Chapter 8: The Imperial Gathering for Demon Exorcism (Ten Updates Complete!)

Interrupted by Zhou Yan, Lord Gomonin Seimei showed no annoyance, merely responding to his words with calm composure.

“Master Yan, do you know why this world is overrun by a hundred demons, bringing suffering to the people?”

Rather than directly mentioning the assembly, he raised this topic, stirring Zhou Yan’s thoughts.

“Oh?” Zhou Yan watched Seimei without betraying any emotion. “I don’t understand this matter. I’d like to hear it in detail.”

Lord Gomonin Seimei gazed deeply at him and spoke softly, “The gates of hell have been thrown wide open. Turbulent energies pollute the world, giving rise to monsters and the rampant march of demons.”

Zhou Yan straightened slightly in his seat.

He recalled the message and side quest he had received upon arriving in this world:

[The Five Impurities descend, the gates of hell open, monsters and demons run rampant across the land of Genroku, and the people suffer.]

[Expel the ‘Great Demon’ and close the ‘Gates of Hell’.]

He had not expected the information spoken by the master of the Demon Slayer Bureau to match precisely with that given on his panel.

The panel’s information had never been wrong.

Which meant this master truly possessed insight.

Lord Gomonin Seimei noticed Zhou Yan’s growing seriousness and smiled. “The Demon Slayer Bureau has discovered the location of these mysterious gates. We are preparing to gather our true elite to subdue and seal them, restoring Genroku to purity. For this, with the shogun’s consent, we have organized the demon-slaying assembly before the court to select the strongest.”

“I see.” Zhou Yan exhaled deeply.

Everything the panel had told him now linked together. What appeared to be three separate tasks were, in truth, an interconnected grand quest.

“So, where are the gates?” Zhou Yan asked directly.

“I cannot tell you yet,” Seimei replied with a gentle smile. “Only those chosen at the assembly five days hence will learn the location.”

“Then why call me here?” Zhou Yan leaned back, hands pressed to the ground, deliberately adopting an irritable posture.

After disembarking, he had equipped the Demon King’s Arm, restoring his left hand to normal, allowing him to move freely—much to Oboro’s surprise at the time.

Oboro, having witnessed his armor annihilate Ibaraki-dōji in an instant, seemed to have accepted him as some being close to divinity after her initial shock.

As for the ten-point-per-second durability drain, it was no concern now that his life equipment had reached the fourth tier. The durability recovery effect of his “Enduring Path” had risen from twenty to twenty-five, and doubled to fifty per second in non-combat states.

The Demon King’s Arm was nothing to worry about.

Now, however, Lord Gomonin Seimei kept glancing at his left hand.

The master’s sharp gaze betrayed his suspicion: had the Bureau’s intelligence system failed, misreporting such a clear physical feature as the loss of a hand?

Seimei put aside such thoughts and smiled at Zhou Yan’s bored demeanor. “I called you here not only to inform you about the assembly, but also to ask a favor.”

“Speak. After this, I’ll be on my way. This place is dull, secrets are kept, and you won’t even teach me Onmyō techniques.” Zhou Yan continued to play the disgruntled guest.

Seimei could do little but smile. “Master Yan, I am here to plead on behalf of our Deputy Master, Yagyu Tsukahito.”

“Plead?” Zhou Yan was taken aback. “None of your people have offended me, have they?”

No sooner had he spoken than a scarred youth in a black haori flashed through his mind.

Could it be that one?

Seimei smiled wryly. “Perhaps you have not met him directly, but Deputy Master Yagyu Tsukahito has indeed caused you trouble. Master Yan, on Mount Ogasawa, you encountered more than just the single demon, did you not?”

Seimei evidently knew much.

“Heh heh heh,” Zhou Yan let out a weird laugh. “Why ask when you already know the answer?”

Seimei’s gaze flicked to Oboro, who sat quietly listening, her sword’s hilt and sheath protruding behind her. With a curious expression, he asked, “Miss Oboro, may I ask if the sword on your back is the legendary Demon Cutter?”

Oboro glanced at Zhou Yan before answering respectfully, “Master, it is.”

“Just as I thought.” Seimei sighed. “Since the Demon Cutter is in your hands, it means Ibaraki-dōji—”

He searched Zhou Yan’s expression, probing, “Was repelled by you?”

Zhou Yan sat calmly, meeting Seimei’s gaze with a wild smile that revealed his white teeth.

