Becoming a Devilish Cultivator's Miko

"That's true, after all, Hana, you do get hungry easily."

Yotsuya Miko nodded in agreement, thinking about the various incantations and Talismans in her hands, but there really was no good way to help Hana. After all, the stronger life energy compared to ordinary people did require more food to supplement, even if most of that powerful life energy would be wasted.

In the Xuanhui Realm, there were plenty of people with abnormal physiques like Hana. Due to their own constitutions, they were more suited to cultivating along a certain path than ordinary cultivators. Someone like Hana would probably have great potential in body cultivation. However, Miko only had the Nine Nether Profound Soul Treasure Record, and this cultivation technique was only suitable for herself. Even from another perspective, Hana becoming a body cultivator might be even more difficult than it is now, because the energy intake required for body cultivation is also quite terrifying. In this world, maintaining the massive food intake for body cultivation could cost enough money in a few days to buy a house.

Miko's current idea was to find a way to collect this life energy and use it as an energy source for the Talisman formations, thereby reducing waste and strengthening Hana's protective measures. As for Hana's appetite... she had no idea at all.

After all, Devilish Cultivators are not nannies; their proficiency in areas like medical treatment is very low, specializing only in combat and self-preservation. Moreover, even incantations or Talismans related to such matters have very significant effects and limitations. For example, among the incantations Miko was currently learning, there was one that could turn Ghosts into food to maintain bodily functions, but the side effect was irreversible damage to the body, such as the loss of senses. After all, this was eating Ghosts, akin to quenching thirst with seawater.

After this incantation, Zhang Qiudao humorously recounted a small story about the founder of this incantation. It was said that the Devilish Cultivator who ate Ghosts was distressed by the lack of portable food, so he came up with the idea of using local resources, gradually living by eating Ghosts. Over time, his body became weak and disfigured, yet he left behind a reputation for being a Casanova. Countless women in the Devilish Dao wanted to get close to him, precisely because his senses were lost but his physiology remained intact.

Yotsuya Miko didn't understand what was so funny and just looked on blankly, then remembered the side effect of losing perception.

In the Soul Nourishing Artifact Path Understanding, there were no shortage of incantations with side effects. They were merely the astonishing ideas of the geniuses among Devilish Cultivators. Although the side effects were immense, their efficacy was also numerous. Due to her fear of the side effects of these incantations, she chose relatively ordinary ones, mostly those summarized by Zhang Qiudao based on his own experience. As her understanding of the situation and cultivation techniques of Devilish Cultivators in the Xuanhui Realm grew, her reverence for such a master increased.

It was no wonder Zhang Qiudao was called the "Myriad Transformation Devil Venerable." He spent his entire life refining Devilish Dao cultivation techniques, integrating the techniques of both righteous and demonic paths, combining them with his own experience and practice to create the most elite cultivation techniques in the Xuanhui Realm, and not just one, but several. However, some of these cultivation techniques were ultimately given to outsiders, even to ordinary people who did not know their value.

Yet, such a heaven-defying genius ultimately perished. His demise was exchanged for an external cultivator, and one didn't know what to say about it.

Yotsuya Miko didn't have grand ambitions. She certainly didn't have the devout pursuit of the Dao like this "Myriad Transformation Devil Venerable." Rather than seeking the Dao, she was troubled by her own ability to see. Because of the power of Ghosts, she was forced to become stronger... a ghost seer—someone like that.

Moreover, she firmly believed that she would not change because of this.

At least not now.

The next class was unremarkable, just like any ordinary student's, boring and tedious. However, she began to look forward to the sound of the dismissal bell, as its ringing announced the arrival of noon, which meant it was time to eat.

Little groups walked out of the classroom, chatting and laughing, such as Miko and Hana. For lunch, Hana was even more expectant than usual because she really did get hungry easily, and hunger was unbearable and extremely painful for her.

As for Natsukawa Yuki now, noon had become an ordeal and a test. She waited silently in the conference room for several people to arrive, feeling uneasy.

After the morning, several sharp-voiced phone calls had been made to her phone, asking strange, incomprehensible, and even inhumane questions, all of which she hung up. After that, came the principal's notification.

"Click."

Yuki looked towards the opening and closing door as several formally dressed individuals slowly walked towards her, with kind smiles and soft words.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Natsukawa Yuki."

They said, their eyes revealing scrutiny, curiosity, and arrogance, but their words and actions were the complete opposite.

They were here to talk.

Natsukawa Yuki tightly gripped the hem of her clothes, nervously stood up to return the greeting, but her mind recalled her oath.

She had fulfilled her request, so... what was the price?

Humans always wanted to gain without bearing the cost; she was like that, and so were the people she saw before her, representing various interests.

However, she was more reverent and fearful than they were.

That price was already starting to make her feel suffocated.

No god grants blessings lightly, unless you are desired by Him. Natsukawa Yuki thought so, and history unfolded in the same way.

In other words, she was already starting to regret it.

Chapter 57: Tono Zen and the Cats

On the way home, she encountered a Ghost that was attempting to disguise itself as a human child. The latter seemed to possess high intelligence and quickly realized from Yotsuya Miko's gaze that the human before her could see it, so it revealed a ferocious smile.

A black flash streaked across, and half of its face was brutally torn open, revealing nothing but the inside of its skull. The sinister grin on its face froze completely, and it slowly fell, turning into a pile of debris.

"So there are Ghosts with such high intelligence too?"

Yotsuya Miko used Spiritual Qi to reclaim the little Ghost's soul and continued through the park.

The events of today could be considered to have come to a temporary end, a very ordinary day. Except that Yurikawa Hana, because she hadn't eaten enough in the morning, caused a lot of trouble.

