A tall black haired woman walked into the room. This woman wore a black form fitting black top and a skirt showing both sides of her hips, the black silk glowed softly and was decorated with golden ornaments and fancy script.
She had a pair of heartstopping sapphire eyes, on her hips she had two identical ghost headed straight daggers.
âLady Shenzu!â The sword mikos and jade maidens started saluting.
Shenzu nodded, then glanced around, her eyes finally landed on Lily who she had never seen before.
Once her eyes landed on Lily, Lilyâs heart shook, it felt as if those dark sapphire eyes could see through her. With just one look, Lilyâs female body desired to surrender.
But her will was beyond the control of her body, she controlled those impulses and assumed a calm and humble pose. Afterall, this was the new Jade Maiden leader.
Shenzuâs eyes moved away and looked at the group, asking, âWhatâs Miss Lisaâs situation?â
âLisaâŠsheâŠshe was seriously injured in the battle against the demon, last night sheâŠâ A mature looking female samurai in purple replied with her head lowered before choking up.
Sadness seemed to emerge in Shenzuâs eyes, she walked to the female samurai, shook her head and finger gently brushed that female samuraiâs chin causing her to blush and shrink back.
âMiss Lisa died for the heavenly path.â
Instantly the atmosphere became heavy, the girls went silent and only the crackles of the lanterns could be heard.
âLadies, many among us will probably die to save the heaven path, includingâŠmyself.â Shenzu lowered her head, traces of sadness emerging on her beautiful face. Shenzuâs profile had both the feminine beauty and masculine heroism, that mix made all the females tremble.
âLady ShenzuâŠâ
âHowever, we are tsunaga sisters! This is our destiny! Though we do not know if our strength will have any result, if we do not fight, then in this world, who will dare fight against those filthy creatures rebelling against the heavens! The heavens have chosen us, because we are all this worldâs holy beings, we areââwomen1!â
Shenzuâs declaration had a feminine charm yet embodied the masculine decisiveness. Her sapphire gaze had a mystic power, unknowingly, the women in the room were conquered by her will.
âThis scentâŠâ Lily detected a stronger, more intense mixture of feminine scents appearing, âWhat is going on?â
Shenzu leaned over and gently whispered into that mature female samuraiâs ear, that woman couldnât stand still, trembles wracking her body and her face blushing crimson, white mist clouding over her, âYes~~Yes! Lady Shenzu! IâŠI will definitely come.â
Shenzu turned to the others, âI just told Mikako, tonight, I will share her grief, Lisa was our sister, was a sister to each and every of us.â
âTell everyone, which demon did Lisa fall to?â Shenzuâs eyes seemed to shimmer with tears.
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âThe crusade against the minions of TamamoâŠâ
âTamamo-no-Mae again!â Shenzu turned, her skirts fluttering. âThat Tamamo-no-Mae, that peerless arch-demon, that leader of the three archdemons! That year, she settled here to lead the rebellion against the heavens! In just this short month, how many of our sisters have died under her claws! Itâs rumored that even Madam Yoruko, Heian-kyoâs sword miko leader, our beloved mentor and companion, was killed by Tamamo-no-Mae!â
The entire room filled with hisses, Yorukoâs death had resulted in Heian-kyoâs sword mikoâs hatred against the demons.
âEh?â Lily couldnât help but wonder, Madam Yorukoâs residence was still under heavy guard. Only the Chief Advisor mansion and Genji members had entered, how could Lady Shenzu know of the rumors?
Facing Shenzu, the group remained silent, waiting for her to continue, âOnly, Tamamo-no-Maeâs power is stronger than we expected. Now is not the time to have a decisive battle, the recent sacrifices have made it clear that our sisters alone will not be enough to eradicate the three great arch-demons. However, our sacrifices are not in vain, we shall use battles and sacrifices to arouse the determination of the world, the warriors, the imperial court, and the ministers to battle the monsters to the end!â
âYour highness Shenzu! That Tamamo-no-Mae is too wicked! Destroying the natural order, and killing so many of our sisters! Even our leader was destroyed by her poisonous hands! You called us together to gather all of our Heian-kyo forces, and attack Tamamoâs forces, right?â Ijuin asked, filled with fighting spirit.
Shenzu shook her head, âNo, Tamamoâs forces will be eventually eradicated, but now is not the time, what we must do is weaken her forces from the surrounding areas. Today, I have gathered everyone to discuss how to cut off the source of Tamamoâs funding!â
âFunding?â The group could only look at each other.
A black clad female general besides Shenzu hung up a map of Heian-kyo and pointed at various locations, âThe reason why Tamamoâs forces are so entrenched in Heian-kyo is because she has many large and small factions and businesses here. We started by destroying the night market, but her greatest sources of income are the ghost tower ship Fuyutsuki and the Medicine Valley.
