Chapter 43: Late May, Early June

His mother didn’t like him pursuing power, but at this point, he had no choice but to pursue power.

In addition, the Minamoto clan had come to him. Until the end of May, Minamoto Kiyomoto was engrossed in arduous cultivation. When Itomi Sayaka looked for him, he also casually brushed her off.

His divine power continued to advance by leaps and bounds.

According to Kamibayashi Miko, assuming an ordinary person’s monthly income was 300,000 yen, his was 10 million yen. If he entered ‘heaven and man as one,’ it would be 30 million yen.

But he started late. After cultivating for almost two months, he was only equivalent to a cultivator who had participated in five or six battles.

In terms of curses, it could only be described as changing with each passing day.

Sometimes, Minamoto Kiyomoto himself suspected that he might have gone mad—the cultivation of curses was just that smooth.

By the end of May, the hydrangeas were in full bloom, and the rainy season enveloped Hakusan Shrine like a mist. Minamoto Kiyomoto had completely mastered the true meaning of “Shinto-ryu” and could wield it as he pleased.

Walking out of the small house, the world was brand new, and his heart was open. He felt that all the cultivators in the world were only worthy of carrying his shoes.

The higher the cultivation, the more obvious the capacity.

Minamoto Kiyomoto walked into the vegetable garden in the rain.

The eggplants had small purple flowers, while the green peppers’ flowers were white. The carrots and other vegetables were sucking up the rainwater.

He stepped on the mud, bent down to pull out patches of green weeds, and threw them on the ridges of the field, waiting for them to turn into fertilizer and re-nourish the soil.

After pulling out the weeds, he straightened up, and his mentality had returned to peace.

“The soil is the capacity, the nutrients are the divine power, and the weeds are the inner demons. The more nutrients the soil has, the more inner demons there are. The more inner demons there are, the more nutrients you get after eradicating the inner demons. What in this world can’t I, Young Master Kiyoshi, accomplish?”

After saying this, Minamoto Kiyomoto slapped himself. This time, the weeds in his heart were completely gone.

He decided to stop for the day and not cultivate anymore. He had already reached a dangerous edge.

Being able to resist the temptation of rapid cultivation growth was also one of the reasons (proof) for his profound capacity.

Minamoto Kiyomoto activated his divine power, blocked the rain, climbed over the snow-white courtyard wall, and jumped into Himemiya Izayoi’s house.

“Is Izayoi here?” he asked Fire Fan.

“The master has gone to the Divine Miko’s house,” Fire Fan replied.

“Thank you,” Minamoto Kiyomoto smiled, walked through the spacious courtyard, and continued to climb the wall, landing in Kamibayashi Miko’s courtyard.

The two miko were listening to the sound of the rain under the eaves.

Shirako and the little butterfly were beside them, poking holes in the green plums one by one, preparing to brew green plum wine.

“You guys are so happy,” Minamoto Kiyomoto walked over, took off his shoes, and went up to the veranda barefoot.

“Did you go to my place first?” Himemiya Izayoi leaned against the veranda pillar and asked him with a smile.

“Whose house did I climb over from?”

Himemiya Izayoi smiled.

Minamoto Kiyomoto leaned against another veranda pillar. Kamibayashi Miko sat between him and Himemiya Izayoi.

The wind chime above their heads swayed slightly, not enough to make a sound.

“What are you looking at?” he asked Kamibayashi Miko.

“A collection of paintings,” Kamibayashi Miko replied, her gaze not leaving the art book in her hand.

“Whose?”

“Marie Laurencin.”

“A French female painter,” Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded.

“You know this person?” Himemiya Izayoi asked curiously.

“I know everything,” after saying this, Minamoto Kiyomoto slapped himself again.

Himemiya Izayoi was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud. The silver-bell-like sound fell to the ground along with the sound of the rain.

Even Kamibayashi Miko raised her face and looked at him with a strange gaze.

“Miss Kamibayashi,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said nonchalantly, “can I have a look at the art book?”

Kamibayashi Miko handed him the art book.

“A very unique style of painting,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said, looking at the painting titled “The Elegant Ball.”

“Why does it sound like you don’t know this person?” Himemiya Izayoi asked.

“Whenever Kamibayashi Miko sees something, my first guess is France, and my second guess is the United States.”

“I don’t need to learn Chinese anymore, so I chose French literature in university,” Kamibayashi Miko said lightly.

“I can guess,” Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded.

To learn curses to a profound level, one must be proficient in Sinology—even in the present world, Chinese characters must be used on formal occasions, but that is the Japanese version of Chinese characters.

“Marie Laurencin studied painting with Picasso,” Kamibayashi Miko introduced the British female painter. “She was called ‘the doe,’ and her style of painting is pure, romantic, full of poetry, unique, and gentle.”

