Tokyo Fall Guys beats up the supernatural

Page 176

Hearing the sarcasm in Maolang's words, Leben was not angry. He simply shook his head, smiled, said goodbye, and hurriedly left the dojo.

Mao Liang looked at the corpses scattered all over the ground and felt a kind of indescribable annoyance. Although Dou Tang's fighting style was very sharp, and even though she was willing to be killed so many times in the subsequent sparring, she still felt that something was missing.

Dou Tang is too incomplete. Everything he shows is like an incomplete half-human being with many parts cut off. He is cold but not ruthless enough, and warm but unable to express it further.

For Mao Liang, who was a martial arts fanatic and actually quite arrogant at heart, this was like someone who had been starving for a long time ordering a rice bowl, only to find that although the dishes were so delicious that they made you want to swallow your fingers, they were suddenly not given rice.

When you ask the shop owner what's going on, they tell you that their rice bowls only have vegetables and no rice, which is absolutely absurd.

Mao Liang felt much the same way at that moment.

After leaving the dojo, Leben felt relieved and dialed Lu Zizhen's number. But to be honest, even someone like Leben was quite wary of Lu Zizhen.

Because Lu Zizhen is far too cunning.

She knew that Dou Tang was the Sugar Bean Man, and that she was even one of Dou Tang's confidantes. She had also collected Ping Jiangmen's limbs to weaken Ping Jiangmen's power, but it seemed that she had given the limbs to Dou Tang during the day.

She and Leben could be said to be cooperating, yet it also felt like they were adversaries. Leben always felt that she was not sincerely helping him, but in the end, this led to a complete confrontation between Doo-tang and Taira no Masakado.

Leben's aim was to "see the clash between the new and the old eras," but Lu Zizhen never said what she truly desired.

The call connected, and Leben said, "Miss Lu, Mr. Ren has already obtained the crown that belongs to Ruby Lin."

Lu Zizhen's slightly hoarse voice came from the other end: "I understand. By the way, the battle against Taira no Masakado is in two nights from now. I request that you spread this news throughout Tokyo."

Leben's face lit up with delight: "Oh? So he's already made a duel with Taira no Masakado?"

Lu Zizhen hummed in agreement and continued, "So, as you wish, this time... I want as many people as possible to know about the clash between the new era and the old era that you mentioned."

Chapter 96 There are no vengeful spirits that have slumbered for thousands of years.

Dou Tang defeated Mao Liang once again.

Mr. Ren will engage in a one-on-one duel with Taira no Masakado at midnight the following day.

These two pieces of news spread like wildfire during the night when Dou Tang was asleep.

As word spread, from one person to ten, and from ten to a hundred, in those underground places where no strangers were allowed, through the mouths of exorcists, Mr. Ren's status continued to rise without limit, and people's expectations for this battle also rose without limit.

People always have an inexplicable enthusiasm for pursuing legends. Driven by curiosity, many exorcists who were originally undecided began to flock to Edogawa Ward.

In this information age, physical proximity may not necessarily make them know the news earlier than others, but the deep-seated desire in people's hearts to find out the truth still gets them moving.

And so do the monsters.

After learning about this from some of his yokai friends, Mikazuki knew that there was a big problem.

Upon hearing the news, it quickly went to the Nurarihyon mansion, jumped over the courtyard wall, and had Yoshiko wake up the sleeping Nurarihyon.

Sleepy-eyed, Nurarihyon listened to Mikazuki's account and looked troubled, saying, "This...this is clearly something someone did intentionally, deliberately trying to make Mr. Ren fight Taira no Masakado in public..."

"If the matter between Mr. Ren and Taira no Masakado is only known to the two sides, then in any case, the winner will be the winner, and the bystanders will not say much. At most, they will just know that each other knows about it."

"But if someone creates momentum and brings the whole thing to the forefront... it will undoubtedly put Mr. Ren in a very difficult position. If he fails, then he will have no reputation left in Tokyo."

Mikazuki gritted his teeth uneasily: "How could anyone come up with such a vicious trick... Damn it, damn it!"

After a moment's thought, Nurarihyon asked in return, "Mikazuki, do you think Mr. Ren can win?"

Mikazuki angrily said, "This is not about winning or losing at all. He has always been a very low-key person. This time, he was already making a name for himself by being the leader of the attacking side. Now that this has happened, he must be very unhappy."

Nurarihyon picked up the teapot beside him, took two sips from the spout to moisten his throat, and said, "Mikazuki, if he fails, he will be killed by Taira no Masakado."

"If he wins, he will also kill Taira no Masakado."

“In that case, this fight is undoubtedly a battle to establish authority, for both him and Taira no Masakado.” Nurarihyon looked at the uneasy Mikazuki, a hint of doubt flashing through his mind, but he did not show it on his face, and continued, “So no matter who wins or loses, this will be a big deal, it’s just that it has become a bit bigger now.”

