Chapter 108: Mission Settlement, S-rank Evaluation!
Once, five times, ten times…
Shangshan Che could hardly count how many times he had used Kaga Kiyomitsu to destroy Ai Bieli on the ground.
Sever, slice, burn with Corona Qi, then pour Heavenly Thunder once more.
Shangshan Che exhausted every method he could think of, yet he could only methodically make Ai Bieli’s regeneration speed slower and slower.
In other words, no matter what method of death, it made no difference to Ai Bieli; it could only whittle away her “Vitality” bit by bit.
“So this can be called near-death.”
The five-minute cooldown time reset again, and arm-thick Lightning Slurry fell, covering the charred ground like water, evaporating every drop of blood completely.
Shangshan Che stared at that face still smiling at him, once again embedding Kaga Kiyomitsu into her pupils.
Plop.
It was as if the sound of something shattering rang out.
In Shangshan Che’s eyes, the head covered in long white hair did not reattach this time; instead, cracks spread across it like fragile artwork, and pieces fell to the ground, turning into starry specks of Soul Ash.
That Spiritual Power Fluctuation affecting his Spirit until the very last second finally vanished, making Shangshan Che’s mind suddenly lighten.
“One hundred twenty-three times.”
He murmured softly, looking at the Prompt that finally appeared, and let out a sigh of relief in his heart from utter exhaustion.
Shangshan Che looked around, thinking luckily the Onmyoji and police here hadn’t arrived yet, or there might have been more complications.
Thinking to glance casually at the Prompt first, Shangshan Che’s pupils suddenly contracted sharply—
【You killed the near-death Eight Sufferings·Ai Bieli, gaining 999 Soul Ash!】
【You used Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation to slay the near-death “Eight Sufferings·Ai Bieli”; Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation’s Quality has greatly improved!】
【Your Kaga Kiyomitsu·Imitation has undergone an unknown change!】
【Your skill, Corona Breathing Technique Proficiency +500!】
【Your skill, Corona Breathing Technique has reached Proficient Level!】
【Your skill, Natural Reason School Proficiency +500!】
【You obtained Dissolving Love（Mythical material）!】
“Better leave this place first.”
Wrathful Gaze’s duration still had over an hour and a half left, more than enough time for Shangshan Che to change his face and rush from Ota Ward to Arakawa Ward.
Entering an alley without surveillance, Shangshan Che used Thousand Faces to change his appearance and height into that of an unfamiliar boy.
Then he changed into the clothes prepared in the Storage Bag, walked out of the alley openly, and brushed past a police car flashing red and blue lights with its siren blaring.
……
Five minutes later, at the site where Shangshan Che fought Ai Bieli.
Police cars densely surrounded the area, with nearly every one disembarking an Onmyoji; they formed an encirclement in staggered positions.
From above, their formation faintly resembled an Astronomy Path Barrier.
“No active Demons or Spiritual Power Fluctuations detected; preliminary judgment is that the battle has ended.”
The leading Onmyoji took out a radio and reported vigilantly.
“Phew… Then proceed with the routine search as usual. Leave some necessary manpower, and the rest return to your duties.”
The other end clearly sighed in relief.
“Yes.”
The Onmyoji and police began combing the scene as if digging three feet into the ground.
—Meanwhile, Shangshan Che was almost out of Ota Ward’s jurisdiction.
He noticed that along the way, though Demons appeared in Ota Ward, they were mostly minor and caused no major disturbances.
“Looks like only Arakawa Ward is unlucky, with Ai Bieli this entity different from ordinary Demons.”
The sights along the rest of the way further confirmed Shangshan Che’s guess.
—Perhaps because Ai Bieli was repelled by Nanjo Emi, the Great Demon that had risen in response in Shinjuku and Shibuya had vanished, and the city’s order was gradually returning to normal.
It was unknown whether it had retreated on its own or been exorcised by the local authorities within a few hours.
Shangshan Che leaned toward the latter.
Because as soon as he entered those wards’ jurisdictions, he inexplicably sensed waves of Spiritual Power pressure, and he even felt he could trace the quite directed pressure back to its owner.
These should be the legendary Four-Star Onmyoji who had broken through the Mortal Realm’s current 【Sea Level】, with strength at Ghost God level.
They stood like beacons in the sky, warning all Demons in their jurisdictions with their mere presence.
Shangshan Che restrained his Qi as much as possible and passed by silently.
Another half hour or so later, he returned to Arakawa Ward just before Wrathful Gaze ended, reverted to his original appearance, and found Lili Zi and the others.
She was teaming up with Water Ghost and Hiyori Bo, having just killed a Futodama that appeared amid the chaos to devour human souls.
