Demon Sword Maiden

Volume 13 - Takamagahara: Chapter 51 - Mount Mikokage

“What? The teleportation array can’t be activated?” Asazora exclaimed in shock.

Meishin frowned with concern. “There’s nothing wrong with this array. If that’s the case, then the problem must be with the teleportation formation on Sakura Squad’s side.”

“Do we know what’s going on?” Bishamonten asked.

Meishin shook her head. “Almost all of Sakura Squad has been deployed. Very few sisters were left behind, and right now, there’s been no news at all.”

Bishamonten swept her gaze across the gloomy surroundings and said, “We can’t stay here for long. If we can’t go to Sakura Squad’s hidden location, then what about elsewhere?”

“At the moment, the only place we can guarantee to be absolutely safe…” Asazora suggested, “would be our Azure Squad’s base, namely Mount Mikokage. It’s just that the distance from here is extremely far, and the teleportation will require a larger quantity of rare materials.”

“That won’t be a problem,” Lily said calmly.

Rei, Bishamonten, and the others exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

Thus, Lily, Rei, Bishamonten, and the Celestial Maiden Rebels escaped Yuten Castle through the teleportation array, heading for the Azure Squad’s hidden refuge, Mount Mikokage.

“What? Mount Mikokage?” Yet no one could have expected that the moment the rebel maidens vanished through the teleportation array, Yuko received the news inside Yuten Castle.

Ame-no-Tajikarao had been defeated and was still on his way back. Even though Yuko now knew the rebels’ escape route, she was unable to mobilize the Yuten Army to intercept them. Still, she had already reported to Tennin-Mikoto, requesting that forces be dispatched to encircle and exterminate the rebels around Yuten Castle.

Who could have known that on one of the floating islands at the edge of Yuten Castle, there would actually be another teleportation array?

“Hmph. Riyuki, you really did betray us. Not only did you withhold all information from me, you even shamelessly defected to the rebels yourself. You wretch. Tennin-Mikoto chose not to value you and instead placed importance on me. That really shows remarkable insight. But you probably never imagined this. Although Riyuki truly defected, one of her subordinates had long since been someone I planted at her side!”

“Otherwise, Riyuki, how could I have stolen such a great merit from you? Hehehe…” Yuko sneered coldly, immediately returning to her station to activate the formation and report to Tennin-Mikoto.

Mount Mikokage stood lofty and austere.

After passing through the teleportation array, the sisters arrived at this place. Lily stepped across fallen leaves that rustled softly beneath her feet, walking along an ancient path lined with towering trees. She gazed toward the distant, azure-hued colossus of a mountain. Though it was her first time here, she felt an unprecedented sense of clarity and serene otherworldliness.

The ancient trees were so massive that sunlight was rarely seen along the mountain path, yet the forest was shaded without being dark, lush without feeling oppressive.

Along the roadside, ancient stone statues could be seen everywhere, most of them buried beneath withered leaves and tangled vines, exuding an immeasurable sense of age.

Lily felt as though simply walking this path cleansed her very soul.

Aside from the Azure Squad, most of the rebel sisters had never been here before. Each wore an expression of reverence and sanctity, while also feeling that they had arrived somewhere safe, a place where they could finally relax.

Only Bishamonten, treading this path, stepping on these leaves, and gazing at that mountain, found her eyes gradually moist.

“How many years has it been… since I last returned here. Baby Girl, take everything in properly. This place is the homeland of the Bishamonten clan.”

“Mother…” Although it was Rei’s first visit, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if she had been here before.

“That sacred mountain is Mount Mikokage,” Bishamonten said, pointing toward the distant peak as she spoke to Lily. “That is where the Bishamonten clan originated. Mount Mikokage rises ten thousand miles high. Even across Takamagahara, it is one of the seven supreme mountain ranges.”

“A single mountain, ten thousand miles tall…” Lily murmured, gazing at Mount Mikokage, which seemed to prop up half the sky itself, her heart filled with awe.

