Ise Ryuichi's palm froze in mid-air, firmly blocked by that layer of golden barrier, thin as a cicada's wing yet indestructible.
A pure, vast, and judgmental Amaterasu Divine Power was, along the barrier, inversely eroding the filthy black-gold energy in his palm.
Stinging pain!
A burning sting came from his palm, shooting straight to the top of his head!
The feeling was like mud being scorched by the hot sun, evil being purified by divine light—an absolute restraint stemming from the very essence of their powers!
Ise Ryuichi grunted and had no choice but to quickly retract his hand.
He stared at his older sister, his red-gold eyes, stained with ink, swirling with anger, confusion, and a hint of…unwillingness that he himself refused to admit.
He wasn't afraid of his sister's power being stronger than his.
What he feared was the fleeting expression in his sister's eyes, mixed with pity and disappointment.
It was as if she was looking at a child throwing a tantrum, getting himself all dirty.
Yet he, too, was a person with the family's bloodline, capable of using the power of Amaterasu!
He was the future Patriarch of the family!
Not a child who needed pity!
At this moment, Lu Cheng's face, with its playful smile, once again appeared in his mind without warning.
A thought so chilling that it almost froze his blood instantly pierced through all his anger!
A trap!
All of this was that man's trap!
That man just wanted to see the siblings turn against each other!
He just wanted to see Ise Ryuichi, like a wild dog driven mad by jealousy, fighting amongst themselves here, killing each other here!
He was hiding in some corner, enjoying this farce!
This realization, more than his sister's intervention, more than any humiliation, made him feel a bone-chilling cold!
He couldn't let that man succeed!
Absolutely not!
Ise Ryuichi's chest heaved violently, he forcibly suppressed the violent killing intent within him, and the chaotic black-gold energy around him slowly receded into his body.
His distorted and ferocious face gradually returned to calm, but beneath that calm was a coldness more dangerous than an abyss.
His gaze slowly moved from Ise Hinata's face, finally, like two poisoned ice picks, landing on Kamiya Makoto, who was still in a state of shock.
His eyes were filled with undisguised disdain and contempt.
"wild dog."
He spoke coldly, his voice hoarse, without a trace of emotion.
Kamiya Makoto's body trembled violently.
"We'll settle our score later."
Ise Ryuichi's tone was like announcing an unquestionable verdict.
"Now, you only have one use."
He looked down at Kamiya Makoto, his gaze like he was examining a tool, a consumable item that could be discarded at any time.
"That is to come with me and kill Lu Cheng!"
Kamiya Makoto suddenly looked up, his eyes full of humiliation.
He was treated like a dog, a tool, a piece of trash to be discarded after use.
But… Ise Hinata's ethereal voice echoed in his mind.
"Your existence is far more important than you imagine."
He wasn't useless!
He wasn't trash!
His bloodline, his existence, was recognized by this supreme Miko-sama!
He wanted to prove it!
He had to prove to Miko-sama that her compassion was not misplaced!
And right now, only by killing that man was the only, and best, way to prove it!
All the humiliation, at this moment, transformed into twisted motivation.
Kamiya Makoto slowly clenched his fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms.
He squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth.
"…Okay."
Ise Ryuichi snorted, seemingly unsurprised by this outcome.
Finally, he took a deep look at his older sister.
His gaze was extremely complex.
There was disappointment, unwillingness, the sting of betrayal, but more than that, there was an extreme cold determination.
"Sister."
He said, word by word.
"When I return with his head, I will prove to you who is truly capable of protecting Amaterasu!"
After speaking, he didn't even wait for Ise Hinata's response, but resolutely turned around and strode out of the shrine.
His back was arrogant, carrying a tragic grandeur of no return.
Kamiya Makoto hesitated for a moment, then bowed deeply in Ise Hinata's direction.
This bow was both gratitude and a promise.
Then, he quickly followed Ise Ryuichi's footsteps, and his figure soon disappeared into the night.
Inside the courtyard, a deathly silence returned.
The surrounding energy silently dissipated.
Ise Hinata stood alone, making her appear even more aloof and unworldly.
After a long while, a sigh, unheard by anyone, escaped her lips and vanished into the cold air.
She turned and returned to her empty, cold dwelling.
Inside the room, a lone lamp flickered.
Here, it was eternally unchanging, pure and dust-free.
However, the moment she stepped into the room, a somewhat lazy voice abruptly sounded from the shadows of the room.
"A drama of siblings turning against each other, and a loyal dog protecting its master—truly splendid."
Ise Hinata's footsteps paused slightly.
But there was no surprise on her face, as if she had expected all of this.
She looked up, towards the source of the voice.
In the center of the room, at her wooden table, a figure had, at some point, casually sat down.
It was Lu Cheng.
He stretched, trying to recover from a night of hard work, but his posture made it seem as if he was the true master of this shrine.
"You don't seem surprised at all?"
Lu Cheng raised his eyes, his deep gaze filled with a playful smile, looking directly at Ise Hinata.
"Aren't you worried about them, Miko-sama?"
"I've prepared a gift for them."