The black-purple crescent severed Naraku at the waist, cutting him in half.
The enormous centipede-like Demon Form crashed down the steps with a thunderous roar.
Luo Shu slowly sheathed Tenseiga, then glanced at Naraku's rapidly regenerating body lying on the ground:
"At least in terms of vitality, you deserve some praise."
When Naraku heard this, his pupils contracted.
At this moment, he finally saw the real sky and realised that the Kaguya he had just devoured was actually just rubble from the steps.
Yet in that instant, Naraku doubted:
"Is what I'm seeing now real?"
With this question, Naraku's gaze once again became vacant.
He had fallen back into the illusion that Luo Shu had woven.
"So this is the Mist Flame among the Dying Will Flames, specialising in illusions?"
Kuesu Jingūji walked leisurely to Luo Shu's side, folding her hands in front of her and adjusting her glasses:
"A fusion of Spiritual Power and vitality? A false reality constructed by Mist Flames?"
At this, Kuesu Jingūji glanced at Luo Shu:
"Such illusions normally require first constructing a false environment to trap someone, yet you skipped that process entirely and directly plunged them into the illusion."
"Hmph, should I say I expect nothing less from you?"
Luo Shu remained expressionless as he replied, "May I take that as you developing an interest in me?"
Kuesu Jingūji raised an eyebrow, then smiled:
"What do you think?"
The conversation hit a dead end.
Luo was left speechless.
Meanwhile, Sun Seto stood beside Aotabō, asking worriedly, "Are you alright, Mr Aotabō?"
"I'm fine."
Though his back burned with pain, Aotabō waved his hand to dismiss her concern.
Leaning against the steps, he gazed at the now subdued Naraku and said:
"I got played."
"To think his true form was hiding on my back all along. Was he planning to fake his death and ambush Kaguya from the start?"
"Only he would know that." Luo Shu spoke as he approached Aotabō: "How are you holding up?"
"I'll be fine after a few days' rest."
As he spoke, Aotabō recalled how he'd been tricked, finally saying gravely:
"Now I remember. When Naraku approached me, there was someone else present, too. It was their illusion that made me think everything was normal."
Hearing this, Luo Shu immediately exchanged glances with Kuesu Jingūji and Senhime Rin Getsu.
Clearly, they all suspected that the one who had used illusion techniques to bewitch Aotabō, making him forget he'd been ambushed, was none other than So'unga, whom they were tracking.
At this thought, Luo Shu couldn't help but sigh:
"What rotten timing."
The fact that the suspected So'unga had been nearby earlier made Luo Shu feel somewhat regretful.
Had they waited for Aotabō a little longer back then, they might have already captured So'unga.
"No need to sigh. So'unga's target is Kaguya. Now that she's fallen into our hands, So'unga won't escape." Senhime Rin Getsu offered rare words of comfort to Luo Shu.
Luo Shu considered this and acknowledged the logic.
According to Kuesu Jingūji's divination, both Kaguya and Naraku were key to So'unga's plans. With both now in their grasp, even if So'unga wanted to turn the tables, it would depend on whether Luo Shu allowed it.
Having reasoned this through, Luo Shu set the matter aside and turned to Kuesu Jingūji:
"Do you have a way to extract this guy's memories?"
As he spoke, Luo Shu kicked Naraku, his disdain evident in the action.
Kuesu Jingūji narrowed her eyes, pondered for a moment, then replied:
"Given this half-yokai's regenerative abilities, we could repeatedly use high-brain-damage techniques. If we disregard forgotten fragments, I should be able to extract his complete memories."
Luo Shu nodded at this:
"Good. Extract all his memories first."
"But if we're just investigating So'unga's intel, we wouldn't need all his memories." Kuesu Jingūji eyed Luo Shu suspiciously.
"What are you planning?"
Luo Shu smiled meaningfully. "I just want to help Naraku... send his regards to So'unga."
Beside them, Sun Seto suddenly understood:
"Mr Luo, are you planning to impersonate Naraku to get close to that So'unga?"
"What's this tactic called again? The bait-and-switch? The lure-the-snake-from-its-hole?"
'She's quick on the uptake,' Luo Shu thought, surprised, as he nodded:
"That's exactly the idea."
"In that case..." Sun Seto suddenly produced a small tin resembling menthol balm from her pocket. "This might help."
"What's this?" Luo Shu looked puzzled.
Kuesu Jingūji stepped forward to explain:
"Disguise oil. Extracted from the deep-sea by yokai. Apply it to Naraku's face for 10 minutes, and it'll form a lifelike mask."
"Wearing this mask allows short-term impersonation of another's appearance and aura. Highly sought after in black markets – practically priceless when available."
At this point, Kuesu Jingūji gave Sun Seto a surprised look:
"So the Seto Group is producing this stuff?"
"Is this very expensive?" Sun Seto took out three more boxes from her pocket, confused. "I've got plenty more here."
'A sugar mama, huh?'
Luo Shu couldn't help but complain internally before accepting the disguise oil from Sun Seto.
Originally, he'd planned to use Mist Flame to construct a Naraku skin as an outer layer, but with this, things became much simpler.
After applying the disguise oil to Naraku, Luo Shu turned to Kuesu Jingūji:
"How long will extracting Naraku's memories take?"
"Give me twenty minutes." Kuesu Jingūji shot him a glance.
Hearing this, Luo Shu looked up at the aqua-blue sky, mentally planning the illusions to construct when facing So'unga.
...
Noon approached, the sun hanging high.
Near Bamboo Mirror Lake, inside a cave.
'Naraku', sitting inside, lit a fire and threw in a black lump as a communication signal.