Shugakuin, Kyoto, Onmyou Agency Headquarters.
On the Sensui Bridge.
"Well~~ I never thought I'd see you again."
Yuiyui Gokadoin, her right shoulder's clothing burnt and covered in dust, stepped onto the bridge looking rather dishevelled as she regarded the spotless Abe no Yoshihira in his black kimono.
Seeing the second head of the Gokadoin House completely unharmed here, Yuiyui immediately understood something, her expression turning peculiar:
"I thought I was the only traitor in our family. Turns out the corruption starts from the top~~"
Hearing Yuiyui Gokadoin's teasing, Abe no Yoshihira remained expressionless:
"I merely made the decision I believed to be correct."
"Correct?"
Yuiyui Gokadoin was genuinely surprised. The biological son of Abe no Seimei, the first head of the Gokadoin House, actually considered abandoning his father to be the right decision? This was truly fascinating.
"Are you certain you're not joking?"
Faced with such sarcasm, Abe no Yoshihira's expression remained impassive, even cold:
"Isn't the Gokadoin House's long-cherished wish the real joke here?"
"To establish a purified world ruled by the Gokadoin House, where only yokai exist."
"Tch. As if the great nations within the Union would just stand by and watch."
Hearing the second head of the Gokadoin House openly mock their ancestral ambition, Yuiyui Gokadoin found herself at a loss for words.
After all, it was an undeniable truth.
The major powers of the Union would spare no expense to maintain the post-supernatural world order.
Under such circumstances, the fate of the Gokadoin House's attempt to establish a yokai kingdom was practically predictable.
The first head, Abe no Seimei, relied solely on the immortality granted by the Taizan Fukun Ritual to control the family, forbidding them from acquiring modern knowledge to maintain his rule.
Yet even his own son didn't share his ideals. Such a family, though powerful, was ultimately just a loose coalition.
Hadn't she, Yuiyui Gokadoin, seen through the Gokadoin House's future and made preparations to defect successfully?
At this thought, she couldn't help but look curiously at Abe no Yoshihira:
"I'm rather curious."
"When exactly did you defect to Lord Hao, Second Head?"
Abe no Yoshihira's expression flickered slightly, as if about to speak.
But before he could respond, a light blue voice sounded behind them.
"Yoshihira has been working for me for ten years."
Hearing this voice, both Abe no Yoshihira and Yuiyui Gokadoin immediately turned around.
There, they saw Hao Asakura striding onto the Senju Bridge, clad in his white cloak.
Upon seeing this, Abe no Yoshihira immediately bowed his head in deference:
"My deepest apologies, Lord Hao. Nue's ascension... has failed."
"Don't trouble yourself with such trivial matters, Yoshihira." Hao Asakura smiled as he approached. "Compared to that, your Guardian Spirit seems to have perished, correct?"
Guardian Spirit.
This was terminology unique to the Shaman Class.
The art of contracting with natural Spirits, deities, or vengeful ghosts to borrow their power and manifest supernatural abilities was called Shaman Arts. The contracted spirit was known as a Guardian Spirit.
Indeed, Abe no Yoshihira's Guardian Spirit, the Red Fox, had died in the recent battle.
He offered no rebuttal, simply answering:
"Due to Nue's attack, my Guardian Spirit Red Fox, which I used as a decoy, perished beneath the meteor Nue summoned. Finding a replacement will require some time."
"But please rest assured, I shall resolve this matter within two weeks."
"No need for such trouble."
Hao Asakura waved his right hand dismissively, then smiled:
"Though Nue's ascension failed unexpectedly, my objective was achieved. As my loyal servant, you deserve a reward."
At this, Hao stroked his chin thoughtfully before continuing:
"I shall bestow this upon you."
As his words fell, a crimson giant shrank to several metres tall and materialised behind him, radiating unimaginable spiritual pressure.
That was Hao Asakura's Guardian Spirit, the Spirit of Fire.
After appearing, the Spirit of Fire suddenly opened its jagged maw, then hooked a finger into its mouth and plucked out a fist-sized flame.
Within the flame, a golden exotic bird lay curled in peaceful slumber.
At that moment, Hao Asakura smiled and said:
"This is a Pureblood demon I hunted in a powerful Abyss World, belonging to one of the seventy-two Demon Gods, embodying the concepts of immortality and life."
"I recall you researching immortality techniques? This Phoenix would suit you well."
"In that case, I bestow this Phoenix upon you."
Upon hearing this, Abe no Yoshihira immediately knelt on one knee and said reverently:
"Thank you for your generosity."
Seeing this, Hao Asakura waved his hand dismissively before turning his gaze to Yuiyui Gokadoin:
"And you, little one... Ah, so you were recruited by that Tsuchimikado youngster."
Mid-sentence, Hao seemed to realise something, his interest waning.
"Yes, Lord Hao."
Hearing Hao refer to the Onmyou Agency director as 'youngster', Yuiyui Gokadoin quickly lowered her head, visibly tense...
She couldn't help but be nervous – Hao Asakura was rumoured to possess innate mind-reading abilities. Facing such a powerful, terrifying being who could read minds, how could she not fear him?
Hao seemed accustomed to Yuiyui's reaction.
After a brief glance, he shook his head:
"Too insignificant."
"Yoshihira, her training falls to you. Send this child to Purgatory for tempering."
"At least ensure she masters Over Soul before emerging."
With that, Hao stepped past them both, heading towards the pavilion at the far end of the Thousand-Year Bridge.
"Yes!"
Abe no Yoshihira rose after receiving the order, glancing at Yuiyui before saying:
"You're fortunate – Lord Hao seems in good spirits today."
Yuiyui's heart skipped a beat at this, and she couldn't help asking:
"Second Head, what is this Purgatory? Is it dangerous?"
She'd accepted Ariyo Tsuchimikado's invitation to join Hao not for power, but primarily to survive the alliance's threats.
If she lost her life here under Hao instead of preserving it, that would be losing at both ends.
"For an accomplished Onmyoji like yourself, it's not dangerous – rather an opportunity."
Abe no Yoshihira looked meaningfully at Yuiyui as he continued:
"Because Purgatory is where talentless people become Shamans."
Yuiyui's pupils contracted violently, unable to suppress her sudden joy. Clearly, she hadn't expected Hao to permit her study of his Shaman system on her very first day.
As Yuiyui rejoiced...
At the lakeside pavilion reached by the Thousand-Year Bridge.
Hao Asakura saw the Onmyou Agency director Arimasa Tsuchimikado, who had been waiting there for some time.
Arimasa Tsuchimikado appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.
He was a tall, imposing figure with jet-black hair streaked with white at the temples, his beard adding to his air of authority.
Spotting Hao Asakura's approach, he gestured towards the freshly brewed tea before him. Seated on a stone stool across the stone table, he addressed Hao:
"Your plan... appears to have failed."
At this, Hao merely curled his lips into a faint smile.
"No."
"My plan has already succeeded."
At this point, Hao Asakura said meaningfully:
"The times have already begun to change."