Miss Heber is fighting her way out of the Lostbelt!

......

"Although the impact of disputes will continue to cause trouble, they can also be used to my advantage." Hebe thought calmly.

Those involved are often confused, while those who are on the sidelines can see things more clearly. After she realized this, she was able to actively suppress these influences.

Heber did not intend to dispel these influences.

Anything related to being in power is extremely important. Who knows, it might be useful at a critical moment?

During this aimless walk, a magnificent temple appeared before her.

Kiyomizu Temple.

Hebe put his hands in his sleeves and walked through the vermilion gate.

This temple is the oldest in Kyoto and has been burned down and rebuilt several times. In spring, the cherry blossoms bloom here, while in autumn, the maples turn red.

Summer was over and autumn was deepening. The maple leaves were burning like fire and flocks of white birds were landing on the edge of the river.

The eaves form a harmonious boundary with the sky.

The wind blew through the layers of maple forest, and the red leaves began to sway.

There was a clear water pool in front of the vermilion temple. Many people were drinking water there with their hands, but Hebe did not go there.

She walked straight across the suspended platform and slowly climbed up the wooden steps.

In the main hall, Hebe saw several magnificent golden statues.

The monk in charge of reception looked at the scene in a strange way. It was not because Hebe did not want to pay his respects, but because the girl with long flaxen hair gave the monk a strange feeling.

——She and the Buddha seemed equal, and seemed to be the same person.

Just when the monk was feeling absurd about his idea, he saw Heber waving to him.

"What's your name, Master?"

"I am just a novice monk and have not yet been given a Dharma name. You can just call me 'Aming'." The monk in charge of reception saluted with his hands folded.

Heber nodded and looked at the smaller golden statues on both sides of the main hall: "These golden statues are..."

"Most of them commemorate accomplished practitioners within the temple." The monk in charge of reception took a few steps. "However, there are exceptions. For example, this golden statue is of Saga-sama, the elder abbot of Toshodai-ji Temple during the Heian period. It's said that she lived for over 500 years and passed away during the Northern and Southern Dynasties."

It was a golden statue sitting cross-legged, with drooping eyebrows and eyes, and hands placed on the knees in a seal.

"'The wind fills my sleeves, flowing freely; the mountains dry up, the water dries up, and clouds emerge from the peaks. Two trees stand in silence, life must end, spring blossoms fill the branches, and the moon is full in the sky.'"

The monk in charge of reception slowly chanted the majestic farewell verse.

Hebe seemed to see the little black dog demon again, circling around his clogs, his short black tail wagging.

The little dog demon grinned as if laughing.

The young monk in gray robes stood resolutely in front of him and said in a loud voice: I'm not afraid.

After five hundred years of living, Master Saga calmly gazed at the monks in front of him, smiled, closed his eyes, and passed away peacefully.

"It's been a thousand years." Hebe said.

"Yes, it's been a thousand years." The monk in charge of reception thought Heber was lamenting the Heian period when Master Saga lived. "Speaking of the Heian period, we have to mention the Nine-tailed Daigongen."

He took Hebe to the back of the main hall. Behind the huge statue of Vairocana Buddha was a golden statue of a nine-tailed fox with rice in its mouth and a large light image hanging behind its head.

"This is the Nine-Tailed Fox Great Power-Gen Tamamon-no-Mae, who, with the Vairocana Tathagata descending upon him and Amaterasu appearing in his presence, taught the Heart Sutra to the world in Heian-kyō."

P.S.: Following the reminders of group members and book friends, chapters 87, 89, and 92 have been revised. The reasons for the conflict between the Shinsengumi and the protagonist, as well as the treatment of Kondo Isami, have been added, improving the viewing experience. Please refresh the page before reading.

ps2: Another update

Eastern Volume: 95 The Little Monk is Gone

The golden statue was immersed in prayer flags, smoke and canopy, and its eyes inlaid with emeralds drooped silently, staring at Hebe.

"Kyuubi Daigongen." Heber whispered the name.

