Chapter 84: A Summer Night Like a Dream

The cherry blossoms on the banks of the Kamo River, swaying in the wind, floated like pink snowflakes.

The red and black giant dragon meandered through the rain of cherry blossoms.

The nobles, dressed in brocade and gorgeous clothes, with graceful and elegant manners, were pale with fright and ready to flee at any time.

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s magnificent, lava-like eyes swept over these people one by one, but Ashiya Doman’s hiding skills were even better than a mouse’s.

“Ashiya Doman!” he laughed wildly. “Do you still dare to compare Abe no Seimei with me?”

The cherry blossom trees trembled from the evil dragon’s roar, shaking off large patches of cherry blossoms.

“Abe no Seimei is as famous as you, a mouse. It seems that you two are both fame-seekers!” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s laughter was like rolling thunder, spreading throughout the Kamo River.

While mocking, his eyes did not miss any movement. The dragon’s body was tense, ready to strike with thunder at any time.

“Hahaha!” Many of the Minamoto clan members, who had been mocked by Ashiya Doman just now, were already dissatisfied. At this time, they laughed loudly, extremely pleased.

The next moment, the red and black evil dragon turned its head with a whoosh.

Stared at by the scarlet dragon’s eyes, the laughter was like a movie being paused, instantly silent. These people closed their mouths resentfully.

Seeing that it was not Ashiya Doman, Minamoto Kiyomoto swept his gaze over the people of the Ashiya clan one by one, but still did not find him.

“Roar!” He roared and flew up, circling the night sky, looking down at the Kamo River.

Ashiya Doman was good at dark curses. Even though he was in a dragon’s body now, he did not dare to stay below for long.

Seeing him leave, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.

Being so close to a yokai with a full sense of oppression, not to mention anything else, just its huge size was enough to make one’s heart turn cold.

“Divine Lord of Shikoku,” unable to mock, Minamoto Kiyomoto came up with another plan. “Besides having high cultivation, a Kosen must also have the responsibility of saving all living beings. Ashiya Doman is hiding in the crowd. Is he worthy of competing with me for the position of Kosen?”

The Divine Lord of Shikoku’s face showed contemplation. In the previous Kosen battles, there had been cases where the participants concealed their figures, but they did not hide in the crowd.

“To eliminate demons and devils, what is needed is not only cultivation, but also the ability to adapt to circumstances. Could it be that if a yokai hides, you have to let it come out on its own?” the head of the Taira clan sneered.

Minamoto Kiyomoto laughed loudly, “A yokai is an evil demon. If I let him go, it would be a small loss for a big gain. I have no choice but to be impolite!”

The red and black evil dragon roared to the sky and dived into the clouds.

The dark clouds rolled, and the dragon’s roar was like thunder, one after another.

As if the gods had given an order, Minamoto Kiyomoto’s voice was thrown down from the sky: “Thunder and fire rise quickly, the power of the red sky!”

Rumble, rumble, the thunder shook, and the dark clouds gathered.

The thunder moved between the dark clouds, and its momentum gradually grew. A fierce wind blew between heaven and earth.

In a blink of an eye, the sky had accumulated endless lightning.

Everyone’s body was numb, and they looked at the night sky in horror.

“He’s going to destroy the entire Kamo River!” someone said in panic.

“It’s the Eight Divine Thunders. We can’t block it. Let’s go!” Someone downstream had already cast a curse and fled in panic.

“Lord Divine Lord,” the Suitengu Miko said, “although strategy is important, people should have a bottom line. We risk our lives nine times out of ten, isn’t it to protect ordinary people? Senior Doman hiding in the crowd completely violates our original intention.”

“Doman has lost,” Date Masamune said.

“I agree,” the Venerable Manjuan of Koyasan agreed.

In a blink of an eye, some of the miko and Kosen stood up and accused Ashiya Doman.