“Lady Bishamonten, then where exactly are we standing right now?” Lily asked.

“We should still be at the foot of Mount Mikokage,” Bishamonten explained. “This is a vast landmass suspended above Takamagahara. It’s larger than the entire territory of the Heian Dynasty. A floating land of this scale can no longer be called a mere floating island. It’s known as a Heavenly Continent.”

Rei turned back to look at the teleportation array. “Should we seal this formation to prevent enemies from following us?”

Asazora shook her head. “Young Lady, there’s no need to worry. The location of Mount Mikokage is absolutely secret. Even other rebel factions don’t know it. Everyone who knows the coordinates is already here. No one else can reach this place through a teleportation array.”

Rei nodded noncommittally.

“Lady Bishamonten, please come with us to the Azure Squad’s settlement and rest for now,” Asazora said.

“Mm, but I’d like to return to our clan’s old homeland first,” Bishamonten replied.

“Yes…” Asazora hesitated briefly, then nodded.

The land here was vast. The group sped through forests of colossal trees, and after roughly half a day’s journey, they reached a desolate valley at the foot of the great mountain. Along the slope, they could see countless ruined and abandoned villages.

“This…” Bishamonten descended into one of the villages. Though the buildings were broken, buried under fallen leaves and vines, and shattered statues lay toppled by the roadside, the layout of the place was still recognizable. Yet not a single person could be seen.

“What happened? These villages… where are our people?” Bishamonten asked urgently.

“Lady Bishamonten.” Asazora and several dozen sisters of the Azure Squad knelt before her. “We… are the last surviving members of the clan.”

“What?”

The Celestial Maidens of the Bishamonten clan were famed for their boldness and valor. Though their numbers had never been enormous, at their peak they still commanded over ten thousand warriors. Who could have imagined that in barely a thousand years, only a few dozen young women would remain?

“Ever since the Celestial Maiden army was defeated and your whereabouts became unknown, Lady,” Asazora said in a low voice, “the proud and fiercely combative Bishamonten clan launched expedition after expedition from this place. They sought to find you, to reclaim the Heavenly Path, and to avenge our fallen sisters. But almost all of them… never returned.”

“I am the daughter of Taran Takuzui, a direct-line commander of the clan, and Asaeiko, a Celestial Maiden who migrated here from elsewhere. Strictly speaking, I’m not even a pure-blood descendant of the Bishamonten clan. Yet now, the clan has been reduced to just us sisters.”

Bishamonten let out a quiet, helpless sigh. The splendor of the past seemed as vivid as yesterday, yet reality lay before her in shattered walls and collapsed eaves.

Lily’s heart felt unbearably heavy as well. Looking at Rei, she could imagine how valiant and heroic the Bishamonten maidens once were, and how they had been driven to the brink of extinction.

A wave of sorrow surged within her, and she quietly reached out to hold Rei’s hand.

“Sister Uesugi, the Bishamonten clan will never be wiped out. I won’t allow it,” Lily swore silently in her heart.

“Let’s go,” Bishamonten said calmly. It was nothing more than emotions stirred by the scenery. In truth, she had already known most of this. Even Tsukuyomi no Mikoto had fallen. How could a single Celestial Battle Maiden clan fare any better?

The Celestial Maiden Rebels arrived at the Azure Squad’s base. Though the place was bleak and quiet, there was still a trace of vitality.

Several members were stationed here to hold the fort. In addition, over a hundred trainee Celestial Maidens were undergoing swordsmanship, spellcraft, and other forms of training, forming the future backbone of the rebellion.

The young Celestial Maidens grew visibly excited upon seeing Bishamonten, their hearts filled with reverence. This was the leader of the Celestial Battle Maidens of the Three Realms, a guardian-like existence spoken of only in legend.

They gathered together in clusters and knelt one after another, bowing respectfully.

