Leave a comment

In the expansive wilderness to the west of Heian-kyō, the tall grasses swayed in the gentle westerly breeze. Lily and her companions continued to run, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and their pursuers.

As Ijuin caught up with Lily, she asked anxiously, “Lily, where should we go from here?”

Lily paused, contemplating their next move. Initially, her plan had been to rescue Ayaka with the aid of the hundred demons’ army. Once Ayaka was safe, they would employ the Yomi demon projections to hold off Yoritomo and the others, buying enough time for Lily to summon her bird mount and carry Ayaka away. The rest of their companions, such as Kagura, could be safely hidden within the mirror. From there, they would fly all the way to Suno.

However, unforeseen circumstances had brought Ijuin and the other girls into the mix, complicating their journey. With the large group of Tsunaga Sisters, their progress was significantly slower than if Lily were alone. Moreover, attempting to travel through the imperial court or Shuten Doji’s territory with several hundred people would undoubtedly attract attention and increase the risk of discovery.

“Sister Lily!” Yuuta suddenly ran up and exclaimed, “Three kilometers southwest from here is the sacred shrine of the Taira Clan, the Raccoon Mita Temple! They have a teleportation formation!”

Lily’s eyes widened as she recalled her previous encounter with the teleportation formation when she had returned from Izumo Province. If they could reach the deep mountains and forests of the raccoons in Izumo, it would be nearly impossible for Yoritomo to find them.

Moreover, the teleportation formation at the Mita Temple seemed to be the only viable option, as its precise location remained a mystery and inaccessible from the outside. Lily had stumbled upon it by chance, thanks to the collapse of the main peak of Izumo Mountain during her encounter with heavenly punishment.

“Excellent! Let’s make our way to the Mita Temple,” Lily declared with newfound hope. Mita had come to her aid, so it was unlikely he would prohibit them from using the teleportation formation. It was the breakthrough they desperately needed.

With the path to the Mita Temple before them, Lily saw a glimmer of escape, a ray of light amid the darkness of their predicament.

They pressed on, swiftly covering the three-kilometer distance. For individuals of their caliber, traversing such a distance was a matter of moments.

Lily couldn’t shake off her concern that Raccoon Mita’s efforts might not be sufficient to hold off Yoritomo’s relentless army for long. Despite their swift pace, she knew it was only a matter of time before they were discovered and apprehended.

As they journeyed, Lily had momentarily forgotten about the shortcut to the Mita Temple. Thankfully, Yuuta reminded her just in time.

However, upon reaching the temple’s entrance, their hopes were dashed. The gate stood firmly shut, adorned with Taira Clan banners. A sizable contingent of Taira Clan troops lined the walls, their bows and arrows aimed directly at Lily’s group.

A moment of disbelief swept through the group.

Observing the situation, Shizuru stepped forward, her voice filled with urgency. “It’s me! Why haven’t you opened the gate?”

Yet, the bows remained drawn, arrows poised, and the gate stubbornly sealed shut.

Stepping onto the wall, Iemori, the commanding officer of the left imperial guards, appeared—a figure both slim and formidable. His voice carried authority as he addressed the group. “By the order of Lord Kiyomori, given the great turmoil that has befallen Heian-kyō tonight, the Taira Clan shall remain impartial and offer no aid to either side. No one is permitted to enter the temple grounds.”

The group stood in stunned disbelief. They had braved perilous circumstances and made significant sacrifices to reach this point, only to be met with a resolute denial of entry.

Lily, Shizuka Gozen, and Tomoe Gozen stepped forward, their expressions grave.

Shizuka Gozen, her black hair restored and her voice once again gentle and ethereal, spoke with a detached tone. It was evident that her previous hatred no longer consumed her thoughts. “Lily, we must consider this carefully. Forcing our way into the Mita Temple may not be challenging, but it would mean antagonizing Lord Kiyomori and the entire Taira Clan. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that Lord Kiyomori is present within the temple…”

Lily understood Shizuka Gozen’s implications all too well. While the Taira Clan had shown her kindness, they would not forsake their allegiance to the court on her behalf.

With the imperial court and two of the three archdemons already counted among her enemies, Lily couldn’t afford to add more enemies to her list. It went against her principles to harm members of the Taira Clan without provocation. Despite the challenges they faced in reaching this point, Lily knew she had to respect the Taira Clan’s decision.

