Chapter 110: The Commander of Yokai Nurarihyon, Yoru's Modern Exorcism
At this moment, Rio and Miko suddenly felt the surrounding air seem to solidify.
Even the drizzling rain stopped at this moment.
Thick clouds covered half of the moon, making the already dim shrine become like the border between the ghostly realm and the human world, filled with a tense atmosphere.
"Here they come."
Hearing Yoru's words, Miko and Rio's gaze turned to the entrance of the shrine.
They saw an old man wearing traditional clothes, short in stature, with an unusually long back of the head, walking up slowly from the stairs at the entrance.
The opponent's stature was so short, and he didn't emit any aura at all.
Looked like a confused old grandpa next door.
But following behind the old man were hundreds of yokai of various shapes, marching in uniform formation, even their footsteps sounding simultaneously, silent.
"Supreme Commander!"
Seeing Nurarihyon finally arrive, Gyuki, who was held by the Pale Ghost Hand, breathed a sigh of relief first, then seemed to remember something and warned.
"Supreme Commander, be careful, this guy..."
Before Gyuki could finish, Yoru extended his right hand and made a grasping motion in the air.
The Pale Ghost Hand mimicked his movement exactly, exerting a little force with its five fingers, grasping Gyuki in its palm tighter.
"Ugh..."
Gyuki frowned tightly, letting out a painful grunt.
Seeing his deputy general and sworn brother being humiliated like this, a look of anger appeared on Nurarihyon's old face.
He raised his wrinkled right hand, and the hundreds of yokai behind him stopped instantly, making no sound.
Seeing the scene before them, Miko and Rio's expressions changed somewhat.
The two girls never expected to see such an astonishing scene in the real world.
The aura of this group of yokai looked formidable at first glance.
What made them more wary was that judging from the fact that the leading old man just made a gesture and the yokai stopped instantly, the opponents were unlike evil spirits—creatures that only knew slaughter and had no reason.
More like Tamamo-no-Mae in the Otherworld, possessing intelligence not inferior to or even surpassing humans.
Such enemies were much harder to deal with than simple evil spirits.
Nurarihyon walked forward slowly, looking at Yoru sitting in front of the shrine, and spoke in a deep voice.
"This friend, our visit this time has no hostility, just want to discuss with you..."
"No hostility?"
Yoru didn't give this so-called Commander of Yokai any face, shaking his head directly and interrupting.
"This Gyuki of your Nura Clan threatened me just now."
Hearing this, a look of helplessness appeared on Nurarihyon's old face.
Gyuki was good in everything.
Just this attitude towards humans was somewhat intriguing.
Although Gyuki was originally human, after becoming a yokai, he had the arrogance of a Great Yokai.
Nurarihyon could roughly imagine that Gyuki's attitude during negotiation certainly wasn't very friendly.
"Regarding his offense, please ask Your Excellency to..."
This time, Yoru still didn't give Nurarihyon a chance to finish, just saying faintly.
"This guy attacked villages and killed people before, right?"
Hearing this sentence, Nurarihyon's heart sank.
He stared at Yoru sitting there, thinking that from the moment the opponent said the word "Nura Clan," he felt something was wrong.
The Nura Clan had always kept a low profile, and in recent years, hadn't set foot in Kyoto.
How did the opponent know about the Nura Clan?
And when Karasu Tengu came to report, he said this boy called him by name to come over.
Plus just now he casually mentioned the crimes Gyuki committed when he first became a yokai and hadn't joined the Nura Clan yet.
Nurarihyon originally thought his side was in the dark and the opponent was in the light.
It seemed now, it was the other way around.
Is my side the one kept in the dark?
"Not speaking?"
Seeing Nurarihyon silent without answering, Yoru smiled, stood up from the chair, and walked slowly to the opponent.
Seeing him approaching within three meters of their Supreme Commander, hundreds of yokai looked vigilant.
"Actually."
Yoru was much taller than Nurarihyon. He even squatted down slightly, as if afraid the opponent couldn't hear, behaving very politely and decently.
"I am a very reasonable person."
Hearing this sentence, before Nurarihyon could breathe a sigh of relief, he saw the smile on Yoru's face disappear instantly, his tone cold.
"I won't manage things outside Kyoto."
"But, as an exorcist, you brought hundreds of yokai of your Nura Clan, including Gyuki, an evil spirit who killed humans before."
"And now you tell me your Nura Clan has no hostility?"
In Yoru's eyes under the mask, unconcealed killing intent appeared. He looked straight at Nurarihyon and whispered.
"Who allowed you filthy guys to step into Kyoto city?"
Feeling his unconcealed killing intent, Nurarihyon's face changed, realizing they couldn't continue talking.
Clang!
As the voice fell, Yoru had already swung Onimaru Kunitsuna in his hand, slashing towards Nurarihyon's head.
A sound of metal colliding, the collision of spiritual power on both sides stirred up dust.
When the dust settled, Miko and Rio found that the short old man had disappeared.
Standing in the original position was a young man nearly 1.8 meters tall, with long black and white hair, handsome appearance, a languid demeanor, wearing ancient men's kimono.
