Chapter 116: Kaga Kiyomitsu’s Blade Of Parting, Five Thunder Technique, Acquired!
“I’ve heard humans say that when their pet animals die, they feel Sadness and bury them with their own hands.”
The Snow Woman remained indifferent, continuing to brew the Soul Broth laden with endless Grudges, her movements not slowing in the slightest due to Shangshan Che’s arrival.
“What I’m doing now is equivalent to that.”
The Snow Woman said, “Here, only when Obsession or Grudge is completely dispelled does true Death come.”
“Otherwise, it will only turn into that mindless, aimless Wandering Soul, eternally tasting the Unwillingness and pain from before death—Lord Che should have seen them too.”
Chi.
The “empty soul” in the Snow Woman’s words was undoubtedly Chi.
So… what she was doing now was equivalent to guiding these resentful souls to the afterlife?
Shangshan Che could see the Snow Woman slowly sigh, her icy Spiritual Power fluctuating.
“If I don’t gather them together and just let them die, it would be very noisy… Better to keep them together, easier to handle after death, and they can relieve the boredom of my dull life before that.”
【Uncover the Snow Woman’s true purpose, current Progress: 70%.】
A Prompt popped up before Shangshan Che’s eyes, proving the Snow Woman’s words were true.
But the Progress only reached 70%, meaning there was still a more crucial part the Snow Woman hadn’t revealed…
Hu.
A biting cold wind suddenly arose.
The azure Flames extinguished.
The bubbling of the Soul Broth stopped, and the basement instantly plunged into deep Darkness.
Profound chill wrapped around Shangshan Che’s body along with the escaping Grudges.
In the Darkness, only that pair of ice-blue Pupils shone brightly, still indifferent.
“Lord Che, you know full well why I’m telling you all this.”
The cold spread, thick frost and snow crawling over the basement.
Shangshan Che stowed the Folding Fan and the Armguard in his Robe, standing with hands behind his back: “I originally thought you were refining living souls, forging Grudges for your purposes, so whatever I did wouldn’t burden my conscience.”
Shangshan Che shook his head: “But now it seems I was wrong.”
The Snow Woman was slightly stunned.
The yokai who could see through hearts clearly saw that every word from the Four-Tailed Fox before her was genuinely true, and he truly had no intention of fighting her.
“More interested in the truth of the unknown than your own life… Such things don’t matter whether you know them or not.”
The Snow Woman lowered her gaze, rarely curving her lips.
What an interesting guy.
Unfortunately—
Bone-chilling cold and suddenly appearing blizzard surged up, enveloping Shangshan Che in an instant; he only heard the Snow Woman’s final whisper before losing consciousness.
“—I don’t want my peaceful life disrupted by an outsider.”
With a wave of her pristine white sleeve, the Snow Woman gazed at the shattered crystalline ice scattered on the ground.
After a long time, she sighed helplessly, bent down to pick up the clearest piece from the floor, and tucked it into the gap of her kimono.
A bit of a pity.
A faint guilt rose from the Snow Woman’s heart, only to be calmly severed by her in the next instant.
She had already warned him in her first sentence, yet that Four-Tailed Fox still stayed.
This was his own choice.
……
“Hiss— so cold!”
Under the spring sun’s warmth, Shangshan Che lying under the Cherry Blossom Tree opened his eyes and shuddered violently.
He had just been frozen solid into an ice sculpture by the Snow Woman, then shattered into countless pieces.
This cold was literally “bone-chilling.”
Goosebumps spread over Shangshan Che’s skin; he rubbed his hands with Corona Qi for a long time before barely restoring warmth to his body.
“This has way more aftereffects than a normal death.”
Shangshan Che muttered, pulled out his Mobile Phone, and found only three or four hours had passed in the Mortal Realm.
A subtle sense of time dislocation…
As Shangshan Che was about to stand and stretch, he suddenly noticed his Storage Bag glowing.
Tapping in, he saw Kaga Kiyomitsu placed inside shining brightly.