"You shouldn't be concerned about whether things will escalate, but rather whether he will die. In my opinion, he's almost become your owner."

"How dare you say such things!" Mikazuki was so angry that he jumped up and down, his emerald green cat eyes staring intently at Nurarihyon: "Old man, don't be so arrogant."

Nurarihyon laughed loudly, waving his hands and saying, "Alright, alright, I won't say it anymore. You little rascal, you still have such a bad temper."

After laughing, he pondered for a moment and said, "Since that's the case, do you want to go and take a look? Or rather... it would be strange not to go and take a look, wouldn't it?"

Mikazuki fell silent upon hearing this, its tail twitching uneasily as it looked down at the tatami mat, lost in thought.

Nurarihyon continued, "I think quite a few exorcists and demons will go to see it, right? Such a high-profile battle should make the whole of Tokyo go wild."

"The era when evil spirits lurked in the shadows, starting with Taira no Masakado, has slowly passed. If it weren't for someone like Mr. Ren stepping forward to stop them..."

Nurarihyon shook his head: "Mikazuki, guess how many more missing persons cases there will be in Tokyo?"

"This battle was not just his own; it was both a demonstration of his authority and a warning."

"A great demon like me certainly cannot be absent."

Just then, Yizi suddenly entered the Japanese-style room, her steps hurried and her face flustered. She said, "Master, someone has come to the door."

Nurarihyon laughed, "It seems I have quite a few guests tonight. Who's here?"

Yizi hesitated for a moment, then said, "The visitor claims to be... Sugawara no Michizane."

Nurarihyon was immediately filled with surprise, and Mikazuki, who was standing next to him, sighed deeply upon hearing this.

Having composed himself, Nurarihyon waved his hand and said, "Let Lord Sugawara in."

Yi Zi nodded softly, bowed, and withdrew.

Mikazuki said with a grim expression, "I didn't expect that it wasn't just a legendary vengeful spirit like Taira no Masakado, but even Sugawara no Michizane..."

"Ancient legends have come to life." Nurarihyon shook his head. "Perhaps times have truly changed."

After a while, an old man in a suit walked in.

The old man had a full head of white hair combed back, a tall and straight figure, and bright eyes. His black suit made him look energetic, and he even wore an expensive watch on his wrist.

He was also wearing glasses, the gold half-rimmed frames giving him an artistic air, like a refined old scholar.

Apart from that, it's nothing special, really nothing special.

He had no overwhelming resentment, no outstanding temperament; he just looked like a slightly energetic old man.

It's hard to imagine that such a fashionable old man could be Sugawara no Michizane, who was deified as a guardian deity for students.

Sugawara no Michizane walked in, looked at Nurarihyon, and laughed, "It seems that Nurarihyon from every era looks the same, with roughly the same appearance."

Nurarihyon became somewhat reserved. If the identity of the person in front of him was true, then he was another vengeful spirit who had wreaked havoc in Japan a thousand years ago, and perhaps even a deified being like Taira no Masakado. Naturally, Nurarihyon would feel awkward and restrained in the face of such a person.

He forced a smile and said, "Sugawara no Michizane... I never imagined that even a legend as well-known as you would be resurrected."

Sugawara no Michizane shook his head and said, "No, this is not a resurrection."

Sugawara no Michizane glanced at Mikazuki on the ground with a playful look in his eyes, then looked at Nurarihyon again and said, "I only awakened a year ago, or rather... I was born."

Nurarihyon was immediately puzzled.

Sugawara no Michizane looked at him and continued, "Nurarihyon, you don't actually believe that there are vengeful spirits in the world that can sleep for thousands of years, do you? Don't be ridiculous."

There are no vengeful spirits that have slumbered for thousands of years... Mikazuki pondered these words carefully, gradually becoming somewhat doubtful.

Sugawara no Michizane continued, "I am Sugawara no Michizane, yet I am not."

The white-haired old man, Sugawara no Michizane, walked up to Nurarihyon, casually sat down, and said, "Of course, that's not related to my purpose for coming here today. Nurarihyon, I've heard you're the most well-informed yokai in Tokyo, isn't that right?"

Nurarihyon quickly lowered his head and said, "I just have good eyesight and hearing, but I can't be called a genius."

Sugawara Michizane nodded and said, "Then... please help me pass on this message to Mr. Ren. I have heard many stories about him ever since I entered Tokyo."

"Just pass on the message that I have what he wants and that I am willing to study it with him, that's all."

Chapter 97 I Once Carried a Lantern to Illuminate Mountains and Rivers

Dou Tang had a dream that night.

A rather bizarre, interesting, yet unsettling dream.

In his dream, he was still living in the previous world, living as the pure Mr. Ren. He walked on the earth, looking at the gloomy sky, with an endless wilderness around him, where the wind blew the grass low and cattle and sheep could be seen.

"Hey."

Suddenly, something flew past him. Dou Tang reached out and tried to catch it, but it was just a locust.

