Chapter 161: On Tokyo Bay

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The sacred wood used to build the ships was wood that had been infused with divine energy.

In the five elements, there is a saying that water gives birth to wood.

In the Pacific Ocean, the world’s largest ocean, there was as much water and divine energy as one could want. The ships built from sacred wood would not only not be damaged, but under the control of practitioners, they could also use the water to supplement the wood and repair the ship’s hull.

Minamoto Kiyomoto stood on the deck and looked at the mast that soared into the clouds.

“That big banyan tree in front of our house, is it also a sacred wood?” he asked Kamibayashi Miko, who was beside him, with a smile.

Kamibayashi Miko ignored him.

“You can’t coax her,” Himegami Izayoi teased on the side, her slender fingers twirling the laurel crown.

“You should also try to persuade her for me,” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s gaze turned to her.

“How can I persuade her?”

“You just say, ‘Miko, if you keep being angry, I’ll be with Master Kiyo’.”

“Pah, you wish,” Himegami Izayoi said to Kamibayashi Miko with a smile. “Miko, he’s deliberately saying this for you to hear. Don’t believe him. I won’t abandon you.”

“That’s what you can’t believe,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a laugh.

The Izumo Miko and the Suitengu Miko looked at the three of them, finding it difficult to blend into their atmosphere.

The Hokkaido Miko reached out and brushed Minamoto Kiyomoto’s hair, which had been messed up by the wind.

“Susu, don’t catch a cold,” she said.

Minamoto Kiyomoto: “…”

Kamibayashi Miko turned around and looked at Rikka with both eyes.

“I was wrong. You didn’t lose. I apologize to you,” the Hokkaido Miko said.

“That’s not what you should be apologizing for,” Kamibayashi Miko replied coldly.

The Hokkaido Miko tilted her snow-white neck, “Hmm?”

“Do you think she’s doing it on purpose?” Himegami Izayoi whispered in Minamoto Kiyomoto’s ear.

“It’s hard to say,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a laugh. “You shrine maidens are one more than the other…”

“Here!” Itomi Sayaka’s voice came from the sky.

She brought Itomi Yuki, followed by Hanyu Chika and Yagyu Michiko, and flew down from the ship’s tower.

“I’ve never seen such a big ship in my life!” Itomi Sayaka landed under the mast.

“We boarded the ship from Chiba!” Hanyu Chika also couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Thanks to the support of the Ogosho,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at Itomi Yuki. “Weren’t you not coming?”

Itomi Yuki glanced at Kamibayashi Miko and Himegami Izayoi. Before she could reply, Itomi Sayaka spoke first.

“I’m not at ease with her leaving me,” she said.

“If you’re worried about Sanae Sara, there’s no need,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

The Itomi sisters looked at him with confusion.

“Tazu,” Minamoto Kiyomoto glanced at the Izumo Miko.

The Izumo Miko smiled and explained to Itomi Sayaka:

“Minamoto-kun left Yomijima Island and immediately notified me, asking me to suggest to the Shinto sect that they secretly follow the demon hunting fleet out to sea.”

Itomi Sayaka glanced at the Suitengu Miko on the side. The Suitengu Miko showed a friendly smile.

Another shrine maiden had fallen victim to Minamoto Kiyomoto’s poisonous hands.

‘This guy is really a shrine maiden killer,’ she thought.

The Izumo Miko continued:
“As a result, before I could even suggest it, Sanae Sara herself had gathered all the people of the Shinto sect, using me as an inside agent, to strangle Minamoto-kun on the Pacific Ocean.”

She laughed and added:

“With Spider and Drunkard as witnesses, the Shinto sect believes—they must eliminate the current Minamoto-kun, otherwise they will be eliminated sooner or later. In addition, they also plan to use the Demon Dragon Nail to control this seriously injured county-level yokai while we are fighting the Coral Demon Moth.”

