I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 280 Santu River
A dark, ominous cloud cover hung overhead, obscuring the sun.

The surrounding area was filled with lingering dust and mist, as if heaven and earth had merged into one, and everything was shrouded in darkness.

Beneath my feet lay a jumble of stones, and further on, the shadowy buildings stretched out: some modern detached houses, others ancient wooden houses with brick walls, and still others extremely simple thatched and mud-brick structures. The dark, undulating landscape resembled rows of tombs. In addition, I could see a few withered trees by the roadside, their sprawling, tangled branches like the claws of a ghost.

brush,

A group of figures appeared in this desolate, rocky wilderness.
"Is this the 'Yomi Hirasaka'?"

Jiu Kong Yao Ai looked around and never expected that she would personally step into the world of the 'dead'.

"Ah? It's you—"

On the other side, the spirit of the girl Saki cried out in surprise.

"That's not surprising, Saki."

A clear, slightly helpless girl's voice rang out as she spoke. A girl in a high school uniform, carrying a long sword, with thick bangs almost covering her eyes, spoke.

“Our small town only has a few thousand people. Since the 'doctor' was the one who started it all, it’s perfectly normal for me to be his accomplice.”

"But, but how could Yukino do that?"

Witnessing that her best friend was actually the villain was far more impactful for the girl named Saki than the events involving the town mayor, police officers, school security guards, and train drivers.

"I am the doctor's adopted daughter, that's all."

"Let's put the reminiscing aside for now,"

Because he was a spirit, the refined doctor, whose arm was intact, clapped his hands.

"Miss Jiukong, we will now head to the Sanzu River."

"May I lead the way?"

"it is good,"

After receiving Jiu Kongyao's approval, the doctor strode off into the distant mist.

The little girl snatched the 'bones' from his hand and swallowed them; but the knowledge he had memorized and the extraordinary power he had gained through sacrifice had not disappeared; the refined doctor was still a wolf-level extraordinary being.

'Hehehe~~'

'Fresh souls are mine, mine.'

As the group moved forward, the surrounding abandoned buildings gradually became denser, with houses of varying heights all around, including thatched huts from the Heian period, wooden houses from the Sengoku period, tiled houses from the Edo period, and Western-style buildings from the Meiji Restoration period.
All of this made everyone feel as if they were in a city that had been abandoned for many years, a blend of all eras.

It was like being in a vast underground maze, filled with an eerie, gloomy, and decaying atmosphere. Faint sounds drifted in and out, like the faint dripping of water or the squeaking of mice. Gusts of cold wind swept through the streets and alleys, carrying intermittent whispers, sighs, and snickers, sending chills down one's spine.

"Everyone be careful,"

The refined doctor reminded his five subordinates,
"These evil spirits are quite powerful. Keep your mind focused and don't let them tempt or distract you."

After saying that, he turned to explain to Jiu Kong Yao Ai.

"The most crucial aspect of resurrecting a person is the soul."

If it's just about the physical body, he has already thoroughly studied it: the 'underworld slaves' that roam around the town at night in the real world are his creations.

It is immune to injury and death, and can survive with just 'spiritual power'—it is practically the perfect body.

pity--

"The souls of ordinary people come to this Yomotsu Hirasaka after death."

"At the same time, some memories will be lost."

As for whether it's a lot or a little, it depends on the person's obsession and their strength.

To collect this data, he conducted numerous experiments: he personally created corpses and then resurrected them.

"Saki, step back behind me!"

Just as the doctor was speaking eloquently and Jiu Kongyao was listening attentively, the battle had already begun.

The evil spirits hidden among the dense buildings around them could no longer restrain themselves and began to rush towards the group: there were headless warriors, swollen, drowned corpses, and hungry ghosts with emaciated limbs crawling on the ground.
The two "big shots" didn't care at all, while the others were already on high alert and began to fight the evil spirits.

"Clearly, such a resurrection is flawed."

The doctor 'trained' these subordinates for this very moment.

"Those who wish to be resurrected with a complete soul must be rescued from the Sanzu River."

River of Three Crossings, River of Oblivion, River of the Underworld.
In the myths and legends of almost every country, there is such a river that runs through the world of the dead.

This is normal, because if you take out a map, you will find that most cities in human history have a river running through them.

Water is essential for the development of civilization.

In ancient times, there were no water companies. If there were no rivers, people would have to rely on wells for drinking water. How many people could that have supported?
Furthermore, without river irrigation, it would be difficult to develop farmland; without farmland, large population gatherings would only lead to famine.

Therefore, the seemingly insignificant river has always been an integral part of human civilization.

It was also given a special meaning:

The place where the soul returns after death.

"The souls of all humanity flow in the Sanzu River. Only by rescuing them from the river can a perfect resurrection be achieved!"

