Dealing with Things / The True Blood-Soul Nightmare Enters...

"... Okay, I understand."

Seeing this Oune Tatsu had no choice but to have the driver change lanes and return to the Divine Gate branch, so he could accompany the middle-aged man to join in the fun. He didn't know why this man wanted to see what was going on, but he didn't dare to ask, so he just assumed it was a passing interest.

The middle-aged man was the same; before getting off the bus, he was somewhat inexplicably struck by the sudden urge to join the fun. However, since he had already spoken, he couldn't take it back. He had come to continue discussing matters with Okita Qishen and to personally meet and visit Miss Yotsuya Miko. Although they hadn't met yet, the Life Spiritual Qi Extraction Method had made him deeply aware of the powerful strength of this being.

He chuckled to himself, probably because he was suddenly a little nervous.

When he arrived in this city, he felt a sense of unreality. It was as if he had returned to the day he first secured the interests of the Wagen Family. Having been navigating politics for many years, he couldn't understand how much benefit a good relationship with Yotsuya Miko could bring to the Wagen Family. It was precisely because these benefits were so substantial that he felt somewhat unreal.

This sense of unreality hadn't manifested before, but as the meeting approached, it slowly crept into his mind, tinged with caution and wariness. He now saw everything with a sense of unease, afraid of overlooking even the smallest detail. The thoughts that were running through his mind now were probably a reflection of this.

Following the crowd, the middle-aged man quickly caught a glimpse of the scene:

It was a blood-soaked corpse, a young working woman, her body deformed from being hit by a truck. She was still breathing, her chest bulging and contracting, clearly visible. Her long hair covered her face, and she was groaning in pain.

That's terrible...

With a sigh, I glanced briefly at the flustered truck driver and the crowd that had gathered around, taking photos and making phone calls. My initial urge to join in the fun vanished, and I decided to leave the crowd.

At this moment, Oune Tatsu arrived at the front row. He glanced at the middle-aged man beside him before turning his gaze to the corpse that was not far from death, and his gaze paused slightly.

He had a good memory; he could remember even people he hadn't seen in a long time. Although the long hair obscured the man's face, he quickly recognized some of them.

"This is... Natsukawa Yuki?"

Chapter 224 Handling Matters

The Heavenly Demon had considered many countermeasures; this was a common tactic used by the World Consciousness.

The moment these outsiders were discovered, their luck in this world became utterly negative.

They are struck by lightning on sunny days, choke on their drinks, are discovered by enemies when severely injured, and their schemes are always exposed. As a result, most demons have a negative attitude towards the World Consciousness, harboring the worst possible thoughts.

Even so, it never expected that this guy's targeting would come so quickly and in such a bizarre way.

It possessed its host's body and walked along the road perfectly fine. It planned to find a powerful figure in the host's government this morning to reside with, making its subsequent actions easier. It was determined to find the Heavenly Mandate Holder of this world; otherwise, with it in the open and the Heavenly Mandate Holder in the shadows, the World Consciousness had ways to plunge it into a terrible situation.

However, before it could change hosts and temporarily evade the search of the World Consciousness by using the covert means of host-hosting, this guy arranged its first calamity!

A colossal object, far exceeding its current size, a technological creation of this world called a truck, crashed straight into its frail body. It had no time to react and could only witness this disaster unfold.

This world... is too perfect for the World Consciousness to manipulate.

As his body flew horizontally through the air, the Heavenly Demon suddenly thought.

It had never been to a technologically advanced world like this. In other worlds, the World Consciousness could only manipulate the powers of nature or interfere with the fates of living beings to thwart the demons. But this world was different; any mechanical creation could become something controlled by the World Consciousness. In this world, the technological creations built by "humans," the steel jungle they had built, gave the World Consciousness far too many avenues to operate.

But... in that case, why not choose the items already in the host's house?

The body fell to the ground, and the Life Energy within it began to dissipate. Strangely, it had suddenly increased while eating, but gradually dissipated upon death. With the loss of Life Energy, the body began to gradually transform into another form, another side of this world.

The Heavenly Demon huddled within Natsukawa Yuki's heart, indifferent to the changes. It knew it was doomed, and even a change of host would likely be futile. Once detected by the World Consciousness, its death would still be inevitable. The "people" of this world were too fragile, and death came too quickly.