The Divine Lord of Shikoku looked at the Kamo River Delta. The ‘Yaebeni Shidarezakura’ were falling like rain. The three rulers of Japan were silent.

The “Ogosho” was watching the show with a smile. The “Taiko” was about to fall asleep. The “Lord of Kyoto” sat behind the curtain, and it was unknown whether he was still there.

Just as the Divine Lord of Shikoku was hesitating, a thunderstorm suddenly sounded in the air.

“Boom!”

Thousands of lightning bolts, like countless giant pythons, swooped down ferociously.

“Ah!”

“Run!”

“Lord Kosen, help!”

The Eight Divine Thunders displayed by Minamoto Kiyomoto in his giant dragon form, and after accumulating for so long, let alone ordinary cultivators, even a Kosen, if they did not have the same accumulation of power, the same level of curse, and the same depth, would be seriously injured, or even evaporated.

The lightning flashed and the thunder roared. The world rumbled.

Several Kosen stood up, preparing to intercept together.

One of the Kosen looked at the Divine Miko sitting at the head and said, “Lady Divine Miko, please help us. This thunder curse has a wide range and may injure the ordinary people in the city.”

“No need,” the Divine Miko looked at the lightning rain rushing in the night sky.

“What?” The Kosen was stunned.

The next moment, the thunder python suddenly exploded in mid-air.

“Bang!” “Bang!” “Bang!”

It was like clusters of fireworks, blooming one after another in the air. The world was a blaze of color.

“Wow!”, “So beautiful!”, exclamations came from the ordinary people in the distance.

“Haha, forget it, forget it. I lose!”

The brilliant light of the fireworks, the sky full of cherry blossoms, Minamoto Kiyomoto had already returned to his human form. His clothes fluttered, and he slowly landed in the night wind.

The firelight was reflected on his smiling, fair, and handsome face, making people’s hearts flutter. All the women present stared at him with fascination.

Minamoto Kiyomoto landed on the water of the Kamo River, and only then did everyone come back to their senses.

“Good boy! Good spirit!” Date Masamune shouted in praise.

The Venerable Manjuan chanted a Buddhist chant with satisfaction.

The entire Kamo River, the crowd that had been terrified just now, all cheered. Minamoto Kiyomi and others couldn’t help but jump up.

“This guy,” Minamoto Kiyone also had to be convinced by Minamoto Kiyomoto’s charm.

“Hmph!” Shirako crossed her arms in front of her chest, with a look of ‘I trained him myself.’

Minamoto Kiyomoto ignored the chaotic situation and looked at Kamibayashi Miko, who was radiating a clear and beautiful light. Her lips were curved in a faint smile, and she was also looking at him.

Minamoto Kiyomoto smiled, turned around, and faced the downstream Kamo River, saying loudly, “Senior Doman, you won. Come out!”

“Ah!” A noble lady suddenly screamed.

Everyone followed the sound and saw that her whole body was constantly bleeding. These bloods instantly gathered into Ashiya Doman.

Ashiya Doman’s face was pale, and he stared at Minamoto Kiyomoto with a sinister look. Then he waved his sleeve, turned around, and left.

As a cultivator who had left a great name in history, he was actually defeated by a junior in both fighting and character. Even if he didn’t care about the means, he had no face to stay here at this time.

“A promising young man,” the “Ogosho” suddenly smiled and clapped. “Cultivating for four months and being listed as a Kosen, you are the first in history.”

“Enviable, the number one genius in Japan,” the “Taiko” seemed to feel cold and curled up more in his gorgeous clothes, sighing, “I just don’t know if he’s from Kansai or Kanto.”

Before everyone could react to these words, the Divine Lord of Shikoku had already announced, “Minamoto Kiyomoto, promoted to Kosen!”

Only then did Shirako and the little butterfly clap their hands and cheer. The Minamoto clan, led by Minamoto Nagatoku, immediately became ecstatic.

Date Masamune, the Suitengu Miko, the Ashinoko Miko, and Koyasan all offered their congratulations.