"Is that so?"

Jiu Kong Yao Ai tends to believe what the doctor says.

They are now using the doctor's research to project souls into the 'Yellow Springs' in reverse: as doctors who have mastered the skill of 'Reanimation Jutsu', both Jiu Kong Yao Ai can interrupt the ritual at any time, and their souls can return to the real world.

As for others.
Ha ha,

With the doctor and Jiu Kongyao leading the way, ordinary evil spirits naturally dared not seek death, and instead attacked the sides and rear of the group.

In the group, Mrs. Tatsuki, Tatsuki Hayato, and Saki are ordinary people; but the real 'monk' of the mountain god Ryuji, although he only has one move, 'Fudo Myo-o Mantra', is extremely effective against these evil spirits, which is incomparable to other small-town superhumans who wield swords.

"Ok?"

As they fought and retreated, the town's police were taken aback.

He glanced casually into the alleyway beside him.
In the depths of the darkness, a figure holding a sharp knife and wearing a leather skirt around his chest was seen; he appeared to be a butcher.

Thump,

Swinging his baton, the policeman knocked an evil spirit away. Without thinking, he strode forward.

After running another dozen meters, the policeman's peripheral vision swept across another dark alley: there was another butcher's figure inside, the bloodstains on his leather skirt were clearly visible, and the gleaming butcher knife sent chills down his spine. Moreover, he was much closer to the group, but as the group moved forward quickly, he disappeared from sight again.

Is it the same evil spirit?

The thought had barely crossed the police officer's mind when he instinctively turned his head to look in the other direction:
However, in a small alley, the butcher was already only a few meters away from them: they could clearly see his face, which was covered in scars and covered in fleshy muscles, as well as his eyes, which were fixed on them like those of a hungry wolf, and the blood-stained butcher's knife he was holding high.

? !
Three times in a row, the butcher appeared in different directions and positions; such a nightmarish scene made the policeman's hair stand on end, and he dared not look to the left or right. He immediately withdrew his gaze and kept his eyes fixed on the front.

But the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he became, and the stronger his sense of unease became, prompting the policeman to glance to his side again.

"what!!"

That one glance sent a heart-wrenching scream through him.

Because the butcher was already inches away, almost face to face! Amidst the butcher's twisted and ferocious smile, the blood-soaked, chilling butcher's knife in his hand slashed down towards him.

Pfft

"what happened?"

At the front of the line, the refined-looking doctor turned around.

In his eyes, the 'policeman' in the group suddenly screamed and fell to the ground, blood gushing from his open mouth, but there were no obvious external injuries.

"Those wolf-level evil spirits have made their move."

Jiu Kong Yao Ai glanced slightly behind her, her golden eyes narrowing into vertical slits. Wolf-level evil spirits possess various bizarre 'supernatural abilities'; these abilities, born from the remnants of human souls, are incredibly diverse: their lethality can surge under certain conditions, or become useless for various reasons.

"Speed ​​up the pace!"

As the doctor sped up, he pulled several gleaming scalpels from under his coat.

The scalpel was held between his fingers and swung forward like a claw.

puff,

An evil spirit appeared out of nowhere.

Immediately afterwards, three cut marks appeared on the evil spirit's body, extending from its head to its feet!
Without giving the evil spirit he had 'sliced' a second glance, the doctor strode forward. To prepare for this day, he had consulted countless ancient texts and done many things that violated the professional ethics of a doctor. Now, there was no turning back.

He doesn't need to look back!
With a gentle push, Jiu Kongyao Ai floated forward.

With her Tiger-level strength, she could move freely even in the 'Yomihirasaka'.

It's impossible to encounter extraordinary enemies every time you go out. Those special evil spirits can't shake the little girl's heart full of hatred.

However, unexpected events occurred at the rear of the group.

"child."

A familiar voice called from behind, reaching the tram driver's ears; it was his mother's voice.

Mother?

No, it's the power of evil spirits!
He almost instinctively turned around, but luckily he reacted in time and only broke out in a cold sweat.

Why are you in such a hurry?

The voice changed again, becoming that of the high school girl he had been frequently "helping" lately; her youthful, clear voice was mixed with gasps and moans, captivating the heart.

Humph,
Do you really think I'm a fool?
The tram driver cursed inwardly, ignored it, and kept running forward.

"Ouch."

Just then, the sound of the old town mayor's footsteps came from behind.

"Give me a hand, I twisted my ankle."

After all, he was the town mayor. He subconsciously turned around and reached out to help the tram driver.

His opponent's hand pressed down on his shoulder, icy cold!

The 'old mayor' lowered his head and pulled his hand away.

