The white bird suddenly appeared beside Ibaraki Doji.
Ibaraki noticed it.
After all, it was a white bird that was too beautiful to ignore—
The whole body is snow-white, only the claws and beaks are bright red, and there is a cluster of slender crown feathers on the top of the head, which bends gracefully in the air, and shakes lightly when the wind blows.
At the moment it is perched on the cypress tree opposite Ibaraki, and it is arranging its feathers with its small beak little by little, as leisurely as if it was just a bird that flew here by chance.
Ibaraki squinted at it, secretly marveling at its extraordinary beauty.
It doesn't look like a secular thing, it's probably the incarnation of some spiritual thing.Ibaraki made such a judgment, and then patted the grass clippings on his body, ending the short rest.
Almost at the same time as he got up, the white bird also stopped combing its feathers, and fluttered its wings from the treetops.
Ibaraki glanced at the bird hovering above his head, raised his foot and continued on his way, acquiescing to its accompanying.
He didn't care where the white bird came from and where it was going, he just thought that he had found a companion to relieve his boredom during the boring and tiring long journey.
This is the fourth day since Ibaraki left Tamba Oeyama.
On this trip, he was entrusted by the ghost king Jiu Tun Doji, and he wanted to go to Mount Ibuki thousands of miles away to find an answer.
The road is obstructed and long, and Ibaraki will travel day and night to cross the rolling mountains in Tamba and step into the Yamashiro Kingdom.Bypassing the heavily guarded and troubled Gyeonggi area, he chose to cross the Atago Mountains from the northern end of the Yamashiro Kingdom and enter the Omi Kingdom where Mount Ibuki is located.
Mount Atago is the sphere of influence of the Ootengu.
The powerful big monsters each have their own territories, and unless there are extremely special circumstances, they will not easily offend each other.
Ibaraki knew that he shouldn't enter Daitengu's territory at will, but he was entrusted with this trip and couldn't tolerate any mistakes.It is safer to negotiate with the same kind than to pass through the heavily guarded Kyoto that is full of enchantments.
Mount Atago is not scary at night, the moon is shining brightly, and even the wind is extraordinarily gentle. If you listen carefully, you can even faintly catch the melodious sound of the flute in the distance.
It's no wonder that Daitengu, as a monster, is almost regarded as a god by people.
She lives in seclusion and loves elegance, so occasional disturbances are logically regarded as sins from gods.
If this kind of cognition was placed when Ibaraki first entered the demon way, he would definitely disdain it. What's the point of pretending to be a god even though he is clearly a first-class demon?
However, today is different from the past. Hundreds of years have passed, and Ibaraki has already understood that even if they are both monsters, they are not the same, and what they like in their hearts is the opposite.
Back then, he joined Jiu Tun Boy under his command, and the two fought each other to advance and retreat.Behind the hearty battle, there are more toasts and drinks and a lot of idle time.
Ibaraki often told Shuten that such a simple and happy life is the best.
But the latter laughed at his innocence when he was half-drunk and half-awake, and told him that the life of a demon is long, even if he has traveled many mountains, waded through many rivers, and read all the scenery in the world, he still hasn't figured out how to get through it. What's more, he has only just grown into a real monster for a few years.
Ibaraki is very contradictory, he feels that he knows exactly what he wants, but at the same time he feels that he should not doubt every word Shuten said.After thinking for a long time, he frowned and asked unwillingly, "Did your best friend understand?"
Jiu Tun was lying on the soft grass with the ghost gourd as his pillow, his eyes squinted by the bright sky light.
"No," he said.
Ibaraki was even more confused.
"But as it is now, it's not bad." Jiu Tun touched the flagon in his hand with a hint of gluttony in his expression.
"I think so too!" Hearing this, Ibaraki's eyes lit up again.
Jiu Tun snorted lightly, bringing out a hint of teasing.Stretching, he turned over and found a comfortable position, intending to fall asleep.
"You should go to a place other than Dajiangshan, meet other big monsters, and see all kinds of human beings."
"No." Ibaraki rejected the proposal without thinking, "Dajiangshan is very good, I don't want to leave here."
"Go ahead," Jiu Tun didn't bother to explain too much to him, "It's not too late to come back after reading it."
Ibaraki fell silent while digging the muddy ground under the grass with his head down.
"I, I..." After a while, he murmured and opened his mouth, showing a look of difficulty, "I came from this world, I don't want to see it anymore."
There are reasons and effects, and it is reasonable.
It's a pity that Jiu Tun was unmoved.
"You haven't taken a good look at the human world." Jiu Tun's tone was laziness, but it had undeniable power, "At least as a monster, never."
Isn't it ridiculous that you can't blend into the world when you are a human being, but you can walk in the world after falling into the demon way?
Ibaraki raised his head and quickly glanced at his back, then lowered his eyes again, "Is there any difference?"
"Have."
Ibaraki stopped asking, he believed in every word Shuten-douji said after all.
Orioles fly and grass grows on Dajiang Mountain, and you can see scattered small villages all the way down the continuous mountains.Ibaraki was stunned for a moment, not understanding why just such a vague glance evoked a memory that he had almost forgotten——
It is neither pain nor joy, but it is about trivial matters such as the crowing of chickens and the barking of dogs, the curling smoke of cooking, or the fireworks and candies at festivals.
He looked down the mountain, his golden pupils filled with the long past.
Jiu Tun didn't get a response for a long time, so he couldn't help turning his neck and glanced at him quietly, and then lay back and licked the corners of his lips silently.
"Go, Ibaraki."
Ibaraki came back to his senses, hesitated for a moment, got up and turned into a human form.
"it is good."
The monster Ibaraki left Dajiangshan and became a ronin who roamed the world.
Up to Lutsu, down to Nagato, he walked all over one by one, and saw with his own eyes the boundless sea of red flowers in Dewa, the steep Okinawako Cliff in Echigo, and the fishing boat Pinghu in the sunset of Zhou Fangri...
The scenery of mountains, rivers, lakes and seas is not the same in four seasons, but it seems that it has never changed in several springs and autumns.
Ibaraki has seen many scenes of snow in Hira and rain in Tangzaki, but he has a faint feeling that these are not what Shuten wants him to watch.
Winter is over, and spring is about to pass.
The trees on the barren hills in Kuwana County are becoming more and more verdant, hiding a deserted shrine that no one visits even deeper.
Ibaraki is very satisfied with this temporary shelter, it is far away from human habitation, so he doesn't have to hide his body as a monster, he is very comfortable.
It's always very quiet here, so quiet that it's even lonely.Just like its owner.
"Ichimoku." Ibaraki stopped the monster who was going to patrol the mountains after lunch break, "You are no longer a wind god, why do you still worry about human beings every day?"
The taciturn but gentle monster smiled lightly, "They need me."
"Really?" Ibaraki smirked, and a cold light flashed in his golden pupils, "But you don't have any believers, and you even lost your godhead."
Of course Yimulian knew what he was laughing at, but he didn't want to argue with him, and even softly agreed: "Yes."
Ibaraki was stunned, completely unexpected that he could be so calm.
Looking at him at a glance, Fu said again: "But those are not important."
After saying that, he raised his hand to touch the golden dragon behind him, turned around and walked out, and his figure quickly disappeared at the end of the long tree-lined path.
The late spring sunlight leaked from the vigorous branches and leaves of the trees, sprinkled finely all over the ground.Ibaraki withdrew his gaze from a distance, staring at the mottled light and shadow on the ground and stared blankly.
There are such gentle and compassionate monsters in the world?
Ibaraki felt incredible.
It's not like I haven't seen monsters that benefit mankind before.But arrogant like a big tengu, fickle like Lord Arakawa, the blessing of the former comes from the persistence of righteousness, while the blessing of the latter is more on the spur of the moment, like Ichimolian, a monster who has no regrets and no regrets. It's heterogeneous.
Heterogeneous.
Ibaraki's breathing was stagnant, and his complexion darkened.
The so-called heterogeneity is just different, it has nothing to do with good or bad, good or evil.
He has no way of identifying whether it was the world that abandoned him, or he turned his back on the world.
In the twilight, Yimulian returned to the shrine, holding a child who had fallen asleep in his arms. It seemed that he had lost his way in the deep mountains and had stumbled and injured himself.
Ibaraki took it for granted, watching him busy in and out, skillfully healing the children's wounds, until late at night, a group of people with torches came to find him.
Ordinary people can't see monsters, they can only see the ruins of the shrine and the child sleeping next to the stone pillar.A group of people picked up the child and hurried down the mountain. The few people walking at the end of the team walked a few steps and turned back to the dilapidated shrine. They folded their hands and worshiped reverently.
Ibaraki has been paying attention to Yimulian's reaction from the beginning to the end, but he only saw that he silently put on the Dao talisman for everyone who left.
