...
"Boy, do you dare to kill someone?"
"Kill?" Ryougi Raku frowned, puzzled. The literal meaning of the words was simple, but he was sure the old man's intention was far more complex.
"Correct! Boy, it's time I told you. In my life, I have had no family, no friends, no children. The main reason is not just my personality, but also my actions!"
"Remember the purpose of the swordsmanship of my Shinmei-ryu that I told you about?"
"Slay demons and eradicate evil," Ryougi Raku answered after recalling what the old man had said before.
"Correct! My Shinmei sword techniques are meant for demons and monsters, not for humans. All my sword skills were created to slay evil spirits. Unless facing a formidable enemy, I would never kill a person!"
Aoyama Yaha's body, which seemed thin and withered, suddenly erupted with a terrifying, soaring murderous intent. Leaves swirled, the woods rustled violently, and the small animals in the forest trembled in fear. Birds flying in the sky dropped dead instantly.
Ryougi Raku was also shocked, but after more than a year of life-and-death training, his mind was extremely resilient. Although he found it hard to breathe, he was not paralyzed.
How many people must one kill to possess such murderous intent? Ryougi Raku suddenly understood the old man's meaning... This aura was the substantiated resentment and curses of those he had killed.
Seeing that Ryougi Raku remained unmoved by the murderous aura, Aoyama Yaha nodded in satisfaction.
The aura came and went quickly. In an instant, Aoyama Yaha retracted it back into his body, but the forest was left in an eerie silence.
"Boy, you felt it, didn't you? My Shinmei-ryu slays demons, yet I have violated this principle and killed countless people!" He stood upright, seeming almost proud of his deeds.
The look in Ryougi Raku's eyes changed instantly as he regarded the old man. So the old man was indeed a freak. No wonder he had no friends. Besides being a freak himself, who would dare associate with a murderous maniac?
Seeing the clear expression in Ryougi Raku's eyes that said, "You're a dismembering, psychopathic murderer," Aoyama Yaha snorted coldly.
"Do not compare me to those who kill for pleasure, those completely twisted killers!" His voice was forceful, carrying a sharp edge.
"My talent has been mediocre all my life. Compared to those exceptional geniuses, I don't measure up in the slightest. What they learn effortlessly, I have to put in a hundred, a thousand times the effort to achieve. However, I have pursued the way of the sword with single-minded devotion, never giving up. Compared to those geniuses, I have achieved the most!"
"I act based on my own likes and dislikes, disregarding worldly opinions. If I meet a good person, I will help if I can; if I meet an evil person, I will kill if I can; but if I meet someone who tries to hinder my pursuit of the sword and the truth, regardless of whether you are good or evil, man or woman, young or old, I will cut you all down!" Aoyama Yaha declared with overwhelming killing intent!
Ryougi Raku opened his mouth but said nothing. However, inwardly, he was deeply shocked. For the first time, he felt a sense of respect and admiration for this old man!
Although the old man was highly skilled and had accepted him as a disciple, Ryougi Raku had merely been grateful, not particularly respectful. He had believed that all the old man's achievements were simply due to his age, and that he himself could become even stronger without needing to live that long. But now, he felt ashamed of his own naivety. Compared to the old man's unwavering resolve, indifferent to others, he truly seemed immature and ignorant.
"Boy, don't think my swordsmanship is something you can master effortlessly just because it seems ordinary. I've endured countless injuries over a long period. Coupled with my old age and frailty, my current strength is only a tenth or even a twentieth of what it was at my peak. You may be incredibly gifted, but if you cannot persevere on your path and remain indecisive, you are nothing but mediocrity in my eyes!"
Ryougi Raku certainly didn't consider himself a genius. Everything he had, aside from what the old man taught him, came from luck and chance encounters. Without a strong will to match, even the greatest power would ultimately be useless.
"Old man, you've said so much. What exactly are you trying to tell me?" Ryougi Raku asked solemnly. The old man's words had a purpose; he definitely wanted to convey something.
Aoyama Yaha's expression and tone gradually calmed. "I have taught you all the techniques of Shinmei-ryu, but I still have one final secret. I will teach it to you after you officially become a mastered disciple."
"So, you mean I can graduate?" Ryougi Raku asked in surprise.
"Yes, as long as you complete the final training I assign you!"
"What is it?"
"Slay a demon... and kill a person!"
"Kill who?"
"The head of the Kamo family, Kamo no Meihin!"
"…"
Ryougi Raku didn't ask how the old man, who wasn't from this world, knew about the head of the Kamo family. He simply asked softly, "Old man, do you have a grudge against him?"
"No. Since I came to this world, I've had little contact with anyone besides you. How could I have any enmity?" Aoyama Yaha shook his head.
"Then why do you want him dead?" Ryougi Raku asked, confused.
