatter. As for the underlings, they faded away without any semblance of humanity, gone along the winds.
Yoichi threw the evil sealing pot into the space pouch and began marching toward the north. His catch was good and it was a Wind God! Shiny!
Therefore, he rushed into the northern mountains without leaving any words back to the monk, completely forgotten yet happy with their little moments. Sometimes, a brief moment was enough to last for eternity.