Chapter 133: The Opening

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“Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi, what happened?” Dozens of practitioners searching in the sky, trailing colorful ribbons of divine power like meteors, caught up with the red-gold dragon.

“Relay my order, seal off Izumo!” the dragon roared, shattering the white clouds and lingering over the entire city of Izumo.

Leaving this sentence behind, the red-gold dragon swooped down and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

The practitioners looked at each other.

“Could it be?!” They suddenly understood.

“It’s the Shinto sect!”

“I’ll contact the government!”

“I’ll go to the Shinto Lord!”

“We’ll inform the Kasen!”

The dozens of balls of divine power that had gathered together suddenly scattered, rushing in all directions, reminiscent of the scene in “Dragon Ball” after a wish is granted.

◇

A forest called Momoyama, not far from Izumo-taisha.

“What on earth are you doing?” Itomi Sayaka took off her mask and asked, puzzled.

“What do you mean, what am I doing?” Minamoto Kiyomoto sized up her tracksuit attire.

“You’re targeting Rabbit and the others for no reason,” Itomi Sayaka not only didn’t hide it, but she also put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest.

“I saw everything. I can’t just do nothing, can I?”

“Are you talking about my tracksuit’s allure?”

“Rabbit and the others,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “Am I so bored that I stare at them all day? But I can’t help it. Who told them to run into me and then run away? If I don’t act, it doesn’t fit my image of eradicating evil.”

“You eradicate evil?”

“On the surface. And I’m also testing them to see if they’re worthy of me atoning for their sins.”

“Atoning for their sins? I remember now, your business with the Izumo Miko,” Itomi Sayaka nodded. “I was just about to ask you. You could have just told her directly that I, your big sister, am already yours. Instead, you made me go through the trouble of putting on another act with you. When I heard you remembered me in a black dress, I had to pretend to be moved.”

“Although the Izumo Miko is kind, it’s precisely because she’s too kind that she’s not trustworthy. I don’t plan on letting her into [Takamagahara].”

“You really take your Takamagahara seriously. People don’t care about it,” Itomi Sayaka said with a laugh.

“A Divine Medium, an Ise Miko, a Shinto sect group leader, and the soon-to-be Honshu Shinto Lord. You think such an organization is incredible,” Minamoto Kiyomoto tutted.

“Incredible?”

“Round and big things are really nice. They go with everything. Even a tracksuit becomes charming.”

“The Earth is also round and big. Why don’t you stare at the Earth?” Itomi Sayaka turned and walked into the green belt. The sound of a zipper followed.

“Too much of a good thing is not good. Too big is not good either.”

The tracksuit jacket was thrown over, covering Minamoto Kiyomoto’s head.

“You should have heard what the Izumo Miko said,” he took off the tracksuit and said to Itomi Sayaka behind the green belt. “When I become the Honshu Shinto Lord, I will try to reform.”

“I’m taking off my pants. Can you turn around?” Itomi Sayaka bent over slightly, her fingers already inside her pants, ready to take them off.

“Sorry.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto turned around and continued:

“Yuki has one more year before she has to participate in dangerous subjugations. After I implement the reforms, she can be like a police officer, guarding the area where her home is, and in times of danger, be responsible for saving her family and the surrounding citizens—usually a second young lady of a private hospital, who transforms into a Kamen Rider at critical moments. How about such an arrangement?”

“Besides the Kamen Rider, which gets zero points, the rest gets ten points.”

“Is Superman better? Or do you like Ultraman?”

“Have you seen an American cartoon called ‘The Powerpuff Girls’?”

“What year was it from?”

“The topic of age ends here,” Itomi Sayaka walked out of the green belt and stuffed the pants she had just taken off into Minamoto Kiyomoto’s arms.

Minamoto Kiyomoto sized her up.

A blue stand-up collar shirt, a black short skirt, and a dark blue trench coat left open.

Whether it was her style of dress, her full breasts, or her straight legs, it made one wish their eyes were cameras to record this moment.

A stunningly beautiful woman.

She tidied her short hair—with a simple, beautiful gesture, her short hair obediently fell into the most graceful style.

“As long as you can let my sister live happily, you can do whatever you want to my body,” she tilted her head slightly and said to Minamoto Kiyomoto, who was holding the tracksuit.

“The only thing I need you to do is to make your sister happy,” Minamoto Kiyomoto returned the folded jacket and pants to her.

