Guidance

“An unreachable… great existence?” Hearing Ghost Messenger White’s words, Ghost Messenger Black subconsciously swallowed, his emotions churning within him as he instinctively continued to ask, “Just how high is their level? Are they like the Yama Lords?”

“I don’t know, but perhaps even the ordinary Yama Lords wouldn’t be able to interfere so deeply with a Shinigami’s causality manipulation. The hand behind this… might even be at the level of the Ten Kings.” Ghost Messenger White continued to murmur, and Ghost Messenger Black’s shock intensified upon hearing this.

“Hold on… you’re talking about the Ten Kings… surely it’s not that serious…”

“There’s no ‘surely not’ about it… In any case, when we encounter a situation like this, we simply report back. There’s no point in making unnecessary efforts.” Ghost Messenger White said, looking up at the sky, then spoke loudly.

“Though I do not know where you come from, or for what purpose you are protecting that girl, since an existence such as yourself has intervened in this matter, we will not directly defy your will. We shall return to the Underworld and report to the Yama Lords that this girl has passed her first death tribulation.” With that… Ghost Messenger White turned and left. After hesitating for a moment, Ghost Messenger Black immediately followed, and the chilling ghostly aura at the scene gradually dissipated, as if it had never been there.

…

“Those Shinigami left! They left without even seeing our faces! Little Ina, you’re truly something, sending those guys packing without even showing your face.” On a distant mountaintop, the God of Marriage said happily, watching the departing ghost messengers.

“Phew… My deepest gratitude, Inari Okami. Mount Nanakaku will surely repay your kindness.” Yamakaze let out a sigh of relief and bowed solemnly to Miketsu. Miketsu nodded in response, while the God of Marriage continued, “I say, Little Ina, can you also see the red threads of fate? Can you also weave the destiny of marriage for mortals?”

“The destiny of marriage? Is that how you understand it?” With a hint of a smile, Miketsu turned to look at the God of Marriage, who was momentarily stunned by Miketsu’s gaze.

“Isn’t that right? That girl named Kaoru and Yamakaze don’t they seem very compatible? You must have manipulated the red threads of fate to keep them together, which is why Kaoru was able to escape the Shinigami.” The God of Marriage said, as if it were obvious, manipulating fate to form bonds for others, just as she often did.

As the God of Marriage spoke, Ichimokuren, with a solemn expression, pointed out the flaw in her words.

“Wakahirume-no-Mikoto, Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto is the God of Agriculture, not the God of Marriage… She cannot see the threads of fate that you can.”

“Eh… can’t see the threads of fate? Then Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto, you are…” Hearing Ichimokuren’s words, the God of Marriage looked at Miketsu in surprise. Only then did she realize that manipulating fate should be her exclusive ability.

Looking at the somewhat bewildered God of Marriage, Ichimokuren sighed, then turned his gaze to Miketsu, speaking with a grave tone.

“The God of Marriage can see and arrange the threads of fate for mortals. Shinigami can see the line of death that leads to a mortal’s demise. A God of Wind and God of Forging like myself can see the Wind lines that show the flow of wind, and the Forging lines that accurately show where to strike during forging… All orthodox gods can see different ‘lines’ based on their Divine Domain. These ‘lines’ are, in essence, the same existence: Causality Manifestation…”

“Causality… Manifestation?” The God of Marriage murmured, listening to Ichimokuren’s words. Although an orthodox god, she was famously not known for her intellect in Takamagahara, and she had never paid attention to such knowledge.

“Yes, Causality Manifestation. A Divine Domain is like a pair of eyes that helps a deity see causality clearly. Different Divine Domains allow one to see and manipulate different causalities. You, I… and all the gods of Takamagahara are like this. But… Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto, what you can see is not limited to the causality of disaster relief and agriculture, isn’t it?” Ichimokuren asked, looking at Miketsu, who responded with a slight smile.

“Indeed, I can see other causalities, and even manipulate them, though currently it’s limited to the fate of mortals.” Miketsu slowly said. Besides the causality of mortal destinies, she could also see other causalities involving all natural things, such as the Wind lines, Water lines, Thunder lines, etc., that Ichimokuren just mentioned, but she couldn't manipulate them.

