The true spirit mediums were chosen as vessels, containers, skins for the immortals to walk the human world.
But in the eyes of the Zhao family, they were the masters, and the yokai who sought immortality became the servants. If a servant failed to remain loyal to their master, the master would not grant the servant their desired outcome.
Finally, in Fukada Ichiro’s eyes, there could be many servants!
Jibaku-rei, Fuyū-rei, Kuda-gitsune, and Inu-gaki were all considered rather powerful types of Shikigami. Fukada Ichiro, despite his youth, possessed so many Shikigami, suggesting he had received considerable help from his family.
However, being too reliant on family support was not a good thing.
Yan Shouyi, facing the San-ken-yaku-ji and Shiba-ki-ko-tarō alone, not only held his ground but even appeared to be at ease.
This was the difference between Yan Shouyi and Fukada Ichiro!
Although Yan Shouyi had a powerful background, his grandfather and father rarely provided him with assistance; in fact, they often subtly created difficulties for him.
Years of growth had made Yan Shouyi fully capable of standing on his own!
Meanwhile, Fukada Ichiro, despite possessing several formidable Shikigami, could only watch from afar, afraid to participate in the actual combat!
The San-ken-yaku-ji and Shiba-ki-ko-tarō were both fierce entities. Caught between them, a moment of carelessness could present an opportunity for them to strike.
“Are you doing alright?” seeing that Yan Shouyi showed no signs of fatigue, Iheiwa couldn't help but strike up a conversation.
Fukada Ichiro said with a dark expression, “If you hadn't drained so much of my spiritual power, this Yan Shouyi would have been defeated long ago!”
Iheiwa smiled slightly, knowing Fukada Ichiro was making excuses.
Men, indeed, were unreliable.
Taunted by Iheiwa, Fukada Ichiro became impatient and wanted to quickly prove his abilities.
Since Yan Shouyi could not be dealt with, he decided to target Lin Zhitong, who was beside him!
Kurokawa Riku, a Fuyū-rei, was a humanoid wandering spirit. He wore brown loincloths, with his upper body bare and his shirt tied around his waist. A small braid was tied on his head. Though less than 1.6 meters tall, he appeared ferocious due to a red Oni mask he wore. In his hand, he held a silver katana, its blade glinting.
This was the appearance of a standard Japanese samurai. Kurokawa Riku must have been a powerful samurai in life.
The so-called Fuyū-rei were powerful in life and, even after death, refused to accept their demise. They were spirits that lingered in the mortal realm. Their power after death was inherited from their lives, making them relatively formidable among spirits.
By this definition, perhaps General Qing Jiang within Yan Shouyi’s body was also a Fuyū-rei, but General Qing Jiang was clearly far more powerful and skilled than Kurokawa Riku.
With every swing of his sword, Kurokawa Riku let out a shout, his voice like thunder, striking fear into the hearts of onlookers.
However, Lin Zhitong was unfazed. The Red Divine Umbrella in her hands was no less formidable than the samurai’s katana!
“Ha!”
Kurokawa Riku roared and swung his blade with full force. Lin Zhitong held the Red Divine Umbrella with both hands, blocking the attack.
The next moment, she released her grip, using a clever maneuver to knock the katana aside, then thrust forward with her spear!
The sharp tip of the Red Divine Umbrella instantly pierced a gaping hole in Kurokawa Riku’s neck!
Seeing this, Fukada Ichiro’s expression turned grim. It was one thing that he couldn't deal with Yan Shouyi, but his Kurokawa Riku was also no match for Lin Zhitong!
How could this couple be so troublesome!
Kurokawa Riku was also furious, unable to accept being defeated by a woman.
Fortunately, Kurokawa Riku was already dead, and even with his throat pierced, he could recover quickly.
However, Lin Zhitong would not give Kurokawa Riku that chance!
She shook the Soul Summoning Bell, its soul-captivating chime sounding. To Kurokawa Riku's ears, it was incredibly piercing. He even dropped his katana and clutched his ears in pain!
“Lushan Sect’s Soul Summoning Bell?!”
Ling Xiaoxiao, who was battling Ninomiya Yuki, a Kuda-gitsune, suddenly recognized Lin Zhitong’s identity.
She couldn't help but laugh, “While the spirit mediums are formidable, the Lushan Sect are masters of soul control. Fukada Ichiro has truly run into a tough spot this time!”
As expected, no matter how hard Fukada Ichiro tried, Kurokawa Riku refused to obey him. He eventually knelt on the ground, appearing to surrender.
Kurokawa Riku, a Shikigami loyal to the Onmyoji, had defied his master’s command and surrendered!
This was something Fukada Ichiro had never heard of!
A cold glint flashed in Lin Zhitong’s eyes as she silently raised the Red Divine Umbrella.
At this moment, if she wished, she could instantly scatter Kurokawa Riku’s soul!
However, just as she was about to strike, the Shu Ling Snake on the Soul Summoning Bell reacted once more.
