How did I, an Onmyoji, become the Lord of Yokai?

The source of the Sai River is a circle, and those who are inside it are within this circle. No matter where they go, the final result is always the same: they return to the farthest point.

...I inexplicably returned to square one.

Reiko went in alone to explore the source of the Sai River, but found nothing and ended up outside.

From that moment on, Reiko noticed the danger level of the source of the Sei no Kagawa River.

Since there's no way to get out, we have to find a way out.

Fortunately, there are very few evil spirits outside, so even if Reiko and Yoko keep a little distance from him, there is no problem.

So the three of them worked together to try to find a way out.

But an hour later...

"Still can't find it...?"

After walking around the circle several times, Shimizu Asahi couldn't help but sigh. He leaned against a big tree and rubbed his head.

He searched very carefully for a way out, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find a way to leave.

In the span of an hour, a year has probably passed outside!

This is really troublesome.

"Damn it, no wonder my sister calls this place the most dangerous place, even Yama doesn't dare to set foot here easily."

"Don't worry, Chaoyang, we'll definitely find a way out. There's no place in the world without a way out. If we haven't found one yet, it just means we haven't discovered the secrets of it."

Reiko softly comforted Shimizu Asahi, but there was also a hint of anxiety in her eyes.

No one wants to experience something like a dream that lasts a hundred years.

I need to hurry... Chapter 509, Section 512: What the heck? I'm in such a rush!

Time flies, and another hour has passed in the blink of an eye.

Shimizu and Asahi still found nothing. This world seemed completely separated from the outside world, or perhaps it was a one-way passage, where one could only go in but not come out.

They are now like a deserted island in a vast ocean, with no way out.

"This is troublesome...this is really troublesome."

Rubbing his head in distress, even though Shimizu Asahi had experienced a lot, he still couldn't help but feel worried and nervous in this situation.

Before he knew it, several years had passed in the outside world, but he still hadn't gained anything here.

What should he do?

"...Reiko, if it's Enma, can you find a way out?"

Unconsciously, Shimizu Asahi looked at the Little Mermaid and tentatively asked the question.

"I don't know... When we came in, the Spider Lily warned us that this place was dangerous, and even Enma dared not set foot here easily. Although she said that Enma had also been here before, we don't know how she got out."

Reiko thought for a moment and then answered: "According to her, Enma was inside for a full half hour, but the time at the source of the Seizure River is completely different from the time outside, so no one knows how long Enma stayed inside."

"It could be half an hour, or it could be hundreds of years."

"Is that so...?"

The young man murmured softly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

If that's the case, does that mean Enma has a way to get out of here?

My sister is getting anxious waiting for me. She's probably going back to ask Yama for help. Maybe if we wait a little longer, we'll be able to get rescued?

"..."

No... how could that be?

A hint of helplessness appeared on his face. Given his sister's patience, she would have been unable to wait two or three days after he entered, and would have been looking for Enma. In other words, Enma and his sister had followed him in shortly after he stepped in.

Given the size of the source of the Sai River, once they enter, the two sides can meet up as quickly as possible.

Unless, of course, Yama himself didn't know how to get out, which is why he didn't set foot here.

But... what about my older sister?

A hint of doubt quietly surfaced in her heart, and before she knew it, Qingshui Chaoyang's anxious heart calmed down.

No matter what danger you encounter, don't be too anxious; believe that you can overcome it.

Only by thinking calmly can we find the key to the problem.

Just like now.

My sister can't possibly wait a hundred or two hundred years. In other words, Enma would be too afraid to step in because he doesn't know how to get out, but my sister wouldn't. She will definitely come in.

The only reason she didn't come in was that the passage of time outside wasn't much different from the passage of time inside the source of the River of Slaughter.

Or perhaps... time is actually passing more slowly for them than for the outside world.

"...Right! How could I have forgotten that?"

"I never expected to make such a serious mistake... Fortunately, it's not too late to realize it."

The boy rubbed his face in delight, the oppression in his heart quietly disappearing, and a feeling of lightness welled up from the depths of his heart.

The darkness dissipated silently, and the previously blocked thoughts suddenly became clear.

