Undercurrents

"The Middle Kingdom? As in my old home, China?"

Hearing Fujiwara no Kanehira’s words, Miketsu was caught off guard. She hadn't expected that this bow, which had rested in her shrine's honden for centuries since its founding, was actually made in China. Though she didn't know which specific dynasty it came from, the revelation sparked a sudden sense of kinship in her heart.

"While I do not know where you found this divine relic, my Lord, I suspect it was brought over from across the sea by the Toraijin... The noble families of those immigrants harbor many secret arts and treasures from the Middle Kingdom that even the Fujiwara and Kamo clans covet..." As Kanehira examined the Decaying Bow, his words triggered a memory for Miketsu.

Specifically, the lineage of priests who managed the Inari shrine in the mortal realm—the very people Kanehira referred to as the Toraijin. Their surname still bore the traces of their origin.

They were the Hata clan, who were said to have crossed the sea to Japan centuries ago to escape the flames of war.

Back when Miketsu had been curious about the miko and priests running her shrine, Tsuruha had given her that very explanation. Miketsu had been quite surprised at the time, not expecting that her own worshippers were effectively fellow countrymen from another world... even if they had fully integrated into this nation over several centuries.

Watching Kanehira hold the Decaying Bow, various thoughts swirled in Miketsu’s mind. She suddenly recalled that she had been guided to this bow by Matara Okina. This meant Okina was intimately familiar with the affairs of her shrine. Coupled with the fact that the mask Okina gave her was named Qin Xin, she wondered if there was a deeper connection to the Hata clan.

She decided she would have to find an opportunity to contact the Hata clan later, though she would need to consider whether to do so as a deity or as a human.

Pushing aside these secondary thoughts for the moment, Miketsu turned her focus back to Kanehira.

"As you can see, this bow is severely damaged. Are you able to repair it?"

"I'm afraid that is beyond my skill... The decay has reached a critical point, and I lack the specific materials used in its original construction. I must humbly apologize for my incompetence." Kanehira spoke with a tone of helplessness, but just as disappointment flickered in Miketsu’s eyes, his tone shifted.

"I cannot repair this divine bow, but it could serve as the key to unlocking the divine power within your sword. If you would leave this bow with me, my Lord, I can study it closely to uncover the mysteries of its spiritual release. From there, I can modify your blade... Perhaps the divine components of this bow can be directly integrated into the forge, saving us a great deal of trouble."

Hearing his response, the light returned to Miketsu’s eyes. She exhaled softly and nodded to Kanehira.

"Very well. I shall leave it in your hands."

"It is my honor," Kanehira replied respectfully. For him, the chance to further upgrade a divine weapon he had personally crafted was a prospect he welcomed with open arms.

After discussing a few more technical details, Miketsu prepared to leave, but she had one final question for him.

"By the way, the security in Heian-kyo has become exceptionally tight lately. Do you happen to know why?"

"Well... the initial increase in security was due to the rising tensions with the tengu of Sugo Ungo. But now... it is because of an attack that recently took place within Heian-kyo." Kanehira spoke slowly, his words sending a jolt through Miketsu.

"An attack? When did this happen? And where?" Miketsu’s brow furrowed. She didn't understand what could have happened during her short absence from the capital.

Kanehira paused for a moment, weighing his words before answering.

"Normally, this matter would be under strict secrecy. But since a deity such as yourself is asking, there is no need for me to hide it... To be honest, the place that was attacked was a Fujiwara shrine."

"A Fujiwara... shrine? Who did it? What exactly happened?" Miketsu asked, her voice tinged with shock.

"The family shrine of the Fujiwara clan was struck last night. However, since I have been distanced from the center of the clan's affairs, I do not know the finer details. Who was the assailant? What was their objective? I am not entirely sure. I only know that my elder brother is absolutely furious and has mobilized a massive force to investigate the matter and hunt down the culprit." Kanehira explained. Ever since the incident with the Vermilion Bird Seal, he had essentially been sidelined from the Fujiwara high command.

"Last night... the Fujiwara?" Miketsu fell into deep thought.

Leaving the Decaying Bow with Kanehira, Miketsu walked out of the Spirit Tool Bureau and through the corridors of the Onmyoryo, her mind racing.

...

An unknown assailant attacking the Fujiwara clan? Who would be bold enough to provoke the family that held absolute power over the imperial court? Was there some hidden significance to this?