“Finally waiting for you!”
Ignoring that he was still on school grounds, Shangshan Che directly took out Kaga Kiyomitsu and held it.
Actually, the Special Affairs Office didn’t prohibit students from carrying Cold Weapons on campus—as long as they had the proper Identification.
And the esteemed “Seed” Competitor naturally enjoyed this minor privilege.
The moment Shangshan Che gripped Kaga Kiyomitsu, a colorful Prompt popped up.
【Kaga Kiyomitsu Replica undergoing unknown change: 100%!】
【Your Kaga Kiyomitsu Replica has undergone a key change!】
【You lost Kaga Kiyomitsu Replica.】
【You obtained Kaga Kiyomitsu Blade of Parting!】
With a slight pull, Shangshan Che drew the Blade.
The Blade was no longer clear as water, now inscribed with layer upon layer of ancient, intricate Emblems stacked upon it, exquisite and solemn.
A Pale Color like velvet flowing clouds clung to it, slowly dripping from the Blade like water, falling onto the Cherry Blossom petals at Shangshan Che’s feet.
In an instant, the petals became vividly beautiful, in full bloom.
But in the blink of an eye, the dazzling petals withered and decayed, turning into a handful of faded yellow soil.
Fleeting splendor.
Shangshan Che examined the new Kaga Kiyomitsu, feeling its slight, Pleasantness tremor, lightly sniffing the faint fragrance.
【Kaga Kiyomitsu Blade of Parting】
【Quality: Rare+】
【Effect One: Thrust Enhancement+.】
【Effect Two: Soul Slaying.】
【Effect Three: Slash Enhancement+.】
【Effect Four: Blazing.】
【Effect Five: Blade of Parting（Unique）. When Kaga Kiyomitsu Blade of Parting is unsheathed, it continuously inflicts “Sorrow of Parting” on surroundings; after dealing damage to an enemy, the effect rapidly intensifies on that enemy.】
【—This is the Blade to Slay the Eight Sufferings Love of Separation. Not one of the countless replicas of that Daito from centuries ago, but the one and only since ancient times.】
Even though the Quality hadn’t changed, it gained a new effect marked “Unique.”
The so-called “Sorrow of Parting” was naturally obtained from slaying Love of Separation, and its Strength seemed quite high.
But the specific effect on enemies needed testing by Shangshan Che.
Seeing the Pale liquid about to spread under the Cherry Blossom Tree, Shangshan Che quickly sheathed it.
Kaga Kiyomitsu buzzed, as if dissatisfied.
Shangshan Che tapped its Hilt with his knuckle, pointing at the Cherry Blossom Tree to lecture it: “They’ve lived over a hundred years; could you bear to let them wither and die just because you stayed out a bit longer, huh?”
Buzz—
Kaga Kiyomitsu trembled dejectedly, then stopped moving, quietly lying in Shangshan Che’s hand.
“That’s more like it.”
After stroking Kaga Kiyomitsu twice and placing it on his lap, Shangshan Che opened Line, tapped Sister Nanjo’s chat window, and got straight to the point.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: Sister Nanjo, I want my Shikigami to take the God Bestowal Path. Wondering if there’s any spare Tablet lately that can share some Incense Wish Power.
Shangshan Che finished typing but hadn’t put down his phone when a message popped up—almost an instant reply.
【Nanjō Emi】: How many stars?
【Moon Sand Sauce】: One-and-a-Half Star.
【Nanjō Emi】: Easy then. I’m meeting Master Huijue from Hongyuan Temple for dinner tonight; come along, I’ll ask him for a spot.
Hongyuan Temple? Buddhism?
Shangshan Che blinked; was it really okay for Two-Foot Adult, a Supernatural Phenomenon, to take Buddhist Incense?
He voiced this doubt.
Nanjō Emi replied instantly again.
【Nanjō Emi】: Demons no, but Supernatural Phenomena under Three-Star don’t worry about Compatibility issues. When it reaches Three-Star, we’ll find another way.
【Nanjō Emi】: Also, got your Tablet ready?
Shangshan Che slapped his forehead; he’d completely forgotten about that.
Since taking the God Bestowal Path, he needed a corresponding Tablet to bear the Incense.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: Not yet… Sorry, Sister Nanjo. I just learned my “Seed” status a few hours ago and thought to mention it to you first.
【Nanjō Emi】: No biggie. I’ll get you a universal one first; swap it when you get a better one later.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: Sister Nanjo, love you.（Heart gesture.jpg）
【Nanjō Emi】: Thank the Five Person Council and Hongyuan Temple if anything. A week ago this would’ve been impossible; I’m just a messenger at best.
Can’t say that.
If it weren’t Nanjō Emi on the other end, it could get done, but how long and when it’d happen is questionable.
To disturb Sister Nanjo as little as possible, Shangshan Che stated his next request.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: Also, I need a Lightning Magic. The more direct and brutally simple, the better.
Shangshan Che had pondered long before which path to choose among the vast Onmyōdō.
Pick one of the【Four Paths】 and master it first?
Or study【Five Elements】 together for more versatility?
But after much thought, Shangshan Che decided not to waste too much time on all these Onmyōdō.
With time to practice so much Onmyōdō, his Natural Reason School would’ve long broken through to Lili Zi’s level.
Though Sword Technique breakthroughs rely on “feeling” and require daily practice—skipping days even causes regression.
But Shangshan Che’s Proficiency was different; fill it up to break through, no regression.
So Shangshan Che believed his current foundation should still be melee; specializing in Sword Technique and Breathing Technique was priority.
As for Onmyōdō, the Four-Tailed Fox already had Soul Seal for control, so learning a max-damage Lightning fit perfectly.
—The Folding Fan’s built-in skill was good, but cooldown was a hard flaw.
Plus, the Folding Fan was just Rare gear, limited Spiritual Power capacity.
Thus, after weighing factors, Shangshan Che made this Decision.
【Nanjō Emi】: Want to specialize in Lightning Magic? I’ll spend extra time finding you a strong one.
【Moon Sand Sauce】:（Kowtowing to godfather.gif）
With the next itinerary set, Shangshan Che yawned, habitually clearing the annoying 99+ red dots in Line.
“Hm?”
But as his finger moved down, Shangshan Che noticed a friend who hadn’t messaged in over a week, nearly two.
—【Work to Die】.
Opening the chat with the grayed-out profile pic【Work to Die】, Shangshan Che scrolled to the last two messages.
【Work to Die】: Always heard Fushimi Inari Shrine is popular but no time to visit. I have friends there who say they can introduce us to the legendary “Deity.”
【Work to Die】: Ah, fine, go sleep. I’m off to overtime.
—This was from before the First Wave; the Netizen feared danger and wanted him to shelter at Fushimi Inari Shrine.
But Shangshan Che refused.
After that, this enthusiastic Netizen who taught him Spirit Control Technique never messaged again.
Shangshan Che paused, pinged first, then asked.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: No messages for so long, drowned?
No reply.
Shangshan Che set down his phone, thinking the other might have perished in the First Wave.
From prior messages, he was either from an ancient Onmyoji Family or an Onmyoji at Special Affairs Office.
Either way, his enthusiasm suggested frontline against the Tide, and then…
Buzz.
The phone vibrated; Shangshan Che picked it up, a smile lighting his face.
【Work to Die】: Dead.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: Am I seeing a ghost then?（Scared.jpg）
【Work to Die】: If ghost, it’d be super 007 Corporate Slave ghost claiming my Superior Boss’s life.（Exhausted.jpg）
【Work to Die】: Recently my Superior got transferred, had to take his spot… Honestly, if not desperate for manpower, whoever wants promotion take it; better to be a salted fish drinking heavily and chilling daily.
Seeing the flood of complaints, Shangshan Che couldn’t stop laughing.
Typing that fast means arms intact, no ICU—great news.
Tired? Can it compare to Nanjō Emi’s 24-hour nonstop, napping in the car?
Shangshan Che sent a popping champagne emoji, then saw angry punching emojis flooding in.
It spammed for a while before stopping.
【Work to Die】: Enough about this dumb job. You too, no messages so long, nearly one-key deleted you from the list.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: Cultivating.
Special Affairs Office.
Nanjō Emi, with deeper dark circles than a week ago, smiled and sipped coffee.
“Little guy took the bait; good thing, or initiating would’ve tipped my hand…”
She hooked her shoe with her toe, leg crossed, clacking away at the keyboard.
Across from her, Shizuma Manatsu shrank back; first time seeing Sister Nanjo so sunny.
【Work to Die】: Cultivating huh! Heard Special Affairs Office spreading basic Spirit Gathering lately; I have a complementary ghost-exorcising minor spell. See if it’s hard to learn.
Ghost-exorcising minor spell?
The Netizen really saw him as a total newbie?
Shangshan Che raised a brow, about to refuse, but before typing finished, huge message blocks popped up.
He skimmed a couple lines, and a Prompt appeared—
【Work to Die is imparting Five Thunder Technique Ki-Gong to you…】
Shangshan Che jolted, hastily deleting all chat text.
Bro?
Five Thunder Technique?
Can you just teach this casually?!
Learn it and get caught—won’t some Onmyoji Family hunt me down?
What, I have Special Affairs Office backing?
Then no issue.
Shangshan Che carefully read the obscure lines, trying to comprehend.
Hm, totally incomprehensible.
Knows the words separately, zero sense combined.
No problem; for Shangshan Che, just stare longer.
If he couldn’t, could the Progress bar fail!?
About ten minutes later, like ellipses finally loading, Prompts flooded out.
【You have learned Five Thunder Technique Ki-Gong】
【Five Thunder Technique Ki-Gong（Beginner 0/500）】
【Effect: Can release faint Lightning while operating Breathing Technique.】
【—Control Lightning with Ki, merge Lightning with Ki. Created by a Heian-era Sword Saint blending legendary Five Thunder Method; power less than original, but usable without incantation.】
This…
Shangshan Che stared at the Effect and description, stunned for a while.
What version of “speak of the devil” is this?
He’d just told Sister Nanjo he wanted Lightning Magic, and instantly got the perfect match from a Netizen.
Plus “Ki-Gong” suffix, and description’s “Heian Sword Saint”—nearly says it’s from the Ki-Gong Technique creator.
This luck is ridiculously over the top.
Shangshan Che felt dizzy, slowly typing after a pause.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: Bro… won’t your family beat your ass for teaching me this?
“Pfft—”
Nanjō Emi spat coffee onto the screen.
In minutes, he learned this obscure, esoteric Five Thunder Technique?
Note: this Five Thunder Technique fundamentally differs from ordinary Onmyōdō; more like a “Breathing Technique to launch Lightning with Spiritual Power.”
【Work to Die】: My family couldn’t care less; grass on their graves is three feet high.
Damn, stepped on a landmine.
Shangshan Che apologized quickly.
【Moon Sand Sauce】: Sorry…
【Work to Die】: Apologize for what? Celebrate, pop champagne.
【Work to Die】: Alright, learn slowly. Chat later; off to work.
After a thank-you godfather emoji, Shangshan Che eagerly stood to test Five Thunder Technique Ki-Gong.
“Hu—”
Instinctively operating Breathing Technique and exhaling normally, but out came crackling electric arcs.
Mid-air sparks crackled freely, fun as nearly burnt sparklers.
Right, those tiny fireworks at anime festivals, held by JKs watching burn out.
“Damn, nearly numbed my mouth.”
Shangshan Che rubbed his lips—pain already gone—and twitched his mouth.
What massive power… self-damage 1000 first, then enemy?
