For Akashiji to ask Kanai for help in such a serious manner, it must not be a trivial matter.

In fact, not long after Huang Se left, the originally lively school festival had a series of strange occurrences.

First, many students and parents who came to participate in the festival began to show symptoms of fever, filling Teiguang's infirmary to the brim. Some even left Teiguang to seek treatment at the hospital.

Then, many classrooms and stalls suddenly had power outages, forcing many projects to shut down. But when the maintenance staff went to check, they did not find any malfunctions.

Finally, in the middle of rehearsing tomorrow afternoon's program, the lights on the ceiling of the performance hall suddenly exploded, burning the stage curtain completely. Because of the fire, Midori Midori, who was playing the piano on the stage at that time, was almost burned.

Fortunately, the fire department arrived in time. Other than the Midori, there were no casualties among the rehearsals, but the lively school festival had also cooled down.

The explosion of the ceiling light was too strange, and even if it was overheated, it would be difficult to burn the fire curtains, let alone burn them completely.

Coupled with the strange power outage and the patient who suddenly had a fever, Akashiji had a feeling that the school festival was being watched by something.

"Shintaro is injured?"

Hearing this news, Kanai panicked and hurriedly held the phone and asked, "Where is he hurt?

Where is he now?

Is there anything else? "

"Please don't worry, Miss Hyuga," Akashiji gently comforted Kanai, "Shintaro's arm was burned, and he's currently being bandaged in the infirmary."

"Okay," Kanai bit her lower lip, "I'll be right there."

After putting down the phone, Kanai hastily tucked her hair behind her ears. She was still wearing the white witch robe she wore when she received the Ghost Lantern during the day. With a serious expression, she threw out a blue talisman, and the sudden explosion of Reiki made Ibaraki and Kendo rush to the backyard.

"Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhen, Zhe, are, all, listed, in front!

Gui Nu Red Leaf, come to me! "

The Red Leaf, who was still chasing after her idol and flirting with the starlet, responded to the summons in the next second. She walked out of the dazzling Red Leaf. Just as she was about to act coquettishly, she was startled by her master's rare serious expression. The incomparably clever demoness immediately swallowed her coquettish words and respectfully bowed to Kanai.

"Gui Nu Red Leaf, responding to Master's summons."

"Sorry to disturb Red Leaf." Kanai nodded slightly at Red Leaf, then looked at Ibaraki and Kendo. "Ibaraki, Red Leaf, follow me to Teiguang. If you find any traces of evil demons, kill them without mercy."

The Miko-sama was expressionless, but a cold light flashed in her eyes.

"Kendo, guard the Sunset Shrine. If Ghost Lantern -sama comes again, you must contact me. If demons invade, destroy them at all costs!"

Kendo immediately knelt on one knee and accepted the order. Red Leaf and Ibaraki looked at each other, then lowered their heads and frowned.

"Yes!

Yes, Master! "

After giving all these instructions, Kanai turned to look at Huang Se. "Don't worry, it should be caused by the Guardian Boa of Hell. You should stay at the shrine." Then, she turned and was about to leave.

"Little, little Hyuga!"

Huang Se, who was frightened by Kanai's cold aura, almost grabbed Kanai's sleeve. "Take me with you?

I'm very familiar with Teiguang. I also want to see how the little Midori is doing. "

Kanai paused for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Alright, let Ibaraki fly you there. I'll go with Red Leaf."

Huang Se: … Is it too late to say no now?

"Alright, time is of the essence. Let's go."

At Kanai's command, Red Leaf picked up Kanai and leaped into the sky. The red and white figures quickly became a tiny dot in the sky.

Ibaraki tutted and grabbed Huang Se's collar with one hand. "Let's go, kid."

Huang Ase: "Wait, wait, wait — let me prepare myself, just a moment — waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

*

"What the hell is Akashiji thinking?"

At the same time, in Teiguang, Daigetsu Aofeng glanced at Akashiji, who was talking on the phone in the distance. He played with a basketball in one hand and walked around the basketball court irritably.

"Didn't the captain of the fire department already tell the principal that it was an accident?

Could it be that he really believes in those crazy swindlers? "

"Ada, you're so rude," Peach Well, May, glared at Qingfeng. "I already said that it's Xiaohuang's friend. Since Akashiji has already admitted it, what are you still arguing about?"

