Ibaraki felt that the man before him was far too arrogant, though his astonishing presence certainly gave him the right to be.
Yukigyo pulled Ibaraki back a little and said to Jin Jianglang, "Sir, we have no intention of fighting. Please rein in your killing intent as well."
Jin Jianglang nodded slightly, but did not lower his guard.
Yukigyo could only give him a slight bow and slowly leave with Ibaraki Doji.
Only after they had gone some distance did Ibaraki finally ask, "What was that all about? Yukigyo, why didn't we duel that Onmyoji?"
"He must be from the Shiranui Household," Yukigyo murmured. "I've heard most of the Shiranui Household's magical artifacts are scissors."
"Oh?" Ibaraki nodded. "Even so, I can't forgive him. He actually slandered Demon King Shuten Doji by calling him a shikigami..."
"No, I have a nagging feeling... that his description of Shuten was true as well."
"Why?"
Yukigyo thought it over carefully and said, "We've all heard how powerful Shuten is, but have you ever considered... that all those rumors come from monsters, not humans? Why are all the monsters so wary of him, while humans have barely heard his name?"
"Are you saying..." Ibaraki seemed to realize something. "That this so-called Demon King really doesn't eat humans?"
"Isn't that even more frightening than eating humans?" Yukigyo said with a bitter smile. "You and I could both make our names resound far and wide among humans. But to make every monster bow its head and swear allegiance... just what kind of man would he have to be?"
Ibaraki nodded as well. "Very well. Let's take some wine and meet this Demon King who became a shikigami. If he's merely a fraud with an empty reputation, I won't mind taking his place."
Carrying torches, the two