Mount Fuji — the sacred mountain of Japan. Its snowcapped peak shimmered silver in the morning light, while mist clung to the forests at its base like a sheer veil cast upon the earth. The dawn sun broke through the clouds, painting the slopes in golden hues. At the mountain's foot, a lake mirrored Fuji's majestic silhouette, blurring the very boundary between heaven and earth.
Fuji was not only the symbol of Japan but also the birthplace of countless myths and legends. It was said that beneath the mountain lay sealed an ancient divine beast — the Yamata no Orochi. In primordial times, the creature had ravaged the world, bringing endless calamity. At last, a great onmyōji sacrificed his life to bind it under Mount Fuji. From that day onward, his lineage bore the duty of guarding the great seal, ensuring the serpent would never rise again.
Behind the mountain's beauty lurked many secrets. At its foot stood a shrine, silent and solemn. Wind chimes hung from the eaves, ringing clearly whenever the breeze stirred. In the courtyard, ancient cherry trees stood in quiet dignity, their petals drifting down as though whispering stories of a thousand years.
Koizumi paused at the shrine's gate, inhaling deeply, letting the fragrance of cherry blossoms fill his lungs. His gaze passed over the courtyard to rest upon towering Fuji in the distance. He knew the man he sought today dwelled deep within the mountain.
"Lord Abe Harukawa, Koizumi comes to pay his respects," he said softly, voice tinged with reverence.
The shrine doors opened slowly. A man in white robes stepped out, refined in appearance, his eyes deep as though they could pierce all things. In his hand he held a folding fan inscribed with intricate runes that shimmered faintly with light.
"Koizumi-kun, it has been a long time." Abe Harukawa's voice was calm and gentle, like a mountain breeze. "If you've come today, I imagine it is for something of great importance."
Koizumi nodded, gravity flashing across his eyes. "Lord Harukawa, though you have long lived in seclusion, surely you too can sense it: our Yamato nation's fortunes are waning. To the west, America presses us endlessly; to the east, China rises again in strength. We are caught in between, with no support. If this continues…"
Harukawa's brows drew together as he gently flicked his fan. "Koizumi-kun, you must understand — the duty of onmyōji is to safeguard Fuji's seal. The Yamata no Orochi grows restless of late, stirring again and again. If it breaks free, the entire Japanese archipelago will tremble."
Koizumi pressed on. "Lord Harukawa, Kawashima took her own life after failing her shadow mission. Our remaining trump cards are few. The greatest threat to us now is the resurgence of Dongda. We must act to hinder them."
"That fool's failure was inevitable." A voice cut through the air. From behind a screen stepped a strikingly handsome man — his appearance reminiscent of Kaneshiro Takeshi, though a chill lingered in his brow. Harukawa looked at him and said, "Seimei, so you've come too."
It was Abe Seimei, Harukawa's fellow disciple and junior brother. "Elder brother, Koizumi speaks the truth. If we do not act now, it may soon be too late."
"You mean to use that ritual, brother?" Harukawa asked, eyes narrowing.
"There is no other choice." Seimei's tone was firm. "The ritual's scope is vast, but if it succeeds, it will grant our empire another century of fortune, while Dongda will fall into decline — just as they did in the year of Jiawu."
Koizumi's face lit with joy. "Lord Seimei, might you explain in detail?"
Seimei nodded. "The ritual is called Dou Zhuan Xing Yi — the Rotation of Stars. Its purpose is to shift Dongda's national fortune to our empire. My brother and I must act together: I will set the Absorbing Array in Dongda, while he establishes the Receiving Array in Japan. Aligned across distance, the two will draw and steal Dongda's destiny."
"But such a formation demands great preparation. We must proceed with caution."
Within the shrine, the three bent their heads close, whispering into the night until the moon hung high above the eaves.