The Himejima Clan was the strongest of the Five Great Noble Houses.
Although the balance of power was maintained on the surface, the quality of their younger generation made the truth obvious.
The Himejima Clan simply produced more talented individuals.
Unfortunately, many of them had gone down the wrong path.
Looking at the serpent shikigami, Shinki couldn’t help feeling a little bitter.
At his current level, he could barely summon a tiny snake himself—nothing more than decoration.
Old grudges and new ones combined.
Shinki made his move.
His figure blurred forward at incredible speed, almost like teleportation.
He dodged the shikigami’s bite and instantly seized it by the neck.
Faint golden patterns appeared across his body.
In this state, his physical abilities experienced a temporary but dramatic boost.
The duration was limited, but the enhancement was significant.
Shinki had given this form a name— Phoenix Mode.
It sounded a bit like a Kamen Rider transformation, though it had nothing to do with armor.
In this state, the shikigami’s movements seemed to slow down, allowing him to see every motion clearly.
Golden flames erupted from the hand gripping the serpent.
A brilliant flash illuminated the night.
Boom!
The shikigami instantly burst into flames and was reduced to ashes.
At the same time, Shinki kicked off the ground and closed the distance in the blink of an eye.
His fist became a chopping strike that slammed into the man’s neck.
The man didn’t even have time to react.
A sharp pain shot through his neck.
His vision blurred.
Everything went black.
He collapsed.
The mocking smiles on his companions’ faces froze instantly, like ducks with their throats squeezed shut.
Shinki didn’t hesitate.
Taking advantage of their momentary shock, he grabbed one of them by the head and smashed him directly into a nearby tree.
Bang!
Several leaves drifted down.
Only one remained standing.
The last man felt his heart tremble.
His eyes could barely track Shinki’s movements.
He hurriedly summoned two shikigami to block his path while pulling out a whistle, preparing to call for reinforcements.
The next second, his expression changed drastically.
His shikigami couldn’t even hold for a single second.
The strange golden flames engulfed them instantly.
Then a fist emerged from the fire and slammed into his chest.
The man grunted as his body was sent flying backward.
Crash!
He smashed through a tightly shut wooden door.
Wood fragments scattered everywhere.
The three operatives at the front had been dealt with.
However, the rest of the covert unit had already noticed the commotion and were rushing over.
At that moment, lights came on inside the shrine.
Shadows moved behind the windows.
Two figures hurriedly got dressed and ran outside.
The door opened.
Akeno hid behind Shuri while Shuri stood at the front, talismans in hand, still dressed in shrine maiden attire.
After all, Shuri was a direct descendant of the Himejima Clan.
She wasn’t some helpless woman.
As for Akeno, being a half-human, half-Fallen Angel gave her even greater potential, though her young age meant she currently lacked significant strength.
The moment they saw Shinki, both cried out in surprise.
“Shinki-kun, w-what is happening?” “The Himejima Clan headquarters has issued orders to take Akeno.
The area is already surrounded.
Follow me.” Shinki didn’t have time to explain further.
He had expected Shuri and Akeno to be shocked.
Instead, both mother and daughter appeared surprisingly calm.
Shuri let out a sorrowful sigh.
“So the main family still refuses to let Akeno and me go.” She had anticipated this day long ago.
It had simply arrived sooner than expected.
Rustling sounds echoed from outside.
Soon they became chaotic footsteps.
They were surrounded.
“Shinki-kun, can I ask you a favor?” Shuri looked at him.
“Take Akeno and leave.
I can buy you some time.” The mature woman immediately understood from Shinki’s expression.
She didn’t ask questions.
Her only wish was for her daughter to escape with him.
Their interactions over the years had convinced her that Shinki was a man she could entrust her daughter to.
“Don’t overthink it.
We’re leaving together.” Shinki shook his head.
He didn’t give her a chance to refuse.
In the original story, Shuri had stayed behind to cover Akeno’s escape and was ultimately driven to death by the Himejima Clan.
The tragedy became a wound that never healed in Akeno’s heart.
As long as he was here, he wouldn’t allow that to happen.
“No one is leaving.” A calm, authoritative voice suddenly sounded.
Surrounded by a group of followers, a man around fifty years old stepped over the threshold and entered.
“Uncle…” The moment Shuri saw him, despair filled her face.
The current head of the Himejima Clan— Himejima Shuhuang.
And also her uncle.
Putting aside the question of why he was personally present, the fact that he sat at the top of the clan was proof enough that his strength surpassed most exorcists.
Even with Shinki helping her, escape now seemed nearly impossible.
“Shuri, you consorted with a Fallen Angel and gave birth to a child of mixed blood.
According to clan law, your daughter must be dealt with.
As for you, you will serve five years of confinement to cleanse yourself of your sins.” Shuhuang’s expression remained cold.
As a staunch conservative who upheld the clan’s traditions, Akeno had long since been placed on his list for elimination.
During his tenure as clan head, the existence of someone like Shuri had become a stain on the family’s reputation.
A stain he intended to erase.