“Fortunately, the Izumo Miko is on our side,” Minamoto Kiyomoto sighed. “Otherwise, if these people suddenly came out to kill, I really wouldn’t know what to do.”

The Izumo Miko smiled slightly and bowed slightly, indicating that this was what she should do.

“Then do I not have to go?” Itomi Yuki asked.

“Do you want to go?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked her.

Itomi Yuki did not answer immediately, her small face hesitating.

“Go,” Hanyu Chika said. “Who knows if the Shinto sect will hold you hostage before they go out to sea.”

“I can follow my parents,” Itomi Yuki looked at her sister.

Itomi’s father, as the director of a private hospital, was called to Tokyo for a meeting. Itomi’s mother also came along. This meeting would not end until Itomi Sayaka returned.

It wasn’t very safe, but it was much better than staying in Chiba.

But Itomi Sayaka cared about her sister the most, so she still brought her along.

“If you want to go, then go,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“But…” Itomi Yuki’s tone was hesitant. “On Yomijima Island, it was because of me that those people escaped.”

She had no good feelings for the Shinto sect. The thought of the geishas and dancers who had been killed in the reed marsh made her feel guilty for letting them go.

Minamoto Kiyomoto knew what she was thinking.

“What’s the use of killing one or two hundred of them?” he comforted. “If you’re going to kill them, you have to kill them all. This Pacific demon hunt is a good opportunity.”

Killing them all would not solve the problem.

As Sanae Sara said, as long as the world existed, there would always be a “Shinto sect.”

This had nothing to do with yokai or the system. It was the inherent evil nature of human beings.

“Minamoto-kun,” the Izumo Miko reminded, “the Shinto sect has many people whose identities have not been exposed. These people may also have mixed into the ship and are constantly spreading news to the Shinto sect. Without absolute certainty, it’s better not to act rashly.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded. He had also thought of this.

“And some people will pretend to be the Shinto sect,” Himegami Izayoi said with a smile.

Everyone looked at Himegami Izayoi’s innocent and charming face, and their attention was attracted by the laurel crown she was playing with at her fingertips.

“You are now the future next Lord of Kyoto, the lord of the world in the prophecy. There are people everywhere who want to kill you.”

After saying this, she added in a mischievous tone, “For example, the Taiko and the Ogosho.”

“The Ogosho is not clear. Besides Rikka, I haven’t seen many experts in Hokkaido,” the Suitengu Miko said with confusion.

“Yokai remains are enough,” Himegami Izayoi said with a laugh. “When we are dealing with the Coral Demon Moth or cleaning up the Shinto sect, a bunch of messy yokai will run out and catch us off guard.”

“So troublesome,” Itomi Sayaka showed an impatient expression.

She complained to Minamoto Kiyomoto, “Why didn’t your future self take care of them all?”

“When I’m about to die, I’ll write a will and tell you,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

All the women laughed.

Although the matter was troublesome and the situation was critical, the thought that the future Minamoto Kiyomoto had deliberately done this must have had his reasons, and they were not so worried anymore.

At this moment, a cry of surprise suddenly came from the shore.

They followed the sound and saw that the coast of Tokyo Bay had been sealed off in the name of “cleaning the seawater.” The shore was full of practitioners who were boarding the ship.

On the shore of Minato Ward, adjacent to Tokyo Bay, the practitioners made way for a black luxury car to drive through.

The car stopped on the shore. The “Ogosho” opened the back seat door and stood on the shore.

Minamoto Kiyomoto glanced at Kamibayashi Miko, flew down from the ship alone, and landed in front of the “Ogosho.”

The two of them didn’t speak at first, just looked at each other.

“I wish you success,” the “Ogosho” extended his hand.

“Thank you,” Minamoto Kiyomoto also extended his hand.

Kamibayashi Miko stood on the high side of the ship and looked at the two of them holding hands.

Himegami Izayoi, without Minamoto Kiyomoto, leaned close to Kamibayashi Miko again and asked her, “What do you think they’re talking about?”