"You really love human beings." Ibaraki thought, and said involuntarily.
Yimulian still had that quiet and gentle look, unlike Ibaraki's golden pupils which were burning with flames, his golden pupils reflected the joys, sorrows, joys, joys and sorrows of the world.
"They're weak and powerful, it's amazing," Yimulian turned to look at Ibaraki, "Isn't it?"
Ibaraki looked away, looked at the morning star rising in the sky through the dilapidated roof, opened his mouth, but made no sound.
After a long while, he said slowly, "What's so good about human beings?"
"It has nothing to do with whether they are good or bad." Meeting his puzzled gaze, Yimulian answered slowly but firmly, "I want to protect them, I must protect them, that's all."
Ibaraki shook his head, "I don't understand."
Yimulian smiled, and gave great patience to his stupidity at the moment, "Whether I am a wind god or a monster, I will always be me." After a pause, he continued: "Whether it is a god, a monster, or a human being, I will always be me." What you do does not depend on identity or any other reason, but out of your own ideas and choices. Like you."
"Me?" Ibaraki was surprised.
Yimu nodded, "Is it true that you fell into the demon world because you are not allowed to live in the world?"
Ibaraki recalled an old event from long ago.
His hometown, Ibaraki Prefecture in Settsu, holds a firework festival in summer. Although it is not as famous as the Ujigawa Fireworks Festival, it is still a very lively festival.
When the summer insects began to sing for the first time, the prosperous summer kicked off.
In the afternoon, the chirping of cicadas one after another, the tinkling sound of refilling water in the courtyard, and the mottled light and shadow falling beside the bamboo curtains, everything is so peaceful that it makes you trance.The young Ibaraki could not understand this kind of overly tranquil interest at all. He was more fond of the stream in the back mountain warmed by the sun all day, the summer insect hiding in the depths of the grass suddenly startled, or the sand bathing with fluttering wings. bird.
Ibaraki has been regarded as an ominous devil since he was born, and he is spurned by everyone, so he naturally has no friends.So he always spends a whole day alone facing these vivid things in the remote mountain, from the flowing clouds to the sunset to the star sea, and finally returns to the home that ignored him in the deep night .
Day after day, the not-too-long summer came to an end.People began to prepare for the fireworks display in late summer, sending a splendid farewell to the most enthusiastic season of the four seasons.
The streets and alleys are full of lights and lights, all of which carry people's good wishes.
However, no matter how grand the celebration is, it has nothing to do with Ibaraki.He only knew that the summer would be over after the firework festival, and the scenery of the back mountain would slowly lose its vitality full of enthusiasm.The rustling autumn leaves and Xiao Xiao Luoxue that followed were certainly beautiful, but the scorching heat of the hot summer was the spark that would never be extinguished in his heart.
Ibaraki stared at the lively crowd, knowing that he must be the one who was out of happiness. He didn't even have a decent yukata to wear to attend the festival decently.In fact, there is a tailor shop not far from his home, and there is also a bathrobe in the shop that he likes very much, but unfortunately no one has ever cared about it.
Fortunately, Ibaraki didn't feel sad.
He has never had a moment of tenderness in this world, and he has never had a sense of yearning and belonging, so he can't give birth to the sadness of self-pity.He is like a beast trapped among human beings, walking alone, but he can't find a place for himself, so he can only keep looking for it.
On the day of the firework festival, Ibaraki still stayed in the back mountain. The difference was that there were more villagers around him who went to the hillside to enjoy the fireworks better.
There was a very unfamiliar young man in the crowd, but Ibaraki felt special about him just by looking at him.
The boy's bundles of redness were like flames, but his expression was icy cold, his tightly pursed lips were as cold as a knife's edge, and he was stingy with showing even a slight arc.He walked slowly among the crowd, but he never seemed to blend into it.
Out of place, rejecting people thousands of miles away.
Ibaraki smelled the smell of the same kind, so he chased the boy's footsteps to the other side of the mountain.
The shade of the mountain is extremely desolate, there are neither people nor fireworks, only the mighty mountain wind.
The young man gave birth to sharp ears and sharp claws at some point, and a layer of dark red aura surged around him.
A three-legged crow flew out of his body, becoming bigger and bigger in the air.After circling a few times in the night sky, it suddenly swooped down with a long chirp, piercing through the young man's body, and the sudden burst of light illuminated the entire mountain shade.
Ibaraki subconsciously raised his hand to cover his eyes, and when he looked again, the boy and the Yata Yata had disappeared.
Crow feathers fell from the sky one after another, and when they touched the ground, they ignited and incinerated into ashes.
Taking a few steps forward in disbelief, Ibaraki stared blankly at what happened in front of him and felt his heart tremble.He didn't feel any fear at all, instead, as if inspired by something, he stretched out his hand to catch a piece of crow feather that was slowly floating towards him.
The black feather quietly fell on his palm, neither burning nor disappearing.
It became the treasure of Ibaraki.
Even later, it became the most glorious feather decoration on the shoulder armor of Ibaraki Doji's battle suit named Hell Ghost Hand.
At that time, Ibaraki didn't realize what he was holding in his palm, he just wanted to find the mysterious boy who suddenly appeared in the late summer night and then disappeared suddenly.
And the turning point of fate is never as vigorous as people think, it is often undetectable, as light as a feather.
Cold comes and summer goes, spring goes and autumn comes, Ibaraki has been unable to find the boy, but he hears that a great red-haired demon named Shuten-douji was born in the territory of Tanba country adjacent to Settsu, and his fame spreads all over the world.
He began to have a dream over and over again.
The dream is very simple, so simple that there are only red colors everywhere, like blood rushing and a sea of fire.
I often wake up from the dream, but the longing in Ibaraki's heart does not diminish, and even intensifies.
He was overwhelmed by all the fiery red, and finally couldn't help licking the fresh human blood on the knife edge.It doesn't feel good to have the fishy-sweet rust smell in your mouth, but when the tip of your tongue licks the sharp blade, it will draw a long and thin wound, and warm blood will flow out of the wound, the flow of heat is enough to make Ibaraki sink.
The freak in people's mouth has finally turned into a bloodthirsty monster.
Ibaraki was expelled.
The villagers threw hundreds of torches at him in an attempt to burn the terrible monster to death. The haystacks doused with grease instantly ignited, and the soaring flames reflected the sky and the earth red.
Ibaraki stood motionless and let the flames ignite.The overwhelming red, accompanied by the terrifying scorching heat, made his dream come true.Stern laughter broke out, and Ibaraki had never been so almost wanton in his heart. He never thought that the farewell to the world could be so thorough and cruel.
The crow feather hanging on his chest suddenly floated up, and the body of the feather also glowed with a dark red aura.In the blink of an eye, the aura surged, and the huge three-legged crow rose into the sky, and then it swooped down towards the sea of flames, crashed into his body, and disappeared.
The severe pain of cramping and splitting bones exploded in Ibaraki's body, causing his veins to bulge and his eyes to tear apart. He wanted to scream but he couldn't make a sound.
In the flames, Ibaraki gave birth to the same sharp ears and claws as the red-haired boy, and the skin on the side of his cheeks burned by the flames cracked like dead wood, and a blood-stained scarlet horn grew out.Blood trickled from the newborn horn and into his eyes, burning with pain.With his eyes tightly closed, Ibaraki groaned and fell to his knees, his demonic claws dug into the mud, like a dying beast making its final struggle.
People have long been dumbfounded by what happened in front of them, and at the same time they are terrified, but at the same time they are curious whether the monster in the fire is dead or alive.The restless and fearful crowd never expected that the momentary silence was the prelude to death. In the center of the sea of flames, purple-black flames suddenly gushed out, swallowing the red flames like huge waves, and swept towards all directions— —
The flames summoned from the depths of hell never spared any living beings, and people were wiped out before they even had time to cry.
The black flame faded away, and everything was silent.
The big monster who was kneeling on the ground hunched over moved and slowly got up.He opened his blood-soaked eyes, and for the first time looked at the world with demonized golden pupils.
Countless ravens came by night, but he was about to leave by night.
"That was the first time I met my best friend."
When it comes to Shuten, Ibaraki's whole monster becomes radiant.
"But my best friend has never admitted that I am that boy." Ibaraki showed a puzzled expression, "He is obviously, I can't admit it wrong."
"Maybe—" Looking at the gradually brightening sky outside the shrine, Yimulian murmured, "He hasn't reconciled with his former self yet."
"What do you mean?" Izuku looked at him suspiciously.
Yimulian subconsciously raised his hand to caress his hollow left eye socket hidden behind his bangs, and sighed softly, "Do you know Shuten-douji's real life experience?"
After thinking for a while, Ibaraki frowned and shook his head.
