Night of the 49th day.
Kyoto, near the West Bridge within Nijo Castle.
Under the shade of a large tree, two heads slowly emerged from the tree's shadow.
No sooner had he stepped out than Fumonshichi deftly concealed himself in the tree's darkness, fingers clutching a human-shaped doll as he observed the Inner Citadel Palace just across the river:
"My, my, this Shadow Doll is quite handy! To think we infiltrated past the outer barrier so easily."
Hearing this, Shin Natsume, who hadn't even bothered to hide, cast him a cold glance from beneath the tree:
"Is there any point to this behaviour of yours?"
The Elite Rank Abyss Artefact, Shadow Doll, possessed shadow concealment abilities, allowing movement through shadows at 50 metres per second within a 2-kilometre range while covering a 10-square-metre area in shadow to prevent detection.
Its side effects included a mere 30-minute usage time, with users suffering a severe psychological blow and potential risk of depression.
Still, despite the drawbacks, the Shadow Doll's capabilities were extremely convenient, particularly for infiltration purposes.
With such an Abyss Artefact's assistance, even standing openly on the path, Shin Natsume remained undetectable to the patrolling yokai.
Thus, he couldn't comprehend Fumonshichi's need to hide under the tree.
"Just getting used to infiltration procedures. After all, we don't use these Abyss Artefacts often, do we?"
Fumonshichi glanced at the yokai patrolling the West Bridge, then towards the avian yokai perched on the Inner Citadel Palace's roof, before hesitating slightly:
"What a hassle. Nijō Castle's buildings were originally only about three storeys tall at most, and they're ancient Tang-style structures to boot."
"In a place like this, once you secure a few key vantage points, there are practically no blind spots left to hide in across the entire castle."
"Not to mention..."
Fumonshichi looked up towards the direction of the Inner Citadel Palace across the moat. Seeing the emerald barrier visible only through spiritual perception, he clicked his tongue:
"Using the moat as a medium to summon water spirits, creating a complete grand barrier covering both the Inner Citadel Palace and its gardens?"
"This technique resembles that Onmyoji we took down last year. I heard it's a skill from the Chō-Senjiryakketsu."
"Tsk tsk tsk... Brazenly using forbidden techniques from Hao's legacy."
"No wonder the shadow puppets could only infiltrate the outer layers. The Gokadoin Family deploying barrier arts of this level makes it impossible to penetrate further."
Hearing this, Shin Natsume calmly took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, took a drag, and exhaled:
"Those damn higher-ups actually sent us here to locate Hagoromo Gitsune and find assassination opportunities. Tch. Do they really think we're some kind of suicide squad?"
"We haven't even rested a week since returning from the Abyss Warring States before they dispatch us on another assassination mission?"
Fumonshichi just laughed at this.
He knew perfectly well that Shin wasn't the type to complain like this. What really annoyed him was having his rest time with his sister Maya encroached upon by the higher-ups.
So Fumonshichi cheerfully suggested:
"Now now, after we investigate and confirm Hagoromo Gitsune's location, let's just recommend they drop a few missiles targeting the Inner Citadel Palace."
"I refuse to believe missiles couldn't take care of Hagoromo Gitsune."
At this, Shin suddenly fell silent, exhaling a smoke ring before saying:
"Missiles actually wouldn't be able to breach this barrier."
"Hmm?" Fumonshichi blinked, then realised: "Your Dragon Eye saw the future again?"
Shin's supernatural ability, the Dragon Eye, allowed him to passively glimpse one of many possible futures.
When actively used, it could even briefly predict events up to a minute ahead.
Though the visions might be blurry and carried severe mental side effects—enough to drive the user mad—this ability provided tremendous advantages in intelligence gathering.
At least they could foresee certain life-threatening situations in advance.
Just as Fumonshichi asked if Shin had seen the future, Shin suddenly spoke:
"He's coming!"
"Who?" Fumonshichi instantly assumed a defensive stance, alert.
At that moment, a black-clad figure appeared on the western bridge.
The figure wore black hunting robes and a strange diving mask. His mere presence sent several patrolling small yokai scrambling to kneel.
"We greet Lord Tenkai."
"Disperse. I need to inspect the barrier."
Tenkai Gokadoin waved them away before fixing his gaze directly on Fumonshichi and Shin's position:
"I'm rather curious—how did you bypass the outer Seven Stars Barrier?"
Though Fumonshichi remained perfectly still, wary that this might be a trick to draw them out, he couldn't help expressing surprise:
"Seriously? We were detected the moment we infiltrated?"
In contrast, Shin Natsume, who had already activated his Dragon Eye, fell silent for a moment. Gripping his ritual sword Reiki tighter, he stepped out from the concealment of the Shadow Doll.
Seeing this, though hesitant, Fumonshichi chose to trust his companion. He withdrew the shadow barrier, clutching the Shadow Doll as he stood by the tree, his gaze fixed on Tenkai Gokadoin.
At that very moment, Tenkai Gokadoin clearly noticed the Shadow Doll. His eyes locked onto the object in Fumonshichi's hand, his tone tinged with frustration as he remarked:
"So it was by relying on those peculiar Abyss Artefacts that you managed to infiltrate?"
"I had assumed it was a barrier master of equal skill to myself..."
Tenkai Gokadoin shook his head, then turned and leapt lightly onto the pillar at the head of the western bridge.
Seating himself cross-legged on the narrow pillar, he spoke calmly:
"Though I know not which faction you belong to, I must apologise—the road ahead ends here. If you've no business, I suggest you turn back."
"Tch. Our mission was just to confirm Hagoromo Gitsune's location, and we got exposed right away?"
Fumonshichi scratched his head, glancing at Shin Natsume beside him, who was clearly itching for a fight. Clenching his fists, he declared:
"Looks like we've got no choice but to fight!"
As he spoke, his long blade and a sweeping kick simultaneously lashed towards Tenkai Gokadoin's face and neck.
...
Meanwhile.
Within Nijō Castle, on another bridge leading to the Inner Citadel Palace.
A strikingly handsome blond man, his beauty almost eerie under the moonlight, wiped his hands clean as he stepped over the corpses of slain yokai patrols. Crossing the eastern bridge, he gazed into the distance.
"So they've started fighting on the western bridge already?"
Muttering to himself, the beautiful blond man then turned to address the figure behind him:
"Lord Kuran, the Bujin-shū have already made their move."
"Understood, Akatsuki."
Under the night sky, Kaname Kuran, the Pureblood Vampire, opened his crimson eyes. His expression remained cold as he studied the figures on the far side of the eastern bridge.
"Be prepared. We're being targeted too."