Tokyo Fall Guys beats up the supernatural

Page 304

"Perhaps he is too young to be the leader, but it is necessary to maintain the operation of the association and win his true allegiance."

Aida Gaku is right.

The prestige brought by the Taira no Masakado incident far exceeded what Dou Tang himself was aware of. The feat of directly killing one of the three great vengeful spirits of Japan made Dou Tang famous overnight.

Even though Lu Zizhen used all her connections to suppress this reputation, the worship and admiration for the name "Ren Doutang" took root among the new generation of exorcists, especially those exorcists who had participated in the campaign against Ping Jiangmen with Doutang.

In their minds, if a powerful exorcist like Dou Tang cares about the association, why should they care?

This is especially true now that the association is divided.

The association's credibility has collapsed, and with the departure of Shui Tianjingsaburo, the association is now teetering on the brink of collapse.

Now, in order to maintain the normal operation of the association, there is an urgent need for an event that can enhance the association's image, such as cracking down on some powerful and notorious evil spirit, or resolving some thorny issues.

Or... let some powerful, independent exorcists join the association, bringing new life to it.

Therefore, if Dou Tang could announce his joining the Exorcist Association, even if it's just by making a statement, it could help maintain this precarious situation.

Seeing that Michiko was hesitant, Aida Yue continued, "Miss Michiko, I know what you're worried about. It's nothing more than his freedom, isn't it?"

"Don't worry, his freedom will not be affected in any way! Besides, maintaining the association's existence is beneficial to everyone."

"Without the association, exorcists would regress to the days when they operated independently. In this city with its huge population, exorcists without informants and intelligence would become blind men."

"What happens in this city, where monsters and evil spirits appear, will become information that is restricted by region and connections, and can only be obtained by a few people."

“Exorcists without connections will not be able to get jobs, while those with a lot of information will be overwhelmed with work, and the peace of Tokyo will be completely destroyed.”

Lu Zizhen understood this as well, and she knew very well that if the association really collapsed, then she would have no choice but to seek refuge with Shui Tianjing Sanlang.

As a lone wolf and an outsider, she was bound to face resistance from local Tokyo exorcists.

Previously, it was only through her contributions to the association that she was able to stand against those hostile individuals. Without the association...

“…I understand.” Lu Zizhen sighed and shook her head. “I will talk to him and try my best to persuade him.”

Aida Yue was overjoyed and put his hands together, saying, "Then I really have to trouble Miss Lu."

Just as the two finished their conversation, they saw Suiten Kyosaburo, dressed in a priest's robe, walk out of the building not far away.

He arrived at the building entrance, stood on the steps, looked at the exorcists below, and bowed deeply.

Without saying a word, he walked down the steps, went straight to the parking lot, got into a silver sedan, started the car, and drove him away through the main gate.

"So direct?" Lu Zizhen frowned; this was not a good sign.

There was no apology, no speech, no farewell, just a bow and then he left. What this all signifies is deeply unsettling.

If Shui Tianjingsaburo were to so resolutely break with the association,

Therefore, it is foreseeable that in the future, the exorcists from Shui Tian Jing Sanlang's side will have serious conflicts with the association.

Aida Gakuya frowned deeply and sighed, "It seems that Mr. Shui Tianjing is very dissatisfied with his punishment... but there's nothing we can do about it."

"The actions of the Onmyoji Ling Ming in Pu'an City have truly angered both heaven and man."

Seeing that Shui Tian Jingsaburo had left directly, the crowd that had come to join in the fun suddenly became scattered, and many people began to loudly discuss the association and Shui Tian Jingsaburo's affairs, making the area in front of the building noisy.

Lu Zizhen sighed and left the crowd, followed closely by Aida Yue. The two left the Exorcist Association together.

At that moment, a shared thought popped into their minds.

If the association can no longer be relied upon, then what should be done about those evil spirits that are heading towards Tokyo?

Chapter 195 The Killing Stone "I'll split open!"

Not far north of Tokyo, there is a mountain forest.

This is Nikko City in Tochigi Prefecture, a famous natural hot spring resort around Tokyo and a region with a thriving natural tourism industry.

Of course, in addition to the countless natural hot springs deep in the mountains, there is also a natural forest park.

But what's most famous about this place isn't its hot springs or its forests.