"As for Qing Feng-kun, he probably just doesn't want to admit that there really are monsters in the world." Hei Zizhe also mercilessly exposed his partner.

"Hey, A Zhe!"

The tall boy with wheat-colored skin rushed up and tried to cover Sunspot's mouth. After being deftly dodged, he explained in a loud voice, "It's not just me!

Just based on what Huang Se said, would you believe it?

Would May believe it? "

"The long-haired witch that appeared in an instant, the big monster Gui Nu Red Leaf during the Pingan Jing period, the large blue enchantment, monsters, zombies, and murderers – who would believe it!

If Huang Se is so capable, why didn't he say that the little girl fell from the sky?

Why didn't he say that she also brought Ibaraki Doji? "

"Me."

"I believe it."

Completely ignoring Qingfeng's stuttering explanation, Sunspot and Peach Well replied to their friends at the same time.

Qingfeng, "…"

Qingfeng was furious. "May is fine, but A Zhe, what's wrong with you?

Do you have to slap me in the face like this?

Do you really believe in Huang Se that much? "

"Speaking of which, it's not that I believe in Kun Hwang."

Sunspot explained calmly, "But if Midori Kun and Akashiji both said so, there should be no possibility of a scam."

"Yeah, Ada, admit it, you're just afraid of ghosts, cowardly, hahaha." Peach Well made a face at Qingfeng.

"May!" Qingfeng's face turned green. "How do I look like I'm afraid?"

"If, if you don't believe me, let's make a bet!"

Qing Feng slammed the basketball in his hand on the ground in front of his two friends. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "There are absolutely no monsters in this world!

So that witch is definitely, definitely a lie! "

"If it's true, I'll eat this basketball!"

"On the contrary, if it's fake, May, you're not allowed to complain to my mom in the future. Zhe, you'll cooperate with me honestly, you're not allowed to fight with Huang Se!"

Peach Well and Sunspot, "…"

Can't you just admit that you're afraid of ghosts? Why do you have to dig your own grave?

Peach Well was furious and deliberately raised her chin. "Fine, I'll bet. Compared to you, I believe in Akashiji."

Sunspot: "So, in fact, I also … believe in Akashiji more."

"Let's bet."

Before Qingfeng had time to roar at his two friends, Akashiji, who had been sitting on the other side of the basketball court and staring at something in the sky, suddenly stood up and walked toward the side door where Qingfeng and the others were.

Qingfeng and the others curiously followed Akashiji out of the side door. The first thing they heard was Huang Se's screams in the distance. Then, they saw a silver-haired man wearing ancient warrior armor appear in the sky from afar. He was carrying a familiar figure who was constantly struggling. After a few leaps that were difficult to be defined by human limits, he landed in front of Akashiji.

He put the pale-faced Huang Se on the ground, ignored Akashiji, and retreated to the side.

He had just taken a few steps away when a gust of wind blew by. In the midst of the fluttering Red Leaf, a girl wearing a white witch costume with a ponytail gently landed from mid-air. The moment she landed, she rushed to Akashiji without a care in the world and asked Akashiji with a worried and nervous expression.

"… Are you Akashiji?

Is Shintaro finished bandaging his wounds?

Is he okay? "

Peach Well, Sunspot, and Qingfeng: … My friends and I were stunned.

"… Ada."

With great difficulty, Momoi shifted his gaze from the extremely beautiful Miss Miko to Qing Feng. He slowly swallowed his saliva, wanting to say something, but hesitated.

"Lord Qingfeng."

Sunspot turned his head and brought the basketball to Qingfeng with an innocent look on his face. "The basketball is here. How are you going to eat it?"

*

As a disciple of an aristocratic family, Akashiji had participated in the Shinto New Year's Sacrifice when he was very young.

He followed behind his father and dealt with the patriarchs and heirs of the various great families.

Amidst the praises of others and his father's gratified gaze, he sat in the seat belonging to Akashiji's family without a change in expression, smiling at everyone who came.

The organizer of the New Year's Sacrifice seemed to be a high priest of the Fujiwara clan from the Ise Shrine. The middle-aged man, who was wearing a complicated ceremonial robe, looked at the aristocratic families with an inexplicable sense of contempt and indifference. Many of the patriarchs, including his father, still bowed respectfully to the priest.

