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

Amid the girl's laughter, the two walked out of the Liren Pavilion.

Before long, they arrived at the market.

Upon arriving at the market, the girl, like a bird released from its cage, led Ali by the hand and wandered around.

Ali didn't call out to Aqing. She kept looking at Aqing while searching for the rising sun.

Actually, Ali didn't know what Qing Shui Chaoyang looked like. That night, the only thing she could clearly see was those gentle, dark eyes.

The only way she could recognize Chaoyang was by looking into his eyes.

Although it's a little funny to judge someone by their appearance, Ali firmly believes that when she sees him again, she will definitely recognize him.

Time passed quietly, and before long, Aqing became a little tired from being too happy.

Seeing that she looked tired, Ali led her to the nearest teahouse so that she could rest for a while.

For some reason, the moment she stepped into the teahouse, a strange emotion welled up inside her, as if... she had missed something.

An inexplicable emotion caused her to walk out of the teahouse uncontrollably, her dark eyes beginning to dart around anxiously.

However, nothing was found.

This wasn't the first time she'd felt this way; she'd experienced it several times in the past three days.

No one told her what it felt like, but she just knew it was a missed opportunity.

She missed the chance to meet him again.

However, she didn't care. Because she believed that they would meet again, and that their missed connection was simply because their destiny hadn't yet arrived.

Moreover, if you think about it from another perspective, isn't this telling her, 'He's right beside you'?

With a soft smile, Ali withdrew her gaze.

After resting for a while, Aqing regained her energy, and they squeezed into the crowd again.

This time, they strolled until sunset.

As darkness spread from all around, Xingyuan lit a lamp, and the bright light made the two realize that the sea harvest festival was about to begin.

Following the crowd, the two girls arrived at the dock.

The shrine maiden's blessing dance is very close to the island, so even though they couldn't leave the Rijinkaku before, they could still watch it from their own rooms.

But how can a cold room compare to a bustling crowd?

Only by standing here can one understand the joy that permeates the air.

However, just as the celebration dance was about to begin, Otawara went to the dock.

He drew the attention of the crowd with a loud cough, and when all the people on the dock were looking at him, he revealed a look of grief and indignation.

Upon seeing the man who had suddenly appeared, Ali frowned slightly, a bad premonition creeping in...

Her bad premonition turned into reality a few seconds later.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the most beautiful courtesan of the Liren Pavilion is none other than the demon Shiranui!"

With these words, the bustling coastline fell silent instantly, and the gathered crowd stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with disbelief.

"This...this can't be right, can it? Shiranui grew up in the Riren Pavilion, how could she be a monster?"

"Yes, we've watched her perform so many times, and we haven't seen any loss from it."

"The city lord said we've been misled, but how come I didn't notice anything amiss?"

The men whispered among themselves, not immediately believing what Otahara had said.

However, dissenting voices have emerged.

“The city lord would not lie to us like this at this time. The Hai Shou Festival is a festival to worship Susanoo-no-Mikoto. If the city lord dares to say this, he must have certainty.”

"That's right, that's right. The city lord wouldn't lie to us at the festival. Besides, isn't the city lord the one who likes the courtesan the most?"

"That's right, that songstress is definitely a bewitching monster; we must kill her!"

Opposition voices rose one after another, and the ignorant people were easily swayed. Amidst the firm words of others, they changed their minds—the 'truth' that the courtesan of the Liren Pavilion was the demon Shiranui was reflected in everyone's hearts.

"I never imagined that woman was a bewitching monster! Damn it, no wonder I went to every single one of her performances!"

"That monster is toying with us. Every time we perform, she's probably laughing at us in her heart!"

"That's right, that's right, it's terrifying! I've been toyed with by a monster for so long!"

The lively atmosphere dissipated silently, replaced by a deep-seated hostility.

Suddenly, a malicious voice rang out from the crowd.

"Everyone, now that we know the truth about that demoness, what are we waiting for? Let's go to the Liren Pavilion and kill her!"

The whispers paused briefly, then, as if they had found their target... they erupted with a roar!

"Kill her!"

"Kill her!"

"Kill her!"

The shouts echoed through the sky...

P.S.: Three updates today, trust me!

