Under the night sky, in the courtyard of Kikyo's shrine.
Yukari Oikawa watched Senhime Rin Getsu standing by the Bone-Eating Well with an amused smirk:
"Rin Getsu, found anything during your inspection?"
By the well, Rin Getsu glanced back at Yukari before coolly replying:
"Nothing."
Yukari covered her lips with her sleeve, narrowing her eyes:
"Even you couldn't detect anything unusual, so it seems the Bone-Eating Well truly has no lingering traces of So'unga's influence."
As she spoke, Yukari Oikawa turned her head to glance at the Tree of Ages in the courtyard, frowning:
"If this tree weren't connected to the Abyss passage, destroying them outright might be... a more convenient option."
Hearing this, Senhime Rin Getsu responded with icy calm:
"What foolish nonsense are you spouting? Destroying the sacred Tree of Ages would prevent my Dog Tribe's yokai from using this passage to reach the modern world."
"Not to mention the villagers of Kaede's Village."
"Though I dislike cooperating with humans (Kikyo), if you attempt to destroy the Tree of Ages, I won't show the same restraint as before."
Yukari Oikawa couldn't help muttering in response:
"Oh, please, I only froze one of your paws earlier. I was clearly the one at a disadvantage just now."
"What a petty woman."
Pretending not to hear Yukari Oikawa's remarks, Senhime maintained her composure:
"What did you do with those villagers searching for Kikyo?"
"I used ice to create illusions, making them believe Kikyo is hosting us at the shrine for several days."
Yukari Oikawa spoke while frowning:
"Beyond that, I detected no strange energy signatures."
"So you're saying So'unga, who ambushed Luo Shu and Kikyo, hasn't targeted the villagers?"
Senhime appeared somewhat surprised:
"No attacks on villagers, nor targeting us - just sending Luo Shu and Kikyo away?"
"What exactly is So'unga's objective?"
"Who knows?" Yukari Oikawa snorted lightly. "All I know is we control the passage now, don't we?"
At these words, a cold smile appeared on Senhime's face.
Indeed, the passage was in their hands.
The Bone-Eating Well and Tree of Ages, connecting the Abyss Warring States to the modern world, were now under their strict surveillance.
Their earlier inspection had eliminated any remaining traces of So'unga's influence, ensuring it could no longer interfere with the well's transportation.
They'd even tested the passage using weak Small Yokai, confirming the rules for modern world travel and So'unga's absence from the well's depths.
Though this caused minor trouble for the guardians at Higurashi Shrine in the modern world, it validated their theories.
Current evidence suggested a minimal chance of So'unga's lingering influence on either passage.
While its ultimate goal remained unclear, controlling these passages meant So'unga would eventually come to them.
After all, the Abyss Warring States were doomed to destruction.
Survival required passage through the Bone-Eating Well to the modern world.
Whether guarding Kikyo's shrine here or staking out Higurashi Shrine, they'd eventually intercept So'unga.
This explained their calm after Luo Shu and Kikyo's disappearance.
At this moment, Yukari Oikawa frowned and said:
"From the current situation, the passage seems to have become one-way, only allowing travel from here to Higurashi Shrine over there."
"That means if So'unga truly comes here, the ones who'll have to deal with him would likely just be us."
"Just to be safe, should we contact Miss Nishikigi and Miss Inoue?"
Hearing this, Senhime Rin Getsu shook her head calmly and said:
"Luo Shu mentioned he has a way to bypass the passage and come here directly."
Upon hearing Senhime Rin Getsu's words, Yukari Oikawa fell silent, choosing not to inquire further.
As everyone knew, the SDS had branches worldwide and possessed certain special Abyss Artefacts capable of such feats, so this wasn't entirely unexpected.
"So, Director Luo Shu plans to intercept So'unga here rather than at Higurashi Shrine?"
Senhime Rin Getsu gave a slight nod before adding:
"Beyond that, we must accelerate our operations here. Both the Dog Tribe and the villagers of Kaede's Village need to be evacuated in advance."
"That complicates matters." Yukari Oikawa frowned. "Kaede's Village is manageable, but the Dog Tribe resides in the Western Country. A single trip there takes considerable time, let alone relocating the entire tribe."
"If So'unga attacks here before the Dog Tribe arrives, things could become troublesome. After all, neither of us can guarantee whether the passage might be damaged during the conflict."
Yukari Oikawa herself had an Emergency Escape Device, so she'd be fine, but the Dog Tribe—and even Senhime Rin Getsu—lacked such safeguards. Their only means to the modern world was the Bone-Eating Well.
Thus, in a way, the passage had subtly become their Achilles' heel.
Yet, faced with Yukari Oikawa's concerns, Senhime Rin Getsu remained remarkably composed:
"I've already entrusted the Dog Tribe's affairs to Sesshōmaru."
"If they don't make it in time, then so be it."
Hearing this, Yukari Oikawa couldn't help but narrow her eyes:
"You're rather ruthless."
"Sesshōmaru is your child, after all."
"What of it? He's merely an offspring born of Demon Power. As long as I live, I can always create another."
Here, Senhime Rin Getsu paused, as if struck by a thought:
"I could also ask Luo Shu for a portion of his power. Perhaps by combining his strength with mine, I might birth an even stronger Dog Tribe heir."
Though Senhime Rin Getsu knew that half-yokai born of human-yokai unions were generally weak, a union between a god and a yokai might differ.
Just as even the weakest half-yokai far surpassed humans, a Demigod half-yokai might far surpass ordinary yokai.
While Senhime Rin Getsu considered this feasible, Yukari Oikawa was left dumbfounded.
"Seriously? You want to bear a half-yokai with Luo Shu?"
You'd discard a perfectly powerful yokai son for a half-yokai one?
Does Sesshōmaru know you're this ruthless?
As Yukari Oikawa reeled in shock, she suddenly sensed an unusual disturbance.
Noticing this, she glanced at Senhime Rin Getsu, only to find the other woman equally surprised.
At that moment, Senhime Rin Getsu's lips curled into a meaningful smile:
"It seems a little rat has found its way here."