Retsu wasted no time. He quickly placed the corrupted shard back into the bamboo tube, sealed it with chakra, and returned it to his pouch.
"This is what a polluted Shikon Jewel shard looks like.
I can only seal it temporarily. I can't purify it completely.
"As far as I know, there's only one shrine maiden left who can cleanse something like this."
"That thing is way too terrifying…"
Only after the sinister aura fully disappeared did Xia Lan slowly calm down. She sat back in her chair, lingering fear still visible on her face.
"That's why I can't give the shards to you," Retsu said seriously.
"You want to use them to revive the Panther Cat Lord. That's basically suicide.
"The one who comes back won't be the leader you remember. It'll be a monster controlled by evil energy—something that only knows slaughter.
"And when that happens, forget defeating the Inu-demons and reclaiming your land. Your own clan will be the first ones it massacres."
"I… I'll try to persuade Big Sis."
Xia Lan's expression grew solemn as she nodded firmly.
She might be impulsive, but she wasn't reckless. She would never gamble her entire clan's safety.
"Don't look so tense, kitty."
Retsu reached out and stroked her head. This time, she didn't dodge. She let him smooth her hair.
"Even if you fail to convince her, it's fine.
"If the revived Panther Cat Lord really turns into a monster, just summon me. I'll cut it down again."
"Deal!"
Her gloom vanished instantly. Xia Lan perked up, nodding enthusiastically.
Worst case? They'd just kill the revived lord again.
With this guy around, what was there to fear?
She knew exactly how absurdly strong Retsu was.
After their first encounter—where she'd been defeated effortlessly—she'd stubbornly challenged him several more times.
Every single time, she'd lost completely.
Now, she had absolute confidence in his strength.
"I'll try my best to persuade Big Sis," she said seriously. "If she insists on reviving the lord… I'll come find you."
Retsu smiled. "Be careful on the road. Call me anytime."
"Alright, I'm going!"
She waved and headed for the door, eager to return to her clan.
Halfway out, she paused and looked back.
"Oh! And when I summon you next time, don't forget to bring fresh fish!"
"Don't worry. I'll bring plenty."
Retsu grinned.
After putting away the Shikon shard, he suddenly remembered something.
"Wait—one more thing."
"What now?"
Her hand rested on the door as she turned back.
"If you really end up using the Shikon Jewel to revive your lord, you'll most likely run into a girl named Kagome."
His expression turned serious.
"Under no circumstances can you harm her."
"Ooooh?"
Xia Lan dragged out the sound teasingly, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
"What's she to you, huh? Why so protective?"
"You nosy cat."
Retsu stepped forward and grabbed her head, rotating it a few times until she felt dizzy.
"She's not 'someone' to me. She's the reincarnation of Kikyo—the shrine maiden who died fifty years ago. She's the current guardian of the Shikon Jewel.
"She's collecting the shards too. If you try to gather them for revival, you'll meet her sooner or later."
"Kikyo's reincarnation?"
Still swaying from the head-spin, Xia Lan shook herself.
"Why would I go looking for trouble with someone like that?"
"She hasn't fully awakened Kikyo's power yet," Retsu explained. "She's not that strong.
"But she's the only one who can purify the Shikon Jewel.
"So when the time comes, pay attention. Protect her. Don't let anything happen to her."
"Got it."
This time, Xia Lan dropped the teasing and nodded seriously.
"Okay, now I'm really leaving!"
She waved one last time, flung open the door, and dashed out. Her red figure vanished into the forest path in an instant.
Retsu watched her retreating silhouette and shook his head with a faint smile.
This was probably the difference between humans and yokai.
Humans, with their short lives, inevitably grew sentimental over partings.
Yokai, with endless years ahead of them, treated meetings and separations as nothing more than routine. Given enough time, paths would cross again.
No need for sorrow.
"Well… I've stayed here long enough. Time to move on."
He returned inside and packed everything into Kamui space—bedding, daily necessities, even the fur cushion and cooking tools.
In this era, supplies were scarce. Even with money, many items were hard to find.
Without Kamui, he'd have to lug around massive storage scrolls filled with pots and pans. Just imagining it was annoying.
When he finished, Retsu stepped out of the wooden house and walked toward the distant forest.
After a few steps, a loud rumble sounded behind him.
With a controlled surge of chakra, the wood and earth composing the house collapsed instantly. The structure crumbled, swallowed by rolling soil, until the land returned to its original wild state.
Leaving it standing would only invite yokai to claim it as a nest.
Better to erase it.
"BOOM—!"
At dusk, Retsu sat beside a campfire, preparing to rest, when a thunderous explosion shattered the night.
He looked up sharply.
In the distance, a small mountain erupted with dazzling light. The scattered auras of numerous minor yokai flickered and vanished in the blast.
A fierce battle was underway.
"Oh? A show?"
Interest flashed in his eyes.
"Maybe I can scavenge something worthwhile."
In the next instant, his figure dissolved into a dark blur, racing toward the explosion.
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