Now the group was rummaging through the ruins to rescue people inside.
Shizuma Manatsu was absent, probably already sent back to the Special Affairs Office.
The reason Shangshan Che didn’t directly revert to human form was that although the Red Tide had been fully recovered by Ai Bieli as capital for her fierce battle with Nanjo Emi, Arakawa Ward still hadn’t settled down.
Better preserve power as long as possible; once Wrathful Gaze ended and all Attributes dropped to “1”, Shangshan Che would truly become fragile.
Whoosh—
A dazzling blade light slashed through, splitting piled wooden beams and boulders in half, revealing smooth cuts.
Water Ghost reacted swiftly, extending her hair to rescue several wailing elementary school students from within.
Lili Zi, who was digging stones with her bare hands, froze, turned her head, and couldn’t help showing a joyful expression: “Good thing you’re not dead!”
What kind of blessing habit is this?
Shangshan Che sighed: “Lili Zi, how’s the situation on your end?”
On business, Lili Zi frowned: “It’s strange. Not long ago, those Seeds infected by the Red Tide suddenly collapsed to the ground and lost mobility.”
“And not just here—along the way, the entire Arakawa Ward’s Red Tide seemed to vanish in an instant, the chaos halting abruptly. I suspect it’s related to Ai Bieli.”
Suspect?
Could the news of Ai Bieli being repelled by Junior Officer Nanjo not have been announced yet?
That shouldn’t be.
But after sizing up Lili Zi again, Shangshan Che understood—the girl was ragged all over, wounds still bleeding on her fair skin; not to mention her Mobile Phone, she didn’t even have a pocket left for it.
So he explained to Lili Zi, making the girl turn to look at the now-quiet sky.
A faint sense of powerlessness rose in her heart.
“So that means Junior Officer Nanjo won.”
“Probably… aside from that, Lili Zi.”
Shangshan Che looked at the remaining few minutes of Wrathful Gaze time and explained: “I just used a secret technique that overdraws the body’s Potential, so I’ll be completely powerless soon. Please take me back to the Special Affairs Office.”
—Activating a secret technique to resist the Red Tide, then losing combat ability and being carried back to the Special Affairs Office by others; this script was perfectly reasonable and wouldn’t arouse suspicion.
“No problem.”
Lili Zi nodded, then heard cheers from her two Shikigami behind her.
She and Shangshan Che looked over to see Water Ghost smiling while her whole body gushed large amounts of water, startling the two or three elementary students in her arms into stopping their crying and staring blankly.
Soon after, Wrathful Gaze ended, and Lili Zi carried the limp Shangshan Che toward the Special Affairs Office.
Streets and Alleys were filled with “Seeds” lying collapsed with eyes tightly shut; Shangshan Che glanced over and saw they had all without exception lost their Souls, leaving empty Body shells.
Along the way, they already saw many Onmyoji with Shikigami rescuing people from ruins, and fire brigades putting out fires everywhere.
But the soldiers, who should have been most common and effective in such situations, were still nowhere to be seen.
Upon reaching the Special Affairs Office doorway and seeing it had become a temporary medical station full of severely injured Onmyoji.
Lili Zi recalled those “all escaped” old men and couldn’t help cursing: “A bunch of vermin like this should all be hanged at the city gates!”
“—Junior Officer Nanjo and I feel the same way, Miss Tokugawa.”
An unfamiliar clear, cold voice came, making Lili Zi turn puzzledly.
The blind girl in a bloodstained Haori, holding a Guide Cane, bowed slightly to her and sighed apologetically: “Sorry, we were delayed by unexpected Demons on the road. By the time we arrived, Arakawa Ward’s chaos had already ended.”
She said: “But from now on, Haruhiko Tokugawa and I will stay in Arakawa Ward as reinforcements from Kyoto Onmyo-ryo to face the First Wave’s arrival together with you all.”
—Kujo Tsubaki?
Unexpectedly meeting an acquaintance here, Shangshan Che was slightly stunned, then noticed Kujo Tsubaki’s empty right arm.
“Hey, Kujo.”
The sword-bearing boy beside Kujo Tsubaki clicked his tongue: “Why apologize to her? Your injuries are way worse than this guy’s, right?”
Kujo Tsubaki frowned and thwacked the boy’s shin hard with her Guide Cane: “Haruhiko Tokugawa, is this how you speak to your sister?”
Haruhiko Tokugawa turned his head away: “Tch, just got lucky— a collateral branch girl relying on her parents and a pretty face to live in the main house. What right do you have to make me call you sister…”
Before he could finish, chilling intent surged from Kujo Tsubaki, but just as she was about to scold him, Lili Zi interrupted.
