Swallow Return

Liu Yun gave her a cold look: "I'm just worried that if you are all controlled by demons, even I will be in danger."

Igawa Asagi was a little embarrassed, but still sincerely thanked him: "Fortunately, tonight Lord Sasaki Ryuun is my ally, not my enemy."

Liu Yun curled her lip and complained, "Fortunately, it won't be like that after tonight."

Upon hearing this, Igawa Asagi showed a slight regret and said in a low voice, "I will remember this kindness no matter what."

Liu Yun remained aloof, saying, "No need."

Igawa Asahi gazed at Ryuun's blood-stained wufu and haori, her eyes flickering as she pondered her thoughts, before finally letting out a soft sigh.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Suzuka Mountain Ōtakemaru

Thanks to Liu Yun's timely intervention, none of the three female demon ninjas lost their lives or their minds.

However, the two with single ponytails and short buns looked exhausted and dazed, clearly unable to continue fighting.

Shigeharu Takenaka also looked exhausted.

Igawa Asagi bowed to everyone in apology, her face full of shame as she reflected, "I should have listened to Lord Sasaki's advice and acted more cautiously. I will never be so willful again."

Liu Yun thought to herself, "Why didn't you do this earlier?" She secretly rolled her eyes and ignored him.

But at least they didn't complain to his face.

Shigeharu Takenaka immediately changed the subject: "It seems the shikigami has noticed that the target is not far from us. We will soon find out why that monster came here."

With a serious expression, Igawa Asagi nodded firmly and said decisively, "Then let's move forward! We must find out the truth about the Koshoji massacre."

Liu Yun didn't say much and turned to leave.

Shigeharu Takenaka urged the beast-shaped shikigami woven from cattails beneath him to follow, and said, "There's something I need to remind you all in advance. I've prepared the 'Empty Cicada Technique' today, and I can use it to escape at any time. If there's any danger later, don't worry about me."

Igawa Asagi immediately responded, "The three of us have formed a seal, so we can use Rinko's escape technique to leave the battlefield together without any worries."

Liu Yun glanced at it, stroked the scabbard, and said calmly, "I don't have any special means of self-preservation, but I seem to be the most capable fighter among us."

……

A short while later, they encountered another group of mountain people lying in pools of blood, pleading for help.

This time, Igawa Asagi and her group learned their lesson and did not act rashly.

Upon seeing him, Liu Yun immediately stepped forward and grabbed a knife to slash.

The mountain dweller initially only cried out and groaned in pain, which seemed genuine. Only when the knife was about to strike him did he suddenly jump to the side, revealing his glowing red eyes and sharp fangs.

If we fight head-on, this group is quite easy to deal with.

Needless to say, Ryuun, Igawa Asagi alone was enough to instantly kill several enemies. The one with the single ponytail and the one with the short topknot, who had just regained consciousness and were in poor condition, also each killed one or two people.

Moreover, since the opponent was not given a chance to retaliate, they naturally did not get hurt.

There's no need to worry about getting tainted by that suspicious red light.

Shigeharu Takenaka sat on the beast-shaped shikigami, slowly recovering his strength, and was so happy that he didn't move at all.

After finishing the battle and sheathing her sword, Igawa Asahi nervously asked Ryuun, "It may be rude of me, but I must ask, if those people were truly just innocent mountain folk, would you still have swung your sword as usual?"

Liu Yun glanced at her with the kind of look one might give someone with intellectual disabilities, then turned and left without a word.

Takenaka Shigeharu quickly explained, "Lord Sasaki's martial arts are unparalleled; he can certainly control his sword with ease. If those people are truly mountain dwellers, he will naturally stop using his blade."

Igawa Asagi sighed in relief and agreed, "I think that's how it should be."

It seems she doesn't need a definite answer from Liu Yun himself; she just needs to find a plausible reason in her mind to convince herself.

But what puzzled Takenaka Shigeharu was—what was Ryuun's character like? Did he indiscriminately kill innocent people? And what was his connection with Igawa Asahi?

Women's minds are truly complex and ever-changing.

Shigeharu Takenaka shook his head, trying to stop thinking about it.

They continued on their way.

……

About fifteen minutes later, Asahi Igawa and Shigeharu Takenaka, who were tracking each other, seemed to have discovered something at the same time and exclaimed "Eh!" in unison.

The former received the signal from the magical artifact in its hand, while the latter received feedback through the bird-shaped shikigami.

Then, Liu Yun also felt a strange sense of tension.

Igawa Asagi said, "The monster was desperately trying to escape south, but now it seems to have stopped."

Shigeharu Takenaka nodded: "My shikigami said the same thing. It seems we'll be facing each other soon."

Liu Yun frowned and looked around, saying, "There's something strange about this place. Perhaps the demon came here intentionally."

Everyone increased their vigilance.

Takenaka Shigeharu pondered for a moment, then pulled a cloth bag from his robes. He shook the bag upside down, and a spray of soybeans erupted. The soybeans, landing on the ground, transformed into soldiers.

Liu Yun was amazed when he saw it, wondering if this was the legendary "scattering beans to turn them into soldiers".

Shigeharu Takenaka explained, “These bean soldiers have no spiritual sense and their combat power is negligible. They can only be used for reconnaissance or to increase numbers. I have already used my magic several times today, and I am afraid I will have to rely on you all from now on.”

As he spoke, the soldiers that had been made of soybeans indeed moved mechanically, like mindless puppets, and formed a circle around the crowd.

Shigeharu Takenaka held the cloth bag containing soybeans, recited a short incantation, and commanded the bean soldiers to move forward.

The group moved forward under protection.

A short while later, the scene before them was astonishing.

