Swallow Return

With the mediation of Shigeharu Takenaka, the two sides reached a temporary peace.

However, Liu Yun was naturally vigilant, and the sense of caution in his heart could not be dispelled in a short time.

Igawa Asagi quickly lowered her guard, whether it was due to her honesty and integrity or her foolish gullibility is hard to say.

Although her two subordinates, one with a single ponytail and the other with a short bun, remained highly vigilant and fearful of Liu Yun.

At this moment, Liu Yun suddenly felt that it was not only the admiration from beautiful women that was comforting, but also the fear from beautiful women that secretly pleased him.

The way that girl with the single ponytail and short bun looked so nervous and trembling was quite interesting!

This inexplicable and strange psychology seems a bit perverse when you think about it...

However, as the old saying goes, what's wrong with a man being a pervert!

Yes, no problem, I'm perfectly normal.

……

As it stands, the demon ninjas still believe they have destroyed their colleague's head and are unaware that Liu Yun switched the black-clad man's head with the gold.

Little did they know that Shigeharu Takenaka had already gleaned a great deal of important information from it.

Liu Yun definitely had no motive to speak out.

Shigeharu Takenaka also tacitly concealed the matter—this guy may seem like a hermit, but he is quite adept at dealing with human relationships.

At the same time, Liu Yun felt that it wouldn't be difficult to deceive the naive Jinghe Asagi.

After reaching an agreement to exterminate the monster, Shigeharu Takenaka acted very amicably and was the first to share the information he knew.

After listening carefully, Ikawa Asagi shared her knowledge without reservation: "I have a magical artifact that can be used to hunt down demons. It can vaguely recall the scene of the monks of Guangzheng Temple being murdered. The demon was shaped like a monkey, about 10 feet tall, with green fur, sharp claws and fangs."

After hearing her description, Liu Yun felt as if he had seen her somewhere before and immediately began to think about it.

Upon hearing this, Takenaka Shigeharu continued, "From what you've described, it sounds like a monster called 'Mountain Demon.' Some sects of monks and Onmyoji also use names like 'Mountain Child,' 'Mountain Demon,' 'Mountain Spirit,' and 'Mountain Ape,' which is why there are so many names circulating among the people. In fact, this is related to the sectarian disputes that occurred after the passing of the Venerable Monk Jianzhen."

Liu Yun thought to himself, "This sectarian rivalry is so pointless. Does it have to be renamed just to feel comfortable with the same thing? It's just adding unnecessary trouble."

It's just a title, what's the big deal?

Igawa Asagi nodded and continued, "However, ordinary mountain children are not powerful demons, and it is impossible for them to kill dozens of monks in an instant without making a sound. I saw that the demon's eyes were glowing red, and there was a piece of jade on its forehead. It didn't seem to be natural, but rather it seemed to have been forcibly inserted by external force. This piece of jade may contain a vicious power."

At this moment, Liu Yun recalled the past and said, "I remember seeing a group of mountain children in the Aoyu Mountains a few years ago. They looked like humans and were gentle in nature, which is very different from the ferocious beast that killed dozens of people today."

Igawa Asagi immediately responded, "But after all, they are still strange beings that are difficult to communicate with! In the will of the holy monk Jianzhen, strange beings in the world are divided into three categories. The mountain children belong to the category that do not need to be captured or killed, but must be driven away."

Upon hearing this, Takenaka Shigeharu lowered his head and sighed, "I have seen at least four different versions of the will of the holy monk Jianzhen, and their main points are quite different."

Igawa Asagi expressed her firm opinion: "Lord Takenaka should know that Kukai, the founder of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, was a direct descendant of the holy monk Jianzhen, so he is naturally the most convincing."

Takenaka Shigeharu shook his head with a wry smile and remained silent.

Liu Yun watched coldly, indifferent to the matter, and said indifferently, "There's no point in saying more about this. We should find the demon as soon as possible."

Igawa Asahi and Takenaka Shigeharu nodded and stopped arguing.

It appears they had discussed this issue before but had not reached an agreement.

The fact that they've suddenly started arguing again probably isn't about trying to persuade the other side, but rather an attempt to influence Sasaki Ryuun, this powerful but inexperienced third party.

This can only be described as a miscalculation.

Although Liu Yun appears to be a naive young man who has just left the monastic life, his soul comes from a technologically advanced world with highly developed information technology. He has been exposed to countless malicious rumors and is not someone who can be easily persuaded by words.

After the argument ended, Igawa Asahi ordered her subordinates to use a small mirror to search for the whereabouts of the monster.

While closing his eyes to divine, Takenaka Shigeharu commanded a bird-shaped shikigami woven from cattail reeds to fly and search.

The two quickly reached the same conclusion: "Continue south."

Using the geography knowledge he had recently learned, Liu Yun discovered that he had been in the Suzuka Mountains for some time and was no longer on the outskirts of the mountains.

Further south, there should be sparsely populated peaks.

Based on this, it can be inferred that the monster most likely deliberately entered the remote mountains and forests, rather than by chance.

Here comes the question-

After wreaking havoc at Guangzheng Temple, the demon didn't go elsewhere to commit evil; instead, it focused on running into the mountains.

Did they know in advance that they would be attacked, so they ran away in time?

If that's really the case...

A wise monster, knowing it will be attacked, would probably not just run away, but would prepare countermeasures!

With this in mind, Liu Yun became even more cautious and increased his vigilance.

Looking around, Shigeharu Takenaka is clearly someone who doesn't need to be reminded.

Igawa Asahi and her two female generals don't seem to be very bright, but they are only temporary collaborators and not real teammates, so it's best not to remind them.

If they are ambushed and die, helping them avenge them would be enough.