“To be precise,” he said, “slain!”

Seimei’s breath faltered.

*

*

Five days later, sunlight streamed brightly.

Edo Castle’s inner citadel.

Today, in the shogun’s private residence—ordinarily forbidden to outsiders—a stream of individuals entered, all dressed distinctively, unlike ordinary folk.

Led in by members of the Demon Slayer Bureau, they gathered in a vast enclosure within the inner citadel.

The Martial Arena.

At its center stood several chairs, the largest occupied by a stern middle-aged man in black robes.

He was none other than Tsunayoshi, the current shogun, ruler of Genroku.

To his right sat Lord Gomonin Seimei, clad in white robes and a black cap.

To his left sat a tall swordsman, face hidden beneath a blue cloak and straw hat, katana at his waist, no skin visible.

On each side of the arena, rows of chairs had been arranged, many already occupied as more participants continued to file in.

In one corner, two chairs sat side by side: one occupied by a tall, handsome man with an eyepatch, the other by a petite, delicate girl carrying a katana.

The girl’s curious gaze roamed over the newcomers in their various garb and with assorted weapons. She turned to the man beside her and asked, “Master Yan, I hadn’t realized that, apart from the Demon Slayer Bureau, so many extraordinary people exist who can hunt demons and monsters. How impressive!”

Zhou Yan rested his chin in his hand, glanced sideways, and smiled. “Oboro, while you marvel at others, you don’t realize that we are the true focus of the entire arena.”

“Ah? Really? I—I hadn’t noticed.” Oboro, prompted by Zhou Yan, looked up again and suddenly found that everyone was indeed watching their corner, overtly or covertly.

“Why is that?” she asked shyly, bowing her head in curiosity.

“Blame that damned Seimei,” Zhou Yan replied, pointing to a cloth banner hanging from the canopy above them. On the white fabric, bold black ink spelled out a single large word.

Oboro School.

“The Bureau made banners for every participant’s school,” Zhou Yan grumbled. “I suspect the Oboro School is famous in this circle—perhaps it’s the sort that only makes headlines and never mingles with others.”

Oboro tried to understand, “So now we’re representing the Oboro School, and everyone is paying special attention, right?”

“Exactly. Also,” Zhou Yan glanced again, feeling a twinge in his jaw.

“I suspect your predecessors in the Oboro School, besides slaying monsters, committed deeds that other schools despise.”

“Ah?” she exclaimed in surprise. “I never knew.”

Zhou Yan sighed at her confusion. “More than eighty percent of these people seem to dislike us.”

With his formidable spirit and keen perception, he clearly sensed that most school representatives looked at him with barely concealed loathing, even hatred.

The Oboro School’s reputation was clearly problematic.

Who knows what infamous acts the previous Oboro swordsmen committed.

Did they challenge every other school? If so, the demon-slaying conference might not even get to discussing the demons—they’d first come after him and Oboro.

As he pondered how to deal with potential mass resentment, every school’s seat was filled. Samurai then sealed the arena, admitting no more.

Then Lord Gomonin Seimei rose, approached the shogun for instruction, and walked to the front of the stage.

He stood tall, forming a mudra with his right hand and giving a slight tremor.

Zhou Yan immediately sensed a strange power enveloping him—Seimei’s “spiritual energy,” the opposite of Oboro’s “demonic energy.”

Seimei’s voice, though not loud, resonated throughout the arena by means of spiritual vibrations.

“I am Seimei, master of the Demon Slayer Bureau, acting under Shogun Tsunayoshi’s command. I invite you all to this demon-slaying assembly. The reason was mentioned in the letters sent to you; now, let me state it plainly before all—”

“This assembly is first to inform you that the Demon Slayer Bureau has discovered the root cause of the demon-plagued world. We are gathered here to plan a great rescue.”

“Second, we will select the five strongest among you as the core commanders for this mission. Supported by others, they will venture deep into the target area, destroy the enemy, and save Genroku!”

“And the method for choosing these champions is—defend the arena!”

Seimei’s clear voice echoed through the crowd.

As he uttered “defend the arena,” he glanced at Zhou Yan and Oboro in the corner, a smile curling at his lips.

***

Ten chapters in a row, as promised—please subscribe!

Also, let me recommend my friend’s book, “Illusory Paradise”—a classic paradise novel. Interested readers, give it a look!