Regarding the legend of Shuten, he had inquired a lot when he was still a human being, but he had no way of verifying whether it was true or not.After becoming a monster, he also asked Shuten to verify the truth of those rumors, but the latter never gave an answer.As time passed, Ibaraki didn't care so much.It doesn't matter whether Shuten is the son of a fallen god, a cursed philanderer, or a dishonest novice, what he believes is just the Shuten-doji that thousands of people have seen day and night.
However, in the current situation, I, who has always called Shuten a close friend, can't tell his real life experience, which somewhat annoys Ibaraki.
"No one knows except himself." Yimulian didn't seem to be surprised, "There are many rumors about his life experience, and everyone knows it, but none of them has been admitted by him."
"so?"
"Even the ghost king has a past that he doesn't want to mention. Even if the rumors are spreading, he doesn't want to respond personally." Seeing that he was still troubled, he continued: "Because he doesn't care about other people's opinions at all. What really bothers him is the self who made all the past happen."
Ibaraki lowered his eyes, looking thoughtful.
After a long time, he tilted his head and smiled suddenly, "It doesn't matter, it's all over anyway."
Jiu Tun said that everything should be "let it go", and nothing is more important than the current enjoyment.Things in the world have their own destiny, just like he was born a human, but he is destined to become a big monster in the future.Those experiences that cannot be let go and do not want to look back will eventually disappear in the long river of time and become stories that pass with a smile, and the monster happens to have a long enough life to obtain this peace.
He has been wandering abroad for several years, but he still hasn't had the desire to take a good look at the world.Presumably, his best friend has already noticed that his difficulties in the past are similar to his own, so he insisted on letting him leave Dajiangshan to wander the world.The ghost king disdains blind and ignorant followers, but longs for a fellow who is evenly matched.Ibaraki still doesn't know the intricate connection between the past, the present and the future, and the way to get out of the predicament, but an idea floated from the bottom of his heart, and it became clearer.
Looking at the rising sun outside the torii gate, he suddenly remembered the red sun leaping out of the sea of clouds that he had seen on Mount Dajiang.
"I want to go back."
He got up and stretched his waist in the warm morning sun, a long-lost joy surged up in his heart, "Go back to Dajiangshan!"
Ibaraki returned home like an arrow, and after leaving Ise country, he crossed Iga country and Yamashiro country diagonally, and went straight to Tamba Oeyama.When passing through the Gyeonggi area, he happened to catch up with the annual firework festival in Ujigawa. He had no intention of staying there, but he heard from passers-by that at the firework festival, he could buy the Shobo wine that Iga supplies to Kyoto in a limited amount every year and the refreshing and pleasant local wine from Yamashiro country. To drink, I decided to wander among the crowd for a while.
Ibaraki transformed into the appearance of a human youth. His black hair was tied behind his head, and when he walked, he would raise a graceful arc in the air. He was wearing a well-made yukata, which was very plain, with only a few leaves of green bamboo delicately embroidered on the corners. His indifferent expression matched.He walked alone on the bustling long street with his hands in his sleeves, but his casual appearance attracted the attention of many people-a handsome face is always easy to attract people's hearts.
Ibaraki sneered in his heart, and walked through the sea of people, looking for wine shops along the long street, while contemptuous of the shallowness of people's hearts.
He wants to return to Dajiangshan with the most delicious wine in the world, and have a good time with his best friends.
It is easy to find famous wine from mountain cities, but it is hard to find a glass of wine with limited supply.Ibaraki looked all over the wine shops facing the street, and after a few inquiries, he bought the last pot of Sengfang wine in a small wine shop hidden in a deep alley.
Hanging the porcelain white jug on his waist, Ibaraki turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by a person who appeared behind him at some point.
"The last pot?"
The person who came was half a head shorter than Ibaraki, and was wearing a bamboo hat, which just covered Ibaraki's view of him. Judging from the voice, he was probably a boy.
Ibaraki frowned, looking rather displeased, "So what?"
"This wine," while speaking, the young man's left hand reached towards the flagon hanging by Ibaraki's waist with lightning speed, and his right arm cooperated with the hand that separated Ibaraki's attempt to restrain his movements, and immediately hooked his left hand, which was already He grabbed the flagon and walked a few steps away, "I want it."
Ibaraki was taken aback when he heard the words, and looked at him again, only to see the young man pushed up the bamboo hat with his right index finger, revealing a pair of dark purple eyes.
"Best...friend?"
The young man raised his chin and gave a frivolous smile, raised the jug and shook it, "Come on, let's go together."
They went to the roof of the main hall of the Uji Shrine, and they could see all the lights and people coming and going.
The evening breeze at the end of summer is just right, just like the fine wine that enters the throat at this moment, just right between the strongness of the divine wine and the dullness of the turbid wine.
"Ibaraki," Jiu Tun suddenly interrupted the big monster who was talking about his wandering experiences over the years, "Do you know why most monsters hide in mountains, rivers and dense forests?"
Ibaraki was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head numbly.
"Because there is no place for monsters to live in the world." Jiu Tun put the empty wine dish aside, and looked at the distant sky where the fireworks exploded. No land."
"But Dajiangshan belongs to a close friend!" Ibaraki blurted out almost subconsciously.
"A monster has nothing but power." Jiu Tun snorted coldly with a half-smile, and said again: "But power can bring everything."
Ibaraki felt the killing intent ignited in him, and immediately became excited, "My dear friend, is this going to fight? Let me join you! Let me feel your power!"
The empty wine dish was turned into powder in Jiu Tun's hands. He stood upright on the ridge of the roof, showing the body of a monster. The powerful monster power lingered around him and brought strong winds. Out of the body in the middle, he screamed and charged into the night sky, then turned sharply from the commanding heights and dived into the crowd gathered on the long street.
"It's you!" Ibaraki couldn't help exclaiming as he looked at the familiar scene in front of him, "It's you!"
"It's different." Jiu Tun stared blankly at the chaotic long street, his eyes were so cold that there was no warmth, "The night you saw him, he died."
"What are you talking about, dear friend?" Ibaraki was puzzled, "You...he...?"
It's a long story, and the moment is not a good time for an explanation.
Jiu Tun glanced at Ibaraki, and decided to make a long story short, "What you saw was one of my dead predecessors. Yata crows travel between life and death, and only show up for two things: saving the dead, and," he paused , Fang gnashed his teeth and said, "Revenge."
Ibaraki thinks that revenge is probably something that cannot be stopped once it starts.
The dignitaries in Kyoto tried to obliterate the monsters that caused panic, while the ghost king in Dajiangshan wanted to constantly avenge the little monsters who died under the hands of the Onmyoji.
The good and evil of human beings and the good and evil of monsters can never be generalized. The contradictory positions are destined to be difficult to distinguish between right and wrong, only cause and effect.
Year after year, the disputes come and go, seemingly endlessly.
However, there is always an end to everything.
Under the back and forth fierce conflicts, the grievances between the ghost king and humans deepened until there was no room for change.The ruler of Kyoto decided to send the bravest samurai and the best onmyoji to join forces to retreat from Dajiangshan, and Shuten Doji, who was invincible in all battles, was even more fearless and resolutely made the decision to fight.
"Master Jiuten..." Yingcao hid behind the Peach Blossom Demon, tightly clutching the dandelion in her hand, her timid voice was full of worry.
"Tch, I'm in trouble." Jiu Tun is not very good at dealing with these weak girls of flowers and plants on the mountain, pretending to be impatient: "You all stay away, don't hinder my uncle from fighting."
"Yes, don't hinder your best friend." Ibaraki stood aside and echoed.
"But...but Yingcao heard that the humans who came this time, this time are very powerful. So, please...please..." Yingcao still couldn't change her habit of stuttering when she was nervous.
"Please let us help you, Lord Jiuten." The Peach Blossom Demon patted her head and finished the rest of the sentence softly.
"No need." Looking at the helpless looks of the little girls because of his unmodified rejection, Jiu Tun scratched his hair a little annoyed, "If you can avoid those people, it will be a big help."
"But! We..."
"Your cultivation is too shallow, and I'm afraid you won't even be able to resist the arrogance released by my uncle." After finishing speaking, Jiu Tun released a little arrogance to intimidate the little monsters who still wanted to distinguish, and proved his words with facts, " Let's all go."
The little monsters finally stopped talking and left one after another under the leadership of the Peach Blossom Demon.
Sitting down on the spot leaning on the ghost gourd, Jiu Tun glanced at the big demon who was sitting next to him from the corner of his eye, and couldn't help feeling a headache, "Why don't you leave?"
Ibaraki tilted his head and said as a matter of course: "This battle is extraordinary, I will not leave my best friend, and I am strong enough."
Alcoholic speechless, do not know how to refute.
After sitting quietly for a while, Jiu Tunfu spoke again, "I hate losing, especially losing to mere humans."
"A best friend won't lose." Ibaraki said firmly.
