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Volume 9 - Dojigiri: Chapter 3 – Different Celestial Maiden Carvings

“Obtaining the antidote won’t be easy. Only Shuten Doji possesses it, and acquiring it from him… It’s unfortunate that both Tamamo and I are currently injured. Otherwise, we could have assisted in infiltrating Mount Ooe,” Ayaka lamented, shaking her head. “Lily, I’m genuinely concerned. Without proper backup, attempting to acquire the antidote may result in your capture instead. You mustn’t act impulsively. Don’t underestimate Shuten Doji; he managed to inflict severe injuries on Tamamo-no-Mae, who possesses the strength of a Quintuple-Soul Big Dipper.”

“I understand, Sister Ayaka. I won’t let impatience guide my actions. But there’s a question I must ask you,” Lily said, her gaze focused and earnest.

Ayaka nodded, and the two of them took a seat in the living room, their eyes fixed on the serene view of the lake and the majestic mountains beyond.

“Lily, what is it that you want to ask me?” Ayaka inquired.

“Sister Ayaka, please forgive my impudence, but regarding your body… I mean, the fundamental physique, is it significantly superior to that of regular adepts?” Lily cautiously posed her question.

“Indeed, it is. If I did not possess the celestial maiden physique, sustaining such grave injuries would have undoubtedly claimed my life long ago,” Ayaka affirmed.

“What? Sister, you actually possess the celestial maiden physique?” Lily exclaimed, surprise evident in her voice.

“Yes… I do. This physique is exceedingly rare and is akin to the physique of the celestial maidens who reside high up in Takamagahara. Strength, explosive speed, agility, endurance, reaction speed, recovery, and senses—all of these attributes far surpass those of an ordinary individual. However, there are drawbacks as well. Compared to ordinary women, our bodies are far more sensitive… Nevertheless, having this physique is a tremendous advantage for adepts. According to historical records, women with the celestial maiden physique are exceptionally scarce throughout the entire Heian dynasty. After the persecution of mirror girls, this physique has nearly vanished! That’s one of the reasons why I sought to punish those who persecuted the mirror girls.”

“The women most likely to possess the celestial maiden physique are the mirror girls, sword mikos, or jade maidens. However, the chances of such a physique manifesting are minuscule, roughly one in ten thousand. But a woman with this physique possesses great power against the demons. It’s foolish of the imperial court and nobles to persecute the mirror girls. It’s as if they are cutting off their own arms, allowing the monsters to run rampant even more!” Ayaka’s frustration seeped into her voice.

“Sister Ayaka, considering how the imperial court has treated you, why do you still concern yourself with their well-being?” Lily questioned, genuinely curious.

“You raise a valid point… I am no longer the Chief Advisor. I am merely a sinner who was defeated, publicly humiliated, and nearly beheaded… The indignity I endured!” Ayaka trembled, tightly clutching Lily’s hand. “Lily, you saved me. If it weren’t for you, I… I would have perished in disgrace, bearing false accusations…”

The two embraced one another, finding solace in their shared struggles. Ayaka had endured a tragic fate, but did Lily not also face similar hardships and trials?

“Sister Ayaka, as long as I’m alive, I will do everything within my power for my sisters! That is the driving force behind my training! Now that sister Uesugi has been poisoned, I know that I might have to face Shuten. I need your help, sister. Will you stand by my side?” Lily earnestly implored.

“Lily, what are you saying? Your cause is my cause! The Imperial court and the people have already abandoned me. You are all I have left, and I will do everything I can to support you, just as you would for me! But please understand, in the next three months, I won’t be able to regain much of my strength. Even if I accompany you to Mount Ooe, it may not be sufficient,” Ayaka explained, concern etched on her face.

“I understand, but please listen… I have a few opportunities,” Lily revealed. She knew Ayaka was astute enough to grasp the significance. Though Ayaka had never inquired, it was clear that Lily’s rapid growth to the big dipper level within a short year was the result of an extraordinary opportunity. Everyone had their secrets, and as long as Lily chose to keep hers, Ayaka would not pry.

Regardless, Ayaka saw Lily as her little sister, and if Lily had stumbled upon an opportunity, Ayaka could only feel joy for her.

“That… please come with me to a certain place,” Lily requested.

……

Ayaka and Lily’s spirit bodies entered the dark, ancient octagonal stone chamber. As Ayaka looked around in awe, her curiosity rendered her speechless. This was the first time Lily had invited someone other than her shikigami into her mirror space

¹.

It wasn’t that Lily didn’t trust Uesugi Rei or Shimizu, but there were reasons why she hadn’t invited them before. In the past, Lily’s spirit body had been male, and she couldn’t find a way to explain that to them. However, now that her spirit body perfectly matched her physical body, there was no longer a need for hesitation.

Previously, Lily had been weak, and revealing this space to her other sisters could have put them in danger and made them targets of powerful traitors. But now, as a triple-soul big dipper expert and with enemies like the Imperial Court, Minamoto no Yoritomo, Shuten Doji, and Daitengu, it was inevitable that they would come after Lily and her sisters. Under such circumstances, there was an urgent need that compelled Lily to show Ayaka this space willingly.

