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

—A... ink painting?

In the middle of the room, there was a table, and on the table was a traditional Chinese ink painting.

The source of the demonic aura is this ink painting.

"Ink painting... Could this monster be a painting demon?"

Qingshui Chaoyang blinked and looked at the ink painting with some curiosity.

As he looked at the painting, the girls began to explain its unusual features.

"It's a traditional Chinese ink painting. The paper is quite old, so it must have been stored for some time. The content of the painting is discontinuous. Although it looks like there are multiple paintings on one sheet of paper, these paintings are all connected."

"Moreover, although these paintings are done with delicate brushstrokes, there are many places where they are painted incorrectly... Rather than being done intentionally, it is more like the brush suddenly fell off halfway through the painting."

"The pen suddenly fell...was it because something happened to the person?"

As Shimizu Asahi listened to their words, she subconsciously said this.

But no sooner had he spoken than a cold voice came from behind him.

Who are you people?!

The six of them instinctively turned around in the direction of the sound, and the next moment, they saw a monster that was completely different from ordinary monsters.

Face like a mask, legs like folded paper, a paper fan in hand...

This is... a monster made of paper!? Chapter 769, Paper Dance

"A monster formed from paper?"

Shimizu Asahi raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Although he had seen many monsters, this was the first time he had ever seen a monster made of folded paper.

However, most of the monsters he had seen were normal monsters; none of them were monsters that evolved from objects.

"I see... It's a monster formed from human emotions."

After glancing at the paper dance, Ibuki's purple eyes fell on the ink painting on the table.

Although some parts were smudged with ink, they were still generally visible.

This ink painting actually depicts the experiences of the monster before our eyes.

"Master, this monster is called Paper Dance, and it was born from a painter named Jun."

"Before she became a yokai, she was the paper that Jun used to draw. Her owner, Jun, was obsessed with painting, and the paintings she created were so beautiful that even the emotionless and cold paper was attracted by the paintings. Eventually, she gradually evolved into a yokai."

"...Hehehe, the story in the picture seems even more interesting."

The first painting had already explained the origin of the paper dance, but Ibuki did not stop there, her purple eyes turning to the second painting.

After the paper transformed into a monster, Jun was not afraid of it; instead, he named it Paper Dance.

Paper Dance accompanied Chun as they explored every corner of the City of the Sun, recording its beauty with paper and pen.

Meanwhile, Paper Dance gradually discovers that she seems to have developed human emotions. She understands greed and is full of desires, no longer the blank slate she once was.

She knew that her changes were because of Chun, and that her feelings depended on Chun.

He brought about this change in himself.

In human terms, that means she fell in love with Jun.

However, just when Paper Dance thought she would continue living like this with Chun, Chun changed.

He fell in love with a girl from another city.

Chun left.

In order to pursue that girl and to dedicate his most beautiful paintings to her, he finally decided to leave the city.

However, before leaving, he said this to Paper Dance.

"I will come back, and I want to spend the rest of my life looking at your smile."

It was a beautiful promise, and Paper Dance believed in it.

She believed it was a very long, very long promise, a promise that for many years to come that neither she nor he would shed a tear.

But in the end, he did not return.

Paper Dance waited for a very long time, but he never returned. The unseen end was filled with waiting.

But even though she kept waiting, she didn't give up. Even though she couldn't see the end, she kept waiting.

But she was like a piece of paper. Without anyone else... without Chun by her side, she was afraid that she would forget Chun, forget every little detail of the past, and become the blank sheet of paper she was before, with nothing at all.

So she used her paintbrush to remember her thoughts and feelings every day, and before she knew it, so many years had passed.

This is the story of Paper Dance. Although it is somewhat mundane, it is touching.

Himiko sealed off the City of the Sun eight hundred years ago, but the story of Kami and Jun dates back even further, eight hundred years earlier.

After the only person who stayed by her side left, she stayed here, never leaving and never forgetting.

