Yusei simply smiled without responding.
Luo Hao issued orders for her subordinates to handle the cleanup, while she and Yusei proceeded to the Hikuriko Shrine, the residence of the Mariya Family.
The situation at the Mariya Family wasn't ideal. They hadn't been directly attacked, but their faces were ashen, as if they had suffered a great catastrophe.
The old family head was no longer able to manage affairs. The person now in charge of the family's matters was Mariya Chikahiko.
However, before he could enjoy his new position for long, the now-defunct History Compilation Committee had approached them, demanding they unseal the Monkey King.
How could they possibly agree? The most valuable 'asset' their family possessed was this very Heretic God. Releasing the Monkey King would be akin to throwing away their most precious possession.
However, since the History Compilation Committee was the leading authority in Japan's mystical side at the time, Chikahiko hadn't outright refused but vaguely promised cooperation.
But now, a new problem had arisen. The History Compilation Committee, which had wanted the Monkey King released, was gone. In its place, the Campione Luo Hao from across the sea had arrived.
From the moment he received news of the History Compilation Committee being attacked by Luo Hao to her arrival at his doorstep, Chikahiko was certain less than thirty minutes had passed.
In under thirty minutes, a colossal organization had been utterly destroyed. Only a few small, insignificant branches remained, posing no threat.
Chikahiko knew why Luo Hao had come to his home, it was also for the Monkey King. If they could have used the Heretic God to offer some resistance against the History Compilation Committee, resisting Luo Hao was absolutely impossible. She was an immensely powerful Campione, on par with the likes of Marquis Voban.
What kind of existence was Marquis Voban? He was a king who hunted Heretic Gods for sport. How could the Mariya Family possibly resist such a force?
Fortunately, despite his frustration and distress, Chikahiko remained rational. By the time Luo Hao arrived at the Mariya Family's gate, he was already there to greet her, leading a large contingent of family members.
When Yusei and Luo Hao arrived at the Mariya Residence, they were surprised to find a large crowd already kneeling at the entrance, waiting to receive them.
When Chikahiko saw Yusei accompanying Luo Hao, he felt a wave of relief, grateful he had made the right choice.
Yusei's existence wasn't a secret. They were even aware that the reason the History Compilation Committee had demanded the Monkey King's release was because Yusei had set his sights on their Heretic God… Susanoo.
Judging by the current situation, Susano'o had probably already been slain.
Luo Hao looked indifferently at the crowd kneeling respectfully before her, giving only a slight nod.
"Are the materials prepared for unsealing that monkey ready?"
"Of course!"
Chikahiko hurriedly affirmed and instructed the servants behind him to present the items to Luo Hao.
The servants brought forward a short sword housed in an ornate box. This was the treasured blade used to weaken the sealing ritual.
An awkward expression appeared on Chikahiko's face. "Honored King, the Dragon-Snake Divine Core..."
"I have already prepared that. Since everything is ready, let's begin immediately."
Luo Hao directly cut him off.
"The King is truly wise and decisive!"
Chikahiko offered flattery, but Luo Hao ignored him.
Her gaze fell upon a somewhat timid young girl, and she nodded slightly.
"You, come with me."
Unsealing the Monkey King required these three key elements, and the rest was secondary. The final step would take place at Western Palace.
Left standing there, Chikahiko wasn't angered but instead breathed a sigh of relief. Luo Hao's disregard meant she had chosen to spare them.
Yusei shrugged. The fate of the Mariya Family was none of his concern. He was merely here to help Luo Hao free Sun Wukong.
This was his final objective in this world.
…
Western Palace.
Members of the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains were already waiting here, including the previously prepared Dragon-Snake Heretic God.
Due to the Dragon-Snake aura present, the area around the Western Palace was already growing restless. However, without the Mariya Family's ritual methods, the Monkey King remained trapped.
After bringing the timid girl to the site, Luo Hao stepped back, waiting for the girl to perform the next part of the ritual.
The girl, though visibly nervous and afraid, didn't begin immediately. Instead, she looked toward Yusei with apprehension.
"Y-Yusei-sama... I am Mariya Yuri's younger sister. I... I wanted to ask, how is my sister?"
"Your sister?"
Yusei's mind immediately conjured the image of the woman who had laughably tried to kill him when he was near death.
"That woman? I don't know. Perhaps she's dead, or perhaps she ran away."
Yusei said offhandedly.
This was the truth. He had been entirely focused on hunting Susanoo. The matter of the History Compilation Committee had been Luo Hao's responsibility.
Whether Yuri was alive or dead was a question for Luo Hao.
But upon hearing Yusei's words, Mariya Hikari's eyes instantly welled up with tears. Her body trembled, and tears streamed down her face.
Her heart was filled with immense grief. She clearly interpreted the hidden meaning in Yusei's words as: 'Your sister is dead.'
Hikari desperately wanted to scream at Yusei, 'My sister wanted to apologize for what happened last time! She was worried about your injuries! And now... now she's dead, killed by the very Campione she was supposed to...'
Yusei didn't understand why the girl was having such a strong emotional reaction and felt somewhat impatient. He was already feeling restless, eager to return home.
His system mission was complete. He was just waiting to finalize this last agreement before returning to his own world.
However, at that moment, Luo Hao spoke up, "Your sister is fine. I did not kill her. As a Miko with such exceptional talent, my Holy Cult of the Five Mountains is in dire need of individuals like her."
Hikari's head snapped up as she looked at Luo Hao, overjoyed, "My sister... she's alive?"
"She is alive. However, I had her taken to the Holy Cult of the Five Mountains. Now, hurry up and perform the ritual!"
Luo Hao's tone carried authority by the end.
Hikari quickly nodded, focusing her energy on preparing to break the seal.
As Hikari channeled her spiritual power, the seal on the Western Palace loosened further, and the restless energy grew more frequent.
A few minutes later...
With a tremendous roar, a monkey leaped out, radiating an invincible aura.
The Monkey King was free!