He recalled that in the plot, Miroku used a similar method, giving Sango a bracelet that could conceal her aura.
"No need to rush." Kikyo continued walking without stopping, her tone calm. "I have some guesses about this monster's situation. I want to see what's really going on first. Let's observe a bit before acting."
The two hadn't walked far along the direction of the demonic aura when the outline of a cluster of buildings gradually became clear in the thick mist.
At that moment, a soft woman's voice came from within the mist: "Who are you?"
Retsu looked towards the voice and saw a beautiful woman wearing an elegant kimono, with dignified and lovely features, emerging from the thick mist.
Her long, raven-black hair cascaded down her back, reaching her waist. Her black eyes held a trace of emptiness. Her skin was as white as snow, her face delicate and fair, her demeanor fragile yet elegant.
But Retsu could clearly sense the faint demonic aura emanating from her. Knowing the plot, he understood that the woman before him was actually a female Mountain Dog Demon who had stolen the bones and soul of the legendary deceased Princess from the villagers, taking on this Princess's form.
"Why have you come to such a deep mountain forest?" Seeing Retsu's gaze fixed directly on her, the woman asked softly.
"Of course, to slay demons!" Retsu blurted out without a second thought.
"..." Upon hearing this, the demon before him clearly froze for a moment, evidently not expecting him to state it so bluntly, and was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Hiss—!" The instant Retsu's words fell, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his waist. Turning his head, he saw Kikyo glaring at him, her eyes full of warning, her fingertips gently pinching his side.
"Sir, what's wrong?" Retsu's pained gasp brought the demon opposite him back to her senses. Concern flickered in her eyes as she asked softly.
"N-nothing!" Feeling Kikyo's warning gaze, Retsu quickly waved his hand and played along with the demon's lead, acting. "Speaking of which, miss, are you alone in this deep mountain forest?"
"Yes, I have always been alone here." Instantly, an expression of sorrow and loneliness appeared in the woman's eyes as she replied in a low voice.
Then, she pointed towards the faintly visible mansion in the mist and gently invited, "Sir Samurai, please come to the mansion."
With that, she turned and walked towards the mansion.
Retsu stared at her retreating figure, then glanced at Kikyo's urging look beside him. Suppressing the urge to act directly, he quickly followed.
After entering the mansion, the demon led Retsu inside, had him sit down, then brought a teacup and gently poured tea for him.
Retsu sat opposite her, expressionlessly handing over the teacup. He watched as she filled it with tea and respectfully presented it to him, but made no move to drink. He simply stared quietly at her, observing her every move.
Seeing his reaction, the demon disguised as the "Princess" didn't mind.
She merely looked up at him with those empty eyes and spoke softly: "Sir Samurai, not long ago, the country I belonged to was breached by an enemy nation.
To save my life, my father dispatched loyal soldiers to protect me as we fled into these mountain forests."
As she spoke, deep sorrow appeared on her face, a faint glimmer of tears shining in her bright eyes. Her fragile, helpless demeanor was enough to stir the protective instincts of most men.
"Is that so? How pitiful." Retsu spoke words of comfort, but his tone was flat and unemotional, his expression somewhat perfunctory, completely unaffected by her emotions.
His gaze occasionally wandered around the room, landing on Kikyo not far away.
At this moment, Kikyo was like an invisible presence before the demon, quietly busy in a corner of the room. She held a stack of talismans, rapidly laying out a formation on the floor that Retsu couldn't understand.
Seeming to sense that Retsu's attention wasn't on her, the demon opposite him spoke up, trying to attract his notice: "The soldiers who fled into the forest with me all died. I am very lonely all alone..."
"Mhm, mhm, so pitiful." Retsu glanced at the demon still acting before him, nodded, and said offhandedly.
Seeing the Samurai opposite her constantly looking around, the demon inwardly flared with anger: "This man before her is simply a block of wood! Here she is, a stunningly beautiful woman before him, yet this person keeps looking around aimlessly, his gaze not wanting to linger on her for even a second!"
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