Conveyance

Heian-kyo in broad daylight, the weather was perfect, with gentle breezes and bright sunshine. Miketsu, dressed as a human, was strolling along the banks of the Kamo River. Beside her was Yura, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. The two of them were walking and chatting, discussing various matters concerning Heian-kyo, primarily focusing on the Onmyoryo.

Unlike Miketsu, an Onmyoji who treated the Onmyoryo merely as a library, Yura was extremely diligent in her pursuit of Onmyodo. She constantly undertook missions for the Onmyoryo to improve herself. Due to her exceptional abilities, just a few days prior, she had successfully joined the Onmyoryo as an Onmyo-sei. This was only three months after the selection test, an incredibly fast pace.

Having become an Onmyo-sei, Yura could now initially access the Onmyodo knowledge within the Onmyoryo. Her understanding of Heian-kyo's Onmyodo was considerably greater than Miketsu's, whose focus wasn't entirely on this aspect. Thus, Miketsu often learned many important pieces of information from Yura, such as now.

“What? A Yokai actually came to the Onmyoryo to demand an explanation?” Miketsu said, surprised by Yura's earlier words. She had indeed sensed Shoki passing over Heian-kyo a couple of days ago and was wondering which Yokai was so reckless as to be so arrogant right under the Onmyoryo's nose.

“Not just any Yokai, but an envoy of a Yokai Lord, the leader of the Tengu of Sugo Ungo—the Great Tengu Kakuhanbo.” Yura gently wiggled her index finger, adding to Miketsu's words.

“The Tengu of Sugo Ungo?” Miketsu paused slightly, listening to Yura's words. She knew of Sugo Ungo; it was the Tengu clan's racial Secret Realm, the main base for Tengu throughout the country, and the dwelling place of one of the Yokai Lords.

“A Yokai Lord sent an envoy to the Onmyoryo to demand an explanation? Does that mean the Onmyoryo broke the balance and did something to anger the Tengu?” Miketsu continued to ask curiously. Having stayed in this world for such a long time, she had come to understand many things, such as the relationship between the Onmyoryo and the Yokai Lords.

The human court nominally ruled the country, but in reality, their actual control only extended to Kinki and the surrounding provinces. In slightly more distant areas, their reach was limited. Against the Yokai Lords of the demon realm, who carved out territories like warlords, the Onmyoryo would find it difficult to subjugate them even with all their might.

After much bloodshed, a delicate balance gradually formed between the Onmyoryo and the various Yokai Lords. They demarcated spheres of influence, refrained from interfering with each other, and developed an unspoken understanding. Most of these Yokai Lords, with a few exceptions, could exercise a certain degree of self-restraint, allowing for dialogue when conflicts arose.

This time, the Great Tengu of Sugo Ungo sending an envoy to demand an explanation indicated that the Onmyoryo might have actively broken the understanding with the Tengu.

“Yes, it's said that the Tengu patrol teams were repeatedly subjected to sudden attacks, and Sugo Ungo itself was forcibly intruded upon. Many Tengu disappeared, and some were directly killed…” Yura turned to Miketsu, her face serious as she spoke.

“And at the scenes of these incidents, there were very obvious residual traces of spiritual power, and even abandoned Talismans. Because of these, the Tengu directly suspect that the culprit is one of the Onmyo Families in Heian-kyo.”

The Tengu of Sugo Ungo were attacked by unknown assailants? And because of the residual spiritual power and Talisman traces, the Onmyo Families of Heian-kyo are directly suspected? Could this be the Minamoto Clan's doing again?

As soon as she heard that Yokai were captured, Miketsu immediately wondered if it was related to the Minamoto Clan again, as these guys had a very poor record in this regard. But on second thought, the Minamoto Clan was, after all, an affiliate of the Onmyoryo and a part of Heian-kyo. Would they forcibly break the understanding between Heian-kyo and the Yokai Lords for a few Tengu? Such an action could bring immense risk to Heian-kyo.

Moreover, this act seemed a bit too blatant, which didn't quite fit the Minamoto Clan's style, did it? Besides, Yokai were everywhere, and wild Tengu weren't uncommon. Why go out of their way to provoke a Yokai Lord?

“This is quite interesting… So, do you know how the Onmyoryo responded?” Miketsu asked Yura after a moment of thought.

“It's said that Lord Kamo no Tadayuki took this matter very seriously and immediately summoned representatives from all the various Influential Families within the Onmyoryo, asking if any of them had privately crossed boundaries. However, he received negative answers from everyone.” Yura continued, her words causing Miketsu to frown slightly.

“Afterward, Lord Kamo no Tadayuki informed the envoy from Sugo Ungo of these results, but the other party was very displeased. They stated that they would personally lead their subordinates to search for their captured comrades in Heian-kyo, but Lord Kamo no Tadayuki sternly refused. The Tengu envoy left in great anger, claiming she would not give up the search.” Yura continued after a moment of thought. After hearing Yura's words, Miketsu couldn't help but nod.

“I see, so the relationship between the Onmyoryo and Sugo Ungo has suddenly deteriorated…” Miketsu said. From this perspective, it was a rather serious diplomatic incident, and it remained to be seen how the Onmyoryo would handle it.

“But then again, you seem to know quite a lot about this matter. Can an Onmyo-sei know so much?” Miketsu withdrew her thoughts, no longer dwelling on other things, and instead asked Yura. What she had just said was very detailed, as if she had been present at the scene herself.

Hearing Miketsu's words, Yura's reaction was a slight pause, then her small face flushed slightly, and she slowly spoke in a soft voice.

“An Onmyo-sei naturally wouldn't know this much. These… these were all told to me by a new friend…”

A friend?

Seeing Yura's current appearance, Miketsu paused, then nodded slightly as she understood something, and then tried hard to suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth. She, of course, knew who this so-called friend was referring to.

It seems the red thread she had tied had quite a significant effect.

…

In the Upper Capital District of Heian-kyo, within the Minamoto Clan's residence, the solemn-faced Minamoto no Mitsunaka sat formally in an elegant room. Before him, Minamoto no Yorimasa knelt on the floor.

At this moment, Minamoto no Yorimasa was briefing Minamoto no Mitsunaka on a task.

“Father, I have conducted an initial investigation of all the clan's younger members and elders, and none of them have privately engaged in hunting activities targeting Sugo Ungo!”