Chapter 150: Sengoku Daimyo Attacks The Mortal Realm, Great Onmyoji Appears
Shangshan Che shook his head inwardly and asked Akechi Yuya, whose gaze was resolute,
“How do you want to compete?”
Akechi Yuya was slightly taken aback by this, then surprisingly fell into serious contemplation.
After a good while, he looked straight at Shangshan Che and said,
“Shangshan Jun, to minimize the possibility of injury as much as possible, how about we decide the winner by who first ‘taps the opponent’s back’ or ‘grabs the opponent’s wrist’?”
No drawing of blades, not even really making a move.
It was more like a healthy, harmless little post-meal digestion game.
—This was probably the rule Akechi Yuya came up with to avoid both sides, with similar strength, ending up in mutual defeat that would affect the upcoming True Sword Match.
So.
Shangshan Che scratched his head.
—This little brother really thought he could beat him and then take his place in the match in perfect condition?
“Naturally possible.”
With that, Shangshan Che stood up.
He asked the boy who was taking deep breaths and had placed his waist sword here: “By the way, I haven’t asked your name yet.”
“Akechi Yuya.”
Akechi Yuya stood straight and slightly bowed to Shangshan Che: “See you later at the small training ground at the end of the right turn after exiting. Please give me your guidance, Shangshan Jun.”
He actually has the surname Akechi…
He didn’t know if it was because he was too sensitive, but the first thing that came to mind was “Akechi Mitsuhide.”
However, in this era, there were probably quite a few people with the surname “Akechi.”
Shangshan Che didn’t think too much about it, just glanced around and confirmed that only Hattori Ayako and three big guys in Special Affairs Office uniforms wearing sunglasses wanted to watch.
He could understand Hattori Ayako, but what were the reasons for the latter three? Just to watch the fun?
As if noticing Shangshan Che’s puzzled gaze, one of the agents stepped forward and said: “The purpose of us following here is to protect everyone from harm.”
The agent paused, then added: “Especially you, Shangshan Jun.”
Shangshan Che got it.
These three Special Affairs Office agents, roughly Three-Star in strength, were standing here to prevent the Obscure Moon Hall folks from pulling any shady tricks on him before the battle.
Given the brutal methods the Obscure Moon Hall disciples used on local demons and criminals, the possibility was small but not entirely zero.
“Then I’ll have to trouble the three of you.”
After nodding to the three burly men, Shangshan Che took Two-Foot Adult, who was squatting beside Nure-onna grinning and playing a game, and left the assembly room.
As soon as they exited the assembly room door, Shangshan Che immediately sensed the atmosphere from the three beside him shift from lax to vigilant and serious.
This was only natural— with Sister Nanjo Emi in the assembly room, there was no need for them to act.
Halfway down the empty corridor, Shangshan Che suddenly stopped and asked the agents beside him puzzledly,
“Three Eldest Brothers, do you feel like someone is peeking at us?”
The three agents exchanged glances, confirmed they had detected nothing, and shook their heads together, giving a negative answer.
That was strange then.
Shangshan Che continued forward, murmuring thoughtfully.
This “being peeked at” feeling had started when he first arrived at the dojo edge.
But it vanished completely the instant he saw Tokugawa Hoshi, making Shangshan Che think it was an illusion.
And just now, while with Nanjo Emi, nothing happened either, but it reappeared soon after leaving.
Twice, so not an illusion.
“Someone is watching everyone in the dojo, except around Tokugawa Hoshi and Sister Nanjo…”
Shangshan Che thought silently, quickly pinpointing the target by elimination.
If anyone in this Obscure Moon Hall dojo could do such a thing, only one name remained.
Kujo Obuya.
The dojo master of Obscure Moon Hall dojo, the last sword master of Shadow Flow sword technique, said to have lived over a century, the ultimate executioner old hag who slayed at least five or six figures of demons.
—That’s what Nanjo Emi’s intel said.
“But even a Four-Star Ghost God level couldn’t constantly watch every spot in the entire dojo, right?”
Shangshan Che still hadn’t figured it out even when he reached the wooden sign marked “Small Training Ground No. 3.”
But one thing was confirmed.
That was— better not to incarnate as a demon in this dojo.
Otherwise, if spotted by this old hag who amused herself daily with slaying demons, he might die without knowing how.
Shangshan Che reckoned that at full power, he could tussle with top Three-and-a-Half Star powerhouses.
