Chapter 139: Sadako

"No, that is A-Li! Not a monster." Upon hearing such news, Kamo Yoshikoro hurriedly found a way to rent a boat and set foot once again on the isolated island at the center of the lake.

Inside the Pavilion of Parting Souls, A-Li stood calmly on the stage, watching the approaching soldiers in the distance. She began to dance her final dance, her posture as light as a startled swan, her paper fan intersecting gracefully with her movements—everything appeared so serene and detached.

"The songstress Shiranui has been exposed as a monster! Everyone, kill her here!" The city lord from the previous day stood on a boat in the distance, commanding the soldiers who had already stepped ashore.

"No, A-Li is not a monster! I am an Onmyoji, I can prove it!" At that moment, Kamo Yoshikoro burst out from somewhere, blocking the path in front of A-Li.

"This Onmyoji has been bewitched by this monster! All soldiers, follow my orders and attack!" Following the city lord's command, countless flaming arrows were shot toward the Pavilion of Parting Souls!

"A-Li, run!" Kamo Yoshikoro hurriedly grabbed A-Li and fled toward the back of the pavilion. However, as more and more soldiers arrived, the pavilion was completely surrounded.

Suddenly, an arrow pierced the running Kamo Yoshikoro's eye. He collapsed instantly to the ground, blood streaming from his right eye.

"A-Li...!" Kamo Yoshikoro murmured with lingering reluctance.

"You can't escape anymore!" The city lord arrived before Kamo Yoshikoro and A-Li with a large detachment of soldiers.

"Let him go!" A-Li said to the city lord and the others.

"This is no longer for you to decide!" The city lord wore a twisted smile on his face.

As the soldiers closed in step by step, Kamo Yoshikoro and A-Li retreated to the edge of the water platform, beneath which stretched the vast expanse of the lake's water.

"Die right here, both of you!"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't take you away," Kamo Yoshikoro said, clutching his bleeding right eye.

"So let this all end!" A fierce look flashed in the city lord's eyes, and the other soldiers raised their bows and arrows.

At that very moment, clusters of red flames rose from the surface of the lake. Gradually, thousands of red flames gathered and swarmed around A-Li!

Countless flames surrounded her, glowing a fiery, enchanting red.

"A monster... truly a monster!" Seeing this sight, the other soldiers dropped their weapons in terror and fled in all directions.

"A-Li...!" Kamo Yoshikoro looked weakly at A-Li, who was enveloped in the red flames.

Suddenly, an arrow pierced straight through A-Li's heart.

"As expected, she truly is a monster!" the city lord said, holding his bow with a hint of fear.

In an instant, A-Li's hair spread and turned a blazing fiery red. Her entire body ignited with crimson flames, and eerie mystical patterns appeared on her face.

"I have regained my freedom!" A-Li said as she turned to look at Kamo Yoshikoro!

"A... A-Li!" Kamo Yoshikoro said slowly, looking at A-Li, whose entire body was engulfed in fiery red flames.

"I once committed sins and was sealed inside this body by the powerful Onmyoji Abe no Haruya. Therefore, A-Li is Shiranui, and Shiranui is A-Li!" With those words, A-Li pushed Kamo Yoshikoro off the water platform: "Escape from here quickly!"

That night, flames consumed the Island of Parting; that night, the Pavilion of Parting Souls was reduced to ashes; and that night, no one ever saw Shiranui or A-Li again!

Just as Abe no Haruya finished telling this legend, Bakekujira had already approached Sada Island!

The three of them stepped onto Sada Island, after which Abe no Haruya recalled his Shikigami, Bakekujira!

"What a wondrous legend!" Fang You said slowly.

"Romance between monsters and humans is commonplace, but love between two such different species is destined never to be accepted by the world!" Abe no Haruya led Taishan and Fang You deeper into the island.

Suddenly, chanting voices echoed from ahead!

Fang You and Abe no Haruya exchanged glances, then crept forward quietly.

Ahead of them, several Onmyojis were casting spells in front of a well!

And that very well was where Sadako resided!

"It's the Onmyojis of the Abe clan!" Abe no Haruya observed the scene before him. To Abe no Haruya, who was deeply familiar with the Abe family, these people were all familiar faces!

Among the group ahead, a female Onmyoji stepped forward while several Onmyojis behind her raised paper talismans to protect her.

"By the decree of Yin and Yang, seal the demons and ward off evil—Seal!"

The talisman in the female Onmyoji's hand fell into the well with immense power. It seemed that the Abe Onmyoji clan had also discovered Sadako breaking free from her seal and had come to suppress her once again!

However, just as everyone thought the suppression was successful and safe!

Suddenly, countless strands of hair reached out from inside the well, wrapping around the Onmyojis behind her and hurling them directly up into the air!

"Not good! Sadako's grudge has been sealed in this well for too long, and her resentment is even stronger than before!" Seeing all the supporting Onmyojis knocked away, the female Onmyoji also tried to retreat immediately!

At that exact moment, a razor-sharp strand of hair pierced through the female Onmyoji's right leg, wrapped tightly around her, and began dragging her toward the well!

"Damn it!" The female Onmyoji continuously threw talismans into the well, but the overwhelming grudge instantly devoured them!

Seeing that the female Onmyoji was about to be dragged into the well!

Suddenly, a golden talisman shot out!

"By the decree of Yin and Yang, talismans born from the heart, expel resentment and pacify spirits!"

A talisman slapped onto the long black hair. Wisps of white smoke instantly rose from the strands, and a miserable woman's scream echoed from the well!

Gripping a peach wood sword and a copper coin sword in both hands, Fang You dashed forward in a flash, severed the hair, caught the female Onmyoji, and rolled away to safety!

Abe no Haruya rapidly formed hand seals with both hands: "Heavenly Thunder Spell, strike down!"

Fang You also pulled out ten talismans from behind him: "Thunder-Drawing Talisman, let lightning descend!"

In an instant, dozens of bolts of heavenly thunder struck into the well, rapidly shattering and dissipating the grudge within!

"Shikigami Art: Hitotsume-kozo!"

Following Abe no Haruya's incantation, a monster with only one eye, resembling a Buddhist monk, appeared before them!

Seeing Abe no Haruya nod, the Hitotsume-kozo instantly understood, picked up a massive boulder, and walked toward the edge of the well!

Meanwhile, seemingly unwilling to yield, Sadako in the well gathered countless strands of hair once again and launched another attack!

Fang You bit the tip of his tongue, drew out a talisman, and painted a spell on the spot: "Fire Spell, Heavenly Fire to Burn Away Evil!"

The moment Fang You cast the talisman, raging flames filled with primordial yang energy enveloped the strands of hair, instantly incinerating the black hair until it had nowhere to hide!

At the same time, the Hitotsume-kozo placed the heavy boulder over the mouth of the well!

Abe no Haruya swiftly produced eighteen talismans, pasting them onto eighteen designated positions around the well, and chanted the suppression incantation, while Fang You assisted by reciting the exorcism and warding spell.

Before long, the talismans in the eighteen positions took effect, and Sadako was once again sealed and suppressed back into the depths.