Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 8 - Higanbana: Chapter 13 – Shinsenen’s Guidance

“Please advise me.” Lily knew that her trip to Heian-kyo would be a death trap. Though she didn’t plan on fighting head on, she didn’t really have a clear idea of what to do. Since the unfathomable Shinsenen had appeared, then Lily would hope for some guidance.

“The Path of Yomi.” Shensenen only said four words as she looked at the deep valley to the side of the torii gate.

Path of Yomi? Just listening to those words made shivers run down her spine.

“Madam? I don’t understand your meaning.” Lily asked carefully.

“Don’t understand? When I said those words, I meant what I said. You should travel through the Path of Yomi.”

Shinsenen’s voice was deep and gloomy, but without any killing intent. Hearing the words, Lily felt as if a dark and scorching wind was blowing against her face…

Lily had once said to Rei, that if Rei was in danger, then she would dare to invade Yomi, but that was nothing more than a metaphor!

Observing Lily, Shinsenen continued, “Don’t be afraid Miss Lily, this is only a suggestion, if you are not willing, then don’t…”

“Madam Shinsenen!” Lily bowed deeply, “My understanding is limited, please guide me!”

Shinsenen’s voice turned gloomy and distant, “Yomi, is another world far beneath this great land. Miss Lily should know that if a person dies, their soul will go to the underworld Yomi, that is an extremely scorching or freezing place where the environment is unbelievably harsh. There are some extremely dangerous purgatories in the depths of Yomi that are so harsh that even a throne realmed expert will instantly vaporize!”

“Of course, I’m not asking Miss Lily to go die or to even enter the depths of Yomi, that’s impossible. Miss Lily, do you know that this land of Ashihara we live on, is a relatively long and narrow continent of a hundred thousand miles east to west and twenty to thirty thousand miles north to south and surrounded by several large islands?”

Lily nodded, she had also heard of some rumors about the islands surrounding this large land they lived on, but it was said that those places were all wild and uninhabited with no influence on the rest of the lands, for example Ezo. Lily had once read a biography banned by the imperial court, the book said that within the endless ocean there is a small island called Nanban. A small island, the natives on that island were not strong, but their metallurgy and craftsmen were very developed. Items such as firearms, clocks, glasses and other foreign products were all imported from that island.

Seeing that Lily was gradually understanding, Shinsenen continued, “There are many paths from Ashihara to Yomi, but there is only one road for adepts to walk, only one path that allows living to enter Yomi, and that is the Path of Yomi.”

Lily took deep breaths, just listening to the description made her feel the extreme danger of this path.

“Of course, when a living being enters Yomi, the underworld will greatly suppress that being’s power, it’s simply courting death. In between Yomi and Ashihara, there is a region called Yomi Hirazaka.”

“Yomi Hirazaka?” Lily had seen this mentioned in several strange stories, but to think this place actually existed.

“Yomi Hirazaka… that is the middle ground between Yomi and Ashihara, though its environment is not as bad as Yomi, it is still incomparably harsh compared to Ashihara. Yomi Hirazaka also has countless powerful ancient monsters and demon gods. It’s extremely dangerous for adepts to enter Yomi Hirazaka and the survival rate is less than one in ten thousand, but anyone who can survive and return alive is one of the peak powerhouses of this world!”

“A peak powerhouse…” Lily muttered.

Extremely dangerous, the probability of survival is less than one in ten thousand, but if you survive and return then you are a peak powerhouse! These words echoed deeply in Lily’s heart.

Shinsenen looked at Lily, her eyes glowing beneath her veil, “The previous number one of Heian-kyo, Minamoto no Yoshitsune broke through Yomi Hirazaka and returned to the mortal world!”

“Lord Yoshitsune! Lord Yoshitsune also broke through Yomi Hirazaka?”

“That’s right, though Yoshitsune has… fallen, but in terms of personal strength among humans, he is the first. Minamoto no Yoritomo, Fujiwara no Ayaka, Taira no Kiyomori, they all have to bow down in front of him. It’s such a pity that he died so young…” Shinsenen’s voice was filled with nostalgia.

“Miss Lily, you must understand that passing through Yomi Hirazaka doesn’t make you the top powerhouse but it gives you the qualifications to compete for the position! Yomi Hirazaka has the power you desperately need but also has endless dangers!”

