“Ghost One, truly formidable…”
After Wu Ming took his leave with a bow, Yamada Torahisa suddenly sighed, “Such a warrior cannot be under my command. Does this mean that I still lack in magnanimity?”
Hearing this, Naito Takamasa kept sweating profusely, his head deeply bowed to the floor, too afraid to utter a word.
…
“Rescue the Princess?”
Meanwhile, Wu Ming was also contemplating: “And upon mission completion, grant me 300 koku of hereditary stipend, most importantly without any additional obligations… Hmph. This lord really adores his little daughter, huh…”
At this time, the situation in Izumo Province was becoming clear.
The entire Izumo Province consisted of eight districts: Iinishi, Nita, Noyoshi, Obara, Kamiakari, Iyu, Shimane, and Izumo. It was famous for its iron mines and large lakes, renowned for producing katanas and fishery products, with a total kokudaka of 300,000 koku. The current Governor of Izumo was the Iu family.
Numata Castle was located at a corner of Iinishi District, where the Yamada family held 12,000 koku, making them a daimyo-level power.
Although nominally subordinate to the Iu family, in reality, covert opposition and alliances never ceased.
Combined with the influence of shrines, dojos, yokai, and the phenomenon of hyakki yagyō, the entire Fusō archipelago was descending into chaos and struggle.
War and turmoil were constant companions.
“Samurai-dono! The lord has prepared companions for you. Please follow me!”
After exiting the donjon, Wu Ming was led by a chamberlain to another room.
As the wooden partition was slid open, several gazes immediately turned toward him.
“Hmm?”
Wu Ming glanced around, noticing only three people inside: a swordsman, a samurai, and a practitioner of mystic arts, who gave him a strange feeling.
“Strange aura, different from a Shinto priest. Could he be an onmyōji?”
Wu Ming scanned them sharply with his eyes and announced loudly, “I am the head of the Ghost One family, Oniichi Hōgan! I’ve been appointed as the leader for this mission by the castle lord. Please state your names!”
“I am Akayama Kanbee, a samurai in service to the Yamada family!”
The samurai answered first. He had a robust build and a thick beard, though Wu Ming rated him merely as a first-level martial artist.
“I am Toda Mitsu Masahiro, a swordsman trained in a dojo!”
The swordsman introduced himself next, though he too was only a first-level swordsman, even inferior to the swordsman who had died at Wu Ming’s hands initially.
“All mere cannon fodder, probably just here as guides and for local knowledge. But this one…”
Wu Ming turned his gaze to the onmyōji.
This person appeared to be in his twenties, dressed in a white hunting robe, a red sash around his waist, and a black eboshi hat on his head. His demeanor was calm and elegant. He slightly bowed and said, “I am Ito Kagahide, a traveling onmyōji!”
He radiated a pure white aura internally, indeed a second-level onmyōji practitioner.
“Excellent… Everyone, please do your best to rescue the Princess from the demons!”
Wu Ming spoke the perfunctory words while thinking about the onmyōji.
Onmyōji were sorcerers who practiced Onmyōdō, wielding onmyō techniques. They generally believed that yin and yang represented a concept of duality, that everything had two sides, which waxed and waned, and restrained each other. This was the principle underlying the creation of the universe, and based on this, numerous magical techniques had been developed.
They were skilled in commanding shikigami, casting spells, exorcism, divination, astronomy, and calendar-making, and were also proficient in arts like the tea ceremony. They were often honored guests of many daimyos.
Additionally, they frequently participated in activities to dispel yokai and spirits.
However, like all mystic practitioners, the entry and advancement for onmyōji were much more difficult than for swordsmen, ninja, or even Shinto priests.
“Hmm… I’ve heard that among onmyōji, there are apprentices called onmyōdō, followed by onmyōji, and only after passing these two levels can one be considered a true onmyōji. In the entire Fusō, there are probably only a few who can be called true onmyōji… Not to mention the even higher rank of Onmyō Taishi, which is practically a mythical existence…”
Wu Ming mused inwardly.
Onmyōdō, onmyōji, onmyōshi, and Onmyō Taishi were essentially the first to fourth levels.
“It’s quite similar to the classifications of swordsmen, sword warriors, sword masters, and sword sages…”
Wu Ming took a deep breath.
The mundane power system in this world subtly touched upon the fourth level! This was enough to make him feel cautious inside.
“Of course, just like the third-level onmyōshi, true onmyōshi are extremely rare. In comparison, martial grandmasters and sword masters are slightly more common… although still very rare indeed…”
At this moment, another rumor—or rather, a speculation—came to his mind.
Whether in martial arts or swordsmanship, merely refining techniques, strengthening the body, and sharpening the spirit could only reach the limits of the fourth level—sage of martial arts or sword sage!
This was the ultimate limit of martial cultivation!
Even the onmyōji system of Izumo gave Wu Ming a similar impression.
