Chapter 142 Confession

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Within the Abe Onmyoji clan's estate!

Numerous surrounding Onmyoji had gathered. Seated at the front were the four great clan heads: Seimei Seiryu, head of the Abe Onmyoji; Genji Tenhaku, head of the Genji Onmyoji; Hanka Hanzetsu, head of the Hanka-in Onmyoji; and the illustrious Kamo Goshin, head of the Kamo clan!

Surrounding them were various other Onmyoji from smaller collateral families!

In the very center, Abe Seimei knelt with his hands bound tightly behind his back. The crowd around him was in an uproar!

Suddenly, a resonant voice rang out: "Everyone, quiet down!"

Abe Seirhi stepped forward before the assembly and shouted loudly: "Abe Seimei secretly released the evil soul of Orochi, creating the possibility of Orochi's resurrection and bringing renewed calamity to Tokyo. His crime is unforgivable, and today our Abe clan shall mete out justice impartially!"

Sitting to the side, Kamo Goshin of the Kamo clan slowly spoke: "Clan Head Abe, since the culprit belongs to your Abe family, it is not our place to interfere. Do as you see fit!"

The surrounding Onmyoji began to condemn him vehemently: "To dare to open the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda and release Orochi's evil soul—his crime is utterly inexcusable!"

"Execute him! Such an Onmyoji who colludes with demons is not fit to live!"

"To have the audacity to flee back to Tokyo? Truly courting death!"

"Hahaha!" Abe Seirhi, standing nearby, laughed smugly. "Although we grew up together as brothers, since you have committed such a deed, I can find no way to absolve you. Prepare to face your punishment!" Abe Seirhi burst into triumphant laughter!

Yet Abe Seimei kept his head bowed, wearing an expression of uncomplaining resignation as he said, "I know my crimes, and I no longer wish to run. I am grateful for the Abe family's kindness in adopting me all those years ago. I was merely a nameless orphan, and Tokyo is my homeland. I have wandered outside for far too long; it is time to return!"

"Abe Seimei, when I first saw you at the orphanage, I noticed your exceptional talent for Onmyodo arts, so I brought you back into the Abe clan and bestowed upon you the name Abe Seimei. I raised you alongside my biological children, Abe Seirhi and Abe Seiyue, treating you with no less favor than them."

"Two years ago, you even fell in love with my daughter, Abe Seiyue. Seeing your supreme talent in Onmyodo, your upright character, and your considerable prestige—along with the immense popularity of the Onmyo Studio you founded—I even considered taking you as my son-in-law, giving you the chance to one day inherit the position of head of the Abe Onmyoji clan. Yet what you have done is simply impossible to pardon!"

"A mere outsider dares to dream of becoming the head of the Abe Onmyoji? That seat can only be inherited by the Abe bloodline! My father giving you the chance to compete with me was merely to save your face. Abe Seimei, you are truly a profound disappointment!" A haughty laugh broke out across Abe Seirhi's face!

"I know my wrong, and I accept any punishment!" Abe Seimei remained silent, adopting an attitude of complete surrender to his guilt.

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Suddenly, Genji Tenhaku drew a ritual sword from his sleeve and tossed it onto the ground. "If that is the case, let justice be carried out immediately! Why not have Abe Seimei's own lover, Abe Seiyue, execute this sentence herself and sever these emotional ties!"

Hearing these words, Abe Seiyue started in shock. She looked at the man before her—her former beloved. She and Abe Seimei had grown up together since childhood; they were childhood sweethearts!

Abe Seimei possessed extraordinary talent. Although he had been adopted from an orphanage and shared no blood relation, his mastery of Onmyodo far surpassed that of her and her older brother, Abe Seirhi!

During a past demon-exorcism mission, she had been shielded at the cost of Abe Seimei's own safety, leading her to fall deeply in love with him and secretly enter into a relationship!

It wasn't until one day when Clan Head Seiryu discovered the affair that, rather than being angry, the clan head saw Abe Seimei's immense mastery and the great prestige of his self-founded Onmyo Studio, and thus consented to their union!

Yet, on the eve of their grand wedding, Abe Seimei had somehow used his status as an Onmyoji to breach the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda, released the evil soul of Orochi, and subsequently fled Tokyo without a trace—a truly shocking betrayal!

At this moment, Abe Seirhi picked up the ritual sword from the floor and walked over to Abe Seiyue. "Sister, do it. Sever these emotional ties. When Brother becomes the clan head in the future, I will not forget the contribution you have made today!"

Under the gaze of the crowd, Abe Seiyue lifted the ritual sword and walked slowly toward Abe Seimei!

"Abe Seimei, is there nothing else you wish to say?" Abe Seiyue asked, clinging to a final thread of hope as she looked at her former lover. "There must have been a reason for what you did, right? Were you threatened by some demon? Or controlled? There has to be a reason, right?"

However, Abe Seirhi merely smiled and said, "There is no reason at all. Do it!"

"Such arrogance! What are you waiting for, why haven't you struck yet?" demanded Hanka Hanzetsu, the head of the Hanka-in clan, with fierce anger.

Abe Seiyue sorrowfully raised the ritual sword in her hand, while Abe Seimei before her wore an expression of serene acceptance: "To have it be by your hands is truly wonderful!"

"Why on earth did you do this? We were so close to getting married! You loved me, didn't you? (=ﾟДﾟ=) Why would you do such a thing?" Abe Seiyue asked, still refusing to give up!

Yet Abe Seimei merely replied with a faint smile, "Yes, I will always love you, Lady Seimei, but there are some things I simply had to do."

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"What on earth could those things be? You possessed such supreme talent, you were so kind-hearted, and you promised to protect me for the rest of my life!" Abe Seimei simply could not bring herself to strike. Standing before her was her childhood sweetheart, the lover who had protected her so fiercely through countless perilous exorcisms, now scarred and battered!

Though she could not understand the truth of what had happened back then, how could Abe Seiyue raise her blade against the boy she had grown up with?

"Sister, you cannot show mercy when dealing with such a heinous criminal! If he had shown even a shred of repentance, he wouldn't have brought execution upon himself. Look at him now—he shows no remorse whatsoever. If he is spared, he will become a scourge far more terrifying than any demon!" Abe Seirhi fanned the flames from the side.

The sycophantic Onmyoji in the surroundings joined in the shouting:

"Execute him! Execute him!"

"We cannot allow this root of disaster for the Abe clan to remain!"

"We cannot let them ruin the reputation of the Onmyoji clans!"

"Is there truly nothing else you have to say?" Abe Seiyue made one final attempt, hoping Abe Seimei would say something—anything.

To her surprise, Abe Seimei only gave a faint, gentle reply: "Do it. It is already enough. To be able to see you one last time... is truly wonderful."

Overwhelmed by grief, Abe Seiyue swung the ritual sword downward, and the long blade fell!

Amidst a sharp cry of pain, everyone turned their gazes in shock!

At that moment, Abe Seimei's right hand had been severed!

"The traitor Abe Seimei's right hand has been crippled. He can no longer wield powerful Onmyodo arts, and the threat has been eliminated. This is the account that I, Abe Seiyue, give to you all!"

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