It's a legend that's been around for far too long.

A legend passed down orally since ancient times.

"Tamamo-no-Mae is sealed within the Killing Stone here."

When talking about Japan, in addition to cultural symbols such as Torii shrines, samurai, and ninjas, there are also various yokai (supernatural beings).

This is the legendary land of Tamamo-no-Mae, a fox spirit who is extremely deadly among yokai.

In Japanese legends, Tamamo-no-Mae undoubtedly holds a very high position; even the three great vengeful spirits and the hundred demons of Mount Ōe can only bow their heads to her.

A powerful demon originating from the Shang Dynasty of China, a great fox spirit that once shook the foundations of China, India, and Japan.

According to legend, she was defeated by Japan and turned into the Sesshōseki (Killing Stone). Any life that gets close to the Sesshōseki will be taken away and become nourishment for Tamamo-no-Mae's resurrection.

Whether this legend is true or false is impossible to verify, but since some unknown time, there has indeed been a huge rock in Nikko National Park that has been named the Killing Stone, bound with heavy ropes, and enshrined and sealed.

Next to this "killing stone", there are a thousand statues of Jizo.

Perhaps the legend is false, and the stone is just an ordinary volcanic rock.

Or perhaps this legend is true, and that a wisp of the soul of the deceased fox spirit Tamamo-no-Mae still resides in the Sessho-seki (Killing Stone).

Regardless, on a night when a light snow began to fall, the Killing Stone, which was admired by countless tourists, silently cracked open.

"Ho, ho—" Like a person drowning in an abyss regaining oxygen, a panting sound suddenly echoed in the ethereal valley.

The voice sounded like that of a dying person on the verge of death, breathing heavily and greedily. Then, a strange figure appeared in the snow.

The person was covered in snow, naked, with long golden hair hanging down to their hips. Their jade-like body was flawless and no less beautiful than the snow.

More importantly, she was trailing a fox tail with fluffy, reddish-gold fur behind her.

Above her head, the crown that shone with golden light was turning into dust and dissipating into the snowflakes.

She opened her eyes blankly; they were a crimson gold, with fierce vertical pupils.

But as she looked around, her eyes quickly changed back to ordinary black pupils.

"here it is……"

The woman's eyes were clear, filled with confusion and bewilderment. Her long golden hair turned black, and her fox tail disappeared in the illusory light.

She waved her hand gently, and then countless pieces of gorgeous fabric with intricate patterns appeared out of thin air, gliding through the air and rolling towards her.

Layers of fabric were draped over her in a magnificent kimono. The cherry-colored outer garment paired with a plain inner lining gave her an air of elegance and nobility. The sixteen-layered chrysanthemum embroidery on the outer garment signified her noble birth.

The sixteen-layered chrysanthemum was a royal symbol from the ancient period. After Emperor Go-Toba, the royal symbol changed to the sixteen-layered chrysanthemum.

In Japan, chrysanthemum patterns have royal connotations. The imperial system, which has been passed down from ancient times, is often referred to as the "Chrysanthemum Dynasty" not only by Japan itself but also by other countries.

The woman, dressed in a kimono, stepped onto the wooden boardwalk beside the road and her gaze fell on the signboard.

The notice board had only a few words, but they were concise and to the point.

Historical sites

"Killing Stone"

Nikko National Park

The woman murmured to herself, "The Killing Stone... what does it mean?"

She looked to the other side, where there was another informational sign with an intriguing title: "The Origin of the Sesshōseki (Killing Stone)".

The text in front of me was somewhat different from the Japanese I knew, but... I could still understand it.

"Tamamo-no-Mae was executed..." Her delicate brows furrowed, clearly understanding what was recorded here.

But when she saw the later part of the record, she burst out laughing.

"The third encirclement and suppression campaign involved 300,000 soldiers, and several thousand monks, Yin-Yang masters, and sorcerers?" She disregarded her image, clutching her chest and bursting into laughter, her silvery laughter echoing through the valley.

"What, what a joke! Back then, Japan probably didn't even have 300,000 people in total! Hahahaha..."

"And in the end, it cost two hundred thousand lives to be sacrificed, hahahahaha..."

She stretched out her slender fingers to wipe away the tears that had welled up in her eyes from laughing. "In my entire life, I have never seen two hundred thousand people in the same place, hahahahaha..."

