The Changguai

People who accepted the mission died during the mission? Does this mean the people who went to subjugate the yokai were killed by the yokai instead?

Hearing Yura's words, Miketsu was startled. She then carefully counted the red marks on the wooden plaque; there were six in total, meaning at least six extraordinary individuals had died because of this mission.

"You're really recommending such a dangerous mission to me?" Miketsu turned to Yura and asked.

"I just trust your strength. How could your skills compare to those worthless nobodies?" Yura replied, raising her hand and shaking the wooden plaque she held.

"If I hadn't already accepted a mission before seeing this plaque, I would have taken it myself. Hurry before someone else snatches it. I've asked around; a plaque with six red marks is truly rare, and the rewards and merits are very high."

Snatch? I see everyone avoiding this mission; all the others have been taken, and only this one remains. Miketsu rolled her eyes at Yura, thinking this.

Inciting me to take such a mission, one would think you're intentionally trying to harm me.

"What happens if this mission remains untouched for a long time because too many people have died?" Miketsu continued to ask Yura, not immediately accepting the mission.

"It's said that the Onmyoryo will upgrade it to a subjugation mission, and the Subjugation Bureau will organize a team led by official Onmyoji to resolve the incident." Yura explained slowly to Miketsu, looking at the plaque at the top of the wooden rack.

After listening to Yura, Miketsu pondered for a moment, then stood on tiptoe, reached out, and took down the wooden plaque with six vivid red marks, examining it carefully in her hand.

Shenmu Village... This was the first place name that caught Miketsu's eye. It was where the mission request was posted, not within Heian-kyo.

Looking closer, below was a general description of the incident: a yokai was attacking people in this village. In just two months, ten villagers had died unnatural deaths. Additionally, a wealthy merchant's entire family and their servants had been killed, totaling approximately twenty-six people.

This vengeful ghost is quite formidable. Including the six extraordinary individuals, it has killed over thirty people. And from the looks of it, the opponent is powerful enough to kill directly across the boundary without needing to lure victims, which alone makes it stronger than a One-Bite Yokai. Miketsu thought, looking at the information on the wooden plaque.

"I knew you'd take it. Here, take this plaque and go to the counter to find those Onmyo-sei." Yura's eyes showed a hint of 'I told you so,' and she continued to instruct Miketsu on what to do next.

"Are you leaving?"

"Of course, I still have missions here too. When you're done and come back, tell me all about what kind of yokai it was."

"Talk? I don't know how to find you."

"Two days from now, at the hour of the goat, at that izakaya we went to last time~"

Saying this, Yura turned and walked towards the door, seemingly not at all worried that Miketsu wouldn't complete the mission.

"What a straightforward person..."

Seeing Yura's retreating back, Miketsu smiled faintly, then walked towards the counter where a group of Onmyo-sei were busy. The previously chaotic crowd blocking the way parted for her.

She placed the wooden plaque in front of an Onmyo-sei who was diligently working. The Onmyo-sei's gaze sharpened upon seeing the plaque, then he let out a light chuckle.

"Heh... another one overestimating themselves. I advise you not to go to your death. The superiors are already discussing organizing a subjugation team for this mission; the plaque will be removed this afternoon, so you should..." The Onmyo-sei said, looking up, but he froze when he saw Miketsu's attire.

"If I want to accept this mission, what do I need to do?"

"You, you just need to sign here, my lady." The Onmyo-sei said, quickly rummaging through the desk until he found a ledger and turned to the page for Shenmu Village.

On it, there were already six names, but all had been crossed out with slashes.

Seeing the request for a signature, Miketsu grimaced. After searching in her sleeve for a moment, she took out a seal and pressed it onto the ledger, leaving four distinctive Chinese characters.

...

After officially accepting the mission, Miketsu received the location information for Shenmu Village. It was a village nestled deep in the mountains west of Heian-kyo, requiring about two days of travel on foot.

Miketsu and Tsuruha first returned to Inari Mountain, gave brief instructions to the foxes, packed some luggage, and then set off. She traveled almost entirely within the divine realm, riding swiftly on Tsuruha, moving much faster than even a fast horse.

Although the opponent had killed nearly thirty people, Miketsu still had enough confidence in completing the mission. She and Tsuruha could even handle the Demon-Faced Centipede, so this yokai shouldn't be too dangerous. This was the conclusion she reached after careful discussion with Tsuruha.

Thus, Miketsu and Tsuruha quickly traveled westward. When they didn't know the way, they would enter the human realm to ask for directions and then continue their journey. By her own estimation, they would arrive in about half a day.

However, Miketsu overlooked one thing: Tsuruha's stamina. Although Tsuruha was a spirit beast, she was still a fox, not livestock like oxen or horses with high endurance. After running continuously for half an hour, she had to stop and rest.

Seeing her divine messenger so out of breath, Miketsu felt a pang of sympathy.

Nevertheless, after traveling all afternoon and half the night, stopping and starting, Miketsu and Tsuruha were finally nearing their destination.

In the dark night, illuminated by foxfire, Miketsu rode Tsuruha along the dark mountain path, yawning several times during the journey.

Luckily, Tsuruha knows how to run on her own without me controlling her, or I'd be driving while fatigued...

"Help, help me..."

Just as Miketsu was lost in thought, a painful cry for help suddenly came from ahead, immediately interrupting her drowsiness.

Miketsu quickly looked. In the nearby woods, a lantern lay on the ground. Beside it, a man was desperately clutching his own neck with both hands, his face ashen, eyes rolled back, and saliva drooling, as if he was about to strangle himself to death.

Activating her spiritual vision, Miketsu could clearly see two transparent humanoid ghost figures entwined around the man. They were gripping his arms, forcing him to strangle himself.

The expressions on these two ghost figures were vacant, their eyes dull, and they seemed to be silently muttering something.

"Lady Uka, it's a ghost possession... No... judging by their appearance, they're not ordinary Yurei; they're changguai, changguai enslaved by other evil spirits and vengeful ghosts!" Tsuruha immediately warned upon seeing this scene.

Changguai? Changguai that serve as accomplices to a tiger? Are they forced to work even after being killed?

Hearing Tsuruha's words, Miketsu couldn't help but think, but the immediate priority was to save the man.

"Tsuruha, is there any way to drive those things out?"

"All evil entities from the demon realm will be repelled by your demon-slaying power..."

Miketsu dismounted Tsuruha and quickly walked towards the man who was strangling himself. Just as she approached within a step, one of the changguai suddenly shot out from the man's body, then transformed into a wisp of skull-like spectral light and swiftly lunged towards Miketsu.

"New... flesh..."

With indistinct words, that wisp of spectral light and soulfire collided with Miketsu, then... completely shattered into nothingness, leaving Miketsu utterly bewildered.

What was that thing thinking?