The old man pointed at Ryougi Raku and said, "It's not that I want to kill him, but that you will!"
"…"
Ryougi Raku thought carefully. The Kamo family and the Ryougi family were both part of the Demon Exorcist organizations. Although not as powerful as the Ryougi family, the two families didn't have any major feud. As for him? It was even more impossible. The Kamo family didn't even know who he was, except for having heard of the family name.
Seeing him lost in thought, Aoyama Yaha waited. After Ryougi Raku finished his thoughts, he said, "Boy, do you wish to pursue the way of the sword, your own path?"
"Of course!" Ryougi Raku said without hesitation.
"This final secret technique of mine will be a great help to you. But if you want to learn it, you must first become a master. To become a master, the only obstacle in your path is Kamo no Meihin! He is blocking your way. What will you do?"
"Kill him!" At this moment, Ryougi Raku's mind was as clear as a mirror, and he suddenly understood! Yes, there was no other reason needed for killing him, only that he was blocking the path. The old man had simply randomly pointed to someone and ordered him to be killed as the final trial. He could only blame his own bad luck for being chosen by the old man. If the old man had said he wanted to kill Zhang San or Li Si, then the one blocking the path would be Zhang San or Li Si!
Seeing that he understood, Aoyama Yaha smiled slightly and said no more.
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At night, dark clouds covered the moon.
The Kamo-gamo Shrine had lost its daytime bustle and was extremely deserted and bleak.
Ryougi Raku walked through the silent shrine grounds with a long sword slung over his shoulder. A breeze blew past; there was no one around, making the atmosphere particularly eerie. However, he ignored the surroundings and walked straight towards the deepest part of the shrine.
In the main hall deep within the shrine, Kamo no Meihin was waiting quietly alone. The barrier to ward off ordinary people had been set up; there was no need for commoners to disturb them. The family members had also been instructed accordingly. It was time to teach this uninvited guest a lesson.
Thump, thump. The sound of footsteps echoed in the silent hall. The rhythm was very regular, as if the person was measuring each step precisely.
"He's here?" Kamo no Meihin muttered to himself, his eyes fixed intently on the hall's entrance.
Under his gaze, a boy of about eleven or twelve walked in confidently. He was handsome and appeared delicate, but Kamo no Meihin could sense a suppressed calmness and strength within him. He wore a simple kimono, a katana tucked at his waist, and instead of traditional wooden clogs, he wore a pair of leather boots, which looked somewhat out of place.
"Why have you come to my Kamo family so blatantly? If you have a request, or if my Kamo family has wronged you in some way, why not sit down, have some tea, and talk properly?" Kamo no Meihin, accustomed to authority, spoke in a condescending tone. Although his words sounded polite, it was merely habit.
"Kill!" As he spoke, he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Ryougi Raku was extremely disdainful of Kamo no Meihin's demeanor. This was clearly someone who had dealt too much with politicians and officials, speaking in circles, forgetting that in their world, strength was paramount. After Aoyama Yaha's recent teachings, Ryougi Raku firmly believed that while tactics were acceptable, they were merely a means; the ultimate reliance was on one's own strength.
Hearing Ryougi Raku speak of killing so casually, as if discussing a mundane matter, Kamo no Meihin felt a chill. He understood clearly that the strangely dressed boy before him was not the kind of killer who took pleasure in murder. The word "kill" in his tone seemed utterly natural, which was precisely what made it terrifying.
But even stronger than fear was his anger! Boundless anger! He was Kamo no Meihin, the patriarch of the ancient Kamo family. Everyone in both the ordinary and the supernatural worlds had to show him respect. And now, he was being provoked by a mere brat who was still wet behind the ears!
"How dare you! You little brat, let me teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents!" Kamo no Meihin roared, appearing careless on the surface but secretly preparing a spell. Someone from the other side, even a child, should not be underestimated. Though arrogant, he was no fool.
"Hmph, a brat is still a brat, lacking experience after all." Seeing that Ryougi Raku showed no reaction, he was about to make his move, ready to end what he considered a farce with thunderous force.
"Secret Technique of Shinmei-ryu: Flash Steel Cut!" With a light shout, a spiral sword energy shot straight towards Kamo no Meihin!
Kamo no Meihin was startled, never expecting the kid to be more decisive than he imagined. He hastily abandoned his intended spell and quickly erected a barrier. It must be said that the Onmyoji's barrier technique, refined by countless predecessors over the years, was quite powerful. Even hastily arranged, it managed to block the sword energy for a moment, giving Kamo no Meihin time to react and dodge.
After breaking through the barrier, the sword energy's force was undiminished. With a loud "boom," the table behind Kamo no Meihin was shattered to pieces, and a large hole was blown open in the roof. Broken roof tiles clattered to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.
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(TL : More Chapters @)[1]
[1] https://www.patreon.com/c/Gooberilla