On the fifth day after entering Izumo, Jiuer and Nanka arrived at the foot of Izumo Mountain.
Originally there were only scattered villages and cultivated fields at the foot of the mountain, but the peaceful and peaceful atmosphere had long been broken. There were newly built temporary houses and lifelike statues of the one-armed Susanoo god everywhere. There were crowds of people, even in the early morning.
It seemed very lively.
The villagers who originally lived here were either invited to leave, or they were treated as honored guests and stayed as 'myth tellers'. Of course, the farmland and houses here have long been snapped up by wealthy businessmen and fanatics.
Jiu'er looked at the bonfires lit in imitation of the ancient style around him, as well as the lifelike carved wooden statue of Susanoo holding a ten-fist sword, and felt a little strange in his heart.
Why do I always feel like I’ve seen this one-armed Susano’o somewhere before?
Continuing to walk forward, we were still a hundred meters away from the torii stairs at the foot of Izumo Mountain, when we were already surrounded by a dense crowd.
Since Jiu'er was petite and weak, Qihua had no choice but to hold her and push her way through the crowd. Even those who were squeezed away turned their heads in anger and couldn't help but swallow their curse words when they saw Qihua's tall body of nearly two meters.
After finally squeezing to the front, I found that there was an open space at the beginning of the stairs at the foot of the mountain. It was surrounded by ropes with imperial coins hanging on it. Although the people around were squeezing around, no one dared to step aside.
One step at a time.
The zhulian rope represents the boundaries of sacred objects. The inside of the zhulian rope is the ‘boundary’, which is the residence of the gods.
No one dares to trespass within the Santu Shrine where the true god descends and bestows blessings.
As soon as Shichika pushed her way to the front, she noticed the two black mikos standing inside the rope.
They all have short shoulder-length hair, wearing black witch costumes, with knives hanging on their waists, and their pretty faces are full of indifference.
One of the black shrine maidens looked at the dark crowd outside the shrine and said, "Everyone, please go back. Santu Shrine is not a public shrine open to the public. Please leave some purity to the residence of the gods."
A chubby wealthy businessman standing very close to the front rubbed his hands and said with a humbly smile:
"Well, dear black miko, we don't mean to disturb you. We just want to go up and pay homage to the 'miracle' and then donate money to the shrine."
Others quickly echoed: "Yes, yes! That's what we mean! Please, give us a chance to donate!"
Seeing the frantic 'donation' atmosphere around her, Qihua scratched the back of her head and asked Jiu'er strangely: "What do these people mean by rushing to give money, Jiu'er?"
"Leave your name before God."
Jiu'er, who was lying comfortably in Qihua's arms, said:
"Since there is a true god, then the world after death must also exist. If you please the gods, you will not suffer even after death, and you will even have the opportunity to continue to enjoy the glory and wealth in life, and even cure diseases and extend your life. If you can use them right
To achieve this with the least valuable 'money', it's a great deal."
Shichika tilted her head: "It's so hard to understand. Gods are so powerful. No one here has seen them with their own eyes, right? Why are everyone so sure? In other words, if this continues, we won't be able to go to Santu Shrine, Jiu'er."
"Look at me...hey!"
Jiu'er jumped out of Qihua's arms with a hey, cleared his throat, then looked at the two black mikos and said loudly:
"Two shrine maidens, I am the general supervisor of the Preparatory Office specially sent by the shogunate. I am here to pay a visit to the master of the Tsuruga Camouflage Palace. I hope to inform you."
The shogunate was the ruler of the world. The wealthy businessmen and nobles around them subconsciously took a few steps away from Jiu'er and Shichika. The entire dark crowd dispersed back like mino dominoes.
The two black witches looked at each other without any surprise or confusion.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time, Your Highness Kisakushi, Master of the Kyūto-ryu Sect. Please follow me." A black miko bowed slightly to Jiu'er and Shichika, then turned and walked towards the mist-shrouded torii stairs.
Jiu'er and Qihua looked at each other strangely, nodded and followed.
At this point, even if there is a dragon's pond and a tiger's den ahead, Jiu'er still has to muster the courage to break through. As Qihua is Jiu'er's sword, there is no reason to leave alone.
