Tokyo: The Player Behind the Scenes.

Chapter 76 Chapter 74: Nine Generations Muramasa

"Chira. Chira? Wake up, we're at Honmyoji Temple."

"Huh? Oh!"

The next day.

At the entrance of Honmyoji Temple, Nobita wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, woke up in the back seat of the taxi, and quickly took a bouquet of white chrysanthemums and other offerings as he got out of the car.

Today is February 4.

The Tomohiki Day (one of the Six Luminaries, unrelated to the Seven Luminaries)

This is the auspicious day and time for Nobi Tomoaki's burial, as mentioned by Master Richeng.

For this matter, Nobi's father asked Nobi Tomohiro for a day off and rushed over early in the morning.

Because after noon, the auspiciousness turns into misfortune, and it is not suitable to bury the dead.

"Namo Myoho Renge Kyo. This humble monk, Fazhuang, apologizes to the two benefactors on my behalf because my senior brother Richeng is temporarily unable to attend due to some important matters. I will preside over the upcoming Lotus Sutra funeral."

With an apologetic expression, Fazhuang clasped his hands together to express his remorse to the two.

“Brother Richeng also said that, to express his apology, he would create an additional ‘Lotus Sutra’ for Mr. Nobi Tomoaki and Mr. Nobi Tomoshin, so that with the power of the sutra title, they could be reborn in the Pure Land.”

Pursuing good deeds is a method similar to salvation, but with a wider range of applications.

This involves dedicating merit to the deceased through methods such as chanting scriptures and making offerings to the deity, thereby helping them escape the suffering of reincarnation.

Nobi's father was a little disappointed, but he knew that such things couldn't be forced.

The two were welcomed into Benmyoji Temple by the Dharma Banner and began the bone-removing ceremony.

Nobi Tomoro hadn't paid much attention at first, but once he entered, he felt the atmosphere was unusually heavy, completely lacking the mysterious, tranquil, and peaceful feeling he had when he came a few days ago. Instead, it was solemn and dignified.

Outside a building, some jars were placed in strange positions, and some monks sat among them, constantly striking wooden fish and chanting sutras.

"Please come this way, benefactor."

The banner silently blocked Nobi's probing gaze and pointed to the location of the cemetery.

"Oh, okay, thank you."

Nobi Tomoyoshi followed the other person's directions. Since the other person intended to keep it a secret, he couldn't keep staring at him.

In the very building he had just been gazing at, the abbot of Honmyoji Temple, Nichigen, and the steward monk, Nichijo, were sitting facing each other, discussing something.

“The lineage of Dharma in the world has long been severed. It is extremely rare for our Nichiren Sect to have preserved these remnants of the Dharma to this day.”

"But in this degenerate age, why are the powers of these demons and evil spirits reviving? Is it only the Demon Blade that is like this, or are all the demons and evil spirits that were sealed in the past like this? And where can we find someone who has learned the Dharma to seal them away again?"

Ri Cheng looked worried and restless, completely losing his former calm and collected demeanor.

Ever since returning from Mie Prefecture, he has been in a state of anxiety, unable to eat or sleep.

To outsiders, Honmyoji Temple's records of the past seem like a supernatural tale, completely unbelievable.

But as a senior monk of Honmyoji Temple, he naturally had no doubt about it.

Although his master, Master Riyan, never revealed any magical techniques.

"Richeng, you're too attached to appearances."

Riyan, dressed in a yellow monk's robe, interrupted Richeng's worries, saying, "Actually, this may not be a bad thing."

Ri Cheng silently recited a scripture to calm his anxiety, then asked with some doubt, "What is Master saying?" "Perhaps, the times are about to undergo earth-shattering changes again." Ri Yan's tone was neither sad nor happy, like that of an outsider.

Ri Cheng had a guess, but he wasn't sure.

"Alright, it's about time. Let the girl come over."

"Yes."

Ri Cheng clasped his hands together and slowly retreated.

A short while later, he brought in Muramasa Takii.

Her complexion was noticeably better than it had been two days ago at the bottom of the well. The Myoho Muramasa sword was on her back, wrapped and bound by several old chains engraved with scriptures.

If one's will is weak, one can see that the demon sword seems to emit bursts of red eerie light, as if it carries some kind of fatal attraction.

"Muramasa, the Myoho Muramasa has now recognized you as the ninth Muramasa. Moreover, its power is slowly awakening, and before long, it will gradually corrupt your mind, making you fulfill the promise that Senko Muramasa made back then."

"Just like the third and fourth Muramasa of the Muramasa family, they eventually lost their minds and became degenerate people who only knew how to frantically slaughter people and devour flesh and blood."

Riyan's words revealed the terrible consequences of the demon sword going out of control.

However, Muramasa Taki's face showed little worry or fear, only calmness.

"Master Riyan, is there really no way to break this?"

Riyan shook his head: "No, there is one last method. That is to use the merits accumulated by Honmyoji over the years to suppress it, but you will still need to provide blood frequently. However, apart from that, you can move freely without any restrictions. The only requirement is that you live near the temple and not go far away."

Taki hesitated for a moment: "Wouldn't this cause trouble for Honmyoji Temple?"

After all, if this method were better, the monks of Honmyoji Temple would not have given up on it and instead helped the Muramasa clan to use a "deceptive" method to evade the fulfillment of each successive agreement.

"There will be a price to pay, but now there is no other choice, unless we watch a new master of the demon sword be born."

Although there is a price to pay, judging from Riyan's expression, the price does not seem serious, at least within his tolerance range.

Ri Cheng's expression was a little strange, and his eyes showed a thoughtful look.

"Even if I give my life, I still can't quell the demonic sword?" Taki sighed.

"If you die, it will only cause the demon sword to enter a berserk state prematurely. And in this world today, there is probably no one who can stop the berserk demon sword. Even if you, Muramasa Taki, are gone, there are still your clansmen. Even if there are no clansmen, there are still Murakami and Murai."

"When the agreement was made, your ancestors still had some control. But in this era, no one can control them. The new contract will only turn others into slaves of the sword, completely powerless to resist."

"So the demon sword might even be willing to watch you die."

Riyan's gentle voice slowly revealed the cruel truth.

Takii understood that she truly had no other choice.

“I understand. I will cooperate fully from now on.” Muramasa Taki took a deep breath and looked solemnly at Nigen. “I’m entrusting this matter to you, Nigen-sama.”

Higan nodded slightly: "Are you a student at Komagome Academy?"

"Yes, if I need to withdraw from school, I can go back to school tomorrow to complete the procedures." Takii thought that Riyan was worried that her going to school would delay the handling of the demon sword.

“No.” Riyan shook his head. “On the contrary, I need you to study hard during this time, and after school, try to go to places that are lively but not decadent. You can’t come to Honmyoji Temple often, only on the day of Daianri.”

There must be a reason why Riyan said that. Takii didn't understand these customs, so he simply nodded in agreement.

(End of this chapter)