However, Lily knew that it was not yet the right time to share information about Senior Sister Rinne with others. There were still matters that needed to be resolved before revealing that secret.

“Sister Ayaka, please follow me,” Lily said, leading Ayaka to the stone chamber where she practiced.

Ayaka’s eyes widened in astonishment as she gazed at the dance depicted on the stele. Her wonder and fascination left her speechless. The dance had captivated her completely, causing her face to flush with excitement.

“This… this is the Lunar Blossom!” Ayaka exclaimed, her eyes fixated on the gigantic stone stele in the center. “Lily, do you possess such a detailed copy of the Lunar Blossom?”

“Yes, Sister Ayaka, this is a complete copy of the Lunar Blossom,” Lily confirmed.

Ayaka’s expression turned incredulous. “A complete copy… Oh, my! The Lunar Blossom is one of the most legendary methods for training female spirit power. It is incredibly powerful, and its training speed is unparalleled. However, the instructions available in the world only allow practitioners to reach the permanence realm. That limitation made me hesitate to pursue training in the Lunar Blossom. It’s a pity. Now that my adept path has been established, even if I were to read the full text, I wouldn’t be able to train in it.”

Ayaka’s voice carried a tinge of regret. “Lily, your opportunity is truly extraordinary.”

“Sister, please take a look at the other steles,” Lily invited, motioning Ayaka to follow her to the platform on the second floor.

As they stood side by side, Lily pointed to them and said, “Sister Ayaka, this is what I went to retrieve. It’s the third stance of the Tsukuyomi sword style. The two steles over there represent the first and second stances.”

Ayaka’s eyes were filled with awe as she observed the celestial maidens depicted on the first and second steles. Their swordsmanship emanated a profound sword intent that she had never witnessed before.

“Can one truly master such profound swordsmanship just by studying these carvings?” Ayaka wondered, her curiosity piqued.

Lily explained, “The third stele is engraved with a specific swordstyle form. The first and second stances were initially depicted similarly, but when I mastered the stance, it condensed into a conceptual essence.”

Ayaka nodded, but then she noticed something peculiar. “Lily, you mentioned a specific swordstyle form, but the celestial maiden on the third stele appears to be holding a wooden wand, bamboo leaves, and rattles instead of a katana.”

“Eh? What are you talking about? The celestial maiden in my view is holding a katana,” Lily replied, perplexed. She examined the stele once more. “I don’t see any wooden wands, bamboo leaves, or rattles.”

Ayaka insisted, “I might be injured, but my eyes are fine. The carvings on the stele clearly depict dancing instruments.”

Lily realized the truth and exclaimed, “Ah! Could it be that the stele shows different visions to different people?” She believed Ayaka wouldn’t joke about such matters, so this was the only plausible explanation.

The steles were undoubtedly mystical, capable of presenting different images to different individuals.

“So that’s how it is!” Lily exclaimed.

Ayaka questioned, “What do you mean?”

Lily grasped Ayaka’s hand and explained, “Sister, the reason I brought you here is because the stele’s instructions state that I must engage in paired training with a celestial maiden dancer to learn the third stance of the Tsukuyomi swordstyle. Since you’re seeing a different set of instructions, it must be the Pair Training method!”

Ayaka was astounded. “Such a mysterious method exists in the world… Could this truly be the swordstyle created by the great god Tsukuyomi?”

“Yes, I believe it is the swordstyle created by the great god Tsukuyomi,” Lily confirmed.

Overwhelmed, Ayaka took a few steps back and prostrated herself before the three stone steles. She whispered in reverence, “Fujiwara Ayaka has inadvertently encountered the unique teachings of the great god Tsukuyomi. With gratitude and deep reverence, I can only kneel…”

“Sister…” Lily called out, moved by Ayaka’s display of respect.

“Lily, do you want me to practice this dance and engage in paired training with you?” Despite her injuries, Ayaka’s eyes shone with excitement. Her role as Chief Advisor had consumed her time with governmental affairs and delayed her practice, but the determination and passion for advancement still burned within her.

“Yes, Sister Ayaka, I want to learn the third stance of the Tsukuyomi swordstyle as quickly as possible. It will greatly enhance my strength, allowing me to protect myself when I infiltrate Mount Ooe,” Lily expressed with determination.

Understanding Lily’s resolve, Ayaka nodded. “I understand. You need to retrieve the antidote from Mount Ooe, and since I can’t dissuade you, I’ll support you with all my might.”

“Sister Ayaka, are you saying…?” Lily’s voice trailed off, sensing Ayaka’s determination.

“Lily, let us engage in paired training with the method shown on this stele!” Ayaka declared

².

“Sister!” Lily’s eyes filled with gratitude.

“Hm? There is some text on the stele, but its meaning is different from what you just said…” Ayaka noticed a few words on the right side of the stele.

“What does it say?” Lily inquired, noticing Ayaka’s changing expression. Was the text for Ayaka different from what she had read?

As Ayaka read the words, her face gradually flushed, and her breaths became more rapid. “Nothing!” she exclaimed

³.

References

Robinxen: So she can invite people inside.

Robinxen: Ayaka definitely has an ulterior motive… there’s something more to this ‘dance’.

Robinxen: Called it.