Chapter 84
Before World War II, the understanding of the human body varied around the world.
They may firmly believe that there is a strange tissue in the human body called "Dantian" that can circulate an energy called "Qi" in the "meridians," which is the resource for practicing "Martial Arts" and "magic."
They either firmly believe that humans are composed of four humors, and that the amount of each humor influences a person's future personality and achievements. They believe that the technique of "bloodletting" can stabilize these four humors.
With the advent of modern medicine and science, all of the above claims have been proven false.
But Hebe knew, and Eris knew—that those claims were true, or at least true until World War II.
Humans were indeed composed of four humors at that time, and bloodletting therapy could indeed treat most diseases.
It is true that some people are born with non-physical organs such as "Dantian" and "meridians" in their bodies, and can use the resources of "qi" to practice Martial Arts and magic.
They represented different worldviews, and they were deposed simply because the governments that represented them were defeated in the World War.
September Archon, Celestial Flint, crushed all ruling powers that sought to be His enemies, leading the world toward the future He desired.
However, in the Higashi during the 15th and 16th centuries, the "Dantian" and "meridians" still existed, with the latter numbering as many as three thousand.
Unfettered Sword Qi from Hebe's heart, along the three thousand meridians that were between reality and illusion, towards Ashiya Dōman's heart.
129 Historical Power Struggle
The invisible sword energy, like cold starlight, seemed to build a bridge between Ashiya Dōman and Hebe.
But the Onmyoji simply smiled, his cruel smile remaining unchanged.
The sword energy became distant, out of control, and soared into the void the moment it passed through his body, randomly landing on all targets within the city.
Hebe's sword intent was indeed troublesome. Like injecting endless redundant and useless information, this kind of attack is generally called "DDoS" in later generations... But the attack needs a target, and Miyamoto Musashi's answer was "cannot be selected".
This is certainly a feasible method, but Ashiya Dōman despises the way of the sword, so he naturally cannot use this method.
His method was to expand the target of "non-thought sword intent" from "one person" to "one city".
That's acceptable, because apart from the general in the Flower Palace and the swordsmen who are still fighting, all the living things in this city have become "Eris".
The Onmyoji's cruel smile was No Remnants: "Not enough killing, we need to continue."
The sword energy, like a torrential downpour, continued to Hebe for nearly several tens of seconds.
The sword energy continued to fly across the city, randomly killing the infected, giving the sword masters, whose condition was on the verge of collapse, a much-needed respite.
It wasn't until a minute later that Hebe slowly stopped wielding her sword energy.
The Onmyoji remained unmoved. "Good idea, kind heart— Tamamo-no-Mae, you want to use this method to relieve the pressure on those swordsmen? However, in my opinion, this is just a futile effort, because as long as I am here, I can have as many disciples as I want."
You have come into contact with Eris's incarnation in the current timeline.
[When you make physical contact with it, Power Struggle will immediately begin—a Power Struggle that transcends the History Line, cannot be canceled, and cannot be stopped. It must continue until the traces of either side in the current history are completely erased!]
Hebe raised an eyebrow.
Ashiya Dōman didn't lie? No, upon closer inspection, he really didn't lie.
Whether it was what he said to Miss A-Long or what he said to the general, everything he said was actually the truth, only with some things concealed.
Suddenly, for no apparent reason, Hebe felt a surge of disgust. People tend to dislike things that are too similar to themselves.
The sword energy continued to rage, Hebe raised her hand.
The Onmyoji laughed, "You've finally figured it out, Tamamo-no-Mae!"
Hebe laughed too, "I'm finally sure now, you are still Ashiya Dōman, not Eris."
The Onmyoji flew into a rage: "What did you say—"
Hebe suddenly reached out and punched Ashiya Dōman in the chest.
The Onmyoji was hit so hard that his body bent over and he almost flew off the ground!
Hebe wouldn't be foolish enough to shake his hand; who knows what hidden killing move was lurking in that hand?
Invisible ripples emanated from them.
The Power Struggle has begun.