"That's natural." Jiu Tun snorted, his eyes fell on him, and he said seriously as if he suddenly remembered something: "Having said that, the samurai in Kyoto should not be underestimated."
Ibaraki's face darkened, and the ghost claw grasped the empty sleeve of his right arm, and said angrily, "I will crush them all this time!"
"Not enough." Jiu Tun pressed his ghost claws, "It's not enough to have the determination to win."
"My best friend, our strength is far superior to that of human beings, how could we lose?"
Jiu Tun shook his head, "Human beings are deceitful, if they don't have a perfect plan, how would they dare to launch a crusade?"
Ibaraki frowned, not understanding why his best friend was uncharacteristically cautious, "It's just a bluff, best friend don't need to worry."
"My uncle hates defeat." Jiu Tun repeated, "So, you have to find something to help me win."
"What is it?"
"Tiancong Cloud Sword."
The sound of the flute was getting closer. If Ibaraki knew the rhythm, it would not be difficult to hear the warning meaning, but unfortunately he never knew anything about Gagaku.
After an almost sharp ending, the sound of the flute stopped abruptly.
Daitengu stared at Daiyo who came from the darkness, and commented coldly, "It's really rude, Ibaraki Doji."
Ibaraki looked up at the big demon sitting on the cherry tree, and said politely: "I'm sorry."
Putting the bamboo flute away, Otengu didn't accept his perfunctory response, "Why don't you stay in Dajiangshan and come to Atago Mountain?"
"I have something important to go to Mount Ibuki, and I just passed through here." Ibaraki said concisely, not wanting to waste more words.
"Ibuki..." Daitengu frowned, and his eyes swept lightly over the white bird hovering not far away, and there was a trace of surprise in his eyes, "There is nothing you are looking for there."
Hearing this, Ibaraki couldn't help but look terrified, "How do you know what I'm looking for?"
"It's nothing more than the Tiancongyun Sword."
Daitengu replied calmly, but Ibaraki was surprised, "How do you know?"
Mount Atago is close to Kyoto, so Ootengu naturally knows everything about it.It has been heard that there are constant conflicts between the ghost king of Dajiang Mountain and those in power in Kyoto, and a decisive battle is imminent.The ghost general in front of him, who has always been arrogant and can only tolerate his best friends, wanted to go to Mount Ibuki, thousands of miles away, on the eve of the war. To help out, Big Tengu really couldn't think of a reason for him to appear in front of him in a hurry.
"It does not matter."
"what do you want to say in the end?"
"Instead of going to Mount Ibuki and returning without success, you might as well go to Kyoto first and then make a decision." Ootengu felt that it was not his style to be so nosy about the facts, so he stopped talking.He looked meaningfully at the white bird that had landed on the treetop not far away, and it spread its wings and disappeared in the strong wind mixed with falling feathers.
Ibaraki hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether he should continue to Ibuki Mountain or listen to Otengu's words.
On that day, Jiu Tun revealed the mystery of his life experience.
His original predecessor was the son of Ibuki Daimyojin, and the parent-child relationship between the gods is weak. Shuten never felt that he had any deep blood relationship with Ibuki Daimyojin. He even preferred the human name for this terrible god-Baqi big snake.
Ibuki Damingshen is entrenched in the mountains, and he is accompanied by demons and ghosts all day long, and gradually he has a heart for disaster and harms one party.
At that time, Shuten still believed in the saying that gods should be the blessings of all people, but he didn't have enough power to contend with Yamata no Orochi, so he could only watch with cold eyes day after day, until Suzhan Mingzun from Gao Tianyuan killed him.
For a long time, he couldn't forget Suzhan Mingzun's brave appearance of holding the Ten Fist Sword in his hand and drawing the Amano Cloud Sword from the tail of the dead Yamata no Orochi, and longed for the power to be able to rank among the gods of Takamahara.However, Yamata no Orochi's depravity and death have already made him lose his godhead, and he is at best a demon queen who has been punished by heaven.
Everything has to be done from scratch.
Jiu Tun traveled through thousands of mountains and rivers, and heard many legends about gods falling into demons, ghosts becoming adults, and mortals ascending to immortals.Some are just a single thought, while others have to go through tortuous reincarnation.
In the end, he let the three-legged Yata crow take away himself as a descendant of a god, turned himself into a mortal, and started a long practice in Echigo Temple.
It was indeed a arduous practice.
Suspected, criticized, framed, and isolated.People in the world say that the fallen god's son can't get rid of his evil heart even through practice, so that he can't take off the ghost mask when he wears it during the sacrifice.Only he knew what kind of hot iron was behind the seemingly ordinary ghost mask, and how he was forced to wear the ghost mask, so that his handsome face and the ghost mask were cast together.
The piercing pain awakened the suppressed hatred in his heart-he hated himself once.The self who tried to integrate into the world and devote himself to practice, intending to bless the world after attaining enlightenment, became a pillar of shame.
So he killed himself.
On that summer night when the fireworks were in full bloom, he walked through the world as a "human" for the last time, crossed the sea of people, and handed over his "heart" to the three-legged crow alone in the desolate back mountain.
He could neither be a man nor a god, but he was unwilling to die like this.
Where to go?
He became the most despised monster he ever had.
From then on, he will fight against heaven and earth, people and gods.
Jiu Tun-douji said that he never wanted to try the feeling of being completely defeated, he must get back the Amazono Cloud Sword, gods come to kill gods, and people come to kill.
Ibaraki believed it.
The human world is still that human world.
It is still the world that is enough to give Ibaraki fatal pain.
Everywhere in Kyoto is filled with joyful atmosphere, and everyone is extolling Minamoto Yorimitsu's wisdom and bravery and Boy Kiri Yasuna's sword like autumn frost.It was exactly the same as when Watanabe Tsuna broke his arm and Onikiri became famous all over the world.
Ibaraki felt panicked like never before, he turned back to Mount Atago in embarrassment, and frantically asked Otengu to prove that this was not true.And the latter could only sigh back, telling him that seeing is believing.
Ibaraki couldn't believe it, and swore fiercely that he would find Amacongunjian and bring the supreme victory to Shuten.
Daitengu frowned, and asked back: "Have you never doubted Shuten-douji's real purpose for asking you to find Amacongunjian?"
"To win." Ibaraki still did not doubt him.
Big Tengu sneered slightly, "Humans have forced the majestic ghost king to the point where he needs to rely on a magic weapon to win?"
"Human beings are deceitful, and best friends have to be on the safe side."
Obsessed with obsession.Shaking his head, the big tengu said again: "When Suzhan Mingzun killed Yamata no Orochi, he brought the Amacongyun sword back to Gaotianyuan and dedicated it to Amaterasu. Shuten knows this better than anyone else, but he still let you go to Ibuki Shan is looking for the Tiancongyun sword that has long been absent. Can you explain the reason for this by saying that he wants to win?"
"I..." Ibaraki was at a loss for words, stared at the big tengu unwillingly for a long time, finally lowered his head slowly, and said with a wry smile: "How could I not know, he is lying to me."
These words were beyond Ootengu's expectation, he looked at Ibaraki in surprise, but only got a lost figure, stumbling away and a snow-white flying bird following him.
white bird.
Big Tengu narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking that Qing Xingdeng's Hundred Stories are not entirely believable but not necessarily completely unbelievable.
The woman who loves to collect ghost stories once said that the dying big demon can gather all the monster power to summon his own spiritual incarnation, and the spiritual incarnation will go to the person he cares about in his life, and fulfill his last long-cherished wish for him.If the person with the heart can recognize the source of the incarnation of the spirit, it means that the fetters are deep, and there will be a day of goodbye no matter what.
Yeah.
Thinking about it, Big Tengu pulled out the bamboo flute around his waist that had accumulated traces of time, and played a leisurely Changqingzi.
If there is a destiny, the future will be long, and there will be plans and expectations.
With the victory of Oeyama's retreat, the power of Onmyouji in Kyoto flourished, and more than a hundred monsters of large and small scales were completed one after another. in the human field of vision.
However, after the monsters retreated, the ruler did not get the expected long-term peace and stability in Heianjing.On the contrary, the frequent civil wars are gradually depleting the national power, and the power of the royal family is gradually declining.The magnificent temples and shrines in the past have become old, and even the Suzaku Gate, which is the main gate of the imperial palace, is showing an unprecedented bleak picture, while the opposite Rashomon Gate has long been dilapidated in the flames of war.
According to legend, through the Suzaku Gate, you can see the most magnificent scenery in the world, and through the Rashomon Gate, you can clearly see the difference between the present world and the eternal world.If you can successfully walk through the Suzaku Avenue that runs through the two gates, you will be able to know the mysteries of cause and effect of life and death, poverty, and wealth.It's a pity that the Rashomon Gate is full of ghosts, and few people dare to approach it easily.Occasionally bold
Ibaraki noticed it.
