Chapter 113 – Great Mouth True God, the Plot Against Renji!
[Ding! Enhancement in progress. Please wait.]
The blood in Renji's body began to boil continuously. For a moment, he felt something within him change.
It was a force distinct from his original bloodline—something unfamiliar yet powerful. He sensed he had awakened a completely new type of strength.
[Ding! Bloodline enhancement complete.]
What's the effect?!
Renji shouted inwardly, 'You damn thing, at least tell me what the effect is!'
All it said was "bloodline enhancement complete," but nothing about what it actually did. He'd have to figure it out himself.
But judging by the threads of icy breath escaping from his lips, he had a guess. Could it be… the power of the Great Mouth True God?
Renji raised his hand, watching as the cold air swirled between his fingers.
This enhancement had clearly made his body stronger, but it also granted him the ability to control ice.
He was already looking forward to what other abilities future bloodline enhancements might bring.
[Ding! Bloodline-type rewards are divided into two categories: bloodline enhancement and bloodline mutation. Enhancements strengthen existing traits and may awaken latent powers, while mutations grant abilities not originally present in the bloodline.]
Understood.
So that's how it worked. No matter how much you enhanced an ability that didn't exist in your bloodline, it wouldn't appear—it would only amplify what was already there. But the canine demon bloodline wasn't known for ice. They were more associated with poison, weren't they?
That meant the next enhancement might amplify either poison or ice. If it mutated, who knew what he'd get?
After reining in his icy power, Renji returned to the canine demon camp. As he walked through, many demons noticed the shift in his presence. He had grown stronger—and colder.
"That guy… is way too strange."
Sesshōmaru stared in Renji's direction, puzzled. Renji had always been stronger, but only just barely. Although Sesshōmaru had never defeated him, it never felt hopeless—until now.
The power Renji displayed now filled him with despair.
Was it really because of love?
But Sesshōmaru didn't plan on questioning him.
He already knew Renji's response would be the same as always.
The next day arrived.
After settling the Panther Tribe, Fuyoran brought her three sisters—Haruran, Natsuran, and Akiuran—to the canine demon camp.
The war was over. Many canine demons had already withdrawn.
"We're here. Name your terms."
Fuyoran looked at Renji and Sesshōmaru. Though she was surprised that the Inu no Taishō wasn't present, she didn't bring it up. She had only come to negotiate. Whether the great general was present or not, the conditions had to be discussed today.
"Surrender—or die."
Renji didn't waste time. There were only two choices now.
This forceful tone was a complete change from his words the previous day. Sesshōmaru was surprised, but said nothing. Deep down, he agreed with Renji's way.
Wasn't this how it should be?
The losers should accept all the conditions laid out by the victors.
Surrender—or die!
That was the right of the victorious side.
"Don't push your luck!"
Natsuran clenched her teeth. Renji's arrogance infuriated her.
Fuyoran had warned them during the journey—they might have to submit. She even told them to stay calm. But hearing Renji say it so bluntly still made Natsuran explode.
"What do you mean by that?"
Renji looked at Fuyoran with a faint smile. Though his killing intent wasn't aimed directly at Natsuran, the pressure made her shut her mouth. She turned to Fuyoran for help.
"Forgive her. My sister is young and impulsive. We accept. But I have one question."
Fuyoran bowed slightly and gave Natsuran a sharp glare, warning her to stay silent. Defeated clans should act accordingly. If they couldn't accept it, they shouldn't have surrendered yesterday.
She had already guessed that Renji spared them in order to force submission.
She had thought long and hard last night—should they flee into hiding, or accept Renji's terms?
If they hid, the Panther Tribe would become a laughingstock in the demon world—spared by Renji, then running away with their tails between their legs.
If they submitted, could they truly follow through?
They had been the canine demons' sworn enemies for years. Now they had to bow their heads. It wasn't much better than running.
But someone had to bear that shame.
Fuyoran had decided—it would be her.
But before surrendering fully, she had one thing she had to ask.
"Speak."
"Aren't you afraid we'll betray you? After all, we've been enemies for years."
Fuyoran knew—they were a ticking time bomb. They might behave for now under Renji's pressure. But if Renji died, or if something happened to the canine demon clan, all bets would be off.
Yesterday, Sesshōmaru had clearly wanted to wipe them out. Renji had stopped him. Why?
"If life under me is better than before, who would choose betrayal? Besides, if a tribe betrays immediately after submitting, who would ever trust them again?"
The demon world was filled with deception and manipulation—but that was among individuals. If a whole tribe behaved that way, no one would ever ally with them again.
Besides, Renji had confidence that he could crush any rebellion.
Whoever refused to submit, he'd beat until they did.
"Then what do you plan to do with the Panther Tribe?"
Fuyoran nodded and moved on. They had already surrendered. Renji had made his decision. Now she wanted to know what came next.
"You can return to your original territory, or…"
Before Renji could finish, Fuyoran shook her head and cut him off with a bitter smile.
"That land probably doesn't belong to us anymore…"
They couldn't go back.
They had only held that land because of Okami Seihō.
It was Seihō, the matriarch of the Panther Tribe, who had conquered the entire Eastern Lands. Her power alone kept countless demons from challenging them. Even demons on her level rarely risked confrontation. Panther demons were known for their grudges, and no one wanted to anger Seihō or the clan behind her.
But things were different now. Okami Seihō was dead.
And without her, the vast territory they had once ruled couldn't be held.
"You're welcome in the Western Lands. I can give your tribe land—but you must follow my rules."
Renji considered it and offered a solution—move the entire Panther Tribe to the Western Lands.
