Chapter 221: Merely a Touch of Frost and Wind!

A renowned cultivation sect deep in the mountains.

——Nishiyama family.

It gained fame through the monk-singer Nishiyama Hōshi, whose secular name was Sato Yoshikiyo.

After yōkai began to emerge en masse from human fear, humans gradually developed professions dedicated to demon-slaying, mostly composed of monks, shrine maidens, or onmyōji.

As a magic-power monk revered as the "Song Saint," Sato Yoshikiyo could stand alone against great yōkai, placing him at the pinnacle of human existence.

The world says this man, devoted to chanting poetry of flowers, birds, wind, and moon, spent his entire life seeking nature—and died while traveling.

When he realized his death was near, the "Nishiyama Song Saint" fulfilled his wish and entered eternal slumber beneath the most beautiful cherry tree.

"Nishiyama Hōshi" died on the 15th day of the second month of Bunji 6 and was buried at Kōsen Temple, during the peak of cherry blossom season.

The Kyoto ballad "Nishiyama Monogatari" records this—"Nishiyama Hōshi," knowing his time to pass had come, chanted: "May I die beneath cherry blossoms, on the day Shakyamuni entered nirvana." Then he sat facing west, reciting sutras, and said: "When future generations mourn me, let them offer cherry blossoms."

At the moment of Nishiyama Hōshi's passing, it is said "music from heaven echoed, exotic fragrance spread far, purple clouds gathered, and Amida and his two attendants came to welcome him."

All that remained was the mansion in Kyoto, named "Nishiyama" after the place where he once lived after shaving his head and becoming a monk, and his lone daughter, who changed her surname to "Nishiyama."

But,

those were merely "lies" meant to conceal the truth.

Now, this place is already "dead."

Killed by a girl.

People, in awe and terror, call this girl the 【Princess of Death of the Nishiyama Family】—

Nishiyama Yūyuko.

The Nishiyama family, after a brief period of glory, has endured long silence and decay, forgotten by most.

"The only daughter of Nishiyama Hōshi still lives in that grand mansion," sneered a certain insider. "The cowards who fled gave her the title 【Princess of Death】—a girl bound to death? Heh… laughable."

————————

The shock—Jia Qi's words struck like thunder into Hachiman Shiki.

"What do you mean by that?!"

Hachiman Shiki's body stiffened; her face twisted with panic. For her, if anything happened to Yūyuko, she could never forgive herself.

Just as Yūyuko had only her as a friend, the lonely youkai sage had only Yūyuko in reality who could be called a companion.

How could a mere human master the power of death so easily? You were already at the Kuang level back then—even wounded, how could ordinary force have knocked you unconscious? Yūyuko is only seventeen; she isn't like me—she's a native human of this world, yet she rivals the peak of great youkai…

Jia Qi pointed to the outside cherry tree, its branches thick and lush, on the verge of full bloom.

"Doesn't this seem strange? Can such overwhelming power be mastered without any cost?"

Yūyuko's face had turned deathly pale the instant Jia Qi spoke. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

Ignoring Yūyuko's unspoken words, Jia Qi continued: "Yūyuko's power comes from that youkai cherry tree. As she grows older, her domain of death expands, constantly luring the living to the tree to take their own lives… For a youkai, that might not matter—but Yūyuko is human. How could she bear to stand by and do nothing?"

She's probably already decided to sacrifice herself to seal the Nishiyama youkai… Am I right, Yūyuko?

"I… I don't know." The girl lowered her head, unable to meet the relentless gaze.

"You know." Jia Qi's words cut like a blade, laying bare what Yūyuko had buried deep inside, forcing her to answer.

In truth, with Hachiman Shiki's intelligence, a single hint was enough.

This girl, bound to the Nishiyama youkai since birth, had witnessed hundreds, even thousands, die before her eyes in her short seventeen years.

Sometimes, as an observer, she repeatedly saw foolish mortals, like moths, fly into death. But more often, she fought—trying to stop every act the Nishiyama youkai desired, even when it was futile.

Black death winds and the ghosts filling the courtyard accompanied the girl's most precious youth.

A pitiful soul bound to a youkai that steals life.

And she—had it not been for Hachiman Shiki's sudden arrival—would have already collapsed.

"I—" The girl lifted her head; tears fell one by one to the ground. She clutched her chest, face twisted in agony, her whole body trembling.

"Yes…"

Finally, covering her face with both hands, Yūyuko let out a weak sigh.

Then Jia Qi recited a poem: "Daughter of Mount Fuji, at the moment the Nishiyama youkai blooms fully, when the boundary between life and death parts, let her soul rest within the White Jade Tower, sealing the Nishiyama youkai's flower as a barrier. May she never again suffer, and forever forget reincarnation…"

"Then…"

Hachiman Shiki's face had shifted through many expressions, but now she grew calm. She knew Jia Qi had brought this up because he had a solution.

If it could save Yūyuko, she would do anything.

"Then you, as the youkai sage, must bear her life."

After speaking at length, Jia Qi raised one index finger toward the North Star in the sky.

"Watch me."

Then he grabbed the back of the neck of the tiny Yūk Xiang, lifted her up, placed her on his shoulder, and walked step by step toward the youkai cherry tree that had swallowed countless lives.

"I leave it to you now—go, Fūken Yūk Xiang!"

"Death…?"

Yūk Xiang furrowed her delicate brows, her voice filled with revulsion toward such power—but what troubled her more was Jia Qi's strange words.

Yet, she had no choice but to obey.

As the embodiment of nature and life, Fūken Yūk Xiang was inherently incompatible with the power of death. But facing the plant-type youkai Nishiyama Yao, if she wished, she could perceive something—its weakness, or a way to subdue it.

As Jia Qi drew near, the long-silent Nishiyama youkai stirred slightly.

Countless Youming purple butterflies scattered from all around the courtyard, tracing elegant paths through the air, leaving faint purple trails like falling stars…

The next instant, a deep blue surge erupted, swallowing every purple butterfly whole.

The Nishiyama youkai's death aura?

Merely a touch of frost and wind!

(End of Chapter)