In Type-Moon, people create a magic family lineage

[Your inner thoughts]

【…】

At fifty, you stepped down as Grand Chancellor, but retained the position of Regent, and established the position of Shogun, vigorously promoting military men into the central government.

At sixty, you relinquish your position as 'Kanpaku' (regent), and with your wife and lover, you semi-retire at the foot of Mount Fuji, yet you still hold the title of 'Shogun' and remotely control the world.

At sixty-five, with demons becoming increasingly rare, Shuten-dōji bids farewell, saying he must enter the 'Sea Within the Stars'.

Your fame still circulates within the land of Yamato, but no longer as a great Onmyoji.

Although seventy-two-year-old Noko still looked young, her time was drawing near. But even before she passed away, she remained cheerful and lively, saying that she was very happy to have known you and hoped that there would be more in the future.

Tell her, "It will happen."

At seventy-five, the still-young-looking Kaori passed away atop Mount Fuji. You stayed with her, watching the night sky all night. As a relatively traditional woman of the Heian period, her only regret in life was not being able to bear you any children, but you didn't care about that and just let nature take its course. You simply comforted her by saying that there would be opportunities in the future.

But this is not merely a consolation.

Just like with Jeanne, you have your own plans for them.

At seventy-six, you also saw off the last person who followed you, 'Minamoto no Yorimitsu'.

From this day forward, you are all alone.

From this point on, you realize that the final step you were about to take has already been completed without you even realizing it.

[When you 'introspect' within yourself, you discover that within the circulation of meridians, there are 138 'central points' operating perfectly within the body.]

The spirits of the 138 prime ministers you condensed have merged into yourself.

They are connected to your meridians, that is, your 'magic circuits,' increasing and decreasing together, operating simultaneously.

Even after leaving the spirit system, it can still maintain its existence.

[And it will continue to grow as you accumulate experience and as your magic circuits increase.]

This is the ultimate perfection you've been striving for.

All things ultimately return to one.

They are you.

It is your body, and also your 'mind'.

"So-called..."

"The head and body of God?"

Lu Kang, who had seen off both his wife and his lover, sat atop Mount Fuji.

He still had a youthful and handsome appearance, and his hunting robes with long sleeves fluttered like those of an immortal.

Sigh and smile.

This year, you will be nearly 100 years old.

In this year, the Yamato Dynasty underwent a change of dynasties.

You've heard that the current 'King' is named 'Toba Tenno'?

Have you heard that an unparalleled beauty has come from the Celestial Empire?

Upon entering the palace, she was given the title 'Tamamo-no-Mae'.

Chapter 138 Nine-Tailed Foxes Wreak Havoc in Kyoto, Tamamo-no-Mae, A Single Thought Blossoms

Since Sugawara no Ueaki retired decades ago and disappeared without a trace, the position of the ruler of Yamato has changed hands several times. The current King Toba is still young, not even ten years old, and inexperienced. Fortunately, although the regency system has completely disappeared, under the 'Insei system' established by Sugawara no Ueaki in his later years, power is distributed among the highest-ranking court nobles, who can still assist the king in governing and not affect the overall situation.

The original Insei system was a system in which the 'retired emperor' was removed from the government and remotely controlled the court, free from various constraints.

However, the system established by Lu Kang was a system of one "court" and one "government".

The courtyard is the Kanpaku Institute, and the mansion is the residence of the Shogun.

With one legislature and one government, they check and balance each other, each with the power to make suggestions and the power to veto. Together, they can handle national affairs without any problems.

However, the lack of a decisive person still brings many inconveniences.

However, without a powerful figure who could nominally restrain the 'Heavenly King,' many things become inconvenient to do.

Especially when the young 'king' was deceived by outsiders.

"Sister Shrine Maiden, what are we going to play today—?"

Inside the Heian Palace, Toba, seated in the 'highest position,' looked at the stunningly beautiful woman sitting directly next to him, his youthful face brimming with excitement.

The young king naturally didn't understand anything about beautiful women, but the palace maid known as 'Tamamo-no-Mae' could always pull out some strange and wonderful toys, which made him laugh heartily and have a great time, and that was enough for him.

Looking at the excited and expectant expression on the young ruler's face, Tamamo-no-Mae simply said as if it were a familiar occurrence, "When I was in the Celestial Empire, I once saw an emperor use the 'burning iron' to punish disobedient subjects."

"The Emperor?" Toba's spirits lifted instantly. "Is he the 'Emperor' of the Celestial Empire?"

After Sugawara no Hashirō abolished the title of "Emperor" and continued the old system, the lord of Yamato Province no longer called himself "Emperor." He also promoted the lofty status of the emperor of the Celestial Empire within the country, especially by teaching the previous generations of emperors through words and deeds.

Therefore, the Heavenly King of Yamato had a kind of inexplicable reverence for the emperor of the Celestial Empire... Of course, this refers to the emperor of a truly unified empire, not including the 'Great Song' across the sea today.

"That's right?"

Tamamo-no-Mae smiled charmingly, but unfortunately, her flirtatious glances were only for fools. The child emperor paid no attention to her and simply said hastily, "Alright, alright!"

"Sister Shrine Maiden, quick, let me see what the torture device of branding looks like!"

"The performance of the burning pillar requires 'props,' you know?" Tamamo-no-Mae said meaningfully.