Itomi Sayaka didn’t reach out. She put her hands in her coat pockets and looked straight at Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“Sometimes I really can’t tell,” she thought for a short while, “whether you’re trying to win people over, or if you’re really that reassuring.”

“Want to hear the truth?” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a laugh, still holding out the tracksuit.

“If you’re willing to say it.”

“Everything I do is to melt the bonfire that Kamibayashi Miko lit.”

The two looked at each other for two seconds. A playful smile suddenly appeared on Itomi Sayaka’s calm face.

“Do you know what the consequences are of saying such things in front of your girlfriend?”

“Do you want the tracksuit or not? My arms are tired from holding it up,” Minamoto Kiyomoto raised the hand holding the tracksuit again.

“I bought it in a large size on purpose. You go change into it,” Itomi Sayaka pointed at the green belt. “I’ll take you to see the Shinto sect.”

“Not now. I’ll get scolded if I’m late going back. Let’s wait until tonight.”

“Scolded?” Itomi Sayaka was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Are you really a high school student?”

“So what if I am?”

“Nothing. It’s just that I like them younger than me,” Itomi Sayaka reached out, not to hook, but to press her finger against Minamoto Kiyomoto’s chin like a gun, tilting his head up slightly.

“I also like them younger than me…”

“If you dare to make a move on my sister, your big sister won’t let you off.”

In the morning sun that shone into the forest, Itomi Sayaka turned and left, the hem of her trench coat very stylish.

“Hey, your tracksuit!” Minamoto Kiyomoto reminded her.

“Take it. I’ll allow you to wear it close to your skin,” Itomi Sayayaka waved her hand and walked away coolly.

Minamoto Kiyomoto, who had been left behind, looked at the tracksuit and casually burned it.

He was no pervert.

He was a good man who was faithful in love.

Returning to Izumo-taisha, the Kyushu Shinto Lord and the six Kasen had all arrived.

“Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi!” Seeing him return, the crowd hurriedly bowed.

“Sit,” Minamoto Kiyomoto gestured for them to sit down as he walked to the head of the room.

Himegami Izayoi had a smiling expression, but looking at her, Minamoto Kiyomoto immediately thought of a word—an iron fist in a velvet glove.

As for Kamibayashi Miko, she looked at him calmly, as if watching a joke.

Sitting down at the head, Minamoto Kiyomoto took Himegami Izayoi’s hand and placed it on his lap.

“I was attacked by the Shinto sect,” he said to the Shinto Lord and the Kasen.

“How dare these people!”

“To dare to attack Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi, I won’t let them off!”

Minamoto Kiyomoto raised his other hand, the one not holding a hand, and gestured for the crowd to be quiet.

“There were quite a few of them. I suspect the Shinto sect has…”

Before he could finish, a person rushed into the great hall and knelt on one knee in the center.

“Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi, there is a letter from the Shinto sect!”

“What?!” Minamoto Kiyomoto was surprised and angry, taking the opportunity to squeeze Himegami Izayoi’s hand hard.

Himegami Izayoi, who had turned her face away and was pretending to ignore him, finally laughed, turned her face back, and looked down with him.

Minamoto Kiyomoto was indeed a little surprised.

From the fact that Itomi Sayaka could still leisurely take off her pants and tease him, the Shinto sect shouldn’t have acted so quickly.

But the surprise was only slight.

The Shinto sect was, after all, an organization managed by nine people. The smallest Group Nine had almost no say. It was reasonable that Itomi Sayaka was unaware of this temporary situation.

“Read it,” Minamoto Kiyomoto regained his composure.

The content of the letter was roughly as follows:

If you have the guts, come to the sea for a duel!
Seven rounds, best of four. If they lose, they will destroy the demonic dragon nails; if they win, Minamoto Kiyomoto will hand over Kyushu.
If you don’t agree, in twenty minutes, a ‘town-level’ yokai and nine Yellow Springs Demonic Dragons will destroy all of Izumo.

“Arrogant!” Before the letter was even finished, the Dokko Kasen cursed.

“Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi, Lord Shinto, we must not agree to their conditions!” the Takekuma Kasen stood up angrily.

“That’s right! A few mere yokai, just kill them!” the Kuratake Kasen’s voice was full of killing intent.