It quickly crawled onto Kurokawa Riku’s body and then bit him fiercely on the neck.
Kurokawa Riku trembled in pain but dared not resist.
After biting Kurokawa Riku, the Shu Ling Snake returned to the Soul Summoning Bell and seemed to fall into a dormant state, devoid of life. Simultaneously, a piece of information appeared in Lin Zhitong’s mind.
She could choose to kill Kurokawa Riku or to absorb him into the Soul Summoning Bell and make him serve her!
This was the power of the Shu Ling Snake!?
Lin Zhitong was astonished. After careful consideration, she said coldly to Kurokawa Riku:
“The path is before you. Choose for yourself: submit to me, or go to reincarnation!”
“What are you saying?!” Fukada Ichiro roared, “That’s my Shikigami, how could he betray me?!”
Shikigami and Onmyoji were bound by a pact of shared life and death. Therefore, according to Fukada Ichiro’s understanding, Kurokawa Riku could not possibly betray him.
However, when he checked again, he discovered that all his connections with Kurokawa Riku had been severed!
It must have been at the moment the Shu Ling Snake bit Kurokawa Riku!
This meant the Shu Ling Snake possessed the ability to sever their bond!
This was unbelievable!
Kurokawa Riku was a samurai, and the spirit of a samurai was ingrained in his soul. He was unwilling to give up his power.
Thus, Kurokawa Riku lowered his proud head to Lin Zhitong, kneeling on the ground with his forehead pressed tightly to the earth!
He would pledge allegiance to Lin Zhitong!
“No! You cannot betray me!” Fukada Ichiro’s eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.
This scene completely shattered his worldview!
Lin Zhitong completely ignored Fukada Ichiro’s curses and absorbed Kurokawa Riku into the Soul Summoning Bell!
She had thoroughly humiliated Fukada Ichiro!
The proud queen had subjugated a knight from an enemy nation.
She then turned her gaze to Yan Shouyi.
“Kurokawa Riku, go forth for me!”
Kurokawa Riku, who had just been absorbed into the Soul Summoning Bell, suddenly erupted as a mass of ghostly energy, charging with endless killing intent towards his former comrades—San-ken-yaku-ji and Shiba-ki-ko-tarō!
This was Kurokawa Riku’s first battle after pledging loyalty to Lin Zhitong, and he was determined to display his formidable power to gain her recognition!
Kurokawa Riku, worthy of being a powerful samurai, displayed many commendable moves with his katana. Even Yan Shouyi was impressed by his skill.
It seemed that after pledging allegiance to Lin Zhitong, Kurokawa Riku had become even more powerful!
With Kurokawa Riku’s participation, Yan Shouyi’s burden was significantly lightened.
A playful smile flickered across his face. In fact, he had long conceived a method to defeat Fukada Ichiro, but only now had the opportunity to try it.
“Kurokawa Riku, I’m counting on you!”
After repelling the San-ken-yaku-ji, Yan Shouyi uttered these words and then withdrew from the fight.
Kurokawa Riku asked no questions, instead using all his might to hold off the two powerful opponents, not hesitating to sustain injuries himself, absolutely refusing to retreat even half a step.
Having shed the San-ken-yaku-ji and Shiba-ki-ko-tarō, Yan Shouyi suddenly vanished from his spot!
“Where did he go!?” Fukada Ichiro exclaimed.
Iheiwa was also greatly alarmed, “Ground-stepping Golden Light… When was this move recorded in the Luban Book?!”
Iheiwa believed she had a deep understanding of the Luban descendants, but she was unaware that every Luban descendant was constantly growing.
The Luban descendants always knew more than what was merely in the Luban Book!
This move, Ground-stepping Golden Light, left even Iheiwa unable to react.
The next second, Fukada Ichiro felt a chill behind him, creeping up his spine, sending a bone-chilling cold through him.
“Tell your Shikigami to stop.”
With his Zanpakuto resting on Fukada Ichiro’s neck, Yan Shouyi stood behind him and said coldly,
“I don’t mind being an anti-Japanese hero.”
Fukada Ichiro dared not move, as if his breathing had ceased. He stiffened his body and controlled all his Shikigami to halt.
The San-ken-yaku-ji and Shiba-ki-ko-tarō were likely Fukada Ichiro’s two most powerful Shikigami. Yan Shouyi had only been gone for a few seconds, and Kurokawa Riku was already severely injured by the two of them, his arm even being eaten by Shiba-ki-ko-tarō.
Fortunately, Kurokawa Riku could regenerate.
As for the battle between Ling Xiaoxiao and Ninomiya Yuki, it was the most surprising to Yan Shouyi. Despite Ling Xiaoxiao being just a naive young girl, her Emei dagger was no trifle.
After this exchange, not only had Ninomiya Yuki failed to harm Ling Xiaoxiao, but she herself had sustained numerous punctures from the Emei dagger. If the battle continued, Ninomiya Yuki was bound to lose!