The spiritual energy it had accumulated was simply insufficient to support multiple changes of status, unless the chosen host was also an extraordinary individual with spiritual energy within them. However, it hadn't seen a second extraordinary individual in the past few days.

Let's continue to wait for the opportunity to awaken.

It sighed, intending to fall into a deep sleep along with its host. Before truly falling asleep, it would observe how this world truly defines the boundary between life and death.

However, at that moment, it keenly sensed a powerful aura of spiritual energy emanating from outside these people.

The two looked at the fallen Natsukawa Yuki, and it was also stunned. Then, without thinking, the accumulated spiritual energy dissipated, and the barely visible black mist transformed into a needle from Natsukawa Yuki's heart and pierced rapidly into the body of the middle-aged man with even greater spiritual energy, without encountering any resistance.

As for its fallen previous host, it could only apologize. However, after its aura dissipated, thanks to the medical technology of this world, there was probably still a sliver of hope for survival.

However, the arrival of these two extraordinary individuals was quite opportune. It was as if they had grasped its inability to refuse.

But now, having exhausted all its spiritual energy, it can only temporarily fall into a deep sleep. Originally, it needed physical contact to change hosts, but now, residing in a host from a distance consumes even more spiritual energy, essentially draining it completely. If it were to reside in a body devoid of spiritual energy, it would be no different from dying alongside Natsukawa Yuki. Although it could revive by absorbing large amounts of Life Energy from these mortals over a long period, it would be strange if the World Consciousness didn't notice.

The demon's actions did not attract the attention of Oune Tatsu and the middle-aged man. They simply stared at the woman lying on the ground, feeling a strange mix of emotions, yet they had no idea what had happened.

"Natsukawa Yuki ... was the earliest holder of the Silver Jewels that Divine Gate tracked down. The creator of these Silver Jewels was Miss Yotsuya Miko, who possessed extremely strong purification abilities and was very effective against spirits. However, Miss Yotsuya hasn't given away any Silver Jewels for a long time now. After killing the Dragon-class spirit on Kamikakushi Mountain, these Silver Jewels no longer exist."

Leaving the crowd, Oune Tatsu began to explain in detail about Natsukawa Yuki.

As the introduction was being made, the ambulance arrived and was preparing to take the unfortunate woman to the hospital.

"I really didn't expect to see Natsukawa Yuki like this. She's a local government employee now. Because of the uproar caused by the Silver Jewel incident at the hospital, she was forced to resign from the school where Yotsuya-san was, and the government offered her a job. However, I heard that her work in the government isn't going very well, probably because she hasn't recovered from what happened to her."

"I see... In that case, let's have the hospital pay more attention to this lady's treatment."

Although judging from the scene, the chances of Ms. Natsukawa Yuki surviving are probably very small, whether she can be saved is one thing, and making a statement is another.

"I see."

Oune Tatsu nodded, made a phone call, said a few words, and then hung up. This kind of thing didn't require much effort, and there was no expectation that it would have any effect in the near future. But doing it was better than doing nothing. At least after Yotsuya Miko learned of their attitude, she would have some goodwill towards the Wagen Family.

"I've given the orders for the investigation of the truck driver and the inspection of the truck. I'll report back immediately if anything comes up."

"Yes, thank you for your trouble."

The middle-aged man walked ahead on the street, expressing his appreciation for Oune Tatsu's actions.

"You and Okita- kun have done a great job here, and I will report back to the head of the family. Especially Okita- kun, after you're done, Ritsu-kun, take him to the hospital for a check-up. I've seen Okita- kun quite stressed out these days because of these things. He already had some stomach problems, and it wouldn't be good if he developed some kind of illness. After all, he still needs to take over the position of head of the Divine Gate branch."

Despite securing a direct admission, Oune Tatsu remained calm; that's just how things are sometimes.

"I understand, I will do as instructed."

Chapter 225 The True Blood Soul Nightmare Entry

"Mr. Xu Jun, welcome."

This is probably the first time that all three top leaders of the Divine Gate branch have been present: Okita Qishen, the head of the Investigation Department; the newly appointed head of the Special Affairs Department; and Yamada Mukawa, the branch's chief.

