In Type-Moon, people create a magic family lineage

You suddenly realize that your own thinking is limited, and you cannot condense a 'phantom spirit' on your own, but as the saying goes, 'the pen moves as if guided by a god.'

Perhaps you can put your thoughts into practice and transform them into words.

[Combining the calligraphy of Confucian scholars with the Taoist principles of talismans]

[Further drawing on the principles of Western magic runes and spells]

If one thought fails, then a hundred or a thousand thoughts must be accumulated.

If one stroke is not enough, then many strokes can be used to outline it.

[In this way, you concentrate your thoughts in every stroke of your pen.]

[You have finally used pen and paper to conjure the first 'phantom spirit' of the era.]

Although this phantom spirit only exists temporarily.

[Yet it originates from the heart and possesses a natural spirit, unlike Taoist talismans that borrow the power of heaven and earth, and unlike Western magic runes, which require the user to activate them.]

[It is capable of thinking for itself]

[Able to follow instructions and act independently]

Using it as a 'formula', the 138 'meridians' in your body are finally filled with the mysteries of the times.

You call the first step in creating this Phantom Spirit system 'Contemplation'.

[Put your thoughts on paper and pen]

Thousands of strokes, accumulated day by day, finally yielded a result.

This year, you are five years old.

At five years old, you took a deep breath and wrote down your own 'mountains and rivers'.

At the age of five, you were already well-versed in poetry and literature, and your poems and essays were already circulating in the streets and alleys, spreading throughout Dazaifu, Kyushu, and even the capital city of Heian.

People at the time said that the "Peacock Prince" was a literary star descended from the Tang Dynasty, whose extraordinary talent surpassed even that of his ancestor Sugawara no Michizane.

Fujiwara no Yoshihisa, who was then the Regent and Grand Minister of State, heard of your reputation and suggested that the five-year-old Emperor En'yu summon you to the capital.

Seeing that you had finally mastered the art of Yin and Yang, your teacher also decided to return to the capital.

You've decided to embark on this journey together.

Your mother didn't want the long journey, so you had to say goodbye to her and, led by your teacher, set off alone.

Have you heard that Heian-kyo (Kyoto) has been far from peaceful in recent years?

A hundred demons roam before Rashomon Gate; Shuten-dōji dwells atop Mt. Ōe.

You are also prepared to deal with any danger.

Chapter 111 The Youngest Doctor, Nine to Five, Court Exorcism

Kyoto during the Heian period was the largest city in the country, built by Emperor Kanmu of Yamato Province two hundred years ago, modeled after Chang'an and Luoyang, the capitals of the Tang Dynasty—and it remains the largest to this day.

[It is centered on the Suzaku Avenue, which runs north-south, connecting the 'Rashomon' gate in the south city with the Suzaku Gate in the north city, dividing the 'Left Capital' and 'Right Capital' areas to the left and right.]

[Outside Rashomon is the outskirts of Kyoto, while inside Suzakumon lies Heian-gu, the seat of the imperial court and the residence of the royal family.]

At that time, Emperor Kanmu referred to Heian-gu as "under the heavens," saying it was no less than Takamagahara. He designated Rashomon as the gateway separating the living and the dead, and divided the left and right wings of the city into nine streets, four alleys, and seventy-two wards, with each ward containing 16 towns, creating a grid-like pattern when viewed from above.

[To this day, although the layout of Heian-kyo has not changed drastically, its overall size has expanded considerably, with many more temples and pavilions, as well as numerous bustling commercial streets. The population has surged, reaching its peak in this era—nearly one million people.]

[You and Kamo no Yasunori, who originally lived in Heian-kyo but is now returning from a long journey, step into Rashomon. What you see is a bustling scene of people coming and going.]

[You have had a long and arduous journey, but you have not encountered any major storms. For ordinary people in this era, traveling a long distance is a painful ordeal, but neither you nor Kamo no Yasunori, the great Onmyoji, are ordinary people.]

Looking at the bustling scene before you, you can't help but marvel at the popularity of Kyoto—and the depth of its distracting thoughts. No wonder demons run rampant—after all, the more spiritually inspired a person is, the more they can communicate with the gods, create fragmented spirits, and thus evolve into gods, humans, demons, and monsters. But inspiration is never just good; it can also be evil, and evil can only create demons.

