The Divine Poison

In the dream, Yorihime stared at the smiling Toyohime in a daze before quickly speaking.

"Wait, wait a moment, Sister! Let me get this straight. You're saying I've been captured by the enemy, this is my dream, and you're speaking to me through it? And the Sages have ordered you to continue my mission?"

"Exactly. I saw you being defeated by the terrestrial deity through the Monitoring Pavilion, and then watched as she sent you into her own Secret Realm. I reported your situation to the Council of Sages. The Sages were furious, highly dissatisfied with your failure. Thus, they assigned me to continue your mission while also tasking me with your recovery." In the dream space, Toyohime unfurled her fan, waving it gently as she spoke.

"Based on the soul marking I placed on you previously, I used a Dream-Seeing Technique to find you before you woke up in the physical world. I've come specifically to discuss our next steps to ensure our upcoming plan succeeds." As she spoke, Toyohime's tone grew serious.

"The next steps? No, Sister. Both princesses and Master are currently protected by that terrestrial deity. Her power far exceeds our previous estimates; this is no longer a situation we can handle. In a direct confrontation, you are even weaker than I am. You have no way to oppose the deity who defeated me! She is completely different from anything we know!" Hearing Toyohime's words, Yorihime warned her loudly. The power Miketsu had displayed had left a deep impression on her.

Yorihime's strength surpassed Toyohime's and was among the top in all of the Lunar Capital. Yorihime did not believe for a second that Toyohime stood a chance at defeating Miketsu in battle.

"Rest assured, I saw that Inari Okami's combat prowess through the Monitoring Pavilion. It's true that against such terrifying divine power, I have no chance of winning a head-on fight. But... do I really have to face her head-on?" With a playful smile, Toyohime looked at Yorihime. Yorihime was momentarily stunned.

"Not... face her head-on?"

"Indeed. Forcing a confrontation against such a powerful enemy is a guaranteed failure. Therefore, we shall avoid her edge and use other means to deal with her," Toyohime said slowly, her voice heavy with meaning. Confusion still lingered on Yorihime's face.

"But that Inari Okami is so powerful she practically has no weaknesses, and our knowledge of her is extremely limited. What other way is there to deal with her?"

"Leave that to me. I have already submitted the intelligence regarding the terrestrial Inari deity to the Council of Sages. After evaluation, they have agreed to let me use several precious items specifically to deal with her. The most critical among them can be called the bane of all heavenly gods." Toyohime spoke with a hint of pride and confidence. Yorihime's eyes widened in shock.

"The bane of heavenly gods... Could you be talking about Chang'e?"

"Precisely. It is a highly concentrated dose of Chang'e's power, prepared in liquid form. Heh, this is the divine poison that once corrupted the godheads of Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto and Master. As long as we can successfully inject it into the Inari Okami's body, it won't matter how powerful her divine power is. Once her godhead is destroyed, she will be reduced to a mere mortal."

Toyohime chuckled softly, partially hiding her face behind her fan. Yorihime remained silent, deep in thought for a long time before finally speaking.

"Inari Okami is a very important deity to the people of the earth. Is it really right to do this?"

"Of course it isn't. But who told her to stand against the Lunar Capital? If she insists on sheltering the two princesses and Master, then this is the only way..." Toyohime continued, her expression becoming somber and stern.

"The concentrated dose of Chang'e's power is an extremely precious product of the Lunar Capital. Each dose is the result of countless failures. The entire Lunar Capital only possesses three. The decision to use it was made collectively by the Sages; I am merely the executor. The Sages have made their determination to retrieve the princesses clear. This cannot be changed..."

Hearing Toyohime's words, Yorihime fell silent again. After a long pause, she spoke once more.

"I understand... But if I may be blunt, Sister, even with the concentrated dose of Chang'e's power, it will be difficult to defeat that Inari Okami. During my battle with her, I discovered she possesses a hyper-perception ability similar to Master's Omoikane's Eye—perhaps even significantly stronger. With such an ability, she seems able to foresee all threats. Hitting her is nearly impossible. Even with the poison, you'll likely never manage to inject it. Her perception is simply too strong."

"Yes, I saw everything you described. That Inari Okami's perception has reached the level of prophecy. In a direct confrontation, there would be no chance to use the dose. However... didn't we say from the start that we wouldn't face her head-on? Do you really think... that state of hyper-perception is active at all times?" Toyohime spread her hands, speaking quite casually. Yorihime paused, a sudden realization hitting her.

"What... are you saying..."

"Yes. Maintaining such a powerful state requires not only massive amounts of energy but also a great deal of mental effort. Especially hyper-perception—the more acute it is, the more information must be received and processed. Over time, even if the energy holds out, the mind cannot. Therefore... I believe that Inari Okami only activates that state when she is in a place with potential risks. If she were in an environment she considered absolutely safe, would she still maintain such an exhausting state?" Toyohime explained slowly. As she finished, Yorihime's eyes lit up.

"Then... the environment the Inari Okami considers absolutely safe is..."

"Inside her own Secret Realm, a domain constructed by her own divine power and under her complete control. In other words, exactly where you are right now~," Toyohime said, a smile returning to her face.

"So, I need you to help me infiltrate the Inari Okami's Secret Realm, Yorihime."

Inside the small building of the Inari Secret Realm.

After listening to Eirin's story, Miketsu wrote a letter specifically for Suwako, asking how much the former Ancient God knew about Chang'e. After sending the letter via a special method, Miketsu let out a sigh of relief and leisurely made her way to the room where Yorihime was kept.

"What? Has she still not woken up?" Miketsu asked Konkiku, who was on watch duty in the room.

"Uuuh~~ No, Lady Uka. Since I got here, she hasn't moved an inch. Well... except for the occasional groan and her face twitching a lot." Konkiku sat to the side, stretching and yawning.

Hearing Konkiku's report, Miketsu stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the still-unconscious Yorihime in the center of the room. After scrutinizing her for a while, she turned and left.