In Type-Moon, people create a magic family lineage

Unaware of their inner astonishment, Lu Kang simply looked at the figure that appeared beside Yuan Gaoming.

All dressed in black, with a full head of red hair.

The figure was eerie, resembling a humanoid monster.

Lu Kang's old acquaintance.

“Master Daomo, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

he said.

"Sugawara no Hachi—Ha!"

Ashiya Dōman, who was already under Minamoto no Takaaki's command, chuckled: "I won't let you pave the way for him, Abe no Seimei."

Seimei smiled without saying a word, simply gazing at the scene.

"This person, I'm sure everyone has heard of him."

Gen Takaaki said: "The monk Ashiya Dōman, a great Onmyōji from the Harima region, had exorcised countless demons and had sixty years of rich experience in exorcism. He looked young only because he had the art of preserving his youth, like an immortal from the heavens."

"Since it is inconvenient for Lord Seimei to take action, I think it would be more appropriate for Master Daomo to do so!"

Sure enough, that's what they were planning.

Lu Kang was not surprised. He hadn't said a word throughout, but the moment Minamoto no Mitsunaka spoke against him, he could guess that there was some factional struggle involved. Although he wasn't familiar with Minamoto no Takaaki, he was more aware of his political struggle with the Fujiwara faction and the existence of Ashiya Doman under his command.

"absurd!"

No one dared to object to Minamoto no Takaaki's words, but Fujiwara no Saneyoshi wouldn't care about the old man's feelings: "Who doesn't know that Ashiya Dōman is an unorthodox, heretical figure? You brought such a guy here, are you trying to harm us?"

He smeared people with his bare hands, speaking without thinking, highlighting his simplicity and honesty.

"Fujiwara no Saneyoshi, if you are so afraid of death, then don't continue to occupy this high position." He was blunt, and Minamoto no Takaaki was naturally just as blunt.

An argument was about to begin.

Fujiwara no Kaneie finally raised his hand to stop him again.

“What you all say makes sense,” the Grand Minister said. “But in the end, we’ll see who has the real skills.”

"Why don't we let them fight here? What do you think, Lord Seimei?"

“That’s fine.” Abe no Seimei smiled and agreed.

He raised a finger and said, "By the grace of Heaven, and in veneration of the Northern and Southern Dippers."

"Sugawara no Hajime, Ashiya no Michiman, you two shall fight here—who will win and who will lose, the strength of the two will be clear."

Wherever his finger pointed, the passageway between the nobles and officials suddenly lit up with a purple light.

A barrier took shape in the blink of an eye.

Ashiya Dōman smiled confidently. Although he had suffered repeated defeats before, this period of reflection had allowed him to...

"Your tricks will no longer have any effect on me!"

"is it?"

As Ashiya Dōman stepped into Abe no Seimei's barrier, Lu Kang remained motionless in place: "But you've already lost, haven't you?"

"!?"

Ashiya Dōman moved slightly within the barrier.

Then he found himself unable to move.

He also noticed that Abe no Seimei had lowered that finger and was smiling at Lu Kang.

“You have indeed won,” Seimei said.

He really just pointed randomly.

That barrier was set up by Lu Kang using his thoughts to control invisible 'phantom spirits'.

Fell into a trap!

Ashiya Dōman's face stiffened, knowing that he had lost before the battle even began. He also knew that he had been tricked by his two nephews... Lu Kang and Abe no Haru exchanged a smile, their smiles resembling those of an old fox and a young fox.

Yuan Gaoming's expression became even more unpleasant.

Useless Ashiya Doman! He couldn't even see through this and fell for the trap so easily!

He still dares to claim that he is Abe no Seimei's only rival?

Ashiya Michimitsu left the stage with a grim expression.

Yuan Gaoming's expression also turned ugly, and he remained silent.

"The result is clear."

Fujiwara no Kaneie looked around at everyone and said, "Genji Yorimitsu, you all explain the whole story."

You stood inside the palace gates, listening to Watanabe no Tsuna recount everything they had seen and heard in Izumo Province.

You could feel the oppressive aura emanating from 'Yamata', a being of 'god-like' status, in the very words he spoke.

You already have a 'plan' in your heart.

[A project called 'Imitating the Momotaro Story']

What do you mean by imitating?

I'm ahead of Momotaro now.

I am the 'original'!

Lu Kang thought to himself, then slowly spoke.

He surveyed the assembled officials and then highlighted his own words.

He needs to take the initiative.

Head to the 'Netherworld'.

They intercepted the imminent resurrection of the Yamata no Orochi within that fantastical interlayer.

Then, they were defeated a second time!

Chapter 127 The Lord of the Prefecture's Sacrifice Against the Tide, Thunder and Thunder, The Crimson Dragon Mountain God

The legend of Momotaro, who vanquished demons and monsters, has been passed down in Yamato for over a thousand years. According to various sources, its historical prototype seems to be traced back to the time of Princess Kibitsuhiko during the reign of Emperor Korei, when he subdued Prince Onra of Baekje, who was causing trouble in the Kibi region (present-day Okayama Prefecture). However, Kibitsuhiko is a character who only exists in the Kojiki, and his exact years of existence are unreliable. His existence is only documented in writing. The closest one to the time when the Momotaro story appeared is still the legend of Sugawara no Hashirama, a great scholar, Onmyōji, and a powerful figure who destroyed the Yamata no Orochi.

