Spirit Seeing

"Choice B."

Bai Cangshu’s logic in choosing rewards was actually very simple. This Drop Card came from someone with too few kill points, so the rewards were generally low in value.

The only one that held its value—and was the most practical—was the attribute point reward from C.

Among the remaining options, there were simply too few item rewards to choose from, and the other party had not displayed anything particularly special. Bai Cangshu felt that rather than digging through trash, he might as well take a specialization. Even if it was not something he urgently needed, it would still be somewhat useful.

The result was not bad. He received Footwork Specialization.

Bai Cangshu felt his muscles twitch as his strength increased once more. This feeling of rapid improvement truly carried an intoxicating, addictive quality.

Bai Cangshu felt that perhaps Sin Karma Reincarnators needed no additional stimulation at all to gradually walk down a fated path: constantly hunting Reincarnators to strengthen themselves, making enemies, then continuing to slaughter.

And sooner or later, one day, they would be killed by some Reincarnator—or group of Reincarnators—bringing their sinful lives to an end.

"Sin Karma Reincarnator… that really is a fitting name."

At that moment, Bai Cangshu recalled the rumors about the Black King Society that the professor had conveyed to him at the end. Clearly, the man had been tactfully warning him that unrestricted slaughter would bring murderous disaster upon him in the Space.

Bai Cangshu sat atop the train, with a silver full moon hanging high overhead.

I’ve really been underestimated. I’ve always been a law-abiding good citizen who resists temptation.

The night wind was fierce, whipping Bai Cangshu’s loose hair wildly in every direction. Beneath the moonlight, his face brimmed with a certain excitement.

He could already see the increasing number of torii gates scattered among the distant mountains and fields. This was Kyoto’s greatest characteristic.

As Japan’s cultural center since the Heian Period, its countless shrines had long become Kyoto’s signature.

More ironically, Kibutsuji Muzan, a being who ought to be most detested by the gods, now lived in Kyoto.

And Prince Hirohito, the man who would later become the reigning emperor responsible for launching catastrophic wars across Asia, was also in Kyoto at this time.

Bai Cangshu’s smile grew increasingly unrestrained.

He was not deceiving himself. Bai Cangshu liked order and respected order.

During the years he had grown up in East Xia, he had been feared for being different on one hand, yet also… pitied for being different on the other.

Bai Cangshu was not one of those Shōnen from chuunibyou stories. He had not developed resentment from being pitied. On the contrary, he felt that humans were an extremely fascinating species.

They could actually feel pity for something stronger than themselves.

Bai Cangshu touched the spot over his heart.

Was it because those people possessed even stronger hearts… ?

Several images flashed through Bai Cangshu’s mind like quick cuts. It seemed that someone had said something to him, but just as he tried to recall it carefully, everything vanished again.

"Kyoto Station!"

As the conductor began making announcements in every carriage, the train also started slowing down. After nearly a whole night aboard the train, the group had reached the place where this mission’s fierce battle would likely take place.

Bai Cangshu did not wait for the others. He leaped directly from the roof of the train, soaring through nearly ten meters of empty space like an Immortal Crane spreading its wings before landing in the fields beyond the tracks.

Then he swiftly disappeared into the night.

He had long since discussed the so-called countermeasures with the others. All that remained was to wait for the slaughter at dawn.

Bai Cangshu headed from the fields toward the city. Under the moonlit night, there was not a single soul in the fields.

But then a series of light footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.

Bai Cangshu halted, and the sound vanished completely. When he started moving again, the sound returned.

Bai Cangshu’s brow twitched. He turned to inspect his surroundings. In truth, his senses were sharp enough that he knew there was nothing behind him. Turning back, his hawk-like gaze swept over the low-lying fields and the woods on either side of the railway.

He found nothing.

It was neither a Man-eating Demon looking to die nor some frightened little animal.

Bai Cangshu frowned slightly. Hamon was about to surge instinctively, but then he suddenly recalled this world’s special nature, as well as that particular milestone.

Spirit Seer (Rare): See a spirit body

The Demon Slayer World did not merely contain "demons" like Kibutsuji Muzan. Without question, spirit bodies truly existed in this world.

Those who harbored kindness in their hearts lingered somewhere in the world after death, unwilling to leave because they wished to see the people they cherished.

Bai Cangshu had not expected to encounter such a situation. It was not that he was afraid; Bai Cangshu charged even the most vicious Man-eating Demons in this world head-on with his fists swinging.

He simply was not sure how he should deal with the situation before him.

This thing was clearly right beside him, yet he could not see it.

Was it because he lacked the ability or qualifications to see spirit bodies, or because… it did not wish to let him see it?

Bai Cangshu glanced at the brightly lit city in the distance, unwilling to give up on this milestone labeled "Rare."

In all kinds of Anime Worlds, "spirits" were likewise an extremely versatile concept. It was hard to say whether such a milestone might affect the acquisition of some precious power system later on.

Bai Cangshu tried walking forward. Sure enough, the footsteps resumed. He changed direction, but the sound remained.

Only when Bai Cangshu headed back toward the train did the sound disappear.

It did not want to go near the train or the railway tracks?

Bai Cangshu looked into the distance in every direction, then suddenly noticed the many torii gates. An idea struck him, and he headed toward them.

The footsteps behind him indeed reappeared.

When Bai Cangshu reached the foot of the mountain and looked up, he saw a massive torii gate standing before the mountain entrance. The path beyond it was entirely paved with stone, with stone fox statues on both sides.

The stairs leading to the shrine atop the mountain were covered by rows of small torii gates, like a red tunnel.

Yet when he tried to enter through the mountain gate, the footsteps behind him slowed.

It was afraid?

As Bai Cangshu wondered in surprise, a voice suddenly rang out.

"I never expected you to return this child, sir. Could this be Inari Ōkami’s revelation?"

The elderly man wore a red skirt and white robe, dignified in appearance. He seemed to be the Shrine Master or chief priest of the shrine. His beard and hair were both white, yet he looked at Bai Cangshu as though he were seeing something unimaginable.

The corner of Bai Cangshu’s mouth lifted into his trademark smile.

He never believed in coincidences or divine revelations. Besides, he was a Reincarnator—an invader to this world. The old man was putting on a solemn and dignified act, but Bai Cangshu could smell conspiracy in the air.

Without waiting for Bai Cangshu to speak, the old priest formed a hand seal. The footsteps behind Bai Cangshu instantly became clear.

The next moment, a young girl in shrine maiden attire, less than fifty centimeters tall, appeared behind Bai Cangshu.

Two ears protruded from the girl’s fluffy hair. Her eyes were wine-red, and a tail also extended beneath her red skirt.

You have seen a spirit body in this world and completed the milestone: Spirit Seer (Rare)

Spirit Seer — You will have a chance to see spirit bodies. The probability is linked to your Spirit and the strength of the spirit body. Each time you encounter a spirit body, your Spirit has a small chance of increasing.

You have unlocked the subsequent milestone: Spirit Toucher (Rare) — Successfully touch a spirit body and survive

At the same time, the professor appeared beneath the mountain gate. Seeing Bai Cangshu, who had somehow found this shrine before him, he was briefly stunned.

"Mr. Mercenary Tao, did you also come here seeking assistance?"

Could the other party truly not be one of those Great Sin System Reincarnators? Was he instead someone like himself, capable of receiving revelations?

"Human, I have a request."

The fox girl, seemingly an envoy of Inari Ōkami, spoke those words. Bai Cangshu reached out to grab her head, but only felt the temperature of his hand drop slightly. He touched nothing at all.