Return to the Mountain

Below Solitary Fox Mountain, on the main battlefield, all fighting had ceased. The fox hunters and the Minamoto clan's Onmyoji, without command and with scattered formations, were utterly unable to withstand the onslaught of the yokai horde. On the scene, both humans and shikigami were torn to shreds by the yokai; almost no one survived.

After the battle, on the ravaged battlefield, the white-haired yokai youth Nura Rihyon leisurely rested his blade on his shoulder, gazing up at the dark night sky.

"Oh dear... I didn't expect him to escape. That fellow's ability to assess the situation and act is quite strong," Nura Rihyon said softly, looking at the moon in the night sky.

"Gurgle gurgle? Hic... Clearly, you weren't capable of keeping him... yet you're still talking here..." the tanuki yokai Tamamura said dismissively beside Nura Rihyon, after taking a few gulps of sake.

"Tsk, how can you say that? Who knew that guy actually had the ability to turn himself into a vengeful spirit? In that form, no one could stop him from escaping." He shot an annoyed glance at the tanuki beside him, then suddenly noticed a group of foxes had gathered in front of him. Upon closer inspection, they were the wild foxes he had rescued, who had fought alongside him earlier.

At this moment, these wild foxes gathered together, bowing deeply to Nura Rihyon and the tanuki to express their gratitude. Seeing this, a deep sense of melancholy welled up in Nura Rihyon's heart. He wanted to say something, but remained silent for a long time, until finally, he slowly uttered a single sentence.

"You should also thank Lord Owl; he orchestrated all of this."

After Nura Rihyon finished speaking, the wild foxes exchanged glances, then nodded to Nura Rihyon once more before scattering. Once the wild foxes had all vanished from sight, the tanuki nudged Nura Rihyon with his elbow. When the latter turned his gaze to meet his, the tanuki raised an eyebrow and said quite casually.

"How does it feel? Your desired Yokai Ninkyo."

In response to the tanuki's words, Nura Rihyon shrugged and replied with a light chuckle.

"Not bad..."

...

Within the gloomy forest, countless vengeful spirits drifted in the dark space. In the center of the vengeful spirits, on the ground covered with fallen leaves, Minamoto no Yorimasa, clad in night attire, was propped on his hands, panting heavily.

"Owl... Nura Rihyon... just you wait..."

Just then, a translucent vengeful spirit appeared from the dark sky and slowly descended, landing beside Minamoto no Yorimasa. It whispered softly into his ear, and during this process, Minamoto no Yorimasa's gaze involuntarily sharpened.

"Owl personally killed Ishikawa? He's not Tsuruha? Not a Spirit Beast?"

The news brought by the vengeful spirit astonished Minamoto no Yorimasa. This proved that Ishikawa's previous speculation was incorrect; Owl was not a Spirit Beast at all. He was a powerful yokai of unknown origin, a genuine and formidable one.

"Owl... just wait, I will uncover your identity..."

Just as Minamoto no Yorimasa's words trailed off, a distant, sinister voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

"Believer of the Minamoto clan..."

Hearing this voice, Minamoto no Yorimasa froze in place. All the emotions that had been on his face instantly vanished, his expression becoming solemn and grave. The thoughts he had been preparing about confronting Owl were completely dismissed.

"I await your command..." Minamoto no Yorimasa said with an extremely serious and earnest tone.

"Next... you have a mission..."

...

The battle at Solitary Fox Mountain had ended. After the battlefield was cleared, Miketsu had Nura Rihyon and his group leave with the yokai horde first, while she herself returned to Inari Mountain, riding Makoto.

This time, Miketsu, in the guise of Owl, had commanded the yokai to help her punish the enemies of the Inari foxes. This made Miketsu realize that having a loyal subordinate force in the demon realm was indeed quite convenient. She resolved to continue expanding her power in the demon realm. Through this incident, Owl's reputation would increase considerably, and more yokai would join, drawn by his fame. Nura Rihyon and his group might be even busier in the coming days.

It was foreseeable that Owl's influence in Heian-kyo's demon realm would be further enhanced, and she could proceed with her next actions.

In this operation, Miketsu had commanded yokai to kill many people, but she was not worried about provoking the Onmyoryo as a result. Firstly, the fox hunters themselves, by hunting Inari foxes who served as Divine Messengers, were engaged in an act not permitted by the court. The Ishikawa family had even been expelled from Heian-kyo for this. They had merely relied on extensive bribes and the tacit approval of the Onmyoryo to continue their hunting activities. Their deaths would not overly concern the Onmyoryo.

As for the Minamoto clan's Onmyoji, it was clear that they were not dispatched by the Onmyoryo to assist the fox hunters; they must have been directly assigned by the Minamoto family. Their deaths would certainly offend the Minamoto clan, but whether it would offend the Onmyoryo was uncertain, as the Minamoto clan secretly aiding an illegal organization not recognized by the court was not exactly an honorable matter.

Returning to Inari Mountain, Miketsu, after her usual hot spring bath, changed into a yukata and rested. The next day, Tsuruha appeared before her, informing her that all the Inari foxes she had rescued the previous night had returned to Inari Mountain and were safely settled. This news made Miketsu breathe a sigh of relief.

Throughout the entire next day, Miketsu did not go to Heian-kyo or Choyo-machi, but instead stayed in the Secret Realm of Inari Mountain, accompanying the foxes. After their long-lost companions were rescued and returned, all the foxes of Inari Mountain became exceptionally enthusiastic. They all gathered around Miketsu, eagerly rubbing against her, one after another. Miketsu was directly submerged in a pile of fluffy foxes, at a loss for what to do, until Tsuruha personally came to restore order, allowing Miketsu to escape.

"Phew... Thank you so much for earlier, Tsuruha."

Inside the small building in the Secret Realm, Miketsu, covered in fox fur, let out a long sigh of relief and thanked Tsuruha beside her.

"It's nothing, Lady Uka. As our deity, with just a word from you, the foxes would keep their distance."

"I know that, but seeing them so happy, I couldn't bring myself to say anything... After all, they've suffered so much injustice and endured so much hardship..." Miketsu said to her Divine Messenger with a faint smile. To be honest, facing the Inari foxes who served as her Divine Messengers, she truly felt a trace of guilt, as the reason they could be hunted so extensively by humans was inseparable from the Inari Okami's unreliable divine virtue.

"Thank you... Lady Uka..." Tsuruha sighed slowly, as if a great burden had been lifted. The shadow that had hung over the Inari foxes had been dispelled, and the one who accomplished this was the awakened deity, whom they had placed immense hope in.

Although the deity used yokai-like methods, she was still essentially the kind Lady Uka, wasn't she?

"And I am just as grateful to you, Tsuruha..." Miketsu said, extending her arms to embrace Tsuruha's neck. Tsuruha, in turn, nestled into Miketsu's embrace, enjoying her caresses.