Kamibayashi Miko didn’t speak and took the laurel crown, which was being used as a toy, from her hand.

“I’ve recently learned about Izanami,” Minamoto Kiyomoto released his hand.

“Izanami?” the “Ogosho” asked.

“According to ancient records, Izanami did not die from the Yellow Springs Demonic Dragon, but was burned to death when she gave birth to the fire god. Izanagi, who had lost his wife, was filled with grief and anger and killed his own son with one sword strike.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I can understand your feelings now,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “If Miko also loses her life because of our child, I would rather not have this child.”

“If you dare to harm my grandson, I will not let you go,” the “Ogosho” said.

The two of them laughed heartily.

Minamoto Kiyomoto suddenly lowered his voice and said, “Father-in-law, can you pass the position of Ogosho to me?”

“When you become the Honshu Shinto Lord and marry Miko, then come and talk to me about this,” the “Ogosho” replied in a low voice, his face expressionless.

Just as Minamoto Kiyomoto was about to say something, the sound of a horn suddenly came from behind him, echoing throughout Tokyo Bay.

It was time to set off.

“I will definitely avenge Miko’s mother’s death,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

The “Ogosho” gave him a deep look, then looked at Kamibayashi Miko on the side of the ship.

“I hope so,” he said.

Minamoto Kiyomoto returned to the deck. The practitioners who had not yet boarded the ship sped up.

Countless Kanto practitioners, as well as the Kyushu Shinto Lord, the Minamoto clan, the Ichijo clan, the Taira clan, and the Fujiwara clan from Kansai, all stood on the deck.

The practitioners from Nara rushed over, riding on a group of handsome white deer.

“Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi,” Amatsumara came over. “Please lower the sail.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked back. On the huge mast, the sail was rolled up in mid-air.

He shot up into the sky and landed on the mast.

On the island-like ship, along the coast of Tokyo Bay, Minamoto Nagatoku, Minamoto Kiyomi, Fujiwara Shino, the Kyushu Shinto Lord… all the practitioners were looking at him.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked down on the crowd, his chest filled with heroic spirit. He said loudly:

“The Coral Demon Moth, I will definitely kill it! The Honshu Shinto Lord, it can only be me!”

His voice spread far and wide.

He untied the cable.

The sky-sized flag, like a scroll, like a waterfall, poured down.

On the flag, the ferocious, majestic, and sacred “Coral Demon Moth” fluttered in the wind.

The melodious sound of the horn spread throughout Tokyo.

The huge fleet hunting the “Coral Demon Moth” sailed out of Tokyo Bay.

If things were successful, and the giant ship returned to Tokyo Bay again, there would be two more bloodstains on this painting of the “Coral Demon Moth.”

The people who welcomed them would know from a distance whether to celebrate or to mourn.

Minamoto Kiyomoto came down from the mast and said to Kamibayashi Miko with a smile:

“Miss Kamibayashi, when I become the Shinto Lord, even if I don’t like you anymore, I will have to be with you and protect the world forever.”

Kamibayashi Miko looked at him. The warm sun of early winter shone on his side profile, indescribably beautiful and warm.

The thought of all he had done for her made all the anger in her heart disappear.

“What did you say to the Ogosho just now?” Himegami Izayoi asked curiously.

“He was talking to me about his grandson. He wanted to win me over, so I took the opportunity to resonate with this old man, saying that I understood what he did to Miko, and tricked him into passing the position of Ogosho to me,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

Everyone was surprised by ‘tricking him into passing the position of Ogosho to me.’ Kamibayashi Miko said:
“You understand what he did to me?”

She was finally willing to talk to him.

A smile immediately appeared on Minamoto Kiyomoto’s face. He said to her with a smile, “I said, ‘If my and Miko’s child kills Miko, then it’s better not to have this child. I’ll kill him with one sword strike.'”

“Instead of killing the child, you might as well commit suicide and come down to accompany me,” Kamibayashi Miko said faintly.