“Then, I…” She suddenly paused, then looked at the explanatory sign.

Her eyes darted away, then she abruptly looked away, her fingers trembling slightly.

Looking at the boulder bound by knotted ropes, she seemed to understand something, and a bitter, sorrowful smile appeared on her lips.

"So I was already dead..."

"So, what's going on now?" She looked at her hands, then turned her gaze to the explanatory plaque.

"Established in 2020... How many years is 2020?" She stepped on the wooden boardwalk in confusion, then looked into the distance. The boardwalk stretched all the way down into the canyon, and further away, there was a brightly lit city.

"Lights... tall buildings... how come such tall buildings don't collapse? How many years have passed? Why am I completely unaware of anything?"

"Wait a minute..." Her expression suddenly became somewhat strange, a half-smile, as if she were secretly pleased.

"So that means neither the Emperor nor the Onmyoji Tai are alive anymore?"

"Perhaps, no one even knows that I am still alive?" Tamamo-no-Mae chuckled, the allure in her eyes gradually turning into smugness and audacity.

She bent down slightly and looked back at the killing stone and the tiny cracks on it.

"Then as long as I... no, as long as I live well... wouldn't I be able to do whatever I want?"

She opened her arms, looked at the snow falling from the sky, and laughed heartily: "Fantastic! Being myself, ho ho ho, not having to care about any stupid men, simple life... ah, that's the best."

"Perhaps we can still return to China?... This wretched island really has nothing. Even the capital of the Shang Dynasty, which lasted for hundreds of years, is not as good as Chaoge..."

“But perhaps…” Tamamo-no-Mae looked expectantly at the distant city, “and after a few hundred years, the world will be completely different?”

She started walking down the mountain with anticipation.

As she walked, something else caught her eye.

Those were a group of... stone statues of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, each less than a meter tall. Thousands of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statues transformed into a stone forest of Bodhisattvas, standing quietly, each covered in white snow.

"Oh my... how cute." Tamamo-no-Mae stopped in front of the stone statue again.

At this rate, it will probably be dawn by the time she reaches the foot of the mountain.

Chapter 196 Current Status of the Association

Lu Zizhen stood at the door of Dou Tang's house, sighed, and then knocked on the door.

A few seconds later, Dou Tang opened the door and was somewhat surprised to see Lu Zizhen. He said, "Hmm, I thought you'd been busy with your homework lately."

Lu Zizhen shrugged: "That kind of thing can be done in a day or two."

Dou Tang made way, and Lu Zizhen entered the house. Seeing Huaiyin playing games on the sofa, he grinned mischievously and went over to her, opening his arms to pull her into his embrace. He said in a cheeky tone, "Oh, Huaiyin's girlish scent is just too good to get enough!"

Huaiyin let her hug her and peeked at the game screen on TV, saying, "Good morning, Sister Lu."

"Mmm..." Lu Zizhen rubbed her face against Huaiyin's body before letting go of her.

Dou Tang sat down at the dining table and said, "You were so mysterious about coming today, saying you had something important to tell me. What is it?"

Lu Zizhen slid to the dining table, sat down, and said with a smile, "Dou Tang, do you want to..."

She clenched her fist tightly: "To unify the country, to be above all others..."

Dou Tang quickly raised his hand: "Stop, stop, stop, be normal, I'm scared."

"Okay, the Exorcist Association has split up." Lu Zizhen shrugged and gave up.

"Hmm... I expected it." Dou Tang picked up his cup and took a sip of water.

Lu Zizhen's expression was strange: "You predicted this?"

“Old Wolf and Kotaro came yesterday and told me about it, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon.” Dou Tang pointed to the refrigerator behind him: “There’s still some Wagyu beef left.”

"I want to eat later," Lu Zizhen said, raising her hand.

Dou Tang nodded.

Then, Lu Zizhen put down her hand and continued, "Last night, Shui Tianjing Sanlang stepped down."

She suddenly raised her hand again and fanned herself with great force.

"You wouldn't believe it, he acted like his mother had died. He slammed the car door shut and ran away without a word. It was obvious he'd been severely punished."

Just recalling that scene made Lu Zizhen smile both sweetly and unrestrainedly.

"And then?" Dou Tang asked.