After all, it was a white bird that was too beautiful to ignore—
The whole body is snow-white, only the claws and beaks are bright red, and there is a cluster of slender crown feathers on the top of the head, which bends gracefully in the air, and shakes lightly when the wind blows.
At the moment it is perched on the cypress tree opposite Ibaraki, and it is arranging its feathers with its small beak little by little, as leisurely as if it was just a bird that flew here by chance.
Ibaraki squinted at it, secretly marveling at its extraordinary beauty.
It doesn't look like a secular thing, it's probably the incarnation of some spiritual thing.Ibaraki made such a judgment, and then patted the grass clippings on his body, ending the short rest.
Almost at the same time as he got up, the white bird also stopped combing its feathers, and fluttered its wings from the treetops.
Ibaraki glanced at the bird hovering above his head, raised his foot and continued on his way, acquiescing to its accompanying.
He didn't care where the white bird came from and where it was going, he just thought that he had found a companion to relieve his boredom during the boring and tiring long journey.
This is the fourth day since Ibaraki left Tamba Oeyama.
On this trip, he was entrusted by the ghost king Jiu Tun Doji, and he wanted to go to Mount Ibuki thousands of miles away to find an answer.
The road is obstructed and long, and Ibaraki will travel day and night to cross the rolling mountains in Tamba and step into the Yamashiro Kingdom.Bypassing the heavily guarded and troubled Gyeonggi area, he chose to cross the Atago Mountains from the northern end of the Yamashiro Kingdom and enter the Omi Kingdom where Mount Ibuki is located.
Mount Atago is the sphere of influence of the Ootengu.
The powerful big monsters each have their own territories, and unless there are extremely special circumstances, they will not easily offend each other.
Ibaraki knew that he shouldn't enter Daitengu's territory at will, but he was entrusted with this trip and couldn't tolerate any mistakes.It is safer to negotiate with the same kind than to pass through the heavily guarded Kyoto that is full of enchantments.
Mount Atago is not scary at night, the moon is shining brightly, and even the wind is extraordinarily gentle. If you listen carefully, you can even faintly catch the melodious sound of the flute in the distance.
It's no wonder that Daitengu, as a monster, is almost regarded as a god by people.
She lives in seclusion and loves elegance, so occasional disturbances are logically regarded as sins from gods.
If this kind of cognition was placed when Ibaraki first entered the demon way, he would definitely disdain it. What's the point of pretending to be a god even though he is clearly a first-class demon?
However, today is different from the past. Hundreds of years have passed, and Ibaraki has already understood that even if they are both monsters, they are not the same, and what they like in their hearts is the opposite.
Back then, he joined Jiu Tun Boy under his command, and the two fought each other to advance and retreat.Behind the hearty battle, there are more toasts and drinks and a lot of idle time.
Ibaraki often told Shuten that such a simple and happy life is the best.
But the latter laughed at his innocence when he was half-drunk and half-awake, and told him that the life of a demon is long, even if he has traveled many mountains, waded through many rivers, and read all the scenery in the world, he still hasn't figured out how to get through it. What's more, he has only just grown into a real monster for a few years.
Ibaraki is very contradictory, he feels that he knows exactly what he wants, but at the same time he feels that he should not doubt every word Shuten said.After thinking for a long time, he frowned and asked unwillingly, "Did your best friend understand?"
Jiu Tun was lying on the soft grass with the ghost gourd as his pillow, his eyes squinted by the bright sky light.
"No," he said.
Ibaraki was even more confused.
"But as it is now, it's not bad." Jiu Tun touched the flagon in his hand with a hint of gluttony in his expression.
"I think so too!" Hearing this, Ibaraki's eyes lit up again.
Jiu Tun snorted lightly, bringing out a hint of teasing.Stretching, he turned over and found a comfortable position, intending to fall asleep.
"You should go to a place other than Dajiangshan, meet other big monsters, and see all kinds of human beings."
"No." Ibaraki rejected the proposal without thinking, "Dajiangshan is very good, I don't want to leave here."
"Go ahead," Jiu Tun didn't bother to explain too much to him, "It's not too late to come back after reading it."
Ibaraki fell silent while digging the muddy ground under the grass with his head down.
"I, I..." After a while, he murmured and opened his mouth, showing a look of difficulty, "I came from this world, I don't want to see it anymore."
There are reasons and effects, and it is reasonable.
It's a pity that Jiu Tun was unmoved.
"You haven't taken a good look at the human world." Jiu Tun's tone was laziness, but it had undeniable power, "At least as a monster, never."
Isn't it ridiculous that you can't blend into the world when you are a human being, but you can walk in the world after falling into the demon way?
Ibaraki raised his head and quickly glanced at his back, then lowered his eyes again, "Is there any difference?"
"Have."
Ibaraki stopped asking, he believed in every word Shuten-douji said after all.
Orioles fly and grass grows on Dajiang Mountain, and you can see scattered small villages all the way down the continuous mountains.Ibaraki was stunned for a moment, not understanding why just such a vague glance evoked a memory that he had almost forgotten——
It is neither pain nor joy, but it is about trivial matters such as the crowing of chickens and the barking of dogs, the curling smoke of cooking, or the fireworks and candies at festivals.
He looked down the mountain, his golden pupils filled with the long past.
Jiu Tun didn't get a response for a long time, so he couldn't help turning his neck and glanced at him quietly, and then lay back and licked the corners of his lips silently.
"Go, Ibaraki."
Ibaraki came back to his senses, hesitated for a moment, got up and turned into a human form.
"it is good."
The monster Ibaraki left Dajiangshan and became a ronin who roamed the world.
Up to Lutsu, down to Nagato, he walked all over one by one, and saw with his own eyes the boundless sea of red flowers in Dewa, the steep Okinawako Cliff in Echigo, and the fishing boat Pinghu in the sunset of Zhou Fangri...
The scenery of mountains, rivers, lakes and seas is not the same in four seasons, but it seems that it has never changed in several springs and autumns.
Ibaraki has seen many scenes of snow in Hira and rain in Tangzaki, but he has a faint feeling that these are not what Shuten wants him to watch.
Winter is over, and spring is about to pass.
The trees on the barren hills in Kuwana County are becoming more and more verdant, hiding a deserted shrine that no one visits even deeper.
Ibaraki is very satisfied with this temporary shelter, it is far away from human habitation, so he doesn't have to hide his body as a monster, he is very comfortable.
It's always very quiet here, so quiet that it's even lonely.Just like its owner.
"Ichimoku." Ibaraki stopped the monster who was going to patrol the mountains after lunch break, "You are no longer a wind god, why do you still worry about human beings every day?"
The taciturn but gentle monster smiled lightly, "They need me."
"Really?" Ibaraki smirked, and a cold light flashed in his golden pupils, "But you don't have any believers, and you even lost your godhead."
Of course Yimulian knew what he was laughing at, but he didn't want to argue with him, and even softly agreed: "Yes."
Ibaraki was stunned, completely unexpected that he could be so calm.
Looking at him at a glance, Fu said again: "But those are not important."
After saying that, he raised his hand to touch the golden dragon behind him, turned around and walked out, and his figure quickly disappeared at the end of the long tree-lined path.
The late spring sunlight leaked from the vigorous branches and leaves of the trees, sprinkled finely all over the ground.Ibaraki withdrew his gaze from a distance, staring at the mottled light and shadow on the ground and stared blankly.
There are such gentle and compassionate monsters in the world?
Ibaraki felt incredible.
It's not like I haven't seen monsters that benefit mankind before.But arrogant like a big tengu, fickle like Lord Arakawa, the blessing of the former comes from the persistence of righteousness, while the blessing of the latter is more on the spur of the moment, like Ichimolian, a monster who has no regrets and no regrets. It's heterogeneous.
Heterogeneous.
Ibaraki's breathing was stagnant, and his complexion darkened.
The so-called heterogeneity is just different, it has nothing to do with good or bad, good or evil.
He has no way of identifying whether it was the world that abandoned him, or he turned his back on the world.
In the twilight, Yimulian returned to the shrine, holding a child who had fallen asleep in his arms. It seemed that he had lost his way in the deep mountains and had stumbled and injured himself.
Ibaraki took it for granted, watching him busy in and out, skillfully healing the children's wounds, until late at night, a group of people with torches came to find him.
Ordinary people can't see monsters, they can only see the ruins of the shrine and the child sleeping next to the stone pillar.A group of people picked up the child and hurried down the mountain. The few people walking at the end of the team walked a few steps and turned back to the dilapidated shrine. They folded their hands and worshiped reverently.
Ibaraki has been paying attention to Yimulian's reaction from the beginning to the end, but he only saw that he silently put on the Dao talisman for everyone who left.
"You really love human beings." Ibaraki thought, and said involuntarily.