However, that person just waved his hand perfunctorily and didn't even look at his father.

… He disliked that man very much.

He disliked the arrogant Ise Shrine very much.

The smile on the young Akashiji's face gradually disappeared. He stopped smiling and stared expressionlessly at the priest sitting at the head of the table and the people of the Ise Shrine around him.

The child didn't know how to control his emotions. The obvious disgust and annoyance made the surrounding guards, priests, and members of some Shinto families look unfriendly.

Surrounded by the malicious eyes and the increasingly obvious contempt, Akashiji Seijuro, who was still a child, felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.

What made him feel even more embarrassed were the whispers of some strangers.

"He's just a nouveau riche."

"Oh, it's that child. Fujiwara-sama saved his life before …"

"He's just a foolish and ignorant child."

"Why don't you think about who's protecting these families …"

Even the man sitting at the head of the table, who was said to be the patriarch of a family of Onmyojis, turned his head as if he was looking at something dirty. He reminded his father of a few words in a neutral tone.

"Fujiwara-sama has a good temper, but the Ise Shrine isn't easy to deal with."

"Akashiji's family, you should remember your place."

The cold and ruthless reminders instantly shattered the dignity in the child's heart into a mess. The young master, who had never been insulted and disrespected like this, had his eyes slightly red.

He didn't want his proud father to suffer because of him. Akashiji Seijuro gritted his teeth and endured the extreme shame and humiliation. He planned to stand up and apologize to the Ise Shrine and ask for forgiveness.

"Akashiji Seijuro?"

A gentle female voice suddenly passed through the hall. Like a crisp wind, it blew away all the insults and taunts.

The entire hall suddenly fell silent for a moment. Even the eyes of the Fujiwara sitting at the head of the table moved slightly.

Akashiji raised his head with difficulty and saw a witch with a high ponytail and a sharp aura smiling at him. He couldn't help but be a little stunned.

"What a good child." The witch sighed sincerely.

With the witch's praise, the whispers around suddenly disappeared without a trace. The people who had just mocked Akashiji and his father seemed to have changed their expressions. They all praised Akashiji with the witch.

Because of a witch's words, he was blessed. The child, who didn't know what to feel, only felt that these people's praise made him feel disgusted. He pursed his lips and forced a smile.

"You seem to be about the same age as my Kanai."

The witch seemed to have noticed his discomfort. As she spoke casually, she pushed a little girl about the same age as Akashiji from behind.

This black-haired and black-eyed little girl was also dressed as a witch. Her somewhat messy hair was tied into a high ponytail. She glanced at Akashiji with a blushing face. Without saying anything, she weakly hugged the witch and went behind her.

"Oh, I thought you didn't like this kind of occasion?"

The witch smiled and circled the little girl in front of her. "Go out and play with Akashiji's child."

As soon as she said this, the people around her changed the topic and began to pretend to be concerned. They said that 'children will definitely be bored in such a serious occasion' while recommending their heirs and their clansmen waiting outside the door to the little girl as playmates.

"Father, that witch over there is …?"

While the people around them swarmed over to praise the little girl, the curious Akashiji couldn't help but quietly ask his father.

"…" Akashiji's father looked at the witch over there with a complicated expression. He then turned to his son and said coldly, "That's not something you should ask now."

"… Yes."

What surprised Akashiji, who was still upset by his father's attitude, was that amidst the praises and flattery of the people around her, the timid little girl actually trotted all the way through the hall of the shrine. In front of everyone, she ran to him and said the first sentence she had said all night.

"Then … Let's go out and play."

Akashiji Seijuro was stunned.

"If you feel uncomfortable here, let's go out and play together." The little girl tilted her head and stretched out her white and tender little hand to Akashiji.

That was the first time the six-year-old Akashiji Seijuro followed his father to participate in the New Year's ritual hosted by the Ise Shrine. It was also the last time he participated in the Shinto gathering.

…

"Excuse me, you are Akashiji, right?"

The girl with messy hair and a flustered expression quickly walked to Akashiji and asked anxiously.

'Hyuga from the Sunset Shrine … Kanai, right? So that's how it is.'

The question that had puzzled him for nearly ten years suddenly made sense at this moment.

The pupils of the only heir of the Akashiji family shrank slightly, then he smiled gently.