【Good Leaf】Eclipse of the Crimson Moon

【The Last Sacrifice 1】

A screen of smoke covering the sky and the sun rose from the burning capital, mixed with scorching, pungent air waves, turning into ominous dark clouds to cover the sky, and the resentment that grew from the corpses and the hearts of the frightened people became thicker and thicker.Amidst the earth-shattering wails of the panicked crowd and the roar of buildings collapsing, there are snickers of ghosts that ordinary people cannot hear.

They are excited.Originally, they had to cower and hide in the darkness to get by, but now Heian-kyo is full of despair, death, sadness, pain, and hatred.The world is overturning towards the country of roots, and the various enchantments that have been formed in the human world since the age of mythology are losing their effectiveness, and this place will soon become their paradise.

The miasma pervading the capital has been extending to the northwest sky, which is the direction where the mastermind who caused this mutation is located.

Sakaiminato Wharf (Note) All ships leading to the Oki Islands have stopped sailing, because at this moment the sea is full of strong winds, heavy rain, and lightning. No one dares to go to sea in this kind of weather.However, there were dense crowds of people gathered by the supposedly deserted harbor. About hundreds of people were divided into several queues, anxiously waiting to board the ship.

Among those people were fully armed soldiers, there were also magicians from Yin Yang Liao, and some magicians who wore hunting clothes but were not affiliated to the royal family.Their black sleeve robes are embellished with family crests: a dark red pentagram, which is the symbol of the Great Onmyoji Master Ma Cangye.

But at this moment, on the other side of the strait, on the cloudy Dafeng Mountain, the billowing miasma spreading here formed a human tornado, rolling and falling towards the sea of ​​trees in the middle of the mountain forest.

There is the deepest part of the sea of ​​trees that is inaccessible, and there is a dilapidated altar in a small open space artificially opened up.At this moment, no matter whether it is the enshrined spiritual tablet or the sacrificial utensils, even the torii gates and shimenawa around the altar have been destroyed, and the wreckage is scattered all over the place.From the mottled handwriting on the lying fragment of the spiritual tablet, it can be vaguely discerned that it should be the tablet of a prominent sinner who was exiled here in earlier times.It was very common at that time to build a shrine to worship him for fear of being cursed by him.However, this small deserted shrine was unable to protect the safety of the world long before it was destroyed.

The resentment gathered in Oki, the island of exile, enveloped the entire island, gradually forming an indelible Linge, and its core area was in the mountain where the yin lingered.Although the local priests were also aware of it, they were powerless to resist, so they had to withdraw from the area occupied by ghosts, so the shrine gradually fell into disrepair and was submerged in the sea of ​​trees. Over time, a considerable-scale spiritual path finally formed, which connected The passage to another world of Huangquan Biliangzaka.As long as the final barrier is destroyed, this channel will be opened.

At this moment, the miasma tornado had surrounded the dilapidated shrine, and the strong spiritual power set off a huge commotion, which made the entire queen of Oki Island shudder.In the center of the trembling earthquake and howling wind and heavy rain, the thin man in hunting clothes was sitting cross-legged in the center of the dilapidated altar, not moving a single bit despite the wind and rain.The dark red long hair and the wide skirt fluttered in the strong wind together in the pitch black, and the wind from Hades turned into a heat wave with a pungent sulfur smell gushing out from under the altar, but he just closed his eyes and chanted the final incantation .

As of today, there is nothing more to say.At this moment, all the hatred, determination, and soul are poured into this curse technique, which will be conveyed to the deepest part of Hades!

Destroy it!Tiny humans!

If this world is not destroyed, the pain in my heart will not stop!

Let me worship ghosts and gods, open the road to the root country, and let evil spirits come to the world!

On x, x, x, x, the rebel Macang Ye Wang was forced to leave the capital, Ping'an, by the pursuers.Ye Wang, whose mind has long been occupied by ghosts and fell into madness, went to Oki Island and Dafengshan destroyed the seal of Oki in an attempt to drag the present world into the country of roots.Master Wang and Yinyangliao went to crusade together, along with members of the Macang family.After three days and nights of scuffle between the two sides, King Ye was finally executed by Ma Cang's master artisan, but the crusade team also suffered heavy casualties.

The present world was able to survive a catastrophe, but Ye Wang's curse could not be stopped.Since then, his vengeful spirit has been entrenched in the root country, vowing revenge on the world.The power of this curse is even stronger than that of King Ye when he was alive, so much so that it implicates Oki Island and even a wider range of land.In order to appease the anger of the resentful spirits, the Emperor sent Ye Wang's survivors and related persons to Oki Island to guard and build a shrine to worship his soul.But because of fear of its curse, the name was hidden, collectively referred to as "Yuedushen".And almost at the same time, the place where King Ye was killed - the deserted shrine in the sea of ​​trees, became a forbidden area that ordinary people could not approach.And when the magicians with spiritual power entered the forest surrounded by many barriers again, what they saw was the world of Eternal Night shrouded in the light of the crimson moon and the shrine that seemed to be abandoned.

