I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 174 Onmyoji and Ninja

Mount Koya, in an abandoned town.

A chase is underway.

The group fleeing in disarray were fully armed mercenaries, while their pursuers:
Is he a ninja dressed in black with a dull short sword?
"Shet!"

call out----

Amidst the angry curses of the black mercenary captain carrying the launcher, an armor-piercing round whistled backward.

However, the 'dried corpse ninja' that he targeted leaped forward and immediately disappeared into the street in a 'diving' motion.

boom! !

The armor-piercing round struck the spot where the ninja had been standing, exploding with a deafening roar; the jet of metal was powerful enough to penetrate tank armor.

However, the energy of this jet is most concentrated within a distance of a few tens of centimeters. Once it exceeds this distance, its power will rapidly decrease. Therefore, on the Russian battlefield, as long as a simple 'turtle shell' is welded around the outside, it can withstand these advanced high-tech weapons.

The armor-piercing shell blasted a crater the size of a bathtub into the street: unfortunately, there was no trace of the 'mummified ninja' anymore.

Watch your step—

Before the mercenary captain could finish speaking,

Suddenly, a figure appeared on the ground not far away.

The 'mummified ninja,' dressed entirely in black with a black mask that revealed only a pair of cloudy eyes, had barely emerged from his upper body when he swung his sword and slashed fiercely.

Pfft

The long blade slashed, and the mercenary targeted screamed and fell to the side, his feet, clad in military boots, 'standing' in place.

"Ahhh! Help me! Help me!!"

"asshole!"

Da da da da,

Ignoring the possibility of accidentally injuring their teammates, the other mercenaries immediately targeted the assassin who emerged from the ground.

But by the time they pulled the trigger, the enemy had already sunk back into the ground; only the belated bullets remained, leaving behind fist-sized craters in the ground.

Earth and rocks flew everywhere!

But they gained nothing.

"Withdraw! Withdraw! Withdraw!"

"Move onto buildings, don't stay in the streets!"

The black mercenary captain shouted helplessly, saying that encountering an "assassin" with the ability to "walk on stone" was just bad luck for them; staying on the ground would only lead to their death.

Damn it, there aren't even any tall buildings around here!

The remaining mercenaries retreated in formation, while their comrade, whose legs had been severed, struggled to crawl, leaving trails of blood.
They dare not, and cannot, go to save them!

Since the last 'Battle of Mount Koya', this battlefield has been roamed by extraordinary beings such as 'assassins', 'mages', and 'knights': these extraordinary beings are also officially rated as D-rank (wolf-level).

However, unlike the large, straightforward chimeras.

They possess certain extraordinary abilities, and because they are small in size and fast in speed, they are even more lethal to mercenaries.

Especially the one they were facing now: possessing the 'Stonewalking Technique' to move underground, leaving the mercenaries helpless and forced to retreat again and again.

"Fuck, why is he an extraordinary assassin?"

The mercenary carrying the computer couldn't help but curse aloud. His drone could monitor the battlefield from the sky, but it couldn't see through the earth and lock onto this unknown killer. Hmm?
"Wait, what just came from—"

Just as the white mercenary named 'Kaplan' glanced at the wrist computer, the ground behind him rippled silently like water.

A 'mummified ninja' with a black mask leaped out of the ground, his dull longsword slashing in an arc, aiming for the white mercenary's neck as the black mercenary captain's pupils contracted upon noticing their presence.

With this 'extraordinary assassin's' skills, a head would be on the ground in less than 0.1 seconds—

crackling

The lightning flashed by in an instant.

The long sword stopped beside 'Kaplan's' neck, startling him so much that he broke out in a cold sweat.

The fact that they didn't collapse on the spot shows they have a strong mentality.

"Lightning Speed and Thunderous Strike!"

"Who?"

"That is."

Kaplan didn't know what had happened, but the other mercenaries saw a flash of electricity on their retinas, and their gun barrels instinctively followed the flash.

Tap tap tap,

The lightning stopped a short distance away, revealing a supernatural being with the lower body of a deer and the upper body of a girl.
That's right, just like the 'Tree Spirit' from World of Warcraft, except that the upper body of the creature is dressed in a classic Japanese sailor uniform, and one hand is a hairy giant claw: grasping a head covered by a black cloth.

It was obvious that she was the one who twisted off the head of the 'Super Assassin' and saved 'Kaplan's' life.

"Put the gun down! Put the gun down!!"

The black mercenary captain immediately shouted, partly because the enemy's displayed strength was terrifying and far beyond their ability to contend with; and partly because:

"Your Excellency, the Flower Garden Master,"

Although the lower body had turned into a 'deer', the black mercenary captain still recognized the upper body:
It was the exorcist from the "Kakaiin" family who had unintentionally "saved" them once!
"Ah, so don't blame me for stealing your prey, do you?"

"NO, NO, NO~~"

Faced with the girl, Lu, who turned around and raised her head, a group of mercenaries quickly lowered their guns and waved their hands repeatedly.