"Chaoyang?"

Reiko and Yoko exchanged a glance at Shimizu Asahi's sudden smile, both noticing a hint of strangeness in each other's eyes.

Why is my husband still smiling at this time?

"Sorry... I just thought of something."

"We don't need to rush the way out, at least not like we are now."

Shimizu Asahi shared his guess with his two wives and whispered, "We still have time."

“I see... Our time flows like a hundred years in a day, but your time flows differently, Chaoyang. So, our reunion has caused the source of the Sai River to readjust its time.”

"This is a rare piece of good news."

Ye Zi lowered her head and murmured, her inner emotions relaxing slightly.

"But even so, we have no way out..."

The soft words silenced the three of them once again.

Yes, the fact that time is passing more slowly doesn't mean they can get out. The biggest problem troubling them is still unsolved.

"...Sunrise, Leaf, what if...we went down the Sanzu River?"

At that moment, Reiko suddenly looked at the Sanzu River to the side.

The sudden words startled the two, who instinctively replied, "Didn't we already cross the Sanzu River?"

But the moment the words left their mouths, the two of them seemed to realize something, and their expressions changed drastically.

"Wait, Reiko, do you mean you're going to go down to the Sanzu River!?"

"No! I absolutely won't allow it! This is too dangerous!"

The boy stood up almost instantly and expressed his opposition without hesitation.

Stepping into the Sanzu River... that's blatant suicide!

This is a river that even the dead cannot escape once they step into it. Even though Reiko is a mermaid princess with the power to control the sea, she cannot control this river. The only outcome for anyone who steps into it is death!

Even if Reiko says she has a way to save her life, he will never allow her to take such a risk!

"But Chaoyang, this is the only way to leave here."

The only connection between the source of the Sei no Rikuri River and the outside world is the Sanzu River. If the passage into this place is one-way, then the Sanzu River flowing out of this place is another one-way passage.

If she steps into the Sanzu River, perhaps she can guide them to leave this place!

"No! Absolutely not, Reiko. You should know my personality. I won't let you take risks, and I certainly won't let you help me this way."

"I'll think of another way,"

The boy looked at the girl earnestly, his seriousness and solemnity conveying his determination. Lingzi wanted to say something, but after seeing his gaze, she hesitated for a moment and then chose to keep her mouth shut.

“That’s good... We’ll definitely get out, even if we don’t use this method. So, drop this idea, okay, Reiko?”

"..."

After a moment of quiet silence, Reiko finally nodded, indicating that she understood.

However, she knows now, and if there's really no other way, she wouldn't mind forgetting this nod.

"Alright, let's rest for a bit. Since there's no rush right now, we don't need to be too anxious. Let's rest for the night and think of something tomorrow."

Asahi Shimizu let out a soft sigh, laughing as he dispelled the chill in the air and prepared to rest. Reiko and Yoko didn't object; they were indeed quite tired these past two days and a rest would be good for them.

But just then, a faint figure suddenly appeared behind Shimizu Asahi... Chapter 513: The Shrine Maidens' Protection

"This is...!?"

The sudden appearance of the figure attracted everyone's attention, and Shimizu Asahi and the other two almost instantly focused their gaze on the figure.

She was a woman, very beautiful and approachable.

Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her delicate face wore a gentle smile, just like the girl next door.

She was dressed in a red and white shrine maiden outfit, with white foot covers under her skirt and ordinary wooden clogs on her feet.

The thought of a shrine maiden flashed through Shimizu Asahi's mind almost instantly.

Only a shrine maiden would dress like this, and only she would give the impression that she was born to wear this outfit.

But... Reiko and Yoko were puzzled as to why the shrine maiden's spirit would appear here.

Moreover, it has not yet turned into an evil spirit.

—The witch before me is a ghost, because her figure is so ethereal that she looks almost transparent. Anyone who isn't a fool can tell that she is just a ghost.

However, after a priestess dies, she is guided by a spirit messenger to the underworld to be reincarnated, so she could not possibly come here.

Even after coming here... why wasn't she corrupted by the deathly aura here and turned into a demon?