Kikyo's Shrine.
Within the shrine courtyard atop the stone steps.
The pitch-black Netherworld passage, resembling a cave entrance, suddenly rippled and undulated.
"What's this? Are they about to return?"
The anomaly in the Netherworld passage immediately caught Yukari Oikawa's attention.
Meanwhile, Fumonshichi, who had been leaning against the Tree of Ages, straightened up and remarked half-jokingly:
"Maybe it's not Director Luo and the others returning, but some other Netherworld ghouls instead."
Yukari frowned at his words but didn't argue, silently heightening her guard.
Just as both were on alert, the Netherworld passage suddenly contracted, then abruptly expanded, quickly swelling to ten meters in diameter.
At that moment, a wolf's howl echoed from within the passage.
Immediately after, a massive white-furred wolf with blood-red pupils burst forth from the Netherworld.
Instantly, the profound Demon Power clashed with Kikyo Shrine's barrier, producing sizzling crackles.
"A Great Yokai?" The exceptionally dense Demon Power made Yukari Oikawa freeze momentarily.
Beside her, Fumonshichi had already assumed a combat stance, preparing to attack while quipping:
"Hey now, even for the Warring States period, a Great Yokai popping up out of nowhere is way too scary, don't you think?"
As the two remained vigilant, another figure rushed out from the Netherworld passage, complaining:
"Hey, my lady, no matter the circumstances, abandoning me in the Netherworld to save yourself is going too far, isn't it?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Yukari Oikawa froze before turning her gaze towards Luo Shu, who was closing the Netherworld passage.
The newcomer wore rough attire from the Warring States period, with an ancient greatsword at his waist. His entire outfit was riddled with fine, corrosion-like holes, making him look like a down-and-out ronin.
Yet when Yukari saw the man's face, she instinctively covered her mouth with her sleeve, asking suspiciously:
"Mr. Luo Shu?"
"How did you..."
Yukari stared at Luo Shu's tattered appearance, her expression one of utter bewilderment.
At that moment, the giant wolf that had emerged earlier suddenly shrank, transforming into a coldly elegant woman wearing an ornate white kimono tied with a purple obi.
"This humble one did warn you that the Meidō Stone is a jewel containing the power of life and death - the Lord of the Underworld's most treasured possession."
After saying this, Senhime Rin Getsu looked at Luo Shu with undisguised disdain:
"You clearly knew the Meidō Stone had just been stolen by that person, yet you went and snatched another one..."
No sooner had Kuesu Jingūji seized a Meidō Stone, provoking the Underworld's ruler into wreaking havoc across the Netherworld, than Luo Shu went and stole another one – the most audacious part being that he did it right in front of the Underworld's ruler.
Is this man a bandit?
Yet faced with Senhime Rin Getsu's accusation, Luo Shu defended himself with perfect logic:
"If you saw an incredibly valuable gem lying by the roadside, wouldn't anyone pick it up?"
Hearing this excuse, Senhime Rin Getsu opened her mouth but couldn't find words.
She finally understood – this man had set his sights on the Underworld after learning about Kuesu Jingūji's robbery. And worst of all, he'd actually succeeded.
Considering how the Underworld's ruler had spent countless years accumulating souls to cultivate those Meidō Stones, only to have them stolen consecutively by Tōga, Kuesu Jingūji and now Luo Shu, even Senhime found the Underworld's ruler pitiable.
"Sigh!!"
"I get it now. You called me here from the start just to drag me into this mess."
As she spoke, Senhime Rin Getsu massaged her temples with a pained sigh.
Luo Shu chuckled, quietly pocketing the Meidō Stone.
This was truly a treasure – not just material for forging Tenseiga, but possessing the capability for resurrection. Even if taking it out of the Abyss Warring States would incur severe side effects, it remained an exceptionally rare artefact.
After transmitting the stone to the Astronomy Club for safekeeping, Luo Shu turned to Fumonshichi and Yukari Oikawa, raising a hand in greeting:
"Yo, you two! Fancy meeting you again!"
"Meeting again we are," Fumonshichi stroked his chin, then eyed the torn fabric around Luo Shu's crotch. "But are you sure you don't want to change clothes first?"
Luo Shu glanced down, confirming nothing inappropriate was visible before shrugging helplessly:
"Can't be helped. While the Underworld's ruler couldn't harm me, my clothes weren't so lucky."
"My uniform got corroded by that guy's power, so I had to grab some dead soul's clothes and make a run for it."
Just then, Senhime Rin Getsu tossed over a set of Dog Demon clan casual wear, her expression frosty:
"Go change behind the sacred tree. And dispose of those clothes properly."
"Garments saturated with Underworld energy will contaminate the land's vitality if not dealt with promptly."
"Is that so?" Luo Shu sounded genuinely surprised as he caught the clothes. Heading behind the sacred tree to change, he called out: "Speaking of which, where's Kikyo?"
"Gone to deliver meals, I think," Fumonshichi answered offhandedly before countering: "Actually, where are the others?"
The reply came from behind the sacred tree:
"They're at another Netherworld exit – specifically, the home of that silver-haired beauty beside you."
At this, Fumonshichi and Yukari Oikawa couldn't help glancing at Senhime Rin Getsu, their expressions turning slightly peculiar.
How long had it been?
Luo Shu had already recruited another woman – a Great Yokai no less.
Thinking of Kikyo, who was still considering joining, they couldn't help but do an internal facepalm.
Is the Hidden Management Department actually a human resources department?
Are you sure you came to the Abyss to collect artefacts rather than recruit personnel?
Just as the two were lost in thought, Luo Shu emerged from behind the sacred tree, now dressed in a matching white kimono, and asked with some confusion:
"Speaking of which, Fumonshichi, you just mentioned Kikyo went to deliver food to someone?"
"Who was she delivering to? As far as I know, she only has one younger sister at home?"
"No idea." Fumonshichi shook his head and gestured downwards with his chin. "Maybe you could ask her yourself?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu walked to the edge of the slope and looked down, just in time to see Kikyo striding quickly from the forest, her bow in hand.
At that moment, sensing the shrine barrier's disturbance and mistakenly assuming a yokai attack, Kikyo also looked up and spotted Luo Shu.
Their eyes met briefly before Kikyo suddenly relaxed, quickening her pace up the steps with a frown:
"Why was there Demon Power impacting the barrier?"
As soon as she spoke, her gaze fell upon Senhime Rin Getsu standing nearby.
Instantly, Kikyo's expression shifted slightly, her tone turning peculiar:
"A female Great Yokai from the Dog Tribe?"
"You're Senhime Rin Getsu?"
The moment these words left her mouth, Fumonshichi gaped:
"Wait, that stunning beauty next to you is Senhime Rin Getsu? The wife of that Great Yokai Tōga from the Dog Tribe?"
His expression turning deeply ambiguous, Fumonshichi looked at Luo Shu:
"Director Luo, weren't you supposed to be stealing Tōga's legacy Tessaiga? How did you end up stealing his wife instead?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu's mouth twitched involuntarily before he vaguely replied:
"Well... let's just say a lot of things happened."