A missing man, a Barrier specifically designed to block women... If Retsu remembered correctly, this was exactly the monster that Miroku and Sango had dealt with in the plot.
He recalled that in the plot, when Miroku and Sango passed through the Barrier, Sango got separated from Miroku inside the Barrier precisely because of its resistance.
He looked down at Kikyo leaning on his shoulder, her breathing gradually steadying, and finally understood why she was so exhausted.
In the plot, Sango, as a Demon Slayer, carried the heavy hiraikotsu year-round. She could not only wield it in close combat with demons but also throw it directly as a weapon.
The hiraikotsu Sango threw could instantly smash a demon in two, which gives an idea of how immense her physical strength was.
Yet even Sango couldn't keep up with Miroku's pace due to the Barrier's resistance. This shows how powerful the Barrier's force against women must be.
Kikyo, as a shrine maiden, possessed great spiritual power. However, in terms of pure physical strength, although stronger than an ordinary person, she ultimately couldn't compare to Sango, who could engage in close combat with demons.
No wonder men went missing from the Village, yet no women could come searching. Even if they found this place, they simply couldn't pass through this Barrier targeting women.
Learning that this was an event that appeared in the plot made Retsu somewhat happy. Not because the monster was weak and posed no danger to him and Kikyo.
More importantly, he remembered that after the main group resolved this monster, they encountered a place nearby called "Peach Blossom Spring," which in the plot was connected to "Sages."
He was very curious about these so-called "Sages." Were they truly immortal beings, or were they like the Sage Mode in the world of the Hokage, merely enhancing power without any extension to lifespan?
After all, in the world of the Hokage, apart from the leaders of the three great sage regions who lived for a long time, other humans who cultivated Sage Mode had lifespans no different from ordinary people.
"Alright, let's go." With Retsu's Chakra supplement, Kikyo completely regained her strength before long and sat up, speaking.
Retsu helped her stand up, his gaze sweeping through the white mist. He pointed in a direction and said, "There's a fluctuation of demonic aura over there. That should be the monster we're looking for."
"Mm... wait." Kikyo nodded and was about to step forward but suddenly paused.
She extended a finger and lightly tapped her brow. A layer of pure white spiritual power flashed over her body and then vanished, as if it had never appeared.
"Alright, let's go." Only after doing this did Kikyo lift her foot and walk in the direction Retsu had pointed.
"What were you doing just now?" Retsu followed beside her, asking curiously.
"Since this Barrier specifically blocks women, I was worried the monster might go berserk if it discovered my presence."
Kikyo tilted her head slightly towards him, lowering her voice to explain, "I just cast a concealment spell on myself. As long as I don't actively make noise to draw its attention, it probably won't detect me."
"Is all that trouble necessary? Wouldn't it be simpler to just find it and cut it down?" Retsu asked, somewhat puzzled.
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