Chapter 123: Behind the Shishin-den is the Seiryo-den

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The next morning, the hotel staff came in to clean the room.

Minamoto Kiyomoto and Kamibayashi Miko, having finished their wild duck sukiyaki, were gazing at the sunlight outside the window.

The sky was azure, and the distant Higashiyama mountains, washed by the wind and fog, were even more verdant. The clouds seemed within reach.

“Is that sweet olive tree downstairs still there?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked the young female cleaner in a kimono, holding a wine glass.

“It’s all fallen to the ground, all gone,” the cleaner replied, looking at his face.

“What a pity,” Minamoto Kiyomoto turned to Kamibayashi Miko. “I quite liked that tree. I was worried about it all last night.”

Kamibayashi Miko glanced at the remains and wine bottles on the table, not seeing where his worry was expressed.

Minamoto Kiyomoto read her expression and said:
“I was worried, but after seeing you, my mind became full of you. Miss Kamibayashi, the sun is out. Today is October 20th, and I still love you deeply. You…”

Kamibayashi Miko waved her hand, meaning: Get out.

“As you command,” Minamoto Kiyomoto drained the wine in his glass, stood up, and returned to his room.

The two of them went back to sleep. Kyoto, as if nothing had happened, was filled with tourists admiring the maple leaves. But the Shishin-den had already welcomed an early winter.

The great hall was filled with people from various families, ministers, and samurai, yet there was not a single sound.

Between the head of the Shishin-den and them knelt three people: Abe no Yoshitaka, in charge of the ‘Kyoto Onmyoryo’, and Minamoto no Kiyoshi and Taira no Nishiaki from the ‘Guard Division’.

“Your… Your Majesty, I… I…” In the crisp autumn season, Abe no Yoshitaka was sweating profusely, his sideburns soaked.

Minamoto no Kiyoshi and Taira no Nishiaki also kept their heads bowed low, their faces almost touching the ground.

It wasn’t their fault that a yokai had appeared in Kyoto, but their failure to detect it in advance meant they were facing execution.

The three of them hated the Kyushu Shinto Lord to death.

They hated him for not keeping a close eye on the Shinto sect, and they hated him for not being present!

If the Kyushu Shinto Lord, the one responsible for the Shinto sect, had been there, they would definitely not be the main ones responsible.

In front of the three of them lay a letter left by the Shinto sect.

The wording of the letter was extremely respectful, but the meaning it conveyed was audacious, daring to threaten the “Lord of Kyoto” who had ruled Kansai for thousands of years.

“The Shinto sect,” from behind the screen painted with the four divine beasts, the majestic voice of the “Lord of Kyoto” was as calm as ever.

Everyone quickly lowered their faces.

Even Ashiya Doman, whose divine power was gradually recovering and who had been reinstated in his official position, didn’t dare to look up, although his expression was indifferent.

“Mifune is old. You, who among you wants to be the Kyushu Shinto Lord?” the “Lord of Kyoto” asked faintly.

Everyone knew that Mifune had first failed to guard Kyushu, then lost a Kasen in the campaign to exterminate the Shinto sect, and now had even allowed the Shinto sect to cause trouble in Kyoto. He had finally lost Her Majesty’s trust.

The position of Shinto Lord, below only three people and above ten thousand, was right before them, yet no one stepped forward.

Exterminating the Shinto sect was difficult, but not so difficult that no one dared to try. The key was that the Shinto sect now possessed the ability to control yokai.

One ‘town-level’ yokai was equivalent to five or six Kasen, and the destruction it could cause was even greater. If a mistake was made during the extermination and one or two cities were destroyed, forget about being a Shinto Lord; just being alive would be a gift from the “Lord of Kyoto.”

“Are you all so modest?” The “Lord of Kyoto’s” voice held a hint of laughter.

The ministers who held great power, the high-ranking nobles, and the divinely brave samurai all swallowed hard in unison, so scared they almost knelt.

The three who were already kneeling trembled even more.

At the beginning of this year, the “Lord of Kyoto” had summoned the major families. The Yagyu family, stationed in Osaka, had deliberately arrived late. At that time, Her Majesty had just said with a smile, “Oh, you were sick.”

Right after the “Lord of Kyoto” said that, right in front of them, the head of the Yagyu family—Yagyu Munenori, ranked first among the Thirty-Six Kasen—had turned into a puff of ash, scattering on everyone’s clothes.