Yimulian still had that quiet and gentle look, unlike Ibaraki's golden pupils which were burning with flames, his golden pupils reflected the joys, sorrows, joys, joys and sorrows of the world.
"They're weak and powerful, it's amazing," Yimulian turned to look at Ibaraki, "Isn't it?"
Ibaraki looked away, looked at the morning star rising in the sky through the dilapidated roof, opened his mouth, but made no sound.
After a long while, he said slowly, "What's so good about human beings?"
"It has nothing to do with whether they are good or bad." Meeting his puzzled gaze, Yimulian answered slowly but firmly, "I want to protect them, I must protect them, that's all."
Ibaraki shook his head, "I don't understand."
Yimulian smiled, and gave great patience to his stupidity at the moment, "Whether I am a wind god or a monster, I will always be me." After a pause, he continued: "Whether it is a god, a monster, or a human being, I will always be me." What you do does not depend on identity or any other reason, but out of your own ideas and choices. Like you."
"Me?" Ibaraki was surprised.
Yimu nodded, "Is it true that you fell into the demon world because you are not allowed to live in the world?"
Ibaraki recalled an old event from long ago.
His hometown, Ibaraki Prefecture in Settsu, holds a firework festival in summer. Although it is not as famous as the Ujigawa Fireworks Festival, it is still a very lively festival.
When the summer insects began to sing for the first time, the prosperous summer kicked off.
In the afternoon, the chirping of cicadas one after another, the tinkling sound of refilling water in the courtyard, and the mottled light and shadow falling beside the bamboo curtains, everything is so peaceful that it makes you trance.The young Ibaraki could not understand this kind of overly tranquil interest at all. He was more fond of the stream in the back mountain warmed by the sun all day, the summer insect hiding in the depths of the grass suddenly startled, or the sand bathing with fluttering wings. bird.
Ibaraki has been regarded as an ominous devil since he was born, and he is spurned by everyone, so he naturally has no friends.So he always spends a whole day alone facing these vivid things in the remote mountain, from the flowing clouds to the sunset to the star sea, and finally returns to the home that ignored him in the deep night .
Day after day, the not-too-long summer came to an end.People began to prepare for the fireworks display in late summer, sending a splendid farewell to the most enthusiastic season of the four seasons.
The streets and alleys are full of lights and lights, all of which carry people's good wishes.
However, no matter how grand the celebration is, it has nothing to do with Ibaraki.He only knew that the summer would be over after the firework festival, and the scenery of the back mountain would slowly lose its vitality full of enthusiasm.The rustling autumn leaves and Xiao Xiao Luoxue that followed were certainly beautiful, but the scorching heat of the hot summer was the spark that would never be extinguished in his heart.
Ibaraki stared at the lively crowd, knowing that he must be the one who was out of happiness. He didn't even have a decent yukata to wear to attend the festival decently.In fact, there is a tailor shop not far from his home, and there is also a bathrobe in the shop that he likes very much, but unfortunately no one has ever cared about it.
Fortunately, Ibaraki didn't feel sad.
He has never had a moment of tenderness in this world, and he has never had a sense of yearning and belonging, so he can't give birth to the sadness of self-pity.He is like a beast trapped among human beings, walking alone, but he can't find a place for himself, so he can only keep looking for it.
On the day of the firework festival, Ibaraki still stayed in the back mountain. The difference was that there were more villagers around him who went to the hillside to enjoy the fireworks better.
There was a very unfamiliar young man in the crowd, but Ibaraki felt special about him just by looking at him.
The boy's bundles of redness were like flames, but his expression was icy cold, his tightly pursed lips were as cold as a knife's edge, and he was stingy with showing even a slight arc.He walked slowly among the crowd, but he never seemed to blend into it.
Out of place, rejecting people thousands of miles away.
Ibaraki smelled the smell of the same kind, so he chased the boy's footsteps to the other side of the mountain.
The shade of the mountain is extremely desolate, there are neither people nor fireworks, only the mighty mountain wind.
The young man gave birth to sharp ears and sharp claws at some point, and a layer of dark red aura surged around him.
A three-legged crow flew out of his body, becoming bigger and bigger in the air.After circling a few times in the night sky, it suddenly swooped down with a long chirp, piercing through the young man's body, and the sudden burst of light illuminated the entire mountain shade.
Ibaraki subconsciously raised his hand to cover his eyes, and when he looked again, the boy and the Yata Yata had disappeared.
Crow feathers fell from the sky one after another, and when they touched the ground, they ignited and incinerated into ashes.
Taking a few steps forward in disbelief, Ibaraki stared blankly at what happened in front of him and felt his heart tremble.He didn't feel any fear at all, instead, as if inspired by something, he stretched out his hand to catch a piece of crow feather that was slowly floating towards him.
The black feather quietly fell on his palm, neither burning nor disappearing.
It became the treasure of Ibaraki.
Even later, it became the most glorious feather decoration on the shoulder armor of Ibaraki Doji's battle suit named Hell Ghost Hand.
At that time, Ibaraki didn't realize what he was holding in his palm, he just wanted to find the mysterious boy who suddenly appeared in the late summer night and then disappeared suddenly.
And the turning point of fate is never as vigorous as people think, it is often undetectable, as light as a feather.
Cold comes and summer goes, spring goes and autumn comes, Ibaraki has been unable to find the boy, but he hears that a great red-haired demon named Shuten-douji was born in the territory of Tanba country adjacent to Settsu, and his fame spreads all over the world.
He began to have a dream over and over again.
The dream is very simple, so simple that there are only red colors everywhere, like blood rushing and a sea of fire.
I often wake up from the dream, but the longing in Ibaraki's heart does not diminish, and even intensifies.
He was overwhelmed by all the fiery red, and finally couldn't help licking the fresh human blood on the knife edge.It doesn't feel good to have the fishy-sweet rust smell in your mouth, but when the tip of your tongue licks the sharp blade, it will draw a long and thin wound, and warm blood will flow out of the wound, the flow of heat is enough to make Ibaraki sink.
The freak in people's mouth has finally turned into a bloodthirsty monster.
Ibaraki was expelled.
The villagers threw hundreds of torches at him in an attempt to burn the terrible monster to death. The haystacks doused with grease instantly ignited, and the soaring flames reflected the sky and the earth red.
Ibaraki stood motionless and let the flames ignite.The overwhelming red, accompanied by the terrifying scorching heat, made his dream come true.Stern laughter broke out, and Ibaraki had never been so almost wanton in his heart. He never thought that the farewell to the world could be so thorough and cruel.
The crow feather hanging on his chest suddenly floated up, and the body of the feather also glowed with a dark red aura.In the blink of an eye, the aura surged, and the huge three-legged crow rose into the sky, and then it swooped down towards the sea of flames, crashed into his body, and disappeared.
The severe pain of cramping and splitting bones exploded in Ibaraki's body, causing his veins to bulge and his eyes to tear apart. He wanted to scream but he couldn't make a sound.
In the flames, Ibaraki gave birth to the same sharp ears and claws as the red-haired boy, and the skin on the side of his cheeks burned by the flames cracked like dead wood, and a blood-stained scarlet horn grew out.Blood trickled from the newborn horn and into his eyes, burning with pain.With his eyes tightly closed, Ibaraki groaned and fell to his knees, his demonic claws dug into the mud, like a dying beast making its final struggle.
People have long been dumbfounded by what happened in front of them, and at the same time they are terrified, but at the same time they are curious whether the monster in the fire is dead or alive.The restless and fearful crowd never expected that the momentary silence was the prelude to death. In the center of the sea of flames, purple-black flames suddenly gushed out, swallowing the red flames like huge waves, and swept towards all directions— —
The flames summoned from the depths of hell never spared any living beings, and people were wiped out before they even had time to cry.
The black flame faded away, and everything was silent.
The big monster who was kneeling on the ground hunched over moved and slowly got up.He opened his blood-soaked eyes, and for the first time looked at the world with demonized golden pupils.
Countless ravens came by night, but he was about to leave by night.
"That was the first time I met my best friend."
When it comes to Shuten, Ibaraki's whole monster becomes radiant.
"But my best friend has never admitted that I am that boy." Ibaraki showed a puzzled expression, "He is obviously, I can't admit it wrong."
"Maybe—" Looking at the gradually brightening sky outside the shrine, Yimulian murmured, "He hasn't reconciled with his former self yet."
"What do you mean?" Izuku looked at him suspiciously.
Yimulian subconsciously raised his hand to caress his hollow left eye socket hidden behind his bangs, and sighed softly, "Do you know Shuten-douji's real life experience?"
After thinking for a while, Ibaraki frowned and shook his head.