All the pieces seemed to fit together correctly, and the original appearance of the tragedy thousands of years ago gradually emerged. Although there are still many details that are not clear, it doesn't matter anymore.

The clue from the last shard was so important that it lifted me out of the layers of fog to see the small but real chance of victory.

First of all, it is recorded in the volume that "King Ma Cang Ye was killed by his family members".I didn't pay much attention to this sentence when I first read it, but after thinking about it, I can see more truth hidden behind the words.

Ma Cangye Wang is an orphan who lost his mother since childhood, wandering in the streets of Ping'an capital, accompanied by wandering ghosts and wild ghosts.He should have a father, but he didn't know whether he died or abandoned their mother and son. In short, he did not appear in Ye Wang's later life, so Ye Wang should have no so-called "family".So who are these "tribes"?

There is only one explanation: Ye Wang and the woman he likes left offspring, so the "family" at that time should refer to the family of Ye Wang's wife.Afterwards, the reason why the blood of Ma Cang survived may also be due to the contribution made in the campaign to encircle and suppress King Ye.

Secondly, the five families of Yu are indeed the descendants of King Ma Cang Ye's bloodline, who were ordered by the royal family to stay in the cursed place for thousands of years.We do bear a heavy fate, a sin that cannot be redeemed even with all our lives.

Finally, and the most critical reminder, is Ye Wang's failure.

Even though he has the power to frighten ghosts and gods, and even though he has completed Taishan Fujun Sacrifice, the highest secret art in Yin-Yang art, he was still stopped by people for a time.During the three-day battle, various situations could happen.Fighting against all the sorcerers with just one person's strength is beyond anyone's imagination.Although it is impossible to know how the person with the title of the strongest Onmyoji was defeated from the strategy, at least it shows that he is only a human being, and he is not without weaknesses, nor is he invincible.

King Ye was named a Great Onmyoji, and the mansion he was given was in Izumo.The Asakura main family moved to Oki Island after that incident.This also explains why the last fragment is in the cloud and is painstakingly hidden.That was the deepest secret that Wang Ye wanted to bury, presumably he chose to put it in the place with the most important memories.

After reading "Super. Accounting for Things", there are still several doubts that cannot be resolved. For example, why did King Ye suddenly set off a rebellion and vowed to destroy the world?Why was he, who possessed the power of spiritual vision, forced to come here?Being able to read people's hearts, he should take the initiative more... But right now, figuring out how to defeat him and break the curse is my primary goal, and now it's very close.I have several speculations, and the final plan will take a little more time to prepare.

Closing the dilapidated tome, I closed my eyes and let my thoughts drift into the void.

The long journey finally reached the end, and it was Ye who appeared in the dream that freed me from the endless maze.If it weren't for his inspiration, I'm afraid I would never have found the answer, because the thinking mode used to break the spell is very different from the one I am used to.

However, it is impossible for Ye to help me.He was still imprisoned in that prison close to Huangquan, his body and soul were trampled to pieces.When I left, I couldn't feel his voice at all, and he had completely become a puppet.

At that time, I suddenly noticed that Ye hadn't appeared in my dream for a long time, but at this time...

Ye, what exactly do you want to say to me?

What else is there... that I, who possesses spiritual vision, cannot see...

I have been harboring those confusions, thinking hard but have no answers, until finally ushered in the moment of the end after several months.

★★★

However, as much as I want to say it, I don't have the time right now.

The preparation period for the ceremony cannot exceed 10 minutes, otherwise someone will enter this stone room to check.If everything cannot be completed before then, my long-term efforts, everything that Ye has encountered, and the sacrifices of the family will all be in vain.

In fact, I understand that no matter how he is treated, it is impossible for Ye to turn his back on Yue Jian, let alone leave me to live alone. Only by obliterating his freedom of thinking can he complete the plan quickly and effectively.However, when I saw him closing his eyes and waiting for the end, all kinds of long-pressed emotions burst like a flood, I can no longer pretend to be myself, I really can't deceive him anymore...

The incantation of the Art of Manipulation (Note) fell apart before it even started, and at the same time as my mind went blank, I hugged the boy in front of me tightly.

He trembled in my arms, his hoarse voice was almost out of tune:

"…why?"