"Just tell me what tools you need!" Toba brazenly assured him, "I am the ruler of Yamato Province, what can't I have?"

"VIP'."

Tamamo-no-Mae said, "The so-called 'burning pillar' is actually a pillar filled with coal. If a person is stuck to it, their skin will peel off in no time—"

"To melt and die!"

hiss!

The person above is speaking.

Although the officials and ministers below had their heads bowed, they were all listening.

Listening to the 'Heavenly King's' excitement and the 'palace maid's' narration, I listened intently and couldn't help but feel a chill run down my spine.

But no one dared to step forward and speak.

Tamamo-no-Mae had been wreaking havoc in the palace for many days, and it wasn't that no one had spoken up before... but that very night, they all died violently in their homes.

This must be the work of demons!

If it weren't for this, the palace maid wouldn't have acted so recklessly.

if not like this.

They would never allow a palace maid to ride on their heads!

"Your Majesty!"

But not everyone is afraid.

Not everyone will back down.

A clear, resonant voice spoke abruptly, revealing a tall, slender figure: "I have also heard of the torture of branding with hot irons, a cruel and brutal method used by the ancient tyrant King Zhou of Shang in the Celestial Empire—Your Majesty must not listen to the slanderous words of demons and repeat such tyranny!"

"Oh?"

The appearance of this figure caused Tamamo-no-Mae to gasp in surprise, somewhat astonished that someone would dare to step forward after the previous incidents in which nobles had died tragically.

Having lost his temper, Toba Tenno looked at the person, also appearing quite unhappy: "Who are you?"

"Your subject is Abe Yasachika, the head of the Yin-Yang Bureau and concurrently a professor of Yin-Yang studies."

The figure was about thirty years old, with a square and resolute face. His hunting robes and black hat made him appear even more dignified.

"A descendant of the great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei?"

"More than that? It is said that the current Abe family are still Sugawara no Hajime's unofficial students."

"Excellent, excellent, excellent! As expected of the descendants of Lord Seimei and Lord Yuzhang, you truly possess the spirit of your ancestors!"

"But unfortunately, they overestimated their abilities!"

Many high-ranking officials watched the figure stepping out and began to discuss among themselves.

Abe Yasachika, however, tilted his head back and looked directly into the eyes of the Heavenly King above.

Toba was immediately annoyed. Although he was young, he had succeeded to the throne at a very young age, and no one could control his mischievous nature. He had never been looked at like that before.

Tamamo-no-Mae stopped him: "Your Highness."

"I think this tall, strong man is perfect as a tool to demonstrate the torture of branding!"

"Good good!"

Toba's annoyance instantly turned to joy, and he pointed a finger: "Then it's you!"

At his command, the palace guards on both sides of the palace poured out.

Abe no Yasachika showed no fear, but simply stepped forward and shouted, "With the seal of Lord Yuzhang here, there are no taboos—who dares to approach?"

As the words fell, light shone forth.

The guards instinctively retreated!

Although decades have passed, Sugawara no Hajime's authority remains profound, and his whereabouts are unknown; no one knows whether he is dead or alive.

Nowadays, even a single talisman left behind can make soldiers surrender.

More so that 'all demons will be changed'!

With a sudden hum, Tamamo-no-Mae stood up abruptly. Under the direct light, a fluffy golden tail appeared behind her, and her long orange hair fluttered as two pairs of animal ears emerged... In an instant, her true form was revealed!

"You really are a prodigy!"

Abe Yasutaka shouted, "Guards, why haven't you taken him down yet?"

"Hoo...ha!"

Tamamo-no-Mae laughed in fury, never expecting that such a small country would possess something that could render her 'transformation' technique ineffective.

But he still didn't lose his composure, and amidst Toba's astonishment, he asked, "Your Highness, do you like my 'Fox Trick'?"

"A magic trick... Oh, it's a magic trick!" Toba snapped out of his daze and immediately believed it to be true.

Now it's Abe Yasachika's turn to laugh in anger.

He held the talisman in his hand, as if he were about to say something.

"Hand over this fellow as ordered by His Highness!"

Tamamo-no-Mae gave a stern rebuke.

The guards finally suppressed their awe of Sugawara no Hajime and stepped forward.

The feathered talisman could restrain demons and make them manifest, but it was useless against these guards... The nobles kept their eyes down and were powerless to help, while some even sneered inwardly.

Abe Yasachika closed his eyes and sighed.

His breath lingered long after he stopped...

"Ok?"

Abe Yasachika opened his eyes in confusion.

Almost simultaneously, Tamamo-no-Mae above also bristled... lowered her eyes, watching the guards on both sides stop and retreat again, looking in the direction they were looking in fear.

Many high-ranking officials also turned around abruptly, their faces full of disbelief.

Toba Tenno became even more apprehensive.

The source of that long, trembling breath.

Trembling with fear, one sees the aged yet upright figure stepping in from outside the palace gates.

His steps were slow and steady, his hunting robes hung down, and his long sleeves fluttered. Every time he landed, plum blossoms would bloom instantly, as if a god or Buddha was walking on lotus flowers.

But even more so... a single thought can blossom into something beautiful.

It is neither an illusion nor a magic trick to deceive the world, but a real and true manifestation of the highest level of "thought magic" that influences the world through "thought".