Swallow Return

All we can say is that we need to be more vigilant. Ultimately, there are just too many demons and monsters in this world; we simply can't keep track of them all.

Putting everything else aside, let's just talk about that so-called "one-eyed demon boss" who lives in seclusion in Kyoto and has caused Liu Yun a lot of trouble. There's still no clue about him.

It is said that this was after Xu Fu and Jianzhen had attacked twice. How were humans able to survive on the island nation of Fusang before this?

Lost in thought, a while passed, and dawn was breaking. By this time, the Oda clan's troops stationed in Kyoto had reacted.

Hundreds of soldiers, led by Murai Sasakatsu, Takei Yuan, Hanawa Naomasa, and others, surrounded the Kōtokuzan Jishō-in Temple.

Unaware of the situation, they witnessed a group of monsters attacking a nunnery, collapsing its walls, and even causing a murder. Naturally, they were shocked and furious, and without saying a word, they launched an attack.

But after drawing their swords and loading their cannons, they suddenly saw the mistress of the house and could only quickly put away their weapons and go forward to greet her.

Guidie instructed the monsters to hide Ningning, and then she came out to talk to her.

The principal wife held a very important position in samurai families, playing many political roles, and was not simply a "lord's wife".

Despite their deep suspicions, Murai Sadakatsu, Takei Yuan, and Hanawa Naomasa dared not act rashly.

After the meeting, Kicho calmly addressed the three retainers who had appeared, saying, "You all reacted quickly and deserve praise. You are indeed the elite troops of the Oda clan. This time, it was I who mobilized the yokai of the bathhouse to attack the nunnery that had been turned into a den of demons. Please forgive me for not informing you beforehand."

Murai Sadakatsu and the others could only express their understanding, and then asked very cautiously, "Since Madam has something to do, just tell us, why do you need to do it yourself?"

Guichao waved her hand and said, "This matter involves the privacy of a close friend of mine, so I acted unilaterally. I will explain to Lord Nobunaga, so there is no need to make things difficult for you. Before dawn, I will take the yokai from the bathhouse away to avoid too many people and noise during the day. I have taken away the villain in the nunnery, and I will give you all a document within three days."

Then he made a move to leave.

Having said that, what else could Murai Sadakatsu and his retainers do but respectfully see them off?

Liu Yun also subconsciously blended into the group of monsters and concealed his figure.

After leaving the nunnery, he and Guidie quietly escorted Ningning back to her home.

It's clear that Ningning has suffered a lot of emotional trauma this time. Although she is strong inside and shows no signs of sadness, her words and actions are noticeably different from usual.

Liu Yun was a little worried. However, considering their relationship, she only said, "Take care."

Lady Guidie had no more reservations. She held Ningning's hand for a long time, reluctant to let go, and sighed, "Kinoshita—ah, now he's called Hashiba—that guy doesn't care about your feelings at all. If it weren't for the fear that outsiders would find out about what happened today, I would still think that you should stay with me for a while to calm your mind and body."

Liu Yun was watching from the side when she said this, but the domineering female CEO didn't seem to care at all about him being a third wheel.

Afterwards, Ryuun himself returned to his rented place in Ichijoji Terauchi.

At this time, it was not yet fully light.

The people were still asleep.

However, the fact that the high-class suite costs 120 coins per day and has servants on duty in shifts day and night is still very convenient.

Saeko, whose constitution is special and who doesn't need much sleep, waited patiently. When she saw Ryuun return, she was as excited as a pet dog seeing its owner, attentively serving him as he changed and washed, and even presenting him with a stew and sake that had been kept warm over a low flame.

To be honest, after all this commotion late at night, I was actually quite hungry! Eating something and drinking some hot beverages was quite comforting.

Upon entering the bedroom, Liu Yun found Yi Zhi asleep, still wearing her daytime clothes, slumped over a small table.

On the table was a candle that had burned out, leaving only the last bit of its tail.

I guess Iori had been waiting for me to come back and hadn't gone to bed, so she couldn't resist taking a nap at the table.

This scene is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

However, the fact that there was still someone in the bedroom made Liu Yun feel uneasy.

My sister-in-law, Sara, was already wearing a yukata, lying on the mat, having kicked off the blankets, and fast asleep with her legs spread wide!

Because it's a high-end suite costing 120 coins per day, the insulation is excellent. Even though it's winter, the room isn't cold at all, to the point that the kids kick off their blankets.

