When Daoist Master Zhang finished his story, the conference room fell into a brief silence. The legend of Xu Fu and the Yamata no Orochi might have been distant, but it made everyone realize the importance of resisting the Onmyoji conspiracy in Japan. Zhang cleared his throat and said solemnly,
"Time is short. We must act quickly."
The plan was then divided: one group led by Qin Xiao from the National Security Bureau—consisting of me, Liu Siyu, Lin Xuan, and Er-Ge—would infiltrate the upcoming Cherry Blossom Cultural Exchange Festival to investigate. The other group, led by the old Daoist, would return to Bureau 749 headquarters to research a way to counter the "Eight-Point Spirit-Sealing Array" laid down by Abe no Seimei.
The next morning, we disguised ourselves as ordinary tourists and blended smoothly into the festival grounds. Lin Xuan and Qin Xiao controlled drones circling high above, feeding us live surveillance. The venue was meticulously decorated: pink petals drifted on the breeze, creating a dreamlike wonderland. Yet beneath the beauty lurked unseen dangers.
The festival was bustling, filled with crowds enjoying the joyous atmosphere. On stage, dancers in kimono twirled gracefully, their fans glinting in rainbow hues under the sun. Children laughed and chased one another while adults gathered around food stalls, savoring skewered fish, matcha sweets, and treats flavored with sakura petals. The air was rich with fragrance and warmth.
Lin Xuan, eyes glued to the monitor, grinned.
"This little gadget is pretty fun. Think you can teach me to fly one later?"
Qin Xiao chuckled.
"Sure, but you'd better first learn how not to crash it."
"This place is really lively," I whispered to Er-Ge. "But we'd better stay alert. Crowds like this are perfect for hidden threats."
Er-Ge smirked.
"Well, at least there are plenty of pretty girls."
Liu Siyu shot him a look.
"Aren't you afraid Sherry will make you kneel on a bed of durians for that?"
We were laughing quietly when suddenly the drone's feed shook violently.
"What's going on?" Lin Xuan frowned.
"No idea—it feels like interference!" Qin Xiao scrambled to check the equipment, but before he could find the cause, the drone plummeted from the sky.
"This… this is the aura of a shikigami!" Lin Xuan blurted out, his expression grave. He quickly explained,
"Onmyoji can summon shikigami—spiritual entities infused with power that carry out their master's will. One must have attacked our drone just now."
Before we could react, screams erupted nearby, drawing everyone's eyes. A man in an ornate kimono strode into the center of the venue. His features resembled a movie idol—strikingly handsome, flawless skin, an aura both refined and otherworldly. Women shrieked and cheered, some whipping out their phones to snap photos.
"Who's this guy? Why is he so popular?" Er-Ge muttered.
"Maybe some celebrity or guest performer," I guessed, though unease prickled in my chest.
Suddenly, Liu Siyu grabbed my sleeve, her face pale.
"It's him!" she whispered. "Abe no Seimei! The Kawashima family's archive described his appearance. He's an Onmyoji!"
My heart sank. I signaled for calm, but Seimei had already noticed us. His gaze swept across the crowd and fixed on Liu Siyu. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by a chilling smile.
"Kawashima Sakurako?" he murmured playfully.
He had recognized her.
"Damn!" Liu Siyu hissed. "He knows who I am!"
Before she could say more, a shadow burst forth from Seimei's side, racing straight at us. It was his summoned shikigami, its form shifting and grotesque, like condensed darkness.
"Move!" Er-Ge shouted, dragging us aside.
At the same time, Lin Xuan reacted swiftly, chanting an incantation. A surge of mystical force rippled outward.
"I've cast the Sky-Veil technique. Ordinary people won't see the spirits now," he said.
With a thunderous roar, my Yellow Pixiu materialized, towering and radiant with golden light, standing guard before us. Almost simultaneously, the pendant on Liu Siyu's wrist burst into silver brilliance, releasing her White Pixiu to join the battle.
The twin Pixiu lunged as one. The Yellow Pixiu slashed with razor claws, tearing into the shikigami's shadowy body. The White Pixiu exhaled icy silver flames, freezing the entity in place.
But the shikigami quickly regenerated, its form splitting into multiple clones that swarmed from all sides. Lin Xuan hurled a charm, his spell unraveling the illusion and forcing the clones to collapse.
"So this is your strength?" Abe no Seimei sneered, weaving another spell. "Pathetic."
The shikigami swelled with renewed ferocity, lashing out with massive claws. The Yellow Pixiu staggered under the onslaught, nearly struck down, until the White Pixiu coiled its tail around the shikigami's arm, holding it in place long enough for its companion to counterattack.
Together, the Pixiu fought with perfect synergy. At last, they tore the shikigami apart, its scream fading into motes of starlight that dissolved into the air.
Seimei's face darkened, but instead of pressing the fight, he turned and vanished into the crowd.
I exhaled, relief mingling with unease. The clash had shown us both the overwhelming strength of the Onmyoji and our own potential to resist.
"What now?" Er-Ge asked quietly.
"We regroup and plan," I said firmly.
As night descended, sakura petals continued to fall. The festival carried on, but our true mission was only just beginning…
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