In the mountains of Takachiho, Hebe once again appeared in the form of a fox spirit.
From the information provided by the simulator, she knew that she was already entangled with Ashiya Dōman, and the next step would be for the two of them to exchange identities and destinies.
She looked up at the shadow coiled above her, a large snake that had been starving all winter.
Hebe smiled and bowed her head respectfully.
The giant serpent swooped down and swallowed the young fox demon whole with chilling force.
A-Long shook her head and suddenly felt an itch on her neck. A moment later, a hideous head broke free from the itch. The itch was even worse at the junction of the two heads. She rubbed herself painfully against the wall, scraping off the fragile scales and exposing the soft flesh to the air.
A moment later, the snake's tail also began to fork.
Then the mountain god temple collapsed, and the giant serpent with eight heads and eight tails let out a painful howl as if it had lost everything, and fled into the deeper mountains.
Ashiya Dōman stood in the bustling crowds of Heian-kyō.
From the information Eris gave him, he knew that he and Tamamo-no-Mae were already entangled, and that the next step for them would be to exchange identities and destinies.
Like two players sitting on a chessboard, each taking black and white pieces and making their first move, they switch positions and play again.
Ashiya Dōman a moment, then walked calmly toward the head of the Yin-Yang Bureau and gave a graceful bow.
"The abuse of power by high-ranking officials has brought disaster to the country and its people; they are truly treacherous ministers and traitors, and everyone should punish them."
"The Wu family is cowardly and does not think of serving the country. They collude with the nobles and deserve to be killed."
Ashiya Dōman spoke eloquently, while the surrounding Onmyoji were as if they had seen a ghost. The samurai rushed up angrily, grabbed Ashiya Dōman by the shoulders, and dragged him away.
A moment later, a flash of light appeared, Ashiya Dōman fell to the ground.
Hebe frowned as he reattached his head to his neck.
Theoretically, this body is already dead, but Hebe can still control it, and in some ways, she is even more free.
During this era, Ashiya Dōman did not achieve anything significant. Apart from his mutual dislike with Abe no Seimei, there was nothing else worth mentioning.
This is a double-edged sword—the lack of historical traces means that Hebe's activities in this era are limited; but conversely, it is also easy for her to do whatever she wants.
"The problem is, when we switch bodies, Ashiya Dōman will definitely be the first to check 'what exactly did I do,'" Hebe thought. "And my body in the simulation is fake... Hah."
By now, the fox demon's body has probably turned into a pool of stomach acid.
Of course, Hebe's hands did not stop. She secretly visited Abe no Seimei and asked him to make her a body that could house her spirit. At the same time, she became his apprentice under the identity of Ashiya Dōman.
Ashiya Dōman was plunged into a state of profound shock and confusion.
"Where have I found myself? It's so dark, so reeking—why can't I feel my own body? No, no, no, my consciousness is gradually being..."
In the instant his consciousness began to fade, Ashiya Dōman realized that he seemed to be inside the belly of some giant beast.
This Onmyoji was tricked and killed by Hebe for the first time in the Power Struggle.
It died by being digested by the Yamata no Orochi.
In the next instant, he was quickly retrieved from history and continued his journey down the timeline to fight against Hebe.
This History Line was sealed away, and both sides returned to the same starting line.
No, that's not all.
Ashiya Dōman realized that if he continued to maintain this rule of mutual destruction, he would never be able to outmaneuver Hebe.
This was because the first half of his life had not yet encountered Eris, and could be described as peaceful and uneventful.
Hebe's early life Traveling with the Dragon, clashing with the Ghost King, and even becoming a general's teacher—she had plenty of ways to court death.
When it comes to courting death, I can never compare to Hebe.
Ashiya Dōman gritted his teeth.
He also realized that Hebe's mark on history was far too profound, and that changing it would be a very difficult thing to do.
Conversely, it would be very easy for Hebe to change Ashiya Dōman's past.
For example, he had become Abe no Seimei's disciple—how disgusting! Even though he was now one with Eris, Ashiya Dōman still felt utterly disgusted.