In the anime, even when Okami Seihō's body remained, their land had already shrunk. Now that her corpse had vanished and the hope of resurrection was gone, returning was impossible.
So bringing them west was the best option.
"You really are someone I can't see through."
Fuyoran looked deeply at Renji. Judging from his presence and decisiveness, he had already surpassed Okami Seihō.
That he would agree so easily… but perhaps that was a good thing. At least now, the Panther Tribe could enjoy a brief moment of peace.
They had once thrived in the Eastern Lands—glorious, proud. And now, they had fallen just as far.
Some demons still remembered the old bonds and might spare them for now, but that would not last.
Eventually, everyone would want to step on them.
The Panther Tribe had made many enemies over the years—no fewer than the Inu no Taishō himself. The fact that Renji was willing to take them in meant he would also offer protection.
That gesture alone made Natsuran and Akiuran—who had still been bitter—glance at Renji with newfound respect.
"I'll bring the Panther Tribe to the domain of the canine demons," Fuyoran said. "But I will only follow your orders. Our Panther Tribe is not surrendering to the canine demons—we submit to you. If you die or disappear, we will no longer obey the canine tribe."
With that, Fuyoran gave a formal bow, then turned and left with Haruran, Natsuran, and Akiuran.
They would follow Renji—not the canine demons.
"Man, that actually sounds kinda nice."
Renji rubbed his chin while watching their backs. Although Sesshōmaru standing beside him was clearly displeased by those words, Renji rather enjoyed hearing it.
Was this what it meant to win people over with charisma?
"Well then, my foolish little otōto, since things are wrapped up here, I'm heading off too. Go home and train. If you don't understand something, just go ask that old geezer."
Saying this, Renji stood and prepared to leave. The war was over. He was eager to see Suiko again.
"Heh, that guy's going to see that human princess," Sesshōmaru muttered, curling his lip. "So you're also going to see that human woman?"
Yesterday he had gone to speak with the Inu no Taishō. He had actually wanted to ask for Tessaiga.
But the great general didn't seem willing to hand it over.
Now the old man had gone off to see that woman—and now Renji was doing the same. Sesshōmaru couldn't help wondering: what was so great about women that everyone seemed to want one?
"Whatever. I'm outta here!"
"…"
So in the end… the Panther Tribe's mess is my responsibility?
Sesshōmaru grumbled internally, resenting these two utterly irresponsible men.
"Is that you, Tōga?"
"Izayoi, it's been a long time."
Izayoi looked up at the Inu no Taishō, her heart trembling. He had promised he would come for her—and now, he finally had.
Even as a princess, she had faced judgment and scorn for carrying the child of a yōkai.
"Yes, it's me. Izayoi, I'm sorry for leaving you here for so long. Will you come away with me?"
The Inu no Taishō had once considered taking her back with him, but later gave up the idea.
The war was about to begin, and he'd had a terrible premonition. He hadn't wanted to bring Izayoi to the canine stronghold in such uncertain times. He hadn't known where Renji and the others stood back then, either.
But now, it seemed Renji not only accepted it, he was even more daring than himself. Sesshōmaru might complain, but he hadn't actually opposed it.
So, his heart settled. He decided it was time to take Izayoi to speak with Lady Tsukiyomi.
"…Can I?"
A glimmer of hope lit Izayoi's eyes. Who wouldn't want to be with the one they loved?
"Of course."
"Then I'll tell my father, and we'll leave right away."
When it came to love, a young woman would give up everything without hesitation.
After informing her father, the old king sighed heavily, gazing reluctantly at his daughter.
His beloved child was leaving.
Though the man she chose was a yōkai, he had saved their lives. And since the love was mutual, the king had no reason to refuse.
Only one person remained consumed by jealousy—Setsuna Mamoru.
Izayoi had carried the child of a yōkai. He had once been able to see her occasionally… but now she was leaving with that yōkai for good.
He would never see her again.
The jealousy in Setsuna Mamoru's heart surged violently—but there was nothing he could do. He knew he couldn't stop them.
He could only watch helplessly as the one he loved walked away with another man.
Setsuna Mamoru returned home, spirit crushed. He didn't even know how he got there—only that the world around him felt grey and lifeless.
"Jealous, aren't you? Don't you want to take her back?"
"Who's there?!"
Setsuna Mamoru's eyes widened. He looked around, but the room was empty. No one was there.
"I was drawn by your bitterness. Such intense resentment. Watching the one you love taken by a yōkai… don't you hate yourself for being too weak to stop it?"
From the shadows stepped a man—his face calm and pale.
It was Abe no Seimei.
Such a strong, poisonous emotion… perfect for the power of the Shikon no Tama.
"Who are you?"
"Abe no Seimei."
"You… you're the strongest onmyōji of the Heian era?!"
Setsuna Mamoru stared in shock. That name echoed like thunder in his ears.
"A meaningless title," Seimei replied. "Now, tell me… do you want to take back the one you love?"
He covered his mouth with a folding fan, hiding the smirk tugging at his lips.
All of them were merely pawns in his game.
"You'll help me?"
Setsuna Mamoru's heart skipped. If it were him—maybe…
"No. This is something you must do yourself."
Seimei's words made his expression dim again—until the next moment.
"But… have you heard of the Shikon no Tama? A jewel that can grant any wish. If you obtain it, you'll gain the power to defeat anyone. The opportunity is before you now. Do you want it?"
His voice was like a devil's whisper—one that made Setsuna Mamoru's heart waver, his thoughts spiral, and a dangerous desire begin to bloom.
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