You know, this will be your 'stage' for the next ten years, or even decades.

Kamo no Yasunori remained noncommittal about your words.

He simply said nonchalantly, "With so many people, there are bound to be many spirits, which is why we are needed to regulate the balance of Yin and Yang and to suppress the spirits with incantations."

This is probably another form of 'nurturing an enemy to enhance one's own importance'.

After all, to some extent, the fact that various demons still abound in an era where mythology should have come to an end and mystery should have gradually faded is not unrelated to the creation of the 'Cursed Spirit' system.

The cursed spirits continued the miracles, creating 'human gods', and also 'demons'.

But this is actually a choice made after weighing the pros and cons of people's hearts.

However, if it weren't for the cursed spirit system pioneered by Kamo no Tadatsunori to delay the decline of the Age of Gods, those gods would inevitably have been unwilling to leave the stage at this final point and would have launched a counterattack.

At that time, what we will encounter may not be just a few demons causing trouble.

Instead, the world is in turmoil.

[You should explain these principles to Kamo no Yasunori.]

Although you are a prodigy at the age of five, and although Kamo no Yasunori is already accustomed to your profound intuition and high level of understanding, I am still amazed and impressed by your words.

[The bustling streets were filled with people, and you, led by Yasunori Kamo, headed directly to the 'Yin-Yang Bureau'.]

【…】

"Commander, what's wrong?"

On one side of Suzaku Avenue, beneath countless ancient and intricately carved eaves, cascading light reflects the morning sun like a waterfall. A tall figure, clad in chainmail made of fine iron plates and leather, stands at the street corner. His head is covered by a helmet with only a few barely perceptible purple hairs hanging down the edge. His face is completely covered by a crimson demon mask, revealing only a pair of purple eyes—his true form is obscured.

At that moment, those eyes narrowed slightly as they followed the departing old man and child toward the Yin-Yang Bureau, located near the Imperial Palace and the Grand Chancellor's residence.

A figure wearing a cloak and with mushroom-shaped hair noticed his unusual behavior and asked a question. The respectful guard stood a few steps in front of him, separating him from the surrounding crowd.

The heavily armored figure with purple eyes withdrew its gaze, shook its head, and emitted a buzzing voice through the mask that was neither male nor female: "No, it's nothing."

"Perhaps it's just my imagination..."

Although the older of the two figures was dressed in the hunting clothes of an Onmyoji, it was obvious that he was just an ordinary person—how could he possibly have the fluctuations of a 'god' in person?

It must be my own misunderstanding.

"Let's go, Watanabe no Tsuna."

The heavily armored figure said, "I've been in Kyoto for many days; it's time to leave."

"Go and summon Usui Sadamitsu and Urabe Suetake. Next, we should head north to subdue the 'Azai Gyuki'!"

"Yes, General!"

The tall, thin man known as Watanabe no Tsuna bowed his head in response.

They exchanged ideas here.

But they didn't notice that among the departing figures of the old man and the child, the younger one glanced back slightly.

They weren't the only ones who noticed Lu Kang.

Lu Kang also noticed them.

You've noticed someone watching you from the outside.

Out of the corner of your eye, you caught a glimpse of the figures on the street and roughly guessed who they were.

[That was Minamoto no Yorimitsu, who had risen to fame over the past decade or so, and was even compared to Abe no Seimei at one point, as a 'great exorcist general' who had slain countless powerful demons that ravaged various regions.]

[She was the most powerful and mysterious assassin of the Heian period. Compared to Abe no Seimei, who was often stationed in Kyoto, she, as a military commander, had more freedom and her specific achievements seem to be more numerous.]

You may have heard of her name and knew of her existence in your earlier years.

[Whether in this world]

[Before I even came into this world]

But you don't intend to contact them.

At least for now, it's far too early.

[You also don't intend to reveal your identity as someone similar to her, yet superior and more complete, existing directly as the 'god' himself.]

【Yes】

[Based on the information you already have about the era and your feelings in this instant, you know very well that the existence named Minamoto no Yorimitsu is, in essence, an extremely rare 'human god' in this era, a spirit of a god who has descended to the mortal world in human form.]

That's why she was able to slay demons and create all sorts of miracles despite being a military general.

After that fleeting glimpse

[Your steps never faltered, and you passed through the Vermilion Bird Gate, soon arriving at the Inner Palace in front of Heian Palace.]