The Kasen’s aura was released without restraint, piercing the clouds. The person who delivered the letter, who was also an expert, knelt on the ground, trembling.

Minamoto Kiyomoto waved his hand, dismissing him.

“You two, calm down first,” the Asagiri Kasen said. “Nine Yellow Springs Demonic Dragons… can the few of us kill them?”

“Where did they get the Yellow Springs Demonic Dragons… could it be?!” the Gyoto Kasen pondered, his gaze suddenly turning to Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“The Demon Body Spell,” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s face was icy.

The great hall suddenly fell silent.

Everyone’s face was very ugly.

Some people immediately thought of Hokkaido, while others suspected Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“Call for reinforcements… no, twenty minutes is not enough. And in a short time, it’s impossible to find enough experts to resist nine Yellow Springs Demonic Dragons. The Kasen all have their own tasks, not to mention we have to guard against those nine rats!” the Dokko Kasen cursed.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the Kyushu Shinto Lord, who had not said a word.

“Lord Mifune, what do you think?” he asked.

“I will follow all of Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi’s orders,” the Kyushu Shinto Lord replied.

Mifune had originally been a little dissatisfied with this kid, Minamoto Kiyomoto, taking power, but now it was all gone. Instead, he was glad that he was not the commander.

Fight.
A ‘town-level’ yokai, nine ‘half-town-level’ Yellow Springs Demonic Dragons, and nine Kasen-level group leaders lurking in the dark… how to fight?
With their current combat strength, they simply couldn’t win.

As for agreeing to a duel.
The other side proposed the duel, so their chances of winning must be at least sixty percent. No one is a fool. Why would they duel if they knew they would lose, unless there was a more terrible conspiracy?
And once they lost, Kyushu would be gone. Even if Mifune was not the commander now, he still felt a chill at this result.

At this time, what was pressing on everyone’s hearts was not only the Shinto sect, but also the majestic figure of the “Lord of Kyoto” that overshadowed the entire Kansai region.

At this moment, the Ukiha Kasen, who had been contacting Kyoto since hearing the letter, spoke:
“Her Majesty is in seclusion.”

The “Lord of Kyoto” was not present. The status of those in Kyoto was not as high as the Kyushu Shinto Lord. There was no one left who could make a decision for them.

Everyone’s face became even more grim.

They had thought it was a simple matter of “finding and fighting,” but now it had become so complicated, even involving Kyushu.

Minamoto Kiyomoto let go of Himegami Izayoi’s hand and stood up.

“I once said to Her Majesty in the Shishin-den that even if Kyushu is destroyed, we cannot give up an inch of land!”

The Kasen’s expressions were solemn. Since Minamoto Kiyomoto had decided to fight, they began to consider the risks of fighting.

Facing such a strong enemy, every one of them could die.

“However,” just as they were somewhat resistant to the decision to fight, Minamoto Kiyomoto’s tone changed, “we have the Divine Medium, the Ise Miko, the Kyushu Shinto Lord, the Izumo Miko, and all of you. For the people of Izumo, it is not impossible to agree to a duel.”

These people began to consider the pros and cons of agreeing to a duel.

The common people could be spared from disaster;
They could almost all survive;
The only drawback was that the other side had initiated the duel, so their chances of losing were higher, but most of the responsibility would be borne by Minamoto Kiyomoto.

As Kasen, at worst, they might be stripped of their Kasen rank, but that was better than losing their lives.

Whether for public or private reasons, agreeing to a duel was a good thing.

“This is the only way,” the Ukiha Kasen said. “For the citizens of Izumo, we have to do this.”

“Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi,” the Izumo Miko reminded him, “the Shinto sect deliberately proposed a seven-round, best-of-four match. I’m afraid there’s some conspiracy.”

Slightly revealing information was originally a sentence she had intended to use to conceal her identity, but now it had become sincere.

“How about this,” the Gyoto Kasen said, “we can agree, but it must be nine rounds, best of five.”

“I’m afraid the other side won’t give us a chance to negotiate,” the Asagiri Kasen said.

“Let’s do it this way, seven rounds, best of four,” Minamoto Kiyomoto made a decision. “Whatever the consequences, I will bear them.”

After the discussion ended, the group didn’t waste any time. They gathered some experts and rushed to the address mentioned in the letter—the Hinomisaki Lighthouse.

