Demon Sword Maiden

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Lily returned to the small hut, her heart weighed down with unease. The previous day's events felt distant, overshadowed by the Madam’s unrelenting insistence on the marriage. Changing her mind seemed nearly impossible.

How could she possibly marry this Boundless Empress? The only minor consolation was that the Empress was also a woman. Yet, that hardly made the situation any more acceptable.

During her journey, Lily had been captured and mistreated by powerful women more than once. Although she had endured humiliating situations, her bottom line had never been crossed.

Marriage under the guise of peace for the three realms was nothing more than sugarcoating. In truth, it demanded that she sacrifice her body to satisfy the Boundless Empress, degrading herself in exchange for stability.

Though Lily could be uncertain about many things, she was unwavering when it came to safeguarding this principle.

In her past life as a man, Lily had vowed that her senior sister would be the only person she would ever marry. Even in this life as a woman, that vow remained unshakable.

Her most cherished bond would always belong to her senior sister.

But if she were forced into marriage and sent into the depths of the Boundless Abyss as the wife of the formidable Boundless Empress, could she possibly protect her chastity?

The Boundless Empress was the most powerful Supreme God in Yomi, someone even the Madam hesitated to challenge. How could Lily expect to safeguard her purity when faced with such a commanding force? She would likely lose everything on their wedding night.

Both her status and chastity would be stripped from her! She refused to accept that—absolutely not!

However… The Madam held unparalleled authority over Yomi and had issued a firm decree. How could Lily possibly defy her?

Her only hope rested on the Boundless Empress rejecting the proposal. Yet, rumor had it that the Empress was also fond of women. If she saw Lily’s beauty, how likely was it that she would refuse? Lily had no idea.

Could she escape before the arrangement was finalized? No—absolutely not! If she fled now, what would become of Madam Yoruko? No matter what, she needed to secure Madam Yoruko’s release before considering any other options. Afterward, she would adapt as needed.

This situation clashed with her deepest principles. It was no longer about repaying favors or betraying trust. If she couldn’t even protect her status and purity, what meaning would there be in fulfilling any obligations?

Lily had made her decision, but it meant defying the Madam, a figure feared across Yomi, and potentially the Boundless Empress herself—someone even the Madam avoided confronting. She knew how slim her chances were to escape unscathed.

"Senior sister… when will you finally awaken? I really need your help…"

Lily returned to the Mirror Dimension after a long absence.

"Lily!"

"Master!"

At that moment, Yukiko, Mayumi, Kotoka, and Nanako gathered around her.

The sisters surrounded Lily, their concern evident as they bombarded her with questions.

"Lily, you’ve been gone for so long. How have you been?"

"Master, do you know when you’ll be able to leave Yomi?"

"Lily, you don’t look well. Are you alright?"

Bitterness welled in Lily’s heart, but she masked it with a calm, gentle smile.

"I’m fine," she said softly, shaking her head. "Everything’s fine."

The sisters relaxed slightly at her response but remained cautious. They knew things couldn’t truly be fine as long as she remained trapped in Yomi.

"Please, Lily. If anything’s wrong, don’t keep it to yourself. Even though our strength is limited, we’ll do whatever we can to help you," Yukiko said, holding Lily’s hand firmly.

This was exactly what Lily feared. If her sisters learned the truth, they might act recklessly and put themselves in danger to help her. Though they were growing stronger, they still had no chance of surviving in Yomi. Yet, Lily knew they would come for her, no matter the danger.

For that reason, Lily resolved not to tell them anything.

Lily arrived at the Cloud Sanctum and saw Haihime, Murasaki, Mizue, Shiu, Sakiko, and the others training diligently. To her relief, Haihime had finally reached the Big Dipper Stage.

If the worst came to pass and she fell into the hands of the Boundless Empress, becoming her consort, perhaps she could still retain the ancient mirror. At the very least, she might occasionally visit her sisters through it. But even then… would she have the courage to face them? How could she ever look her senior sister in the eye again?

The thought caused a deep ache in Lily's heart as she watched her sisters train peacefully, their concerned gazes occasionally falling on her. How she longed to live a simple, carefree life, training alongside them. She needed to protect this world and the people she cherished. But before that, she had to ensure her own survival.

"Lily, are you alright?" Haihime glided over from a floating boulder within the Cloud Sanctum, landing gracefully by her side. She wore a loosely-fitted light blue kimono, her typical relaxed style of dress. The sight reminded Lily of their adventures together on Mount Fuji.

‘You’ve always been able to save others… yet you can’t even protect yourself now. How pathetic…' Lily sighed inwardly, a bitter sense of helplessness washing over her.

"Sister Haihime, I’m fine. Congratulations on reaching a breakthrough," Lily said with a faint smile.

"That’s nothing. It’s all thanks to you," Haihime replied warmly. "You must’ve had another major breakthrough yourself, right? All the sisters' swordsmanship and charm intent have improved significantly. Even Rei and Ayaka have made great strides, which has benefited us all. Still… I feel guilty. You and the others risk your lives at the frontlines, while I reap the rewards from behind the scenes. Lily, I’ll do my best to support you soon." Haihime gently held Lily’s hand as she spoke.