But within three minutes, the momentum of the two men was greatly reduced.
Should I say that I am worthy of being Jiu'er? After climbing less than a hundred steps, I was so exhausted that I could hardly move. In the end, I could only be held in Shichika's arms in an embarrassing "princess hug" position and headed towards the top of the mountain.
On the contrary, it was the black miko who led the way. Her breath was not disturbed from the beginning to the end, and her forward speed did not change at all. She was always five positions faster than Shichika.
Shichika was greatly impressed by this. She was worthy of being Susano'o's black miko. She was indeed very powerful!
With the strength of Black Miko and Shichika's feet, it didn't take long to reach the top of the mountain.
Compared with when Heather visited, the current Santu Shrine has not changed much, except that the black witches who are walking back and forth have taken off the talisman covering their faces, and all of them have delicate and even beautiful faces.
Gorgeous girl.
Although they have completely different appearances, these black mikos give Shichika a very strange feeling - as if they are the same person.
The same black miko costume, the same hairstyle, the same sword, the same movements, the same indifferent face, the same fanaticism hidden deep in the eyes.
"Shichika! Look!"
Hearing Jiu'er's panicked voice, Qihua came back to his senses and looked in the direction Jiu'er pointed -
In the dense woods on the top of the mountain, there is a huge slash mark that was violently cleared. It is wide enough for four carriages to pass side by side. The slash mark continues to spread westward, spread, spread! Beyond Izumo Mountain, the slash mark does not stop, but continues towards the west.
The peaks to the west extend past.
A total of seven majestic mountains were carved with permanent sword marks by this unparalleled slash!
Looking at the huge slash that disappeared to the end of his sight without interruption, Qihua couldn't help but swallowed: "That, that is..."
[This is definitely not a level that human beings can reach], Qihua made such a judgment in an instant.
And Jiu'er was so frightened that she trembled all over. Before she saw this terrifying scene with her own eyes, she had 80% doubts about the so-called 'Susano'o's arrival', but now...she had a moment where she even connected with [Thousand Swordsmen]
I forgot all about it and just wanted to escape Santu Shrine immediately.
"Good morning."
Qihua and Jiu'er were startled by the sudden greetings from nearby.
I saw Tsuruga wearing a camouflage witch costume, with a long sword on his waist, and a faint smile on his face:
"Qiu'er, the brilliant strategist, Qihua, the seventh generation head of Xu Dao Liu, I have been waiting for you for a long time."
"You... knew we were coming?" Jiu'er had doubts about the attitude of the two witches before, but now it was finally confirmed that someone was tipping off the Santu Shrine!
She glanced at the long sword on Tsuruga's camouflage waist. Is that the Sentoru? The style seemed to be the same as that of other black mikos.
Before Jiu'er could say anything, he realized that something was wrong with Qihua beside him.
This big boy, who had never shown fear or been defeated, was now nervous and sweating all over his face. He even lowered his body slightly and assumed an attacking posture towards Tsuruga in camouflage. He was obviously extremely alert.
"Jiu'er, come behind me!" The voice almost came out from between his teeth. Jiu'er had never seen Qihua look like this.
"Qihua, you, what's wrong with you...ah!" Jiu'er just wanted to touch Qihua's forehead, but the latter grabbed her by the waist and threw her behind her.
"Oh my, as expected, he is a talented swordsman with extraordinary talents."
Tsuruga Camouflage was clearly standing in front of the two of them, but his voice sounded far and near, which was strange:
"You're so lucky that you passed the test."
"Pass? What pass?" Qihua didn't say anything, but Jiu'er stuck her head out from behind him and shouted.
Tsuruga Camouflage still had the same faint smile, but this time even Jiu'er noticed the horror of the other party.
It was a sense of existence that had nothing to do with murderous aura, sword aura, etc. If I had to put it bluntly, it was [malice].
A power that Jiuer and Shichika couldn't understand was continuously emanating from Tsuruga Camouflage, caressing their hearts like tentacles.
"He passed the test, but you didn't. Master Qi, I'll give you two choices now, either die here or roll down the mountain——"
Tsuruga Camouflage put his left hand on the handle of the knife at his waist and slowly pulled it out: