Chapter 101: White Hannya, One-and-a-half Star!
The ordinary quality Time Reduction Card made no big noise when snapped, just a soft “crack,” and the two halves turned into light particles that dissipated in midair.
Shangshan Che saw that Laughing Hannya’s upgrade progress bar, which had already advanced over halfway, trembled for an instant.
Then, like riding a rocket, it filled the remaining progress bar in just a few seconds.
A faint, miserable wailing echoed beside Shangshan Che, vanishing quickly.
【”Laughing Hannya（Youth Body）” upgrading: 100%!】
【Your Demon Incarnation·Laughing Hannya（Youth Body） has finished upgrading!】
【You obtained Demon Incarnation·White Hannya（Youth Body）!】
The original One-Star Laughing Hannya successfully evolved into its higher Demon in the Hannya race—White Hannya—after promoting to One-and-a-Half Star.
Shangshan Che stared at the card face where the bluish-black Oni Mask with a eerie smile slowly transformed into a snow-white Oni Mask with a half-crying, half-smiling expression.
He pondered: “So, to evolve into the legendary Red Hannya with the greatest threat, does the Demon Incarnation need to reach Two-Star or Two-and-a-Half Star first?”
After all, in historical legends, Laughing Hannya only scares children for fun, while White Hannya is blinded by emotions like jealousy and resentment, killing only for revenge.
But Red Hannya is different.
It kills without any reason or motive, killing on whim, eating after killing, even taking pleasure in torment, with utterly cruel methods.
Just hearing the legendary tales shows the gap between it and the previous two.
Shangshan Che examined the two Demon Incarnation cards: “After Three-tailed Fox reaches Two-Star, will the change be bigger than Hannya’s?”
Because both need 150 Soul Incense Ash to go from One-and-a-Half Star to Two-Star, and both require a full half month for promotion.
And Shangshan Che now has only 236 Soul Incense Ash in total, enough for just one Demon Incarnation’s promotion.
The Abandoned Shrine’s Gacha Pool just vanished, meaning Soul Incense Ash（medium） worth 50 points is now hard to obtain.
He sat on the bench, deep in thought for a long time, then shook his head: “Only kids make choices.”
Shangshan Che held the two Demon Incarnation cards with starkly different art styles, sneering,
“—As an affluent adult, of course I’ll take them all!”
It’s just 64 Soul Incense Ash points short; even if he drains the Deep Bamboo Forest’s Half-Star pool dry, he’ll gather every bit!
Soul Ash can be earned again, but delaying growth time is totally not worth it!
After deciding, Shangshan Che happily exhaled, starting to check White Hannya’s attribute panel—
【White Hannya（Youth Body）】
【Quality: Epic】
【Rank: One-and-a-Half Star】
【Rank Cap: Three-and-a-Half Star】
【Talent: Ghost God（weak）, Greed, Anger, Ignorance（weak）, Berserk, Fear of White】
【—Laughing Hannya, White Hannya, Red Hannya. All are Hannya, Ghost Gods too.】
For talents, aside from the new “Fear of White,” the others showed no change.
This was within Shangshan Che’s expectations.
Ghost God and Greed, Anger, Ignorance are extremely powerful skills; completing them at the minor “One-Star to One-and-a-Half Star” step would be wishful thinking.
After all, Shangshan Che himself could slay One-Star or even One-and-a-Half Star Demons at Half-Star, but against Two-Star Demons, he’d have no power to fight back.
Better check this new skill that reeks of “White Hannya flavor” first.
【Fear of White: When others fear you, all attributes except Charm temporarily increase slightly. The more fear, the stronger you become; the stronger you become, the more they fear you.】
“Feels like a skill born for battlefields.” Shangshan Che finished reading the description. “Facing a powerful Demon BOSS alone, not many will fear you.”
Plus, if they can clash fiercely with him, they won’t embarrass themselves by fleeing in terror mid-fight.
Shangshan Che pursed his lips: “Feels a bit underwhelming… Wait!”
A feasible idea suddenly hit Shangshan Che’s mind.
His eyes lit up, realizing it’s the era of rampant live streams where traffic rules.
Who says those fearing him must be in his presence?
Fearing from watching a live stream counts too, right?
Though “live streaming White Hannya slaying demons” is impossible now—likely to be cut off instantly, followed by Special Affairs Office knocking.
But with the First Wave’s full arrival, the mysteries will gradually unban in public eyes.
He’s even incarnated as Hannya and had friendly contact with Onmyo-ryo Operations Specialist Kujo Tsubaki.
Plus, Shangshan Che himself and his new Three-tailed Fox incarnation can probe and whisper in Nanjo Emi’s ear.
If Special Affairs Office or Onmyo-ryo needs a positive Demon image…
I, White Hannya, will step up without hesitation!
Shangshan Che has no doubt his 0 Charm Ghost God’s Appearance can instill fear through live streams.
Though the fear may fade with time and familiarity, initially, it’ll give him massive boost.
Then, with fear from tens or hundreds of thousands, can he even trade blows with a Four-Star Ghost God?
Shangshan Che grinned: “Coming up with this idea—am I a genius?”
He grinned, checking his further improved attributes—
【Shangshan Che（White Hannya Incarnation）】
【Physique: 43→53】
【Willpower: 15→17】
【Charm: 0→0】
【Spiritual Arts: 13→15】
This attribute boost is almost the same as from Half-Star to One-Star.
Normally, ordinary Demons gain far less from One-Star to One-and-a-Half Star than the major Half-Star to One-Star leap.
Not to mention Shangshan Che’s gains from Half-Star to One-Star already far exceeded ordinary Demons.
“So this is noble Epic quality.”
Now, Shangshan Che is confident he can solo that Two-and-a-Half Star Nue that nearly cornered him recently.
Using just one incarnation might still lead to heavy injury or defeat.
But alternating White Hannya and Three-tailed Fox incarnations, covering range and melee, he can’t imagine how that instinct-driven Nue without Onmyōdō wins.
Nue’s Physique might still outmatch his by a lot, but Shangshan Che isn’t a mindless Demon; his Breathing Technique and Natural Reason School aren’t for show.
Plus the new Cold Steel Armguards…
“Maybe injury-free soloing that Nue isn’t impossible.”
After using the new talent “Vortex” to unblock the slightly clogged qi and Spiritual Power from his stronger body, Shangshan Che stowed the cards in his Storage Bag and headed to Special Affairs Office.
“By the way, that couple’s noises stopped… Probably scared off by the eerie wail during my upgrade.”
Shangshan Che smacked his lips, feeling a twinge of apology.
They finally found a secluded spot late at night, got in the mood, then “encountered a ghost”—what a psychological scar…
Shangshan Che crossed the empty street but spotted at Special Affairs Office doorway a familiar figure sitting alone on the steps smoking.
At this hour, no one else would sit alone at the main entrance smoking.
“Sister Nanjo, checked the Demon Guide Association documents?”
He walked up and asked.
The woman tsked, looking disgusted: “You reek of blood, don’t die in front of me.”
Nanjo Emi patted the step beside her, shifting to make room: “Out so late instead of sleeping, what’s up?”
Shangshan Che sat, thumping his chest: “Mostly good, just need a bath later.”
He wasn’t bluffing; with Awakening Spirit Mist + Two-Foot Adult’s heal combo before, then Hannya Incarnation to One-and-a-Half Star reinforcing his body, injuries were no issue.
Nanjo Emi mentally counted: “Just a few hours passed? Did this kid secretly train a second healing-focused Breathing Technique?”
But she didn’t voice the question.
Proper social distance is key to good relations.
She flicked ash, saying slowly: “We do have records on Demon Guide Association; they’re noted almost every major upheaval or event.”
“But that’s it.”
Nanjo Emi said: “They haven’t led any big moves, at most sipping soup—watch out in daily ops.”
Shangshan Che nodded; it matched what he heard from Katsumi.
—Because Demon Guide Association’s “Overlords” are mostly Four-Star, at most Five-Star.
Not that Four- or Five-Star Great Demons aren’t terrifying, but that strength falls short for reaching the Mortal Realm from chaotic Eternal World.
—Might as well share this intel with Sister Nanjo.
Perfect time to lay groundwork for his “Shrine Priest’s Three-tailed Fox friend.”
So Shangshan Che said: “One more thing about Demon Guide Association.”
“Spill.”
Shangshan Che: “You just asked why I’m out late—actually, I went to meet a friend about this.”
Then, Shangshan Che told Nanjo Emi everything Katsumi shared about Demon Guide Association.
But framed as “from my friend Three-tailed Fox.”
Nanjo Emi smoked silently till the cigarette burned out, then suddenly laughed: “Shangshan Jun, good you didn’t say this at Onmyo-ryo, and good it’s me beside you.”
“Onmyo-ryo?” Shangshan Che blinked. “Isn’t that another name for Special Affairs Office?”
“Pfft…”
Nanjo Emi slapped her thigh, nearly laughing herself breathless: “Don’t tell me you haven’t even grasped that basic knowledge, Shangshan Jun!”
Shangshan Che was stunned; he’d lumped them together since meeting Onmyo-ryo Operations Specialist Kujo Tsubaki on the train.
—But Sister Nanjo implied Onmyo-ryo and Special Affairs Office are totally different?
After laughing a while, Nanjo Emi squinted, leaning close to Shangshan Che, smacking her lips oddly: “You really know nothing, huh, Shangshan Jun.”
Shangshan Che glanced at the lips inches away, inching back: “Is this knowledge I need?”
“Ordinary folks don’t.”