She has been waiting all along.

"Have you never forgotten that man in eight hundred years?"

"He's a very devoted person..."

After hearing the story, A-Li's dark eyes couldn't help but reveal a trace of pity.

She hadn't experienced the agony of liking someone but being unable to be by their side, or even to look at them, but she knew it must be an extremely agonizing experience.

What's even more unacceptable is that the person Paper Dance loves doesn't love her at all.

He promised to come back and spend the rest of his life seeing her smile, but he was gone for more than eight hundred years.

Perhaps he died a long time ago, but that cannot deny the fact that he abandoned the paper dance.

"If you're so devoted, why don't you go find that person?"

A faint emotion flickered in Lingzi's pale yellow eyes.

She seemed to feel sorry for the paper dance, or perhaps she was angry at the man.

"You've been able to live within the barrier of this City of the Sun for eight hundred years, which means you must have the ability to escape reincarnation. If you can escape reincarnation, then leaving here should be a very simple matter."

"Why don't you go find him?"

"..."

The atmosphere changed somewhat. Although Paper Dance's face was like a mask, making it impossible to see her current emotions, the aura surrounding her made it clear that she was feeling emotional.

It was a heavy, timid atmosphere.

"I'm scared..."

Her voice was low and deep.

"Countless years have passed, and even if Lady Himiko has not yet sealed off the City of the Sun, I dare not go to Jun."

"Chun has probably already married the girl he loves. My appearance as a monster in front of them would only disturb them and create burdens for them."

"Besides... I'd rather live alone here than watch his other half paint."

"..."

It's somewhat humble, but very real. Paper Dance's thoughts evoke both pity and anger!

This monster, which came from paper, happened to fall in love with this human.

If Chun doesn't like Zhi Wu and only considers her a friend, then they have no right to say anything, since he's just pursuing the person he likes.

But why did he say all that to Paper Dance before leaving?

He made an impossible promise, leaving a girl who had finally found love to suffer endlessly in this endless cycle of reincarnation.

This Chun is not a good person!

Although Qingnvfang and Yezi are both relatively calm people and don't readily comment on the matter, they both silently labeled Chun as a scumbag who deceived girls.

Shimizu Asahi sighed softly, but didn't say much.

He sat down on the wooden chair in front of the wooden table and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, I don't know what to say to comfort you. In fact, you shouldn't need anyone's comfort after waiting here for eight hundred years."

"but......"

He still wanted to say something.

After all, it was they who tore open the wounds of this monstrous girl's sorrow.

"It's nothing, I've already let it go."

"Instead of talking about that, why don't you tell me your purpose!" Chapter 770: A Shrine?

Perhaps because of the conversation just now, or perhaps because of the sighs and lamentations of Shimizu Asahi and the others, Paper Dance's attitude towards them improved somewhat. She was no longer the one who coldly asked them where they came from as soon as they came out.

She looked at them, and the previously silent and solemn atmosphere returned to normal.

Upon hearing this, Shimizu Asahi and the others exchanged a glance and then composed themselves.

"Although it's not appropriate to talk about these things now, since you've asked, I won't hide it from you."

"Miss Paper Dance...you should know that we are from outside, right?"

"We came here for some reason to fight Himiko, and we are now looking for a way to defeat Himiko."

"I sensed Ms. Paper Dance's demonic aura earlier, so I came here..."

The boy stopped speaking there and didn't continue, but Paper Dance roughly understood what was going on.

"So, your goal is to make me your ally and fight against Lady Himiko?"

"If that's the case, then please leave. I can't be of any help to you."

The paper fan closed gently, and Paper Dance pointed to the open door, indicating that they could leave.

"Does Miss Paper Dance intend to stay here forever?"

Shimizu Asahi knew that it wouldn't be so easy to get Paper Dance on board, so he didn't pay attention to Paper Dance's order to leave. Instead, he continued to sit there and tried to persuade Paper Dance.