Chapter 222: Your Imagination Is a Bit Too Wild

"Worship, now that you mention it, it really does seem like that—Ukawa Mitsu's move is almost identical to Yunhu Da Renshu's technique." A netizen posted this, along with a screenshot of a dynamic image of Da Ren's attack.

Instantly, many netizens were stunned.

After reviewing the video footage of Da Ren from the Yunhu incident and recalling Ukawa Mitsu's attack, everything except the power and aura was nearly identical.

"Could it not be Ukawa Mitsu at all? Is it a demon in disguise?" Director Takahashi voiced his thought.

Minister Saito agreed with Director Takahashi and added:

"Possible. Ancient texts like the Kojiki record demon killing methods—often disguising as humans, the weirder ones mimic crying sounds; the most dangerous ones disguise as people."

"But why would a demon impersonate Ukawa Mitsu?"

"I think a demon holds a grudge against the Ashiya family and chose to frame him, aiming to eliminate Ukawa Mitsu."

Amid the discussion, Professor Beishan suddenly spoke, and everyone turned to stare.

What the fuck!?

Framing him? Professor Beishan, are you really going that hard—now we've got revenge plots and conspiracies…

But it's not impossible, is it? Big figures have enemies; sabotage and schemes are normal. Just think of Yajōmae rewriting history.

Professor Beishan continued.

"Ukawa Mitsu is the last descendant of the Ashiya family and also its most outstanding heir. Eliminating him doesn't just end the Ashiya bloodline—it's a devastating blow to their name."

"So anyone with a grudge against the Ashiya family, anyone seeking to destroy them, the most effective and cruel method is to kill Ukawa Mitsu."

"Even now, I begin to suspect—was Ukawa Mitsu sent to this world specifically to escape harm? After all, in the Transcendent world, his position is perilous; he might be assassinated the moment he steps out."

"But this world is different. Demons, Transcendents, and gods have all departed. Here, he's safer than anywhere else."

"And now, perhaps the Ashiya family's enemies have learned Ukawa Mitsu is here, and intend to use this world as a blade to kill him."

Upon hearing this, everyone began to vaguely grasp Professor Beishan's meaning.

"Impersonate Ukawa Mitsu, cause chaos in other worlds, make those worlds hate him. A young prodigy among prodigies—such a reputation would surely drive other worlds to spare no cost to kill Ukawa Mitsu. After all, such a figure, if left alive, brings endless future troubles."

"Professor Beishan, your conspiracy theory actually makes a lot of sense."

Professor Beishan's words left everyone astonished.

"If this is truly a case of using a blade to kill, who's behind it? Could it be… Amano no Seimei?"

As everyone knows, Amano no Seimei is Ashiya no Doman's mortal enemy. In ancient history, the two clashed repeatedly, each having killed the other—they are irreconcilable foes.

If anyone wishes the Ashiya family dead, the first name that comes to mind is undoubtedly Amano no Seimei.

Yet, Director Takahashi and the others did not think so.

"It doesn't have to be Amano no Seimei. After all, he's not like Ashiya no Doman, a malevolent onmyōji—he wouldn't do something as underhanded as using a blade to kill. I personally lean toward other demons or enemies. Ashiya no Doman was portrayed as a villain in historical records; such a figure must have had countless enemies."

"Agreed. I think it's other enemies—possibly multiple enemies working together."

"I think you guys are overreaching. This is the Transcendent world, not a Kōnan world. If they wanted to use a blade to kill, it wouldn't be this simple—it'd be far more complex, and we wouldn't guess it so easily." A senior official spoke up.

His voice rang out, and Director Takahashi and the others froze, all turning to stare.

Before they could ask, the senior official spoke directly.

"Ukawa Mitsu's current behavior doesn't resemble an onmyōji—he uses demonic techniques, wields the power of evil spirits—but that doesn't mean he isn't Ukawa Mitsu. I believe he is Ukawa Mitsu, only… his identity is far more complicated than we imagined."

"What do you mean? Are you saying he's not Ashiya no Doman's descendant? Impossible—I and Yoshimura investigated thoroughly."

Morita Takeshi directly rebutted, certain his investigation was flawless, backed by solid evidence.

The senior official waved his hand.

"No, I don't mean he isn't Ashiya no Doman's descendant. I mean Ukawa Mitsu may not be entirely Ashiya no Doman's bloodline."

In an instant.

Everyone froze, instantly understanding the senior official's meaning.

"Half-human, half-demon?!" Professor Beishan was the first to react.

The senior official's implication was clear: Ukawa Mitsu carries Ashiya no Doman's bloodline, yet he wields the power of evil spirits—perhaps he doesn't use Ashiya no Doman's inherited techniques, but the power from his other bloodline.

What bloodline produces the power of evil spirits? Need we say it? Demons, of course!

Demon power is inherently demonic aura—visibly evil and corrupt.

The senior official's speculation didn't strike anyone as absurd or ridiculous, because ancient texts like the Kojiki record demons that are half-human, half-demon.

For example, Jizōdōji—he is said to have been born of a human, carrying human blood, and is often described as half-human, half-demon.

Even Amano no Seimei, Japan's greatest onmyōji, has folk legends claiming his extraordinary power came from his mother being a demon—in other words, Amano no Seimei too is half-human, half-demon, carrying both human and demon blood.

And not just Japan—Chinese mythological records also document many half-human, half-demon entities.

From these, we can conclude: half-human, half-demon beings exist.

"Is Ukawa Mitsu born of a demon and a human?" Morita Takeshi frowned, resting his chin on his hand, pondering: "No, not necessarily that one of Ukawa Mitsu's parents was a demon—perhaps an ancestor of the Ashiya family once mated with a demon, passing down demon blood to descendants."

If true, everything makes sense.

He wields demonic power because he himself carries demon blood.

Director Takahashi suddenly seemed to realize something, his expression shifting:

"Since ancient times, human-demon unions were taboo… My god! Could the Ashiya family have changed their name to Ukawa precisely because they interbred with demons—afraid of provoking orthodox onmyōji sects or even the Transcendents, so they renamed themselves Ukawa?"

Everyone was stunned.

Professor Beishan's aged, dim eyes suddenly gleamed with sharp light:

"Possible. Very possible! Half-human, half-demon bloodline has always been rejected by mortal society—this is common in history. Japanese mythology, Chinese mythology, even Norse and Greek myths—all treat such bloodlines as aberrations, and most people reject them."

"I also think it might not be fear of backlash—perhaps the Ashiya family themselves felt their bloodline was no longer pure enough to bear the Ashiya name, so they changed it to Ukawa." Professor Zhongtian stroked his chin.

At this moment,

the earlier senior official quietly spoke again.

"Uh… you misunderstood me. I'm not saying Ukawa Mitsu is half-human, half-demon, nor that an Ashiya ancestor mated with a demon. When I said Ukawa Mitsu's identity is more complicated than we imagined, I meant the entire Ashiya family—or rather, Ashiya no Doman himself, the founder of the Ashiya family."

…