Given the lightning speed the other party displayed, taking the head of a 'superhuman assassin' would be as easy as taking theirs: if they were killed, so be it. These 'foreign mercenaries' usually have no human rights in battle, let alone when facing superhumans.

"Well, then I'm leaving."

After saying that, she moved her four hooves and disappeared from the spot with a burst of lightning.

At her speed, the ordinary person's lens simply cannot detect her presence: it's no different from teleportation.

"Rescue!"

"Hey bro, hang in there!"

Immediately, mercenaries rushed over, took out tourniquets, and bandaged the mercenary who had broken both legs.

Then you get the injection, and the rest is up to God.

"Thank God,"

With a long sigh of relief, 'Kaplan', who was in charge of reconnaissance, took a few steps forward, turned around, looked at the corpse behind him, and touched his neck.

"If this lady had been a second later—no, a millimeter later—my head would already be on the ground."

"Looks like we're really lucky,"

The black captain stepped forward and patted 'Kaplan' on the shoulder.

"I encountered exorcists from the Kakeruin family twice. If it were anyone else..."

Expecting superhumans to save people is almost impossible! The fact that they didn't casually kill them all makes them 'law-abiding' superhumans.

After all, shooting in the shadows is a common occurrence on the battlefield, and even friendly firefights are common in the past two years: supervisory teams killing linemen and linemen killing supervisory teams.

As for being 'accidentally hit', that's basic battlefield maneuvering.

"Let's go back,"

Call someone to pick up the 'superhuman assassin's' head; the corpse of such a hostile superhuman is worth three times the price of a chimera!
What noble superhumans look down upon is, to them, several years' worth of hard-earned money.

"We're rich!"

The other mercenaries were also all smiles.

They entered this battlefield solely for the money.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

On an unnamed mountain peak.

"Master, I'm back."

With a flash of lightning, Yura Hanakain appeared beside Yu.

"Ordinary chimeras, as well as those 'Oni Samurai,' 'Mummy Ninjas,' and 'Skeleton Onmyoji,' are no match for me."

As she spoke, the girl released the 'Shikigami Fusion' and separated herself from the deer beside her.

At the same time, the wolf claw on his left hand rapidly expanded, transforming into a gray wolf that leaped down.

"Of course,"

"With the two combined, you can already be considered a mid-level tiger-level expert."

The Inuzuka family's 'Cerberus' form is a standard Chunin. Similarly, after fusing 'Greedy Wolf' and 'Rokusuke', Kakeruin Yura also reaches Chunin level.

Moreover, it combines the speed of a lightning deer with the claws and wind-style cutting ability of a gray wolf, making it truly capable of both fighting and escaping. "It's a pity it can't achieve a three-in-one combination yet,"

Yura Hanakain was somewhat disappointed. If she could also incorporate the goldfish 'Lianzhen', she would not only be able to use ranged attacks, but also raise her spiritual power to the next level.

Unfortunately, no matter how she experimented, she failed; it seemed the difficulty was too high.

"It's already very impressive,"

He gently ruffled the girl's hair and praised her.

"Don't rush. The fusion of shikigami becomes more difficult as you progress, but the power also increases."

Himiko's "Oni-Garra Technique" is not a simple addition, but a "multiplication" developed based on bloodlines: if all five bloodline limits are gathered, the five elements will generate each other, and one may even be able to glimpse the realm of bloodline nets: of course, it is only a possibility.

The Five Elements alone are not enough; there is also the support of Yin and Yang blood, but that is something that is a long time from now.

"First, get used to the state of dual shikigami fusion, and then launch an attack on the fusion of three shikigami."

"Yes, master!"

Having the ability to move at high speed,

Yura actively joined the battlefield, honing her combat skills.

Jinggang County, Hayakawa Town

Below Qimian Mountain, the once small village has been transformed. Countless steel and concrete walls protect a large area: this is a defense line built to military standards. If a missile were to hit it, it would be considered to have a significant impact if it could even scratch the skin off.

According to the construction company, it could even withstand low-yield tactical nuclear weapons.
"121~121~121~!"

The coach, chanting slogans, led the way in a jog.
Two lines of boys and girls followed behind, running through the village under the scorching sun: there were more than a dozen such groups!
Almost all elementary schools in Hayakawa Town are conducting running exercises, while junior high and high school students have begun various sword fighting, archery training, and familiarization with the use of firearms and vehicles.

If you didn't know better, you'd think you'd stumbled into some kind of region where everyone is a soldier.

In fact, under the leadership of the Isogai siblings, this 'Sea Ninja Village' was indeed a place where everyone was a soldier!

The once small mountain village is now filled with signs of expansion, with numerous construction vehicles busy at work and buildings springing up everywhere.

These buildings are all reinforced concrete structures, built to military fortress standards: the patrol personnel brazenly carry M4 carbines, wear bulletproof vests, and infrared helmets, their equipment is so luxurious it's almost tear-inducing.

