Kyoto.
Underground Palace.
Hagoromo Gitsune sat regally atop a high platform, her twelve-layered kimono resplendent and dazzlingly luxurious.
Before her, Kidomaru knelt on one knee.
Kyoto and Musashi Province were over a thousand miles apart; however, as a powerful demon specializing in speed, Kidomaru only needed a very short time to travel back and forth.
This was the very reason Hagoromo Gitsune had entrusted this duty to him.
However, at this moment, compared to when he had set out, Kidomaru's condition was clearly not good.
He had only one arm left.
He had lost a limb.
For a demon, such an injury was naturally not very serious; given some time, it would grow back.
But the meaning behind it was what truly invited deep thought.
"Thou hast been defeated?"
Hagoromo Gitsune's voice was light, betraying neither joy nor anger.
"Yes."
Kidomaru lowered his head, his voice raspy: "That priestess's arrow... was even stronger than this subordinate imagined."
"And that Oni Samurai."
"He used a method this subordinate has never seen before, causing the entire land to stand on his side. Though it only provided him with an endless supply of Demonic Qi, it was indeed troublesome for me."
"The land?"
Hagoromo Gitsune's tone finally shifted slightly: "To think a mere small demon could possess such an ability?"
"Interesting."
Within the great hall stood several other figures.
They were the other demons under Hagoromo Gitsune's command.
There was a hunched old crone, a ferocious-looking evil spirit, and several shadows hidden in the darkness.
At this moment, they were all looking at Kidomaru.
Their eyes were filled with schadenfreude.
To think that one of the once-unrivaled evil spirits of Mount Oe, Kidomaru who returned from hell, would also have a day where he met with failure?
"Sister Hagoromo Gitsune."
A slightly youthful female voice came from the shadows: "Should I go and deal with those two juniors?"
"No need."
Hagoromo Gitsune raised her hand, stopping her. "Since Kidomaru has already been defeated, the result would be the same if you went, Kyokotsu."
Her gaze fell upon Kidomaru.
"That Oni Samurai... the fact that he could gain the land's recognition shows that his methods are truly extraordinary."
"Coupled with that priestess whose spiritual power is strong enough to be clearly sensed even here in Kyoto... it seems we need to give them a bit more attention."
Either do not act at all, or if you do, you must be certain of success.
She paused.
"I have a suitable candidate in mind."
Kidomaru looked up.
"Does my Lady mean..."
"Tsuchigumo."
Hagoromo Gitsune uttered the name.
In the great hall, the atmosphere suddenly shifted.
The demons who had been gloating earlier all had the smiles frozen on their faces.
Tsuchigumo.
This was a race that was quite numerous among demons.
But being numerous didn't mean they were all trash, and it certainly didn't mean there were no powerful beings among them.
The core lineage of the Tsuchigumo was said to be a demon cluster existing since ancient times; taking the form of spiders, they excelled at spinning webs and weaving cocoons, and could manipulate fear and illusions.
And the elite among them were existences that surpassed ordinary demons.
They were true Great Yokais.
Not an existence that was merely infinitely close like Kidomaru, but a genuine Great Yokai.
"Tsuchigumo... has been resurrected?"
A trembling voice came from the shadows.
"Three days ago."
Hagoromo Gitsune nodded. "He had been slumbering in the deep mountains north of Kyoto for two hundred years, and now he has finally awakened."
"It's perfect—"
She looked at Kidomaru, a meaningful smile curling the corners of her mouth.
"Kidomaru, go and invite him to come forth."
"Tell him I have a matter I'd like his help with."
Kidomaru's body stiffened.
"Invite Tsuchigumo? That monster with a bizarre temper and a bloodthirsty nature?"
Normally, he would have nothing to fear or worry about, but right now, he was missing an arm. If he were to be caught...
"My Lady..."
"What is it?"
Hagoromo Gitsune's tone remained calm. "Are you afraid?"
Kidomaru grit his teeth, just about to respond...
"This matter is indeed inconvenient for Lord Kidomaru. Why not leave it to me instead?"
From behind Kidomaru, a figure slowly stepped out, his face pale yet possessing an inhuman beauty. "I am Kibutsuji Muzan."
"Though I am but a minor demon under Lord Kidomaru's command, I happen to be quite skilled with words."
"Please give me one month's time."
The Progenitor of Demons bowed low, his entire being permeated with an aura that seemed to blend in with the surrounding demons.
Hagoromo Gitsune's eyes narrowed slightly, and for some reason, she began to laugh.
...
At the same time.
Tokaido.
Inside a certain abandoned shrine.
Nurarihyon sat cross-legged on the shrine's roof, holding a tobacco pipe, leisurely puffing out clouds of smoke.
Beside him crouched a short figure.
It was a small demon only a foot tall, its body woven from straw, wearing a tattered kimono, and on its head sat a fermented natto box, emitting an indescribable smell.
The small demon, Nattou Kozo.
This was the first subordinate Nurarihyon had taken in.
But although it was just a weak and tiny demon, it possessed its own unique information and intelligence network.
"Boss, have you heard?"
Nattou Kozo's voice was shrill: "Something big has happened over in Musashi Province!"
"Oh?"
Rihan blew a smoke ring. "What happened?"
"That Kanbe Hikaru! The Oni Samurai you mentioned before!"
Nattou Kozo gesticulated wildly. "He killed four high-level demon leaders in a single night! He even forced back a demon from Kyoto—it's said to be the Ghost of Mount Oe who vanished hundreds of years ago, Kidomaru!"
Rihan's movements paused.
"The Ghost of Mount Oe, Kidomaru?"
"Yes!"
Nattou Kozo nodded like a woodpecker. "I heard that priestess even shot off one of Kidomaru's arms!"
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