Heretic Miko

"Everyone, go prepare the items needed for the ritual. The deity has personally demanded a sacrifice. I can only offer one up, so please rest assured." The Shrine Master repeatedly tried to soothe the agitated villagers.

The elderly woman leading the villagers glanced at Han Jiang. You're just an outsider, yet you dare meddle in Yae Village's affairs? Did the sight of the deity just now scare you stupid?

"Yae Shrine Master, the divine decree cannot be defied. For the lives of everyone in the village, the ritual must be put on the agenda—three days at the latest." The old woman spoke to the Shrine Master in an almost commanding tone.

Now that the deity had personally appeared, the Shrine Master naturally did not dare disobey. He could only nod in agreement.

With the old woman directing them from the side, the villagers gradually calmed down and no longer rushed madly toward Yae Rin's room.

"You should leave first. I will handle the matter of the sacrifice myself." The Shrine Master's voice was hoarse and utterly weary.

The old woman nodded and selected several strong villagers to guard outside the courtyard, making sure the sacrifice and the two outsiders did not escape.

After the villagers dispersed, Han Jiang still stood in the doorway, refusing to let the Shrine Master enter.

The Shrine Master's face was full of sorrow. The downpour that had been about to fall had just been driven away by the deity. It was clearly telling him that the ritual had to proceed.

"Move!"

Han Jiang did not budge. No matter what was said, he would not let this man enter the room.

"Father, must Rin truly be sacrificed?" Yae Sakura asked softly, unable to accept it.

The Shrine Master nodded in silence. "If the deity had not appeared, we could have delayed it for a while longer, but... you saw what happened just now."

"For thousands of years, this is the first time the deity has personally demanded someone!"

"For Yae Village's prosperity, to end the great drought, to calm the deity's wrath—no matter which it is, we must carry out the ritual."

Tears already streamed down Yae Sakura's face as she roared unwillingly, "Why? Why does it have to be Rin?!"

The Shrine Master tried his best to control his emotions. His lips trembled as he said, "It is fate."

The two fell silent once more. Inside the room, Yae Rin struggled to prop herself up. Her weak voice quivered slightly as she calmly spoke her true thoughts.

"I want to go to school. I want to play without a care in the world. I want... to see next year's cherry blossoms."

This was the future Han Jiang had promised Yae Rin, and also the deepest wish in Yae Rin's heart.

Yae Sakura's hand tightened around her scabbard, her knuckles standing out. She raised her head and looked at the sky with resolute eyes.

As if speaking to herself, yet also asking her father, she said, "Is that deity still our deity? Forcing mortals to offer human lives as sacrifices—that is an evil god."

"We can perform rituals and show respect, but we must never again use human lives to fill an evil god's stomach. I once wanted to become an outstanding miko. Now, I am a Heretic Miko!"

"Shing!"

As her words fell, the spirit blade Sakura Blizzard was drawn. Yae Sakura looked at her father and said word by word, "Father, an evil god is not worthy of our worship!"

Han Jiang's eyelids twitched. He could even sense killing intent.

Hiyori had played her hand well, forcing Yae Sakura to make a choice with rainfall. Unfortunately, Yae Sakura was no longer the Yae Sakura from five hundred years ago.

Five hundred years ago, Yae Sakura had no choice. But now, everything was completely different.

"An evil god is just a fraud playing at being divine. We're going to destroy it right now!" Theresa shouted from inside the room, clenching her fist.

Han Jiang waved Muramasa of Bizen in his hand. Its meaning was self-evident.

"You can't do this. That is..."

Before the Shrine Master could finish, Yae Sakura interrupted him. "Father, please do not stop us."

"I do not agree with what you are doing. You have seen the deity's methods. It can summon wind and rain, capable of anything. If you..."

Yae Sakura had no intention of listening to the Shrine Master finish. She swiftly reached his side and struck the back of his neck with her scabbard, knocking him unconscious.

Becoming the finest miko was not merely something said aloud. Yae Sakura's strength had long surpassed everyone in the village; dealing with the Shrine Master alone was effortless.

"Mr. Han Jiang, Ms. Theresa, please take care of Rin. If I fail... then take Rin away. As far away as possible." Without looking back, Yae Sakura walked out of the courtyard.

Several pained cries from villagers came from the entrance of the side courtyard, then quickly fell silent.

Han Jiang and Theresa exchanged a glance. Theresa hurriedly chased after her.

After running two steps, Han Jiang turned back. He returned to the room and carried Rin onto his back. "I can't leave you here."

Yae Rin lay against Han Jiang's back and whispered into his ear, "Mr. Han Jiang, don't worry about me. Go help my sister. If I were still in soul form, I could help you resist the evil god, but bringing me along now would only be a burden."

"I'm afraid the evil god will control the villagers and send them to hurt you. You'll be safer with us."

The residence was not far from the shrine. Han Jiang was fast when running at full speed, and by the time he reached the shrine, Hiyori had only just condensed into physical form.

The villagers who had left the Yae residence had not gone far. When they saw Yae Sakura and the others rushing toward the shrine, they all followed.

The shrine had a long flight of stairs. Because of the angle, the villagers did not see Hiyori forming her body. One after another, they merely shouted things like, "Don't run!"

"Do you know what you are doing?"

Hiyori was enormous, with red-and-white fur. Her aged voice made it impossible to tell whether she was male or female.

"Enough talk!"

Yae Sakura had already resolved to fight to the death. She had no intention of wasting words with Hiyori and charged forward with her blade.

Theresa, standing to the side, wanted to help but lacked the strength to do so. She could only worry helplessly.

Han Jiang set Yae Rin down beside her and said, "Take care of Rin first. I'll go help."

Yae Sakura was a Quasi-Herrscher, while Hiyori was a suppressed Erosion Herrscher.

Han Jiang, who had only barely reached B-rank, would be walking into certain death if he rashly joined the fight. Rather than helping, he circled the battlefield and used the system to absorb Yae Sakura's Honkai Energy.

Suddenly, a cloud of black smoke enveloped Han Jiang's body.

In an instant, Han Jiang felt rage, anxiety, sorrow, and all sorts of negative emotions surge over him.

Ding: Special Honkai Energy detected. Honkai Energy traits fused. Possesses trace fire attributes and partial erosion abilities.

Ding: Special Honkai Energy absorbed. Personal Honkai Energy +2 +2 +2...

As the system notifications sounded, Han Jiang calmed down and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

As expected of a Herrscher skilled at amplifying the darkness within people's hearts. Merely coming into contact with it had made Han Jiang feel all kinds of emotions. Without the system, his state of mind would likely have collapsed first.

"Look! What is the miko doing?"

The villagers had already climbed the shrine steps. Seeing Yae Sakura fighting Hiyori, they revealed terrified expressions.

A large number of villagers immediately knelt on the ground, begging Hiyori for mercy and pleading for the deity to quell its anger.

Han Jiang's problem had been resolved by the system, but Theresa was not having such an easy time.

Yae Rin looked anxiously at the unconscious Theresa. She could only watch helplessly, unable to help Theresa.

"The evil god's power amplifies the darkness in people's hearts. If they cannot resist it in their hearts, they will become the evil god's puppets from now on," Yae Rin said anxiously.

At that moment, villagers controlled by Hiyori had already charged toward Rin and Theresa. Han Jiang cut down the people within the Stigmata Space one by one without the slightest guilt.

Thanks to [Everything I Give Is the Best] for the 100 reward, and thanks to [Emilywu] for the 100 reward!!!