“The power I need…”

“I must also warn you, if you enter Yomi Hirazaka, it will be much more dangerous than back when Yoshitsune entered! Your specialty will make Yomi’s monsters feel hatred towards you! If you meet any demon gods or spectral gods, then you will surely die!”

Lily’s heart pounded.

“A nine to one survival rate, but if you invade Heian-kyo to rescue Fujiwara no Ayaka now, you will only die in vain. As for any tactics or strategies that rely on countering factions? Miss Lily, you might have incredible talent, but your skill at tactics and plotting, I can only say that you don’t even match a regular court official. You want to plot against those dark factions that have been entrenched in Heian-kyo for thousands of years? Don’t overestimate yourself.”

Shinsenen walked past Lily and up towards the hill. “I can only say this much, you must decide your own path. I will go check up on Tamamo’s condition.”

Lily stood there in the middle of the mountain road, head lowered, the cold mountain wind blowing her long hair, making it look like fluttering black flames.

“Please tell me, where is the Path of Yomi?”

Shinsenen coldly laughed, “As expected, I didn’t misjudge you… In the deepest part of the ancient city of Nara, there is a Rashomon. At midnight, pass through the Rashomon and you will enter the Path of Yomi.”

……

Lily walked along the empty road of Suno, at this time, the people had long returned to their homes.

Lily had already made a decision.

Although going to the Path of Yomi would take some time, she required significant strength! Enough strength to break through Heian-kyo and rescue Fujiwara no Ayaka!

That strength she needed, it might be in Yomi Hirazaka!

Lily didn’t think that she would be able to directly counter an existence stronger than Ayaka if she passed through Yomi Hirazaka, but perhaps this power would not originate from herself.

Shinsenen’s words might have another meaning within them! Either way, she had to take the gamble! No matter the method, she would rescue Ayaka! Even if it was the Path of Yomi, she would challenge it!

“Sister Ayaka, you must wait for me!”

Lily walked through the empty road to the entrance of the village and stopped. Lily didn’t look back, but said “The one following me, please return.”

“Eh?” From a dark house behind her, a woman’s surprised voice was heard.

After a few moments, Ikeda Rin, dressed in a purple kimono walked out with hesitant steps.

“That… Miss Lily… I, I didn’t follow you on purpose, I… I just wanted to tell you, but you suddenly started talking with Madam Shinsenen. Don’t worry, I didn’t hear anything, I just didn’t want to disturb…”

Rin wasn’t a young girl, but her face was red and her speech was stuttering, as if she was hiding something.

“If Miss Ikeda has something to say, please tell me.”

Rin hesitated for a moment before pulling out a letter, on the letter was written “Dear Mr. Michizane.”

“Miss Lily… I, I heard that you were returning to Heian-kyo. If you meet Lord Michizane, can you help me, deliver this letter?” Rin was blushing like a young girl, this letter must not be an ordinary letter, it should have some hidden secrets.

Taking the letter, Lily replied, “This trip of mine… I do not know what will happen but if I meet Lord Michizane, I will help you deliver this letter.”

A gleam of joy emerged in Rin’s eyes before being submerged in sadness and loss. Rin took two small steps back and bowed deeply to Lily.

“Miss Lily, you are a kind girl, you must take care!” Rin turned and quickly fled.

Lily had accepted the letter with some hesitation.

“Miss Ikeda…”

……

In the night skies, above the vast mountains, a big bird flew westwards with the silvery moon behind.

Lily was dressed in red on top of the bird, her long hair and kimono fluttering in the winds, the map and path to Nara memorized.

Nara was the ancient capital of Heian-kyo’s preceding dynasty. That abandoned capital had the ghosts of the countless dynasties struggling over the bloody throne. These spirits have become incomparably ferocious over the past thousands of years, even the Heian imperial family didn’t want to step foot onto this dark and desolate land.

Nara and the surrounding areas did not have any imperial army nor were there any feudal lords foolish enough to dare rule the place. This was a land full of wickedness, no rules, no laws, and strength was the only factor!

The Sinless Domain, and the most dangerous core area of the domain was the Nara capital. Lily had confronted the forces of the Sinless domain before, but it was not a pleasant memory.

The number one young genius of the Sinless Domain, the fastest blade, Sakanoue no Tamurakonoe had died under her blade. But that’s only the younger generation, Nara had endured far longer than Heian-kyo had, it belonged to another older era! Who knew how many ancient monsters reside in this domain, whether it was those ancient swordmasters of the Sinless Domain or the cruel spirits that lie deeper…

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