“There’s an old Chinese saying: a scholar can be killed, but not disgraced!” Fukada Ichiro gritted his teeth and said.
“You’re quite cultured,” Yan Shouyi chuckled. “According to Japanese tradition, shouldn’t the vanquished commit seppuku?”
Fukada Ichiro’s face turned pale; he clearly did not wish to die, nor did he possess the courage for seppuku.
“Iheiwa!”
Yan Shouyi said to Iheiwa, “Lay down your weapon and surrender!”
Iheiwa stood beside Fukada Ichiro and shrugged innocently, “But I’m not holding any weapons!”
Indeed, her hands were empty.
However, the next moment, Iheiwa suddenly kicked out at Yan Shouyi’s arm. Two hidden blades sprang from beneath her high heel!
The blades were coated with a potent poison; if grazed, who knew what terrible consequences might follow.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi had no choice but to momentarily retreat, releasing Fukada Ichiro.
Without a second thought, Iheiwa kicked Fukada Ichiro off the lighthouse, watching him fall into the river from the tower!
She wasn’t trying to kill Fukada Ichiro; rather, she was saving him. The current Fukada Ichiro possessed no fighting capability whatsoever.
Fukada Ichiro plunged into the water, likely rendered unconscious by the fall. Consequently, the three Shikigami present instantly vanished.
Only the severely injured Kurokawa Riku remained.
Yan Shouyi was acutely aware of this woman’s formidable abilities. Seeing Fukada Ichiro fall from the lighthouse, Yan Shouyi was already prepared to capture Iheiwa.
However, Iheiwa skillfully evaded his attack and sprinted towards Ling Xiaoxiao.
Ling Xiaoxiao was no pushover either and intended to intercept Iheiwa, her Emei dagger already aimed at her!
“Where do you think you’re going!”
With a thrust, Ling Xiaoxiao’s expression changed drastically. Although the Emei dagger had pierced Iheiwa’s body, the feedback felt completely different from before.
Ling Xiaoxiao realized something was wrong, knowing she had fallen into a trap.
As expected, the stabbed Iheiwa slowly began to disappear, and from the shadows beside her, the real Iheiwa emerged!
Iheiwa moved with agility, grabbing Ling Xiaoxiao’s wrist with one hand, breaking her forearm with a knife-hand strike, and then turning the Emei dagger towards Ling Xiaoxiao herself!
By the time Ling Xiaoxiao realized what was happening, the Emei dagger was mere inches from her eyeball. The pain from her broken arm finally registered in her mind.
“Junior Sister Ling!”
Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong’s faces changed drastically. They hadn't expected Iheiwa to be so cunning, intending to take Ling Xiaoxiao hostage rather than fight.
“Everyone stop,” Iheiwa said with a smile, “otherwise, I can’t guarantee her fate.”
Ling Xiaoxiao felt immense self-reproach. She had already been a hostage once and had deceived Yan Shouyi and the others once before.
And now, the same scenario was unfolding again.
She felt she was a burden, not worth saving by Yan Shouyi and the others.
So she shouted, “You don’t need to worry about me, kill this demon!”
However, Yan Shouyi simply sighed and placed his Zanpakuto on the ground.
Lin Zhitong, without any complaint, recalled Kurokawa Riku and also placed the Red Divine Umbrella on the ground.
“And your Soul Summoning Bell,” Iheiwa reminded.
It was clear that Lin Zhitong was greatly feared by Iheiwa.
Lin Zhitong reluctantly took off the Soul Summoning Bell as well.
“It seems I’ve captured the right person,” Iheiwa sneered. “This girl from Mount Emei, didn’t she injure you just now? Why do you still want to save her?”
Yan Shouyi said calmly, “We have no enmity with them. We are all righteous individuals, how can we stand by and do nothing?”
“Well said, so righteous!”
Iheiwa chuckled playfully. “Then I shall test you all who consider yourselves righteous.”
“What do you want?”
“It’s simple. As long as you do as I say, I will let this girl go.”
Iheiwa thought for a moment and then said, “First, hand over the Luban Book.”
Yan Shouyi could not hand over the Luban Book, as there was no such tangible book in existence. The true Luban Book resided in the minds of Yan Shouyi and his kin, passed down through generations.
However, Yan Shouyi had long prepared for this situation.
He took out three tattered ancient books from his satchel, which surprisingly bore the inscriptions of the Upper, Middle, and Lower volumes of the Luban Book.
Lin Zhitong was astonished to see them; she had never seen these three books before.
Iheiwa smiled with satisfaction and told Yan Shouyi to throw the three books over.
Having obtained the Luban Book, Iheiwa then said, “Next… you, the wife of the Luban descendant, I have a request for you.”
Lin Zhitong said with a cold face, “What is it?”
“I want you… to sever Yan Shouyi’s arms!”
“Fuyū-rei, Kurokawa Riku!”
“Kuda-gitsune, Ninomiya Yuki!”
“Inu-gaki, Shiba-ki-ko-tarō!”