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

The great Onmyoji, draped in a robe, was working with his head bowed.

As time went by, the number of times the monsters attacked humans increased. Moreover, the monsters were also getting stronger. Even if the students formed a team of three or four, it would be difficult for them to deal with the monsters alone.

The forces stationed in Heian-kyo are gradually becoming insufficient.

In addition, the Onmyoji sent out by various clans to investigate the situation have not yet returned. Heian-kyo has become like an isolated city, unable to communicate with the outside world or leave...

Kamo no Tadayuki, the strongest Onmyoji who has weathered many storms, has also begun to sense... the smell of war!

"We need to find out who's behind this..."

Kamo no Tadashi sighed softly.

But suddenly, an Onmyoji from the Kamo clan rushed in in a great panic.

The moment he flung open the door, he roared, "Master, it's terrible! The demons have begun their attack on Heian-kyo!!" (Chapter 63: The Red Demonic Aura on Mount Oe)

The moon in the sky was obscured by dark clouds at some point, and a heavy and oppressive atmosphere swept in with the wind from afar. Heian-kyo, which should have been asleep, was now running like a war machine.

Kamo no Tadashi stood atop the city wall, his resolute face displaying an unprecedented solemnity.

Before him stood an army.

A disorganized yet terrifying army!

—An army of monsters!

Beneath the massive city walls, an endless tide of yokai surged forth. The small and ordinary yokai that had been scattered around Heian-kyo had somehow gathered together.

Their eyes were bloodshot and they exuded malice. The terrifying demonic energy they gathered together was like a deep abyss, suffocating people!

On the human side, a massive barrier protecting Heian-kyo has been deployed, and the Onmyoji from various families have taken their positions. Once the yokai army launches an attack, they will immediately unleash a thunderous offensive!

War has truly come!

......

The night passed silently, and the sun rose again. Qingshui Chaoyang, who was staying at the village chief's house, opened his tightly closed eyes.

He crawled out of bed, instinctively yawned, and then smiled.

Good morning, Qingnufang.

The gentle voice startled the girl by the window. She turned her head slightly, her pale yellow eyes reflecting the somewhat dazed boy. Then, she nodded and replied, "Hmm... Good morning."

After a brief greeting, the two left the room.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, they rested for a while before packing their luggage and preparing to set off.

As for the protective barrier for the village, Shimizu Chaoyang set it up yesterday.

After leaving the village, the two headed west.

Perhaps because they were getting closer to Mount Ooe, Shimizu Asahi didn't encounter a single monster in the four villages they passed through.

Unexpectedly, the plan to 'capture the crimson demonic energy through those evil monsters and find the mastermind behind it' failed in this way.

"Speaking of which, isn't the gentleman being a bit too slow?"

On the way to the last village, the young student spoke up with some doubt.

According to Shimizu Asahi's initial plan, Kamo Tadashi would catch up with them the day before yesterday or yesterday.

They were also able to detect a wisp of blood-red demonic energy before Kamo no Tadashi arrived.

However, not only has the crimson demonic aura not been detected, but even Kamo no Tadashi has not arrived.

"Are you sure your paper cranes have reached Heian-kyo?" The blue-haired girl turned her head slightly and asked in a questioning tone.

"Although the spiritual energy wasn't abundant at the time, it was still enough to allow the paper cranes to fly safely to Heian-kyo..." Shimizu Asahi murmured, resting her chin on her hand. "Was something holding it back?"

"Do you think there's anything more important right now than finding out who's behind this?"

"Well... I don't know either, after all, I haven't received any news from Heian-kyo for several days."

At this point, the young student scratched his head and said with a hint of helplessness, "But it's alright, we've come here empty-handed, so even if the teacher came, it would just be a wasted trip."

"Was it a wasted trip...? At least, this matter is related to Mount Ooe."

With her eyes slightly narrowed, the blue-haired girl suddenly uttered a sentence that astonished the young students.

"Mount Oe? Why are you suddenly mentioning Mount Oe?"

“I remember that Oeyama has been very well-behaved these past few years, so how could he be involved in this matter?”

"Being well-behaved all these years doesn't mean you'll be well-behaved now." The girl stopped and raised her arm, pointing ahead. "See for yourself."

Shimizu Asahi looked in the direction the girl was pointing, and then, in the next moment, his eyes widened!

Before his eyes, above the mountains, a terrifying demonic aura, as thick as blood, permeated the air.

In that instant, a chill ran through him from the depths of his heart, and an indescribable tremor of fear spread throughout his body.