Regardless of the astonishment and desolation in his eyes, too many chaotic fragments flooded into my mind in an instant made me lose control for a while. When my consciousness gathered again, it had turned into one sentence:

"Leave, Ye." I grabbed his shoulders tightly, not allowing him to interrupt: "Remember? That was our agreement."

I've taken off the mask, and we can see each other's eyes clearly.But at this moment, those brown eyes were still covered with a layer of despair and confusion.

Lightly touching the center of his brow with my finger, I recited the spell-breaking mantra of the memory sealing technique.A tingling pain like a weak electric current spread from my fingertips to his forehead, Ye's body froze suddenly, and then he fell back.I immediately grabbed his waist and hugged the exhausted boy tightly.

He clasped his head in his hands, trying to keep himself from moaning, but I knew how he felt.The shock when the seal was released was a heavy burden on the body, it was really difficult for Ye to bear it now, but I had no time to hesitate.

Ye’s memory was destroyed by me. Although not all of them, human consciousness is originally an interlocking and inseparable whole. I don’t know how much of the past about the two of us is left by him who is in chaos now, and It is also impossible for him to immediately understand everything that has happened in Yuejian over the years.

"...Why...why..." The boy who recovered a little bit of consciousness grabbed my cuff and asked in a hoarse and feeble voice.The confusion in his eyes has been replaced by grief and shock, more turbulent emotions are brewing in Ye's heart, and now, he has tried his best to suppress the excitement.He wanted to hear my explanation, but he didn't have the time to do so at the moment.

I squeezed his hand, looked him straight in the eyes and replied:

"I'll make you understand everything. I didn't intend to ask you to forgive, but you must listen to me now."

His lips moved, and finally he didn't ask anything.This is the best way, I can explain everything as soon as possible.

"I don't have time to go into details. Now is the preparation ceremony for the dark sacrifice. We only have less than 10 minutes left. Ye, carefully recall everything you can recall. Do you remember what happened four years ago? Everything I did it. In order to defeat that person... the "root" of Tsukimi has been found, and that person is our ancestor King Makura Leaf."

"...You..." Several expressions flashed across Ye's face in an instant, and chaotic glimmers flickered in his widened pupils.He must be suffering from a headache right now, trying to think about what I said while sorting out the fragmented memory.

"...So what? What do you want...to do, okay?" He suppressed his intense emotions and asked, "What exactly do you want to achieve?" the core of the problem.

"I'm going to beat him." I answered him firmly. "I have found a way to break the curse."

Hearing this sentence, Ye stared at me but suddenly sank, and became sad again:

"Make me a sinner, let the family pay this kind of sacrifice... what does it have to do with defeating him? Tell me, brother..." His eyes pierced my pupils and pierced directly into the depths of my consciousness: "Why should Exclude me? I... can't help you?"

His gaze made my nerves tense, and the last thing I wanted to see was Ye's expression, which made me unable to refute.But, didn't I already understand all this?

It's all my fault, and I don't need anyone's forgiveness.

"Cutting off the curse of Yuejian that lasted for thousands of years, and not bowing to fate, all this is my decision. And I also paid the price and dragged you into it..."

"What the hell are you talking about? I... don't understand! Brother!" Ye suddenly interrupted me, raising his voice probably also affected the wound, his voice changed a bit: "I am your younger brother! I am your Ye... .Why do you say such things...I...So I have always been just an obstacle for you...Didn't we...promise to be together forever?"

His voice was choked, and tears flowed down the trail of tears that had just dried up again.Holding his slightly twitching body, I can hardly restrain the soreness welling up between my brows.

"Remember. As long as the soul is immortal, it will never be forgotten. But do you remember, we also had another agreement."

Ye slowly shook his head, and tears fell quietly from the end of his cheeks like broken ice.I held up his pale and sad face, kissed the crystal trembling on the edge of the long eyelashes, the bitter and salty feeling bloomed and melted on the tip of the tongue, the nostalgic clear warmth.Staring for a long time at the face that is the only one I love in this life, my most important treasure, my half body that no one can replace.Even if he did forget that promise, I can't blame him because that's what I love, the real Yeh.

"I don't allow you to die. You promised me..." The strength of holding his wrist increased a bit, I hope he can recall, that night, we exchanged promises and engraved oaths in our bodies.

"...Eh...but..." He searched the chaotic memory hard, but the answers he found were different: "I...I just said that I won't mess around again..."

"Anything is fine!" I pulled him into my arms and yelled fiercely, "As long as you live! If you die... I don't know what I will do!"

"Brother...you...don't tell me..."

It seemed he finally understood where this conversation was going.Yes, I can no longer hide from him, at least let him understand all this, otherwise I can't continue.But if he gets in the way of my plans...

"Ye, there's no time. If you don't want to leave, I can only ignore your wishes again..."

