【Good Leaf】Eclipse of the Crimson Moon

【Lu Ke】

——The mixed sound from the end of the downwalk was like a saw file rubbing against a hard object. It was harsh and ominous, and a deep sense of disgust suddenly surged in my heart.

Even if I come here, my body will tremble involuntarily.

Fortunately, no one is allowed to enter the side hall. This is the first time I have encountered this situation since I came here.The panic-stricken clansmen asked for instructions on what to do next, so I had to go to the closed place reported by my subordinates first.

The ever-changing night in the mezzanine world keeps the temperature here not too high all year round, and the prison located deep underground in the shrine is said to be the closest to the underworld, because the temperature is extremely low because of the gathering of spiritual fields (Note).Is the hesitant and stagnant footsteps caused by the cold air seeping from below, or is it the cold coming from the body?

Unlike the underground prisons of the Asakang family and the other four families in the external world, only clergy were imprisoned there.The cells in the deepest part are very close to the location of the thousand guiding stones in the royal garden, and they will also be affected by the seal, so that even evil spirits and familiars cannot get close, and quite a few spells cannot take effect.Therefore, it is regarded as the best place to imprison criminals, and people from the Wu Family call it the "Abyss of Darkness".

It has been three years since I came to Yuejian, and it has been nearly ten years since I stepped into the world of psykers.Once you deal with the dead and spirits, you must be prepared to see the dark side of all kinds of sorrow and misery in the world.Having learned attack spells that are equally effective against humans, one has to face the pain of hurting others and being hurt.At least, before I came to see you on the moon, I thought that my consciousness was enough, but now, I dare not be so sure.

In the Abyss of Darkness, there is accumulated the dark history of Yuejian that has been passed down for thousands of years. Countless crimes have ended here, and the people who know about them are limited to a very small number of family dignitaries.In order to hide these secrets, no one other than the authorized priests is allowed to enter, and trivial matters such as chores are handed over to the taboo.Whenever "Midnight" (Note) is quiet, you can hear the creepy whimpering and the sound of scratching the stone wall. It should be that people who have lost their voice and freedom are venting their stagnant emotions in the stone prison...Actually, there are many It doesn't take long for the Jiren who come here to go crazy and die.

Ji people are always very careful to hide their whereabouts, probably even they themselves feel disgusted by that terrifying figure.So I didn't meet them on the way here, but I know that they are indeed not far away, huddled in a dark corner, and perceive everything that is happening around them with their only hearing.

After a few minutes, he finally came to the deepest cell, but was stopped by the guarding priest outside the door.The great priests headed by Patriarch Kurosawa are interrogating inside, ordering their subordinates not to enter.

I glanced at the closed wooden door. The scene inside could not be seen from here, but the sound came out from time to time, and the strange noise I heard from just now came from inside.In addition to a special cell, there is also a torture room.I had once seen the interior once in the past, and the unpleasant experience I do not like to recall.Probably, all the malicious means that humans can think of are embodied in that dark room, and I don't want to imagine what it would be like if those things were used on humans.

The rattling sound of metal rubbing was probably caused by the collision of chains or instruments of torture. From the outside, one could feel the violent ups and downs of spiritual energy in the room, suggesting that someone was using a spell.From time to time, low-pitched yelling and cursing could be heard, followed by noisy discussions, which couldn't be heard clearly, but the young man who was supposed to be there was surprisingly quiet.It seems that no matter how everyone treats them, they are planning to keep silent, which makes my doubts deepen.

Regardless of the extraordinary perseverance of the Patriarchs, the reaction of the Ma Cang brothers to this incident is also puzzling.

It took about an hour to return to Tsukiyomi Shrine from the blocked part of the national highway and then rush here.However, many people still cannot accept the sudden situation in such a short period of time.

The red light seen by the priests of the Kurosawa family who went to intercept Nishikujo should be the moment when some kind of spell was lifted.Although I don't know much about puppetry, but according to the common sense of magic, the continuation of the magic will be accompanied by certain conditions.When the conditions are broken, the spell will naturally dissipate. If it is unnaturally interrupted, it will also be accompanied by "head wind" (Note).

