Chapter 863: The Peach Blossom Spring
Qi Xuansu did not approach the Tsuchimikado Onmyoji rashly. This place was far too strange, and the Onmyoji himself exuded an unnatural aura. Who could tell if this sole “survivor” wasn’t actually a trap?
“Little Yin, is this Onmyoji human or ghost?” Qi Xuansu asked.
Little Yin glanced at him and replied, “He’s human.”
Though their strength was roughly on par, each of them had their own strengths. Little Yin’s perceptive abilities far exceeded Qi Xuansu’s, especially in sensing yin energy. In this regard, she was rarely ever wrong.
Only then did Qi Xuansu step forward and ask in a calm voice, “Who are you?”
The Onmyoji, who had been pacing, stopped abruptly, turned his head stiffly, and stared at Qi Xuansu. “I am Tsuchimikado Tadataka.”
His voice held no trace of emotion. It was not cold or indifferent but mechanical, devoid of any inflection.
Qi Xuansu asked again, “What are you doing here?”
Tsuchimikado Tadataka continued to reply stiffly, “We followed the orders of the Chancellor’s Office and came to Mount Suzuka to meet with Suzuka Gozen.”
“You saw Suzuka Gozen?” Qi Xuansu pressed on.
According to the Tsuchimikado Onmyoji, who had escaped and returned to the field camp, the group had reached Mount Suzuka but never met Suzuka Gozen. They were ambushed by the Jingu’s forces on their return, suffering heavy casualties. But now, it seemed their account was full of omissions. They hadn’t mentioned a fellow Onmyoji being left behind here, nor the eerie state of Mount Suzuka.
Why had they hidden the strangeness of Mount Suzuka? Was the current condition of the mountain connected to the Tsuchimikado Onmyoji themselves? If so, it would make sense. They were deliberately covering up their involvement to hide their guilt.