Minamoto Kiyomoto knew that the nine ‘half-town-level’ Yellow Springs Demonic Dragons were a bluff. The Shinto sect now only had one piece of remains left. Where would they get nine?
He could have chosen to fight, but if he could resolve the matter through a duel, the common people would suffer less harm.

Besides this reason…
The Shinto sect was confident of winning, and Minamoto Kiyomoto’s confidence was equally high. He even believed he would definitely win.

His soul-like capacity opened its dark eyes in his mind.

All things in the world were within it. The scorching, eternal sun was just a candle’s flame in the vast, dark universe.

No matter who it is, they are all beneath me.
No matter what you do, you can’t surpass my confidence.

His night-like divine power ran rampant like the ocean. Minamoto Kiyomoto’s capacity sat on top of the ocean of divine power, gazing at the distant battlefield.

He hadn’t told Itomi Sayaka the truth.

Everything he did, besides taking back Kamibayashi Miko from the world, was also for himself.

Whether he was good or bad to the world, whether humanity was good or evil, he wasn’t very interested.

He just wanted to turn the bad into good, to make the evil become good, to have everything go as he wished, just to prove himself.

The Hinomisaki Lighthouse was entirely white, 43.65 meters high. It was located north of Izumo-taisha, guarding the coast like a giant, facing the enemies from the depths of the sea.

Standing at the top of the tower, one could sometimes touch the falcons circling on the cliffs.

“Sorry to keep you all waiting. We just got the news. Minamoto Kiyomoto has agreed to our terms!”

“We hope everyone will bear witness: if we win, Kyoto will give us Kyushu!”

“Don’t worry, hundreds of thousands of us are watching. If the Lord of Kyoto goes back on her word, we will definitely stand with you!”

“This is so interesting! I love watching other people’s internal conflicts!”

“Me too, hahaha, hurry up, hurry up, I can’t wait!”

“A Kasen, that’s equivalent to our immortal level! Such a battle is very rare! I’m going to have all my students come and watch and learn!”

“What kind of live broadcast is this? ‘War at Sea! Kyushu on the Line! Shinto Sect vs. Lord of Kyoto!'”

“Will the Lord of Kyoto appear?”

“No, no,” Takei, the Shinto sect member in charge of the live broadcast, picked a viewer to answer. “You know Minamoto Kiyomoto, right? And the Divine Medium, and the Kyushu Shinto Lord!”

“That Minamoto Kiyomoto who created the Demon Body Spell?”

“What Demon Body Spell? Who is this Minamoto Kiyomoto you’re talking about?”

“Why hasn’t it started yet?!”

As the news spread, major organizations, various academies, and every country received the news.

It was a Saturday, so there was no class. After finishing her morning training, Itomi Yuki was looking at the chat in her academy’s group on her phone—she rarely spoke, just scrolled through it like news.

Someone in the group had naturally shared the live broadcast of the battle.

Seeing the title, she immediately clicked on it.

This battle also caused a huge stir in Japan. Almost all practitioners received the news and quickly flooded in.

Besides Japan, more practitioners from all over the world who were just watching for the excitement were also watching.

If one were to rank humanity’s enemies, yokai would only be second. Humanity’s greatest enemy will always be humanity itself—no matter how great the predicament, disagreements and internal strife will never cease.

The number of people who have died at the hands of yokai is far less than the number who have died at the hands of humans.

“How many people are there?” the leader of Group Seven, Spider, came over and asked.

“Almost five million,” Takei replied.

For the whole world, this number was not much, but for practitioners, it was already a large portion.

Just then, Takei caught sight of dozens of neon lights flying from the direction of Izumo-taisha.

“It’s starting!” he was also extremely excited and immediately manipulated the camera.

On the vast sea, a huge coliseum made of ice. Tens of thousands of Shinto sect members waved flags and cheered.

Colorful rays of divine power shot into the sky, painting the sky and the sea like an aurora.

The camera slowly moved, focusing on the coast.

The white lighthouse, illuminated by the divine power, was a kaleidoscope of colors, like a demon’s cave.

At the tip of the tower, pointing to the sky, dozens of neon lights, wrapped in an unparalleled aura, confronted the Shinto sect in the air.

The screen zoomed in, clearly showing the appearance of the leader.

“A pack of wild dogs,” a handsome and refined face, a chilling tone, “I’ve come to put leashes on you.”