At this time, he was holding a long sword, confronting Onimaru Kunitsuna in Yoru's hand.
The sound of metal colliding just now was produced by the collision of two swords.
Rio frowned slightly, murmuring to herself.
"Could it be... this is the old man just now? Unexpectedly, he has the ability of rejuvenation. He looked like this when he was young."
Miko nodded and agreed.
"Mmhmm, didn't expect this yokai to be quite handsome when young."
Immediately after, Miko added.
"Of course, not as good as Yoru."
Rio looked speechless.
"Stop being lovesick; they are fighting."
Rio felt that since Yoru said he wanted to find Miko to verify something last time, the other party had been distracted during this period.
Occasionally when spacing out, she would show that innocent silly smile.
Miko didn't have this symptom before.
Could it be...
Infected by Yui Yuigahama?
Meanwhile, in the field, Nurarihyon, who completed the transformation, changed his aura entirely.
He looked straight into Yoru's eyes under the black mask and spoke slowly.
"We didn't come to provoke war."
"You still don't understand."
Yoru pressed Onimaru Kunitsuna in his hand forward hard and said faintly.
"Kyoto is my city."
"What happens here isn't up to you, but up to me."
"I'm too lazy to talk nonsense with you."
Speaking of this, Yoru switched to holding the sword with his left hand, extended his right hand towards the direction of the Pale Ghost Hand again, and made a grasping motion in the air.
Accompanied by Gyuki's muffled grunt enduring pain.
"Don't!"
Nurarihyon was really anxious now.
Gritting his teeth, disregarding continuing any negotiation, he pressed the long sword Nenekirimaru in his hand forward.
With this force from Nurarihyon, the tip of the long sword pressed directly against Yoru's chest.
That black outfit formed by evil spirit power was cut open in front of Nenekirimaru's sharpness.
"Interesting, indeed interesting."
Seeing Nurarihyon holding Nenekirimaru actually breaking through his defense, Yoru not only showed no fear but revealed excitement in his eyes.
"Bring me more fun."
The moment Yoru said this sentence, the Pale Ghost Hand that originally grasped Gyuki tightly disappeared suddenly.
Before Gyuki had time to breathe a sigh of relief, a shuddering sense of crisis suddenly came to his heart.
Not just him.
Nurarihyon facing Yoru felt his hair stand on end all over his body, feeling as if his body fell into an ice cave.
The Pale Ghost Hand wouldn't disappear suddenly.
Only merge.
Miko and Rio knew Yoru's ability, so they didn't feel surprised.
Nurarihyon gradually realized things started to go wrong.
The opponent's strength far exceeded his estimation.
And initially, Nurarihyon and the Nura Clan executives only thought Yoru was an ordinary Onmyoji with some skills but not too strong, who stole Onimaru Kunitsuna and needed this famous sword to improve strength.
But after the first round, he realized his original speculation was wrong.
Onimaru Kunitsuna had recognized the person in front of him as the master driving it.
If Nurarihyon hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't dare believe it was true.
Onimaru Kunitsuna, what level of spiritual item was that?
From the news of the Kyoto City Museum intrusion until now, less than half a month had passed in total, right?
The opponent could get Onimaru Kunitsuna's recognition in such a short time?
This was a bit too outrageous.
After merging with the Pale Ghost Hand, Yoru, who was slightly inferior in strength originally, regained the initiative.
Holding Onimaru Kunitsuna with one hand, just pressing forward slightly, Nurarihyon's face changed. Gritting his teeth, disregarding any grace, he put his other hand on the hilt too.
Holding the sword with both hands to barely contend with Yoru holding the sword with one hand.
This wasn't just a difference in physical fitness, but also a gap in spiritual power between the two sides.
Yoru even had the leisure to turn sideways and smile at Miko and Rio not far away.
"The opponent is too strong; I must go all out. So those trash mobs are left to you two and Hachishaku."
Rio and Miko both pouted, thinking I believe you, ghost.
Go all out?
You are the cautious personality who pretends to be about to die suddenly even if consuming one-tenth of your power.
If the enemy were really that strong, would you still have the leisure to chat?
Rio and Miko also understood that Yoru wanted to let them gain more combat experience while ensuring absolute safety with his presence.
"Open your eyes, Hyakume!"
"Tear off the disguise, Hone-Onna!"
Seeing the soul true bodies manifested after Miko and Rio called out their True Names, the yokai of the Nura Clan were stunned.
Even Gyuki and Nurarihyon, who lived for hundreds of years, had never seen such an ability.
Is that... Shikigami?
Looking unlike, aura completely different too.
"Never seen before, right? First time seeing, right? Fresh, right?"
Yoru's sarcastic triple question made Nurarihyon lose face a bit.
After his body became younger, his mentality also changed, not as steady as in the old state, leaning more towards the arrogance and unrestrained nature of his youth.
"Truly an arrogant brat."
Nurarihyon flashed from in front of Yoru to behind him instantly, swinging down the long sword Nenekirimaru without hesitation.