In the center of these construction sites stands a cluster of antique-style buildings:

With its forests of red maples, winding paths, and white houses casting elegant shadows, it's clearly a perfect place for self-cultivation.

Onmyoji Bureau!
This institution, which was abolished during the Meiji Restoration, has reappeared in the island nation.

"Grandpa, this is the medicine for this time."

In the main room, Isoya Dai took out a scroll and unfolded it.

With a bang, a high-tech box appeared on the scroll, containing fifty 'Level 3 Extraordinary Potions'.

"You will be responsible for managing and distributing the medicine: let everyone know that the family will not mistreat those who serve the Fifty Valley family."

The silver-haired old man nodded at his overly 'mature' granddaughter.

"Leave it to Grandpa."

"By the way, Grandpa, where are Father and Mother?"

The silver-haired old man answered his younger brother Kaoru Isoya's question.

"Your father is negotiating with several powerful families in Jinggang County; they want to obtain a portion of the extraordinary potions."

"We have the medicine."

"But they must also show their stance: the next magistrate of Jinggang County must be Dad!"

The term "governor" is the title of the head of a prefecture, city, or county in an island nation. For example, the governor of Shizuo Prefecture is equivalent to a high-ranking official in Shizuo Prefecture.

The Igoya family doesn't just own one village; they want to take over the entire Jinggang County!
If others can sit in the position of governor, why can't their family sit in it?

It must be said that the siblings are not only fearless like newborn calves, but also incredibly resourceful. With the entire armed 'Sea Ninja Village' as their support, and their extraordinary lineage as a backing, which family in the entire Jinggang County would dare to compete with them?

Coupled with this increasingly chaotic era, the island nation's government has turned a blind eye to them.

To put it bluntly, even in the event of an extraordinary disaster, this place can provide ordinary people with more protection.

“I will arrange it,”

The elderly man with silver hair nodded in agreement again.

Although he doesn't care about power, he will fully support his son, grandson, and granddaughter since they are all going down this path.

"Whatever you want to do, just do it with confidence. Grandpa will always be your support."

"Okay, thank you, Grandpa~~" x2
"Go ahead, things are almost done with your mother."

"The two patriarchs have arrived!"

? !
Hearing the words of the boy who appeared hurriedly at the door,
In the antique-style side hall, two rows of boys and girls who were sitting cross-legged on the floor were stunned for a moment, and then they all knelt down.

"Welcome, Patriarch!"

As everyone bowed their heads, Isoya Dai and Isoya Kaoru walked into the hall side by side and headed up into the hall.

“Dai, Xun”.

A middle-aged woman was kneeling on the steps of the hall.

“Mother,” X2
After nodding to each other, the two sat down on two empty seats side by side.

The middle-aged woman could only kneel on the right.

"How is the course going?"

The older sister, Igarashi Dai, with short hair and an athletic boyish appearance, spoke first.

“Go home, Lord. Three people have completed the water-treading training and five people have completed the tree-climbing training.”

The middle-aged woman answered seriously that although she was the mother of the two siblings, in public she was only the "Onmyo-suke" who trained apprentice Onmyoji, while the two siblings, Isoya, were both the heads of the Isoya family and the "Onmyo-heads" of this Onmyo-ryo (Yin-Yang Bureau).

There is a clear hierarchy and distinction between superiors and inferiors.

"very good,"

"Completed training in treading water and climbing trees."

"Starting tomorrow, follow us to learn how to draw talismans."

Among the two rows of boys and girls kneeling respectfully below, three of them unconsciously showed joy on their faces.

Not everyone is like these two siblings, who are constantly exposed to blood and fire, have witnessed all kinds of extraordinary battles, slaughter, and death, and have developed a strong heart, yet still cannot hide their emotions.

However, if someone can keep their emotions hidden, then the Isogai siblings should be wary of them.

"My Igoya family learned from Master Kainin and established ourselves through Yin-Yang techniques."

"Remember this: if we ever encounter Lord Hai Ren and anyone dares to show the slightest disrespect, my brother and I will kill him with our own hands!"

Before teaching Yin-Yang techniques, some rules must be established first.

"Yes!"

The crowd below responded in unison.
The boys and girls who had gone through layers of selection to enter the Yin-Yang Bureau were all very aware of the existence of the 'founding master' Hai Ren.

They were also well aware of the importance of that 'founding master' in the hearts of the two family heads, so they naturally dared not slack off.

"And, if anyone dares to reveal the family's secret techniques—"

My older sister, Isoya Dai, had an icy gaze.

"Kill without mercy!"

"Even his family members are determined to fight to the death."

"The family doesn't want to raise a bunch of ungrateful wretches, do you understand?"

"understand!"

"If anyone dares to betray us, I will be the first to bring back their head without the patriarch even lifting a finger!"

A boy stepped forward first, prostrated himself, and made a resounding vow.

"Um,"

"You don't need to call us 'Master' anymore."

Igoya Dai nodded. In front of outsiders, she was the one who usually handled the communication.