"brush--"

Something flashed across the grass at Dou Tang's feet. He stepped on something wet and slippery, and a strange eye peeked out from between the blades of grass—it was the eye of a snake.

Dou Tang released his grip and lifted his foot, and the snake and locust quickly departed.

They were heading in the same direction, so Dou Tang followed them.

The cattle and sheep on the plains ran about, their black fur making them look primitive and wild, unlike any modern livestock.

As darkness fell, more things flew in the sky. Dou Tang looked up and saw birds and insects gathering in the air, turning into dark, dense clouds that rushed away into the distance.

From the waist-high weeds, pairs of beastly eyes peeked out. Jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards passed by Dou Tang, some even turning back.

He glanced at him, then slumped over, head down, and jogged off into the distance.

The wind howled, and all that could be heard in Dou Tang's ears was the whooshing sound of the wind. The wind pushed the birds and beasts, and it also pushed him forward.

Dou Tang followed along, taking steps to walk alongside the tiger and leopard, with flying birds and insects occasionally falling onto his shoulder.

Dou Tang was now fully aware that he was dreaming, but he was still completely baffled as to why he was dreaming of such a scene.

In the distance, towering mountain peaks can be vaguely seen.

The further they walked, the stronger the stench of blood became in the air.

Carcasses began to appear on the ground, the bodies of many kinds of animals, some gnawed to pieces, others gutted and abandoned. Some tiger and leopard carcasses still had bloodstains on their mouths, indicating that they had died after hunting.

They take lives, then are killed by other creatures, and the cycle repeats itself.

Dreams are expressions of imagery and condensations of ideas. When Dou Tang saw this, his heart tightened and he felt a little uncomfortable. He wanted to leave, but he found that although he was conscious, he could not control his behavior in the dream.

He blinked hard and continued walking forward.

The number of corpses on the ground gradually increased, and from the surrounding grass, figures slowly emerged. They were illusory humanoids whose features were indistinct, as if they were formed from a wisp of smoke, and could be dispersed with a wave of the hand.

The sky was dark, and the birds and beasts had become fewer and even strange. Dou Tang watched as a small snake beside him crawled faster and faster, devouring the corpses from time to time. Now it had become a snake demon with its upper body standing up taller than a person.

The snake demon stared at the illusory human figures, flicking its tongue repeatedly. It seemed to have finally chosen one, opened its blood-red maw, and swallowed it whole. The human figure turned into a cloud of mist and surged into the snake demon's throat. The snake demon's entire body paused, and a complex human emotion appeared in its eyes.

Many strangely shaped animals do this, but some of them are illusory humanoid forms that wrap around the animals, transforming them into upright monsters that are neither human nor beast.

The wild grass on the ground withered, revealing the eerie, deep black earth.

The demons, seemingly having completed some kind of ritual, continued forward, and Dou Tang followed the waves they formed, moving ever onward.

We've reached the foot of the mountain.

The towering mountains before me are so majestic. Standing at the foot of the mountains and looking up, there are steep slopes and sheer cliffs. Clear springs flow in the valleys, and sacred trees grow at the mountain passes. With these high mountains as their peaks, the mountains stretch into the distance, transforming into a mountain range.

Evil spirits lurked in the darkness, their eyes filled with malevolence, staring at a spot at the foot of the mountain.

From the cave at the foot of the mountain, occasional cries could be heard.

Dou Tang walked forward against his will and arrived at the cave entrance.

The cave was crowded with people. The dark and oppressive cave was filled with gleaming eyes. The people were hugging each other. Their clothes were not visible, but the suppressed panic in their trembling bodies could be seen.

What does this mean...?

"Ding, ding, ding..."

Suddenly, a series of crisp sounds came from the depths of the cave, gradually getting closer until an old man with a puffed-out chest came to Dou Tang's side.

The clinking sound was the sound of his long sword striking the bronze ornament at his waist.

The old man drew his longsword, and with his other hand he took out a torch.

"Snap, snap."

The clash of iron and stone sparked a torch, illuminating the old man's wrinkled face and his body covered in crisscrossing scars.

Dou Tang stood in front of him, her gaze intense, meeting his eyes.

The old man strode past Dou Tang, who then noticed that as he moved forward, wisps of mist followed him. The mist didn't come from him, but from another figure clinging to his back. The figure appeared to be a woman, but it made the old man's back stand even straighter.

The woman was very similar to the countless humanoid phantoms whose faces were obscured in the wilderness.

Upon reaching the cave entrance, the illusory woman on the old man's body suddenly fell to the ground.

The old man slowly raised the torch in his hand, his eyes wide with anger. The dazzling flame on the torch suddenly rose, illuminating the darkness outside the cave, and the evil beasts lurking in the darkness were immediately exposed.

The woman slowly touched the torch, sharing it with the old man. With her other hand, she reached around the old man's waist, untied the belt wrapped around his waist, and casually swung it up.

"despair!!"