"Yamato-sama." The old women, despite being beet red in anger was still forced to bow fully at the waist to the cultivator lounging around. Her body tense and Ki flickering 'discreetly' into a pair of twin paper charms that shout out a short but gentle pulse towards the horizon. A message probably. "Please forgive us for our rudeness. My name is Ando Kiyoko and I am the head shrine maiden of the subsidiary shrine under the Shinra Clan. And this here is my apprentice, Aoki Himari."
The girl, who appeared to be of similar age to Tatsuo, bowed in kind. But it was clear how unwilling she was, in fact the women looked as though she was going to dive headfirst into the inheritance after his disciple's descendant. Not out of anger but concern, if her spiking ripples in her Ki were anything to go by.
"This elder greets his juniors." A small mocking smile stretched across Iori's lips at that, in comparison to these two youngsters he had to be positively ancient. And despite Himari's possessing more wrinkles than smooth flesh, she was still but a child to him. "What is it this elder can do for you?"
"We will waste any of your time, Yamato-sama. We simply ask that you do not interfere further in young Tatsuo's situation. Like the stories my grandmother told me, wasn't it common for elders such as yourself to allow the younger generation to settle matters between themselves? For them to struggle for supremacy without...your overarching presence stunt their chances to advance? I am sure the heads of the Five Principal Clans would love to accept you as an honor guest!"
'Those Kamis must've warned them.'
There was some decorum amongst cultivators, common rules that the Righteous tried to reinforce. No fighting down, using one's own superior cultivation to suppress or bully someone weaker. But, to know one's surprise, that didn't stop their elders from jumping into the mud with youngsters to snatch away opportunities or to settle a grudge.
That's just how they acted.
All to willing to hunt down some random weaker rogue cultivator for 'stealing' what was there's but turn the situation around and only then did they call foul. At least Demonic Cultivators were consistent with their intent.
And from these two's previous actions, it seemed these Five Principal Clans had absorbed some aspects of Righteous Cultivators. Meaning, a smiling face while they poisoned his tea. But not them of course, some overly zealous servant' that 'conveniently' committed suicide after failing.
"That is not required." No matter how weak that viper's den might be, it was still a snake pit nonetheless. Besides, what kind of master would he be to dine with the very people that had contributed to his disciple's troubles? "Pass this message along to your masters: This inheritance is not theirs and they will not be able to benefit from it while I am here."
"...Yamato-sama." Himari bowed deeper, nearly collapsing in on herself completely. "While we do not deserve your mercy, we must ask that you reconsider. The Takemoto bloodline has been under the direct care of Tsukuyomi-sama for generations now. It is only right that he is afforded face due their bloodline holding some connection to him… And I highly doubt there's anything in that inheritance that could ever interest the Heavenly Demon."
"Your Kami is far too greedy." He snorted, enjoying the visible flash of anger across their face at the direct slap to their god's name. "It was his worshipers that named Fuji's bloodline and claimed it as coming from their god. The Takemoto bloodline has no connection to the Shinto Deity of the Moon. A mere mutation, nothing more nothing less. But I do find it interesting that you would be so willing to admit to practicing selective breeding on the Takemoto family. Do you believe I wouldn't dare kill you for desecrating my disciples lineage?"
"Or is it those paltry talismans that fills you so much confidence."
Azure eyes pierced through the veil, passing their nearly laughable attempt to conceal a pair of paper charms written in a type of blood that oozed an oh-so familiar Ki 'flavor'.
Fragrant like freshly turned earth, like a drop fresh morning dew. Ancient and powerful, holding a hint of mischief that belied the age of that original creature.
It was something he knew all too well.
'A Tenko Kitsune.'
A powerful one at that if the wafting 'air' coming off those sheets were anything to go by. It was nearly impossible to make out exactly what these charms could do, but it was obvious they weren't offensive. Else, they would've used it on him the first moment they got.
Or maybe due to the religious origin, it had more to due with sealing or restrictions? Or maybe even outright having the capability to bring the wielder back from the edge of death.
'Pay to win at it's finest..'
"Run along to your elders." They were less than ants in the grand scheme of things, killing them wouldn't accomplish anything beyond tainting his karma….but with how silent the Heavens seemed, was that really something worry about anymore? There shouldn't be any tribulation lightning falling on his head if he just went on a massive killing spree...shouldn't be wasn't a very concrete platform to stand on. Let someone else tempt the silent skies above. "I have no further use of you."
"We would be disgraced if we didn't at least try."
The old women, stood with her back straight. A charm held openly between two fingers before her, a wispy smoke spooling out to thicken and form into a roughly humanoid figure multiple times the size of a normal human. Condensing and solidifying into rectangular plates, a closed faced helmet and a katana flickering with blood infused kanji. A ghostly samurai flowed into a combat ready stance, blade point angled at the old monster's throat.
Besides the duo, her disciple also summoned upon the paper charm and a large serpent came unraveling through reality. Larger than any normal snake, it easily coiled around her body. Thicker than a human's torso, reptilian eyes glared balefully at whoever dared to earn the ire of it's master. A forked tongue tasted the air, and a glob of 'spit' struck the ground. Causing a plume of blood smoke to follow the sound of sizzling.
'Yep, they really did take after the Righteous sects.'
"So concerned with honor." Iori didn't even try to hide his disdain, nearly spitting out the words. The Righteous had always been annoying bastards to fight. Kill one and ten took their place. Cockroaches dressed in finery. The lot of them. But there was more than one way to deal with people like these. "Very well, juniors. Good ahead, hit me with your best."