Leave a comment

In the group, a towering warrior monk wearing a flat bamboo hat and dressed in tattered gray-black clothes stepped forward in front of Hakure. Hanging from his waist was a constantly trembling cloth bag.

Untying the bag, the warrior monk revealed its contents—a human head. The lower half of the head was submerged in a strange yellow liquid, and despite the gruesome state, it remained alive.

The samurai’s face wore a wretched expression as he cried out, filled with pain and hatred. “Kill me! KILL ME!” he pleaded.

Hakure seized the bag, gazing coldly at the samurai’s severed head within and sneered. “Such a pity. If only you had cooperated obediently, I might have considered accepting you as my subordinate.”

“Dream on! Even in death, I won’t swear loyalty to a beast like you!”

“Hah! You have only one mouth left to curse and scold,” Hakure retorted, bursting into laughter. “Ahahaha!”

“Kill me! If you have the guts, kill me!” the samurai screamed in agony.

“Don’t worry, once we find the lunar crystals, we’ll send you on your way,” Hakure assured him.

“The lunar crystal… that sacred artifact will bring disaster upon you! It will surely lead to your regret! You will rue the day you laid hands on it!” the head howled.

“Hahahaha! No need to worry about that! The path of advancement is fraught with peril. Just like you, who thought we couldn’t capture you in Yomi Hirazaka? Once a majestic single-soul Big Dipper expert, and now reduced to nothing more than a helpless head.”

The head writhed in extreme anguish and despair, its eyes growing dim. “I’ve already disclosed the crystal’s whereabouts. Why won’t you kill me?”

“Yes, you have indeed shared the information, but I am a naturally suspicious man. Who’s to say you haven’t deceived me? If you dare to trick me… I will take your head and visit your descendants in Kansai, making you witness the consequences! The men will be slaughtered, and the women will be subjected to unspeakable acts and sold as slaves! If you dare deceive me, rest assured, I will make you pay!”

“Devil! You beasts who wield the power of the underworld, you are more wicked than demons! If you spare me, you will come to regret it! I will personally witness your demise!”

“Pfft! Pfft!” Hakure drew a short sword and ruthlessly stabbed the head’s eyes, rendering him blind.

“Aghh—Agg—!!!” The head screamed in agony.

“Ah, my apologies. It seems you won’t be able to witness my demise,” Hakure replied sarcastically.

……

At nightfall, Lily and Ayaka pressed on along the ancient road.

“Sister Ayaka, I sense a stronger and more potent spiritual energy here compared to other places. It seems to grow more abundant the deeper we venture,” remarked Lily, her attire still the red short-skirted kimono and white knee-high socks.

“Naturally so, as this is the ascending road leading to the Ise Heavenly Gate…” Ayaka, clad in her crimson shrine maiden attire, found herself entangled in vines, causing her clothing to snag.

“Lily, please wait a moment,” Ayaka requested.

“Mm?” Lily turned her attention to Ayaka, who had positioned herself behind a sizable boulder. In the moonlight’s shadow, Lily observed a slender figure removing shrine maiden attire.

……

“Huh, does she have to use the bathroom?” Lily’s face turned crimson, and she quickly averted her gaze. Even though they were both women, it felt awkward to watch another woman in such a situation. But why did Ayaka need to remove her attire just for that? It seemed peculiar.

……

After a while, Ayaka emerged, exuding a cheerful aura. She had tied her hair back with her favorite white headband, giving her a more dignified and mature appearance. But the most notable change was her attire. Gone were the loose scarlet shrine maiden garments, replaced by a form-fitting white miko outfit. The top extended to a length that could pass as a short skirt, while she wore sleek black pantyhose underneath.

Seeing Ayaka, a mature woman, donning black pantyhose under her top was…unexpected. Lily couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered. “What? Is it that strange? You’re wearing something just as short,” Ayaka remarked, though her cheeks betrayed a hint of bashfulness.

“No, it’s nothing…” Lily hastily glanced around. “By the way, what can you tell me about the Ise Heavenly Gates?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve never seen them myself,” Ayaka admitted. Her spiritual palace had suffered severe damage, leaving her five big dipper souls dimmed. Currently, she could barely match the strength of a double-soul big dipper expert if she pushed herself. Nevertheless, in Ashihara, double-soul big dipper experts were considered formidable beings.

Lily gazed at the night sky and a realization dawned upon her. “Sister Ayaka, a day has passed. Is it time…?”

“For the body inspection?” Ayaka’s face reddened, and she hesitated. “I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“Mm? But didn’t you teach me how to use the acoustic jade for examination on our journey? Luckily, Kimiko had some acoustic jades at her house. Didn’t you use one to examine Sister Uesugi?” Lily retrieved a warm yellow-green jade, about the size of a small stone, from her pocket.