Taking a few steps forward, Lily found herself confronted by the stern warriors of the Taira Clan, their bows and arrows aimed at her.

“Lord Iemori,” Lily addressed him, her voice filled with sincerity, “can you please allow us entry, even as a gesture of our past connection? Lady Ayaka is gravely injured… Please, I implore you to help us. In the future, I will use all my strength to repay your kindness.”

Iemori’s expression grew solemn. “Miss Kagami, if it were up to me alone, I would gladly assist you. But by doing so, I would unintentionally endanger millions within the Taira Clan. Lord Kiyomori has expressly forbidden your entry, Kagami Lily, as well as Fujiwara no Ayaka. I… can’t go against these orders. Please, don’t make this any more difficult for me. I am well aware of your strength, Miss Kagami. If you insist on entering, it will be over my dead body.” Iemori raised his longbow, pointing it directly at Lily.

A coldness filled Lily’s gaze. The Taira Clan’s decision was not misplaced. The world did not revolve around her personal desires and vendettas. They had chosen neutrality to safeguard themselves. She couldn’t afford to act recklessly and jeopardize their position.

“Lord Iemori, I understand. I will not enter the temple or engage in a conflict with the Taira Clan. I will leave now. However, there is one request I have for you,” Lily said earnestly. “Can you provide shelter for these Tsunaga Sisters? The actions I took, such as attacking the court and rescuing the chief advisor, were all my doing. The court’s animosity is directed towards me, not these sisters. Among them, there are likely many who have ties to your Taira Clan. Lord Iemori, I implore you not to abandon these young girls, who have no means to defend themselves, to face their fate alone.”

“This… please allow me to inform Lord Kiyomori,” Iemori exclaimed. As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes widened in astonishment. Instructions from Kiyomori had already been conveyed directly to his consciousness, who was nearby but chose not to reveal himself.

In terms of seniority, Kiyomori surpassed Yoritomo by one generation. He was an unparalleled powerhouse at the quintuple-soul Big Dipper Stage, having retired many years ago.

Iemori then conveyed Kiyomori’s message, saying, “Lord Kiyomori has stated that, with the exception of Kagami Lily and Fujiwara no Ayaka, others are permitted to enter the temple but may not use the teleportation formation of our Taira Clan’s sacred shrine. However, our Taira Clan is willing to offer temporary shelter to these girls.”

To be honest, apart from Lily and Ayaka, most of the other women held little significance in Yoritomo’s eyes. However, among the Tsunaga Sisters, there were several who had connections to influential government or samurai families, including the renowned Genji Clan. If Kiyomori decided to provide shelter for them, the court wouldn’t aggressively pursue the matter.

“Then… I extend my heartfelt thanks to Lord Kiyomori.” Lily expressed her gratitude with a respectful bow. She appreciated the Taira Clan’s willingness to offer temporary refuge to her companions.

“And what about you, Lily?” As Tomoe Gozen sat atop her Thunder Spirit Skeleton Horse, she turned to Lily and inquired about their next course of action. Lily simply waved her hand.

Boom! As the white smoke cleared, a magnificent bird with a wingspan of more than ten meters materialized before them. It was their ticket to fly to Suno, a swift and reliable mode of transportation for Lily and her companions.

Shiu stood by Ayaka’s side, offering support, while Shimizu, Mizue, and Lily formed a united front. Bound by their strong sisterly bond, they were determined to stay together through thick and thin.

Considering the limited capacity of the summoned mount, only a few of them could ride on it, which meant their travel speed would be at most half as fast as Lily’s maximum running speed. Would Yoritomo and his men be able to catch up once they flew far away?

“Excellent!” Tomoe Gozen nodded approvingly, her gaze fixed on the impressive projection of the powerful bird, which possessed incredible speed at the Throned Sovereign Stage. It left one to wonder about its astonishing velocity. “I can now rest assured. Lily, I shall take my leave. We shall meet again when the time comes to face Yoritomo in a decisive battle!”

“Lady Tomoe Gozen, I am deeply grateful for risking your life to save us. Such kindness…”

“Time is of the essence; we can discuss it later! Farewell!” With a firm command, Tomoe Gozen spurred her horse and gracefully ascended into the sky, disappearing amidst the clouds. When it came to long-distance travel speed, there was no Big Dipper Stage expert who could match Tomoe Gozen.