Chief Yamada, along with two department heads, greeted the middle-aged man, One Kyojun, who was accompanied by Oune Tatsu. Oe Tatsumi was a very important figure in the Divine Gate branch of this city.

No matter how hard Yamada Mukawa thought about it, he couldn't come up with a reason for this important figure's arrival. Could it be that so-called god?

Since Okita Qishen took over the meeting with Yotsuya Miko, the subsequent intelligence was basically controlled by Okita Qishen and the Wagen Family. No matter how much he tried to elevate Yotsuya Miko, there was no intelligence to support his seriousness. Therefore, he was somewhat lax in this matter.

However, if we're going to slack off, we should completely stop today.

One Kyojun glanced at him silently. The Wagen Family had some minor conflicts with many forces, and normally he would just let his subordinates handle such minor conflicts.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Commander-in-Chief Yamada."

He smiled faintly and shook hands with the head of the Divine Gate branch.

"Before coming here, I had a brief conversation with a friend about Chief of Staff Yamada. He said that Chief of Staff Yamada is a respectable person, steadfast and consistent in his duties, and his loyalty to the country is truly admirable."

You're exaggerating.

Yamada Mukawa gave a forced smile, but his heart sank as he heard these words.

I was talking to a friend, who was it?

"I was just quietly doing what I was supposed to do, and I owe a lot to Department Head Okita and the others. These young people are very reliable, and I'm sure they'll go much further than I have."

He knew his words were powerless, but he had to say them to avoid being labeled with another accusation. Yet, having said all that, a sense of desolation suddenly welled up within him.

"Haha, no need to be modest. With Chief Yamada's seniority, it would be a huge loss for Divine Gate to limit himself to this city. So before coming here, I already visited my friend in a personal capacity. Consider it a personal investment to get you a good job."

As he spoke, One Kyojun patted him on the shoulder. He probably had a special fondness for this chief of staff, because even the sound of the pat was unusually loud.

Congratulations, Chief of Staff.

Behind him, Okita Qishen, seemingly more pleased to hear of his superior's promotion than if he himself had struck it rich.

"This is great news!"

"Yes... it's a good thing."

The head of the Special Affairs Department, standing to the side, was well aware that these were words he couldn't bear to hear, and even if he did, he would have to keep them to himself.

The terms "private identity" and "personal investment" sound like they were bought with money, but what's the reality?

This is a threat that's now out in the open.

Even though he had prepared himself mentally, Yamada Mukawa still felt a sense of sadness when he heard these words.

It was a promotion in name only, or a complete downfall.

All the connections he had built up in this city over the years were wiped out by just one sentence. Not only were they all gone, but the power behind him could no longer support him.

To outsiders, these words sounded like an attempt to win him over, but to the forces behind him, they took on a completely different meaning.

He had heard of One Kyojun's reputation as a powerful figure known as "Oone the Serpent." He was a representative of the hardline faction within the Wagen Family, not only hardline but also extremely ruthless in his methods, basically eliminating all traces of the enemy and taking every last penny.

If Yamada Mukawa had been promoted by One Kyojun for legitimate reasons, that would have been one thing; his backers could have easily used underhanded tactics to demote him and allow him to continue as the head of the department. But this so-called "private sponsorship" had completely ruined his career. Under the guise of this "private sponsorship," One Kyojun had plenty of ways to torment him. The so-called "private sponsorship" was simply a way of saying that this guy was his target and that he wouldn't tolerate anyone else making a move against him.

Yamada Mukawa had heard before that One Kyojun had ruined several people's careers using such methods, but he had never really believed it because such a big shot was too far removed from his own life. And now... he never imagined that he would become one of them.

Swallowing hard, Yamada Mukawa stared at the One Kyojun in front of him. In that instant, he felt that what was in front of him was not a person, but a ferocious python. It flicked its tongue at him, its brownish-yellow vertical pupils scrutinizing him, as if it wanted to swallow him whole.

No, I've already taken a bite.

"Well... thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Xu Jun."

Having said these words, all his energy and spirit were drained away, becoming food for the python. Yamada Mukawa's face turned deathly pale, as if it had just been painted white. At that moment, he suddenly thought of Shimakawa Kameyo. He must have felt the same way when he was demoted—a mix of resentment, confusion, helplessness, and despair, powerless to change anything.

