Chapter 1479: [Lingering Spirit], Exorcism Ritual

As Lann indicated his ‘I’m fine’ attitude, Kikuchi Daisuke bowed to Lann first, then adjusted his robe, and then raised his sword to step into the World of the Living circle.

Lann stood on normal ground, arms crossed, watching Kikuchi Daisuke’s moves.

This warrior, whose hair was scattered and half-white, swung his sword towards the air with a movement completely devoid of murderous intent.

Even though he hadn’t done any intense exercise before stepping into the World of the Living circle, being able to stand inside and swing a proper, regulated slash was already much stronger than the young warrior who panicked earlier.

Meanwhile, Lann’s Spiritual Vision was already open and he was watching Kikuchi Daisuke and the World of the Living under his feet from the side.

The Demon Hunter only saw that after swinging this aimless slash, Kikuchi Daisuke understandably showed signs of a physical gap.

But without a doubt, he had more experience dealing with the World of the Living than others.

So his state of physical gap was more like suddenly doing anaerobic exercise, as long as he caught his breath, he could recover more than half.

Unlike the militia and young warrior before, their stamina consumption in the World of the Living was like reaching the limit of aerobic exercise, having to rest well to let their bodies get over it.

This is a difference in the strategy of physical exercise causing advantages or disadvantages.

And the miraculous thing happened just when Kikuchi Daisuke exhaled and recovered more than half of his strength after burning out!

In Lann’s Spiritual Vision, Kikuchi Daisuke’s life energy dimmed slightly as he swung his sword, a sign that his strength was being spread outward.

But next, in the process of his strength quickly recovering, his life energy gradually brightened again.

Because Lann ‘saw’ this process, he seemed to hear a faint sound in his ear.

“Phew~”

During the brightening of life energy, it seemed to resonate with the World of the Living circle, or more accurately, ‘reverse resonance’.

The World of the Living is power that belongs outside of humanity, naturally suppressing human life.

But if the power of human life suppresses the World of the Living in a special and effective way, even for a moment, then this power will instead be dispelled and returned to the underworld.

Using the moment of transition from dark to light in life energy during strength recovery to create a resonant response.

Even humans who do not study Buddhist scriptures or understand Yin-Yang Dao can dispel the World of the Living summoned by demons, thus safeguarding humanity!

Even after experiencing many different sceneries, different powers, and mysteries of the world, Lann could not help but raise his eyebrows with interest upon seeing Kikuchi Daisuke’s move.

Because Kikuchi Daisuke simply swung the sword without any particular aim, Lann couldn’t yet discern the skills of warriors in this world at the level of swordsmanship techniques.

However, just regarding control and application of strength and life energy in the body, the skills displayed by Kikuchi Daisuke were enough to make him find it refreshing.

If this technology were thoroughly studied… Isn’t it possible that when they fight for a long time, as long as they catch their breath, more than half of their stamina could come back?

Moreover, in the process of recovering stamina, it could naturally dispel the negative energy counterpart to life force, the World of the Living.

Under Kikuchi Daisuke’s feet, like an ink-strolling World of the Living circle, it suddenly dispersed as his movements ended.

The disappearing ink circle looked identical to the way the Hungry Ghost corpse dissipated earlier.

“Use Residual Heart to purify the World of the Living.” Kikuchi Daisuke then dispelled the second ink circle with ceremony, and while sheathing his sword, reprimanded his son. “I’ve taught you this more than once!”

Residual Heart, from the sound of it, seems to be the technique used just now to purify the World of the Living.

“I know, but…” Kikuchi Dingji dared not talk back, only muttering under his breath, “I didn’t know that was the World of the Living, I couldn’t even see it.”

The old warrior sighed heavily in disappointment, then turned to the Demon Hunter who had been observing earlier.

Approaching with a bit of awkwardness, he quietly spoke.

“I originally thought that once my son truly killed a Hungry Ghost, Void Insight would accumulate enough to see the World of the Living, but now it seems… his aptitude for inspiration might not be good.”

“I apologize for the laughable sight, truly sorry.”

Void Insight, as the name suggests, is wisdom for observing and communicating with non-human entities.

If one lacks talent in inspiration, it seems they couldn’t even see the World of the Living.

If they stumble into it, they’d merely feel inexplicably exhausted, unable to make sense of the situation.

In terms of function, Void Insight seems similar to Spiritual Vision, but if it is just ‘communication’ without ‘deep-seeing and self-enhancement’, then this ability appears more important for Yin Yang Masters.

Used for communicating with and subjugating Shikigami and such.

Warriors have simpler needs, as long as Void Insight can see the various methods of demons, that’s considered sufficient.

Kikuchi Daisuke mentioned to Kikuchi Dingji that demons summon the World of the Living, but the feeling of entering the World of the Living could never be conveyed just by telling.

