Chapter 72

"Filth and Cursed Spirits are both born from human negativity," the boy mused coldly. "So tell me—what exactly makes you any different from them? I'm genuinely curious."

Kurosawa Ren turned, his expression unreadable.

"You've got two options," he said, voice like steel. "One: kneel, beg for mercy, and dissect yourself so I can study your body. Two: resist, and I'll rip you apart right here."

A low, angry laugh rumbled from Kamui.

"You used my own tricks against me… you bastard… That actually pissed me off."

He clenched his fists. The sensation of being talked down to—of being commanded—infuriated him more than anything. Yet, somehow, he'd forgotten that over the years, he had forced countless people to make the same cruel life-or-death decisions. Now, the tables had turned.

"Wait—who is that…?"

In a shadowed corner, Hanano Hongxu stood with Kitagawa Umi. She stared in disbelief at the young man now fighting in her defense. A strange mix of curiosity and excitement flashed in her eyes.

"Why would he help me?" she whispered.

Umi gave a soft giggle, brushing a lock of golden hair behind her ear.

"Because Ren likes beautiful girls, obviously. He's totally your knight in shining armor right now."

The two had already exchanged brief introductions while hiding from the carnage. Though strangers a moment ago, danger had a way of bonding people quickly.

"Don't worry," Umi added with a wink. "Kurosawa Ren's the kind of guy who'll make sure that murderer pays for what he did to your family."

Meanwhile, the fight raged on.

Their movements were so fast that fists and kicks blurred into streaks of light—too fast for the naked eye to follow.

"This… This can't be happening! How are you blocking my strikes?"

Shenwei's voice cracked in disbelief. He'd never encountered resistance like this. Physical combat was his pride—his strongest domain—and yet this boy, calm and composed, matched him effortlessly.

"I told you," Ren said, his face blank. "I'm giving you ten seconds. Why are you still wasting time?"

Even without activating his other powers, Ren's sheer physical prowess—amplified by his Red Dragon bloodline—was enough to keep Shenwei at bay. Step by step, he was dismantling the enemy's confidence.

"You arrogant little—!"

Kamui's eyes glowed with rage. Purple lightning surged around his legs as he launched himself forward, aiming a vicious strike at Ren's head.

"Countdown begins."

Ren's voice was cool, detached—as if he wasn't in a fight to the death.

He retaliated with an elbow strike that crackled through the air like thunder, his blows raining down with precision and force. The sheer density of each hit made Kamui scream out in pain.

"You bastard!"

The next collision was thunderous—fists wrapped in elemental energy clashed, shattering the pavement and sending debris flying. Kamui's face was bruised and swollen, blood spraying as Ren dodged his attacks with chilling ease.

SLAP!

Ren's hand lashed out, cracking across Kamui's face.

"Six. You're running out of time."

"Damn it! DAMN IT!"

For the first time in years, Kamui felt something unfamiliar curl in his gut.

Fear.

Real, bone-deep fear.

He'd slaughtered his way through countless battles. But now, his tried-and-true techniques were failing. Nothing worked. His attacks were blocked, his power rendered useless.

This kid—he's not human.

Kamui's composure shattered.

With a furious scream, he turned tail and fled—leaping away in the opposite direction, leaving behind a storm of dust.

From her hiding spot, Hanano Hongxu stared in stunned silence.

"He… ran away?"

Just fifteen minutes earlier, that man had her pinned by the throat, promising to choke the life out of her.

And now?

That same monster was fleeing in fear—his pride shattered—running from the very boy who now stood calmly in the street.

The shift in power had happened so fast.

Hanano blinked in disbelief.

So even monsters know fear… even someone that cruel will beg for mercy someday.

And for the first time in years, she felt a strange, unexpected sense of peace.

Like a cold drink on a sweltering day—it was deeply, satisfyingly refreshing.

"One," Ren said, eyes narrowing. "Countdown's over."

"Black Flash."

The name echoed like a death knell.

Kamui had barely cleared the edge of the alley when a deep instinct screamed in his gut.

Danger. Fatal danger.

BOOM!

A thunderclap cracked the sky.