"No, that’s not true. The Heian Dynasty needs protectors too. Now that you’ve grown stronger, Sister Haihime, you can help shoulder some of my burdens," Lily reassured her.

"That’s true…" Haihime murmured thoughtfully. "While you were away, things on Tsukushi Island became unusual. The Taira Clan was defeated and forced back to the mainland. Now, only the Shimadzu Clan and the Navy defend the island. The rest has fallen under the control of the Cloistered Emperor once again."

"The Cloistered Emperor?" Lily asked, though the name no longer stirred any emotion in her. If she ever returned, she could crush that so-called emperor with little more than a flick of her wrist.

"Yes. But besides him, there’s a young leader dressed in black—mysterious and allegedly commanding subordinates even stronger than the Cloistered Emperor himself," Haihime explained.

"Are the other sisters safe?" Lily asked with concern.

"We’re following your orders and staying within Heian-kyo and Cherry Blossom Valley. For now, the Cloistered Emperor’s activities are limited to Tsukushi Island. Taira no Kiyomori and his forces are holding the western front. It won’t be easy for the Emperor’s troops to advance," Haihime reassured her.

"Sister Haihime, please stay cautious while I’m away. If you encounter a strong opponent, avoid confrontation at all costs. No matter what happens, wait for me to return…" Lily’s voice softened with sadness as she spoke.

But could she even return? And if she did… would anything still be the same?

Haihime and the other sisters gathered around her, nodding in solemn agreement.

"Don’t worry, Lily. Princess Asuka has returned to Iyo Island and is rallying the Asuka Army. They’ll support the Heian Dynasty and handle the Cloistered Emperor’s remnants. Stragglers are just that—stragglers. They won’t cause much trouble," Haihime said confidently.

"Master, there’s another important matter," Shiu reported. "Lady Kimiko has finally broken through her bottleneck after months of training here. She’s currently in seclusion at Suno and is on the verge of reaching the Empyrean Stage! Once she succeeds, the entire Heian Dynasty will be at peace!"

"Really?" Lily exhaled in relief. Kimiko, a nine-tailed fox demon and ancient divine beast, had already been the strongest among the Big Dippers in the Heian Dynasty. If she reached the Empyrean Stage1, she would become the most powerful being in the mortal realm. With that level of strength, Lily could finally rest easy knowing her sisters would be safe.

"Master, Sister Shimizu also asked me to deliver a message. She said she’s heading to Yomi," Shiu added.

"Sister Shimizu? She’s going to Yomi? But didn’t she fail to enter Rashōmon before? What’s going on?" Lily asked in confusion.

Shiu shook her head. "I’m not sure. She came by a few days ago, told me this, and left without giving any further details."

Rei and Ayaka had already ventured into Yomi to search for her. And now, even Shimizu… This was exactly what Lily had feared most. Yomi was a vast, perilous realm, and Lily was already caught in a dire situation herself. If her sisters followed her here, what could they possibly do? They would be in even greater danger.

After repeatedly urging her sisters to stay safe and avoid danger, Lily withdrew her consciousness from the Mirror Dimension.

In a border region on Yomi’s outskirts, there lay a village ruled by demons and inhabited by ancient Yomi humans. Suddenly, a group of powerful demons stormed into the village, forcing frightened villagers to gather anxiously in the center square.

The leader, a black-skinned demon with gleaming golden horns, stepped forward and bellowed, "This year’s tax is one thousand stones of Yomi rice. Have you prepared it?"

The villagers trembled, their faces pale with fear. An elder cautiously stepped forward and spoke, "Your Excellency, there is no rain in Yomi. We have to fetch water from the Sanzu River, which is dozens of miles away. But a band of demon riders calling themselves the Boundless Demon Cavalry have been attacking us. They’ve killed many of our young men or taken them as slaves. We can’t meet the rice quota this year!"

"What? The Boundless Abyss is said to be millions of miles from here! Have they really extended their reach this far?" The golden-horned demon roared in fury. "I’ll report this to His Majesty. If those Boundless Demon Cavalry think they can encroach on our territory, they’ll pay for it. But you must still deliver the rice—no excuses!"

"Please, Your Excellency! We truly have no food left!" the elder pleaded.

"Hmph, no food?" The golden-horned demon sneered. "Then we’ll take all the pretty women instead! If we don’t, the Boundless Demon Cavalry will capture them soon enough!" With a wave of his hand, several demons charged into the crowd, grabbing young women as the villagers cried out in horror.

"Stop this at once!" A commanding voice rang out as a tall woman stepped forward from behind the female villagers. She wore a semi-transparent feathered robe that shimmered in the dim light.

The woman elegantly held a bamboo leaf in one hand and a white jade teacup in the other. Her flowing sleeves shifted gracefully, offering glimpses of her exquisitely crafted Celestial Maiden undergarments. Her presence was both imposing and distinctly mature.

"You… Who are you?" The golden-horned demon and his followers froze, momentarily entranced by the sight of the tall, alluring woman dressed in such revealing attire.

"I’m just a nameless traveler passing through," the woman said calmly, her long hair and robes swaying gently in the breeze2. "These villagers showed me kindness and offered me shelter. How could I stand by and watch you bully them?" Ayaka's voice carried bold defiance as she confronted the demons.

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