Shaluo's sleeping posture was so unsightly, she had no grace whatsoever of a noble lady from a noble family, and she took up the entire large mat by herself.

Liu Yun held Yi Zhi in his arms, intending to put her on the mat so his wife could sleep well, but he couldn't find enough space.

I immediately felt angry.

He didn't bother to be polite to his unruly and wicked sister-in-law. He kicked her so hard she rolled twice, making way for her sleeping mat, before gently putting Iori down.

"Hey, who's doing this...?"

Sharo immediately woke up, displaying an angry expression typical of someone who's just woken up.

But upon seeing that it was Liu Yun, she immediately switched to a coquettish tone and said softly, "My sworn brother, you just kicked my side..."

Liu Yun ignored her for a moment, carefully covered Yi Zhi with the blanket, and then glared at her irritably, saying, "Yeah, so what?"

Seeing that Liu Yun seemed genuinely unhappy and not joking, Shaluo's face flashed with panic. She then knelt on the ground, fawningly saying, "My sworn brother is so busy, only returning close to dawn, yet he still found the time to kick my side. I feel incredibly honored... I'm still reminiscing about the blissful feeling of being kicked by my sworn brother. In fact, I suddenly feel that I was born just to be kicked by my sworn brother. The first half of my life before being kicked by my sworn brother was completely wasted..."

These words left Liu Yun both amused and exasperated.

Lately, I've been frequently flattered by high-ranking samurai, and naturally, I've seen quite a few shameless bootlickers.

But they are all shameless in a very subtle and indirect way.

It's truly rare to see someone as straightforward as my sister-in-law, Sara.

For a while, I didn't feel any aversion towards her.

Of course, this may also be related to appearance and figure.

The yukata was already loose and baggy, and when Sara knelt on the ground wearing it, much of her fair skin could not be concealed and was almost spilling out.

Suddenly, Liu Yun felt that although he no longer disliked his sister-in-law, but instead found her to be adorably sassy, ​​he still inexplicably wanted to beat her up.

Chapter 149 The Demon Hunt in Kyoto (Part 1)

Liu Yun, however, had no interest in fooling around with his sister-in-law.

His physique is extraordinary; he can stay up for several nights without collapsing. However, he is still just a mortal, and the mental fatigue is hard to eliminate.

After working all night, I returned to the hotel and all I wanted to do was sleep; I had no other thoughts.

He rudely dismissed his sister-in-law outside, lay down, and as soon as his head hit the pillow, his breathing became heavy, and he soon fell asleep.

Shaluo threw out a bunch of flirtatious glances, but it was like showing them to a blind man; she didn't get the slightest result.

She was filled with disappointment. Squatting outside the paper door, she rested her chin on her hand and sighed dejectedly, "Seeing me completely unprepared, he remained unmoved. My sworn brother is so hard to win over. It seems I need to find another way. I really want a hundred koku of cosmetics... I really want the greatest warrior in the land as my husband... Why is it so difficult! The yukata doesn't seem as effective as the shrine maiden's outfit... Is the shrine maiden's outfit really the most useful?"

Sharo muttered to himself in a cryptic manner for a while.

Unfortunately, Saeko happened to pass by, carrying Ryuun's clothes that she had just changed out of. She bowed very respectfully to her, saying, "Miss Sara, you've had a hard time," and gave her a very polite but strangely meaningful smile.

Although Sara had a somewhat eccentric personality, she was, after all, educated in a traditional noble family. Regardless of whether the other person had ulterior motives, since they had shown respect, she instinctively returned the courtesy, and casually asked, "Greetings, Lady Saeko. Are you taking my sworn brother's clothes to be washed?"

Saeko wasn't quite used to being called "Madam," and it took her a moment to realize it. Her expression finally softened and became a little more friendly and natural.

But upon hearing Sara's casual question, Saeko's eyes sparkled. She nodded, held the dirty clothes in her hands to her mouth and nose, took a deep breath, and said with a blissful expression, "Yes. The clothes I just took off are full of Master's scent. I really don't want to give them to the servants to wash!"

"Haha, Mrs. Saeko really is..."

Sharo remained unmoved, simply raising her sleeve to cover her mouth, revealing a reserved and elegant smile. She took a step closer without making a sound, adopting a friendly and approachable demeanor like a white lotus flower, and said softly, "I woke up a little early today. There is still an hour before the meal is served. Is there anything you need to attend to?"