With that push and pull, the tram driver felt a bit dizzy and couldn't quite tell which way was which, but since there were 'people' all around him, he just kept running with his head down.

"Hey, where are you running to?!"

As the school security guard, wielding a long stick, shouted, the tram driver suddenly broke out of the line and ran headlong into the horde of evil spirits beside him.

"Never mind him, he's been infected—"

The old town mayor's gaze swept across the area and he noticed the tram driver's cloudy eyes.

"Focus your attention, fight your way out of here!"

However, this is easier said than done.
"mom?!"

A housewife stumbled out from the frantically running group, clearly also bewitched by the evil spirit.

"Yūjin, don't go!"

"Damn it, calm down!"

Saki and Yamagami Ryuji grabbed Tatsuki Hayato from the left and right, respectively, and dragged him forward. Before Tatsuki Hayato could struggle, two barefoot servants in short clothes with cloth wrapped around their heads rushed over carrying a palanquin called a 'Kagaku'.

In island nations, the palanquin is not positioned above the pole, but below it.

This results in the 'cage' being only a dozen centimeters off the ground, and with the cramped space, it looks like a 'coffin'.

As the two servants opened the 'riding cage', Mrs. Chenyue blankly crawled inside and was immediately lifted up and disappeared like the wind, leaving Chenyue Yongren, who had his mouth agape, feeling weak all over.

If it weren't for his two childhood friends supporting him, he would have collapsed in the underworld, completely disoriented.

Brush, brush, brush

His long sword slashed repeatedly, like dazzling flashes of lightning.

It was only the gloomy girl named 'Yukino' who, with her sword in hand, forced the surrounding evil spirits to retreat, preventing the team from collapsing.

But as more and more evil spirits surged in, it seemed they were about to give up:

"roll--"

With a childish, cold snort, Jiu Kong shook his feet, and venomous snakes spread out in all directions.

The venomous snakes slithered and spread, opening their mouths with two fangs: immediately new venomous snakes emerged from their mouths, and then these snakes also opened their mouths, giving the impression of 'sons begetting grandsons, grandsons begetting sons, and so on, endlessly'.

The Formation of Ten Thousand Serpents!
Thousands upon thousands of venomous snakes rapidly expanded, covering the stone ground of the underworld like a 'carpet,' and attacked the evil spirits.

Faced with these venomous snakes whose only instincts are to bite, entangle, and kill, most of the evil spirits' abilities targeting 'humans' became ineffective, and they were utterly routed and forced into the buildings.

"Miss Jiu Kong's strength is truly astonishing."

The evil spirits were driven back, and the team's advance speed increased dramatically.

"That's because you haven't seen a true strongman."

Despite the doctor's genuine praise as he ran around, Jiu Kong Yao Ai's face remained completely unmoved. Just as she said, how could these extraordinary individuals hiding in the small town possibly know what true strength was!
The great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei, and that Yu-kun—what is my little strength compared to their earth-shattering techniques that can destroy the world with a mere wave of their hand?
However, being weak is not without its advantages.
His gaze swept over the doctor leading the way: This doctor has wolf-level strength, he is undoubtedly a weakling.

However, his research on 'resurrection' is unique.

"arrive!"

After running for an unknown amount of time, a bright light suddenly appeared before my eyes.

As the doctor spoke, they passed through an area comprised of numerous, disorganized buildings.

A colossal river appeared before them: spanning the Yellow Springs, rolling and surging; its waters vast and endless, possessing an indescribable magnificence.

With their limited vision, the people couldn't see where the river came from or where it ended; they didn't even know if the river had a 'other side'. If it weren't for its constant, rolling flow, they might have thought they were looking at a vast, boundless sea.

Moreover, the color of the river water was quite strange, a yellowish-green color, so yellow that it lacked any luster; in the boundless yellowish-green haze, there were always wisps of green water vapor rising, along with the sound of waves.

No, it wasn't the sound of waves!

Instead, it was desperate cries, helpless sighs, and final curses that kept reaching everyone's ears, causing these souls to tremble and tremble.

"This is"

The old town mayor subconsciously took a step forward and looked closely.

In the boundless yellow-green river, countless incomplete and grotesque people, beasts, birds, and fish were struggling and howling, with countless arms desperately grabbing for help. It was as if countless souls were floating in it: the river stretched as far as the eye could see, layer upon layer, and their number was unknown.

Hundreds of billions? Hundreds of billions? Or hundreds of millions?

"This is the Sanzu River,"

The doctor took over the conversation, while placing his hand on the old mayor's shoulder.

"What I promised you will be fulfilled soon."

After saying that, he suddenly clenched his five fingers into the spirit body.

brush,

With a wave of his hand,
The old town mayor was thrown forward and fell into the rolling river.

(End of this chapter)