Chapter 221

A famous school of practice deep in the mountains.

—Saigyouji family.

Famous because of the monk and poet "Saigyou Hoshi," whose secular name was "Sato Norikiyo."

Since yokai were born in large numbers from human fear, professions specifically aimed at purging yokai gradually appeared among humans. Most of these demon purgers were composed of monks, shrine maidens, or onmyoji.

As a Dharma monk, Sato Norikiyo, who was respected by the world as a "Poet Saint," could confront big yokai with his own strength and could be said to stand at the pinnacle of the human species.

Everyone said that this man, who was keen on chanting flowers, birds, wind, and moon, traveled until he died.

When he realized his death was approaching, "Saigyou Poet Saint" entered eternal sleep under the most beautiful cherry tree according to his wish.

"Saigyou Hoshi" died on February 15th of the sixth year of Bunji and was buried in Hirokawa Temple. It was the season when cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

The waka "Saigyou Monogatari" circulating in Kyoto recorded—"Saigyou Hoshi" knew that the time for rebirth had come and chanted: "May I die in spring under the cherry blossoms, on the day of Shakyamuni's extinction." Afterward, he sat facing west, chanted scriptures, and chanted: "When future generations mourn me, they should offer cherry blossoms."

When "Saigyou Hoshi" was reborn, it is said that "the sound of music sounded in the air, strange fragrance drifted far away, purple clouds were thick, and the Amida Triad came to welcome."

The only thing left was the mansion named "Saigyou" in Kyoto's Seiji Temple, where he lived after becoming a monk, and... an only daughter who changed her surname to "Saigyou."

But,

Those were just "lies" used to cover up the truth.

Now, it is already "dead" here.

Killed by a girl.

People awe and fearfully call this girl 【Death Princess of the Saigyou family】—

Saigyouji Yuyuko.

The Saigyou family, after experiencing a brief glory, has experienced a long silence and decline, and has been forgotten by most people.

"Saigyou Hoshi's only daughter still lives in that big courtyard. Those cowards who ran away gave her the title of 【Death Princess】. A girl who accompanies death, hehe... funny enough." A certain insider sneered.

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The sudden change, Jia Ji's words were like a thunderbolt hitting Yakumo Zi.

"What the hell do you mean!"

Yakumo Zi's body stiffened, and an anxious look appeared on her face. For her, if anything happened to Yuyuko, she would never forgive herself.

Just as Yuyuko only had one friend, the Yokai Sage who walked alone in the world only had one friend in reality who could be called a friend.

"The ability of death, how can an ordinary person easily master it? You were already Frenzy-level at that time. Even if you were seriously injured, how could you be knocked unconscious by ordinary power... Yuyuko is only seventeen this year. She is not like me, but a human born and raised in this world, yet she can rival the pinnacle of big yokai..."

Jia Ji pointed to the cherry tree outside that was lush and about to bloom.

"Don't you think this is too strange? Does this kind of tyrannical power not require any price to master?"

Yuyuko's face turned pale the moment Jia Ji opened his mouth. She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end, she couldn't speak.

Without caring about Yuyuko's hesitation, Jia Ji continued to spoil the plot: "Yuyuko's power comes from that yokai cherry tree. As she grows older, her death domain will continue to expand, constantly inducing the living to end their lives under the tree... If it were a yokai, it might not matter, but as a human, how can Yuyuko bear to sit idly by?"

"Even she should have already made the decision to sacrifice herself to seal the Saigyou Ayakashi, right? Am I right, Yuyuko?"

"I... I don't know." The girl lowered her head, seemingly not daring to face the aggressive gaze.

"You know." Jia Ji's words were like a knife, directly dissecting what Yuyuko hid deep in her heart, forcing the girl to answer.

Actually, there is no need to say more. With Yakumo Zi's intelligence, she understood as soon as it was pointed out.

This girl, who had been bound to the Saigyou Ayakashi since birth, had seen hundreds or thousands of people die in front of her in just seventeen years.

Sometimes, as a bystander, she saw foolish people rushing to death like moths to a flame, but more often, she was resisting, trying to stop anything the Saigyou Ayakashi wanted to do, even if it was futile.

The black death wind and the ghosts filling the entire courtyard were the background, accompanying the girl's most precious youth.

A poor person connected to a yokai that takes life.

And she, if it weren't for Yakumo Zi's sudden arrival, probably wouldn't have been able to hold on.

"I—" The girl raised her head, tears falling uncontrollably to the ground, her hands covering her chest, full of pain, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

"Yes..."

Finally, covering her face with both hands, Yuyuko let out a helpless sigh.

Next, Jia Ji recited a poem directly: 'The daughter of Fuji, when the Saigyou Ayakashi is in full bloom, is when the boundary between the living and the dead separates. For her soul, rest in the White Jade Building, and seal the flowers of the Saigyou Ayakashi as a barrier. If possible, hope not to suffer pain again, and permanently forget reincarnation...'

"That..."

Yakumo Zi, whose face changed rapidly, had now calmed down. She knew that Jia Ji must have a solution since he brought it up now.

As long as she could save Yuyuko, she would do anything.

"Then you, as the Yokai Sage, have to bear her life."

After talking a lot, Jia Ji raised an index finger and pointed to the North Star in the sky.

"Watch my operation."

Then, he picked up little Yuka by the back of her neck, lifted her up, placed her on his shoulder, and then walked step by step toward the yokai cherry tree that had swallowed thousands of lives.

"I'll leave it to you next, go! Kazami Yuka!"

"Death... huh..."

Little Yuka frowned, her words full of disgust for this ability, but what made her feel even more uncomfortable was the nonsense Jia Ji said.

But helplessly, she couldn't resist at this moment.

Kazami Yuka, as the incarnation of nature and the embodiment of life, was naturally incompatible with this death power. But facing the plant-type yokai Saigyou Ayakashi, as long as she was willing, she could see something... for example, weaknesses, or methods of purging.

And as Jia Ji approached, the Saigyou Ayakashi, which had been silent, also showed some abnormalities.

Endless nether purple butterflies flew out from around this courtyard, drawing beautiful traces in mid-air, bringing out faint purple traces, like meteors passing by...

The next second, a dark blue torrent surged out, swallowing all the butterflies.

The death energy of the Saigyou Ayakashi?

It's just a little wind and frost!

(End of chapter)