I'm a demon in Tokyo!

Chapter 278 The Former Divine Child of the Nanjo Clan! The Entrance to the Jizo Statue Opens, the "Divine Treasure" of the Hozoin School

Under Nanjo Manami's gaze, the monk's marble-like, well-built body was covered with gruesome wounds, from which thick, mercury-like blood dripped.

"I apologize for soiling your office, Nanjo."

Huijue breathed a sigh of relief and smiled sheepishly: "It's nothing, it's just that this humble monk's skills are not good enough, and I was scratched a few times by a great demon in the mortal world."

The monk shook his head: "It's just a minor injury; Benefactor Nanjo need not worry about it too much."

Nanjo Manami could not possibly turn a blind eye to this.

She glanced thoughtfully at the Ksitigarbha statue in Huijue's arms, which was radiating light and exuding rich vow power, and raised a finger.

Basic healing techniques were applied to Huijue's body, soothing the superficial wounds, but several deep, bone-revealing injuries remained.

"My amateurish healing skills are indeed not very effective."

Nanjo Aimi tapped her fingers again.

So the Onmyoji who remained in the Special Affairs Department building, specializing in healing techniques, suddenly saw characters formed from spiritual energy before his eyes.

After finishing what she could do, Nanjo Manami asked, still puzzled,

“If there’s nothing else… Master Huijue, what are you going to the mortal realm for? If a being who is almost a ‘Buddha’ goes there, those great demons would love to skin you alive, pull out your tendons, and boil you for forty-nine days to make a pot of great medicine.”

Huijue was about to speak, but after looking around, he didn't see the figure he was looking for, so he asked,
"By the way, where is Uesugi?"

"This humble monk has come here to personally return this Jizo statue to Uesugi."

Huijue calmly said, "This is an agreement I made with him personally because I was delayed due to personal reasons."

Nanjo Manami gave a "I knew it" look and gently closed her eyes: "He was just breaking through, I'll call him out."

Upon hearing this answer, Huijue immediately understood the reason for the unusual spiritual energy fluctuations in most of the Arakawa district, as well as the dense, sometimes bright, sometimes dim gazes directed at him.

Such a massive surge of spiritual energy...

A look of surprise flashed across Huijue's eyes.

In just over ten days, Uesugi-kun has made such great progress?

"Then, Lord Nanjo, you need this humble monk..."

Nanjo Ai-mi, unusually, interrupted Eikaku's words: "Master, there is no need to trouble yourself. You can receive treatment here."

She said calmly, "As for those insignificant scoundrels, just look at them and let them go."

"If any guy really does have the nerve to reach out his claws, then he can forget about ever pulling them back in his life."

Huijue stared at Nanjo Ai, who had raised her index finger, for a moment, then clasped his hands together and sat down cross-legged in the small pool of blood.

"Good."

……

"Long Er, it seems we're not very popular with the locals."

Tokugawa Motoyasu chuckled as he gazed in the direction of the Arakawa Ward Special Affairs Office building.

Standing behind the old man, like a devoted bodyguard, Tokugawa Ryuji did not reply.

He placed his hand on the hilt of the sword, his expression solemn as he sensed the fluctuations of spiritual energy in the world, and felt the wisp of thought he had released being cut off and crushed without any resistance.

And it wasn't just him, but hundreds or thousands of thoughts from different directions, with different strengths and forces.

They were all wiped out in that instant.

Nanjo Manami truly lived up to her reputation.

I had previously heard that she was a demon who broke through after the wave, but now that I look at her, she doesn't seem like it at all.
If that's true, then her rate of progress is simply unreasonable...

But after a moment's pause, Tokugawa Ryuji felt that such a pace of progress was only natural.

After all, she was once the most precious treasure of the Nanjo family. It would be abnormal if she could be measured by the rules and regulations of ordinary people based on their experience.

In silence, Tokugawa Ryuji glanced at the cane lying on the ground out of the corner of his eye.

Facing off against Nanjo Manami would be one of the worst possible outcomes.

……

Prior to this, on a rooftop in Shinjuku Ward.

"Xiao Kui, what brings you all of a sudden to the rooftop?"

"Shh—Saito-nii, don't speak."

After the boy spoke, Saito Ryuichi, who had just caught up, remained silent, waiting for the boy to give his answer.

Takizawa Kai closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He concentrated and compressed all his spirit and attention into a single line, which extended towards the Arakawa Ward by the flow of spiritual energy from heaven and earth.

Takizawa Kai's precise perception of the direction of spiritual energy made his ability to perceive over long distances a reality.