"Hehehe..."

Saeko gave a few sarcastic laughs and said with ill intent, "I heard from my master that the noble families of Kyoto ruled the country hundreds of years ago, but now they have fallen into poverty. Such a stark contrast must have led to many interesting stories. Why don't you tell them to me, Miss Sara?"

I thought that once I said those words, the other party would either be furious or at least leave in a huff.

Unexpectedly, Sara showed no signs of unease, smiled slightly, and naturally reached out to gently take Saeko's sleeve, saying with great interest, "Great! I've long felt an instant connection with Lady Saeko, and I've always wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with her!"

Saeko was immediately taken aback and her expression froze. But she couldn't take back what she had already said, so she could only force a smile and walk side by side with Saeko.

Before I knew it, the dirty clothes that Liu Yun had just changed out of were taken from my hands.

Sara, mimicking Saeko, held the bottle to her mouth and nose, sniffing it carefully. She nodded, a look of rapture on her face, and said, "It truly smells like my sworn brother. I completely understand why you said you couldn't bear to let the servants wash it, hehe..."

Upon hearing that silvery laughter, Saeko instinctively tensed her back, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable, and even a sudden sense of apprehension.

……

Liu Yun slept soundly for less than two hours before waking up.

It was already quite bright by now, probably around 9 a.m.

The physical fatigue has completely disappeared, but I still feel a lingering sense of oppression.

From a scientific perspective, the low air pressure and high humidity may be causing breathing difficulties and insufficient blood supply.

But we are now in a world of supernatural forces, so a more appropriate explanation might be that I came into contact with some evil spirits last night and was tainted by a little bit of evil energy, which is why I am feeling listless.

No matter how you explain it, it's not something that requires special attention.

She threw off the covers, got up, stretched, and pushed open the paper door to the bedroom. She saw Iori, Saeko, and Sara chatting around a kotatsu table in the outer Japanese-style room. The atmosphere was very warm and friendly, and they were probably talking about some private matters between women.

Liu Yun came out wearing a bathrobe. The three women stopped chatting, stepped forward to bow, and made a gesture to help her wash up.

That's a bit awkward.

Although Iori and Saeko are indeed his wives and concubines, the other one is just his sister-in-law... Why is he being so attentive?

Speaking of which, Sara changed into her red and white shrine maiden outfit again. This kind of decoration is indeed very distinctive, and Ryuun can't help but take a second look every time he sees it.

However, just glancing at it a couple of times doesn't mean I have any ulterior motives.

Liu Yun just wanted some peace and quiet, so she waved for them to continue chatting. After washing up, she sat down alone in the small garden corridor of the suite, instructed the servants to bring her breakfast, and ate slowly while thinking about what she needed to do next.

The troubles of the Hanakain family should be considered over. That "Mrs. Kuroi," now that she's involved in the persecution of Nene and has been targeted by the domineering female CEO, Kicho, will likely not fare well and will probably have no time to cause trouble again in the future.

Although the unexpected arrival of Sharo, this younger sister-in-law, as a burden, is quite troublesome...

So next, we should thoroughly investigate the so-called "one-eyed yokai master who lives in seclusion in Kyoto".

Why would that guy say something like, "Whoever defeats Sasaki Ryuun will inherit my legacy"?

Was there hostility involved? Was it a deliberate provocation?

There's no such thing as a thousand days of thievery, no one can guard against thieves forever. We must figure out why our territory has been attacked so many times; otherwise, the problems will continue and eventually lead to disaster.

The question is, how do we find it?

Although Fusang has many demons, only a small portion of them integrate into the human world, appearing in public as retainers or employees. The majority remain hidden. Some hide in deep mountains and forests, some lurk in rivers, lakes, and seas, some dig caves to live underground, and some possess buildings or objects, thus eliminating their own aura.

It is said that this was caused by the Buddhist monk Jianzhen leading the fight against demons—whether that's true or not, anyway, after him, demons have caused much less disruption to social order and can no longer commit evil on a large scale.

Conversely, when individual monsters insist on breaking the rules and causing trouble, it is difficult for humans to effectively counter them.

The female demon ninjas learned about this so-called "One-Eyed Lord" from a certain cat demon. Liu Yun also entrusted them to continue investigating this matter, but so far they have not received any response.

As for other channels—

Those related to yokai are nothing more than Onmyoji and monks.