Chapter 116, Section 118: The People's Strange Behavior

The flickering firelight illuminated the surroundings, and the warmth of the flames dispelled the cold. On the wide coastline, the people held torches high and roared loudly.

The Haishou Festival is a ritual in which people worship the gods and pray for peace. Before the celebratory dance begins, the people should laugh and celebrate together.

This is the starting point for them and for this city.

However, now...

The people, who should have been laughing, turned ferocious. Under the torches, they were vicious and crazy, and the malice from people's hearts surged like a tidal wave.

The joyous celebration has vanished...

"elder sister....."

In the crowd, the girl trembled slightly, clinging to the young woman, her lovely face reflecting deep fear.

Everything has changed. The people around us have changed, becoming unfamiliar and cold. Their malice is as nauseating as extreme darkness.

Just then, a warm hand landed on the girl's head. This hand was warm, like a flame in winter, and it dispelled her fear.

"Sister, oh no, they've become so scary..."

Aqing raised her head, her small face full of grievance and pity.

"Aqing, don't be afraid, your sister will protect you."

Ali comforted Aqing, holding the girl's small hand like a tiny source of warmth, shielding her from malice.

The roars continued at the dock. Otahara drew his longsword, raised it high, and shouted, "People of Xingyuan! We cannot allow this demoness to live any longer! Xingyuan City is our home, our city! We will not allow any monster to run rampant in Xingyuan City!"

"Today, we will use her blood to show other demons what the price will be for trespassing on Xingyuan City!"

"Burn down the Liren Pavilion and capture Shiranui alive!"

"Oooo!!!!"

The deafening shouts exploded like muffled thunder, and Otahara's words were like the final fuse, instantly igniting everything.

The burning civilians, like manipulated puppets, turned and left, their minds filled with only one thought—'Burn down the Liren Pavilion and capture Shiranui alive!'

Ali protected Aqing, and she dispersed with the people. Her delicate figure and deliberate concealment allowed her to leave successfully, and no one even glanced at her from beginning to end.

Carefully, after leaving the crowd, Ali led Aqing into the alley.

Seeing the pale-faced girl, she asked with concern, "Aqing, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, sister..." Aqing shook her head weakly, her little hands still trembling, but she insisted that she was alright.

After catching her breath a few times, Aqing's complexion improved somewhat.

"That's good." Ali secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she pressed down on the girl's shoulder and earnestly instructed, "Aqing, you stay here and don't go anywhere, understand?"

"Hey, what about you, sister?"

"Sister should do what sister should do."

......

At the dock, looking at the completely empty coastline, Otahara laughed maniacally.

"Hahaha, you never expected me to deal with you this way, Ali!"

"No matter how much the Onmyoji tries to protect you, he can't possibly take you away in this situation! An Onmyoji protecting a yokai... once word gets out, there will be no place for him in the entire world!"

"After tonight, you'll be mine!"

That's right, this was Otahara's backup plan. He had started preparing three days ago.

As the lord of Xingyuan City, he was well aware of the power of Yin-Yang magic, so he did not believe that the city's guards could find it within three days.

To prevent Ali from leaving, he decided to mobilize the people of Xingyuan City.

If you portray A-Li as a monster, even an Onmyoji would never protect her again!

Even if she is human, even if the Onmyoji know she is human, as long as the people of Xingyuan City believe she is a demon, then she must be a demon!

This is what humanity is all about... For them, the truth itself is not important. The so-called 'truth' is merely a decision made by the noisiest and most boisterous group. Once they believe it, others will follow suit.

Once they conform to the crowd and believe in the 'truth,' they will never waver in their own hearts, and the so-called 'truth' will become the real 'truth'!

This is how humans are manipulated!

However, manipulating the people is not easy. To prepare for this moment, he spread the word three days in advance and sent people to secretly incite the people, so that the news that "the courtesan of Liren Pavilion is the monster Shiranui" would quietly enter their hearts.

Today, he will use his identity and the celebration of the festival to sway them with the excuse that "it is impossible to deceive," and finally, he will have the pawns hidden among the people shout loudly to settle the situation!

This was a plan that had been prepared three days in advance; these people had absolutely no chance of escaping from his grasp!

However... there was a slight mishap in Otawara.

He anticipated his success, but he never imagined the plan would go so smoothly that not a single one of the countless people of Xingyuan would speak up for Ah Li.