Asher stepped onto the boat first, his boots pressing into the damp planks. The wood creaked slightly beneath his feet.
He scanned the vessel for anything unusual—hidden enchantnts, concealed traps—and there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Just a simple wooden boat.
The sa couldn't be said for the water itself, however.
He looked down, and though the water was not that deep, he could not see the bottom like an optical illusion.
A distinct scent also drifted through the mist, faintly sweet and oddly intoxicating.
"This sll…" he murmured, reaching down to brush his fingers against the water's surface.
"The lilies," Hisa answered from behind him. "They bloom only in this river. Their scent lulls travelers into a dreamlike state if they aren't careful."
"I see," he just nodded, dismissing the warning. This kind of effect wasn't nearly enough to be a threat to him.
CREAK!
The wood groaned as Lucy sat down beside him.
Hisa was the last to board.
She didn't bother sitting. Instead, she planted her bare feet against the wooden boards and lifted a long bamboo pole, pressing it into the unseen depths below.
With a steady push, she sent them drifting forward.
The boat glided soundlessly across the surface, parting the mist like a blade through silk.
Each ti she withdrew the pole and drove it down again, the water barely stirred.
There were no ripples, no sense of current—just the illusion of movent in an otherwise motionless world.
"This is a rare privilege, you know," she said with a soft, playful smile, twirling the bamboo pole between her fingers.
"Not just anyone gets the honor of being personally escorted by a general like ...But serving soone like you… doesn't seem so bad."
She tilted her head slightly, letting her gaze linger on him.
"Why not make one of your wives?" Her voice dipped, soft and sultry. "I'd be very devoted… submissive to your every need.
Asher's grip on the edge of the boat tightened. Hisa was dangerous in more ways than one.
Lucy's expression soured instantly. Without thinking, she grabbed his arm, her grip firm and possessive. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire
She didn't look at him, only at the yokai general, her jaw locked so tightly it might snap.
"Stop flirting with my man."
"Your man?" Hisa simply chuckled, amused rather than offended.
"It's not uncommon for a powerful person to have many wives. And besides....I don't really think you have the right to decide that"
Lucy's fingers twitched at her sides, barely restraining the urge to summon her weapon. "Excuse ?"
Hisa's smile remained sweet, but there was now sharpness beneath it.
"Preventing him from taking more wives is both selfish and disrespectful. A man of his strength and status deserves admiration, not restrictions."
Tension tightened Lucy's features, fortunately, Asher cut in before she lashed out.
His hand settled firmly on her shoulder, just enough to pull her back to reality
"Don't let her ss with you. Can't you see she's just trying to get in your head?"
Lucy exhaled sharply, forcing herself to loosen her grip on his arm.
Still, the way Hisa watched them, that smug little smile playing on her lips, made Lucy's blood simr.
"And you—quit teasing her," Asher warned
Hisa rely shook her head, a soft, demure smile gracing her kissable lips. "Oh, you misunderstand ,"
"I wasn't lying earlier. If you wished to claim as your wife, I wouldn't resist in the slightest."
She lowered her lashes slightly, a faint blush dusting her porcelain skin. "And… I must admit, I do quite like your face."
"It's not every day I co across soone like you. If anything, can you bla a maiden for being a little enchanted?"
Asher swallowed hard. Seeing her act so soft—so seductively—was not good for his heart.
But he wasn't stupid enough to entertain such thoughts while Lucy was right there beside him.
He forced himself to look away.
"Just row," he said bluntly.
With a quiet hum, she pressed the bamboo pole back into the riverbed.
"As you wish,"
The boat continued gliding through the water,
Ti felt strange here—stretched and distorted by the glow of the waterlilies and the endless expanse of water.
Were it not for the floating flowers drifting past, they might not have realized they were moving at all.
Then, as if erging from a dream, the mist thinned, revealing a vast pier ahead.
Unlike the lonely dock they had departed from, this one bustled with movent even from afar.
Boats of all sizes lined the wooden platforms, their hulls creaking softly as they bobbed in the water.
Lanterns, glowing with an eerie yet inviting light, hung from tall wooden posts, casting golden reflections across the river's surface.
Dozens of figures moved about the pier—yokai of various shapes and sizes, engaged in their daily routines.
"Welco to the capital," she murmured, eyes scanning the bustling dock.
"The capital?" Asher's brows furrowed "I thought we were heading toward Kitsune's territory."
She paused, placing a delicate hand near her lips.
"There's an important event happening in the capital tomorrow. All of the generals will be here for it—including her."
THUD!
Lucy stomped on the wooden boat . "I knew it! She's leading us into a trap. I bet they're waiting to ambush us!"
Hisa sighed, pressing a delicate hand to her chest.
"If this were a trap, wouldn't I be more discreet? Why would I tell you ahead of ti?"
"Nice try, but I'm not buying it." Lucy stood up, ready to fight. She was already furious with Hisa, and now that she had a valid reason, she wouldn't hold back.
But before things could escalate, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to her seat. His grip wasn't forceful, but it was enough to make her behaved.
"Let handle this." Asher's tone left no room for argunt as he took charge.
She pressed her lips together and gave a curt nod, forcing herself to stay quiet.
Asher then turned his attention to Hisa. "You'll regret it if you stab us in the back."
She shook her head firmly. "I wouldn't dare. We're after the sa thing, after all."
Asher exhaled slowly, studying her. "You're enjoying this, aren't you? But tell —why are you so obsessed with killing Kitsune?"
There was a mont of silence between the two.
The smile on her face faded, replaced by sothing far more difficult to read.
"Please, I don't want to talk about my personal life—I just want that woman dead. If you can make that happen, then I'm more than willing to help you reach your goal."
Asher could see it in her eyes—She was dead serious.
For now, he decided to go with the flow.
Fighting her on this would get them nowhere, and if she was willing to guide them straight to their target, then there was no point in wasting the opportunity.
He glanced at Lucy, who still was not completely convinced about trusting the yokai general.
"Calm down," he reminded her.
She wasn't happy about this, but she trusted him enough to hold back—at least for now.
Hisa's smile returned, pleased with his cooperation.
"Now that that's settled, may I ask if you have a way to hide your faces? It would be such a sha if you were recognized the mont we stepped into the capital."
"You don't need to worry about that," Asher snapped his finger.
Two masks materialized before him—one silver, one gold.
He reached for the gold mask and secured it over his face.
Then, he turned to Lucy and handed her the silver one.
The cool surface t her fingertips before she slid it on. It fit flawlessly, as though it had always belonged to her.
Hisa said nothing as she maneuvered the boat toward the dock.
As they neared the capital's bustling pier, a transformation took place.
Her elegant robes changed into a far more modest—simple linen, unadorned and practical.
Her long, flowing black hair shortened, framing her newly youthful face.
The transformation was startling.
Gone was the commanding presence of the esteed general; in her place stood a girl who looked no older than fourteen, delicate and unassuming.
No one would suspect that she was one of the most powerful yokai in the world.
He studied her for a mont, taking in the change. Even his most powerful spells couldn't create such a flawless disguise.
"That's a very handy ability." he comnted.
"It's necessary. If I walked in as myself, I'd attract attention. And I doubt you'd want a scene, either."
Asher gave a slight nod, and they finally reached the dock.
Waiting for them stood a group of yokai, no taller than four feet, with faces that resembled oversized frogs.
Hisa stepped forward, taking control of the situation.
She took out a pendant and held it up for the guards to see.
Their wide, unblinking eyes flicked to the emblem, and without a word, they nodded and stepped aside, granting them passage.
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Author's Note:Only one long chapter for today.
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