East Sakura, Ban City, Chun Xiang Town.
The small town residents live life at a slow pace, strolling leisurely down the streets. So carry baskets filled with fresh fruits and vegetables just picked from the mountain fields, while others hold shopping bags as they chat and laugh with their children.
In this town, ti flows slowly.
Yamada Hikari waits for a bus at the bus stop on the street, carrying a bag.
He doesn’t have a car of his own.
Though he is a Mystic Master linked with the authorities, this era isn’t like the past, where anyone would need him?
Touting the title of Mystic Master sounds nice, but life in the Capital isn’t going well for him.
He quietly appreciates the slow pace here.
Unlike the Capital, where people have abundant material lives, but are exhausted, caught in a rat race.
Perhaps finding a town like this to settle in would be better.
The bus arrives, and Yamada Hikari boards it.
Many buses in the small town are like this, akin to tourist sightseeing, with views of rolling green hills and trickling streams along the way.
By the ti they arrived at the destination, there were few passengers left on the bus.
Seii Shrine is located in a very remote area, far from Chun Xiang Town.
Yamada Hikari gets off the bus and heads towards Seii Shrine.
Seii Shrine is nestled deep within the mountains, like a baby sound asleep in the gentle and protective embrace of nature.
He gazes at the wooden plaque overhead as he walks to the ticket booth outside the shrine.
He knocks upon the window.
A young girl in a cherry blossom robe is tidying things inside.
The girl opens the window:
"Hello."
Yamada Hikari says:
"I’d like to pay my respects, is there an admission fee?"
The girl shakes her head:
"Sorry, there won’t be any more tickets sold. The shrine is going to be closed down."
Master Great Evil Demon King said he doesn’t like being disturbed.
Afterwards, only witches, Yin Yang Masters, or demons serving Master Great Evil Demon King can enter the shrine.
Ordinary people are not permitted to enter here; it will beco Great Evil Demon King’s palace.
Master Great Evil Demon King is an old acquaintance of the ancestors and stated that the world will change.
Malevolent Extraordinaries, man-eating demons, and even the legendary Night Parade of Hundred Demons will truly appear.
Great Evil Demon King has co to save Seii’s descendants, to help them restore the ancestors’ glory.
Asuka Seii is obediently preparing to close Seii Shrine.
The girl tidying things at the ticket booth is Asuka Seii.
Yamada Hikari says with a wry smile:
"I ca from very far away to pay my respects at Seii Shrine, it’s almost dark, let take a look inside, I can pay extra."
Feeling a bit sympathetic, Asuka says:
"Alright then, you’ll be the shrine’s last visitor."
...
Guided by Asuka, Yamada Hikari enters Seii Shrine.
By the well, the twelve Earthly Branches are engraved.
In the pavilion by the small river, the Big Dipper array is painted.
All around the sacred destination, statues of Shikigami or Great Demons are enshrined.
Yamada Hikari sees sothing, his old eyes suddenly widen.
Around Seii Shrine, cherry blossoms are in full bloom!
In East Sakura, cherry blossoms bloom earliest in March in Kyushu and latest in May in Sea Dao.
The ti span for cherry blossoms is short, they are at their fullest between five and seven days.
In seven days, they display a beautiful cherry blossom rain, eventually becoming leaf cherry trees.
The fleeting beauty is a classic example of East Sakura’s lancholy.
Yet it is already July, and the cherry blossoms are still at their fullest, with the wind blowing the romantic cherry blossom rain.
Cherry blossoms can forever maintain their most beautiful state at Seii Shrine!
This defies natural laws!
Yamada Hikari is thrilled, this might be the rumored power of Great Evil Demon King, preserving the beautiful cherry blossoms.
Tired from walking, Yamada Hikari rests in the pavilion for a while.
Asuka draws so water from the river and presents it to Yamada Hikari:
"This is spring water from the mountains, please have so."
Yamada Hikari takes a sip.
Indeed, it is sweet.
At this mont, Yamada Hikari states his purpose for coming:
"You, are you the Witch, Lady?"
Asuka’s eyes dangerously narrow.
Could he be soone else eyeing Seii Shrine?
Yamada Hikari continues:
"Don’t be nervous, I am Yamada Hikari, you can search online, I am the Master of East Sakura Xuann."
After Yamada Hikari finishes speaking, he stands up and makes a peculiar hand gesture, slightly bowing:
"Today I am here on behalf of the authorities, to discuss so matters with the Witch, Lady."
Yamada Hikari’s etiquette is the ancient custom between Yin Yang Masters and witches.
Almost no one rembers this ritual gesture now, except for ancient families like Seii’s or those who genuinely love Yin Yang Master culture.