“But I’m already healed…” Ayaka protested.

“We can’t afford to be careless. I’m concerned…” Lily insisted.

“Fine, since there’s no one around,” Ayaka reluctantly agreed. As a medical practitioner, understanding the state of her own body’s recovery was crucial. However, the problem was that the acoustic jades couldn’t affect the person using them, so Ayaka couldn’t examine herself.

Ayaka scanned the surroundings and motioned for Lily to follow her. They veered off the road and sought shelter under a colossal tree. Ayaka unbuttoned her miko outfit, allowing it to slide off her delicate shoulders. Underneath, she wore nothing.

Of course, Ayaka covered her bosom with one arm, though it could only conceal the middle, and if she pressed down, her hand would sink into her ample curves. With her other hand raised high, she stretched it behind her, fully exposing her armpit.

“Come then…” Ayaka beckoned to Lily.

Lily approached Ayaka, feeling a tinge of embarrassment. Ayaka exuded an aura of maturity, yet her presence carried a youthful and divine fragrance. It seemed that only women who diligently protected their bodies and possessed a celestial maiden’s physique would possess such a scent.

Carefully, Lily placed the acoustic jade against Ayaka’s exposed armpit and activated it with her spirit energy.

“Mmm…nn…” Ayaka felt a tingling sensation, causing an itchiness and numbness, but she endured it without complaint. As Lily pressed the jade firmer into Ayaka’s armpit¹, Ayaka’s breath hitched, though she swiftly attempted to conceal any signs of discomfort by adjusting her breathing.

The color of the acoustic jade shifted from yellow-green to a combination of half blue and half purple. “Done,” Lily declared, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “According to what you explained, blue signifies good health, but what does half purple mean?”

Ayaka, still blushing, responded, “It’s fine. Being healthy is what matters.” She resumed her composed breath and swiftly readjusted her attire.

Lily persisted, her gaze dropping to a lower area. “Then, sister Ayaka, don’t we need to check the other area?”

Ayaka’s face flushed deeper. “There’s no need!”

“But…” Lily began, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“That’s enough. Let’s continue,” Ayaka interjected, her tone tinged with irritation.

Unsure why Ayaka was upset, Lily obediently followed behind. Her eyes involuntarily trailed along Ayaka’s miko outfit, gliding down to her legs clad in black pantyhose and the scantily covered rear. She couldn’t help but wonder, “Is it really okay not to check?”

……

On a hillside, ten miles ahead along the road, stood a dilapidated temple. Several imposing men guarded its entrance. Accompanied by a group of experts, Hakure and the red-robed onmyoji made their way into the temple.

Boom! Crash!

The mountain god statue was forcefully toppled and smashed onto the floor. Hanging cloth strips were torn, and objects shattered, filling the temple with billowing smoke and dust.

“Young master, please be cautious. Although the temple may be in ruins, it still holds significance on the ascending road. It’s not appropriate to destroy the statue like this,” the onmyoji expressed concern.

“Don’t be so timid! These statues are not gods, just piles of dirt!” Hakure continued to wreak havoc, relentlessly destroying the temple.

Finally, one of the samurais discovered a small black box hidden behind the shattered statue.

“Young master!”

The samurai retrieved the box and handed it to Hakure, whose eyes gleamed with anticipation. A talisman adorned the surface of the box.

The onmyoji approached and examined the talisman, placing a finger upon it while reciting an incantation.

Crack!

The talisman shattered, causing the black box to open by itself.

Inside, resting on a velvet cloth, was a translucent, colorless ore of extraordinary purity. It exuded an ancient and noble aura, unlike anything they had seen before.

A lunar crystal!” Hakure exclaimed in excitement.

“So, this is a lunar crystal?” the onmyoji inquired.

“It seems that man was telling the truth. He truly hid the lunar crystal here!” Hakure’s eyes gleamed with ferocity. “When we return, send a few subordinates to annihilate his clan. Spare no one!”

“Young master, if we’ve already obtained the lunar crystals, why exterminate his family?” the onmyoji questioned, surprised by Hakure’s declaration.

“Who knows if he shared this secret with his clan? Anyone who knows of the existence of this lunar crystal must die!” Hakure’s eyes turned cold and merciless.

Suddenly, a powerful pressure descended upon the temple.

Whoosh—Whoosh—

Gusts of wind, filled with terrifying resentment, swept through the temple. Bricks, tiles, and tattered remnants were carried in the chaotic currents.

“What’s happening?!”

“Young master, the source of this resentment is immensely powerful! We must flee this place immediately!” The onmyoji’s face turned pale, twisted in panic.

1. Robinxen: I have long given up.