But soon, he let out a heavy groan, his highly concentrated energy and spirit suddenly dissipated, and he couldn't even control the spiritual energy around him. He collapsed to the ground, his face pale.

"Well!"

"Little Kui!"

Saito Ryuichi rushed forward and supported Takizawa Kai, who was seeing stars.

The silent Minamoto Shizumi rubbed the hilt of Hotarumaru's sword with her thumb, feeling rather puzzled—she didn't sense anything unusual about her surroundings.

"Yes... Nanjo Manami."

A dozen seconds later, Takizawa Kai suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with terror as he gasped for breath: "It was she who caused the large-scale spiritual energy fluctuation in Arakawa Ward just now..."

"She was the one who severed my sensory connection before I could even react!"

"So, Xiao Kui, you came up to the rooftop because you noticed what happened in Arakawa Ward..."

Saito Ryuichi first realized, then covered his forehead and sighed, "Since it's such a distant matter, let's not worry about it. Look, now we have to spend another day recuperating, and the elimination rounds are just around the corner."

"It's not like this……"

Takizawa Kai shook his head weakly: "I sensed that many people had done this first, which is why I wanted to find out. But I didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, all the prying eyes would fail."

Saito Ryuichi was taken aback, then heard Takizawa Kai murmur a question.
"How can she be so strong when they are both Yin-Yang elementalists?"

The experiences of the weak may lead to the same end, but the lives of the strong are full of wonders.

God knows how Nanjo Manami became so amazing.

Yuan Jingshui muttered to herself.

“The Yin-Yang Great Category?” Saito Ryuichi shook his head directly. “Kui, you’re wrong.”

The current head of the Saito family said, "Nanjo Manami is the 'divine child' of the Nanjo family, and she is a unique figure among all the divine children throughout history."

It would be problematic if she weren't strong.

Son of God...?
Yuan Jingshui's expression shifted slightly, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on the hilt of his knife.

—At the same time, after countless thoughts and gazes from all over Tokyo's 23 wards were simultaneously cut off, the name "Nanjo Manami," following the photograph that heralded the arrival of the new era, once again entered the field of vision for many.

……

"Nanjo-nee, you called me here... Master Huijue?"

The moment Uesugi Tetsu entered the office, he smelled an extremely strong, yet strangely fragrant, stench of blood.

The taste of blood mingled with the aroma, creating a strange and indistinguishable fusion.

Upon seeing Huijue being painstakingly treated by an Onmyoji, Uesugi Tetsu first glanced at the Jizo statue in Huijue's arms, then met Huijue's gaze with a gentle smile.

"Mr. Uesugi, it's great to finally meet you."

The monk smiled and handed over the Jizo statue that Uesugi Tetsu knew very well: "Huijue is here, I'm returning the Jizo statue to you, benefactor."

Seeing Uesugi Tetsuya accept the Jizo statue with both hands, examining it closely and looking hesitant to speak, Huijue continued to speak with a smile.
“I have said that as long as you live, your Ksitigarbha statue will not be damaged in the slightest… I have done it.”

"As for those Sanskrit characters that are glowing above, I was fortunate enough to obtain a secret method at Hongan-ji Temple. This method can be used to further reduce the power of the vows within, and it will also make things easier for you, Uesugi, later."

"This injury I sustained was to sever my karmic ties with my master and enter the mortal realm; it has little to do with you, benefactor."

"Grandmaster……"

Uesugi Tetsu had so many things he wanted to say and ask, but in the end, they all coalesced into just four simple words.
"Many thanks."

Huijue's wounds, which reached the bone, were churning and healing with granulation tissue, a gruesome sight, yet he continued explaining with an unchanging expression.

"However, the Sanskrit is still flashing at this moment, which means that the power of the vow is being continuously reduced. When it dims, Uesugi will be able to probe into it with his mind."

Uesugi Tetsu nodded: "I understand."

He stroked the back of the Ksitigarbha statue with his fingertips and carefully and solemnly put it into his bosom.

"My lord... I will rescue you from inside unharmed."

"I promise."

Uesugi Tetsu said calmly and silently.

After finishing discussing the "serious business" about the Ksitigarbha statue, Huijue's demeanor became noticeably more relaxed.

The monk carefully examined Uesugi Tetsuya's body, and couldn't help but applaud in admiration, ignoring even the fact that some minor wounds had reopened.

"It's only been a few days, but Uesugi's strength has improved so much."

The changes in spiritual energy he had sensed before were merely "observations," but after actually seeing Uesugi Tetsu in person, Huijue truly realized the almost earth-shattering changes in this young man.