Without thinking or investigating, just one glance was enough for his biological instincts to desperately warn him—never go near there!

"What...what is that?!"

“The demonic aura you saw that night came from there.”

Qingnvfang calmly said, "And that place is the center of the Great River Mountains—Mount Oe!"

"Demonic aura... Is this... the power of the Demon King?"

As Qing Shui Chaoyang was being pulled from the river, he was panting heavily.

He wasn't sure how far he was from Mount Ooe, but he knew it was at least a hundred miles. Even so, his heart trembled uncontrollably...

"Yes, that is the power of the Demon King. Although it's not very appropriate for me, as a demon, to say this, a monster is a monster."

"To ordinary people, monsters are all monsters, but to monsters, the Demon King is the monster among monsters!"

The girl lowered her arm, looked at the young student who had unknowingly broken out in a cold sweat, and said, "Seeing this scene is enough, isn't it? Even if Ooeyama isn't the mastermind behind this incident, he definitely knows something."

"Take this message back, and your mission will be complete."

"Leave the rest to Kamo no Tadashi and the others."

Hearing the girl's words, Shimizu Asahi frowned... If Mount Ooe really was the mastermind, then their rash intrusion into Mount Ooe would be a pointless death sentence.

But... the image of Ibuki flashed through my calm mind. Was this really something Ooeyama did?

After frowning and thinking for a while, the young student pursed his lips and then said, "...No, keep going."

"Whether Oeyama did this or not, we can find out by going to the village."

Regardless, as the only village living within the Ōeyama area that has not yet been attacked by yokai, it must have more information.

After making their decision, the young students turned to look at the blue-haired girl.

Recalling her expression from a few days ago, he hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "Qing Nufang, if you don't like Mount Ooe, you can wait for me here. I'll go in alone."

The boy's answer made the girl frown.

"you sure?"

"Ah."

"...Since you've made up your mind, I won't say anything more. I owe you my life, and I will protect you well until I return it to you."

The girl sighed softly, left those words, and continued on her way.

The boy watched the girl's retreating figure and couldn't help but smile.

......

Meanwhile, at the summit of Mount Oe.

Before that magnificent palace, which resembled an imperial palace, the petite ghost king, dressed in purple, looked up at the sky.

Watching the spreading crimson demonic aura, Ibuki-dōji murmured with a hint of boredom, "Ah, things are getting worse... Aren't they coming from Heian-kyo yet? At this rate, I'm losing my appetite for drinking." (Chapter 64, Tanba Village)

"You're here, Ibuki."

Just as Ibuki Doji finished her listless murmur, a woman's voice suddenly came from behind her.

She turned around at the sound, a surprised smile appearing on her otherwise uninteresting face.

"Zihua, it's really rare that you would come out while you were drinking."

The demon who came out of the palace was as small as Ibuki-dōji.

She had long, golden and white hair, and a face that, at first glance, seemed somewhat dignified, but upon closer inspection, was rather cute.

And her name is Cihua.

Ibaraki-dōji, one of the Four Demon Kings of Mount Ōe!

She approached Ibuki-dōji, her face showing the same confusion as Ibuki's: "I should be the one saying that. Everyone's inside drinking, why did you come out?"

"This is the first time I've ever seen you run out while drinking."

"Hmm, I don't like the current atmosphere..." The girl's boredom returned as she spoke of this.

She pointed to the blood-red demonic aura in the sky and said, "The demonic aura of the Asura Ghost King is too foul; it completely masks the aroma of the wine."

Upon hearing this, Tsukawa blinked, looked up at the sky, and looked confused.

Indeed, the demonic aura of the Asura Demon King is extremely foul.

As the king of the Asura clan, its demonic aura, redder than blood, has absorbed the souls and blood of countless humans and demons.

Just by standing here, they could hear the roaring spirits of the dead within the demonic aura.

However... Mount Ooe was covered by the demonic aura of the four of them, and the aura of the Asura Demon King could not penetrate it at all.

If the demonic aura of the Asura Demon King had affected their drinking, Shuten-dōji and Ibaraki-dōji would have already stormed into the Demon Realm.

However, since Ibuki has said that now.....

"Alright, I'll lead my men into the Ghost Realm right now and kill the Asura Ghost King!"

No one can make their best friend unhappy. Anyone who dares to make their best friend so sullen is her enemy!

Having said that, Cihua Tongzi put down his wine bowl and prepared to gather all the demons of Mount Ooe to attack the Asura Demon King.