Shota is surrounded by monsters!

Kyokotsu stabbed a nail into one of Shota's front paws, which was flailing about anxiously, and then raised a small hammer and smashed it down!

"Ah!"

Shota let out a painful cry. He could barely bear it if it were a regular nail, but the hammer blows with a pain that strikes straight to his soul. Even though Shota considers himself to be thick-skinned, he can't help but wail under such an attack.

"That's really beautiful."

Seeing that Kyokotsu had driven the second nail into Taotie's claws, Hagoromo Gitsune released her grip. Looking at Shota, who was now nailed to the pillar, she said with satisfaction, "In all my years, this is the first time I've ever seen such a precious work of art."

"……snort……"

When the third nail was driven in, Shota's eyes were calm, and he only let out a muffled groan before falling silent.

"It's done! How was that, my dear sister!"

Once all four nails were in place, Shota was pinned to the wall in a spread-eagle position. Kyokotsu excitedly turned to Hagoromo Gitsune, boasting, "Next, we'll sew his mouth shut, right?"

"Yes. I'm leaving it to you..."

Hagoromo Gitsune seemed a bit tired and didn't want to waste any more energy on Shota, so she returned to the Blackwater Pool. Meanwhile, Kyokotsu skillfully picked up a needle and thread and sealed Shota's mouth shut, as he hadn't uttered a sound or even made a shout.

"Boring."

Seemingly finding no reaction from the other party unremarkable, Kyokotsu muttered something, then, feeling bored, apologized to Hagoromo Gitsune and left the room.

From that moment on, only Hagoromo Gitsune, who was bathing in the black pool with her eyes closed and resting, and Shota, who was nailed to the wall and had his mouth sealed.

Can you hear me?

—I can hear you, but you've really been played to death.

As expected, Shinobu's voice echoed in Shota's mind. He glanced warily at the Hagoromo Gitsune, and finding that he hadn't discovered his little secret, he calmed himself and spoke to the Shinobu inside him:

Is there any way to get me into that black pool?

The black liquid that Hagoromo Gitsune was bathing in was a product of the demonic energy gathered from Kyoto. It was indeed a great tonic for Hagoromo Gitsune and her unborn child, and similarly, it was the best tonic for Shota to restore his strength.

The existence that Hagoromo Gitsune was unaware of—Shinobu—was her greatest trump card.

Although even if she drained all her blood, she could not return to the form of the strange killer who made all monsters fear her, she could still do some minor tricks without any problem.

—It's a little difficult; that fox is watching you closely.

Shinobu's tone wasn't particularly anxious. Although she was also upset to see her son being played with like this, she knew that Shota, who had inherited her incredible regenerative abilities, would be completely unaffected by such injuries if an external force were used to remove them.

Xiao Ren used to often smash things with her head, sometimes even breaking half of her head in the process.

—So, all we can do is wait for an opportunity?

—It's best not to waste too much time, or I'll become weak in a few days if I don't get a chance to suck your blood.

After giving Shota a warning, Shinobu stopped talking. At this moment, she didn't want to waste any more time unless absolutely necessary.

"Why……"

After about half an hour of silence, Hagoromo Gitsune's slightly strange whispers suddenly woke up Shota, who had almost fallen asleep.

"I...will stay here..."

Shota opened his eyes and looked around, only to find Hagoromo Gitsune staring at him with a bewildered expression. But after a few seconds, she slowly lowered her head again, and when she raised it once more, her eyes had regained their icy coldness.

"Too slow... My liver... I can't take it anymore..."

Shota stared in astonishment at Hagoromo Gitsune, who appeared completely different before and after. What was even more terrifying was that she seemed to completely ignore the two whispers from before.

"Lord Hagoromo Gitsune! The liver has arrived!"

Just then, the door was pushed open again, and Kyokotsu, along with a group of little monsters, brought over all the "food".

The so-called food is simply living, young women...

"no, do not want……"

"Someone, please save us..."

"Why, why..."

There were seven women, the youngest still wearing a primary school uniform and the oldest no more than twenty-four or twenty-five. They were captured by a group of monsters and inexplicably brought here, with no idea what their fate would be.

"Ugh..."

The youngest girl couldn't hold back her tears, and upon hearing the cries, Hagoromo Gitsune seemed to be drawn towards her.

"Stop crying."