“How many? How many causalities can you see? And how many can you manipulate?” Ichimokuren continued to ask seriously. He knew what it meant for an orthodox god to see causalities outside their Divine Domain. If causality could be seen, it could potentially be manipulated. This meant the Inari Okami before him could exert abilities beyond her Divine Domain.

“I’m not sure of the exact number, as I can’t quantify such things. However, the parts I can manipulate, aside from my primary Divine Domain, are currently only the destinies of mortals.” Miketsu said calmly. Ichimokuren took a deep breath upon hearing this.

If it encompassed all mortal destinies, then the Inari Okami before him could already act as a God of Marriage, God of Fortune, God of Wealth, and similar Divine Domains. While perhaps not as convenient as a god with a proper Divine Domain, it still surpassed the capabilities of a God of Agriculture. How had she achieved this?

Fortunately, the Inari Okami’s limit of manipulation was only this. She had no way to deal with causalities purely involving natural phenomena. Otherwise, if she could see and manipulate all causalities, wouldn't she transcend the chief gods and become an entity of ultimate authority?

“Alright… let’s put these topics aside for now. The ghost messengers have left, and the girl named Kaoru is temporarily safe, Ichimokuren, I have fulfilled your condition.” Miketsu continued, her words causing the God of Marriage beside her to feel puzzled.

“Temporarily safe?”

“Yes, he said Kaoru only passed her first death tribulation. In the process of mortals resisting Shinigami coming for their lives, if one can successfully escape and resist the summons through their own power, it counts as passing one death tribulation. The Underworld will record an additional lifespan for the successful individual, equal to their original one. When this lifespan ends, the Shinigami will return, and their numbers and strength will be greater than the first time.” Miketsu continued, her words making Yamakaze’s face change.

“Next time, I will protect Kaoru well…”

“This depends on Kaoru herself, not you. If you directly intervene against the Shinigami, the consequences would be severe.” Ichimokuren warned, and Yamakaze said with furrowed brows, “Then what should be done? Kaoru was only fourteen when she died, and in just fourteen years, the Shinigami will return!”

“There are three paths, you see…” Miketsu said, extending three fingers. Yamakaze paused, then solemnly requested of Miketsu, “Please, Inari Okami, advise us…”

“First, seek divine protection. Each time a death tribulation approaches, protect her as just now. But this is not a long-term solution. As the number of death tribulations increases, the power of the Underworld faced will also grow stronger, and eventually, even a deity will be unable to ward off the Shinigami without direct intervention.

“Second, she cultivates demonic power herself, using her own strength to evade the Shinigami and pass the death tribulation. This is more reliable than divine protection, as in a death tribulation, only you yourself are permitted to fight the Shinigami. As long as the Shinigami cannot get you for a while, they will let you go. But the problem is, if Kaoru’s demonic power growth hits a bottleneck and cannot advance, the next, more powerful death tribulation will still claim her life.

“And for a permanent solution, there is the third type: cultivating Buddhist teachings or Daoist arts with a demonic body. Both, when cultivated to their peak, offer the possibility of transcending the mortal world and ascending to the Celestial Realm. As long as Kaoru becomes a Buddha or an Immortal, she will have escaped the cycle of reincarnation, and the Underworld naturally cannot touch her.” Miketsu finished, waving her hand. In truth, she had some other, more unconventional methods, such as having Kaoru live in the Lunar Capital for a while to become a Lunarian, or having Eirin concoct another Hourai Elixir, but these were clearly not very reliable.

After hearing Miketsu’s advice, Yamakaze stood frozen, only fully processing Miketsu’s words a moment later.

“Thank you for your suggestions. We will consider them carefully.”

Hearing Yamakaze’s reply, Miketsu nodded, then looked at Ichimokuren, who understood Miketsu’s meaning and spoke. “As per our agreement, I will use my divine power to help you. Tell me, what do you need forged?”

“Not forging, you see. I need you to repair something. It’s quite large, so I left it in Heian-kyo. Please come to my place.” Miketsu said faintly. Ichimokuren’s brows furrowed upon hearing this.

“Repair?”