This place is located in the heart of the Suzuka Mountains, a mountainous area with undulating terrain and dense vegetation. Deep in the dense forest, a wide and flat area of ​​several hundred paces in circumference suddenly appears.

Moreover, the ground is covered with massive building ruins.

At first glance, it appears to be a large palace in the style of the Heian period, and it is quite substantial.

There was no light source in the ruins.

But for some reason, the moonlight here was exceptionally bright, making it easy to see the things around us.

In the palace ruins, there is a small square directly in front.

There was a figure that was ten feet tall.

Upon closer inspection, it was a monster shaped like an ape, covered in green fur, with dagger-like claws on its hands and scimitar-like fangs in its mouth.

The most eye-catching feature is the round magatama inlaid on the top of its head.

This must be what is known as the "mountain spirit"!

Igawa Asagi immediately said solemnly, "This is the mastermind behind the murder of dozens of monks at Kōshō-ji Temple! Such ruthlessness must be eradicated as soon as possible!"

Takenaka Shigeharu also looked grave: "If a crime is committed in the territory under Lord Kinoshita's jurisdiction and there is no explanation, the people and commoners of all regions will find it difficult to feel at ease."

Liu Yun had nothing to say, and was ready to strike at any moment.

I actually wanted to make a move as soon as I saw the target, but the surrounding scenery was so strange that I had to be cautious.

The mountain demon stood calmly before the ruins, arrogantly turning around to glance at them before bursting into arrogant laughter: "You mean those stupid monks from Guangzheng Temple? Haha, I've never seen anyone so dumb! They actually thought they could reach an agreement to make me do their bidding, and then obediently return to the seal afterward... Haha, how laughable! The old bald monk Chengyue was able to trap me with the pagoda not because the pagoda was powerful, but because the old thief himself was powerful! Are the bald monks these days so lacking in common sense? Haha!"

Jinghe Asagi angrily said, "The previous abbot of Guangzheng Temple, Zen Master Chengyue, was a compassionate man. He did not take your life, but merely sealed you away. Yet you deceived and murdered dozens of monks. Your crime is unforgivable!"

The green-haired mountain demon revealed a fanatical hatred: "Back then, that old bald monk Cheng Yue tricked me into being sealed in the tower! Otherwise, even though I couldn't defeat him, I would at least have had a chance to escape!"

Shigeharu Takenaka shook his head and sighed, "It's no use talking. In short, we're here today to make sure you never have another chance to do evil."

The green-haired mountain demon snorted disdainfully, "If you were a little faster and didn't waste time, I might actually be a little scared. But now that I'm here, you can't do anything to me! Let me tell you, these ruins are the palace of the King of Suzuka Mountain, the leader of Ōtakemaru! He hates humans the most, and if you dare to come near, you're just throwing your lives away!"

Liu Yun had no idea what "Da Yue Wan" was.

However, both Igawa Asahi and Takenaka Shigeharu were very surprised to hear this.

That guy seems pretty good.

Moreover, the place we are in now is indeed Mount Suzuka.

Igawa Asahi asked doubtfully, "I haven't heard of Suzuka Mountain Ōtakemaru for hundreds of years. Could it have been lying dormant here all this time?"

Shigeharu Takenaka shook his head: "Do you think we'd encounter a great demon that hasn't been seen for hundreds of years so easily? I don't believe it."

Liu Yun gripped the hilt of his knife tightly, half believing and half doubting.

After saying that, Shigeharu Takenaka, clutching the cloth bag in his hand, urged the bean soldiers forward and entered the circle of building ruins.

Upon seeing this, the green-haired mountain demon shouted loudly, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Humans have invaded! Humans have invaded! How dare these mere mortals offend your bedchamber! They should be torn to pieces!"

But the monster shouted at the sky for a long time, but there was no response.

Takenaka Shigeharu's bean soldiers entered the palace ruins smoothly without any hindrance and launched an attack on the green-haired mountain demon.

The soldiers made from soybeans were indeed extremely fragile.

It exploded with a "bang" after being hit just once, turning into bean curd residue.

The green-haired mountain demon brandished its long, sharp claws and instantly wiped out dozens of bean soldiers.

While killing, he continued to call out the name "King Ōtakemaru".

However, there was still no response.

Igawa Asahi and Takenaka Shigeharu's expressions softened slightly.

Takenaka Shigeharu said, "As expected, a great monster that hasn't appeared for hundreds of years and only exists in legends is not so easy to appear."

The green-haired mountain demon continued to call out, but its expression was no longer confident; its voice grew increasingly desperate.

"Great King Ōtakemaru! Why aren't you coming out! Humans have invaded the Suzuka Mountain Palace!"

But Liu Yun still felt a strange, inexplicable sense of crisis. He frowned, gripped the hilt of his sword, and looked around.

Igawa Asahi couldn't wait any longer and stepped forward, brandishing her sword.

The green-haired mountain demon stretched out its sharp claws in an attempt to block the incoming sword. It abandoned the idea of ​​summoning "King Ōtakemaru" and instead grasped the magatama on its forehead. Immediately, its body was covered in red light, and it became even taller and more ferocious.

At this moment, Igawa Asagi split into four and attacked from four directions.

After emitting a red light from the magatama, the green-haired mountain spirit appeared taller and stronger, more agile, and possessed terrifying claws and fangs, making it look extremely frightening. However, it knew no method and simply swung its arms wildly according to instinct.

Igawa Asagi's four clones worked in perfect coordination, fluttering and dancing, instantly creating several openings in the opponent's back.

The green-haired mountain demon screamed a few times before collapsing motionless in a pool of blood.

Igawa Asahi sheathed her sword and turned around, revealing a mature and confident smile.