“Your Majesty, I recommend a person,” Taira no Nishiaki said with his head bowed, his voice trembling, speaking quickly, afraid that he would turn into a pile of ash in the next moment.

“Speak.”

“Minamoto no Kiyomoto, Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi.”

“Your Majesty!” Minamoto Nagatoku almost subconsciously looked up. “Although Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi has the Demon Body Spell, he is just a newcomer who has only been training for half a year. He has no experience in dealing with the Shinto sect. Even if he succeeds by a fluke, his qualifications are not enough to be a Shinto Lord!”

“Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi is of imperial blood. If he cannot be a Shinto Lord, who here can?” the head of the Taira clan retorted loudly, as if he himself had been insulted.

“I also recommend Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi!” the head of the Ashiya clan followed.

“Your Majesty!” the head of the Abe clan stepped forward. “I believe this matter is best left to Kyushu… to Lord Mifune. He has fought the Shinto sect for many years. Whether it’s experience or divine power, he is the most suitable candidate.”

“Your Majesty, why not let the Minamoto, Taira, and Abe clans atone for their crimes with meritorious service?”

“Impossible! Your Majesty, the Shinto sect is cunning and difficult to deal with. If the three clans work together, they will only act independently. It is best to appoint one person to coordinate.”

“I recommend the head of the Abe clan. The Abe family has served in the Onmyoryo for generations, and their sorcery is the best in the world.”

“I recommend the head of the Ashiya clan. The Shinto sect is sinister and vicious. The Ashiya clan’s sorcery is strange and unpredictable, making them their nemesis. The extermination of the Shinto sect must be done by the Ashiya clan!”

The major families, who usually slandered each other, were now desperately trying to flatter one another.

Hum~, a clear ringing sound.

An invisible wave of energy spread out from the screen, sweeping over everyone present.

The entire hall of ministers, whether it was the ancient Kasen Ashiya Doman, the contemporary Kasen, or anyone else, all collapsed to the ground.

Not a single one had the strength to fight back. A thin layer of sweat broke out on everyone’s forehead. They were shocked, terrified, and afraid.

“A bunch of useless things. Go, bring Minamoto Kiyomoto to me.” In the great hall, only the cold voice of the “Lord of Kyoto” remained.

Minamoto Kiyomoto was awakened by a “thump, thump, thump” knocking on the door. The person who came told him to wash up, and then, without even giving him time to drink a sip of water, dragged him away.

When he passed through the palace gates and stepped into the Shishin-den, he saw the entire hall of people kneeling like elementary school students.

Minamoto Nagatoku secretly gave him a look of unknown meaning.

Minamoto Kiyomoto strode forward with his head held high and bowed to the screen with the four divine beasts.

“Minamoto Kiyomoto pays his respects to Your Majesty!”

“Kiyomoto-kun,” the “Lord of Kyoto’s” tone was gentle, her voice pleasant, like music from the heavens. “Did you sleep well last night?”

“Your Majesty, I did not sleep at all last night,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with his head bowed.

“I didn’t sleep either,” the “Lord of Kyoto” sighed. “Do you know why?”

“Is it because of last night’s Storm Yokai?”

“A single Storm Yokai is nothing. It’s the Shinto sect.”

“The Shinto sect?” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked up in confusion.

“The Storm Yokai was brought by the Shinto sect. They also left a letter, telling me to give them Kyushu. Otherwise, they will attack other cities.”

“Arrogant! Audacious!” Minamoto Kiyomoto cursed loudly.

If it were any other time, if he had spoken like that in the Shishin-den, someone would have already jumped out to reprimand him.

“Your Majesty!” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked up and said sharply, “The ‘Discourse on the Six States’ says, ‘To serve Qin with land is like carrying firewood to put out a fire. As long as the firewood is not exhausted, the fire will not be extinguished.’ Even if all of Kyushu is destroyed, we cannot give the Shinto sect a single village or piece of land!”

“Good!” the “Lord of Kyoto” praised.

Everyone present cursed Minamoto Kiyomoto in their hearts for being a sycophant.

“Kiyomoto,” the voice of the “Lord of Kyoto” came from behind the screen again, “are you willing to go and subjugate the Shinto sect?”

The crowd sneered, waiting to see Minamoto Kiyomoto make a fool of himself.

