The sudden touch and voice from behind sent Mokugyo Daruma's nerves to their limit.
"When did you—?" he blurted out in shock.
"Who is that? When did he get here?" The baboon under the eaves tensed with vigilance.
Ushi-oni, gripping his sword hilt, seemed to realise something, his grip loosening slightly.
Meanwhile, Karasu Tengu perched on the roof, visibly relaxed.
Luo Shu, who had appeared behind Mokugyo Daruma without warning, gave his shoulder a light pat and chuckled:
"You're quite tall, aren't you? Almost couldn't reach your shoulder."
"Who are you?" Mokugyo Daruma demanded gravely.
Ignoring the question, Luo Shu stepped past him towards Hagoromo Gitsune:
"I was just parking the car, and you barged in already. Couldn't spare even a moment's wait?"
"Should I award you a medal for enthusiasm?"
Hagoromo Gitsune merely glanced at him, offering no retort.
The baboon shot her a strange look, muttering under his breath:
"Odd. Since when does this fox stay so quiet?"
Seeing her silence, Luo Shu turned to Karasu Tengu:
"Tengu, where's old man Nurarihyon now?"
Karasu Tengu flapped his wings, hovering mid-air as he replied:
"The Supreme Commander and the Second Head are waiting in the guest chamber."
"Then lead the way."
With that, Luo Shu strode towards Karasu Tengu.
After a few steps, he glanced back at Hagoromo Gitsune, still standing motionless, and raised an eyebrow:
"Well? Need an invitation, Miss Gitsune?"
She met his gaze briefly before giving a soft "hmph" and following.
Guided by Karasu Tengu, Luo Shu and Hagoromo Gitsune passed through the corridor guarded by the baboon and Ushi-oni, entering the Nura Clan's main residence.
Only when they'd disappeared did the baboon look up at Mokugyo Daruma and sigh:
"Daruma, how'd you let someone get that close?"
"That was our chance. If we'd taken her down here, we could've enjoyed decades of purification."
Mokugyo Daruma ignored him, turning instead to Ushi-oni:
"Who was that human just now?"
Ushi-oni lifted his head calmly and replied:
"The SDS Director, surnamed Luo, seems to have been born in China."
Mokugyo Daruma instantly understood, then turned to explain to Hihi:
"Hihi, you can ask whether Ushi-oni saw how that man appeared behind me just now."
Having said this, the embarrassed Mokugyo Daruma walked away.
Hearing Mokugyo Daruma's words, Hihi frowned and turned to Ushi-oni:
"What did Mokugyo Daruma mean by that?"
Ushi-oni replied calmly:
"I didn't see how that person appeared."
"Hiss!!" Hihi sucked in a sharp breath. "Even you didn't notice?"
Hihi thought it was normal for him to miss it—after all, he was already severely injured. Though still technically a Great Yokai, he was merely holding onto the title, no longer capable of his former strength.
But Ushi-oni and Mokugyo Daruma were different, especially Ushi-oni. He was the last remaining veteran warrior of the Nura Clan's older generation, ranking among the top five in strength.
If even he hadn't noticed Luo Shu's arrival, didn't that mean that if they had fought just now, there was a high chance they would have died here?
No—with Hagoromo Gitsune and the unfathomable Director Luo, even if the entire Nura Clan's main force had attacked, they might have only achieved a pyrrhic victory—or even suffered defeat.
At this thought, Hihi bared his teeth:
"That human's aura... he's not even 20, is he? To have such power at 20..."
"Tch. Humans really are a privileged race."
Ushi-oni ignored Hihi's shock and turned to Kejorō and Tsurara, who were cautiously keeping their distance:
"You two, go prepare tea. The Supreme Commander will be negotiating with Director Luo Shu."
With that, Ushi-oni also turned and left.
Seeing this, Hihi sighed and scratched his head:
"Ah, forget it. These old bones might as well retire early."
"I wonder if my son can take over for me."
"Ah..."
Watching Hihi's retreating, sighing figure, Tsurara exhaled frost and turned to Kejorō, still shaken:
"That scared me to death. I really thought they were going to fight just now."
"They were one step away from it," Kejorō also sighed in relief, patting her chest. "That fox has gotten stronger again."
"Hagoromo Gitsune?" Tsurara recalled how Hagoromo Gitsune's Fear alone had suppressed several high-ranking officers and clicked her tongue.
Aside from Nura Rihan, this was the first time she'd seen a yokai capable of suppressing Great Yokai like that.
Then, she thought of Luo Shu, who had appeared later:
"But speaking of which, why did it feel like Hagoromo Gitsune was afraid of Director Luo? Was that just my imagination?"
"It wasn't." Kejorō thought back and marvelled. "If it were the Hagoromo Gitsune I know, just those few words from that man would've been enough for her to kill him."
"Then why didn't she?" Tsurara blinked in confusion.
Kejorō smirked:
"Why? Because she couldn't win, of course."
With that, Kejorō chuckled at Tsurara's stunned expression and added:
"Come on, let's go prepare tea. After all, we can't have Lady Wakana, a human, serving it, can we?"
"Wait..." Kejorō suddenly recalled that Hagoromo Gitsune's current body resembled that of Nura Rihan's former wife, her expression turning peculiar as she remarked: "It seems Lady Wakana really does need to serve tea."
"What?" Tsurara was baffled. Why must the second head's wife serve tea? Wasn't there a risk that she would be affected by the Fear emanating from the Great Yokai confrontation?
"Never mind, let's go."
"Right!"
...
In the main hall of the Nura Clan residence, serving as the reception room.
Seated on the tatami, Rihan Nura glared at the mysteriously alluring girl before him, veins bulging on his forehead as he suppressed his fury:
"You actually dare show your face! Hagoromo Gitsune!"
"Oh?"
Hagoromo Gitsune arched an eyebrow, eyeing Rihan Nura with amusement. Instead of provoking him verbally, she simply linked arms with Luo Shu.
"You—!!"
That simple gesture made Rihan Nura leap up from the tatami, hand flying to the hilt of his sword.
Seeing this, Nurarihyon's eyes widened as he barked:
"Brat, sit down!"
Meanwhile, Luo Shu patted Hagoromo Gitsune's back reproachfully:
"Stop causing trouble."
Under Luo Shu and Nurarihyon's intervention, the conflict was temporarily quelled.
At this point, Luo Shu guided Hagoromo Gitsune to sit before scanning the room and declaring:
"Now, let's address the main topic."
He then turned to Nurarihyon:
"Regarding the matter of Nue."