Hagoromo Gitsune placed her hand on the little girl's head and gently stroked it. The little girl seemed to be seeing such a beautiful person for the first time, and she was clearly stunned after seeing Hagoromo Gitsune's appearance.

People will grasp at any straw.

Sensing that the person in front of her seemed different from the one who had captured her, the little girl quickly hugged Hagoromo Gitsune's leg.

"It's fine."

Hagoromo Gitsune reached out and picked up the little girl. Looking at her doll-like face so close to his, he whispered, "It's alright."

"Are you really... alright?"

For some reason, the little girl stopped crying and blinked at Hagoromo Gitsune.

"Um……"

After nodding, Hagoromo Gitsune gently pressed her crimson lips to the little girl's lips.

Glug-glug-glug

The little girl suddenly fell down like a rag doll.

"That's so nice..."

Hagoromo Gitsune licked the blood from the corner of her mouth, ran her fingers across her face, and said with a hint of enjoyment, "A child's internal organs..."

"ah!!!"

Seeing this, the others finally realized what the impending outcome was and couldn't help but scream.

The Feathered Fox has a fondness for eating human livers.

No matter how beautiful and charming she was, it could not conceal even a little bit of her soul, which had become a demon.

Shota slowly closed his eyes; he couldn't bear to watch any longer, but the girls' painful screams continued to echo in his ears.

I will absolutely... kill you!

This was the first time Shota had ever felt such a strong urge to eliminate a target.

Hagoromo Gitsune clearly sensed Shota's killing intent. She sneered and forcefully kissed the last surviving girl. Within seconds, the girl collapsed to the ground.

"Gudu."

After swallowing the fresh liver, Hagoromo Gitsune slowly walked up to Shota, dabbed the blood from the corner of her mouth with her finger, and then slowly wrote the character "正" (zhèng) and the first two strokes of "正" on his abdomen.

"Seven people?"

Hagoromo Gitsune looked at Shota, whom she was using as a counting board, and said happily, "I wonder how many tally marks will be etched on your belly before you were born..."

Shota... said nothing.

"Drag these people away. Whoever wants to eat them can just eat them. Prepare the next batch of raw livers in five hours..."

I will absolutely... absolutely... never forgive you.

Hagoromo Gitsune!

Chapter 145. Shota's Rescue Plan

"This...is Kyoto..."

"Hey, what happened to Kyoto?!"

Above the sky, on several floating treasure ships, numerous monsters of all sizes were looking at the city before them, which was still shrouded in darkness even though it was already morning, and they expressed their astonishment.

"It didn't turn back..."

Standing at the very front of the treasure ship was Yariku, whose hair was a mix of black and white. The demonic energy in Kyoto had become so thick that it completely obscured the sun.

"Little Lord……"

"I know."

Kurotabo stepped forward and asked a question, while Rikuo simply nodded and said, "Prepare to find a place to land!"

"Oh! Is the fight finally about to start? Kyoto yokai... this is really something to look forward to!"

Some of the new-faced monsters gathered to one side seemed somewhat excited.

These people were all powerful helpers that Rikuo brought from Tono.

"What exactly happened...?"

Lu Sheng's eyes were filled with caution. He had set off last night and arrived in Kyoto this morning, but he felt that things had completely gone wrong.

"Kurotabo, go contact Shota-san. That guy's probably hiding somewhere slacking off right now; it's time to give him some exercise."

As soon as Lu Sheng finished giving his instructions, the treasure ship suddenly began to shake violently.

"boom--"

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

As Rikuo looked at the flying monster army that suddenly blocked his way, he slowly placed his hand on the hilt of Miyagi-maru.

“Miss…this is just an ordinary abandoned well, there’s nothing inside.”

The masked maid climbed out of the well, dusted herself off, and reported to her mistress.

"So white!"

Upon hearing this, Rea looked at Mashiro, whose ahoge (cowlick) was pointing straight at the well, and called out her name somewhat angrily.

"Waaah!"

Hearing Rea's slightly angry voice, Mashiro immediately covered her head in a defensive posture.

"never mind……"

Rea wouldn't really blame Mashiro. She ruffled Mashiro's hair and said, "Let's go back to Kyoto and find a place to rest for a while. That idiot Shota-kun must already be hiding somewhere in Kyoto, right?"

"Um……"