Crossover: A Different Inuyasha.

Under the old locust tree at the village entrance, walk along the ridges into the depths of the fields, passing through low hills, and at the end of your vision lies a deep blue lake.

The lake was wide and flat, with a deep blue color, and the aquatic plants near the shore were slightly bent by the evening breeze.

The villagers lined up, carrying bamboo pallets on which were placed rice cakes, salted dried fish, several jars of rice wine sealed with red cloth, and seasonal fruits and vegetables tied with straw.

Leading the way were the village's elderly residents. When they reached the polished bluestone platform by the lake, the group stopped.

"Everyone, please be quiet."

Following the old man's instructions, the villagers placed the offerings on a small boat on one side of the bluestone platform, then bent down, their foreheads pressed against the cool stone, and waited quietly.

This is a sacred ceremony in which the village worships the water god. It is performed every year and passed down from generation to generation, and it has always blessed the village with good weather and abundant harvests.

The wind swept across the water, rippling it in circles. Several water birds skimmed across the lake and then flew away in an instant.

The sky slowly darkened, and a thin layer of orange-red light shone at the edges of the clouds.

Suddenly, a string of bubbles rose to the surface of the lake.

At first, there were only a few scattered bubbles, but then more and more of them appeared, becoming denser and denser, as if something was rising underwater.

The water rippled outwards, shattering the reflected clouds and sunlight. Then, several figures emerged from the water.

Those were several half-human, half-fish monsters.

Its back was covered with scales of various colors, which gleamed with a moist, eerie light in the twilight.

A pair of clear, calm eyes gazed intently at the villagers and offerings on the shore.

The one at the very front looks like a carp spirit, or a chubby little girl, with its dorsal fin extending from the back of its neck all the way to the tip of its tail, opening and closing slightly as it swims.

"Respected messengers of the water god, this is the offering for this month. Please accept it."

The old man raised his head, looked at the messengers who had remained almost unchanged for more than a decade, and spoke in a clear voice.

The rest of the villagers remained kneeling on the ground, reverence flowing between their lowered eyelashes.

Only the next young village chief raised his head at the old man's prompting.

"I received the offerings."

The carp spirit nodded, its voice surprisingly clear and melodious.

She glanced at the old man and the young man, made a mental note of it, and then waved goodbye.

The fish demons behind them pushed the small boat carrying the offerings toward the center of the lake.

The lake gradually widened, and the fields and hills on the shore receded into the distance.

A deep red wooden pillar rises from the water, its crossbeams wrapped with shimenawa ropes glistening from the moisture, adorned with several newly hung paper pendants that flutter gently in the evening breeze.

The small boat passed through the torii gate.

The water ahead widened several times over, like a hidden channel concealed by reeds and mist that suddenly opened up.

At the edge of the water, a mansion belonging to the water god stands in the heart of the lake.

It was a spacious wooden building, its dark beams and pillars glistening with moisture.

The gray-tiled eaves curve slightly upwards at the four corners, like a waterbird resting with its wings folded.

The house is supported by wooden piles driven into the lakebed, and the entire building is about one person taller than the water surface.

Several unlit paper lanterns hung under the eaves, swaying gently in the twilight. The main gate was open, and warm light shone from inside.

The small boat approached the mansion's pier.

The fish demons emerged from the water, tied their small boats to the wooden stakes beside the pier, took out offerings from the boats, and walked along the pier towards the main gate.

The main seat is located in the north of the hall. Behind a low lacquered table is a thick futon, on which are placed newly offered sacrifices: rice cakes, salted fish, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and rice wine.

The water god sat gracefully behind the table, his posture elegant, like a half-bloomed lotus flower.

She had long, straight, jet-black hair that fell smoothly over her shoulders and back, adorned with red coral from the lake.

Her skin was fair and soft, with a translucent, porcelain-like texture.

A long, wide-sleeved robe in a purple and pink color scheme, in the style of ancient Chinese architecture, hugged her slender figure, with two long white ribbons hanging down from the sleeves.

After swallowing a piece of rice cake, the water god looked up at the fish demons standing on both sides of the main hall and said in a gentle and casual tone, "Everyone, please share the villagers' goodwill and don't waste it."

In the first seat below, a thin figure with a snake tail sat upright.

The snake demon was dressed in priest's robes, with a gaunt face, prominent cheekbones, and a pale complexion that was not normal.

His eyes were long and narrow, with amber pupils.

He stared at the offerings he had been given—a small dish of salted dried fish and a few pieces of rice cake.

Then, expressionless, he picked up a piece of rice cake, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.

The sweetness of the rice cake melted in his mouth, but the snake demon found it tasteless and had no interest whatsoever.

"We're all monsters, why are we eating human food? How boring."

The snake demon's gaze fell on the water god's profile, which was outlined softly by the lamplight, before it was quietly withdrawn.

The chewing motion remains unchanged; the tongue grinds the rice residue inside the mouth, as if using it to imagine another scene—

The taste of salt and blood, the sensation of a living creature struggling and trembling in the throat.

He tasted it and remembered the flavor.

He has climbed from a water snake to where he is today, swallowing many things along the way.

Compared to food made by humans, humans themselves are far more wonderful.

That was a gift from heaven to the monster.

"The gods are disqualified..."

The snake demon lowered its eyes, a faint, dark light flashing in them.

The power of the water god... it's time.

Whether it's offerings or protection, this woman has been in this position for far too long.

Over time, the fish demons became accustomed to living in harmony with humans, accepting monthly offerings and occasionally serving them.

Accustomed to the water god's perpetually gentle, calm, and unhurried demeanor—accustomed to living up to human expectations.

They're monsters!

Why should someone be scolded for eating a person?

Why should our kind be allowed to hunt freely, while we have to guard this lake and collect the scraps left over from humans?

The snake demon picked up another piece of rice cake, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly—just one last step away from reaching the summit!

"Don't rush, take it slow."

He has played the roles of servant and priest for many years, so a few more days won't make a difference.

"First, seal the water god inside the prepared cave, then seize the divine weapon, the Spear of Rain, and finally become a god who can command wind and rain!"

On the lake outside, dusk had completely fallen, and the night, like a curtain being drawn back, covered the sky with a deep, inky blue.

Dark clouds were gathering on the horizon, rolling and pressing towards the center of the lake.

Between the clouds, faint silvery-white flashes of electricity flickered and danced in the gaps.

Thunder is rolling in.

The sound was distant and muffled, like someone slowly beating a huge drum on the horizon.

Then it grew closer and louder—the wooden beams of the mansion trembled slightly, the paper lanterns hanging from them swayed, and their shadows swung back and forth between the pillars, scattering all the shadows in the hall.

The fish demons all raised their heads, their faces showing vigilance and unease.

The demonic aura that filled the heavens and earth was like an inverted tornado, pressing down from all directions!