Keikain Main Residence, Katsura Imperial Villa.
Once an imperial retreat gifted to the Keikain family for generations of protecting the emperor, this historic site had become a reservation-only tourist attraction managed by the Keikains in modern times.
Yet now, the normally public villa stood sealed off.
The current Keikain family head, Hidemoto Keikain, sat with branch family leaders in a vast tatami room, exchanging intelligence amidst heavy tension.
"Tokyo intelligence confirms Hagoromo Gitsune has begun moving toward Kyoto."
"The Great Yokai in Kyoto are stirring too. Demon Power concentrations have spiked near Nijo Castle's eight seals these past days - they've lost all patience!"
"What of the Nura Clan? Though we've little love for those freeloading yokai, they were allies against Hagoromo Gitsune four centuries ago. Any movement there?"
"Second Head Nura Rihan sent word he'll lead the Hyakki Yagyō to Kyoto shortly."
"And the Onmyou Agency's stance?"
"The Agency remains evasive. Their director claims to be researching what the Vermilion Bird Divine General retrieved from the abyss, saying discussions must wait until he emerges from seclusion."
"Rely on their director? Preposterous! Never forget - he's the fifth Abe descendant. Changing his name to Tsuchimikado doesn't purge that fox blood!"
"The other Divine Generals?"
"Equally noncommittal. With the Bujin-shū involved, they've chosen neutrality."
"Damn it! The martial artists only intervened because the Agency failed to restrain yokai attacking noblewomen! Must they nurse grudges now?"
"I've always said the Agency's unreliable. Remember, its leadership's dominated by Tsuchimikado lineage. Better trust the Nura Clan - at least those freeloaders will cooperate."
"Should we approach the Bujin-shū then?"
One head's suggestion plunged the room into silence.
It was then that Hidemoto Keikain sighed softly:
"Contact with the Bujin-shū is inadvisable."
"The Keikain serve the emperor's living god lineage, rooted in Shinto tradition. Allying with those militant extremists would be digging our own graves."
Hearing the main family's stance, the others relaxed:
"Next to the Bujin-shū, even the Tsuchimikado seem tolerable."
"Tolerable perhaps, but their ambiguous stance toward Abe no Seimei creates bigger problems."
The Keikain leaders stewed in frustration...
If it were any other Onmyoji being resurrected, or even someone like En no Ozunu, the progenitor of Onmyoji, there would be standard procedures to follow—suppression, regulation, or disposal as needed.
But of all people, it had to be that old fox Abe no Seimei.
This was... awkward.
Whether it was the remnants of the Abe family, the Tsuchimikado family currently leading the Onmyou Agency, or the recently resurfaced Gokadoin Family lurking in the shadows, all were high-ranking Shinto lineages.
And their common ancestor? Abe no Seimei.
Thus, Seimei's influence alone could represent the entirety of Onmyoudou.
Until these families made their stance public, the Onmyou Agency pretended not to see Seimei's resurrection. As long as it didn't escalate, no one would intervene.
This left the Keikain Family—who had once collaborated with the Nura Clan to exterminate Hagoromo Gitsune—in a bind.
If they did nothing, the likelihood of Seimei, now resurrected in Nue's body, settling old and new grudges was too high.
If they acted, the Keikain Family could barely handle the Hagoromo Group alone. But if Gokadoin or even Tsuchimikado secretly supported them, the Keikain would face most of the Onmyou Agency.
For the already dwindling Keikain Family—cursed by Hagoromo Gitsune—this was practically an existential crisis.
Amidst the heavy atmosphere, a young branch family head finally blurted out:
"Is the Onmyou Agency turning a blind eye to Seimei's resurrection because they want to prove he's unrelated to... that Hao?"
The moment he spoke, several voices roared:
"Silence!!"
"Kiyosuke, watch your words!!"
The young head, Kiyosuke Keikain, flinched at his seniors' outburst.
From the main seat, the aged Hidemoto Keikain raised a calming hand before admonishing:
"Never utter that name carelessly. The curse backlash is real."
Chilled by the warning, Kiyosuke lowered his head.
Just then, an elegantly modulated male voice interjected:
"To verify whether the Asakura family's... esteemed one... is the true Seimei?"
"The Agency Director likely does entertain such thoughts. After all, having obtained methods from the Chō-Senjiryakketsu to surpass even Great Onmyoji, it's natural he'd want to confirm Seimei's connection to Hao."
The sudden voice made the branch family heads stiffen, their gazes snapping toward Hidemoto's side.
There stood a beautiful, translucent male Spirit Body in white robes.
The 13th Keikain family head. The first to bear the name Hidemoto. The extraordinary man who, four centuries prior, had joined forces with Nurarihyon to seal Hagoromo Gitsune...
pon seeing the man, the current Hidemoto Keikain sighed helplessly:
"You've sneaked out of Hakushin again without permission, Ancestor."
The Keikain family's secret technique, the Familiar Spirit Hakushin.
It was the most powerful Familiar Spirit forged by successive generations of Keikain ancestors using their full power before death.
Once activated, it could summon past ancestors to battle, serving as the key for each Hidemoto Keikain to assume leadership of the main family.
Among the ancestors enshrined within Hakushin, only two stood out as exceptional: the founder Ashiya Douman and the 13th head, Hidemoto Keikain.
The former was the Great Onmyoji who narrowly lost to Abe no Seimei in a duel, while the latter was the one who, four hundred years ago, allied with the Nura Clan to seal away Hagoromo Gitsune—both figures who left indelible marks on the Keikain family history.
And now, the one speaking was none other than the 13th Hidemoto Keikain, the very man who had sealed Hagoromo Gitsune.
"Oh dear, I've been caught red-handed~"
The 13th Hidemoto Keikain tapped his head with a folding fan and chuckled:
"But seeing you youngsters discussing so earnestly, I couldn't resist joining in."
Hearing this, Seisuke Keikain below couldn't hold back his question: "Ancestor, do you perhaps have a solution to our problem?"
"Of course..."
Hidemoto Keikain raised his chin and, under the hopeful gazes of the crowd, grinned:
"Of course I don't~"
"You can't possibly expect a corpse that's been dead for 400 years to come up with any brilliant ideas, can you? My brain's long since rotted away!"
At these words, the Keikain clansmen below twitched their lips.
But just then, Hidemoto Keikain added cheerfully:
"However, just because I don't have an answer doesn't mean heaven doesn't."
Hearing this, the current Hidemoto Keikain raised an eyebrow:
"Ancestor, are you referring to divination?"
"Precisely~" The handsome Onmyoji said playfully: "While you were all busy discussing, I took the liberty of performing a turtle-shell divination."
"Hmm~ The auspicious direction seems to point towards Nijo Castle~"
"By my calculations, news should be arriving any moment now?"
No sooner had he spoken than a Keikain maid hurried to the room door. After glancing at the assembled branch family heads, she scurried to the current Hidemoto's ear and whispered a few words.
Moments later, the current head of the Keikain family exclaimed in surprise:
"What? The SDS Director has appeared at Nijo Castle?"
His gaze instinctively turned towards his handsome ancestor.
Noticing this, the 13th Hidemoto covered the lower half of his face with his fan and said with a smile:
"It seems our turning point has arrived~"