However, the warhorse required a significant distance to reach its maximum acceleration. While its instantaneous burst speed might be inferior to other Big Dipper Stage experts, once it gained momentum, no one could catch up.

“Lily, in that case, I shall also take my leave,” Shizuka Gozen declared.

“Lady Shizuka Gozen…thank you for saving me!” Lily expressed her gratitude, realizing her previous apprehension towards her had been misplaced. Perhaps the spirit of Lord Yoshitsune was not fully aware of the current situation.

“Lily, there is no need for such formality. In fact, I have something I wish to discuss with you and seek your assistance, but now is not the time. We shall cross paths again in the future.”

With those words, Shizuka Gozen produced a black spell talisman. With a resounding bang, the talisman transformed into an enigmatic yellow sulfur smoke that drifted away and dissipated.

Lily couldn’t contain her immense gratitude.Had it not been for the selfless actions of Shizuka Gozen and Tomoe Gozen, they could have easily escaped in the blink of an eye, leaving Lily and her sisters to fend for themselves.

The Tsunaga Sisters, along with the female cavalry of the Uesugi family, entered the temple, and Iemori observed their actions without uttering a word.

“Sister Lily, I will remain at Mita Temple for now and return to Heian-kyō once the storm has subsided to gather information for you,” Yuuta said, tugging at Lily’s tattered skirt.

Lily felt a pang of worry in her heart upon hearing this. “Yuuta, it’s too dangerous to go back to Heian-kyō. Why don’t you come with us?”

Boom! Yuuta transformed into a young boy. “Sister Lily, I am a raccoon. Will Yoritomo bother himself with capturing me? Besides, I can shapeshift, so you don’t have to worry!”

“Alright, please take care of yourself,” Lily responded.

Yuuta returned to his original form, wiggling his plump body and displaying his large tail before darting into the temple. Members of the raccoon family had unrestricted access to the Mita Temple, and no one in the Taira Clan had the authority to stop them.

The sisters assisted Ayaka onto the bird, with Lily sitting beside her at the front. With a single thought, the colossal bird flapped its long wings and soared into the sky.

With its Throned Sovereign Stage power, the bird possessed astonishing speed. After another mighty flap of its wings, it surged forward, disappearing into the distance.

…

At this moment, the capital remained in a state of turmoil, appearing eerily vacant. With the retreat of the hundred demons under Michizane and Masakado, these vengeful spirits redirected their anger towards the capital once again, launching attacks on strategic military sites and the residences of public officials.

However, the majority of the black-armored army’s elite troops had been deployed to pursue Lily, leading to significant casualties among their ranks. Shenzu, along with her Rokuhara Army, tirelessly engaged in rescue operations, gradually becoming exhausted. Consequently, this night marked one of the most chaotic periods Heian-kyō had experienced in decades.

Naturally, a horde of hundreds of demons descended upon the Bureau of Justice, where only a handful of guards remained, consisting mainly of local soldiers with limited training. Despite driving the soldiers away, the demons persisted, storming into the dungeon and liberating all the prisoners, further exacerbating the chaos.

Amidst the pandemonium, a large white dog adorned with three golden butterflies stealthily infiltrated the deepest recesses of the prison. Possessing the power of the Throne Stage, the dog ferociously attacked a group of stationed black-armored guards, leaving behind a gruesome scene of blood-splattered walls. The golden butterflies, in turn, stood watch, guarding the area.

With a single bite, the mighty dog shattered the chains restraining a particular cell and forcefully broke down the door. Inside sat a mature and beautiful woman, dressed in a short white gown and black silk leggings, marveling at the outside world.

“Madam Ashikaga, Master has sent me to rescue you,” the dog said.

This dog was none other than the demon hound, born from Lily’s resentful energy¹, while the golden butterflies manifested from Shimizu’s own resentment. Although summoning a painted projection would require some time after its previous dissolution, a body formed from resentment could swiftly reform immediately after destruction.

During their escape from the city, Ijuin had mentioned that Ashikaga was imprisoned within the Bureau of Justice. Consequently, Lily discreetly released the demon hound to carry out the rescue mission. With the imperial court’s experts relentlessly pursuing Lily, infiltrating the Bureau of Justice and executing the rescue proved less challenging than anticipated, thanks to the prolonged state of chaos within the institution.

1. Robinxen: All sorts is going on now!