You have arrived inside the Onmyoji Guild.

Kamo no Yasunori has arranged for you to reside here temporarily, awaiting an audience with the 'Emperor' and the 'Regent'.

However, you were ultimately not summoned that day.

All we received was a letter of appointment.

[You have been appointed as the 'Onmyō-no-doshi' within the Onmyō-ryō (Bureau of Yin and Yang) – the youngest official Onmyō-ryō official since its inception, and indeed, throughout the entire Yamato Province.]

[A seventh-rank official under the age of six]

[Later you heard that this was Abe no Seimei's personal recommendation to the Emperor and Regent after he learned of the 'Phantom Spirit System' you had created from Kamo no Yasunori.]

[As you've heard, a major exorcism ceremony is being held at Heian-gu Shrine.]

The Emperor and the Regent are temporarily tied up, as is Abe no Seimei.

[Even Yasunori Kamo was taken aback when he saw this appointment document.]

From then on, the already widespread name of the "Peacock Prince" became increasingly famous in the streets and alleys of Heian-kyo.

And so, you began a new round of learning within the Onmyoji Guild.

[9 to 5, clock in and out]

...

The youngest official of the seventh rank, and the most inexperienced yin-yang scholar.

Throughout history, countless young talents have emerged in Yamato, roaming freely across this island nation surrounded by the sea and leaving behind their illustrious names. However, among these heroes, none have ever had such a high starting point as him.

According to various historical records, the Sugawara clan, from which he came, had already declined by that time.

There is no basis for their rise to power based on family lineage.

All he relied on was his talent.

A prodigy.

So much so that a saying circulated among the common people at the time: "The past hundred years belonged to Seimei, and the next hundred years will belong to Habu."

—From *Heian Jiroku: Biography of Sugawara*

Chapter 112 Fujiwara no Kyoko and Murasaki Shikibu, Ashiya Dōman who comes looking for trouble

You have always ignored the various rumors circulating outside.

[You started working 9 to 5 in the Onmyoji Guild as an Onmyoji Doctor, and you really did start working 9 to 5.]

[Due to your reputation as a 'child prodigy' that has long been known in Heian-kyo, coupled with Lord Seimei's personal recommendation and the high regard for you held by the previous Onmyō-ryō (Director of Onmyō), no one expressed any dissatisfaction with you—of course, the main reason is also because you are simply too young. If you were a teenager, there would inevitably be some opposition within the Onmyō-ryō; if you were a young man who had been parachuted in without any qualifications, there would certainly be some who felt dissatisfied. But you are just a child; most children your age haven't even finished their elementary education. Seeing you like this, it would be difficult for anyone to raise any objections or dissent.]

You'll also find yourself enjoying your freedom.

[You did not immediately begin interfering in the affairs of the Onmyōryō as the Doctor of Onmyō-kō, even though this official position with its formal rank already offered many advantages and could be considered a technical official—]

As far as you know, the Yin-Yang Bureau is divided into four departments, all managed by the "Four Officials" headed by the Yin-Yang Head: the Yin-Yang Path, responsible for exorcism rituals; the Astronomical Path, responsible for observing celestial phenomena; the Calendar Path, responsible for revising and correcting the calendar; and the Water Clock Path, responsible for correcting the daily time.

The Yin-Yang Master is the adjutant of the Yin-Yang Way and the assistant to the Yin-Yang Master. Below him are the Yin-Yang Masters, Yin-Yang Students, and Yin-Yang Accomplishment Students.

In terms of status, it is already quite high, and it is absolutely qualified to intervene in many matters.

[After all, although this is a technical position, those 'four ministers' in management positions may not be as good as you—even the current Imperial Diviner and Onmyō-ryō, Abe no Seimei, also holds the title of 'Astronomical Doctor' within the Onmyōryō.]

But as always, you can stay focused and you're genuinely not interested in these things.

[You simply follow Kamo no Yasunori to learn more advanced Shugendo Onmyōdō knowledge and continue to read various Shugendo books in the Onmyōryō.]

[After completing the first step of "contemplation" in your "Phantom Spirit System," it has stalled again. You know you need more accumulation to make the "thoughts" stored in writing last longer, or even exist forever.]

[A phantom is still a spirit; if it cannot exist for long, then it cannot be called a 'true spirit'.]