The middle-aged Onmyoji spoke, and the young Onmyoji beside him exclaimed in disbelief, waving his hand in a very Japanese manner, "How is this possible? Teacher Nakai, isn't this spell very rare? Even most Onmyoji in our country might not be able to break it. How did he break it so quickly?"
If Yu Xiaoqi were present, he could tell their identity from their Japanese speech and attire – they were Onmyoji. If Ruo Feng and Meizi were here, they would definitely recognize them.
His name was Moriyama Kazuki, an Onmyoji.
Although not born into a prestigious Onmyoji family, like the Abe clan of Abe no Seimei, he was a self-taught Onmyoji. However, Moriyama Kazuki had gained considerable fame among the younger generation in Sakura Country.
The reason was simple.
His teacher was very powerful, also a self-taught Onmyoji, but one who had made a name for himself, reaching the level of an Onmyoji capable of dealing with Oni Kings. This was the middle-aged Onmyoji beside him, known as Teacher Nakai.
This year.
Moriyama, as a freshman, was admitted to Tokyo University. It was there he met his seniors, Ruo Feng and Meizi, who were also ghost exorcists. He was instantly smitten with Meizi.
In his eyes, Meizi was a shrine maiden, and he was a promising young Onmyoji. His teacher, Nakai, also supported his pursuit of Meizi, as his disciple marrying a shrine maiden would bring him great honor and status.
Furthermore, they were both from Okinawa, giving him an advantage over other suitors.
In his opinion.
He had a sure chance of winning Meizi over.
However.
Faced with his fervent pursuit, Meizi senior threw him a sentence: "I have a boyfriend."
Moriyama Kazuki was unwilling to accept this. He asked Meizi senior who her boyfriend was, wanting to know which Onmyoji he had lost to, and from which family. The response he received was that her boyfriend was not an Onmyoji, and not even from Sakura Country.
Hearing Meizi happily introduce Yu Xiaoqi, praising him, and often showing off her boyfriend to her friends, Moriyama Kazuki's anger flared. He could accept losing to someone from an Onmyoji family, or even to a fellow countryman.
But this person was a foreigner, and an ordinary person at that.
Even if he were a ghost exorcist from Great Xia, he could barely accept the defeat. After all, Great Xia ghost exorcists were famously powerful in their international ghost exorcism community. But why should an ordinary person from Great Xia compete with him for a woman?
Because of this.
Upon learning that Yu Xiaoqi was coming to find Meizi.
Moriyama Kazuki devised a plan. He intended to curse Yu Xiaoqi's family, causing a death in the family. Given Yu Xiaoqi's ordinary status, Meizi would be unable to deal with the curse, and he would then step in to help. He would also sow seeds of doubt, saying things like they were from different worlds and incompatible. Yu Xiaoqi, for the safety of his family, would surely break up with Meizi, and he would have another chance.
It was a pity.
Now his plan was ruined. Did Yu Xiaoqi actually have a powerful Onmyoji backing him?
As Moriyama Kazuki was astonished, Nakai looked at him with a frown.
"Kazuki, are you sure Meizi's boyfriend's family are ordinary people?"
"Huh? Teacher Nakai, why do you ask? I'm sure. I found out from Meizi's classmates that her boyfriend is an ordinary person. I even secretly went to the airport to see him, and he was indeed an ordinary person, with no spiritual energy at all."
"What about his family members? Are there any other powerful spiritual presences around them?"
"No, besides Meizi who picked him up, I didn't sense anyone with strong spiritual energy."
After Moriyama Kazuki replied, seeing Teacher Nakai's expression, he couldn't help but ask,
"Teacher Nakai, is the person who helped break the curse very powerful?"
Nakai raised an eyebrow and said,
"Very powerful. Earlier, when I cast a curse, it was blocked by a protective amulet. I found it strange, how could an ordinary person have such a powerful amulet? I intended to continue casting the curse today to break through the amulet, but he broke my curse with a single move. This is a master!"
"His strength is considerable, at least not weaker than mine."
Moriyama Kazuki quickly asked after hearing this,
"Could he be a ghost exorcist from Great Xia?"
"That's unlikely. I suspect an Onmyoji helped him. After all, only an Onmyoji could break our curses so easily. It's difficult for other types of ghost exorcists to break them so quickly."
"Then, Teacher Nakai, will we be discovered? Will we be in trouble? Such a powerful Onmyoji."
"What are you afraid of? Your teacher is not weak either. And have you forgotten? I've recently made a breakthrough."
Nakai's expression was calm. How could someone who reached the level of an Oni King be afraid of a small matter?
Mentioning the breakthrough.
Moriyama Kazuki's tension lessened considerably.
"That's right, I almost forgot. Teacher Nakai has subdued an Oni King as a Shikigami. Your Shikigami technique is so good that even the Onmyoji of the Abe clan praise it and want to recruit you."
Nakai smiled and waved his hand.
"It's normal. After all, Shikigami were invented by Abe no Seimei. Now, an outsider like me has mastered the Shikigami technique to a level comparable to their Abe clan, so naturally, they are interested."
"However, we cannot be careless. The opponent is a powerful Onmyoji, and it's not impossible that he's a Great Xia ghost exorcist. I'll make some preparations to prevent them from finding us and to respond immediately."