Kurosawa Ren's body blurred, becoming a spear of light as he lunged forward.

His fists exploded into Kamui's back with unstoppable force.

And that was just the beginning.

The arcane art of Black A's Infinite Sword Style detonated from within Kamui's body—blade-shaped energies ripping through flesh and bone in spirals, like a cyclone made of swords.

"AAAGHHHHHHHH!"

Kamui collapsed, screaming in agony. His body convulsed violently, knees hitting the pavement.

Explosions rippled beneath his skin. Dozens of jagged, spectral blades burst through muscle and sinew, piercing him from within.

Blood poured from every pore, painting the street crimson.

"It's over."

Ren stepped forward, shaking gore from his hand like water.

"Filth may be tougher than cursed spirits—but unlike them, they don't have domains or spell barriers. Once they're cracked open, they break just like anything else."

A soft chime rang in Ren's mind.

[Ding! First time purging Filth—Reward: 18 Saint Crystals earned.]

Hanano Hongxu watched in awe.

Her parents' killer lay broken and howling in the dirt.

She exhaled slowly. Then, stepping forward, she bowed deeply toward Kurosawa Ren.

"Thank you… for avenging my parents."

To see justice done—not just as a distant concept, but right here, in front of her—brought peace she hadn't thought possible.

"Yeah."

Ren nodded, accepting her thanks without hesitation.

That simple honesty—the lack of false modesty—struck Hanano.

She wasn't a fan of false humility. The boy's directness was oddly refreshing.

And maybe… a little charming.

As they left the battlefield behind, Umi glanced at her with curiosity.

"So, Miss Hanano… are you a professional Onmyoji now?"

They had just emerged from the Gate of Calamity, the epicenter of the disturbance. Umi's large eyes sparkled with admiration as she watched Hanano smoothly seal away a talisman.

Umi was many things, but a natural Onmyoji wasn't one of them. And seeing someone younger than her excel so effortlessly sparked an undeniable sense of envy.

"Yes," Hanano replied warmly. "I was born into the main branch of the Hanano family on Togumen Island. We begin training in Yin-Yang arts very early."

Seeing Umi's disappointment, she offered a gentle smile.

"But don't worry, Sister Umi. Everyone has their own talents."

Clap, clap, clap…

Applause echoed from the alley.

A white-haired man in red-tinted glasses emerged, his steps light, his manner oddly elegant.

He stopped a few paces away and smiled with disarming charm.

"Kurosawa Ren. Miss Hanano. At last—I've found you both."

The three of them exchanged wary glances.

"…Who are you?" Ren asked, one brow raised.

"Ah! My bad," the stranger said, tapping his forehead. "I should introduce myself."

"I'm Tsuchimikado Arima, head of the Tsuchimikado clan, and leader of all modern Onmyoji."

That got their attention.

And then he dropped the bombshell.

"The reason I'm here today… is because I received a divine revelation. You two are fated to be married."

"…What?"

Even Ren—stoic as ever—was stunned.

Hanano Hongxu's face flushed crimson.

Umi began flailing her hands frantically in protest.

"Now, now," Arima said with a smile. "If love isn't there yet, it can be cultivated. You're both young. Arranged marriages aren't uncommon in our world."

He pushed up his glasses.

"The truth is, the latest Star Chant divination predicted a global spiritual crisis—and your union is the most promising solution."

Ren and Umi were still blinking in disbelief.

But Hanano Hongxu suddenly gasped.

"You mean… that's what the Star Chant revealed?"

The Star Chant—known more commonly as astral divination—was one of the rarest and most respected branches of Yin-Yang magic. It allowed skilled Onmyoji to read the stars and predict possible futures.

Few were born with the gift.

Even among elite families, Star-Readers were rare.

But Arima was different.

He not only possessed the gift—he was also the first clan leader to publicly announce the results of the annual Star Chant at the Onmyoji Summit.

Some had praised him. Others had condemned him.

But he had remained resolute.

And now, according to this year's reading…

A spiritual catastrophe loomed.

And only two people—Kurosawa Ren and Hanano Hongxu—stood a chance of stopping it.

"This is no joke," Arima said, his smile fading. "The fate of our world may depend on it."

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