What merit or ability did Yamada Mukawa Mokukawa possess to invite such a powerful figure to execute him? Was it merely because of Yotsuya Miko, whose information was unclear, and that so-called deity?

Ha, what god? She's just a little girl fooling people.

The psychological gap left only with inexplicable resentment towards Yotsuya Miko, and a feeling that everything was inexplicable.

That guy just got lucky and obtained the power of a god. Just because of that power, he can tolerate her doing whatever she wants? Even having the entire Divine Gate branch and the Wagen Family work for her and talk to her? That's really laughable.

He would never dare to entertain such thoughts under normal circumstances, for fear that if they were revealed, they would ruin his plans. But now... who cares about such things? Anyway, he's already gone, and has nothing left to lose.

You guys are... complete idiots!

Looking at these people, Yamada Mukawa lowered his head and walked silently behind One Kyojun. Long before him, the two department heads had already stood beside One Kyojun, following this important figure who needed to be curried over.

And him? He's the same as Shimakawa Kameyo.

This resentment intensified, even to the point of becoming intolerable.

His resentment towards Yotsuya Miko had almost reached its peak, giving rise to many delusions, nothing more than profanities and bastards.

However, Yamada Mukawa had never heard of Kaishoku Shugaku's fate.

After those outrageous words were vented, some of the effects of the magic technique became apparent. (I) Qi Liao Yi Wa (IX) (II)

He suddenly felt short of breath, and as he walked, the scenery before him completely changed, becoming a bloody mess. There were no people or objects in sight, only bones and blood everywhere, the sky stained red, and a dark red sun with only a blurry outline.

Yamada Mukawa glanced at the great sun, and the great sun's face immediately contorted in horror. If Yotsuya Miko had finished reading the knowledge of the spells, she should have a deeper understanding of the naming of these spells.

This face is Blood Soul, her malevolent thoughts.

"Thump."

A person died suddenly.

Chapter 226 Going to Kamikakushi Mountain

The moment Yamada Mukawa died, Yotsuya Miko learned of his passing.

She paused slightly while in class, then put the matter aside and continued to review the information about the Heavenly Demon in her mind.

She wasn't the clueless newbie she used to be; she understood a little about Yamada Mukawa's sudden death. He probably harbored some disrespectful thoughts towards her, just like Kaishoku Shugaku.

This is a minor drawback of the Blood Soul Nightmare Entry technique.

However, since Yamada Mukawa is dead, something must have happened to make this guy suddenly curse at him. Otherwise, he should have been dead long ago.

If something has indeed happened, I'll ask Yuria later.

Yotsuya Miko thought this way: she no longer felt the same emotional turmoil as Shimakawa Kameyo regarding Yamada Mukawa's death. Her current situation didn't allow her to grieve over the death of another or engage in moral or ethical debates; after all, there was a difference between someone else dying and her own impending demise.

The sudden anomaly was more serious than problems like the Divine Gate and the shrine, and more worthy of her time and energy to resolve. In this regard, she set aside the Divine Gate issue, intending to let Okita Qishen and Yuria handle it all, paying the required compensation to the Wagen Family, signing the agreement, and resolving the matter as quickly as possible, no matter what.

In contrast to her calm reaction, the people in front of the Divine Gate branch seemed quite surprised and suspicious.

Looking at One Kyojun Yamada Mukawa, whose momentum had just been dampened by his threats and who was basically unable to recover, Oe Genji couldn't understand what was wrong with the guy. It couldn't be that he had fainted from anger because of his words.

However, it wasn't until the ambulance arrived that everyone present learned a somber piece of news.

Yamada Mukawa died, a natural death without any warning.

Just as One Kyojun announced this guy's death in society, his physical death followed immediately. Moreover... his spirit was gone too; the spirit that should have emerged after death did not appear.

Seeing this bizarre scene, he suddenly turned his gaze to Okita Qishen beside him. The latter noticed the gaze of the man beside him and couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"It was probably that person who made the move?"

This timing was perfect, coinciding with the arrival of One Kyojun, who had just pronounced Yamada Mukawa's fate. The head of the Divine Gate branch had died in such a bizarre way. Okita Qishen could only think of one person, and the most likely one at that— Yotsuya Miko.