If it was really the spell cast by Asakura Ye, to transfer his soul to the doll and make it turn into a human, then when the container of the soul "Nishikujo Masumi" dies, the spell will be released. Then his soul will return to where it should be.

In other words, if Ma Cangye did not wake up, the conclusions of the four schools would be self-defeating.But on the contrary, if the young man who had been in a coma for several years woke up at this time, it can basically be concluded that all the tragedies that followed were the result of the spell he cast.

And now the results speak for themselves.It is said that the best way to meditate in the worship hall was to rush to the side hall to check when he felt the abnormality of the sealing barrier. At that time, Ma Cangye's soul might have returned to his body and had a life reaction. Not long after that People from the four families rushed to...

But why?

The boy who had been placed with high expectations and was called a genius suddenly turned into an unforgivable rebel who was seen in this dangerous situation.Before that, everyone said that he was gentle and kind, and he was at the forefront of opposing human sacrifices, and he never had any objections to becoming a royal son sacrifice.Why did it become like this?Is something wrong?

And Ma Canghao's negative attitude was even more beyond my expectation.In any case, what his younger brother will now face is a more cruel sanction than purgatory.It is also reasonable to exercise the right of the officiant priest to handle this matter by himself, right?Why didn't he ask any questions?

Suddenly, a terrible cracking sound pulled my consciousness back from the chaos, and the subsequent sound of metal collisions was mixed with a faint scream, just like a dying animal being forced to let out when exhausted. Sobbing, so shrill that it makes one's heart palpitate.

The noise was interrupted by a rough roar in an instant. Although they couldn't hear the content clearly, they undoubtedly didn't get the answer they wanted.

I clung to the stone wall behind me and took a half step towards the outside.The sound coming from inside was very uncomfortable, like ants gradually climbing up the sensitive nerve endings, causing a chill from the bottom of my heart.

At this time, you are so stubborn that you don't want to say anything. Is it really you?

Nishikujo...no, Asakura leaves.

Just when I was trying my best not to guess the scene in the torture room at the moment, not to listen to those voices, a few hissing shouts mixed with all kinds of noise went straight into my mind, full of deep sorrow and begging.

"Well? What's the good? I want to see him!—please... let me see him..."

★★★

I don't know when the interrogation ended that day, because I returned to Kokubun Shrine because of some closing matters of the Tsugetsu Festival.Another long day passed without any reports on the progress of the incident, so I went to the Dark Abyss again at the end of the evening.

When I got there, I caught a glimpse of the priest from the previous day still at the door.After asking, I learned that the adults have not been able to ask any results, so continue today, and the time has lasted for nearly ten hours.Before, I could occasionally hear the boy's groans, but then there was no movement at all.The torturer who continued to torture relentlessly seemed to be singing a one-man show, not knowing when it would end.

"What exactly do they want to ask?" I finally couldn't suppress my emotions, pulled the guarding priest aside, and asked him in a low voice.

"Of course how to use the forbidden technique to escape from Yuejian..." He whispered, his eyes wandering.

"Do you still need to ask? Didn't it mean that the puppet used as a container has been found?"

"Of course it's not enough...Master Anna, forgive me, there are many kinds of Onmyoji, the more subtle the branches, the more inaccessible and incomprehensible to others." He still showed a puzzled look when he saw me , went on to explain:

"Puppetry is a very uncommon technique, and the only person who is proficient in it in Yuejian is Ma Cangye. So... only he can explain the secrets clearly..."

"No, I understand what you said. But how about asking about the specific method? Can understanding those things that have passed change the status quo? Why can't they think more about the ceremony that is about to be held?" I pointed out directly It’s not my style to speak in secret anyway, and I don’t mind being heard by those grown-ups.

"No... well..." The priest paused, as if he was thinking about how to express himself and looked embarrassed.

"Don't just say half of it. If you are still the priest of Yuejian, you should make it clear. If it affects the consequences of the next ceremony, you should know how serious it is?" I raised my voice and questioned him, and he was talking to me. After meeting my gaze, he shrank his head and replied:

"Please forgive me... I dare not speculate on the meaning of the elders... But, according to the rules, we should thoroughly investigate the incidents that caused serious consequences, and find out all the people involved... Or the mastermind behind the scenes..." His voice was low He stepped down, gave me a meaningful look, then bowed his head again, and stepped aside silently.