Slowing breath, Shangshan Che stood still, feeling it out, grasping the key merge of Five Thunder Technique and Breathing Technique.
He extended a hand, operating the new Five Thunder Technique with breath rhythm.
Crackle!
Instantly, dazzling current shot from Shangshan Che’s fingertip!
Power like a corner store firecracker.
At the start, decent damage to Scattered Wandering Soul or Half-Star Demon; enough to zap Kitsune-dog types.
But now…
“Like Ki-Gong Technique, needs practice; late-bloomer skill.”
Not an issue.
Since Five Thunder Technique Ki-Gong syncs with Breathing Technique rhythm, using during Breathing practice means no extra time.
Just exhaling static each time—hard on the mouth.
Shangshan Che imagined the scene; kinda grotesque.
But for efficient cultivation, could he not overcome this?
Shangshan Che exhaled static casually.
Crackle, but Proficiency +1.
“—Shangshan Jun! Are you dying? Spitting electricity from your mouth!”
Lili Zi’s auspicious words from afar.
Seconds later, she arrived with whooshing wind, staring in awe: “How’d you do that?!”
Shangshan Che stared, suddenly exhaling again.
Caught off-guard, Lili Zi’s face met the static full-on.
Zap!
Lili Zi’s black hair exploded, strands standing every which way like a startled spiky cat.
Shangshan Che turned away, holding back laughter.
In silence, numb-faced Lili Zi pulled her phone, selfie mode revealing her look.
“Shangshan Che—!”
……
After horseplay, Lili Zi tied her restored hair into a ponytail.
Hands on hips: “Spit static at me again and I’ll shave you bald!”
Shangshan Che recalled her look, bursting out laughing.
“Laugh again!”
Lili Zi kicked his butt—more like tickling.
“No more, no more.” Shangshan Che stepped back, waving hands. “Gonna dine with Sister Nanjo and a monk soon.”
“Dine?”
Lili Zi blinked: “What place?”
Shangshan Che scratched head, puzzled: “Korean BBQ Restaurant.”
“Eat!”
Lili Zi shouted: “Shear Special Affairs Office’s wool hard; don’t miss a BBQ!”
So they left school together, heading to the Korean BBQ Restaurant.
With grind-queen Lili Zi beside, Shangshan Che couldn’t slack.
All the way, he spat static, drawing curious, envious stares.
Gawked at like an alien the whole trip; at the store doorway post-subway, Shangshan Che nudged Lili Zi:
“Practice while eating?”
Lili Zi grinned: “Nah nah, satisfied watching.”
“That’s better…”
Shangshan Che entered, heading to table 36 deep in the Korean BBQ Restaurant.
Soon, he and Lili Zi stopped simultaneously, exchanging confused looks.
Shangshan Che recalled Nanjō Emi saying Hongyuan Temple’s Master Huijue arrived first.
Lili Zi remembered too; should be a monk first.
At table 36, the Bald Youth erlang-legged grilled meat, black short-sleeve stretched taut over Muscle.
Short-sleeve emblazoned with huge “tide” character, back covered in meaningless graffiti and spray paint.
Neck bore black skull Metal necklace, ears pierced with cross studs, backward cap revealing baldness through gaps.
—Aside from the bald head, where’s the monk vibe?!
Total delinquent punk look!
Shangshan Che checked phone confirming with Nanjō Emi, then cautiously approached: “Excuse me, Master Huijue?”
“Mm?!”
Mid-bite Huijue looked up, choked, gulped bubbly Cola to recover.
“Cough cough… You’re Arakawa Ward’s Seed Shangshan Jun, right? Come come, sit sit.”
Huijue snatched back his opposite black leather jacket studded with fake diamonds, grinned meat-filled teeth at him.
Shangshan Che sat, unsure how to address Huijue’s outfit.
“And the one behind with State of Mind shining like the sun must be Miss Tokugawa; please sit.”