But against One-to-Four Star Ghost God level, everything changed.
Four-Star was called “Ghost God level” because “ghost gods have unfathomable might,” a fundamental difference at the life level.
After warning himself inwardly, Shangshan Che exited the corridor and suddenly felt the space open up before him.
Ahead stood a stone arena rising from the ground.
The arena was about 25m long and wide; not huge, but reasonable given the “small” on the wooden sign.
The edges had no protective measures, simply walled with stones, with an entrance on one side.
“These stones seem specially made.”
Shangshan Che circulated Corona Qi, knocked hard on the stone wall, and confirmed it.
He smiled slightly— now no worry about wrecking their arena.
Stepping onto the arena, Shangshan Che looked up.
Akechi Yuya was already standing seriously on the arena, qi circulating around his body, manifesting a layer of pure white Qi Barrier on the surface.
Clearly, he had at least reached “Mastery” level in his breathing technique.
Shangshan Che couldn’t discern more details, as the opponent’s breathing technique was outside his cognition— likely some rare, special one.
“Hmm…”
Shangshan Che glanced again at Akechi Yuya’s clear, untainted eyes and first waved, saying,
“Two-Foot Adult.”
The girl who had been obediently following behind Shangshan Che poked her head out and blinked: “Che Adult, should I go?”
“Yeah.” Shangshan Che nodded. “Did you hear the rules he said earlier?”
Two-Foot Adult put hands on hips proudly: “Although I was playing a game then, I remembered every word!”
“Good.”
Shangshan Che smiled and patted her hat: “If you win, I’ll give you a big extra meal afterward— say what you want to eat!”
“Oh!”
Two-Foot Adult clenched her fists, feeling strength surging within.
On the opposite side of the arena, Akechi Yuya, who hadn’t expected Shangshan Che to send his shikigami, showed astonishment.
He opened his mouth: “Shangshan Jun, I wanted to compete with you…”
Shangshan Che made a “stop” gesture, feigning displeasure: “Akechi Jun, as a qualified onmyoji, my shikigami is of course part of my strength.”
“So if you want to challenge me, first get past my shikigami.”
Akechi Yuya stared at the black-haired little girl not even reaching his legs, about sixty-something cm tall, and hesitated,
“No… this is too bullying her…”
Shangshan Che’s face cooled: “Akechi Jun, are you looking down on my shikigami?!”
This made Akechi Yuya immediately shut up, leaving Shangshan Che marveling at how unworldly boys were easily swayed by others’ emotions.
“In that case, let’s begin.”
Shangshan Che said to the pumped-up Two-Foot Adult: “Show your whimsical ideas to the fullest, Two-Foot Adult!”
“Po!”
Two-Foot Adult’s mind had already lined up a series of “whimsical” tools.
She knew Shangshan Che wanted her to fight to observe how she used her idealistic new ability.
—And she hadn’t shrunk in the Ksitigarbha Statue brushing light novels and manga for days in vain!
Before Akechi Yuya could formally bow to Two-Foot Adult, she stepped onto a mysteriously appearing floating board.
Then, whoosh— she charged at eye-defying speed!
—After all, who greets you when fighting Obscure Moon Hall folks?!
Before Akechi Yuya figured out why Two-Foot Adult flew to the arena edge, he suddenly saw her turn and point at him with a gun-firing finger gesture.
“Po, po.”
With Two-Foot Adult mouthing it, two gray-white bullets really appeared from nowhere, rushing at Akechi Yuya amid deafening gunshots.
Hearing the gunshots identical to real firing, Akechi Yuya froze stiff, rooted in place.
—Done for, no sword to split the bullets, and the rules prohibit harm— why is Shangshan Jun’s shikigami shooting me…
In the emergency, complex thoughts flooded Akechi Yuya’s mind, leaving him stunned and frozen in place.
As a result, the two gray-white bullets burst “pa” on nearing him, turning into white ropes that bound his wrists tight.
Two-Foot Adult won.
Even Two-Foot Adult hadn’t expected this outcome— it was just the first link of her smooth combo, to “force movement.”
Next came links two-three-four-five, and even nested B Plan, C Plan if all failed…
The girl, on the now powerless floating board, exhaled speechlessly.
—She hadn’t shown Che Adult the results yet, how did the opponent fall first.
Would Che Adult still give her extra meal?
Shangshan Che wasn’t surprised by the result.
Watching Akechi Yuya still staring at the white ropes on his wrists, not reacting, he commented: “Pure academy style is like this.”
