The little boy's name was Chouji. Many people disliked him because he scammed others using Crystallized Marrow.
But if you truly understood his story, you would instead feel a hint of sympathy for him.
The root of everything was the Sakoku Decree issued by the Raiden Shogun. This policy pushed the already struggling people of Watatsumi Island to a dead end, thereby inciting their resistance.
The war between Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate immediately erupted. The indirect impact of this war was that the Tenryou Commission frantically exploited the workers of Tatarasuna, forcing them to work more than sixteen hours a day.
Under these circumstances, the furnace core of Tatarasuna exploded, and Chouji's father unfortunately died in that accident.
Not only did the Tenryou Commission not provide any compensation, but they also pushed all the responsibility for the accident onto the workers, claiming that operational errors led to this tragedy, and refused to issue severance pay.
Chouji and his mother depended on each other for survival, living a difficult life, barely making ends meet with the occasional help from his father's former co-workers.
However, misfortune targets the unfortunate. Chouji's mother was unfortunately afflicted by an evil spirit, suffering from illness and pain day after day.
Facing these successive blows and the heavy pressure of life, Chouji, who was only six years old, was forced onto this helpless and irreversible path.
After listening to Chouji's narration, both Yae Miko and Chiori felt heavy-hearted.
The root cause of the hardships Chouji experienced was all due to human error.
And the culprit behind all of this was undoubtedly Ei's incompetence and inability.
Facing the suffering endured by the child before her, Yae Miko had to admit that Ei was indeed a derelict deity.
Soon after, the group, led by Chouji, entered the dilapidated and deserted Higi Village.
Most of the villagers were diligently working in the fields at this time, with only a small number of elderly people sitting by their doorways, basking in the long-awaited sun.
Walking through the winding paths of the village, the houses on both sides mostly appeared old and worn, some even abandoned.
Finally, the group arrived at Chouji's home. It was a thatched hut that looked weathered and on the verge of collapsing.
The thatch on the roof had yellowed, and some parts were even damaged. Whenever the wind blew, it made a rustling sound.
Stepping inside, the sight that met their eyes was emptiness. Aside from simple household items, there wasn't even a decent chair.
In the corner of the room, a haggard-looking woman lay on a worn-out straw bed. Her eyes were tightly closed, and a strange, evil aura emanated from her.
Yae Miko sighed softly, walked slowly to the woman's bedside, squatted down, and gently took the woman's hand with her slender fingers.
As a gentle light shone from Yae Miko's palm, a mysterious and warm power slowly flowed into the woman's body.
The strange evil aura that had originally enveloped the woman vanished instantly under the dissipation of this power. The woman's expression also became relaxed and peaceful.
Chouji's eyes widened as he watched the scene before him joyfully, understanding that his mother was saved.
Remembering the legends he had heard before, he immediately determined that the Yae Miko before him must be the shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Lady Guuji, thank you for saving my mother!" Chouji said emotionally, his voice trembling and filled with gratitude.
Yae Miko stood up and gently waved her hand, indicating that he didn't need to be so polite.
Her tone was soft and warm: "You're welcome, Chouji. Now go around the village, door to door, and inform all the sick people to gather in the open space in the center of the village. I will treat them."
"Yes, Lady Guuji," Chouji nodded in response.
He then immediately left the room to inform the rest of the villagers of this good news.
After Chouji left, Yae Miko's gaze turned to Lin Yide, a hint of complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She said softly, "Perhaps, letting you manage Yashiori Island is the correct decision."
Lin Yide shrugged. "At least the result won't be worse than now."
Yae Miko took a deep breath and offered him an enticing condition: "Master Yide, if you can ensure that the residents of Yashiori Island continue to believe in Narukami, I am willing to teach you the cultivation method for spiritual power."
Lin Yide pondered for a moment but ultimately refused firmly: "Yae Guuji, thank you for your kindness, but I cannot accept.
Faith should be free, and moreover, the residents of Yashiori Island have never truly believed in Narukami."
He was right. Although the Inazuma Shogunate had ruled Yashiori Island for five hundred years, the island's residents had never truly believed in Narukami.
Going back in history, you would find that Yashiori Island was once a free land with no clear ruler, where the residents lived a peaceful and stable life.
Later, the Shogunate came here and established its rule.
In a sense, the Inazuma Shogunate actually appeared here as an invader.
After that, war broke out between Inazuma and Watatsumi Island, and Yashiori Island unfortunately became the battlefield where both sides clashed.
From then on, the original residents of Yashiori Island fell into endless disasters.
What was even more unacceptable to the residents of Yashiori Island was that after the war, the Raiden Shogun actually left the remains of the Great Serpent Orobashi on the island.
This extremely irresponsible act caused the residents of Yashiori Island to endure endless pain and torment for the following hundreds of years.
Coupled with the Shogunate's cruel exploitation, how could the residents of Yashiori Island possibly believe in the Raiden Shogun?
"Since the residents of Yashiori Island don't believe in Narukami, surely I can spread the faith of Narukami here, right?" Yae Miko said with some displeasure.
Lin Yide responded with a smile: "Of course you can, I welcome it very much. I just hope that those who come to spread the faith will have enough perseverance and determination to see it through to the end."
After hearing this, Yae Miko glanced at Lin Yide with a hint of provocation. "How about a bet with me, then?"
Lin Yide gently shook his head, refusing her suggestion. "I won't make a bet with you, because this kind of match isn't fair. You can't win against me."
His words seemed to further ignite Yae Miko's competitive spirit. "I think you're just scared, aren't you?"
Facing Yae Miko's provocation, Lin Yide remained composed. "Yae Guuji, your goading won't work on me.
In a few more days, you'll understand why I'm unwilling to make a bet with you."