“It is indeed full of spirituality, like a lily in the deep mountains, quietly exuding a charming fragrance, just like… just like you, Miss Kamibayashi.”

“Thank you,” Kamibayashi Miko’s fifth sentence. She took back the art book and continued to read.

Himemiya Izayoi looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto, and Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her with confusion.

A sneer appeared on Himemiya Izayoi’s lips, “You can’t even speak fluently, and you’re chirping there. Are you a sparrow from the back mountain?”

“…”

Kamibayashi Miko smiled sweetly and even deliberately raised her gaze to look at the scolded Minamoto Kiyomoto.

Himemiya Izayoi put away her sneer, tilted her head, and asked with a grin:
“What is a person who speaks flowery words without changing their expression usually called, all-knowing Young Master Kiyoshi?”

“A scumbag?”

“No, a dead person.”

“Big sister Izayoi, do you know what that is?” Minamoto Kiyomoto pointed to the blue flowers in the courtyard that were stretching their bodies in the rain.

Himemiya Izayoi followed the direction he was pointing, “It’s a hydrangea. What’s wrong?”

“Do you know the flower language of the hydrangea?”

“I don’t know.”

“Fickle.”

“Are you saying I’m fickle?”

“No,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “Recently, when I was tired of cultivating, I read Osamu Dazai and thought that a sentence he said made a lot of sense.”

“Yes,” Himemiya Izayoi gestured for him to continue.

“‘He is also a son of man and should be allowed to live.'”

“You want to live?” Himemiya Izayoi asked with a smiling voice.

“This is not a question of whether I want to or not. If I die, my mother might be heartbroken, so I should live.”

“Is it your mother from Shikoku, or—your mother Kamibayashi?”

“And my big sister Izayoi,” Minamoto Kiyomoto moved closer, took the folding fan from her hand, and gently fanned her.

“Pah!” Himemiya Izayoi’s bangs swayed slightly in the wind. She laughed and said, “Who is your big sister? Your mother Miko and I are friends.”

“Aunt Izayoi,” Minamoto Kiyomoto called out affectionately.

“Who is your aunt? Call me big sister!” Himemiya Izayoi snatched the fan back.

Before Minamoto Kiyomoto could say anything, Shirako, who had long been displeased with him, grabbed him and stuffed a green plum into his arms.

“If you have nothing to do, then work for me, you piglet!”

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the green plum in his hand and turned his gaze to the little butterfly who was ‘sitting on the ground, hugging a green plum, and seriously carving butterfly wings’.

“Little butterfly, how do you do this?”

“You don’t know? Like me…”

“Can you show me once?” Minamoto Kiyomoto handed her the green plum in his hand.

“Okay,” the little butterfly happily took it, hummed an out-of-tune song, and happily poked holes in the green plum.

“Done!” The little butterfly showed the green plum to Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“Amazing,” Minamoto Kiyomoto clapped his hands seriously.

“Hmph, hmph!” The little butterfly’s small round face was raised in pride.

“Little butterfly, you were too fast just now. Can you show me again?”

“No problem! Leave it to me, little butterfly!” The little butterfly puffed out her small chest.

In the entire Hakusan Shrine, the only one Minamoto Kiyomoto could bully was the little butterfly.

Shirako glanced at the two of them and stood up, “Little butterfly, come with me to cook.”

“Okay~” The little butterfly flapped her wings and flew up.

Shirako was at eye level with the seated Minamoto Kiyomoto and pointed to the bamboo basket filled with green plums, “The rest, you finish them all for me.”

After speaking, she turned and walked towards the kitchen without looking back.

“Hey—” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the basket full of green plums and turned his gaze to the two miko.

“Come, don’t be polite. Let’s each take some,” he pushed the basket between Kamibayashi Miko and Himemiya Izayoi.

“Useless, you only know how to bully children,” Himemiya Izayoi said with a laugh and a curse, then closed her fan and tucked it into her wide belt.

She extended her snow-white wrist, picked up a green plum, and the divine power at her slender fingertips condensed into a needle.

Kamibayashi Miko also closed her art book, picked up a green plum, and carved Marie Laurencin’s painting on it.

Minamoto Kiyomoto also held one in his hand. Under the rainy eaves, while brewing green plum wine, he talked to the two of them about his cultivation experience from the past few days.

In the evening, because he had worked, Minamoto Kiyomoto and Himemiya Izayoi were allowed to stay for dinner.

“Any news from Yuka?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked during dinner.

“She’s very cautious. She hasn’t contacted anyone for half a month and is hiding alone in an apartment in Tama River,” Kamibayashi Miko replied.

Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded.

The leader of the ninth group of Shintoism, and the brown-divine-powered person who had killed Mansaku’s wife and daughter, he remembered them all in his heart.