After a while, broken sticks and tattered straw sandals could be seen deep in the forest, suggesting human activity.

Further on, they came across a campfire.

Near the fire was a thatched hut, and several severely injured civilians lay in pools of blood, groaning and screaming in agony.

Judging from their attire, they are likely mountain people who make a living by hunting or logging.

Igawa Asahi seemed to have a kind heart; upon seeing this, she immediately hurried over and asked, "We are from Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei! What has happened to you?"

A slightly less injured man with a mustache struggled to sit up and said weakly, "It was a green-haired monster that looked like an ape, with claws sharper than swords, terrifying... terrifying..."

Igawa Asagi turned around and said, "Save them first!"

He immediately went forward.

Takenaka Shigeharu hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Liu Yun, however, lacked the composure to remain calm and couldn't help but complain, "That monster killed sixty or seventy monks from Guangzheng Temple in an instant. If it were to attack these mountain people, why would it leave any survivors? There must be something fishy going on."

Igawa Asagi stopped and hesitated for a moment.

Just then, a wounded man in front of her suddenly went limp, fell silent, and stopped breathing.

Igawa Asagi immediately made a decision: "No matter what, I cannot watch innocent people die in front of me! Rinko, Shiranui, come with me to save them!"

Liu Yun didn't bother to stop her, thinking to herself, "Since you're courting death, you stupid woman, just go ahead and die. It'll save us from having to be enemies in the future."

At this moment, Shigeharu Takenaka stretched out his hand and made a gesture that outsiders couldn't understand. Instantly, a faint blue light was released from his body, but there was no other reaction around him.

Seeing this, Takenaka Shigeharu frowned and whispered to Ryuun, "If anything changes, please do not hesitate to help, Lord Sasaki. Most of my techniques take a long time to cast, and I may not be able to do it in time."

Liu Yun shrugged, making a gesture incomprehensible to people of this era, his expression noncommittal: "I'll try my best..."

Then, Ikawa Asagi pulled out some gauze and medicated oil from somewhere and went to bandage and stop the bleeding of the injured mountain people.

Her subordinates, with their single ponytails and short buns, glanced fearfully at Liu Yun before quietly following behind.

A dozen or so mountain people lay dead beside the fire, only two of whom were conscious and immediately expressed their gratitude.

The medicine carried by the demon ninjas seemed to be very effective; when applied to the horrifying wound, it quickly stopped the bleeding.

But then things suddenly changed.

The mountain people who were seriously injured and lying on the ground, their lives hanging in the balance, almost simultaneously rolled over and got up. Their movements were incredibly swift, their eyes glowing red, and they desperately grabbed at the demon ninja who was treating them.

The distance was too short, it was really unexpected.

Moreover, they were only thinking about treating the mountain people and were completely unprepared; even their knives were pulled out.

The girl with the single ponytail seemed to have the weakest strength and was quickly pinned down by three mountain villagers, unable to move.

The short-haired girl was slightly stronger; even though her hands and feet were restrained, she could still struggle, but she couldn't break free for a while.

Both of them were bitten and cried out in pain at the same time.

Only Jinghe Asagi instinctively leaped away to avoid being grabbed. But immediately, five mountain people with glowing red eyes, who instantly grew sharp claws and fangs, surrounded her.

She had just landed, with no way to turn back or use any leverage.

Shigeharu Takenaka, riding on the beast-shaped shikigami, stared wide-eyed and hurriedly took out a talisman from his pocket, but it was too late.

At this moment, the only one who can save the day is Liuyun.

He bent his knees and exerted force, his feet creating a gust of wind as he darted forward like lightning.

At the same time, he had already drawn his sword.

The five-foot-long nodachi gleamed with a cold, sharp light in the dim glow of the fire.

With a hissing sound, the heads of the five mountain people who were about to attack Jinghe Ashaji fell to the ground almost simultaneously.

Five jets of blood spurted out.

Igawa Asahi was spared.

She barely had time to catch her breath before she threw her shuriken, killing the three mountain people who were pinning down the single ponytail.

Liu Yun, having already made his move, didn't mind the trouble and swung his sword, cutting the mountain people who were besieging the short-haired group in two.

Bright red liquid flew everywhere.

The air was immediately filled with a strong smell of blood.

Takenaka Shigeharu took a breath and hurriedly stepped forward, his expression grave: "It seems that this monster can turn those it bites or scratches into servants. These mountain people were instantly awakened into monsters with glowing red eyes and sharp claws and fangs. My magic didn't detect anything unusual just now. It seems... this is not the monster's own ability, but something it got from somewhere else."

Upon hearing this, Ikawa Asahi exclaimed in shock: "It seems that Rinko and Shiranui were bitten and scratched by those mountain people just now..."

Following her words, everyone looked and saw that the girl with the single ponytail and short bun had been bitten and scratched many times, and she was unconscious, with a faint but increasingly intense red glow emanating from her body.

Without saying a word, Takenaka Shigeharu took out a bottle from his pocket, concentrated on reciting a long incantation, and then evenly sprinkled the water from the bottle onto the single ponytail and short bun.

The red light then faded considerably, but it was still quite noticeable.

Shigeharu Takenaka sighed, increased the intensity, and repeated the operation once more.

The eerie red light finally disappeared.

Takenaka Shigeharu finally breathed a sigh of relief and said wearily, "This effect on the mind must come from some powerful magic weapon! I guess the two of you were only indirectly bitten by the demon ninja, and not deeply, so it shouldn't be difficult to remove it."

Then the single ponytail and short bun gradually came back to life.

Igawa Asagi showed a look of relief, first thanked Takenaka Shigeharu, then walked to Ryuun's side and bowed down: "If it weren't for you just now, I'm afraid the consequences would have been unimaginable... I am truly grateful!"