While she was curious about the Fujiwara situation, Miketsu decided not to interfere yet. She believed that with the Fujiwara clan's immense influence, they should be able to handle such a matter on their own and resolve it quickly.

Choosing not to dwell on it further, Miketsu continued toward the main gates of the Onmyoryo, intending to return to Inari Mountain.

Along the way, numerous onmyo-sei hurried past her with grim faces and bowed heads, making the very air feel heavy and tense.

Miketsu looked up at the darkening sky and the nearby Astronomical Pavilion, sighing softly.

"The atmosphere here... has changed..."

...

At the summit of the Five-Story Pagoda in the Astronomical Pavilion, Seimei ascended the stairs. He paused for a few seconds before a familiar door, until an aged voice drifted from within.

"Come in..."

Seimei slid the door open and entered the loft. Kamo no Tadayuki, his hair white and face deeply lined with fatigue, sat in his usual spot, looking at his disciple. On the table before him lay a scattered mess of divination tools.

"Master..."

"Sit."

Seimei gave a respectful nod and took his accustomed seat. Once Seimei was settled, Kamo no Tadayuki spoke directly.

"You performed well during the incident at Sugo Ungo. It is thanks to you that Heian-kyo avoided an even greater disaster. Your reward has already been decided..."

"No, I did very little in that matter. The ones most responsible for the victory were you... and Owl." Seimei responded humbly.

"I am little more than a broken man now... rewards are meaningless to me. As for Owl... while I never imagined that 'yokai chivalry' actually existed, he is still a yokai. It would be difficult to show him any public gratitude." Tadayuki said. Through Seimei’s report, he had gained a clear understanding of what had transpired at Sugo Ungo.

"We have made a decision, Seimei. Starting tomorrow, you will officially become an onmyoji and hold the rank of Senior Assistant..." Tadayuki continued, his words catching Seimei by surprise.

"Senior Assistant... Master, I am currently only an onmyo-sei. Is it not a bit much to promote me directly to the rank of Senior Assistant? Besides, I..."

"It is not too much. Not long ago, someone who was effectively a nobody was made a Junior Assistant and given a host of special privileges... There is nothing wrong with you going from apprentice to Senior Assistant. With your strength, making you a Junior Secretary wouldn't even be out of the question..." Tadayuki interrupted, cutting Seimei off. He knew exactly what his disciple was going to say.

"I know, Seimei. Like that Asakura Hao, you dislike being restrained. You only wish to study the Way of Yin and Yang without being bogged down by the trivialities of high office. I understand you, but... things are different now..." As he spoke, Tadayuki held up a withered hand before his eyes.

"I no longer have the strength to serve as Senior Secretary. Another of the Divine Generals has fallen; the position of the Black Tortoise remains vacant, and now the Azure Dragon has met with misfortune... The military strength of Heian-kyo has drastically declined. You must stand at the forefront, endure trials, and accumulate experience. You must grow quickly. With your talent and the right training, you will reach the level of a Senior Secretary in no time. When that day comes, you must take the burden from my shoulders..." Tadayuki spoke with a tone of profound helplessness, his rush to promote Seimei clearly driven by the need to fill the void left by his own weakening state.

"Your burden..."

"Yes. How heavy that burden truly is, I do not yet know. It may simply be missions, or duties, or perhaps... this..." Tadayuki pointed a finger to his own forehead. The gesture startled Seimei, who blurted out.

"That... Master, the Azure Dragon Seal is the inheritance of the Kamo clan!"

"It is indeed the Kamo inheritance... but you know Yasunori's capabilities as well as I do. While he is not without merit, the time it would take for him to grow to the point where he could bear the Azure Dragon Seal is... simply too long..." Tadayuki’s eyes darkened as he turned his gaze back to the divination tools on the table.

"Since my battle with Kakuhanbo, I have performed divinations on the future of Heian-kyo more than once. But it is all a chaotic mess, impossible to see clearly. In the past, I could at least see the specific threads of fate, but now, everything is obscured... Yet my intuition tells me that threats like the tengu will come one after another... We must prepare for these unknown crises and be ready to face them..."

"Which means, the Azure Dragon Divine General must return to his post as soon as possible!" As he spoke, the Azure Dragon Seal on Tadayuki's forehead emitted a faint blue light, but within that glow, there was a nearly imperceptible flash of purple.