"That's right," the monk in charge of reception said readily, "Because she taught us the Dharma, our Buddhist sect regarded her as the manifestation of Vairocana Tathagata, and thus created a golden statue of the Nine-Tailed Daigonggen."

"In Shinto, it's for similar reasons. She is considered a side of Amaterasu, the Inari Daimyojin."

"Master Saga traveled throughout the Eastern Kingdom throughout his life, preaching the supreme Dharma of the Nine-Tailed Great Powerful Manifestation and carving two hundred golden statues of him." A look of reverence crossed the monk's face. "That is why Master Saga lived for five hundred years, making him a truly accomplished practitioner in our Buddhist community."

Heber did not look at the magnificent nine-tailed golden statue again.

The girl took out a small gold coin from her sleeve and put it into the vermilion merit box.

"Tell me more about Master Saga's life."

The monk in charge of reception was beaming with joy and quickly brought out hot tea, cakes, fruits and other items.

"Please take it, benefactor. Allow me to prepare it."

In an ordinary tea bowl, the tea ripples gently and the tea leaves float up and down.

The voice of the monk in charge of reception sounded slowly.

Old friends from thousands of years ago seem to come back to life in the narrative.

......

After Saga completed the tasks that Hebe had asked her to do, she began to practice in Toshodai-ji Temple. After thirty or forty years, she successfully became an apprentice of the "Qiming" status.

The general's purge of the demons of the Heian period represents Scar's father's victory over the crippled wolf in the struggle.

As a result, the intelligence of non-human species throughout the Eastern Kingdom was greatly reduced, and "wisdom" became completely synonymous with humans.

Compared with the continuous loss and dwarfing of intelligence, the impact of shorter lifespan is negligible.

Under such circumstances, Saga began to tour the entire East Country, spreading the swordsman system and also imparting insights into the path of sublimation based on the Heart Sutra.

This large-scale sermon was held twelve times, and Saga was therefore welcomed by the samurai class, monks and common people.

Every time she gave a sermon, she would recite the same verse.

"Five hundred years of empty life are not real, and one thousand years of Nirvana are also illusions. Even if you cultivate a golden body that spreads all over the world, it is like dust turning in the wind."

"History is unclear and unclear, and it is difficult to distinguish right from wrong. The sword of wisdom suddenly rises in my heart, and the moon is full at its waning point."

"The nine tails swept away the dust of the past, and the thousand ears of future generations were fulfilled. Hey! Suddenly the clay Buddha cracked, and the Mani was planted in the blue lotus."

......

The tea bowl in Heber's hand began to shake. She frowned and put the tea bowl on the table.

She repeated the verse that Saga had recited for five hundred years, and her eyes became brighter and brighter.

This Buddhist verse by Saga was specially left for her!

The monk in charge of reception watched Heber turn around and walk towards the magnificent golden statue of the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Hebe stood still in front of the golden statue, and no one seemed to move.

Words that only she could see emerged from the rising clouds of smoke.

【Believers "嵯娥"】

[Path: Wandering monk. Heart like glass, six senses pure.]

[Principle: Lamp. Represents rationality, light, and the principle of ascent.]

[Rank: Daytime. The second level of the Path of Achievement.]

In her profound meditation, Saga touched upon the connection between time and history. In her own way, she left a crucial revelation for someone. Within the revelation lies the key to the final door.

【Your believers, students, followers, and possessions. 】

Abstract brushstrokes outline a rugged face against a light golden background.

Saga's eyes were slightly closed, as if he was sleeping, or as if he was in deep thought.

The golden body of the nine-tailed fox slowly cracked along the center.

Amid the monks' exclamations, Hebe walked to the altar where the golden statue was enshrined.

In the belly of the nine-tailed fox's golden body lies a faded amulet.

Hebe picked up the amulet, and the light around him suddenly dimmed. The many golden statues enshrined in the main hall disappeared.

Saga, dressed in gray, was sitting cross-legged in front of Hebe.