âFuyutsuki and the Medicine Valley?â Lily was startled, âWas the boss of the Fuyutsuki Tamamo no Mae?â
âAccording to our reports, that Fuyutsuki is a giant treasure jointly refined between Tamamo-no-Mae, Nurarihyon and a few other arch-demons. The situation of this treasure is unknown and hard to deal with.â
âTreasure!?â This was Lilyâs first time hearing that Fuyutsuki, a super large flying ship was actually a treasure!
âAnd that Medicine Valley, resides within the deep ditch opened up by the Fuyutsuki, itâs completely under Tamamo-no-Maeâs control. It is said that of all the high-grade medicine used in Kansai, at least half of it is produced by the Medicine Valley. That is a significant source of income.â The black clothed lady continued.
âThatâs right.â Shenzu interjected, âIt is a shameful thing that most of us, including me, have purchased her medicine, and she has used money earned from humans to strengthen her demon army to oppress and kill us humans, to destroy the heavens! Destroy the Medicine Valley, slaughter the demon and traitor humans, and we can deal a great blow to Tamamo-no-Mae!â
âSo itâs like that⊠Lady Shenzu, though we lost to Tamamo-no-Mae, if we can destroy her income sources, then she will not be able to support that many demon minions! Though we wonât be able to kill her, she wonât be able to stay in Heian-kyo! Hitting her wealth is more effective than hitting her!â Ijuin exclaimed.
âAs expected of Lady Shenzu, to be able to accurately find Tamamo-no-Maeâs weak point!â
âWe need to strike Tamamo-no-Maeâs weak point! We cannot let our sisterâs sacrifice be in vain!â
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The group was overwhelmed, either speaking out in approval or nodding to Shenzuâs decisions.
âPlease wait.â
The group turned around only to see a red clad Lily stepping forward, âLady Shenzu, toward your conclusions, I have a different opinion.â
âWhat!?â The group of sisters all exclaimed, their gazes becoming unkind and dissatisfied.
âLady Shenzu, wise and foresightful, how could there be any mistakes?â
âThatâs right, who are you, Iâve never seen you before, a newcomer? You dare question Lady Shenzu?â
They all turned on Lily with accusations and curses, even Mizue tugged on her sleeve begging her not to confront Shenzu headon.
Shenzu inquired, âThis lady isâŠ?â
âLady Shenzu, I am Kagami Lily from the east.â
âWhat!?â The groupâs attitude had turned from anger to surprise.
âShe, sheâs that Kagami Lily?â
âThe rumored woman who defeated Sakanoue no Tamurakonoe, and cut off the arm of the Rashomon Ghost?â
âShe also challenged Demon King Sugawara no Michizane, and she even ended up rescuing ten something sisters from his hands, and she⊠she survived!â
âI heard, that night, Sugawara and her laughed into the night!â
Hearing the various gossiping in tones of curiosity and confusion, Shenzu faintly frowned.
âSo youâre Kagami Lily, then Lady KagamiâŠyour opinion is certainly worth listening to, please tell us.â
Lily slowly walked forward, âLady Shenzu, as we all know, each of the three great arch-demons are powerful enough to compete with the imperial court. How could such thousand year powers be easily shaken? What attacking the weak point? First destroying the night market and then attacking the Medicine Valley? Please do not forget that Tamamo-no-Mae is not the imperial court, is not a prince or duke, she is a peerless arch-demon. Can such a method really harm her? In my opinion, this is just ignorance, there is no benefit other than provoking her to threaten the court more!â
Once her words were out, silence ruled over the room. Never had there been a person who mercilessly confronted the new Jade Maiden leader.
Finally, a female samurai in blue opposed, âLady Kagami, what kind of words are those! You are one of Heian-kyoâs famed female samurais! Before today I truly admired you, but I didnât expect you would say such spineless words!â
âIsnât this, destroying your own morale before the battle?â
âAccording to what you said, we should just sit still like the imperial court and wait for our own deaths?â
Shenzu waved a hand and approached Lily, the scent on her body made Lilyâs body soften. Lilyâs will and reasoning told her that this womanâs eyes and scent werenât simple.
Shenzu asked, âThen, what methods do you have to counter the three great arch-demons?â
âEh?â Though Lily knew that their previous plans were absolutely useless, but to ask what methods she had, she couldnât answer immediately.
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Wait⊠she couldnât be fooled by Shenzu.
âLady Shenzu, I think, instead of risking heavy retaliation from the three great arch-demons, donât you think we should instead focus on finding the true meaning of the heavenly oracle2?â