"Just this?"
Yoru seemed to have eyes on his back, dodging the opponent's slash directly sideways.
His left hand slowly reached into his bosom.
Seeing Yoru's action, Nurarihyon immediately blocked the long sword in front of him, flashing vigilance in his eyes.
What move?
Iaido slash? Drawing sword technique? Or thrust relying solely on explosive power?
Nurarihyon's combat experience was very rich. From slight movements of shoulders and waist, he could judge the enemy's next move, achieving the effect of seeing through.
But in his view, after Yoru reached his left hand into his bosom, there was absolutely no preparation before exerting force; even his body relaxed.
What high-end swordsmanship is this?
Could it be the supreme realm of martial arts in legends, relaxing the body to the extreme to offset all attacks, Xiao Li (Relaxation)? (Baki reference).
"Old man..."
After several thoughts flashed through Nurarihyon's mind, Yoru finally took his left hand out of his bosom.
The thing he took out stunned the Commander of Yokai.
The dark muzzle aimed at Nurarihyon's eyebrow. Along with the gunshot was Yoru's chuckling voice.
"Times have changed."
Bang!
After the gunshot, Nurarihyon still stood in place.
Only his hands were trembling slightly.
Cling...
The bullet casing fell to the ground, making a crisp sound.
Nurarihyon stared straight at Yoru, gritting his teeth, looking very complicated.
Young man, playing dirty with me, right?
Whose Onmyoji takes out a pistol during exorcism!!!?
All fear stems from insufficient firepower.
At this moment, the Number One Exorcist of Kyoto, Yoru, finally fulfilled his dream when enrolling in Sobu High.
Who competes in swordsmanship with you two?
I'll do American Iaido directly!
Bang, bang, bang, bang...
Yoru didn't give Nurarihyon any chance to breathe, pulling the trigger continuously.
Nurarihyon's speed naturally couldn't be faster than bullets.
He could only dodge with all his might, trying to ensure not being hit or dodging vital parts.
If it were young Nurarihyon, maybe he really dodged them all.
Unfortunately, although his appearance was young now, he was old after all.
A bullet pierced through Nurarihyon's calf.
He frowned slightly in pain, but as the Commander of Yokai, this small injury obviously couldn't affect him much.
"Hmm..."
After emptying the clip, Yoru looked at Nurarihyon with a pierced calf, put the pistol into his bosom, then suddenly extended his left hand, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone.
"You stand there and don't move; wait for me a moment."
While speaking, under Nurarihyon's complicated gaze, he took out a black-covered notebook and a ballpoint pen from his bosom.
After opening the notebook, Yoru wrote while muttering to himself.
"Even a Great Yokai of Nurarihyon's level cannot defend against close-range pistol shooting. Recovery ability remains to be proven..."
Writing here, Yoru looked up, looked at Nurarihyon opposite, and smiled.
"By the way, do me a favor. How long do you roughly need to fully recover from such an injury? How is the pain? Assuming the pain of a normal human getting shot is 5, express your current pain level with a number."
Nurarihyon was dumbfounded by the question.
"Why ask these?"
"Don't understand this?"
Yoru looked at the opponent like looking at a fool, replying matter-of-factly.
"Of course, to collect more intelligence and summarize a set of the most efficient, convenient, and safe ways to kill yokai like you."
Nurarihyon was confused.
Good grief, you are quite honest.
Take me for a fool?
Can I tell you this?
"Don't want to say?"
Looking at Nurarihyon's wonderful expression, Yoru revealed a friendly smile.
"Forget it if you don't say. After all, even if you said it, I can't be sure it's true. Better verify it myself."
"By the way, show you something interesting."
Hearing this sentence, Nurarihyon frowned slightly, gripping the sword hilt with his right hand a bit tighter.
What trick does the opponent want to play again?
Shouldn't be taking out a gun again, right?
Yoru passed Onimaru Kunitsuna to his left hand, and his right hand spread open and extended forward, palm facing the sky.
A ball of thick black energy emerged in his hand.
"Mention to you, I have a very special ability."
"As long as it is a weapon I know how to make, after recalling it in my mind, I can create it with evil spirit power."
Watching that ball of black energy gradually stretching and forming, Nurarihyon's pupils shrank in shock.
He couldn't care to think about how powerful Yoru's ability was.
Is the opponent planning to make that thing?
Under Nurarihyon's shocked gaze, the black energy gradually took shape, forming a weapon.
It was a weapon, but not a cold weapon.
Yoru sheathed Onimaru Kunitsuna at his waist and held this black, smooth-curved, silky, exquisitely artistic...
Shotgun with both hands.
Nurarihyon was dumbfounded.
This thing can also be made on the spot with so-called evil spirit power?
On what basis!?
On what basis can you use supernatural ability to create such a modern technological weapon!?
The art style is different!!!
"Hehe."
Yoru nodded with satisfaction, raised the shotgun, and aimed at Nurarihyon opposite.
"Emphasize again."
"Old man, times have changed."
"What era is it, still playing traditional exorcism?"