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

Shimizu Mio decisively accepted this younger sister as her own.

However, to be fair, Asa's acting skills are really good. Her expressions and actions are as if she really doesn't know anything. If Shimizu Mio and Aonobo hadn't found out beforehand, they probably would have been fooled by Asa.

Of course, in terms of acting skills, Shimizu Mio is not bad either.

The way he had been acting coquettishly with Shimizu Asahi just now was something even he, who had lived with her for sixteen years, hadn't noticed.

Girls are truly born actresses.

After failing to get any answers from his inquiries, Shimizu Asahi gave up on continuing his investigation.

The three of them left the inn and headed towards the teahouse.

Folk songs are a form of oral expression created by ordinary people to convey their feelings and thoughts. Therefore, folk songs are a culture closely related to life, and only in life can one experience the purest folk songs.

The best place for ordinary people to enjoy folk songs together was the teahouse.

What you hear in the magnificent pavilion is music.

Before long, the three of them arrived at a teahouse.

After taking their seats and ordering, the three of them began to enjoy Anbara's songs.

In fact, every place has its own folk songs, and Heian-kyo, the economic and political center of this era, naturally had them too. However, the folk songs of Heian-kyo mostly praised the Emperor and Onmyoji, and were full of a high-spirited and awe-inspiring atmosphere.

Those songs expressed the pride and honor of the people of Heian-kyo.

Anbara's songs, on the other hand, celebrate life and the future.

Although not as exciting and uplifting as the folk songs of Heian-kyo, they are very peaceful, like spring rain, silently seeping into people's hearts and moving them.

"Tamamo is right, the songs of Kyohara are gentler than those of Heian-kyo."

Shimizu Mio sipped her tea, listening to the songs, her beautiful black eyes filled with gentleness.

"Yes, it's like it can soothe all your troubles."

Qingnu nodded gently, her tone calm.

The girl's words surprised Shimizu Asahi, who was standing to the side.

He blinked slightly and asked, "Haven't you come to listen to folk songs before?"

“No, I hate humans, so I’m not very interested in things from the human world.” Qing Nufang shook her head, picked up a pastry, and said with newfound respect, “I just didn’t expect that the things created by humans would be so… good.”

"Hehe, you'll discover even more interesting things in the future." The boy smiled with a hint of pride.

"Um....."

In the teahouse, girls on the stage sang softly, while the tea drinkers below smiled gently.

The three members of the Shimizu family were all immersed in the song, but suddenly, two figures inadvertently entered Shimizu Mio's field of vision.

They were two slightly weathered-looking people dressed in clothes with gentian patterns.

'Genji? '

The Gentian crest is a unique clan crest of the Minamoto clan, and anyone who wears this crest is a member of the Minamoto clan.

The black-haired girl frowned.

Ever since the Kyoto Port incident, she had come to hate this clan. If it weren't for his persuasion, the Minamoto clan would no longer exist.

Of course, wrongdoing should have consequences. The Minamoto clan could escape death, but Minamoto no Mitsutomo could not.

He sank into Kyoto Port a month ago....

But why would someone from the Genji clan appear here?

From the information revealed by Kamo no Tadayuki, we can infer that the Minamoto clan should not want to come to Kyohara. Why...?

A faint doubt arose in the girl's heart.

However, after a short while, Shimizu Mio gave up thinking about it.

What Genji does here is none of her business, even if he comes for Shiranui, she doesn't care at all.

As long as it doesn't disturb her and Chaoyang, she won't even glance at them, no matter how much trouble they cause.

Of all the things in the world, the younger brother is the greatest.

......

The two Genji clan members who had entered Shimizu Mio's field of vision left the teahouse and, after turning a few corners, entered a small alley.

Inside that alley stood a middle-aged man dressed in magnificent robes, with a resolute face.

"Lord Shiyi, everything has been investigated and clarified."

The two members of the Minamoto clan knelt down on one knee and recounted the information they had gathered.

"My lord, the name Shiranui used by the people of the city actually refers to Ari, the top courtesan of the Liren Pavilion."

"Because her performance creates the scene of Shiranui appearing, she got this name. However, A-Li grew up in the Li Ren Pavilion since she was a child and is a real human."

"Shiranui... refers to a geisha in a boudoir?"

The man named Minamoto Saneyoshi frowned, his gaze somewhat puzzled.

