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

The humiliation of being rejected time and time again, the anger of being ignored time and time again, turned into flames that burned away the mask on his face.

"You can't escape my grasp, you courtesan!"

......

"Sister, is it really okay to be so direct?"

In the corridor, the girl looked at the young woman, her eyes filled with worry.

She could sense Otahara's smugness, his joy and excitement, as if Ali had already agreed to his request.

However, his gift, which he thought was a sure thing, was rejected outright, and his subsequent anger could very well cause trouble for Ali.

"...That's good. Since they're all birdcages anyway, why bother changing them?"

Ali shook her head gently. She was already numb to her life. What difference did it make whether it was troublesome or not?

After letting the girl go back to rest, Ali returned to her quiet and still room. She quietly removed her light makeup, then picked up a book, intending to read for a while before resting.

Only when she was reading did she feel a sense of freedom.

In the quiet room, the lights flickered silently, and the girl gently held a book; for a moment, the atmosphere was peaceful.

Immersed in the world of the book, she didn't notice a dark-haired boy standing on the terrace, gazing into the distance...

Time passed quietly, the night deepened, the lights of Xingyuan faded away, and the entire city was plunged into darkness.

When the girl turned off the lights and went to sleep, the boy on the terrace had already disappeared.

......

The next morning, the sun rose again, and its warm and comfortable light shone into the room. Ali stayed inside as usual.

However, this room, which had previously been empty except for her, now had an extra 'guest'.

An elderly woman appeared before Ali.

That is the owner of Liren Pavilion who bought her and made her a caged bird.

In front of her was a piece of paper that looked somewhat worn.

The old woman took a light puff of her pipe, her aged face carrying an indescribable expression.

She exhaled a puff of smoke, then pushed the book in front of her and said, "Take the contract and leave. From now on, you are no longer a songstress of the Liren Pavilion."

"No one can restrain or imprison you anymore."

"You are free." Chapter 109, Section 111: He Redeemed You.

"I... am free?"

The girl blinked gently, and the words echoing in her ears made her pause slightly.

Her reaction to these words was mockery; she thought the old woman was just bored and making fun of her, the courtesan who had unrealistic dreams.

From the day she turned thirteen, the old woman's most frequent words to her were "accept your fate."

She was born a bird, destined to become a pet for people to admire.

Even if the old woman didn't buy her from the fishermen, she would still end up in the dust in another way.

This is her fate.

A fate that cannot be resisted no matter what.

I'm afraid this time, it's just the old woman playing a trick on me again.

However.....

Something was off... The old woman used to be cold, disdainful, and arrogant, always looking down on him from a superior position. But this time... Ah Li had never seen her so conflicted and wistful.

That expression seemed to say, 'What she said is true.'

“…”

“…”

After a period of silence, the girl's breathing became rapid and uncontrollable.

Really? Is what she said true?

Unbelievable thoughts kept growing uncontrollably.

My heart is pounding, my body is trembling, is this... real!?

The old paper was right in front of her, and the contract that represented her freedom was quietly placed in front of her—she could reach it with just a reach!

Fear and joy, conflicting emotions welled up from the bottom of her heart.

"I...I'm free?"

Trembling, the girl murmured uncontrollably.

"you're free!"

The old woman's sigh-like words crushed her last fear, and an overwhelming joy surged forth in an instant, suffocating the girl.

A sudden surge of joy overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

"I'm free..."

I waited for more than a decade, from anticipation to despair, from despair to numbness, and finally, the freedom, as illusory as a dream, arrived, silently and without warning.

She felt as if she were dreaming.

However, as she trembled as she picked up the contract, she suddenly came to her senses.

She's free! She's free! She's really free!

At that moment, her mind went blank.

She didn't know how to describe her feelings at that moment.

A ray of sunlight shone into the room, illuminating the girl's glistening tears and her radiant smile.

Time passed quietly, and before she knew it, Ali had calmed down.

She gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, her dark pupils revealing confusion, "Why... did you give me the indenture?"

"Why? Because someone redeemed you." The old woman exhaled a puff of smoke and replied matter-of-factly, "Just last night."

"Last night!?" Almost instantly, the girl's face turned deathly pale.

"It's not Lord Ota."

Looking at the terrified girl, the old woman said calmly, "Last night, after you rejected Lord Ota, he left the Liren Pavilion in anger. The person who redeemed you was a young boy."

"He offered me a price and guarantees I couldn't refuse, so I sold you."

Upon hearing that it wasn't Otahara, Ali breathed a sigh of relief, as if she had just been scared.

However, she didn't understand why, after buying her, the indenture was returned to her.

"This is what they call a good person, isn't it?"

As if she could see through everything, the old woman said softly, "There are all kinds of people in this world. Some are as greedy as I am, some are as lecherous as Lord Ota, and some are as kind-hearted as him."

"Perhaps they saw your helplessness, or perhaps they felt sorry for you; in short, any reason could be valid."

"And if the reason is valid, he will help you get out of prison and give you your freedom."

"A kind-hearted person?"

The girl lowered her head, her dark eyes fixed on the contract. The old woman's words seemed so unreal... Pitiful? Helpless? Her pity and helplessness had been smoothed over by time. Besides the old woman before her, who else truly understood her plight...?

As if struck by a flash of inspiration, my thoughts suddenly came to a standstill, and a figure slowly emerged in my mind.

'Could it be...him!?'

She remembered that night when she saw tenderness and a sigh, and in those dark eyes that were just like hers, there was an expression as if they understood her sorrow.

At that moment, she was in a daze, and a ripple stirred in her usually calm heart. Perhaps it was the loneliness of the night, or perhaps it was the resentment of sadness, but she inexplicably thought that she had found someone who understood her.

But later, he left without any lingering attachment.

That one glance felt like an illusion to her; loneliness and darkness still surrounded her.

but.....

That wasn't an illusion, it was real... He understood her sorrow, he sensed her resentment... He didn't leave, he came to save her!

A warm current flowed through my barely calmed heart; I realized... I wasn't alone...

Someone... understands her...

With her lips pursed, Ali asked the question that had been on her mind most: "Do you know where he is?"

She wanted to see him; she wanted to see him.

However, the old woman shook her head.

"do not know."

"He didn't tell me his name or where he came from. The only thing I know is that he said he was an Onmyoji."

"Onmyoji?"

"Ah, if it weren't for the Onmyoji, how could I have risked offending the city lord to agree to his redemption for you?"

Ari is a songstress chosen by Otahara, and she is someone who must not be touched by anyone else. If Ari is redeemed by someone else, then the Liren Pavilion will offend the Lord of Xingyuan.

Therefore, to redeem Ali, two conditions must be met: sufficient wealth and the power to protect the Liren Pavilion.

"An Onmyoji...?"

The girl murmured softly, taking the old woman's words to heart.

Then, she carefully put away the indenture and bowed deeply to the old woman.

"Thank you for all these years. I will pack my bags and leave as soon as possible."

Whether or not the old woman deprived her of her freedom, she had lived here for nearly twenty years, and she deserved it.

"Take this."

The old woman exhaled a puff of smoke and tossed a money pouch in front of the girl.