However, she was currently on her way home. Before going home, she had one more thing to do, and that was to follow Mr. Tono Zen.

Through an incantation, she had finally pinpointed Tono Zen's location. She was slowly following behind him, wanting to find out what exactly he was doing.

Was he slaughtering cats, or some other unspeakable business?

It would be best if she could photograph all of it.

Yotsuya Miko thought so, gripping her phone, which had the camera function already turned on, and coldly looked at Tono Zen in the distance. Although due to legal regulations, the camera would make a very obvious sound, Miko wasn't worried about what would happen if she was discovered.

At the very least, he would have to defeat her first.

And such a thing... was unnecessary to consider.

Silently eliminating a Ghost blocking her path by the roadside, her Spiritual Sense had already detected a faint aura in the tunnel under the bridge ahead. Clearly, it was a young cat.

Had she not misjudged after all?

Miko slowly walked to the entrance of the tunnel, watching Tono Zen attempt to strike. She unhesitatingly pressed the shutter button on her phone.

"Click."

The crisp sound was jarringly out of place in the vastness of the dusk. Tono Zen's hand froze, and he slowly turned to look behind him.

"What are you doing?"

"I should be the one asking you."

Miko put away her phone. Although she used polite language, there was no trace of reverence in it.

"Coming to a place like this doesn't quite suit your status, Mr. Tono."

"……"

Tono Zen slowly stood up, and the kitten that had been at his feet caught a whiff of something unpleasant, quickly running away to Miko's feet.

Seeing Miko's displeased expression, Tono Zen paused, then quickly understood the reason.

"I'm here to adopt a stray cat."

He said slowly, as if stating the most ordinary thing, with no change in his expression.

"So, please give me the cat."

Yotsuya Miko didn't believe his words. She simply picked up the kitten, refusing to back down.

"If you're here to adopt the cat, then please show me how you intend to adopt it."

"……"

Faced with the assertive girl, even someone as indifferent to those around him as he was felt a headache coming on. He sighed and nodded.

"I understand. You are…?"

"Yotsuya Miko."

"Miss Yotsuya, please come with me."

This attitude surprised Miko somewhat, but to confirm everything in the end, she followed behind Tono Zen, taking a series of precautions and preparing some things for the kitten in her arms.

As they walked from the deserted area back to the street, her guard relaxed slightly. As Tono Zen spoke, she replied without much reservation.

"Miss Yotsuya… I believe we met once in the park. You didn't give me the cat then, did you?"

"That's right. I handed the kitten over to a caregiver I trusted more."

"A caregiver you trusted more…?"

Tono Zen paused, skipping over the topic.

"Why were you following me?"

"The same reason as above."

Miko had no intention of hiding her feelings about the person in front of her. From Mr. Tono Zen's demeanor, she had a general idea of what kind of person he was.

"I don't trust you. Because, Mr. Tono, your emotions are not right. I even feel like you're not here to teach us, but just doing it because it's a troublesome obligation. That kind of emotion… makes me unable to trust you."

She said softly, cradling the kitten in her arms, that tiny life.

"I think you have no reverence for life."

Tono Zen remained silent. This was something he couldn't refute. His experiences, his everything, had made it impossible for him to view things with sincerity anymore.

"We're here."

Before the silence could deepen, he arrived at a veterinary clinic, a small one at that.

And just as he was about to enter, a person in a white coat came out.

"Oh, it's rare for you to bring someone along, Zen."

This was a young man with glasses, smiling as he approached. When he saw Miko following Tono Zen, a flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly recovered.

He patted Zen's shoulder, then turned his gaze to Miko.

"You brought me another troublemaker, Zen? This kitten, right?"

He looked at Miko and skillfully asked to take the kitten.

"Give it to me. I'll disinfect it, give it a check-up, and finally find it a good home. Please trust my abilities, okay, miss?"

Yotsuya Miko hesitated for a moment, then sighed and handed the kitten to the veterinarian.

"I don't fully trust you, but you seem more reliable than the teacher."

"Teacher? Haha, are you one of Zen's students?"

The veterinarian laughed heartily, teasing his friend.

"You should at least make your students trust you a little more, Zen."

"That doesn't matter, Cong."

Tono Zen's emotions remained flat.

"More importantly, you should deal with this cat."

"Okay, okay, honestly, you always have me doing these things."

Cong took the cat and walked into his clinic. He looked back at the two of them.

"Since you brought someone, why not come in for a bit? After all, Miss probably wouldn't feel at ease staying outside, right?"

He said this, and Miko finally felt at ease. Since things had reached this point, it would be rude to remain on guard.

"In that case, I'll be intruding."

"What about you, Zen?"

Tono Zen didn't say anything. He simply turned around and walked away, as if he didn't care about the kitten at all.

"That guy... whatever, I can't be bothered to say anything."

Cong placed the kitten on a cushion and looked back at Yotsuya Miko.

"It's no wonder you're worried when you have a teacher like that."

Yotsuya Miko didn't reply, only looking in the direction Tono Zen had left.

"Does Teacher Tono Zen hate cats?"

"No, that guy just... wants to atone."

Chapter 58: Didn't Abandon the "Silver Ball"

"Atonement..."

"Yes, atonement."

Cong looked at Yotsuya Miko. As a friend, he felt it was necessary to clear up her misunderstanding of Zen.

"He and I have been friends since elementary school."

"It's hard to imagine... the teacher has a friend like you."

"Well, that's true. After all, that guy really isn't interested in people. He probably doesn't even remember the names of his classmates."

"Yes, that's right."

"Zen has always been working hard for cats. For example, a while ago he contacted me saying the cats he rescued had given birth, but in the end, I had to take care of all of them myself."

As Cong spoke, he seemed to recall the scene at the time, and a wry smile involuntarily appeared on his face.