Guarding

The little Tengu, freshly awakened in the forest surrounding Heian-kyo, recounted to everyone present how he had been betrayed and captured by his own kind in league with an unknown Onmyoji. After hearing his story, the faces of the Karasu-tengu, led by Aoi, all darkened. Aoi, especially, had a face so grim that Miketsu could discern it even through her mask.

“Roku is a traitor… Impossible… Impossible… How could he betray the clan leader, this is simply…” Aoi muttered in disbelief. Clearly, the little Tengu’s words had delivered an immense shock to her.

“Captain Aoi! What I said is true! You must quickly inform the clan leader of this news, or else disaster will strike!” Seeing Aoi still momentarily stunned, the little Tengu cried out in urgent warning. Aoi finally realized that now was not the time to stand idly by.

“Hayatemaru!”

“Present! Captain!”

Aoi shouted to the Tengu behind her, and a Karasu-tengu immediately knelt on one knee in response.

“You are to return to Sugo Ungo at once, with the utmost speed! Go directly to the Great Clan Leader and inform him of everything that has happened here. We will follow shortly!” Aoi commanded. If the little Tengu’s words were true, the message had to be relayed back to Sugo Ungo as quickly as possible.

“Understood!”

The Karasu-tengu named Hayatemaru immediately responded, then spread his black wings, soared into the sky in a whirlwind, and flew straight towards the distant horizon.

Do they not have a direct means of contacting Sugo Ungo?

Witnessing this, Miketsu, standing nearby, couldn’t help but wonder. It surprised her that the Tengu’s method of transmitting information still relied on messengers traveling by foot. In contrast, Onmyojutsu seemed to possess more efficient means, such as the Shikigami crow she had previously seen Minamoto no Mitsunaka control, which could instantly convey the caster’s words. This appeared to be a secret art unique to the Minamoto Clan.

After watching Hayatemaru depart, Aoi turned her gaze back to Miketsu and the others present. Taking a deep breath, she spoke.

“I thank you all for your assistance to our clan. We ought to repay you handsomely, but the current situation has far exceeded my expectations. We must return at once. I will revisit Heian-kyo to express my gratitude properly at a later date.” Aoi said, bowing slightly. After speaking, she intended to lead her subordinates away immediately, but at that moment, a voice stopped them.

“Wait, returning now would be extremely risky…”

Everyone turned their gaze towards the source of the voice, where Seimei stood.

“Risks? What do you mean by that…” Aoi asked, looking at the young Onmyoji with a puzzled expression.

“Did Lady Owl not just tell you? The moment that sleeping spell is lifted, it will immediately alert the hidden masterminds. This means the traitor you spoke of likely already knows of the situation here. Do you think he would simply let you, who are aware of his plot, return without incident?” Seimei said straightforwardly. Hearing his words, Miketsu nodded slightly in agreement.

Although it was unknown how efficient the hidden masterminds’ information network was, it couldn’t be ruled out that the Tengu traitor, Roku, had already learned of his exposure. Judging by Aoi’s and her group’s reactions, Roku was likely a high-ranking Tengu. If he truly knew that Aoi, who posed a threat to him, was returning, he might resort to desperate measures.

After listening to Seimei, Aoi stood lost in thought for a moment. Clearly, after careful consideration, she also concluded that returning directly like this would be highly imprudent.

After a round of contemplation, Aoi seemed to make a decision in her heart. She turned her gaze to Miketsu and the others present and spoke solemnly.

“Indeed… We don’t know what we might encounter on this return journey. If Roku truly intends to deal with us, whether we can return smoothly is truly questionable.” Aoi said, her gaze fixed on Miketsu.

“During these past few days in Heian-kyo, I have heard much of Lady Owl’s numerous righteous deeds. Now, my clan and Heian-kyo together are caught in a vast conspiracy, facing the risk of being devastated and overthrown by a traitor.

“We must return to Sugo Ungo successfully, but we do not know what obstacles we may face along the way. Therefore, I wish to ask you, Lady Owl, to accompany us back to Sugo Ungo. That way, even if we encounter any unexpected incidents on the journey, we will be able to handle them with ease.”

When Aoi finished speaking, a hush fell over the area. Everyone present turned their gaze to Miketsu, awaiting her response to this request, which sounded very much like asking for a bodyguard.

Miketsu grasped the hilt of the sword concealed beneath her black robes, and a faint curve appeared at the corner of her mouth, hidden beneath her bandages.

…

At Sugo Ungo, atop a steep, towering peak, the Great Tengu Clan Leader, Kakuhanbo, stood gazing into the distance at the isolated Heavenly Pillar Peak, shrouded by dense clouds. His golden mask concealed eyes that were particularly lost in thought.

“You are still the same as ever, always fond of gazing at Qiongyun Peak when idle.”

A voice came from behind Kakuhanbo. Kakuhanbo turned his head, somewhat surprised, and saw Roku, who was flapping his wings as he descended onto the peak.

“You have already passed the Thundercloud Trial, obtained the Way of the Tengu from above, and become a true Great Tengu. What is the point of looking at that place anymore?” Roku said slowly, his voice deep, as he looked at the Tengu clan leader before him. Although he still used honorifics, his demeanor was no longer as respectful as before, as if he were addressing an equal.

“Merely reminiscing about the past. For someone like me, whose time is short, the old days are so worthy of nostalgia. In the past, after our training, we all liked to look towards that place. Now, looking at it, it also reminds me of when I was young… back then, we trained daily under the guidance of the Old Clan Leader.” Kakuhanbo did not reprimand Roku for his seemingly disrespectful behavior, but instead replied calmly, his tone not that of a superior addressing a subordinate, but rather that of an old friend.

“Yes… back then, we all yearned to become Great Tengu, and the Old Clan Leader always encouraged us to strive diligently towards that goal.” Roku seemed to recall something as well, a nostalgic look appearing in his eyes. However, after only a brief moment, this nostalgia suddenly dissipated, replaced by a glint of severity.

“The Old Clan Leader gave us lofty goals to strive for, yet he never told us that everything was predetermined in the end. What was meant to be would eventually be, and what wasn’t, no matter how hard one tried, would never be achieved. In the end, all our efforts were in vain!” Roku said darkly, his voice laced with coldness. His words made Kakuhanbo pause in surprise, a glimmer appearing in his eyes.

“It cannot be helped… As Tengu, everything is decided for us at the moment of our birth…”