“It’s not certain that you two will have a child,” Himegami Izayoi sneered.

Suddenly, she glanced at Itomi Yuki, who had decided to stay, and said, “Little sister, let me see your hand.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto took her hand and wouldn’t let her go, “You are my only sister.”

Himegami Izayoi gave him an irritated look, then laughed again.

Being seen holding hands, she was a little shy, but also more happy.

“You’ve decided to stay?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked Itomi Yuki.

“Mhm,” Itomi Yuki’s expression was still a little hesitant. “If the enemy uses me to threaten you again, you don’t have to care about me.”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Itomi Sayaka said. “With so many people here, what are those few people from the Shinto sect?”

“If they really use you to threaten me, we can only give in,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a laugh.

Itomi Sayaka looked at him gratefully, while Itomi Yuki was a little happy.

Minamoto Kiyomoto said, “What’s the point of gaining the world if my family, my lover, and my friends are all gone? Compared to the world, I just want to be with you.”

Itomi Yuki’s face turned red. She didn’t know if she was considered family, a lover, or a friend.

“Who are you?” Himegami Izayoi asked.

“Who else could it be? You and Miko.”

“And me,” the Hokkaido Miko reminded him.

“No,” Minamoto Kiyomoto originally wanted to say—you’re a friend. But when the words were on the tip of his tongue, he suddenly wanted to tease her.

“I’m here.”

“How could you be here?”

“The dead you glanced at me.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto felt that things were not good.

“That’s because you were standing with Koyako and Miko,” he said.

“He also looked at me,” Itomi Sayaka joined in.

“It seems… he also looked at me,” Itomi Yuki’s ears were red.

She wasn’t lying. It seemed he had glanced at her, but at that time, everyone was standing together, so it was hard to say who he was looking at.

Seeing the smile on Himegami Izayoi’s face deepen, Minamoto Kiyomoto quickly said, “Don’t you lie. This is not a joking matter!”

“It’s a pity I wasn’t there,” the Suitengu Miko was extremely regretful.

The Izumo Miko looked at her with disbelief.

“Is something wrong? Why do you have that expression…” the Suitengu Miko asked her with confusion.

“…It’s nothing,” the Izumo Miko said.

Although she was the leader of Group Four of the Shinto sect and had done many bad things, she was still shocked by the interpersonal relationships before her.

In terms of feelings, she was still the little girl who ran around Izumo-taisha with a kagura bell.

Here, Minamoto Kiyomoto changed the subject and began to talk about the importance of ‘family, lover, and friends.’

“I’m not a bad person, but I’m not a good person either,” he began.

“Announcing the Dainichi Nyorai Spell was a contest with Shakyamuni; not announcing the Demon Body Spell was because I thought of my mother, and those children who had lost their parents in pursuit of power; the arduous subjugation of the Coral Demon Moth was because of Miko.”

“What about me?” Himegami Izayoi pouted and said with dissatisfaction.

“Without them, only with Izayoi, I might be a person with a very strong sense of purpose and ruthless in my actions,” Minamoto Kiyomoto himself was not sure.

“Don’t blame everything on me,” Himegami Izayoi scolded with a coquettish laugh, and then commented, “This is your nature.”

“Perhaps.”

“So I’ve suppressed your nature and made you do things you don’t want to do,” Kamibayashi Miko had an opinion again.

“You see, for your sake, I’ve been doing things I don’t want to do. It’s like a wolf falling in love with a sheep and starting to eat grass.”

“There are only sheep in Hokkaido,” the Hokkaido Miko suddenly said.

“What?” Minamoto Kiyomoto was stunned.

“Throughout Japan, only Hokkaido has sheep.”

“…What does that mean?”

“It means, you’re not in love with Miko, but with her,” Himegami Izayoi said with a laugh.

Just as Minamoto Kiyomoto was about to refute, a cheer came from the ship.

It turned out that the ship had completely left Tokyo Bay and was heading towards the boundless Pacific Ocean at full speed.