“Ms. Kujo.” Lili Zi said indifferently, “My younger brother has been like this since he was little; sorry you had to see it.”
With that, it became family business, and Kujo Tsubaki couldn’t interject.
Shangshan Che was baffled by this sudden development—how could he run into Lili Zi’s younger brother at the Special Affairs Office entrance…
Is the world this small?
—Speaking of which, he still didn’t know much about Lili Zi’s family situation; she never mentioned it.
With that, Lili Zi wanted to carry Shangshan Che into the building to settle him first before anything else.
But before she could ascend the steps, an unsheathed Tachi blocked her path.
Haruhiko Tokugawa eyed the Shangshan Che on her back with a mocking gaze: “Don’t rush off, Lili Zi Tokugawa. Won’t you introduce the one on your back?”
He grinned,
“If Great-Grandfather knew you came to Tokyo and secretly found a man weaker than an ordinary person, what would he think?”
Lili Zi halted, looking up coldly at him: “Haruhiko Tokugawa, if your brain’s broken, go get it fixed. No need to flaunt your elementary school boy’s antics here for attention—Ms. Kujo won’t think it’s cool either.”
Lili Zi dropped the Jade Heart Incantation disguise in one go, enunciating: “Everyone has a phobia of stupidity.”
For a moment, all eyes turned to Lili Zi; even Kujo Tsubaki tapped her Guide Cane in surprise.
Haruhiko Tokugawa’s face stiffened, his intended Taunt words caught in his throat.
Sword… sword… Clear Sword Heart?!
Lili Zi Tokugawa achieved Clear Sword Heart… how is that possible?
A mere collateral branch bastard girl, forbidden from Supernatural knowledge, untrained in Four Extremes Breathing Technique—an ordinary person—how could she reach Clear Sword Heart realm just with normal sword swings!?
Even in the clan, among their generation, only Eldest Brother had an epiphany two years ago to achieve Clear Sword Heart, entering this profound, ineffable realm impossible to teach.
Besides him, even Third Sister, who entered Ghost God realm early, was stuck at Unity of Man and Sword like him, unable to advance.
—Even if Lili Zi Tokugawa’s parents died early and she was a rootless collateral branch girl, everything changed once she reached Clear Sword Heart.
—The Elders would reassess her value, likely making her legally direct lineage, and probably grant her Four Extremes Breathing Technique.
This is bad.
Haruhiko Tokugawa hurriedly sheathed his Tachi, hid his hands behind his back, and forced a stiff smile: “Uh… Fifth Sister, I was rude just now.”
Shangshan Che couldn’t hold back and laughed: “Arrogant before, deferential after—quite amusing.”
Haruhiko Tokugawa looked at him with disdain,
“I’m apologizing to my Fifth Sister, sure, but who the hell are you?”
“—He’s mine.”
Lili Zi stared coldly at him: “Haruhiko Tokugawa, weren’t you going to report to Great-Grandfather? Go relay what I said.”
“Now, can you scram?”
Lili Zi ignored Haruhiko Tokugawa’s twitching face and calmly carried Shangshan Che up the steps.
Their conversation drifted from ahead—
“Lili Zi, your cheap brother’s face-changing speed is faster than a chameleon’s.”
“Total waste. He’s only ever dared show attitude to those weaker than him since childhood—worse than a lapdog.”
Hearing this, Haruhiko Tokugawa’s face darkened; he gripped his Tachi hilt tightly, inwardly grinding his teeth over Lili Zi Tokugawa’s name.
Suddenly, Kujo Tsubaki closed her Notebook: “Three-Star Specialist Haruhiko Tokugawa, I’ve recorded our entire exchange in the mission report truthfully.”
Haruhiko Tokugawa stood stunned, and after a long moment, bowed his head deeply: “Sorry, Specialist Kujo…”
……
With the infirmary full, Shangshan Che without obvious injuries was placed in Lili Zi’s personal Room with the door open.
Leaning on the futon, he finally had time to check the many Prompts that had popped up long ago—
【Special Limited-Time Mission, “Red Tide” settlement beginning!】
【Objective One, with Nanjo Emi, contain “Red Tide” spread—completed!】
【Objective Two, with Nanjo Emi, exorcise Eight Sufferings·Ai Bieli—completed!】
【Comprehensive calculation of mission participation and contribution underway…】
【Your participation in containing “Red Tide” spread—B.】
【Your participation in exorcising Eight Sufferings·Ai Bieli—SS!】
【Overall rating complete—your participation evaluation in Special Limited-Time Mission “Red Tide” is S!】