Asuka’s expression slightly improved as she replied:
"I could never sell Seii Shrine."
Yamada Hikari quickly explained:
"I’m not here to buy Seii Shrine; I’m here to collaborate with Seii Shrine on behalf of the authorities.
Although I’m with the authorities, I am also a mber of the Mystical Sect.
I believe that having an official like , who respects both the Witch and the Yin Yang Master, serves as the best bridge between the authorities and Seii Shrine."
Asuka sat down:
"Sir, please speak directly."
Just then, darkness fell over Seii Shrine.
An eerie wind howled, and the cherry blossoms in the courtyard scattered.
Yamada Hikari looked on in astonishnt at this scene.
Asuka paused for a mont, then stood up and knelt on the ground.
Yamada Hikari blinked, unsure of what was happening.
Above the small pavilion, a mass of black mist appeared,
like the thick smoke produced by a volcanic eruption.
Six scarlet eyes erged within the black cloud, radiating a chilling and intimidating light.
Asuka respectfully said:
"Greetings, Great Evil Demon King."
Yamada Hikari’s pupils shook—was this the Great Evil Demon King?!
The legends in the Seii Notes are indeed true!
Yamada Hikari hurriedly bowed, performing an ancient ritual bow:
"Respectful greetings to the Great Evil Demon King!"
Yamada Hikari was filled with excitent.
He had imrsed himself in mystic techniques for decades; in this society, few respected ghost gods, making mystic techniques seem useless.
He often felt like this:
Just as he learned to repair the beep pager, the pager beca obsolete.
But he had a talent for repairing beep pagers and enjoyed it, so he devoted his life to pager repair.
And now?
The Witch appeared, the Great Evil Demon King appeared, and Yamada Hikari could finally put his skills to use—he was finally a useful person.
The terrifying demonic power and overwhelming pressure of the Great Evil Demon King all indicated that the Great Evil Demon King was a true Great Demon.
Once Spiritual Energy Revival occurred in East Sakura, the Great Evil Demon King would surely be the Guardian God protecting East Sakura!
The nation should worship!
At that ti, he would be a valuable person!
’Great Evil Demon King’ spoke:
"Countless years have passed, mortals no longer respect ghost gods, foolishly.
The world is on the verge of chaos, the Night Parade of Hundred Demons is lying in wait, they deserve it!"
Upon hearing this terrifying news, Yamada Hikari promptly kowtowed again:
"Please, Great Evil Demon King, save the people!
I will certainly report to the Pri Minister for the nation to worship the Great Evil Demon King!"
’Great Evil Demon King’ spoke in a haunting voice:
"Then let us make a deal.
First, East Sakura must erect a statue of .
Second, East Sakura must perform a ritual for every month.
Third, a Great Evil Palace must be constructed here as a residence for and my family.
As a reward, the priests in Seii Shrine may serve and my family in the Great Evil Palace.
The attendants of the Great Evil Palace will be granted mana by and beco Witches and Yin Yang Masters.
The owner of Seii Shrine, Asuka, will be my spokesperson in the future; you must show her respect."
Asuka showed a look of gratitude, bowing even lower.
The priests in Seii Shrine had the opportunity to enter the Great Evil Palace to serve the Great Evil Demon King, and those who served could beco Yin Yang Masters and Witches.
And Asuka was the sole Sect Leader of Seii Shrine.
In other words, Asuka would have the authority to decide who could beco a Yin Yang Master or a Witch!
Yamada Hikari let out a sigh of relief, his anxious heart finally at ease.
The Great Evil Demon King’s demands were sowhat different from his expectations, but it didn’t matter.
As long as the Great Evil Demon King was willing to protect East Sakura.
As long as East Sakura had a Witch and a Yin Yang Master, there was nothing to fear from the Blood Moon’s arrival!
Yamada Hikari respectfully said:
"I will certainly report to the Pri Minister!"
Xiaohai was satisfied, deliberately revealing his terrifying demon form as the Three-headed Hellhound before leaving.
Since they were going to build a statue of him as a god, they ought to know what he looked like.
Becoming a god with a statue, this prominence was no less than the Crow’s.
Perhaps, once he used the so-called Shikigami to control all of Sakura, becoming the god of all Sakura, leading a nation, he would be the most promising offspring of the Li Yang family!
Yamada Hikari was once again terrified and bowed when he saw the form of the Three-headed Hellhound.
Xiaohai had already left, and for a long ti, Yamada Hikari still did not dare to rise.
Asuka said:
"Sir, there’s no need to kneel. I still have so matters to discuss with you."
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