Only after truly entering it would one know the discomfort and oppression of it.

For those who haven’t experienced it, no matter how much is said, they cannot react quickly.

Until Kikuchi Daisuke had already purified two World of the Living spots, the village finally began to show some order amidst the chaos.

Five or six militiamen, trembling with fear but still gritting their teeth as they ran this way.

Very much in the style of the Japanese, shouting and yelling to cheer themselves on as they ran.

Considering the courage they displayed at this moment, Lann didn’t find it too unpleasant.

When they arrived, realizing everything was fine, these militiamen who were previously shouting and yelling suddenly looked at each other awkwardly, just like the previous militiamen.

Kikuchi Daisuke didn’t seem to care much either, as long as no one died it was fine.

“Alright! Everyone who came face-to-face with the demon, gather here, don’t leave!”

The old warrior announced loudly.

But the listeners seemed to understand what was happening, so there was no panic or unacceptable attitude.

“We’ll wait for the village head, and then cleanse the residual impurity; bringing home dirty things will bring trouble, do you hear?”

“Yes!”*N

The militiamen and Kikuchi Dingji answered in unison.

Just as Kikuchi Daisuke said, it wasn’t long before the village head rushed over amid the noise.

He looked as if he had just been awoken by the commotion and hurried over, but perhaps due to the need to maintain ritual practice, as he walked over, he tied a rope under his chin to secure the priest’s hat on his head.

Behind him, several villager helpers followed, carrying a pile of miscellaneous items.

“How’s it going, how’s it going?”

The rope under the chin wasn’t tied properly yet, and before reaching the front, the village head’s voice had already shouted over.

The person approached along with the sound.

“Phew~ Did anyone get hurt? What about the demon? What kind of demon was it?”

After all, the priest was not a warrior, so his hurried steps left him panting for a moment.

“No one got hurt, the demon is dead, hurry up and perform the ritual, come on, come on.”

Kikuchi Daisuke pulled the not-yet-steady village head over to the open field where the hungry ghost appeared.

The villagers who came with the village head began to skillfully and swiftly set down the items they carried.

It was a simple small table made of wooden boards nailed together, along with a small shrine.

Within minutes, they had set up a simple Shinto altar.

The structure resembled a small wooden house, with a plate inside holding a sprig of cherry blossoms, the eaves of the small house hanging thinner shimenawa and paper strips.

After everything was arranged, the village head nodded at the people present, then pulled out a stack of ‘effigies’ from his wide sleeves, counted them, and put back some.

Effigies are paper figures used in Shinto rituals to ward off evil and misfortune, bearing the impurities and curses instead of a real person.

“Please, please.” Kikuchi Daisuke seemed to invite Lann repeatedly to stand in the front row of the ceremony because Lann had saved his son and the militiamen’s lives, clearly more enthusiastic compared to during the daytime.

After counting the effigies corresponding to the number of people, the village head began to chant and recite in accordance with Shinto rites at the simple altar, occasionally matching his words with actions and steps.

Lann glanced at Kikuchi Daisuke beside him, using his observation and learning ability, to react and move accordingly.

Hands clasped together, head bowed in prayer.

The ritual to expel evil and impurity seemed not particularly complex, and before long it was completed.

Along with everyone, putting clasped hands together rhythmically twice, the village head ignited those effigies, and after they burned completely, everyone spontaneously revealed a relieved expression.

“Alright, alright, is everything okay now?” The dignified and solemn atmosphere of the priest disappeared immediately after the ritual ended, instantly as he complained and hammered his own waist.

“Ah, serving the gods is truly tedious… Besides, even if we serve them, demons still show up in the village!”

“Don’t say such reckless things!” Kikuchi Daisuke immediately shouted at the village head, “Be careful not to anger the deities!”

The militiamen of Thirteen Cherry Blossom Village laughed, watching the two old men argue, seemingly already accustomed to it.

“Never mind, never mind.” The village head, like a salaryman loosening his tie, untied the rope of his hat from under his chin and waved it off, “The cherry blossoms in our village are very gentle, nothing like the troublesome ones elsewhere.”

The ‘gods’ worshipped in Shintoism are numerous, with varying natures.

Not only are they the natural spirits of mountains, rivers, and plants, but even malicious demons and evil spirits have the right to be enshrined and worshipped.

However, this worship leans more towards ‘pacification’—framing the wicked ghost as a ‘deity’ through ritual and worship so that its original behavior is restricted by its identity, reducing harm.

However, even when worshipped, such ‘deitys’ are considered extremely fierce and dangerous compared to other ‘deities’ in Shintoism.

The giant cherry tree worshipped by Thirteen Cherry Blossom Village does not seem to belong to this type.