They knew that Minamoto Kiyomoto’s capacity was extraordinary, even shockingly so. To be able to become the new master of the ‘Laurel Crown’, he was naturally not a fool and understood the difficulty of this matter.

He had said, ‘Even if all of Kyushu is destroyed, we cannot give up a single village or piece of land,’ but forget about all of it being destroyed, if even one prefecture had a problem, then no matter how great his merits, it would be useless.

Just as everyone was waiting to see how Minamoto Kiyomoto would refuse and anger the “Lord of Kyoto,” they heard him say with awe-inspiring righteousness:
“Your Majesty, I am willing!”

The ministers, nobles, and samurai all looked up.

The people from the Taira, Ashiya, and other families sneered.

Minamoto Nagatoku and the others, on the other hand, had anxious expressions.

The great hall was silent for a while before the voice of the “Lord of Kyoto” was heard again.

“Very good!” Her Majesty’s voice was steady and gratified. “Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi, I command you to subjugate the Shinto sect.”

“I will not disappoint Your Majesty!”

“I do not require you to eradicate the Shinto sect. As long as you destroy their spell that allows them to control yokai, I will recommend you to be the ‘Honshu Shinto Lord’!”

The entire hall was shocked.

The Taira clan and others opened their mouths to object, but remembering what had just happened, they closed them again.

What’s more, even if it wasn’t a life-and-death battle with the Shinto sect, destroying the spell to control yokai was still an impossible task.

The “Lord of Kyoto” continued:
“You are young and have not been training for long. I will send the Ise Miko with you. You will also take over Mifune’s subordinates. In addition, inform Mifune that this is his last chance.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Minamoto Kiyomoto bowed his head.

Everyone understood. Minamoto Kiyomoto was truly favored by the “Lord of Kyoto,” and she really wanted him to be the ‘Honshu Shinto Lord’.

With the Ise Miko, the Kyushu Shinto Lord, and the Kasen under the Kyushu Shinto Lord, as well as the Divine Medium with whom this kid had an ambiguous relationship, forget about destroying a single spell. Even if it were a real life-and-death battle with the Shinto sect, the chances of success were sixty to seventy percent.

These people all regretted not being more decisive just now and missing a great opportunity.

“Your Majesty,” Minamoto Nagatoku looked up and said with great righteousness, “I am willing to serve Your Majesty and follow Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi to exterminate the Shinto sect!”

“Your Majesty, I am also willing to contribute,” the head of the Fujiwara clan looked up.

“Your Majesty, I am also willing!” the Abe family also looked up.

“Your Majesty, the Ichijo family is willing to die for Your Majesty!” The Ichijo family, where Minamoto Kiyomoto’s mother came from, quickly looked up.

In the blink of an eye, a third of the people in the great hall had stepped forward, willing to help Minamoto Kiyomoto.

The “Lord of Kyoto” ignored these ministers and nobles and instead said to Minamoto Kiyomoto, “Minamoto Kiyomoto, I allow you to choose three more families.”

Minamoto Nagatoku and the others looked at him eagerly.

Once Minamoto Kiyomoto became the ‘Honshu Shinto Lord’, besides the orders of the “Lord of Kyoto” and the “Ogosho,” he could command all the practitioners in Honshu.

It would be easy to decide who to ‘send to their deaths’ and who to ‘let live easily’.

If he didn’t succeed, with the “Lord of Kyoto’s” appreciation for him, it wouldn’t be a bad thing to get close to him.

“Your Majesty,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked up and said loudly, “the Ise Miko is enough. I only want her.”

The “Lord of Kyoto” laughed.

Besides killing the head of the Yagyu family and just now, the crowd had never heard the “Lord of Kyoto” laugh.

“Then when you return in triumph and become the Honshu Shinto Lord, shall I grant you two a marriage?”

“…” Minamoto Kiyomoto really wanted to slap himself. Why did he have to provoke her on such an occasion?

He bowed his head and said, “Your Majesty, my own strength is low. I do not wish to marry for the time being.”

“Do you dare to disobey me?”

“…”

The “Lord of Kyoto” snorted coldly, “Get out.”

“…Yes.”

As Minamoto Kiyomoto exited the Shishin-den, he heard her order the three offenders to participate in a yokai subjugation once a month for the next three months.

She didn’t directly take their lives, nor did she specify that they had to subjugate ‘town-level’ or ‘prefecture-level’ yokai. It was considered an act of extra grace.

Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t leave. He turned and went to the Seiryo-den.

The court ladies of the Seiryo-den recognized him, knew his relationship with the “Lord of Kyoto,” and when he said that the “Lord of Kyoto” had told him to wait here, they had no doubts.

Minamoto Kiyomoto directly lifted the curtains, half-lay on the tatami mat, and picked up the documents on the table to read.

There were greetings, financial reports, reports on the yokai situation, and reports of auspicious omens to be presented to the great Her Majesty.

There were also impeachments of certain people, such as Minamoto Kiyomoto.

Many people suggested that Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi hand over the complete ‘Demon Body Spell’, ‘Dainichi Nyorai Spell’, ‘Laurel Crown’, and so on.

He hadn’t slept well to begin with, and after reading these boring, sleep-inducing things, Minamoto Kiyomoto fell asleep without realizing it.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw Himegami Izayoi lying beside him, one hand propping up her head, watching him with a smile.

Minamoto Kiyomoto reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and buried his face in her chest.

Compared to her willow-like slender waist, her chest could be said to be exceptionally full.

Himegami Izayoi’s other hand, the one not propping up her head, rested on the back of his head, her fingers stroking his hair.

“Mmm—” he let out a satisfied sound. “Happiness.”

“How happy?” Himegami Izayoi asked with a smile.

“Friday dusk, Sunday morning. That’s how happy.”

“What’s that?”

“I forgot. You still have to train and work on Saturdays, and you have to wake up early on Sundays too.”

“What were you doing last night?” Himegami Izayoi ignored the talk about Saturdays and Sundays and began her interrogation.

“Nothing much,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said lazily, slowly recounting the events of last night.

“How lively. A date with a pair of sister flowers, and watching the sunrise with your sweetheart. No wonder you’re so happy,” Himegami Izayoi pushed his head away and removed his hand.

Minamoto Kiyomoto chuckled twice.

“Koyako, good sister, my empress,” he pulled Himegami Izayoi over and said affectionately, “you didn’t sleep last night either. Let’s continue sleeping.”

“What are you trying to do now?” Himegami Izayoi glanced at him. She didn’t want to, but her amorous eyes seemed to be teasing him.

“Quick, close your eyes,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “Otherwise, I didn’t want to do anything, but you’re tempting me to.”

“Hmph.”

The two lay together. Looking at her gracefully curved, snow-white ear, Minamoto Kiyomoto couldn’t help but kiss it.

“You stop moving too,” Himegami Izayoi couldn’t help but turn her head from the ticklish sensation. “Otherwise, I’ll have to do something too.”

“You’re the one who shouldn’t move,” Minamoto Kiyomoto was attracted by her pinned-up black hair and leaned in to smell it.

“How about…” Himegami Izayoi turned over, her beautiful eyes looking at Minamoto Kiyomoto with a grin. “We just do it before we sleep?”

Listening to her soft voice, looking at her seductive red lips, Minamoto Kiyomoto was tempted, then shook his head.

“No,” he buried Himegami Izayoi’s pretty face in his chest. “If I do this every time I see you, it will make it seem like I only look for you when I want to do that.”

“Isn’t that the case?” Himegami Izayoi laughed in his chest.

“Of course not.”

“Hmph, hmph,” her voice was full of meaning. She then asked, “Why did you refuse the marriage proposal just now?”

“What I’m pursuing is not the result of ‘being together’, but the process, which is to love each other deeply until we can accept everything about each other and naturally be together.”

“What that means is, ‘If I’m with you, I can’t deepen my relationship with Kamibayashi Miko. I have to be single to deepen my relationship with all three of them at the same time, so that I have a chance to make them love me so much that they agree to a threesome’.”

“You’re too smart,” Minamoto Kiyomoto praised.

“You think your little thoughts can escape your big sister?” Himegami Izayoi looked up and blew a breath on his neck with a smile.

“I like you so much,” Minamoto Kiyomoto hugged her tightly.

“How much do you like me?”

“I want to become the Kamo River and be with you forever.”

“Then what about your Miss Kamibayashi?”

“That’s true. Hmm—, forget it, forget it. I’m so sleepy. Let’s not talk anymore. Let’s sleep.”

Himegami Izayoi pulled open Minamoto Kiyomoto’s collar, bit his shoulder angrily, and then, as if satisfied, leaned against his chest.