But compared to Kamibayashi Miko making a move, he hoped to wait until he was strong enough to do it himself—knowing that giving the enemy time was a dangerous thing.

“Yuka? Is that the bitch who gave you a hand massage last time?” Himemiya Izayoi’s eating posture was casual, but she had an indescribable air of nobility.

It was as if the so-called noble etiquette was whatever she did, and that was noble etiquette.

“How should I answer that?”

“Yes or no?”

“Yes, and no.”

“It seems there’s been some progress,” just as Minamoto Kiyomoto and Himemiya Izayoi were playing a boring word game, Kamibayashi Miko suddenly said.

A butterfly flew out from her black hair, shaking off golden light.

The golden light was like sand and began to draw a sand painting.

It could only be identified by the figure that one was a woman and the other was also a woman, with different chest sizes and hairstyles.

Minamoto Kiyomoto couldn’t tell which one was Yuka. After all, he was a virgin and didn’t understand women.

‘Why did you come to this kind of place? And your face is so haggard.’

‘I broke up with that person.’

It was unknown where the voice came from, nor was it known what principle it was based on, but the people present could hear the two of them talking.

‘That’s great! That’s a good thing! That kind of man who takes his girlfriend’s money and goes to a fuzoku shop to have fun, if it weren’t for the group leader not allowing us to act recklessly, I would have killed him for you long ago!’

The silence lasted for a while.

‘Forget it, let’s not talk about him.’ It was still the voice of the woman who wanted to kill someone. ‘June 20th, group meeting, the location is in Kamakura. I’ll notify you of the specific location then.’

‘Okay.’

Then the two of them chatted about their recent situation.

It was mainly that woman talking, and Yuka listening.

Something about a newcomer with a capacity recognized by Shakyamuni who had obtained the supreme curse “Mahavairocana Sutra” and had even made it public to all cultivators.

Also, one of the thirty-six Kosen, Kakinomaro, had offended the miko of Ise Shrine at Lake Ashi in Hakone and was killed in one move.

Now everyone was saying that the power of the miko of Ise Shrine had already surpassed that of the Divine Miko.

A “Four-Horned Green Ox” had appeared in Kansai, rampaging from Kagoshima all the way to Fukuoka Prefecture, almost running from Kyushu to Honshu.

Because of this, the Lord of Kyoto had issued an edict severely reprimanding the Stag God Lord of Kyushu, telling him to reflect properly and clean up the mess, and then go to Kyoto in August to apologize.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at Himemiya Izayoi.

Himemiya Izayoi looked back with a cute and confused expression.

“He can scold the four great god lords as he pleases. How high is the power of the Lord of Kyoto?” he asked in a low voice.

Himemiya Izayoi secretly beckoned him to come closer.

When Minamoto Kiyomoto leaned over, she deliberately blew hot air and said, “I don’t know either.”

When her hot breath blew on him, Minamoto Kiyomoto felt half of his body itching. He forgot all about the four great god lords and the Lord of Kyoto.

‘By the way, we have a newcomer in our ninth group.’

‘Is it because “Gray Mouse” died?’

‘It has nothing to do with him. This time’s newcomer is amazing. Guess who it is?’

‘I can’t guess. Could it be some big shot from the officials?’

‘It’s the sole survivor of the Yanagi family, the one who stole the “Genjo Biwa,” Yanagi Michiko! It’s said that she herself is a hidden master, and with the biwa in her hand, even the group leader might not be able to win against her.’

That woman continued excitedly, ‘With her joining, the strength of our ninth group will instantly become the third in the sect!’

‘But it will also attract the attention of Kansai, right?’ Yuka said with concern.

‘So this matter must not be told to others. Yanagi Michiko herself doesn’t seem to want to be exposed.’

‘Is this group meeting because of her?’

‘Probably, but there might be other things.’

The two of them chatted for a while longer, even talking about clothes, makeup, and even menstrual pain.

By the time Minamoto Kiyomoto and the others had finished their meal, the two of them had separated.

“That bitch Michiko, June 20th will be her death day,” Himemiya Izayoi sneered. “I’ll go to Kamakura with you.”

“Okay,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “It’s a group meeting, so it should only be people from the ninth group, but we also have to consider the situation that the shikigami on Yuka has already been discovered.”

“Even if it’s a Kosen-level, if they’re not paying attention all the time, they won’t notice my curse,” Kamibayashi Miko said in a calm tone, with strong confidence. “With me and Himemiya here, it’s enough to kill everyone in the ninth group.”

“It’s better to call some more people to be safe,” Minamoto Kiyomoto suggested.

If it were before, he would have agreed immediately and then gone on an adventure with them—compared to smooth sailing, he preferred to ride the wind and waves.