Regarding the legend of Shuten, he had inquired a lot when he was still a human being, but he had no way of verifying whether it was true or not.After becoming a monster, he also asked Shuten to verify the truth of those rumors, but the latter never gave an answer.As time passed, Ibaraki didn't care so much.It doesn't matter whether Shuten is the son of a fallen god, a cursed philanderer, or a dishonest novice, what he believes is just the Shuten-doji that thousands of people have seen day and night.
However, in the current situation, I, who has always called Shuten a close friend, can't tell his real life experience, which somewhat annoys Ibaraki.
"No one knows except himself." Yimulian didn't seem to be surprised, "There are many rumors about his life experience, and everyone knows it, but none of them has been admitted by him."
"so?"
"Even the ghost king has a past that he doesn't want to mention. Even if the rumors are spreading, he doesn't want to respond personally." Seeing that he was still troubled, he continued: "Because he doesn't care about other people's opinions at all. What really bothers him is the self who made all the past happen."
Ibaraki lowered his eyes, looking thoughtful.
After a long time, he tilted his head and smiled suddenly, "It doesn't matter, it's all over anyway."
Jiu Tun said that everything should be "let it go", and nothing is more important than the current enjoyment.Things in the world have their own destiny, just like he was born a human, but he is destined to become a big monster in the future.Those experiences that cannot be let go and do not want to look back will eventually disappear in the long river of time and become stories that pass with a smile, and the monster happens to have a long enough life to obtain this peace.
He has been wandering abroad for several years, but he still hasn't had the desire to take a good look at the world.Presumably, his best friend has already noticed that his difficulties in the past are similar to his own, so he insisted on letting him leave Dajiangshan to wander the world.The ghost king disdains blind and ignorant followers, but longs for a fellow who is evenly matched.Ibaraki still doesn't know the intricate connection between the past, the present and the future, and the way to get out of the predicament, but an idea floated from the bottom of his heart, and it became clearer.
Looking at the rising sun outside the torii gate, he suddenly remembered the red sun leaping out of the sea of clouds that he had seen on Mount Dajiang.
"I want to go back."
He got up and stretched his waist in the warm morning sun, a long-lost joy surged up in his heart, "Go back to Dajiangshan!"
Ibaraki returned home like an arrow, and after leaving Ise country, he crossed Iga country and Yamashiro country diagonally, and went straight to Tamba Oeyama.When passing through the Gyeonggi area, he happened to catch up with the annual firework festival in Ujigawa. He had no intention of staying there, but he heard from passers-by that at the firework festival, he could buy the Shobo wine that Iga supplies to Kyoto in a limited amount every year and the refreshing and pleasant local wine from Yamashiro country. To drink, I decided to wander among the crowd for a while.
Ibaraki transformed into the appearance of a human youth. His black hair was tied behind his head, and when he walked, he would raise a graceful arc in the air. He was wearing a well-made yukata, which was very plain, with only a few leaves of green bamboo delicately embroidered on the corners. His indifferent expression matched.He walked alone on the bustling long street with his hands in his sleeves, but his casual appearance attracted the attention of many people-a handsome face is always easy to attract people's hearts.
Ibaraki sneered in his heart, and walked through the sea of people, looking for wine shops along the long street, while contemptuous of the shallowness of people's hearts.
He wants to return to Dajiangshan with the most delicious wine in the world, and have a good time with his best friends.
It is easy to find famous wine from mountain cities, but it is hard to find a glass of wine with limited supply.Ibaraki looked all over the wine shops facing the street, and after a few inquiries, he bought the last pot of Sengfang wine in a small wine shop hidden in a deep alley.
Hanging the porcelain white jug on his waist, Ibaraki turned around and was about to leave, but was stopped by a person who appeared behind him at some point.
"The last pot?"
The person who came was half a head shorter than Ibaraki, and was wearing a bamboo hat, which just covered Ibaraki's view of him. Judging from the voice, he was probably a boy.
Ibaraki frowned, looking rather displeased, "So what?"
"This wine," while speaking, the young man's left hand reached towards the flagon hanging by Ibaraki's waist with lightning speed, and his right arm cooperated with the hand that separated Ibaraki's attempt to restrain his movements, and immediately hooked his left hand, which was already He grabbed the flagon and walked a few steps away, "I want it."
Ibaraki was taken aback when he heard the words, and looked at him again, only to see the young man pushed up the bamboo hat with his right index finger, revealing a pair of dark purple eyes.
"Best...friend?"
The young man raised his chin and gave a frivolous smile, raised the jug and shook it, "Come on, let's go together."
They went to the roof of the main hall of the Uji Shrine, and they could see all the lights and people coming and going.
The evening breeze at the end of summer is just right, just like the fine wine that enters the throat at this moment, just right between the strongness of the divine wine and the dullness of the turbid wine.
"Ibaraki," Jiu Tun suddenly interrupted the big monster who was talking about his wandering experiences over the years, "Do you know why most monsters hide in mountains, rivers and dense forests?"
Ibaraki was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head numbly.
"Because there is no place for monsters to live in the world." Jiu Tun put the empty wine dish aside, and looked at the distant sky where the fireworks exploded. No land."
"But Dajiangshan belongs to a close friend!" Ibaraki blurted out almost subconsciously.
"A monster has nothing but power." Jiu Tun snorted coldly with a half-smile, and said again: "But power can bring everything."
Ibaraki felt the killing intent ignited in him, and immediately became excited, "My dear friend, is this going to fight? Let me join you! Let me feel your power!"
The empty wine dish was turned into powder in Jiu Tun's hands. He stood upright on the ridge of the roof, showing the body of a monster. The powerful monster power lingered around him and brought strong winds. Out of the body in the middle, he screamed and charged into the night sky, then turned sharply from the commanding heights and dived into the crowd gathered on the long street.
"It's you!" Ibaraki couldn't help exclaiming as he looked at the familiar scene in front of him, "It's you!"
"It's different." Jiu Tun stared blankly at the chaotic long street, his eyes were so cold that there was no warmth, "The night you saw him, he died."
"What are you talking about, dear friend?" Ibaraki was puzzled, "You...he...?"
It's a long story, and the moment is not a good time for an explanation.
Jiu Tun glanced at Ibaraki, and decided to make a long story short, "What you saw was one of my dead predecessors. Yata crows travel between life and death, and only show up for two things: saving the dead, and," he paused , Fang gnashed his teeth and said, "Revenge."
Ibaraki thinks that revenge is probably something that cannot be stopped once it starts.
The dignitaries in Kyoto tried to obliterate the monsters that caused panic, while the ghost king in Dajiangshan wanted to constantly avenge the little monsters who died under the hands of the Onmyoji.
The good and evil of human beings and the good and evil of monsters can never be generalized. The contradictory positions are destined to be difficult to distinguish between right and wrong, only cause and effect.
Year after year, the disputes come and go, seemingly endlessly.
However, there is always an end to everything.
Under the back and forth fierce conflicts, the grievances between the ghost king and humans deepened until there was no room for change.The ruler of Kyoto decided to send the bravest samurai and the best onmyoji to join forces to retreat from Dajiangshan, and Shuten Doji, who was invincible in all battles, was even more fearless and resolutely made the decision to fight.
"Master Jiuten..." Yingcao hid behind the Peach Blossom Demon, tightly clutching the dandelion in her hand, her timid voice was full of worry.
"Tch, I'm in trouble." Jiu Tun is not very good at dealing with these weak girls of flowers and plants on the mountain, pretending to be impatient: "You all stay away, don't hinder my uncle from fighting."
"Yes, don't hinder your best friend." Ibaraki stood aside and echoed.
"But...but Yingcao heard that the humans who came this time, this time are very powerful. So, please...please..." Yingcao still couldn't change her habit of stuttering when she was nervous.
"Please let us help you, Lord Jiuten." The Peach Blossom Demon patted her head and finished the rest of the sentence softly.
"No need." Looking at the helpless looks of the little girls because of his unmodified rejection, Jiu Tun scratched his hair a little annoyed, "If you can avoid those people, it will be a big help."
"But! We..."
"Your cultivation is too shallow, and I'm afraid you won't even be able to resist the arrogance released by my uncle." After finishing speaking, Jiu Tun released a little arrogance to intimidate the little monsters who still wanted to distinguish, and proved his words with facts, " Let's all go."
The little monsters finally stopped talking and left one after another under the leadership of the Peach Blossom Demon.
Sitting down on the spot leaning on the ghost gourd, Jiu Tun glanced at the big demon who was sitting next to him from the corner of his eye, and couldn't help feeling a headache, "Why don't you leave?"
Ibaraki tilted his head and said as a matter of course: "This battle is extraordinary, I will not leave my best friend, and I am strong enough."
Alcoholic speechless, do not know how to refute.
After sitting quietly for a while, Jiu Tunfu spoke again, "I hate losing, especially losing to mere humans."
"A best friend won't lose." Ibaraki said firmly.
