"Saito, could you share the layout of the inner palace with our new teammates?"
After the little interlude between the mischievous Seimei and the fiery Hualing, the group continued their discussion. Saito nodded at Seimei's request and stretched out his left hand. A large map then appeared next to the element display.
"The inner palace consists of five temples that were constructed to cater to the respective training needs and methods of each Tensen—Taisoku for Zhu Jin, Do'in for Ran, Shi'itsu under Gui Fa, Bochu Jutsu for Ju Fa and Tao Fa, Rentan for Rien. And lastly, the main temple, which is the central laboratory where they conduct their experiments." Saito elucidated, pointing at each structure on the map. "They also have a central training room."
"Why is there a black patch?" Gantetsusai gestured at a stain, which resembled a burnt mark.
"That used to be the Shuten temple, the domain of the recently deceased Mu Dan. This live map will reflect the latest situation and layout of the inner palace, ensuring that I am immediately updated about events and changes occurring there."
"Note that the Tensens often renovate the palace to maintain harmony with the surrounding environment. After all, the entire place is constructed based on the principles of Feng Shui, which constantly evolves. So what we see here now will change later. The only question is when."
"But regardless of the new location, the domains' owners won't change since each temple caters to the specific training needs of the respective Tensen," Seimei touched his chin thoughtfully. "I can track the enemies' whereabouts based on their auras during the battle in case they alter the organization of the palace."
The Celestial Fox paused contemplatively before he turned to the Byakko.
"Saito, tell everyone what you learned about Jokufu and Rien."
"The couple is already dead. Or, more accurately, they had undergone arborification. In reality, all the Tensens, including Mei, are Rien's clones created by combining her Tao with plants. So they are her puppets who do her bidding."
"Also, the Tensens are unaware that Jokufu is long dead—Rien kept the truth from them and deceived them into believing that they are conducting their research under Jokufu, whom they called their Grand Master."
"Anyway, Rien's goal is to harness the maximum amount of superior human Tao so that she can revive her late husband. That's why she and her plant puppets have been experimenting with the lured humans and extracting their Tao. Both for their own consumption and to create the perfect Elixir—they are currently researching the latter, by the way. Ultimately, Rien plans to travel to mainland Japan with Jokufu's preserved body and her Paradise Butterflies to infect the entire population and turn them into flowers for her use."
Everyone was shocked into horrified silence upon hearing Saito's words. Sagiri's heart constricted painfully as she imagined innocent civilians getting stung by the butterflies as they went about their daily businesses and being reduced to those flowering aberrations.
Just like Sir Senta. Just like what Sir Shion nearly became.
"We can't let that happen! No matter what it takes, we must stop Rien." The young female samurai declared fiercely, her thoughts on the rest of the Asaemon clan still on the mainland. No, she silently vowed. She would die before she let them become another Senta.
A warm, reassuring hand on Sagiri's back brought her back to her senses. Harumi's empathetic smile calmed her racing heart, and she relaxed slightly, offering a tentative smile of gratitude in return.
"We will, Sagiri. We will eliminate all the Tensens and their loathsome creatures. You have my word," Seimei's strong voice rang with conviction.
"So, regarding our battle...can we assume that we are leveraging the concept of the five elements' clashing traits to defeat the Tensens?"
YOU ARE READING
A Love Beyond Time
Fanfiction"Sagiri." Shion turned to the young lady beside him, a soft smile of quiet bliss and wonderment adorning his handsome face. "Have you ever, ever imagined that things would turn out this way when we embarked on that assignment to Shinsekyo those year...