The amber-like pupils reflected a piercing crimson, gradually approaching.He retreated instinctively, but he was bound by my arms, and my left wrist was also grasped tightly.After a few seconds of stalemate, his tense body suddenly relaxed, and he showed a helpless and sour smile:

"You must know my answer, don't you?"

I stared at his face, silent.Suddenly, I feel sad about my childishness and ridiculousness.

Ye and I are inseparable.We have bonds that are stronger than blood, and emotions that are deeper than love and hatred.I can't bear Ye's death, so why isn't Ye?

Seeking his permission was really just a cover for me to try to comfort myself, but when did I become so vulnerable?

In front of Ye, I have too much powerlessness to hide, too much persistence to carry out... Sometimes, I hate myself for being like this.If it weren't for him, I wouldn't hesitate like this, I've already planned it out...

Everything is in my hands, and I have finally found a way to possibly stop that person.As long as I send Ye away, I can carry it out without any worries...

In the past year, the only chance that Ye has been tortured and pushed into the abyss of despair——

Layers of barriers and guards have been arranged in the Abyss of Darkness, coupled with the peeping technique set up by Kurosawa, even I, who is the chief priest, cannot make any transgressive behavior.And let Kurosawa and the other four believe that "I have completely broken with Ye", "Ye also finally gave up the idea of ​​​​escape or hostility, and waited here for the final dark sacrifice", and finally did it.In this way, during the preparation period for the Dark Sacrifice, all the guards on the Abyss of Darkness will be removed.You know, with the city of Kurosawa Shinichi, if he has any doubts, he will definitely risk offending the gods and leave a peeping technique.

Ye should also have noticed that I have covered the scar on the right forehead with makeup and bandages.Next, as long as Ye puts on the mask, we can definitely hide it from everyone's eyes after exchanging costumes!The Dark Sacrifice will last for seven days, and I will stay at the venue of the Dark Sacrifice instead of him, and the chief priest can return to the bedroom hall to wait for the result of the Dark Sacrifice after the Moon Engraving Ceremony begins.At that time, Ye could easily leave this dark world!Ye, who has already "died" once, will no longer be restricted by the curse of the blood contract. As long as Anna assists him, he will be able to leave Oki smoothly!This is the last chance to let Ye leave, if he doesn't cooperate with me, I can only force him to act according to my suggestion (note)...

"elder brother."

Ye's voice interrupted my thoughts.He was looking into my eyes sincerely, and said with certainty:

"I will not leave you. I want to participate in the final sacrifice."

Being watched by such persistent eyes made me even more agitated and violent.

"There is no official sacrifice at all! That guy was revived to the present world with the Lord Taishan Mansion Festival, and I am that existence! Do you understand? Only I can stop him! There is no need for you to get involved and sacrifice in vain!"

Time is running out, if it continues, the priests waiting outside the door may rush in at any time, and by then it will be too late.No matter what harm it will do to Ye's spirit at this moment, I want him to leave Yuejian alive!Thinking of this, I raised my left arm, ready to perform the exercise, when he suddenly threw himself into my arms, with his face pressed against my chest——

"I won't go! If you do something, I really won't forgive you! Absolutely!"

I was on the verge of breaking out, and I was dumbfounded by him. Sure enough, there is nothing I can do about him... Even at this time, ignoring Ye’s request still shakes my heart, and it turns out that success or failure often depends on that moment.

The arm that hugged me didn't have much strength, and the injury to Ye's back shoulder made him unable to move freely as before. This dispute also consumed a lot of his energy, but the uneven panting voice carried an unusually firm tone :

"Unlock me, brother. Let me fight with you!"

"No! I'm not sure of winning at all! His recovery needs the souls of both of us. You must leave, so as to completely cut off his retreat!"

I couldn't help roaring, at this time, how can I make Ye understand that "no matter what angle you look at, he can't stay in Yuejian"?However, he also refused to push me back:

"I don't want this kind of victory! Since you're not sure, I can't leave! It's impossible for me to leave, don't you know..."

—My lord! !Please be careful with it!The situation in Lingdao has changed!The priests outside are commotioning!

Suddenly, the cat spirit next to us startled me, Ye Shun followed my gaze towards the empty void, his face full of astonishment.But at this moment, I have no time to explain the origin of the whole sect to him, because the situation got out of control again and turned in a direction I didn't expect——

Note: Sakaiminato City is located at the northeast corner of Izumo and Matsue. The seaport in the east of the city has ships leading to the Oki Islands across the strait.

Note: Manipulation is a technique that can control the consciousness of others and make them act according to their own orders. I originally planned to use it on Ye.

Note: The "suggestion" here does not mean hinting secretly, but "command, command", which refers to using spells to control the opponent's actions.