Perhaps the current Uesugi benefactor can test his skills against me and then emerge unscathed.

Uesugi Tetsu used his mind to make a Flame Seed emerge: "The knockout stage of the seeding battle is approaching, so we naturally need to make more preparations."

"In my humble opinion, if no one else makes much progress and no unexpected events occur, the champion of that battle is already obvious."

Huijue winked at him.

"Don't flatter me so much that I'll set another flag, Master." Uesugi Tetsu immediately planted a reverse flag for himself, "Maintaining fifth place is a victory."

"But speaking of accidents..."

Huijue paused for a moment and looked at Nanjo Ai.

The latter immediately understood and told the Onmyoji to step back, then waved his hand to set up several layers of anti-peeping barriers.

Huijue, who had waited patiently for a while, spoke with utmost seriousness.
"I have heard that the peerless genius of the Hozoin school, whom his disciples and the current head monk call a 'divinely bestowed treasure,' may come to Tokyo in a few days, probably related to the Seed Wars."

"As for whether this person will participate in the seeding battle, this humble monk does not know," Huijue said solemnly. "In any case, please be careful."

Could a peerless genius come to participate in the Eastern Conference seeding battle?

Uesugi Tetsuya was a little confused—generally speaking, most of those who belong to the category of super geniuses have already become gods or spirits, or belong to the previous generation and are not allowed to participate.

For example, Tokugawa Ryuji, Minamoto no Shizumizu's elder sister, and most of the top disciples of various schools and the first in line of succession to the Onmyoji families.

Nanjo Manami noticed his confusion and explained while looking at her phone.
"Because this legendary 'divine treasure' belonging to the Hozoin school of martial arts was only ten years old when the first wave arrived last month."

"Ten years old?"

Uesugi Tetsu blinked and exclaimed "Ah!"

A ten-year-old kid probably hasn't even reached puberty yet; his bones haven't even started growing. How could he possibly hold Hozoin's cross-shaped spear?

Do you really think everyone is Tokugawa Yugoro?
No, that's actually quite possible...

After all, the Hozoin school is a world-renowned school of spear fighting.

Its status in the spear fighting style is almost the same as that of the "Shinkage-ryu" in the sword fighting style, and even Uesugi Tetsu knows this very well.

The Hozoin-ryu spear technique is considered the pinnacle of spear fighting.

Founded by Hozoin Inei during the Edo period, it was famous for its mastery of the cross-shaped spear.

The cross spear, based on the standard spear, has crescent-shaped crossblades added to both sides of the blade, giving it a variety of complex attack methods.

The saying "Thrusting makes it a long spear, slashing makes it a naginata, cutting makes it a hooked sickle" describes the cross spear of the Hozoin school.

Not long after Uesugi Tetsuya learned the Plain Spear Technique, he also considered switching to the Hozoin School.

Unfortunately, the Hozoin school is, to some extent, a temple-like organization with strict rules, and he didn't have any connections within it.

As Uesugi Tetsuya learned more and more skills, there weren't enough hours in a day, so the matter was put on hold until now.

Therefore, the so-called "divine treasures" of martial arts and spear techniques are most likely not just for show, but actually exist.

The Hozoin school can't afford to lose face like this.

A prodigy who, at ten years old or even earlier, is already comparable to a god or a demon.

If he had been born in the Warring States period five hundred years ago, perhaps Kazumi Nobutsuna would have had one more worthy opponent; if he had been born ten years earlier, his name would probably have been as well-known as Minamoto Shizumi.

Unfortunately, the genius of the Hozoin school has been lying dormant until now, and is only now beginning to show his talent.

Therefore, he is destined not to be remembered.

Uesugi Tetsuya, who had just been beheaded by the young Uesugi Nobutsuna, rubbed his itchy hands and murmured to himself with a faint sense of anticipation.
"Now, I'm kind of looking forward to the day when I see this 'divine treasure'."

……

One day, or more accurately, most of the day later.

Uesugi Tetsuya, who was on the rooftop bathing in the moonlight with Ririko and discussing with great enthusiasm the order in which to open the acupoints for the next stage of the Myoga Breathing Technique, paused in his speech.

"Uh... Ririko, wait a moment."

Uesugi Tetsu carefully took out the small Jizo statue from his arms and used his hand to block out the silver moonlight that was streaming down from the sky.

He narrowed his eyes again.

They then discovered that the Sanskrit characters on the surface of the Ksitigarbha statue, which had originally been emitting a faint glow, had now completely dimmed.

This means that the entrance to the Ksitigarbha statue has been opened!
(End of this chapter)