Only sword practice, fighting under set rules, no real life-or-death combat.
—Faced with the unexpected life-threatening situation, they freeze like Akechi Yuya, unsure what to do.
On paper, Akechi Yuya was indeed stronger than Two-Foot Adult, yet taken down in one move.
Probably in Obscure Moon Hall trio’s eyes, he with under five real combats on record was also “academy style.”
So they had some reason to underestimate him.
Shangshan Che waved Two-Foot Adult over to untie the kneeling, incredulous little brother’s bonds.
“This…”
Akechi Yuya looked at the tiny Two-Foot Adult.
Thinking of his long training and praised talent, yet defeated instantly by such a small girl, his face flushed rapidly.
From shame.
“In any case, I lost!”
Akechi Yuya shouted, prostrating deeply on the arena surface in dogeza toward Shangshan Che and the other,
“Shangshan Jun! I was too arrogant, sorry!”
“No need to go that far.”
Shangshan Che pulled the little brother up, smiling: “Recognizing your shortcomings is good— so I’ve helped you, Akechi Jun.”
Akechi Yuya, moved by these words, looked at Shangshan Che with reddening eyes.
“Thank you.”
He bowed deeply to Shangshan Che.
Responding, Shangshan Che led Two-Foot Adult off the arena.
Next, he needed a quiet spot to intensively cultivate Corona Breathing Technique in the dozens of hours before True Sword Match.
For he was confident even without demon incarnation, he had full grasp of victory over Akatsuki Ran and Karatorishigure, both Two-and-a-Half Star.
But Kuzuha Chihaya was different.
She was a genuine Three-Star, with experience solo-killing multiple Three-Star Demons, verifiable record.
Even after calling her big sis and clashing with this woman who tried to intimidate him on sight, he had to admit Kuzuha Chihaya’s strength.
So Shangshan Che needed to boost Corona Breathing Technique proficiency in this short time.
Then leverage high-intensity fights with Akatsuki Ran and Karatorishigure to break through the breathing technique to “Mastery Level” in combat.
Thus making this True Sword Match a sure win.
But before that, promises must be kept.
“—Two-Foot Adult, extra meal!”
The girl raised both hands cheering,
“Oh hoo! Che Adult forever! Loyal! Orange!”
……
Deep in Obscure Moon Hall, in a deep black room.
Karatorishigure, withdrawing his view from the stone crow by the small training ground, felt intense nausea,
“How many times and still nauseous, can’t the body adapt…”
Nearby, Akatsuki Ran lazily glanced up while honing her pale bone dagger: “Then ask Master to turn you into a gargoyle.”
Karatorishigure ignored the dumb question, saying: “But good harvest anyway.”
He said softly: “That shikigami always with Shangshan Che is confirmed not weak, ability somewhat bizarre.”
Karatorishigure recalled and guessed: “Maybe spatial ability to conjure items from nothing. From appearance, likely Urban Legend ‘Hachishaku-sama,’ but seems uniquely mutated.”
“In summary.”
He flipped open the densely noted book on “Shangshan Che” beside him, summarizing,
“Shangshan Che relies heavily on shikigami, but previously showed strong body ability too; records say his Corona Breathing Technique and Natural Reason School are not weak.”
Karatorishigure closed his eyes, tossed the notes toward the writhing shadow nearby.
Soon, creepy chewing sounded, the whole notebook vanishing.
“—I judge he uses shikigami as vanguard to draw fire, himself seizing chances; Onmyōdō relatively weak, but state of mind cultivation decent, common spirit illusions likely ineffective.”
Akatsuki Ran lightly placed her index finger on the bone dagger, saw the fingertip split with a blood mark, then withdrew it,
“Get to the point.”
“To deal with him, split the battlefield plus vital strikes; but don’t show big openings, might get one-shot by hidden means.”
Hearing this, Akatsuki Ran jumped down from her rock perch, startling the ground crows into flying to side rock walls,
“Thanks for the intel, little crow.”
She pulled a card from her inner chest lining and tossed it: “Tonight’s hunting target set too; remember not to let big sis disturb my digestion fun.”
Akatsuki Ran finished and melted into the darkness like liquid, feeling faint phantom pains from all over her body again.
She thought indifferently:
—Just a flower carefully nurtured in Special Affairs Office greenhouse, how could it be stronger than them who hunt demons daily on death’s edge?
Special Affairs Office, don’t underestimate people.
