Chapter 108

Two casual words were spoken, and the hall fell silent, so quiet even the buzz of a mosquito could be heard.

Outside the hall, in the courtyard, water trickled gently, bamboo tubes tapped ding-dong, one after another, striking the hearts of all present, pounding like war drums within their spirits, triggering tremors and upheaval.

Professor Beishan opened his mouth, eager to ask about Abe no Minamoto.

This scene made Director Takahashi and the others anxious, their eyes frantic.

Ask!

Go on, ask already!!

Hurry up and ask, please, ask quickly!

Impersonating another's descendant is undoubtedly a dark chapter, a secret that cannot be spoken—if Abe no Seimei found out, they'd likely be silenced. Director Takahashi and the others were still young; they didn't want to die young, so they placed all their hopes on the eighty-year-old Professor Beishan.

Seeing Professor Beishan hesitate, on the verge of asking but holding back, everyone present grew impatient, itching to pry open his mouth.

Professor Beishan, just speak! You've already achieved success, your children and grandchildren are happy, your life has no regrets—now if you ask and die, you lose nothing, at most you die a little sooner; if you don't ask, you lose even more—your reputation in historiography would be even greater.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Uchida Masaki urged inwardly again and again.

The others were more polite, but equally desperate.

Finally, after countless calls and eager anticipation, Professor Beishan—whether moved by their gazes or by his own decision—spoke to Abe no Mitate.

"Master Abe, may I boldly ask: when did Abe no Seimei falsely claim descent from Abe no Nakamaro? Didn't your uncle say anything?"

"Ah, when Abe no Seimei was young, my uncle once guided him. He felt deep gratitude and took pride in it, calling himself my uncle's descendant and claiming to have learned his true teachings. Back then, he was still young and impetuous. My uncle was kind, and he was occupied with matters on the other side, so he paid no mind to such claims and let Abe no Seimei say whatever he wished."

Abe no Mitate smiled.

"In fact, even now, although Abe no Seimei no longer claims to be my uncle's descendant, he still respectfully calls him 'Master,' and whenever he encounters confusion in his cultivation, he still seeks out my uncle for discussion."

Everyone bowed in solemn respect.

Merely the word "Master" alone revealed the weight of Abe no Nakamaro; the latter statement proved his immense power—likely even greater than Abe no Seimei's, making him unquestionably one of Japan's most elite transcendent beings.

The reason was simple: Abe no Nakamaro was not only famous in Japan, but also achieved greatness in China.

Although no one could be certain whether transcendent beings existed in China, most were certain—sixty to seventy percent at least—that achieving anything there at that time meant extraordinary power.

"Young man, are you well-versed in history?"

Amidst everyone's astonishment, Abe no Mitate suddenly asked, his eyes gleaming like a curious child with three thousand "why?" questions.

Professor Beishan was flattered.

"I've studied history somewhat, and I know a little."

"Then do you have a general understanding of the history from the Heian period to the present? Could you tell me about it?"

Abe no Mitate grinned, pointing curiously at the mobile phones on the table.

"After the Heian period, I went to the First Battlefield. Even after returning from there, I stayed within my family's guarded world. I haven't returned to this world in so long that now, coming back, I find it has changed tremendously—so many unknown things have appeared.

Like the device in your hands that enables communication without using spirit-communication talismans—truly miraculous. And those vehicles racing on the roads called 'cars'—they don't need mounts to pull them, nor yin-yang arrays to power them. Amazing. And…"

He picked up the pastry on the table called "cake."

"This is delicious—I've never eaten anything like it before. The changes in this world are truly immense, fascinating. I want to understand, I want to know what this nation of mine has endured these years—without transcendent beings, without yokai, even without gods, how did you manage to develop so far?"

Gods!

Everyone's pupils contracted.

They had been right—the yokai and transcendent beings existed, and gods existed too!!

They exchanged glances, each seeing the same fervor in the others' eyes.

Gods—the legendary beings superior to humanity, said to have created the Japanese people, and even the very land and islands of modern Japan.

They were omnipotent supreme entities.

Shocked, they then processed the meaning of Abe no Mitate's words.

Even the gods have left…

Everyone paled, their souls trembling.

It wasn't just transcendent beings and yokai who had vanished—gods had departed too. What force could have driven away the three most terrifying entities in the world, causing them all to disappear and hide?

The First Battlefield!

They suddenly remembered—the First Battlefield, mentioned earlier by Abe no Mitate, and also by Master Konghai, who had said he would go there.

Combining Master Konghai's words with Lord Cimu's conversation, they felt certain.

That force was connected to "the other side"!

They simply could not imagine anything else—except the mysterious "other side"—that could make the three most terrifying entities vanish and hide.

A chill swept through them, cooling them from head to toe.

Everyone shuddered.

If it truly involved "the other side," then it meant transcendent beings and yokai were not on the same side alone—transcendent beings, yokai, and gods were all on the same side. If these three most terrifying entities united, what kind of force could possibly oppose them…?

The First Battlefield—surely it was a battlefield.

Everyone's minds raced, conjuring an immense, boundless, unimaginable scene…

Omnipotent gods, world-destroying transcendent beings, mysterious and elusive yokai—all three divine and demonic forces gathered on the battlefield, waging war against the unknown, mysterious "other side," igniting a divine and demonic war spanning countless realms.

Merely imagining it made Director Takahashi and the others tremble—this was no longer a war that destroyed heaven and earth.

It was the collapse of all realms!

A shocking thought surfaced—they nearly scared themselves to death, frantically shaking the idea from their minds: first, afraid they'd die from their own wild speculation; second, afraid that if it were truly true, they'd be silenced and erased for knowing the secret.

Then, one by one, they hastily shifted focus, listening as Professor Beishan recounted the broad history from the Heian period to the modern era.

"Hss!"

When Abe no Mitate heard Professor Beishan describe the Heian period all the way to the modern era—especially Japan's invasion of China—

His hand holding the teacup trembled, nearly dropping it, his pupils contracting as if terrified.

Everyone noticed this, and their hearts sank.

Could it be that Huaguo really has the supernatural, the kind even stronger than Japan? This time they didn't dare ask, afraid that if Huaguo really was powerful, they'd be scolded by Abe Ontakemaro.

Director Takahashi and Foreign Minister Ouchi Masaki exchanged a glance.

The Jing Guo Shrine cannot be kept!

Go back and tear down the Jing Guo Shrine for good luck.

"Wait, young man, are you sure you're talking about Japanese history?"

After Professor Beishan continued with the subsequent history, Abe Ontakemaro suddenly interrupted him.

"What's wrong, Master Abe? What I said is indeed Japanese history."

"It really is Japanese history, but why does it sound stranger and stranger the more I listen? What country is Mi-guo? Why have I never heard of it? Why does our Japan have to take shelter under a Mi-guo?"

Professor Beishan suddenly understood.

It was perfectly normal that Abe Ontakemaro didn't know Mi-guo; Mi-guo only had a history of two hundred years, not even a fraction of Abe Ontakemaro's age.

Then Professor Beishan briefly introduced Mi-guo, and also mentioned that Japan had begun to take shelter under Mi-guo since after World War II, receiving Mi-guo's protection.

"Are you all insane? To actually take shelter under a country that's only been established for two hundred years and doesn't even have gods or the supernatural? Were your brains kicked by a donkey? This is absurd! Absolutely absurd!!"

Abe Ontakemaro's face was full of disbelief — as if he'd seen a ghost, both heartbroken and furious — as he looked at the crowd.

……