Missing men. A barrier designed specifically to block women.
If Uchiha Retsu remembered correctly, this was the same demon that Miroku and Sango had dealt with in the original story.
He clearly recalled that when Miroku and Sango passed through this barrier, Sango had been slowed by its resistance and ended up getting separated from him inside the mist.
Retsu lowered his head and glanced at Kikyo, who was leaning against his shoulder, her breathing gradually returning to normal. Only now did he truly understand why she had been so exhausted.
In the original story, Sango, as a demon slayer, carried the massive Hiraikotsu on her back every day. Not only could she fight demons head-on while carrying it, she could even hurl it like a weapon.
When Sango threw Hiraikotsu, it could smash demons in half with a single strike. That alone showed how terrifying her physical strength was.
Yet even someone like Sango had struggled against this barrier's resistance and fallen behind Miroku. One could imagine just how strong the suppression on women truly was.
Kikyo, though powerful in spiritual energy, was still a shrine maiden. Compared to an ordinary person, her physical strength was greater, but she was no match for someone like Sango, who regularly fought demons in close combat.
No wonder only men had gone missing, and no women had ever come searching. Even if they had found this place, they would never have been able to pass through this female-targeting barrier.
Realizing that this incident had appeared in the original story made Retsu quietly happy.
It wasn't because this demon posed no real threat to him and Kikyo.
More importantly, he remembered that after the main group resolved this case, they later encountered a place nearby called "Tōgenkyō," which was connected to "immortals" in the plot.
He was extremely curious about these so-called immortals. Were they truly beings who could live forever, or were they more like Sage Mode users in the ninja world—stronger, but with no real increase in lifespan?
After all, in the shinobi world, aside from the leaders of the Three Great Sage Lands, most humans who mastered Sage Mode didn't live any longer than normal people.
"Alright, let's go."
With Retsu's chakra support, Kikyo recovered quickly. She sat up and spoke calmly.
Retsu helped her to her feet. Scanning the mist, he pointed in one direction.
"There's a fluctuation of demonic energy over there. That should be our target."
"Mm… wait."
Kikyo nodded, then suddenly paused.
She lifted a finger and gently touched her forehead. A layer of pure white spiritual light flashed over her body before fading away completely, as if it had never existed.
"Alright. Let's go."
Only then did she step forward.
"What was that just now?" Retsu asked curiously as he followed beside her.
"Since this barrier specifically blocks women, I'm worried the demon might go berserk once it notices me," Kikyo explained softly, tilting her head slightly toward him.
"I placed a concealment spell on myself. As long as I don't make noise or draw attention, it shouldn't be able to detect me."
"Isn't that a bit troublesome? Why not just find it and cut it down?" Retsu asked, puzzled.
He remembered that in the original story, Miroku had used a similar method, giving Sango prayer beads that concealed her presence.
"No need to rush," Kikyo replied calmly as she walked. "I have some guesses about this demon. I'd like to observe first and see what's really going on."
Before long, the outlines of several buildings gradually emerged from the thick mist ahead.
At that moment, a gentle female voice drifted through the fog.
"Who are you?"
Retsu looked toward the sound.
A beautiful woman in luxurious robes stepped out of the mist.
Her long black hair flowed down to her waist. Her dark eyes were slightly hollow. Her skin was snow-white, her features delicate, and her demeanor elegant yet fragile.
However, Retsu could clearly sense the faint demonic aura surrounding her.
Having read the story, he knew the truth: she was actually a female mountain dog demon who had stolen the remains and soul of the dead princess and taken on her appearance.
"Why would you come to such a remote mountain?" the woman asked softly, noticing his gaze.
"Obviously, I'm here to exorcise demons!" Retsu replied without thinking, blunt as ever.
"…"
The "princess" froze.
She clearly hadn't expected him to be this straightforward, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.
"Hiss—!"
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Retsu's waist.
He turned his head and saw Kikyo glaring at him, warning in her eyes, her fingers discreetly pinching his side.
"S-Sir, what's wrong?"
The demon snapped out of her daze and asked with concern.
"N-Nothing!"
Feeling Kikyo's threatening gaze, Retsu quickly waved his hand and played along.
"By the way, miss, are you living alone in these mountains?"
"Yes… I've always been here by myself."
Sadness and loneliness instantly filled her eyes. Her voice grew low and sorrowful.
She pointed toward a faintly visible mansion in the mist.
"Sir, please come inside."
With that, she turned and walked toward the residence.
Retsu stared at her back, then glanced at Kikyo's urging look. He suppressed the urge to attack on the spot and followed her inside.
After entering the mansion, the demon led him to sit down. She brought out teacups and personally poured him tea with gentle movements.
Sitting across from her, Retsu accepted the cup expressionlessly. He watched as she filled it and handed it to him respectfully.
But he didn't drink.
He simply stared at her, carefully observing every move she made.
Seeing his reaction, the fake princess didn't mind.
She lifted her head, her hollow eyes meeting his, and spoke softly.
"Not long ago, my country was conquered by enemies. My father sent loyal soldiers to escort me into these mountains to save my life…"
As she spoke, deep sorrow appeared on her face. A faint sheen of tears shimmered in her eyes. Her fragile, helpless demeanor was enough to stir any man's protective instincts.
"Is that so? That's truly pitiful," Retsu replied.
His words were comforting, but his tone was flat and indifferent. He showed no sign of being moved.
From time to time, his gaze wandered around the room, landing on Kikyo nearby.
At the moment, Kikyo was practically invisible to the demon. She was quietly working in a corner, holding a stack of talismans and rapidly arranging a formation on the floor—something Retsu couldn't understand at all.
Sensing that his attention wasn't on her, the demon tried to draw him back.
"The soldiers who fled with me all died… I'm so lonely…"
"Mm-hm. That's really tragic," Retsu replied casually, nodding perfunctorily.
Watching him constantly glance around instead of focusing on her, anger slowly rose in the demon's heart.
"This man is like a block of wood!
I'm standing right in front of him—a peerless beauty—and he keeps looking everywhere else. He won't even spare me a second of attention!"
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