vstars Chapter 203 The Kyoto Uprising
Chapter 203 The Kyoto Uprising
Unlike Tokyo, where Yu Bai lives, Kyoto has recently been plagued by rampant demons. Evil spirits roam the streets, seemingly filled with an unprecedented thirst for human organs. They wander in groups, causing widespread fear among Kyoto's residents. Most choose to keep their doors tightly shut and avoid going out at night or when there are few people around, for fear of becoming the next target of those demons.
Originally, Kyoto was not like this. Here, the human side had the prestigious Keikain family of Onmyoji as their guardian deity, while the yokai side had the Nura Clan, the leaders of the Hyakki Yagyō (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons), to maintain order. The two sides maintained a delicate balance and lived in peace, each minding their own business.
But recently, the great demon Hagoromo Gitsune, who was sealed away 400 years ago, broke free of the seal and even announced that she would give birth to her child, "Abe no Seimei".
This has led to a recent surge of yokai (supernatural beings) in Kyoto wreaking havoc in human society. The neutral/good Nura Clan, along with other yokai organizations, are collaborating for the first time with the Kakeruin family, a clan specializing in onmyoji (spirited beings), in preparation for defeating Hagoromo Gitsune once again.
The most famous Onmyoji of the Keikain family, the thirteenth head of the family four hundred years ago, Keikain Hidemoto, was recently summoned by Keikain Yura, the next successor of the Keikain family, using the shikigami Hagun.
Speaking of the thirteenth head of the Kakaiin family, Kakaiin Hidemoto, he has a tragic love affair with Hagoromo Gitsune.
If we were to ask who Hagoromo Gitsune hates the most, it would undoubtedly be Keikain Hidemoto, while the demon Hagoromo Gitsune hates the most is Nurarihyon.
Four hundred years ago, Hidemoto Keikain and Nurarihyon Nura joined forces in Kyoto to defeat Hagoromo Gitsune. However, as Hagoromo Gitsune was dying, she cursed Hidemoto Keikain and Nurarihyon Nura: "Your descendants will be bound by Hagoromo Gitsune's curse."
As for the Nura Clan, which is famous for leading the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, the descendants of the Nura Clan's head at the time were unable to have offspring with demons. In contrast, in the Keikain Clan, the eldest son of the main family would die young.
This has resulted in Rikuo Nura, the next heir of the Nura Clan, being a half-demon. To prevent the bloodline from dying out, the Keikain family needs to adopt talented individuals from its various branch families to become adopted sons and inherit the Keikain lineage. However, this has also led to the development of different types of Onmyōdō (yin-yang arts) by the various branch families under the Keikain family.
However, the two also forged a deep friendship after this battle. Nurarihyon would often go to the Hanakain family to freeload, which angered the Hanakain family and led to the establishment of a family rule that "Nurarihyon is not allowed to come in to eat."
After being summoned as the shikigami Hagun, Hidemoto of the Kagein clan guided the others to try to defeat Hagoromo Gitsune. They suggested using the same strategy he used with Nurarihyon four hundred years ago, employing the shikigami Hagun and the demon-slaying sword Miyagi-maru to subdue Hagoromo Gitsune.
Unfortunately, Nurarihyon is now old and has become an old man who spends his days drinking tea and teasing his grandson.
Therefore, resealing Hagoromo Gitsune and preventing the birth of "Abe no Seimei" still requires the efforts of this new generation.
The shikigami, Hakuryuu, and the demon-slaying sword, Mimi-kirimaru, that are needed have now been gathered. In addition, they need to reseal the seals that have been broken in Kyoto to cut off the flow of demonic energy in Kyoto.
During the sealing process, a very powerful yokai, Tsuchigumo, attacked, accompanied by Hagoromo-Gitsune and the forces behind the resurrection of Hagoromo-Gitsune. In order to fight against them, Keikain and the Nura Clan paid a heavy price.
The Kakeruin family suffered numerous casualties among its Onmyoji, and Nurarihyon, the current head of the Nura Clan, was also severely injured. Unless a miracle occurs, he probably won't live for more than a few days.
……
When Yu Bai and his group arrived, the battle was about to reach its climax.
All the Onmyoji of the Keikain family, along with the Nura Clan's yokai and other yokai who came to help, had gathered at the final sealing point, where Hagoromo-Gitsune was about to give birth to "Abe no Seimei".
"Wow~ Such a strong demonic aura! Moreover, a giant barrier has been set up around different corners of Kyoto. People without spiritual power in this area will probably subconsciously ignore what is happening in Kyoto during this time."
Yu Bai and his group did not use any ground transportation. Instead, they directly boarded the Vimana, Gilgamesh’s Radiant Ship of Light, made of gold and emeralds, which could soar through the sky. They passed through the clouds and landed steadily above Kyoto.
As soon as he stepped into Kyoto's territory, Yu Bai keenly sensed the demonic aura that was almost overflowing the border. It was like dark clouds pressing down, heavily enveloping every inch of Kyoto's land, making people feel extremely oppressed.
"This is bad. The aura of evil is getting stronger and stronger."
Abe no Seimei narrowed his long, narrow fox-like eyes, looking down over the entire city of Kyoto from high above. His gaze was like a sharp blade, easily piercing through the layers of demonic mist and locking onto the place where the demonic energy was most concentrated.
He then pointed to a certain spot and turned to Yu Bai, saying, "Lord Fengyue, we're going there. That's where the evil intent is strongest. Next, I'll trouble you to have Hero King pilot the spaceship to that location."
"No problem, Jill, let's go right away!"
Yu Bai readily agreed to Abe no Seimei's request and gently patted Gilgamesh on the shoulder as he sat arrogantly on the spaceship throne.
Gilgamesh, who was being patted on the shoulder and given directions by his best friend, glared at Abe no Seimei standing to the side with a very unpleasant expression. When he received a half-hearted, smiling thank you from the man, the air around him seemed to distort for a moment.
But just before the surrounding air was about to turn golden, Yu Bai gently pressed one of his hands on Gilgamesh's shoulder, calming the power that was about to erupt.
Gilgamesh looked up and met Yu Bai's gentle smile, which seemed to melt ice and snow. Behind that smile, it was as if a vast field of splendid flowers were blooming, as gentle and radiant as could be.
"Jill, what were you trying to do just now?"
Gilgamesh coughed lightly, his eyes flickering uncertainly. "Ahem, it's nothing. Weren't we supposed to drive that way? I'm adjusting the position."
As he spoke, he quickly turned his head and focused intently on piloting the spaceship, flying in the direction Abe no Seimei had indicated.
While controlling the device, he kept thinking to himself: the last time he saw his best friend with that smile was back in Uruk, when they accidentally got into a fight and he accidentally cut off most of his best friend's long, emerald-green hair.
When his best friend saw the large chunk of green hair lying on the ground, he paused for a moment in disbelief. Then, after touching the back of his head and confirming that his hair had been cut, he smiled and gave him another beating.
Even in the days that followed, his best friend ignored him for several days, and even the delicious food he painstakingly found for his best friend did not earn his forgiveness.
……
Abe no Seimei: Then I'll trouble you, Hero King. The destination is over there. Please drive that way.
Gilgamesh: (Gathering power in Gate of Babylon) I think you're planning to die...
Yu Bai: (Smiling kindly, with a small flower on his face) Jill, what are you doing?
Gilgamesh: It's nothing. I'm just adjusting my course. My dear friend, look how well I'm flying this spaceship!