I suddenly wanted to laugh out loud.

It is a little clearer how far the so-called "endless human malice" can go.

The facts have been confirmed, and the purpose of still tirelessly interrogating a person who is too weak to speak is of course not to understand the art that does not belong to his own field, but to impose certain facts on him and the people around him.In front of the Patriarchs, once the young man speaks what they want, it will become an indelible evidence, and then the situation of Yue Jian can be reversed again.

The crime has already been determined, and what is done now is all aimed at the Ma Cang family. To be precise, it is aimed at the chief priest Ma Cang.

With less than half a year left before the ceremony, the Yuwu family still maintains a superficial peace, but they are secretly fighting to the death.

The corner of my mouth curled into a sneer.

Yes, even though it is so dirty and so small, the people of Yuejian have still lived here for thousands of years.History is not annihilated because of darkness, but thrives on it as nourishment.

And I don't need to intervene in these disputes driven by inexplicable "justice". I just need to fulfill the agreement with Granny Mu Nai and guard the Ma Cang brothers until the day of the ceremony.

Hello Ma Cang, will you watch all this happen and remain indifferent?I do not believe.

Although he still couldn't see through that person's mind, he would never let go and let the situation escape his control.

★★★

From the bright and dazzling snow light on that sunny winter afternoon to the dark and terrifying stone prison in front of me, the years seemed to be just a blink of an eye, but the many reunions I had imagined before were not like this.

The deepest stone prison is not artificially built, but excavated from the cracks of the entire cliff, and the history is hundreds of years, and the mottled traces on the rock wall are mosses that have undergone countless cycles of birth and death and groundwater. left behind by the eclipse.In the middle of the stone chamber is a place similar to a central hall. There is a wind hole on the top wall in the middle, and the winding path hides the end point. From time to time, there is a whining sound coming from the dark hole.The middle hall is connected to the torture room on one side and the prison cell on the other.The rooms on both sides have three stone walls and one iron railing. The ever-burning lamp is placed beside the stone wall in the middle hall, and the dim light tremblingly sprinkles into the dark stone prison.

After the interrogation was over, he had been transferred to the stone prison here. He looked at the young man curled up in the corner by candlelight, but his nerves tensed involuntarily.

The brunette boy who once gave me a warm smile is now in front of me, but I can hardly recognize him.

The boy wrapped in plain colors was leaning weakly on one side of the stone wall, his limbs resting unnaturally, like a doll the size of his body.His hands were tucked behind his back, probably locked.The single clothes on his body should have been changed, but there are still several places stained with blood stagnation that has turned black, like twigs that are blooming in the ice and snow and are about to wither, exuding the brutal beauty of prosperity and decadence.

The boy's face was almost covered by the drooping bangs, and it was only then that I noticed that the hair that was just shoulder-length had also grown a lot in the slow passage of time, and it had reached almost to the waist.Looking at it this way, the reconciliation is closer.

He was extremely thin and pale, whether it was the face between the hair strands or the bare ankles exposed in the hem of the clothes, they all showed an unnatural blue color, transparent and thin, like fragile porcelain.That was natural, after all, he hadn't stood in the sun for several years, and he hadn't even moved his body a bit.

The boy's forehead, the neck exposed between the slightly open neckline, and even the part where the dark black shackles on the ankles are in contact with the skin are wrapped with layered bandages, oozing mottled dark red.Don't know what kind of torture device they used on him, but spells are more likely to be used at this time.Because that does not cause excessive physical damage but can create pain that overrides it.If you don't want this young man to die, it is most appropriate to use magic to execute the punishment.

Scanning the surrounding environment, I found that this place is much better than the underground prison of Ma Cang's house.Although the stone walls are simple, there are still furniture such as beds and low tables covered with tatami mats, and there are even bathrooms on the inside.There is a faint layer of spiritual power floating around the room, so that the temperature inside will not be too low. The dark abyss is indeed a place used to imprison important family members for many years, and it is very thoughtful.But even a gilded birdcage is nothing more than a birdcage.