……
Meanwhile, before cultivating, Shangshan Che suddenly got a Line message from Nanjo Emi to return to the assembly room.
No specifics, just come quick.
Facing Sister Nanjo’s rare request, he naturally wouldn’t refuse.
At the assembly room door, about to knock, Shangshan Che found it ajar.
So he pushed in without knocking, seeing Nanjo Emi still on the previous sofa spot, and…
Shangshan Che shifted gaze to a burly, muscular man in short black-white haori, scruffy chin beard, exuding ruggedness.
Shangshan Che’s pupils shrank; he sensed vast tidal spiritual power fluctuations from the rugged man.
Just the spilling spiritual power exceeded his own by at least tenfold.
Strong, very strong!
This man was unequivocally Ghost God level!
And from the fluctuations, likely a Great Onmyoji!
Before Shangshan Che spoke, the man raised a brow and asked aside: “Nanjō, this the genius you mentioned?”
Nanjo Emi said flatly: “What do you think?”
From their exchange, Shangshan Che understood why Nanjo Emi called him.
To get face time with this Great Onmyoji, essentially pre-building future connections.
He looked at expressionless Nanjo Emi’s face.
Sister Nanjo, why are you so good to me…
Also arriving as one of the notaries at Obscure Moon Hall, Kujo Shingo from Onmyo-ryo sized up Shangshan Che and evaluated,
“The seedling is indeed excellent, but not as genius as you say, Nanjō.”
Kujo Shingo shook his head: “Once-in-a-millennium is too unrealistic. By my view, Shangshan Jun’s future achievements should be close to mine, or a bit higher.”
—For a Ghost God level to say he’d surely reach Ghost God or higher, that was undoubtedly top honor.
But Nanjo Emi smiled,
“Then please remember your thoughts today before leaving, Your Excellency Kujo, and wait for time to pass.”
She told Kujo Shingo: “Time will prove everything.”
Kujo Shingo stared at Shangshan Che a bit, then nodded noncommittally and headed out.
Just before leaving the assembly room, Nanjo Emi suddenly asked as if recalling: “Your Excellency Kujo, will you regret the decision to expel Kujo Tsubaki from the family?”
The crisp door slam answered Nanjo Emi’s question.
Seeing the no-longer-strange Ghost God level figure leave the room, Shangshan Che and Two-Foot Adult both subconsciously relaxed.
—After all, with a humanoid nuke constantly emanating threat nearby, no one could ignore it.
Shangshan Che exhaled, gaze drawn to Nanjo Emi’s open laptop screen nearby.
He slowly read the document’s huge title,
“《Rough Report on Current Territories of Sengoku Daimyos》?”
Shangshan Che paused: “Sister Nanjo, does Special Affairs Office work include historical research?”
“What history…”
Nanjo Emi, hearing the question, irritably crushed her can: “This is the current Eternal World situation.”
She rubbed her temples: “Now Takeda Yoshinobu is leading troops attacking Yamanashi Prefecture; if we take Yokohama City later, we might face that guy.”
Takeda Yoshinobu?
Hearing the familiar name, Shangshan Che narrowed his eyes.
Takeda Yoshinobu was the samurai who first greeted him at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, otherwise unremarkable.
Oh, and son of “Kai Tiger” Takeda Shingen…
Wait, no.
Shangshan Che asked puzzledly: “Sister Nanjo, you mean Sengoku era figures revived in Eternal World and are probing attacks on Mortal Realm?”
Nanjo Emi nodded: “Good summary.”
She tapped her knee: “Heard Shikoku side also has Sengoku Daimyo probing.”
“But that’s not Special Affairs Office jurisdiction; let Onmyo-ryo with excess troops headache first.”
Shangshan Che was stunned.
Sengoku daimyos or notables reviving in Eternal World seemed common?
He voiced the question.
“Not necessarily.”
Nanjo Emi explained: “Just, the more famous, the higher probability of existence.”
She counted on fingers: “Like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Tokugawa Ieyasu—the famed Sengoku Three Heroes surely in the vastly larger Eternal World, having carved their territories.”
“They’re likely biding time, building power for the perfect moment, not rashly striking Mortal Realm yet.”
Shangshan Che listened quietly, then impulsively asked Nanjo Emi,
“If so, is Imagawa Yoshimoto possibly in some Eternal World corner now?”
Off to school tomorrow
Shorter update today meow
Explosive updates next two days! Fight hard!
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