How did I end up becoming Seimei's disciple?
The two traveled downstream along the History Line of the Heian period.
In this process, history continues to branch out in new directions.
There are timelines where Miss A-Long becomes the Yamata no Orochi, timelines where the Demon King rules the entire Higashi, and timelines where the General is completely swallowed up by the Imperial Monarch and becomes the eternal ruler of the Higashi.
These timelines have all been sealed away.
Naturally, Ashiya Dōman died no less than ten times during this process, each time being quickly rescued by Eris to continue his historical battle with Hebe.
Soon the timeline arrives at the end of the Heian period.
"Haha, I've gotten used to it, I'm starting to get used to it—" Ashiya Dōman grinned smugly at Hebe as they brushed past each other in history, "With the two rulers of the Heian period casting their gazes, I couldn't do much more."
"But you have been nailed to Mount Takachiho, and the Heian period has come to an end."
"Yes, you will be all alone from now on—your generation has passed, and my era has begun!"
Ashiya Dōman laughed cruelly, "Now, if you can stop this humble monk, then come and try!"
130 How could you possibly beat me?! How could you possibly beat me?!
Ashiya Dōman revealed a cruel smile.
But the extent of his inner composure beneath this facade remains unknown to others.
This was because he was already panicking— Hebe's arrangements in the Heian period were too complete, like a giant hand slamming down on this later era.
Look at her plans: a Twilight Realm general with a murderous intent; a Twilight Realm equivalent general, perhaps the last dragon in the world; in addition, there is the youngest son of the Oni clan, a demon fox who is skilled in illusion and transformation... Each and every one of these can have an effect beyond the current era.
"Egyptian lands, 'I' never revealed my existence." Ashiya Dōman realized, "So, perhaps Tamamo-no-Mae wasn't just targeting me, but rather habitually planning for the future... Damn it, damn it all. Even if it was unintentional, it has caused me so much trouble!"
"Fortunately, she willingly allowed herself to be nailed to Mount Takachiho in order to help the general achieve his goals! In the years to come, she will be unable to interfere with my actions!"
Ashiya Dōman muttered to himself, half affirming and half comforting. He glared fiercely at Hebe, then turned and headed toward the next era without looking back.
Twenty years after Tamamo-no-Mae's death.
Amidst the misty rain, Ashiya Dōman through the stream, his robes soaked with mud, but he showed no sign of aversion.
"Haha, this is the Forest of Yokai... If I were to destroy this place several hundred years earlier, what could you, Tamamo, possibly do about it?"
Ashiya Dōman as if no one was around, then his expression turned solemn. "No, no... 'I' am sending a message to this humble monk—if I do it too obviously, it might cause history to be edited out, just like the timelines in which those humble monks died before?"
If those timelines where Hebe was dominant weren't cut off or sealed away, Ashiya Dōman would truly be dead.
Now Ashiya Dōman holds the advantage and initiative; if he were to be cut off and sealed off, he would suffer a huge loss.
"Hmm... it seems we can't be too blatant." Ashiya Dōman rubbed his chin with his sharp fingernails. "Hehe, I've got it. If I secretly destroy the barrier of the Forest of Yokai, but don't let it erupt for the time being, and instead destroy it after a few hundred or even a thousand years, would that be acceptable?"
"'I' am sending messages again... Oh, it works."
A cruel light flashed in the Onmyoji's eyes; he felt excited.
"In other words, this humble monk could have sown the seeds of destruction in advance, as long as he had done a good job of disguising it—but why do he have to do that? Is someone carrying out the task of cutting and sealing it? Isn't the principle of secret history not under the control of the ruling party?"
Ashiya Dōman kept working, planting mines in the barrier of the Forest of Yokai while asking questions through his connection with Eris.
In the past, no matter what Ashiya Dōman asked, "Eris" would always answer quickly and readily.
This time, however, no information came through; instead, a wave of panic and fear surged from Ashiya Dōman's heart.
No, that wasn't his own emotion, but rather Eris's state of mind.
[Eris] fears the answer.