"The Serpent God told us that Shiranui has been born and that it can help our Genji clan seize Shiranui's power, so we came here to try to find Shiranui."

"But why...?"

"Could it be that Lord Serpent God has made a mistake?"

"No, no, Lord Snake God would never make a mistake... In that case, Shiranui must be hiding."

"It seems that further investigation is needed."

After pondering for a moment, Minamoto no Saneyoshi gave an order to his clansmen.

"You two, one go and continue gathering information, and the other go and keep an eye on Shimizu Asahi. We can't let him ruin our plans."

The name Shimizu Asahi came into the Genji's view after the Kyoto Port incident, and his attitude towards yokai became known to the Genji members.

If they want to seize Shiranui's power, they must not let him discover it. If he discovers it, a battle will be inevitable.

Although they were not afraid, a powerful demon-level Onmyoji was too troublesome.

Moreover, now is not the time to touch him. (Chapter 105, Section 103: Shimizu Asahi's Awareness)

Two days ago, in the underground altar of the Minamoto clan's main family in Heian-kyo, the current shogun of the garrison, Minamoto no Mitsunaka, the head of the Minamoto clan, gathered with a group of Minamoto clan elders.

They bowed their heads respectfully, facing forward like devout believers.

On the altar, a strange and alluring purple-haired man chuckled arrogantly.

"Lord Serpent God, what are your orders?"

The powerful man in Heian-kyo asked with a mixture of excitement and calm loyalty, as if he were yearning for something.

"Go to Apricot Plain and obtain the power of Shiranui."

The arrogant words rang out casually, and the evil god lightly flicked the snake head behind him, his captivating purple eyes not even glancing at them.

The evil god's words echoed all around, but Minamoto no Manaka's respectful expression changed slightly.

He raised his head and said with a slightly embarrassed expression, "Lord Serpent God, the Minamoto clan suffered heavy casualties in the battle against the Asura Demon King. Now is the time for us to recuperate and we do not have the extra strength to obtain the great demon Shiranui."

"Oh?" The evil god turned his head slightly, his purple snake eyes fixed on the man, a playful smile appearing on his sinister face.

"Indeed, the elite Onmyoji of the Genji suffered heavy casualties, but the assassins who received my unclean power are still intact."

"Human, are you trying to deceive me?"

The casual words reached their ears, causing the Genji members to shudder. Minamoto no Mitsunaka, looking slightly flustered, began to explain:

"Serpent God, we would never dare to deceive you, but the power of impurity is of great importance, and we cannot use this power lightly."

"For the so-called family honor? Heh heh... Such a simple wish, as always."

The playful smile turned into amusement, and Hachimata, as if appreciating something, said, "Alright. This time, I'll make an exception and lend you my power."

"Be grateful, humankind. This is the mercy of the gods."

"This...really!?" Minamoto no Manaka was greatly surprised.

The power of the gods is an unparalleled strength that humans can never attain. If humans wish to obtain the power of the gods, they must pay a heavy price.

Offering priestesses as sacrifices to evil gods in exchange for power was the secret ritual that the Minamoto clan had been conducting for hundreds of years, and it was also the root of the Minamoto clan's superiority over other clans!

However, after the excitement came doubt.

Evil gods don't grant power for no reason, and Genji, who served an evil god, knew this best.

There must be some reason for this.

"Humans, prepare a performance for me. This is the price you pay for your power."

"However, the will of the gods will not remain unchanged until I change my mind."

The serpent god whispered softly, like a seductive demon, echoing in everyone's ears.

An invisible force began to spread, and greed and selfishness surged from the depths of their being.

A performance, a contribution.

This is the most profitable deal the Genji has made in a century.

Instinct reminded him that he might not be able to afford the price of this performance.

However, greed was growing, and Minamoto no Manaka happily lowered his head again, piously and submissively saying, "Yes, Lord Serpent God, we will do it right away!"

As if receiving a command from the Emperor, Minamoto no Mitsunaka immediately led the Minamoto clan members out of the underground altar.

“…”

“…”

The silence spread silently, and on the empty underground altar, the evil god laughed eerily, his voice, powerful enough to make anyone fall into depravity, echoing all around.

"Hehehe, greed and desire, ambition and obsession, the simpler they are, the more evil they become. That's why you were so easily controlled by me... Go and test them, my pawns."

......

At this very moment, in Xingyuan City.