The Old Residence

In the daylight, within a dense forest in the southern part of Heian-kyo, a vast expanse of white mist diffused through the air, obscuring distant sights and shrouding everything in a hazy veil.

Treading on a carpet of withered branches and fallen leaves, Miketsu, clad in a kariginu, advanced through the forest. Her gaze frequently swept over her surroundings, observing the environment.

One tattered talisman after another was pasted onto the nearby trees. Shimenawa ropes connected the trees intermittently, and scattered bones, indistinguishable as human or beast, could occasionally be seen on the ground.

As Miketsu proceeded, the deeper she went, the colder the air became. Though she detected no explicit demonic energy, the atmosphere grew increasingly eerie. She felt that most people would likely be scared away after just a few steps.

She continued to walk forward. The number of talismans pasted on the trees around Miketsu dwindled, eventually disappearing entirely. At that very moment, Miketsu felt as though she had crossed some boundary. The mist around her stirred momentarily but quickly settled back into stillness.

Pausing, Miketsu surveyed the surrounding arboreal environment. The dense white mist had not dissipated; instead, the trees, which had previously retained many withered leaves, were now completely bare, their empty branches reaching out like claws. The fallen leaves that had once carpeted the ground were gone, revealing dark, black soil.

Flakes of snow drifted slowly down from the sky. Miketsu reached out and caught one, watching it melt in her palm. Her brows furrowed slightly. Though it was now late autumn, it seemed a bit early for snow, didn't it?

“Lady Uka… the environment around us has been altered.”

From Miketsu's sleeve, Tsuruha poked her head out. She observed the outside environment and said directly, “Please be careful, Lady Uka. It seems we have entered the Secret Realm created by that yokai. From this point onward, it is its domain.”

A Secret Realm? This creature is powerful enough to create a Secret Realm? Hearing Tsuruha’s words, Miketsu couldn't help but ponder. A yokai with this level of strength could easily become a regional lord in other parts of the demon realm.

“It seems the opponent we face will not be easy to deal with. I never thought a mere Tsukumogami could reach such a level,” Miketsu said calmly. Afterwards, she activated her causality vision and heightened her vigilance as a precaution, continuing her journey forward.

“Go back…”

Suddenly, a clear, ethereal voice reached Miketsu’s ears. Miketsu immediately turned to face the direction of the sound. In the dense mist of the distant forest, a dark silhouette vaguely appeared.

It was a small, indistinct figure amidst the white mist. Its silhouette resembled a girl in a dress, entirely black and obscured by the fog, making it impossible to discern its basic features.

Seeing this, Miketsu was about to do something when the figure swiftly darted away, vanishing into the mist.

“Lady Uka, was that… that yokai just now?” Tsuruha, who had also witnessed the scene, asked with a serious expression. The moment she heard the voice, she had automatically darted out of Miketsu’s sleeve to be on guard.

“I hope so. If that’s the case, it at least proves that the other party isn’t completely irrational and even offered a kind warning. As long as there’s room for communication, we don’t necessarily have to resolve the matter of this old residence with force…”

Miketsu said slowly. She was now proceeding to the former Hata Clan's old residence, following the records left on a scroll, to deal with the powerful yokai dwelling there. After gathering sufficient information from the Hata Clan and making the necessary preparations, she had come directly to this place.

Seeing that the mysterious figure had vanished without a trace, Miketsu did not concern herself further. She had Tsuruha return to her sleeve and continued deeper into the Secret Realm. Not long after she resumed walking, the outlines of buildings gradually appeared in the mist ahead, growing clearer as Miketsu approached.

What now lay before Miketsu was a long, expansive wall, almost boundless to the eye. Beyond the wall, countless eaves and rooftops soared amid the fine snow. A grand manor and courtyard, nestled deep within the dense forest, now revealed itself to Miketsu.

This… is the Hata Clan's old residence?

Miketsu couldn't help but wonder as she gazed at the scene before her. As she stepped closer to carefully observe the vast manor, of which only a corner was visible, a hint of doubt arose in her eyes.

“It’s very tidy…”

At the foot of the walled fence, beneath the eaves, Miketsu looked up at the pristine white walls and the eaves, devoid of any cobwebs or dust. She spoke in confusion, as the current state gave her the impression that someone had been maintaining the buildings here for a long time. It bore no resemblance to a place abandoned for nearly a century.

Could it be that the yokai even cleans regularly?

With a few lingering questions, Miketsu began to slowly walk along the manor's wall, searching for an entrance into the courtyard. It didn't take long. Ahead, near the wall, Miketsu spotted a dimly visible gate.

Miketsu quickened her pace and arrived before the great gate. What happened next made her eyes widen in surprise.

Before that ancient gate stood two attendants dressed as samurai. When they suddenly saw Miketsu approaching, they paused for a moment, exchanged glances, and then respectfully addressed her.

“Ah, you must be another Onmyoji-sama, please come in. Your companion has already arrived.”

Seeing this, Miketsu stood frozen for two seconds. After suppressing her inner astonishment and confusion, she looked directly at the attendant who had spoken to her and replied.

“Very well, then I shall trouble you to lead the way.”

The attendant nodded in response, then turned and walked into the old residence. Miketsu said nothing more, passed through the gate, and followed, entering the interior of the old residence. She observed her surroundings as she followed the attendant.

The Hata Clan's old residence, in its main structure, was very similar to a typical noble estate of this era, much like the Fujiwara Clan's. However, in many details, such as the carvings on the eaves, it bore distinct stylistic differences, imbued with colors familiar to Miketsu from the mainland. Before the main gate, there were even sculptures of exotic beasts resembling stone lions.

In Miketsu's eyes, the Hata Clan's old residence looked nothing like a place that had been abandoned for nearly a century. Every building and structure, every staircase and corridor, was as tidy as usual, completely free of any signs of disrepair. Servants bustled about everywhere, carrying items or cleaning, occasionally gathering to whisper to each other. When someone of higher status passed by, they would immediately fall silent and resume their work, behaving just like a typical noble household.

‘Lady Uka… these people are all…’ Tsuruha, poking her head out of Miketsu’s sleeve to observe the surroundings, said to Miketsu through their contract in an astonished tone as she watched the bustling crowds inside the old residence.

‘Yes, from the looks of it, they are likely the people who lived in this old residence a hundred years ago,’ Miketsu replied, surveying her surroundings.

‘Judging by their appearance, it seems they don’t even know they’re dead…’