“Look, that sister in green. Even though her clothes are so tattered, she’s really beautiful…” several young Celestial Maidens whispered while kneeling behind a broken statue, sneaking glances in that direction.

“When I grow up, if I could be as pretty as her, that would be wonderful.”

“And that sister in the blue-and-white feathered robe is so tall. Her presence feels just like the Bishamonten in the paintings.”

The young Celestial Maidens murmured among themselves in awe. Most of them had never left the valley in their entire lives. They were essentially orphans of the main clan and nearby collateral branches.

Though their strength was weak, these young maidens had carried deep hatred since childhood, and when it came to battle, they were exceptionally brave.

Seeing those pairs of youthful yet resolute eyes, Lily felt her heart ache. ‘If I had that kind of power, I would never let them step onto the battlefield and be forced to kill,’ she thought silently.

There were many vacant houses here and few residents. Under the arrangements of the Azure Squad, the rebel Celestial Maidens were assigned to reside in various courtyards, lodges, or dojos according to their groups.

As for Bishamonten and the others, Asazora naturally gave up the Azure Squad’s main headquarters courtyard to them, while she herself brought along several trusted Celestial Maidens to serve as attendants and guards.

“Rei-Rei, Lily, rest well for now. Once you’ve recovered and cleansed yourselves with a bath, come and pay respects to the ancestors of the Bishamonten clan,” Bishamonten said.

“Understood, Mother,” Rei replied.

Everyone was likely exhausted that day. Lily and Rei both wore torn and damaged garments. The two walked along the quiet corridor until they reached the fork in the courtyard paths leading to their respective rooms.

“Then… Sister Uesugi… good night,” Lily said, her voice tinged with reluctance.

“Mm. Good night,” Rei replied.

“Um… this time, I really owe my rescue to you, Sister Uesugi. Otherwise, if I had been escorted to the Palace of Ritsuten, I’m afraid I would’ve been humiliated by those obscene gods…” Lily said with a flushed face, lowering her head. “Thank you.”

“Not at all. You were only caught in enemy territory because you went to save my mother. The one who should be grateful is me.”

“Then… good night.” Lily cast a flickering glance at Rei before turning and hurrying away with small steps.

However, after taking only two steps, Lily’s hand was suddenly seized by Rei.

“Eh?” Before Lily could react, Rei had already used strength that Lily could not resist no matter what. She pulled Lily back, pinned her against the wall while gripping her hand, and then pressed her soft, rosy lips against Lily’s.

“Uu…” Lily was utterly stunned at first and instinctively resisted, but very quickly, she wrapped her arms around Rei’s waist from behind. One hand even moved boldly to rest against Rei’s hip.

Feeling Lily’s response, Rei gave a wicked smile and kissed her even more intensely.

“Sis… Sister… we should go bathe… ah…” Lily had not finished speaking when Rei bit gently at her earlobe. “No. Just like this.”

As she spoke, her silvery hair brushed softly against Lily’s shoulder. She kissed Lily’s cheek, breathing heavily as her lips moved downward, white vapor dispersing as she lightly nipped at Lily’s neck, her body pressing tightly against hers.

With a sudden crash, Lily felt the world lurch behind her. The old wooden-and-paper partition could no longer support itself and collapsed inward. The two fell together into the room. Moonlight spilled into the dim interior, illuminating the intertwined bodies of the two maidens as Rei lifted her long, pale legs and pinned Lily beneath her.

Just as Lily thought everything would naturally continue from there, Rei suddenly propped herself up and stood.

She walked toward the outside of the room.

Lily was stunned, gasping for breath. After a brief moment of daze, she shakily stood, adjusted her clothes, and hurried out after her, looking at Rei’s retreating figure. “Sister, where are you going?”

“To bathe, of course,” Rei said with a smile, strolling toward the rear courtyard without a care. Lily felt a little annoyed and could only follow after her.