There were also some people who were weighing the words of the “Ogosho” and the “Taiko,” ‘the number one genius in Japan in history.’

The ladies and young ladies of the various clans, and countless female cultivators, whispered to each other, discussing animatedly, and pointed at Minamoto Kiyomoto with blushing faces.

According to the rules of the Kosen battle, others could have continued to challenge Minamoto Kiyomoto. The divine breath of the remains had been exhausted, and he was now no match for the candidates of the major families.

But the “Ogosho” had spoken directly, and the other two had not refuted. This first Kosen spot was naturally decided.

“Minamoto Kiyomoto,” the “Lord of Kyoto” said.

“Your Majesty,” Minamoto Kiyomoto bowed.

“As agreed, the Xiangye crown is yours. Take it.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s gaze instantly became burning, and he looked at the wooden box on the table.

The wooden box was open, and the golden Xiangye crown was sleeping quietly inside.

Everyone came back to their senses from the series of events just now and looked at this supreme divine artifact that could be called a peerless treasure.

Under the jealous, expectant, or admiring gazes of everyone, Minamoto Kiyomoto slowly walked towards the Xiangye crown.

Many people’s breathing became heavy, and they couldn’t wait to replace him.

When Minamoto Kiyomoto held the Xiangye crown in both hands, most people couldn’t help but stand up. Although they could see clearly, they still wanted to get closer.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the Xiangye crown in his hand. There was a green mist flowing inside. Just by looking, one could tell that it was extraordinary and not of this world.

He was silent, thinking about a problem: he didn’t have long hair, so how could he wear it?
“Just put it on directly,” at this time, the Divine Lord of Shikoku seemed to see his predicament and reminded him. “If you can make it awaken, it will naturally stay on you.”

Only then did Minamoto Kiyomoto place the Xiangye crown on his head.

Everyone held their breath, and even the two on the Kamo River Delta stared intently.

As soon as it touched Minamoto Kiyomoto’s hair, the Xiangye crown shone brightly, radiating light.

“It’s a success!” Everyone was dumbfounded.

Minamoto Nagatoku was trembling all over. He couldn’t imagine what kind of glory the Minamoto clan would have in the future!
Minamoto Kiyomoto’s hair grew wildly, and in a blink of an eye, it turned into shoulder-length hair. Then it all gathered and was bound by the Xiangye crown.

When the Xiangye crown completely fell, Minamoto Kiyomoto’s body actually began to emit light, so dazzling that people could not look directly at it.

Sure enough, he was one in ten thousand. There was no need to say more. The scene in front of them could prove everything—everyone present had the same thought in their hearts.

When the light dissipated, Minamoto Kiyomoto’s temperament changed again, as if it were a deep ancient well, with no waves, and like a distant mountain shrouded in mist, otherworldly.

“Unfortunately, I don’t believe in longevity. I just want to live to be eighty,” Minamoto Kiyomoto opened his eyes and shook his sleeves.

Red clothes and black hair, a golden crown on his head, a young man, full of spirit!

Looking at him, as long as they were women, their hearts would all beat wildly, and their faces would flush.

“Minamoto Kiyomoto,” the “Lord of Kyoto” spoke again, “come up. I want to give you a drink.”

Before everyone could recover from Minamoto Kiyomoto’s brilliance, they were shocked again. Could it be that even the “Lord of Kyoto” was charmed by this young man’s charm?
If Minamoto Kiyomoto was not immersed in his complacency, he might have heard the barely perceptible smile in the “Lord of Kyoto’s” voice when he said this.

At this time, he was ambitious and full of ambition. He also wanted to slip back quickly and carefully study the Xiangye crown. How could he have the mind to listen to someone’s voice?

Even when he went up to receive the wine glass, he was absent-minded.

He left the water of the Kamo River, walked onto the delta, passed through the screen, and disappeared from everyone’s sight.