Although the final results are different.

However, instead of commanding a large army, he led a team alone, which undoubtedly makes him more suitable.

A Study on the Origins of Folk Tales of the Yamato Kingdom (Selected Works, Part 9)

...

Take the initiative, rather than passively defend.

This has always been one of your strengths.

[Back in France, when you were still young, facing the overwhelming power of the magician king Transberio, this is what you did.]

A strategic shift is always a good option.

As for your proposed plan to take the initiative, the entire court immediately expressed their approval—they would much rather see you keep the danger out of Kyoto than allow the battlefield of the 'evil god' invasion to appear there.

[The ministers who support your Fujiwara faction agree.]

Those who don't support you are also expressing their agreement.

Your prestige is now unparalleled, approaching that of the great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei. Today, your direct suppression of Ashiya Dōman in the palace, rendering Ashiya Dōman unable to discern your 'spells,' further proves your strength.

[The court nobles who are not part of the Fujiwara faction naturally do not want you to defend Heian-kyo in public and gain more 'prestige']

Although their plans were destined to fail.

You certainly can't let go of this opportunity to gather more 'thoughts' from all over the world.

After twelve years, this will be your first time leaving the turbulent city of Heian-kyo.

[Embark on a journey with Minamoto no Yorimitsu and others who know the location of the Yamata no Orochi and have witnessed its resurgence]

【…】

"So, you really feel comfortable letting that kid leave Kyoto to challenge the 'evil god' alone?"

Outside Heian Palace after the court assembly, a handsome old man in a pristine white hunting robe stood atop the high wall of the inner city, his long sleeves fluttering. Gazing at the vast night sky of Kyoto, ablaze with lights like scattered stars, Abe no Seimei's deep, aged eyes still possessed an undeniable charm. He heard a voice suddenly approaching, turned to look at the 'youth' who, despite being roughly his own age, still possessed an otherworldly youthful appearance, and simply smiled: "What else?"

"If he stays in this city, he will never be able to take that step out."

"If he can't take that step, how can I leave this city to do what I'm really supposed to do?"

"Hmph hmph hmph..." The figure with flamboyant red hair and black sleeves that fluttered like raven wings, who was their enemy just moments before but was now standing leisurely with them, was undoubtedly Ashiya Dōman. He just grinned and revealed a disdainful smile: "So, this is what I can't understand about you the most."

"You are like this, and so was En no Ozunu back then."

"Clearly possessing ultimate supernatural powers like the 'Mount Tai Lord's Sacrifice,' reversing life and death and undergoing a rebirth would be a piece of cake..."

"Or perhaps, I should actually be different from Kamo no Yakumo no Ozunu."

When this was mentioned, Abe no Seimei suddenly laughed: "What he failed to do back then, I shouldn't have succeeded either—but fortunately, this world is not completely unchanging. Fortunately, although the changes are small and will not affect the true cause and effect of fate, such a small thing can still bring about many changes."

Upon hearing this, Ashiya Dōman glanced silently at the old man beside him, who shouldn't have looked so old. He finally understood what the man meant.

"What did you see with those eyes?"

The statement is questioning, but the tone is one of certainty.

It is certain that what Abe no Seimei said and saw was true.

It is the 'future'.

A future with negligible changes.

and.

It is very likely because of the future brought about by that boy named 'Sugawara Hajime'.

Ashiya Dōman, who had long considered himself Abe no Seimei's only and greatest rival, was well aware that this greatest obstacle in his destiny had already gained the ability to see through the river of time through his own magical skills, and he finally realized this at this moment.

It suddenly dawned on me why Abe no Seimei had changed so much over the years.

It suddenly dawned on me that his extremely bad temper in his youth had gradually subsided at this moment.

In Ashiya Dōman's memory, the young Abe no Seimei was truly a 'monster' who was extremely wicked!

Ashiya Dōman could never understand it.

All we can do is respect it.

Over the years, they have become rivals, but also friends that no one knows about.

"Thank you even more for your cooperation this time, Daoman."

Abe no Seimei said, then suddenly smiled rather ambiguously: "Being defeated in public is quite embarrassing, isn't it?"

"Hmph... Don't laugh at me." Ashiya Doman sneered, "Even if you were old and had closed off most of your mind key permissions, you might not perform better than me."

“Your junior apprentice is truly remarkable.”

"It wasn't in vain that we've been working so hard to pave the way for him."

"But don't expect me to swear allegiance to him—after that, I will still deal with him without mercy!"

"That's natural!"

Abe no Seimei laughed heartily:

"In any case, once he returns and things are settled here, he will have sufficient prestige and ability, and I will be able to entrust this era to him."

"At that time, I will also be able to seize the opportunity to reverse the Taishan Fujun Festival."

"After that, everything in the secular world became irrelevant to me!"

...

The night passed quickly.

The moonlight faded, and the sun rose.

You bid farewell to Xiangzi and Nuozi, and left a letter for Shuten-dōji on the roof of the Yin-Yang Bureau before departing Kyoto.