But on May 20th, his mother’s words became a curse, giving him strength and also tightly binding him.

Kamibayashi Miko did not refuse and said after pondering, “The Onmyo Bureau is short of manpower. I don’t know when there will be enough masters.”

“Aren’t there ready-made ones?” Himemiya Izayoi suddenly said.

The two of them looked at her at the same time.

“Those people from the Kyoto Minamoto clan,” Himemiya Izayoi smiled at Minamoto Kiyomoto, “are still in Tokyo and haven’t left.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto frowned slightly.

“By the way, the tacit understanding you two have when you turn your heads at the same time makes me a little unhappy. I hope this won’t happen again next time.”

“…”

The next day, June 1st, it was still raining lightly.

The three of them found the three members of the Minamoto clan who were staying at the “Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo.”

This hotel was as luxurious as the “Imperial Hotel” where Himemiya Izayoi had temporarily stayed, but the style was slightly different.

Besides the three members of the Minamoto clan, a woman had appeared at some point.

In the meeting room, the other party was wearing a gorgeous court dress. She was a typical dynasty beauty—the kind of character like the mistress of the Ooku in a taiga drama.

“This is Fujiwara Shino. She is…” at this point, Minamoto Nagatoku paused, “the clan head’s fiancée.”

“Hmm?” Minamoto Kiyomoto was stunned. “Mine?”

“No, it’s…” Minamoto Nagatoku didn’t finish his sentence, but Minamoto Kiyomoto already understood.

He interrupted, “As long as it’s not mine, it’s fine. I’m devoted to Miss Kamibayashi and big sister Izayoi.”

The three members of the Minamoto clan were stunned. The dynasty beauty named Fujiwara Shino sized up Minamoto Kiyomoto with her dignified and graceful eyes.

“You’re not my type either,” the other party said coldly.

“She’s not interested in you,” Himemiya Izayoi teased.

Minamoto Kiyomoto waved his hand, indicating that it was irrelevant.

“The four of you,” Himemiya Izayoi said, “from now on, you will listen to my orders.”

“Lady Miko Himemiya…”

Before Minamoto Nagatoku could finish, Himemiya Izayoi threw out a document. It was held up by a flame-like divine power, and the document seemed to be lit from below.

The document faced the three members of the Minamoto clan. Minamoto Kiyomoto couldn’t see what was written.

“Yes, Lady Himemiya,” even the arrogant Minamoto Kiyone lowered her head.

Himemiya Izayoi put away the document, and Minamoto Kiyomoto’s gaze followed.

“Want to see?” Himemiya Izayoi asked.

“I want to see,” Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded.

Himemiya Izayoi threw the document to Minamoto Kiyomoto.

The faces of the three members of the Minamoto clan were full of shock, as if they had seen something unbelievable. Even Fujiwara Shino’s eyes flickered.

Minamoto Kiyomoto opened the document. It was written in a literary style, but translated into plain language, it meant:

“I order Himemiya Izayoi to arrest Yanagi Michiko. All Kansai cultivators, regardless of their status or cultivation level, must listen to her.”

“No wonder you wanted me to go back to Kansai!” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“Yes, if you had gone back to Kansai and become a Kansai cultivator, I would have ordered you to wash this miko’s socks every day.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto turned to look at Kamibayashi Miko, “Miss Kamibayashi, Izayoi offered ‘to make me wash her socks every day.’ Do you have a higher price?”

Kamibayashi Miko laughed.

That was the long-lost smile of someone who was about to kick someone into the Sanshiro Pond.

“Just kidding. How could I go and wash socks?” Minamoto Kiyomoto rolled up the document and stuffed it into his clothes.

Regardless of their disdainful, surprised, or confused expressions, he said to them:

“There’s something I think I need to explain in advance, so that you won’t say later that I’m inhuman, not ‘su’ enough, and cruel in my actions.”

“Kiyomoto-kun, please speak,” Minamoto Nagatoku made a gesture of invitation.

“If something as unpleasant as our first meeting happens again, I can only ask Miss Kamibayashi, or let Izayoi, cut off your fingers, one at a time. If the situation is serious, the amount will be increased. By the way, this also applies to Miss Fujiwara Shino.”

Before Minamoto Kiyomoto could appreciate the expressions on the four people’s faces, his ear was pinched by Himemiya Izayoi.

“Why is Kamibayashi Miko ‘please,’ but you don’t use honorifics for me, my Young Master Kiyoshi?”

“Gently, gently, it hurts a little. I think we’re like bad friends. Honorifics are too formal.”

Himemiya Izayoi let out a soft “ah” of realization and let go of Minamoto Kiyomoto’s ear with satisfaction.

“The matter is settled. Let’s go back,” Kamibayashi Miko stood up.

(End of Chapter)