74.Mui and Mukou

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Kaito chuckled softly and said, "Don't say that, after all, I'm an onmyoji."

He raised his right hand, holding a talisman between his index and middle fingers, as spiritual light surged around him and his robes fluttered.

"And the responsibility of an onmyoji is to protect the people from demons!"

If you let the Box of Bliss devour more people, you'll become stronger, making it much harder to defeat you.

I'm not a fool.

The black demon formed from Mukou swiftly flew over Kaito's head, its giant feathers gleaming coldly, shooting out like crossbow bolts.

"Let's see if you can really take on that responsibility!!"

Facing the feathered projectiles the size of spears, Kaito threw the talisman and formed a seal with his hands.

"Susanoo."

A half-bodied skeleton appeared to block the feathers, producing clear collision sounds.

The thrown talisman streaked through the air, chasing the demon.

The demon quickly turned in the air, dodging the incoming talisman.

As it passed by, the talisman suddenly emitted a brilliant light, multiplying into countless sheets, enveloping the demon from all directions.

Roar!!

The demon opened its mouth, a ball of scorching red energy forming within, which it spewed towards the talismans.

Meanwhile, Kaito dispersed Susanoo, closed his eyes, and chanted.

"Hidden deep in the earth, the pulse of the planet, the source of life, appear now, grant your protection, urgently, as I command!"

When a golden mist enveloped his body, he opened his eyes suddenly, dropping to one knee and slamming his hands onto the ground.

"Ryūmyaku Chains!"

In an instant, countless golden chains burst from the ground, surging toward the demon in the sky.

The demon shrieked and flapped its wings, trying to fly higher.

The golden chains shot up, relentlessly pursuing their target.

Kaito threw out numerous talismans again, which flew along the chains towards the demon, streaking through the air as streams of light.

The dense golden chains compressed the demon's space, and although it spat energy attacks, they were futile.

Swish, swish, swish—the chains whizzed through the air, binding the demon into a tight bundle.

The demon struggled violently, but countless talismans flashing with spiritual light flew over, sticking to its body layer by layer.

The demon was immediately and thoroughly bound, falling from the sky with a thud, raising a cloud of dust.

"Fire Style: Grand Fire Prison!"

Mui, his chest pierced by Mukou, reappeared, surrounded by red flames, slapping his palm onto the demon's chest.

The flames turned into ropes branding the demon, whose body began to shrink, turning back into a boy.

The golden chains retracted into the ground, leaving only a few binding the boy.

"Father…" the boy called softly.

Mui covered his bleeding chest, looking at the boy with a complex expression but said nothing.

He turned around, stumbling to Kaito, and knelt once again.

Grabbing Kaito's robe, he tearfully pleaded, "Master, if you truly are the legendary onmyoji, I, Mui, beg you to help my son rid himself of the demon's influence and guide him to peace in the afterlife…"

"I understand." Kaito looked down at him, "However, there are conditions."

"Please state them." Mui coughed up blood, struggling to speak, "As long as I can do it."

Kaito smiled, "Your sealing techniques are quite good. I want you to sign a contract, agreeing to serve as my shikigami for ten years after your death."

Mui responded without hesitation, "Cough... I agree... as long as Mukou can be freed from the demon's influence…"

"Very well." Kaito patted Mui's shoulder, and a golden mist flowed onto him.

Then, Kaito straightened up and walked towards Mukou.

"This energy will keep you alive for a while longer. Let me complete the transaction, and then you can sign the contract."

Mui no longer felt pain. Watching Kaito's back, he softly said, "Thank you, Master."

Kaito reached Mukou and placed a hand on his head.

"What are you doing?" Mukou looked up, his pitch-black eyes void of light.

"I made a deal with your father," Kaito smiled at him, "to exorcise the demon and help you find peace."

"Hahaha…" Mukou laughed like he had heard the funniest joke.

With malice, he said loudly, "Impossible! I am the demon now!"

Kaito only looked down at him, spiritual power pouring into Mukou's body through his hand.

"Ah!!!" Mukou screamed in pain as black mist began to emanate from his body.

Kaito's other hand formed seals continuously as he chanted, "Rin, Pyo, To, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen!"

Blue spiritual light burst forth, with more and more black mist flowing from Mukou's body into the Box of Bliss.

Mukou's screams grew more agonizing. He wanted to roll on the ground but was tightly bound by the chains.

"Mukou." Mui approached, crouched, and tightly grasped Mukou's hand, "Come back, my son."

Mukou's screams gradually subsided, and the black mist dwindled until it disappeared.

"It's done. He has a little time left." Kaito stood up and stepped aside.

The remaining golden chains loosened and retracted into the ground.

"Father…" light returned to the boy's eyes as he smiled softly at Mui, "I'm back."

"Mukou!" Mui embraced the boy lying on the ground, "Mukou, my son, I'm sorry."

"Father… I wish… we could live… peacefully… with Ryuzetsu… forever…" Mukou's voice grew weaker, and his raised hand fell.

"Mukou!!" Mui held Mukou's body tightly, tears streaming down.

After a long time, he finally calmed down, sensing his own time was near.

Golden mist wafted from his body as he turned to Kaito.

"Master."

Kaito approached, opening his hand to reveal a small paper doll.

"Write your name on this paper doll with your blood."

Mui smeared his blood on his chest and signed the paper doll.

The paper doll glowed red, then dimmed.

"Good. The contract is now established." Kaito nodded with satisfaction.

"Master," Mui lay beside Mukou, "please… bury us… in that field… of lantern flowers…"

"Sure, I promise." Kaito nodded.

Mui struggled to turn his head to look at Mukou, then breathed his last.

Kaito directed his paper doll shikigami to bury Mui and Mukou's bodies in the most flourishing field of lantern flowers on the island.

Then, he returned to the Box of Bliss.

Golden chains burst from the ground again, binding the Box of Bliss and dragging it down, while the ground moved like water, swallowing the box.

Afterward, Kaito ignored the chaos among the prisoners outside Hozuki Castle, took out a wooden whistle, summoned Gurē, and left.