Abe no Seii?
Su Ziyu felt a stir in his heart and appeared to be deep in thought. He slowly said to Qing Ji outside the door, "Let him in."
"Yes." Qing Ji looked up at Su Ziyu in front of her, feeling that her husband today was exceptionally handso and charming. The more she looked, the more she liked him, and the happier she felt until Su Ziyu slightly frowned and turned his head. Only then did she snap out of it and hurriedly said, "Husband, I'll go invite him in."
What's with Qing Ji today?
She seed distracted very early this morning.
Su Ziyu got up, tidied his attire, and then went to the living room to et Abe no Seii, who had arrived alone today. His appearance seed even older than the last ti.
Abe no Seii looked at Su Ziyu, paused for a mont, then clasped his hands in congratulations, "Congratulations, Lord Su, on advancing further in your cultivation!"
He saw that Su Ziyu looked youthful and brimming with spiritual energy today, leading him to believe that Su Ziyu had progressed further in his cultivation. Thinking of his own old age, Abe no Seii, although more open-minded now, felt a tinge of lancholy. Back then, Abe no Seii maintained his youthful appearance through cultivation, but Su Ziyu's change was more due to Charm Enhancent. He didn't offer further explanation.
So the husband's cultivation has advanced again.
Qing Ji, silently brewing tea on the side, admonished herself internally after hearing Abe no Seii's words: "I must not slack off, or I won't be able to keep up with my husband."
Su Ziyu gestured for Abe no Seii to sit and then softly asked, "Why did you co so early today? Is there sothing urgent?"
"Indeed." Abe no Seii's expression grew solemn as he said, "Ashiya Doman went missing yesterday! Early this morning, several Yin Yang Masters were killed, and their Shikigami seed to have been devoured by demons!"
"I suspect it's Ashiya Doman's Dog Demon at work!"
Ashiya Doman?
Upon hearing this, Su Ziyu frowned. That Yin Yang Master from the Harima school was formidable, and his primary Shikigami was a demonified Dog Demon. Su Ziyu had found it odd because that Dog Demon could devour even pollution entities.
Abe no Seii straightened his posture and said, "Ashiya Doman's return to Kyoto is mostly to contend with for control of the Yin Yang Bureau."
"However, the nobles who supported him have long since lost power. After sealing Orochi that day, he beca quite elusive, and lately, he has completely vanished."
"I suspect he has been backfired on by his Shikigami."
It's not uncommon for Yin Yang Masters in Fusang to be backfired on by their Shikigami due to insufficient power. If the Shikigami is relatively benevolent, it may just beco uncontrollable, but if it's inherently evil, the outco can be disastrous. Shikigami may even take over the Yin Yang Master's body to achieve their own goals, similar to how so entities manipulate spirits in Southeast Asia.
In Central Earth's Ghost Dao, it's about issuing decrees to drive sealed Ghost Generals and Ghost Soldiers, requiring regular offerings. Zhang Daoling sealed many spirits in Sichuan, and even more deities were sealed after Daoism appeared. In contrast, many Fusang Shikigami are like wild spirits, and the powerful ones are impossible to control, making Yin Yang Masters focus on subduing and nurturing wild spirits and ghosts.
Ashiya Doman's Dog Demon in Central Earth would at least be a demon king ruling so mountain area.
He initially intended to leverage the Dog Demon's power to vie for control of the Yin Yang Bureau against Abe no Seii, but didn't anticipate Abe no Seii's counterasures, like positioning his sons, Abe Yoshimasa and Abe Yoshihiko, who are now beginning to gradually take over the bureau. Ashiya Doman's ambitions were dashed, and he might not take this lying down.
"Any information on his whereabouts?" Su Ziyu slowly asked.
Having promised Abe no Seii to eliminate Ashiya Doman, he naturally intended to keep his word. Ashiya Doman's current situation was partly his own fault, though Seii's machinations likely contributed.
This man in front of him was also a tough character.
If his end was near, he certainly wouldn't leave Ashiya Doman alive, as his sons couldn't handle this adversary.
"He went to the vicinity of Danbo Mountain," Abe no Seii said respectfully, "I have already dispatched Shikigami to track him down. We should hear back soon."
Su Ziyu thought for a mont and said, "Very well. Once his whereabouts are confird, I will act to eliminate the threat."
After receiving Su Ziyu's promise, Abe no Seii's expression finally relaxed. He stayed for a short while before taking his leave, as this issue had weighed heavily on his mind.
"Husband," Qing Ji knelt by Su Ziyu's side and softly said, "May I accompany you this ti?"
Su Ziyu glanced at Qing Ji's beautiful profile and nodded, "You may."
Eliminate Ashiya Doman.
This way, there will be no fear of him seeking revenge on Qing Ji. While Qing Ji now has six sisters and might not fear him, the human heart is unpredictable. Who knows what tricks Ashiya Doman might have up his sleeve.
Abe no Seii was indeed well-prepared.
By afternoon,
he had his two sons deliver news that Ashiya Doman had been spotted near Danbo Mountain. The Shikigami he dispatched had already found his trail, although Ashiya Doman seed to have already transford into a demon.
Upon receiving the news, Su Ziyu imdiately set off for Danbo Mountain.
At this ti, Su Ziyu's spiritual energy was sufficient for easy Telekinesis Flight, and taking Qing Ji along wasn't difficult. However, long-distance flying still consud considerable energy, though fortunately, Fusang wasn't very large. Flying over a few counties was a minor task for Su Ziyu, although he might struggle with a thousand-kiloter flight at once.
Due to long-standing habits, Su Ziyu always tried to maintain his optimal state for battle, and in non-combat situations, his spiritual energy seldom dropped below ninety percent.
Danbo Mountain.
This wasn't Su Ziyu's first visit to Danbo Mountain.
But this ti he ca to the Mortal World's Danbo Mountain, which was slightly different from the Underworld's Danbo Mountain. The mortal side was quite desolate, mainly due to the presence of Jiutun Tongzi, and most of the common folk had long fled. The Underworld side was populated with nurous demons, but as for the mortal realm, no demons were in sight, except near Jiutun Tongzi's lair, where evil ghosts and demons might be encountered.
Coming here, Su Ziyu imdiately thought of the Three-tailed Fox he t last ti.
If not for the many matters delaying him in Kyoto, he probably would have helped that being, having heard of Jiutun Tongzi's notorious deeds for a long ti.
"Lord Su!" an ethereal shadow appeared.
It was a hollow black armor, with no flesh or blood visible inside, only a pair of slightly red eyes. This was one of Abe no Seii's Shikigami, rumored to be the ghost of a Fusang general from centuries ago.
"Have you found him?" Su Ziyu asked slowly.
"Yes." The Fusang Ghost General replied respectfully, "Ashiya Doman is just ahead, but it seems he's fighting the Fox Demon here!"
.........
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