The Outer Shrine.
The sun was setting, and dusk was near.
When Lu Ping emerged from the stone steps of the Inner Shrine, the last rays of sunlight still clung to the treetops.
Suzune crouched beside the Approach Path, arranging folded paper cranes into a crooked line and muttering a number for each one.
Ren Hoshimi knelt beside her, hands braced on her knees, righting the cranes one by one whenever they toppled.
Shoko leaned against a stone pillar of the Water Ablution Pavilion, an unlit cigarette between her fingers. When Lu Ping's shadow appeared from behind the torii gate, she lifted her chin. "How was it in there?"
Lu Ping was about to bring them up to speed on the Killing Stone. He began to explain.
"The Killing Stone does contain what I was looking for." He patted the back of his hand, where the Ten Shadows seal still felt faintly warm. "But I can't touch it yet. Breaking the Killing Stone would dismantle the barrier. The entire Inner Shrine's concealment would fall with it, exposing the place to the Living World. That would probably attract trouble we don't need."
Shoko put the cigarette between her lips, glanced at the two little girls absorbed in their game, then tucked it back into her pocket.
"So apart from picking up an apprentice, this trip was a waste?"
"Not entirely. At least I confirmed where it is."
As Lu Ping spoke, the Snake Scales beneath his skin suddenly trembled. He sensed a wave of pure Cursed Energy he knew all too well.
Someone's here.
Mei Mei came down the covered corridor, the black crow on her arm looking this way and that.
She had caught his last few words. Her gaze fell on the faintly glowing wolf-head seal on the back