Before he could see the situation inside clearly, he heard a soft “whoosh” sound. A fragrant aroma assailed his nostrils, and cherry blossoms blew towards his face.

Minamoto Kiyomoto couldn’t help but close his eyes for a moment. When he opened his eyes, in the midst of the falling cherry blossoms, he saw Himemiya Izayoi looking at him with a smile.

“You…” Minamoto Kiyomoto was dumbfounded.

“Fool,” Himemiya Izayoi smiled brilliantly.

The ‘Yaebeni Shidarezakura’ was dreamlike, and the fallen cherry blossoms were scattered on her head and shoulders, and then blown away by the evening wind, gorgeous and majestic.

She blew gently again, and the cherry blossoms flew towards Minamoto Kiyomoto.

Minamoto Kiyomoto seemed to have seen a flower fairy, and also a spring goddess. For a moment, he even forgot to breathe.

Himemiya Izayoi stretched out her fair and tender hand, grabbed his collar, and pulled him in front of her.

She stretched out her other hand, picked up a wine glass, and brought it to Minamoto Kiyomoto’s lips.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her and opened his mouth foolishly, letting her feed him wine.

“Go and wait for me at the Otenmon Gate,” after drinking a mouthful of wine, Himemiya Izayoi blew gently in his ear, pushed him gently, and sent him out of the screen.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the water of the Kamo River in front of him, and the Kosen, ministers, and nobles present. He was in a daze, as if he had just returned to the human world from a fairyland in a dream.

Everyone looked at him and knew how beautiful the “Lord of Kyoto” was. They were all so jealous that they wanted to attack him.

“Look at his useless appearance,” Shirako pursed her lips and said with disdain.

Although she was thinking of letting Minamoto Kiyomoto go and find other women, now seeing him so dazed for others, Kamibayashi Miko felt a strange taste in her heart.

She said she didn’t want to live long, but only wanted to live to be eighty.

She bent her fingers and flicked away a fallen flower on the table, letting it drift away with the flowing water.

◇

In the dark night, the Otenmon Gate stood tall, as if it were condensed from darkness.

Minamoto Kiyomoto stood under the palace wall, with only a street lamp beside him.

At this time, at the banquet, the competition for the last Kosen should be held. He did not go to the new terrace prepared for him by the maid, but slipped out secretly.

He didn’t know what Himemiya Izayoi wanted to see him for.

Thinking of this witch, Minamoto Kiyomoto’s emotions were still difficult to calm down. Her beauty, her identity, all of these made his heart itch.

The “Lord of Kyoto,” who had ordered the cherry blossoms to bloom in Kyoto in August with a single word, was actually the beauty whose hair he had played with? And had argued with him and been angry with him?
Himemiya Izayoi had seen many people, and even the Divine Lord of Kyushu did not know that she was the “Lord of Kyoto.”

Besides a very small number of court ladies in the palace, he was definitely the only one—and a man at that—who knew this secret.

This fact, even if Minamoto Kiyomoto was unwilling to admit it, his self-esteem was also supremely satisfied.

He slowly let out a sigh from his lungs, full of moist heat, and his imagination ran wild.

“Young Master Kiyoshi? Young Master Kiyoshi?” In the dark, a girl’s voice called out as if playing hide-and-seek.

“I’m here,” Minamoto Kiyomoto came back to his senses.

As soon as his voice fell, he saw Himemiya Izayoi walking over with a lantern.

She was wearing a bright yellow gold-threaded Tang dress and a phoenix crown on her head. She was more like a noble consort than a majesty.

She held a lantern in her right hand, and her left hand, as if to run faster to see her lover, held her skirt.

If the daze at the Kamo River was also because of her identity, at this moment, looking at Himemiya Izayoi running towards him, Minamoto Kiyomoto was completely lost in her noble and beautiful posture.

The fireworks lit up the night sky, a dreamlike summer night scene.

(End of Chapter)