Just as I was staring at the corner of the stone room, I suddenly felt a slight change. I turned my head to look at the boy, and found that he had woken up at some point, looking at me with half-opened dark eyes, and the corners of his mouth moved slightly. He moved and then stopped, as if he was considering how to face me.

"Hello, Asakuraha." After hesitating for a moment, thinking about whether he still has memories of what happened before he woke up, he simply finished speaking in one breath, "Let me introduce myself, I am Anna Osore, a disciple of Granny Muna, Ma One of the chief priests of the Cang family."

"...Hello" His voice was very low and hoarse, and I almost recognized the meaning by mouth.Just when I wondered whether his current situation could continue this conversation, a weak and shallow smile appeared on the boy's face:

"I guessed right, you are indeed the priest of the Asakang family..."

I was a little surprised, was he talking about the previous thing?So...

"Do you still have an impression? What happened when you were Masumi Nishikujo?"

"...Well, I'm still a little confused now..."

This threw me a little out of step.Originally, I just wanted to ask him about the incident four years ago, but when I remembered what happened during this period, my mind jumped back to the time when I was ordered to "handle properly" Nishikujo...

If it wasn't for my failure, "Nishi Kujo Masumi" might be able to leave Tsukimi, and Asakura Ye wouldn't be imprisoned in the Abyss of Darkness in the current state... But is it really good to let him go?Asakura, did he know at the time that "Nishi Kujo Masumi is Asakura leaf"?If at that time he had already discovered that the young man was his younger brother and wanted him to leave, why did he turn a blind eye to Ma Cangye's situation now?Or, thinking that he wants to let Nishi Kujo go is just my wishful thinking?

I suddenly felt a splitting headache.

"That..." The boy's voice interrupted me, and I looked up at him.

"I'm sorry...Because of my contempt at that time, I misunderstood you a lot..."

I stared at him in disbelief, he actually propped up his body and leaned down towards me, and there was a loud clang when he was pulled up.Only then did I realize that the source of the sound was not the shackles on my wrists, but the collision of chains extending from under the outer smock.Moving his gaze upwards, he suddenly caught a glimpse of the dark red that had been soaked into a large area on his back, and his heart stopped for a few beats instantly.

"You...are you an idiot! Why are you apologizing to me! You didn't do anything to me, did you!" He couldn't help but yelled, grabbing the sill tightly.Obviously I did so much to you!

"Eh...yes...sorry..." He seemed to be startled by my yelling, and flinched a bit, but his reaction was exactly the same as that of Xi Kujo.

"..." Suddenly I felt a little angry, and the words that had been brewing in my mind for a long time were suddenly stuck, and I didn't know how to speak.

"why……"

"...Huh?" Seeing that my tone suddenly slowed down, he showed a dazed look instead.

It was really him, the same face as the boy I ignored and gradually froze six years ago.Although extremely haggard, but also simple and frank.

"Why do you do such a thing?" I lowered my eyes, not sure if I wanted to hear the answer.

You are obviously stupid enough to apologize to someone who hurt you, but I can't believe that you would do such a thing.

The scars on the boy's back are said to be from an ancient spell called "ghost binding".Passing through the shoulder blades of an evil ghost or a sinner with a chain imbued with the art of sealing, not only can restrict all his actions, but also seal all his spells.This is one of the cruelest spells ever cast on the sinful.The other end of the chain should be connected to the center of the curse circle fixed on the stone wall, so he can never touch it himself.

The wound will never heal because of the curse, and this is a world where time is almost stagnant. He will be imprisoned in this stone room forever until the day when the curse is lifted.But I can almost guess the reason why he was not executed immediately, that is because the elders of the four families have agreed to offer the sinner who betrayed Yuejian as a sacrifice in the next main sacrifice.

Note: It is said that the temperature will drop rapidly in places where spirits appear.In some Japanese supernatural stories, some kind of instrument is even set up to measure the spirit body, and the traces of the spirit can be found by detecting the temperature.

Note: There is no change of day and night in the mezzanine world, and the midnight here refers to the midnight time in the real world.

Note: Headwind, one of the terms of Yin Yang.When the spell fails or is repelled, it will return to the caster with a huge reaction force, which is a risk that must be borne by using the spell.