Nanjo Emi lifted her gaze, exhaling minty tobacco smoke,
“But your words just now are enough for Onmyo-ryo to sentence you to death or lock you in a water dungeon for life.”
She continued: “Onmyo-ryo is an ancient organization battling Demons for over a millennium, existing before Supernatural Phenomenon and Supernatural Event concepts arose.”
“There, human-Demon hatred is near irreconcilable; even shikigami contracts are far stricter than ours.”
“Precisely because.”
Nanjo Emi pointed at Shangshan Che: “Your approach—’befriending Demons’—is ‘human traitor’ in their eyes.”
“Special Affairs Office split from Onmyo-ryo over ideology, but many lost family to demons and monsters, so Demon hatred runs deep.”
“But I’ll keep your secret.” Nanjo Emi lit another cigarette, winking expressionlessly at him.
Shangshan Che nodded silently—turns out train’s Kujo Tsubaki was an Onmyo-ryo outlier.
“Oh… Also, Special Affairs Office and Onmyo-ryo agreed to spread ‘Tide coming, Eternal World rising’ to all, prepping for First Wave.”
Nanjo Emi raised her voice slightly: “But Arakawa Ward is suppressing it to prevent Ai Bieli stirring bigger trouble—no choice.”
Before Ai Bieli detonates those “Seeds,” Special Affairs Office lacks ways to mass-screen Seeds among normals.
Many mental patients or shut-in NEETs fluctuate emotions more like “Seeds.”
And before First Wave, Ai Bieli won’t expose lurking Seeds.
So things are stuck awkwardly.
—Publicizing Demons and Eternal World like elsewhere would only amplify chaos when Ai Bieli detonates Seeds.
Shangshan Che got it, nodding: “I’ll stay low-key at school.”
“Good.”
Nanjo Emi stood, brushing ash off her clothes, waving: “Also, say thanks to your Three-tailed Fox friend for me.”
……
After a quick bath at the public bathhouse, Shangshan Che quietly returned to Lili Zi’s room and fell into deep sleep.
Next afternoon.
An icy touch on his abdomen woke Shangshan Che from deep sleep.
He peered through the narrow window at the high sun, yawning contentedly.
Haven’t slept this long in ages.
But next, the cool, sticky sensation on his abdomen returned.
—This wasn’t a dream feeling?
Shangshan Che looked down to see Two-Foot Adult pretending to sleep under the bedding, her little hand sneaking under his shirt, trembling slightly half on his abdomen.
Probably groping freely seconds ago.
How’d he spot the fake sleep? Would Two-Foot Adult tremble from his casual glance if truly asleep?
She’s not Lili Zi.
Shangshan Che snorted, grabbing Two-Foot Adult’s nape, lifting the startled wide-eyed her from bed to floor,
“Still pretending? Think you can fool me?”
Two-Foot Adult guiltily looked down, fingers circling: “Po… Che Adult, it just happened somehow, believe me?”
She quibbled: “After Che Adult went out and returned, you suddenly smelled so good; just hugging felt like soaking in a hot spring.”
Shangshan Che chuckled: “I believe you, totally.”
Two-Foot Adult’s triumphant smile was smothered by a falling white hat on her head.
Shangshan Che grinned at her: “Act up again, and stay honest in the Ksitigarbha Statue.”
Her excuse was like “drunk and couldn’t control”—why would he buy that?
—Not even ghosts would believe!
“Che Adult’s so mean…”
Two-Foot Adult stuck out her tongue, muttering softly.
She’d thought she’d leap ahead of the still-sleeping flat-chested girl, and on her bed no less.
As Two-Foot Adult thought this, she saw Shangshan Che pass her, squat curiously by the flat-chested girl.
“Slept so long…”
She watched Shangshan Che reach out, gently pinch the flat-chested girl’s cheek, then whisper intimately in her ear, waking her.
Ya—!
Two-Foot Adult gritted teeth, clenched fists, jealously wrinkling her nose, inwardly cursing the flat-chested girl to shrink flatter into an iron board.
She pouted jealously—why grab and toss me aside, but gentle with her?
But what Shangshan Che whispered to Lili Zi was,
“—You’ve skipped cultivation for ten days; First Wave already passed.”
To Lili Zi, this was devilish whisper; no matter how deep her sleep, it’d boot her awake instantly, crystal clear.
Lili Zi opened her eyes to Shangshan Che, overflowing Spiritual Power Fluctuation, grinning at her—totally different from bedtime.
—I really slept ten days straight!?
Lili Zi knew sleeping ten days wasn’t impossible for her.
—After extreme overwork, sudden deep relaxation can lead to unknowingly sleeping ages.
Why believe? Shangshan Che’s Spiritual Power now vastly outstripped bedtime.
“I… slept ten days? Missed First Wave right in the room?”
Lili Zi murmured blankly.
But blankness lasted an instant.
Lili Zi clenched teeth, baring a fierce look, grabbed Shangshan Che’s collar, yanking him down.