"Master." Saga put his hands together and bowed to the flaxen-haired girl. "We finally meet again."

Hebe said nothing. She could see that the "嵯娥" in front of her was just a reflection in the mirror, a part of the little dog demon's body.

In this way, Saga hid the crucial information secretly, using the golden body and gatha as the key to unlock the secret.

This method of burying important information is called "hidden treasure" in Buddhism.

The process of later generations discovering and passing on the secrets is called "secret continuation".

"Master Tamamonomae, while contemplating emptiness, I have observed traces of you in this era. Please remember that the search for the sword has three meanings."

"The first is to find your lost sword. You sacrificed yourself in place of the last dragon, and thus lost the bundle of rice that represents the Inari God. This rice is your sword."

"The second is to find your own sword. The so-called secret sword is not a rare object, but merely an obsession. Your longing is too vast to be carried by a small secret sword."

“The third is to find the swordsmanship of future generations—a master need not be better than his disciple, and a disciple need not be inferior to his master.

Before I was about to pass away, the Shogun had already begun planning a great cause. They selected a century between 1400 and 1500 in the solar calendar and formed a singularity that distorted time and space based on the city of Kyoto.

The Shogun found Ashiya Doman and forced him to arrange a grand secret ceremony based in Kyoto City - the Ceremony of the Waxing Moon.

Famous swordsmen throughout history, even sword masters, have gathered in Kyoto... You must be prepared.

As far as I know, the final winner of this ritual can realize their wish. Before I passed away, Miss Along also seemed to have left Mount Takachiho and headed for Kyoto.

The image of the gray-robed monk gradually became blurred. She lowered her head and chanted a Buddhist name in a low voice.

"Master! I left these golden statues in the East in the hope that you can be liberated. You carry more burdens than any of us."

"How I wish you could relax a little." Saga sighed sincerely.

"This amulet was left by you to the Great Tengu Demon Ichibōgan in Kurama Mountain," Saga said. "She later gave it to me, and I returned it to its original owner. Thank you very much."

She clasped her hands together and tilted her head back slightly.

"Master, I am leaving now."

The already translucent card in front of Heber gradually turned gray, and then a crisp cracking sound came from the card.

Click, click, click.

The sound of chanting could be heard faintly all around, and a clear and free voice rang out in Hebe's ears.

"The wind fills my sleeves, flowing freely; the mountains dry up, white clouds emerge from the peaks. Two trees stand in silence, life must end, spring blossoms fill the branches, the moon is full in the sky."

The card was completely shattered, and the last trace of Saga left in the world disappeared. Only the faded amulet in Heber's palm remained, still emitting a slight heat.

The monk in charge of reception rubbed his eyes. He had just clearly seen the golden body of the Nine-tailed Fox Great Power being damaged and torn into pieces.

But at this moment, the golden body of the Nine-tailed Fox was still sitting among the fragrant clouds and prayer flags, gazing at the pilgrims coming and going below with a look of compassion.

But Hebe did not worship it.

She took the incense from the altar, walked to the golden statue of Saga and lit it.

The girl with flaxen hair put her hands together and bowed to the small golden statue that had few incense offerings.

"Thank you."

East Country Volume: 96 Tengu's Final Song, Descendants of the Demonic Raccoon, Storm Reappears

The faded amulet felt slightly warm in Hebe's palm.

Scenes from the past began to appear before her eyes.

......

Guiyi Hōgen stood on the hillside, gazing at the shogunate army holding high the flag of recognition in the distance.

On the red flag, a magatama-like "Ba" symbol was outlined with gold thread. It was a totem belonging to both the general and the emperor.

"This is the end of the road." Da Tiangou laughed carefreely, "Now that I think about it, my life really has nothing to do with success."

"When I was young, I loved to fight with my own kind in the mountains, and because of that, I was expelled from the Tengu tribe. Later, I became fascinated with swordsmanship and mastered the secret sword. With my uncanny ability to chase wind and lightning, I did gain some fame."