"That's natural." Jiu Tun snorted, his eyes fell on him, and he said seriously as if he suddenly remembered something: "Having said that, the samurai in Kyoto should not be underestimated."
Ibaraki's face darkened, and the ghost claw grasped the empty sleeve of his right arm, and said angrily, "I will crush them all this time!"
"Not enough." Jiu Tun pressed his ghost claws, "It's not enough to have the determination to win."
"My best friend, our strength is far superior to that of human beings, how could we lose?"
Jiu Tun shook his head, "Human beings are deceitful, if they don't have a perfect plan, how would they dare to launch a crusade?"
Ibaraki frowned, not understanding why his best friend was uncharacteristically cautious, "It's just a bluff, best friend don't need to worry."
"My uncle hates defeat." Jiu Tun repeated, "So, you have to find something to help me win."
"What is it?"
"Tiancong Cloud Sword."
The sound of the flute was getting closer. If Ibaraki knew the rhythm, it would not be difficult to hear the warning meaning, but unfortunately he never knew anything about Gagaku.
After an almost sharp ending, the sound of the flute stopped abruptly.
Daitengu stared at Daiyo who came from the darkness, and commented coldly, "It's really rude, Ibaraki Doji."
Ibaraki looked up at the big demon sitting on the cherry tree, and said politely: "I'm sorry."
Putting the bamboo flute away, Otengu didn't accept his perfunctory response, "Why don't you stay in Dajiangshan and come to Atago Mountain?"
"I have something important to go to Mount Ibuki, and I just passed through here." Ibaraki said concisely, not wanting to waste more words.
"Ibuki..." Daitengu frowned, and his eyes swept lightly over the white bird hovering not far away, and there was a trace of surprise in his eyes, "There is nothing you are looking for there."
Hearing this, Ibaraki couldn't help but look terrified, "How do you know what I'm looking for?"
"It's nothing more than the Tiancongyun Sword."
Daitengu replied calmly, but Ibaraki was surprised, "How do you know?"
Mount Atago is close to Kyoto, so Ootengu naturally knows everything about it.It has been heard that there are constant conflicts between the ghost king of Dajiang Mountain and those in power in Kyoto, and a decisive battle is imminent.The ghost general in front of him, who has always been arrogant and can only tolerate his best friends, wanted to go to Mount Ibuki, thousands of miles away, on the eve of the war. To help out, Big Tengu really couldn't think of a reason for him to appear in front of him in a hurry.
"It does not matter."
"what do you want to say in the end?"
"Instead of going to Mount Ibuki and returning without success, you might as well go to Kyoto first and then make a decision." Ootengu felt that it was not his style to be so nosy about the facts, so he stopped talking.He looked meaningfully at the white bird that had landed on the treetop not far away, and it spread its wings and disappeared in the strong wind mixed with falling feathers.
Ibaraki hesitated for a moment, not knowing whether he should continue to Ibuki Mountain or listen to Otengu's words.
On that day, Jiu Tun revealed the mystery of his life experience.
His original predecessor was the son of Ibuki Daimyojin, and the parent-child relationship between the gods is weak. Shuten never felt that he had any deep blood relationship with Ibuki Daimyojin. He even preferred the human name for this terrible god-Baqi big snake.
Ibuki Damingshen is entrenched in the mountains, and he is accompanied by demons and ghosts all day long, and gradually he has a heart for disaster and harms one party.
At that time, Shuten still believed in the saying that gods should be the blessings of all people, but he didn't have enough power to contend with Yamata no Orochi, so he could only watch with cold eyes day after day, until Suzhan Mingzun from Gao Tianyuan killed him.
For a long time, he couldn't forget Suzhan Mingzun's brave appearance of holding the Ten Fist Sword in his hand and drawing the Amano Cloud Sword from the tail of the dead Yamata no Orochi, and longed for the power to be able to rank among the gods of Takamahara.However, Yamata no Orochi's depravity and death have already made him lose his godhead, and he is at best a demon queen who has been punished by heaven.
Everything has to be done from scratch.
Jiu Tun traveled through thousands of mountains and rivers, and heard many legends about gods falling into demons, ghosts becoming adults, and mortals ascending to immortals.Some are just a single thought, while others have to go through tortuous reincarnation.
In the end, he let the three-legged Yata crow take away himself as a descendant of a god, turned himself into a mortal, and started a long practice in Echigo Temple.
It was indeed a arduous practice.
Suspected, criticized, framed, and isolated.People in the world say that the fallen god's son can't get rid of his evil heart even through practice, so that he can't take off the ghost mask when he wears it during the sacrifice.Only he knew what kind of hot iron was behind the seemingly ordinary ghost mask, and how he was forced to wear the ghost mask, so that his handsome face and the ghost mask were cast together.
The piercing pain awakened the suppressed hatred in his heart-he hated himself once.The self who tried to integrate into the world and devote himself to practice, intending to bless the world after attaining enlightenment, became a pillar of shame.
So he killed himself.
On that summer night when the fireworks were in full bloom, he walked through the world as a "human" for the last time, crossed the sea of people, and handed over his "heart" to the three-legged crow alone in the desolate back mountain.
He could neither be a man nor a god, but he was unwilling to die like this.
Where to go?
He became the most despised monster he ever had.
From then on, he will fight against heaven and earth, people and gods.
Jiu Tun-douji said that he never wanted to try the feeling of being completely defeated, he must get back the Amazono Cloud Sword, gods come to kill gods, and people come to kill.
Ibaraki believed it.
The human world is still that human world.
It is still the world that is enough to give Ibaraki fatal pain.
Everywhere in Kyoto is filled with joyful atmosphere, and everyone is extolling Minamoto Yorimitsu's wisdom and bravery and Boy Kiri Yasuna's sword like autumn frost.It was exactly the same as when Watanabe Tsuna broke his arm and Onikiri became famous all over the world.
Ibaraki felt panicked like never before, he turned back to Mount Atago in embarrassment, and frantically asked Otengu to prove that this was not true.And the latter could only sigh back, telling him that seeing is believing.
Ibaraki couldn't believe it, and swore fiercely that he would find Amacongunjian and bring the supreme victory to Shuten.
Daitengu frowned, and asked back: "Have you never doubted Shuten-douji's real purpose for asking you to find Amacongunjian?"
"To win." Ibaraki still did not doubt him.
Big Tengu sneered slightly, "Humans have forced the majestic ghost king to the point where he needs to rely on a magic weapon to win?"
"Human beings are deceitful, and best friends have to be on the safe side."
Obsessed with obsession.Shaking his head, the big tengu said again: "When Suzhan Mingzun killed Yamata no Orochi, he brought the Amacongyun sword back to Gaotianyuan and dedicated it to Amaterasu. Shuten knows this better than anyone else, but he still let you go to Ibuki Shan is looking for the Tiancongyun sword that has long been absent. Can you explain the reason for this by saying that he wants to win?"
"I..." Ibaraki was at a loss for words, stared at the big tengu unwillingly for a long time, finally lowered his head slowly, and said with a wry smile: "How could I not know, he is lying to me."
These words were beyond Ootengu's expectation, he looked at Ibaraki in surprise, but only got a lost figure, stumbling away and a snow-white flying bird following him.
white bird.
Big Tengu narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking that Qing Xingdeng's Hundred Stories are not entirely believable but not necessarily completely unbelievable.
The woman who loves to collect ghost stories once said that the dying big demon can gather all the monster power to summon his own spiritual incarnation, and the spiritual incarnation will go to the person he cares about in his life, and fulfill his last long-cherished wish for him.If the person with the heart can recognize the source of the incarnation of the spirit, it means that the fetters are deep, and there will be a day of goodbye no matter what.
Yeah.
Thinking about it, Big Tengu pulled out the bamboo flute around his waist that had accumulated traces of time, and played a leisurely Changqingzi.
If there is a destiny, the future will be long, and there will be plans and expectations.
With the victory of Oeyama's retreat, the power of Onmyouji in Kyoto flourished, and more than a hundred monsters of large and small scales were completed one after another. in the human field of vision.
However, after the monsters retreated, the ruler did not get the expected long-term peace and stability in Heianjing.On the contrary, the frequent civil wars are gradually depleting the national power, and the power of the royal family is gradually declining.The magnificent temples and shrines in the past have become old, and even the Suzaku Gate, which is the main gate of the imperial palace, is showing an unprecedented bleak picture, while the opposite Rashomon Gate has long been dilapidated in the flames of war.
According to legend, through the Suzaku Gate, you can see the most magnificent scenery in the world, and through the Rashomon Gate, you can clearly see the difference between the present world and the eternal world.If you can successfully walk through the Suzaku Avenue that runs through the two gates, you will be able to know the mysteries of cause and effect of life and death, poverty, and wealth.It's a pity that the Rashomon Gate is full of ghosts, and few people dare to approach it easily.Occasionally bold
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