Miketsu slowly counted the various changes that the mysterious mask displayed. This was the result of her morning's experimentation. Miketsu found these changes in the mask very interesting, and she initially believed the mask possessed sentience, with its changes perhaps conveying information.
"Lady Uka, a Tsukumogami has likely formed on this mask," Tsuruha said seriously after hearing Miketsu's description, simultaneously becoming fully alert towards the mask on the cabinet.
"Tsukumogami?" Miketsu repeated Tsuruha's words curiously.
"Yes, they are yokai born from objects. In short, it is an evil entity. Lady Uka, it would be best to deal with it as soon as possible."
No sooner had Tsuruha finished speaking than the mask on the cabinet suddenly changed again. It transformed into a wide-eyed, awkward, monkey-faced mask, as if reacting to Tsuruha's words.
Seeing this, Miketsu couldn't help but chuckle, then she said,
"Don't be so nervous, Tsuruha. I see this mask mostly just keeps changing. Not only has it shown no harmful qualities so far, but it's actually quite amusing."
"But, but Lady Uka, it is, after all, a creature from the demon realm..."
"Not all creatures from the demon realm are necessarily harmful. This is also the first time I've encountered a yokai that isn't hurt by my Demon-Slaying Power. In any case, don't rush to deal with this mask; let's observe it carefully for a while longer." Miketsu said, looking at her divine messenger.
"If that is Lady Uka's will, then Tsuruha has nothing more to say. However, please, Lady Uka, do not let your guard down and remain vigilant." Seeing Miketsu's decision, Tsuruha sighed and lowered her guard.
"Of course, I will." Miketsu replied easily. At the same time, she looked at the mask, which had changed again without her noticing. This time, it had transformed into a somewhat comical and funny mask, wearing a headscarf and with a twisted mouth.
"Looks like you're in a good mood," Miketsu thought to herself, looking at the comical mask. She already felt she could roughly guess which masks indicated a good mood and which indicated a bad mood.
"Oh, Tsuruha, how's the map coming along?" Miketsu suddenly remembered something and continued.
"Please rest assured, Lady Uka. I have gathered all the foxes familiar with Heian-kyo's geography, and they are currently drawing it together. It is expected to be finished by this afternoon."
"Other foxes? They can't even shape-shift, can they? How can they draw a map?" Miketsu asked, somewhat confused by Tsuruha's words.
"Please rest assured, Lady Uka. They are simply drawing on the sand with their claws, and I, Tsuruha, will ultimately transcribe it onto paper."
"I see... then you'll be busy later."
...
The sun in the sky gradually passed its zenith and began to set towards the west. Finally, after a long wait, Miketsu received the map she desired.
Spreading the large paper, whose ink was not yet completely dry, onto the tatami, Miketsu began to carefully examine the map drawn by the foxes.
It was a purely handmade map, depicting Heian-kyo and a large surrounding area, with many human villages and towns marked on it, which was a special request from Miketsu.
It was clear that Tsuruha's hands were not only skillful but also very steady. Regardless of the accuracy of the handmade map, it looked exceptionally beautiful, which was much better than her own 'soul painter' skills.
"Alright, the map is ready. Let's begin, Tsuruha." Stretching her body, Miketsu picked up a brush and moved it to the paper used for the Planchette ritual.
"Yes, Lady Uka." Across from Miketsu, Tsuruha, once again in her fox-eared woman form, respectfully said, extending her hand.
Once everything was ready, Miketsu chanted the incantation to summon the Planchette. Having learned from her previous experience, this time she only had to sacrifice four "Planchettes" before successfully attaching her consciousness to the brush, becoming the "Planchette."
Seeing the dense red threads of fate once more, Miketsu let out a soft breath. She then turned her gaze to the map, confirming her first target.
"Planchette, Planchette, please tell me, is Fujiwara no Kanehira's secret plotting location within Heian-kyo?"
The red threads of fate dragged the brush, drawing a circle over the "no" on the paper.
"Planchette, Planchette, please tell me, is Fujiwara no Kanehira's secret plotting location near Fushimi?"
The brush moved, and again it was a "no."
"Planchette, Planchette, please tell me, is Fujiwara no Kanehira's secret plotting location near Kinugasa?"
The brush moved, and again it was a "no."
...
Why would Fujiwara no Kanehira's secret plotting location appear in a mission from the Subjugation Bureau's Bumingtang? It was simple: his plotting must have created a lot of noise, inadvertently disturbing the common people. The disturbed populace likely mistook the sound for a yokai and thus submitted a mission request to the Onmyoryo.
If that was the case, it proved that Fujiwara no Kanehira's plotting location couldn't be too far from a human settlement; otherwise, the sound wouldn't have been heard.
After confirming this point, Miketsu immediately had a solution: find all human settlements around Heian-kyo and test them one by one with the Planchette to determine if they were correct.
In essence, it was an exhaustive method, clumsy and troublesome, but highly effective. For the Planchette, a divination method that could only judge right or wrong, this was the best approach.
Thus, as Miketsu tried one location after another, the settlement points marked on the map were negated one by one.
When the "no"s on the paper had been circled so many times they were no longer visible, the brush moved to the "yes" position for the first time and drew a circle. Miketsu silently looked at the confirmed place name.
"Shizuhara-machi?"
"Finally found it... That's wonderful, Lady Uka!" Tsuruha exclaimed happily, seeing the location finally confirmed.
"Indeed, but the area is still too large. We need to narrow it down further. Tsuruha, end the Planchette ritual for now. Help me draw something else on this map."
"Draw something else? What do you want me to draw, Lady Uka?" Tsuruha asked, looking at Miketsu with confusion.
"Using Shizuhara-machi as the center, draw a Bagua diagram. It doesn't need to be complex; a simple one will do."
"A Bagua diagram?"
Under Tsuruha's puzzled gaze, they ended the Planchette ritual. Then, Tsuruha followed Miketsu's instructions and drew a simple Bagua with Shizuhara-machi at its center.
Next, Miketsu and Tsuruha resumed the Planchette ritual, and Miketsu slowly spoke a new divination phrase.
"Planchette, Planchette, please tell me, is Fujiwara no Kanehira's secret plotting location in the Li(south) position of Shizuhara-machi?"
After the phrase, the Planchette answered "no."
"Planchette, Planchette, please tell me, is Fujiwara no Kanehira's secret plotting location in the Kan(north) position of Shizuhara-machi?"
Again, the Planchette answered "no."
"Planchette, Planchette, please tell me, is Fujiwara no Kanehira's secret plotting location in the Qian(northwest) position of Shizuhara-machi?"
This time, the Planchette answered "yes." Miketsu smiled slightly, then continued to ask questions.
"Planchette, Planchette, please tell me, is Fujiwara no Kanehira's secret plotting location one to two ri(about 5 miles) from the Qian position of Shizuhara-machi?"
...
Watching her divine lord's actions, Tsuruha silently gaped, unsure what to say. With a similar expression was the mask on the cabinet, which had, at some point, transformed into a wide-eyed, open-mouthed mask.
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