In his words.
Nakai looked in the direction of the hotel where Yu Xiaoqi's family was staying, his eyes gleaming.
"I hope it's a Great Xia ghost exorcist. I can refine their corpses into Shikigami. A Shikigami that can use Great Xia ghost exorcism techniques is very rare, and it's comparable to an Oni King. Perhaps I can even learn their Great Xia ghost exorcism techniques from this.
"I just don't know what kind of Great Xia ghost exorcism techniques they use. Mao Shan techniques? Daoist magic? Or perhaps rarer ones like those of the corpse-fishing people?"
He dared not be careless and began to prepare, intending to eliminate the opponent in one fell swoop and obtain their Great Xia ghost exorcism techniques.
On the other side.
In Yu Weihong's hotel room.
Yu Jin knelt on one knee, awaiting Cao Yanbing's command.
Cao Yanbing glanced at the sky, then slowly said,
"No rush. It's early morning now. Fighting would be too easily discovered. Let's go at night. After all, it's a dark and windy night, perfect for killing, isn't it, Yu Jin?"
Yu Jin cupped his hands.
"My lord is wise. I will obey all your arrangements."
Yu Weihong and the others heard their conversation clearly. Yu Weihong looked at Cao Yanbing in astonishment, never expecting that the magical artifact Zhang Wei had given him was... alive.
As if sensing Yu Weihong's gaze, Cao Yanbing turned his head.
"Mr. Yu, how do you plan to handle this? Don't worry, Zhang Wei has already instructed me. Since he asked me to protect you, you decide how I should deal with them."
Afterwards.
Under Cao Yanbing's instruction, Yu Jin revealed that when he broke the curse, he had seen the opponent's location and appearance.
"It's Nakai!!"
Meizi recognized the description from Yu Jin, and her face changed instantly.
At this moment.
She understood why Tao Wanping had been cursed. Nakai seemed to have no enmity with Yu Xiaoqi and his group. The only possibility was Nakai's disciple, Moriyama Kazuki, who had aggressively pursued her before.
"I'm sorry, I caused this for you."
Meizi apologized with a bitter expression, her face filled with self-reproach.
In response.
Yu Weihong and the others were stunned, not because of Meizi, but because Zhang Wei's prediction had come true.
After comforting Meizi, assuring her that it wasn't her fault but the opponent's treachery, Yu Xiaoqi sighed.
"Fortunately, Brother Wei is so prescient. It's all thanks to Brother Wei."
Yu Weihong nodded, instinctively glancing at the imposing Cao Yanbing and Yu Jin beside him.
"When we get back, I must properly thank Brother Wei."
Speaking of which.
Yu Weihong looked at Cao Yanbing.
"Mr. Cao, since Brother Wei invited you, you must be very powerful. I want you to help me catch this Nakai and that Moriyama Kazuki. He dared to harm my family, and I don't intend to let him off easily. Is that okay?"
"No problem."
Cao Yanbing grinned and looked at Yu Jin beside him.
"Yu Jin, perform well next. Don't shame the reputation of our Great Xia."
Just as Yu Jin was about to reply.
Meizi stepped forward, advising Cao Yanbing and the others not to be careless, as Nakai was very powerful. She listed some of Nakai's formidable feats.
"It is said that Nakai has captured an Oni King as a Shikigami. You must be careful."
"Shikigami? Guardian spirits? It's fine, I have guardian spirits too, and many of them."
Cao Yanbing grinned.
At the same time.
Yu Xiaoqi, knowing Meizi cared about him, pulled her aside and said,
"Meizi, you say Nakai is powerful, but Cao Yanbing is also powerful. If you don't believe me, I'll show you Cao Yanbing's combat videos."
He then opened his phone, searched for "Rakshasa Street" on Bilibili, and played Cao Yanbing's combat videos for Meizi on the spot.
Upon seeing this.
Meizi was stunned, looking at Cao Yanbing in bewilderment, then at Yu Xiaoqi. After a long while, she managed to stammer,
"Sugoi! Mr. Cao Yanbing is that strong? Does your Great Xia even make anime protagonists out of ghost exorcists? Is this how Great Xia promotes its ghost exorcists?"
...
That night.
As night fell and midnight approached.
In Tokyo, outside the Japanese-style courtyard where Nakai resided.
A majestic figure walked towards the entrance. As he moved, a tall figure appeared beside him. It was Cao Yanbing and Yu Jin.
The moment they appeared.
Nakai, who was far within the courtyard, sensed them immediately, his eyes flashing.
"They've arrived."
In his words.
Nakai held a piece of Shikigami paper, brought his fingers together, and the Shikigami paper sandwiched between them instantly ignited, transforming into a giant Shikigami monster.
Just as he was about to make further moves.
Cao Yanbing had already appeared in the courtyard, holding his Ten Halls of Hell weapon, and looked at the opponent.
This scene.
In the Japanese courtyard at midnight.
The bamboo pole filling the water in the courtyard pond poured water, tapping on the stones, making a crisp sound.
Beside it stood a person clad in Great Xia armor, and a majestic figure of a Great Xia soldier wearing a conical hat.
And in front of the courtyard, the Japanese door was open, revealing the room within the courtyard. A person in Onmyoji attire sat on the tatami, with a giant Shikigami monster beside him.
...