Once Lili Zi sat, Huijue familiarly tonged near-done meat for them, smiling: “What do you two think of this monk’s style? Super【tide】 and【cool】, full of【rock】 flair?”
Their words blocked by the mudslide.
Shangshan Che and Lili Zi: “……”
Huijue munched meat, smiling: “Earlier this monk met two motorbike Boys roadside; they said my old style couldn’t keep up with the new era.”
“Thought I’d been off-mountain too long, should embrace new things; they took me shopping for a makeover.”
Huijue jangled skull necklace: “Fellowship gift from them; nice, huh?”
—Ran into those Ghost Fire Youth types.
—Both sweatdropped inwardly; fine Buddhist Master ruined thus.
Shangshan Che: “Master, like it and it’s good.”
Lili Zi: “Master, this look wandering streets at dawn? All calling you handsome.”
“Really! Haha, thanks both.”
Huijue nodded smiling, spotting distant masked, striding Nanjō Emi.
“Ms. Nanjō, over here!”
Nanjō Emi, under Cognition-interfering Onmyōdō, paused, frowned: “Huijue, what’s this getup? Racing tonight?”
Huijue patiently re-explained.
Seated, Nanjō Emi chewed meat calmly: “Old Abbot sees this, might stroke out.”
“He’s advanced in years, hard to accept trendy things.” Huijue lowered gaze to bubbling Cola: “So us young ones must do something.”
“—So Ms. Nanjō, how’s my look? Handsome?”
Nanjō Emi: “Fair warning: ugly as hell.”
Huijue’s smile froze, puzzled: “But Shangshan Jun and Miss Tokugawa said…”
Nanjō Emi glanced at the two stuffing meat: “They’re either lying or sarcasm you missed.”
“Sarcasm?”
Huijue scratched head: “What’s that?”
“Browse 2ch or Twitter more; couple weeks and you’ll sync with society.”
Nanjō Emi pointed him to a dead-end path.
Huijue nodded earnestly, clumsily handling his latest fruit phone, soon downloading both apps.
“Side stuff aside.” Nanjō Emi pointed at Shangshan Che: “Shangshan Jun has a One-and-a-Half Star Supernatural Phenomenon Shikigami for God Bestowal Path; any spots there?”
“No problem.”
Midway registering, Huijue looked up: “Can’t sway main temples yet, but Yokohama branch.”
Huijue grinned at Shangshan Che: “I’ll take Shangshan Jun; sooner better, head out post-meal.”
Shangshan Che hesitated: “I’m fine… but you two meeting offline for important talk?”
“Talk?”
Huijue smiled back: “Isn’t it done already?”
Shangshan Che blinked, replaying events, understanding.
The “important matter” was settled the moment Nanjō Emi saw Huijue.
Seems not just Special Affairs Office vs Onmyo-ryo differences; even Hongyuan Temple Buddhists sharply divided on new era response.
“Sorry, this monk taking a call.”
Huijue signaled, phone to ear.
After silence, he set it down, sheepishly smiling: “Shangshan Jun… Master suddenly needs me; can’t go to Yokohama with you.”
“Also.”
Huijue hesitated, apologetically sighing: “Yokohama branch brothers with shallow Cultivation hit a tricky incident; if spare capacity after placing Tablet, please help a bit.”
This attitude—refreshing.
Shangshan Che set down chopsticks: “Happy to.”
“Many thanks.”
Huijue relaxed, crammed remaining meat ensuring no waste, stood bidding farewell.
Watching Ghost Fire Youth-dressed Huijue exit, Shangshan Che clearly heard nearby staff and guests sigh relief.
Nanjō Emi’s table phone buzzed; she glanced:
“Heading to Yokohama too; ride with me.”
Smooth sailing then?
Shangshan Che enjoyed BBQ blissfully until noticing faint Spiritual Power Fluctuation at the seat, realizing he’d overlooked Huijue’s Strength entirely.
He asked seriously:
“Sister Nanjo, what’s Master Huijue’s background?”