However, in Daoist practice, the fourth level was merely the human immortal. Beyond that were the fifth-level earth immortals, and even higher levels. Thus, the potential for cultivation was far greater.
“I have just been summoned by the castle lord and am not yet fully informed of the situation. Would someone please brief me?”
Wu Ming knelt and sat upright, naturally exuding an aura of authority.
Akayama Kanbee and Toda Mitsu Masahiro both lowered their heads respectfully, while Ito Kagahide’s eyes flickered with a different expression.
He had traveled here and naturally heard the rumors about the legendary ghost warrior, always assuming him to be a formidable swordsman.
But now, it seemed he might also be a powerful sorcerer!
Ito Kagahide touched the amulet hanging from his neck, made of refined iron, demon bird feathers, and strands of hair from a vengeful woman, shaped like a five-pointed star. He murmured inwardly.
“Well then, allow me to explain!”
Upon hearing Wu Ming’s question, Akayama Kanbee knelt forward, his expression grave, “Three days ago, our young lady’s caravan was attacked by bandits!”
“Bandits? Not yokai?”
Wu Ming was taken aback, “How many of you were there? And how many were the attackers?”
Akayama Kanbee answered, “Sada Junsuke and Hanayama Tarō were samurai, along with fifteen ashigaru. The enemy had dozens, and they had set traps. Hanayama was killed on the spot, the young lady was kidnapped, and after Sada returned with the report, he committed seppuku!”
“The lord was furious and ordered his ninja to investigate, finally discovering that the culprits were the notorious bandit group Tsuchigumo, who have hundreds of members and occupy Tsukimi Mountain!”
“The lord sent several rescue parties, all of whom were defeated, until a dying ninja brought news that the leader of the Tsuchigumo was actually a powerful demon who used his supernatural powers to kill those sent to rescue!”
“Therefore… the lord has summoned the two of you!”
Akayama Kanbee and Toda Mitsu Masahiro pressed their foreheads to the floor, “Please, you must rescue our young lady! We will risk our lives to assist you both!”
“What kind of demon is their leader? Do we have any intelligence on him?”
Ito Kagahide, who had arrived only moments before Wu Ming, asked at this point.
“We don’t know… All we know is that the leader usually appears as a handsome young monk with extraordinary demonic powers, and… and he has a penchant for abducting and devouring women and children…”
“Could it be Shuten-dōji?”
Before he could finish, Ito Kagahide gasped in shock.
“Shuten-dōji?”
Wu Ming looked at Ito Kagahide in confusion.
“He is a notorious demon in the onmyōdō world, who once wreaked havoc across dozens of provinces. Eventually, he was subdued and sealed for ninety-nine years by the legendary onmyōji, the Mikado In no Hōshi. I never expected that he had escaped his seal and hidden himself in Izumo Province…”
Ito Kagahide inhaled sharply, “If it truly is Shuten-dōji, we must rescue the young lady within seven days, or she will surely become the demon’s meal!”
Yet his face also bore a bitter expression, “Even if I immediately use the thousand paper cranes to notify my master, it might already be too late…”
“Let’s depart!”
Wu Ming suddenly declared.
“What?” The three people in the room were momentarily taken aback.
“A warrior should be ready to sacrifice his life. That is my samurai’s conviction!”
Wu Ming said, “Currently, the confirmed enemies are a band of over a hundred bandits, the Tsuchigumo, and a demon leader, correct? Kanbee, you go prepare four fine horses. The journey from here to Tsukimi Mountain is quite a distance!”
“Hai!”
This resolute attitude immediately prompted Akayama Kanbee to obey instinctively, feeling a sense of determination that made his expression calm.
“And Toda Mitsu Masahiro, you go prepare rations, rice balls, armor, bows and arrows, and several katanas!”
Toda Mitsu Masahiro also bowed and left.
“Then, may I ask Oniichi-dono, what about me?”
Ito Kagahide asked curiously, “If there is anything I can assist with, please do not hesitate!”
“We two will be the main force for this mission. Now, rest well!”
Wu Ming reclined casually, “Ito-dono, that Shuten-dōji will be your responsibility!”
“Please allow me to speak frankly!”
Ito Kagahide looked at Wu Ming with curiosity, “Why are you so confident, Oniichi-dono?”
“A demon who has been sealed for ninety-nine years, surely hasn’t regained his peak strength yet. Otherwise, he would have already returned to seek revenge against the onmyōdō practitioners…”
Wu Ming explained.
“Hmm… Any other reasons? Could it be because of your onmyōdō skills? I sensed spiritual energy from you!”
Ito Kagahide bit his lip and finally spoke.
“Oh? You can tell?”
Wu Ming was momentarily surprised, then smiled, “During my travels, I did indeed study under a teacher who taught me a unique cultivation method, granting me spiritual energy and the ability to cast spells. If you wish to consider me an onmyōji, then so be it!”
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