Chapter 65: The Divine Lord of Kyushu

Early this morning, Minamoto Kiyomoto and Himemiya Izayoi were on the breakwater at the entrance of the inn, throwing a frisbee towards the beach. “Tutu” ran quickly to retrieve it.

Kamibayashi Miko, who had not yet changed her clothes, sat on the windowsill of the third floor, leaning against the window frame, watching them absentmindedly.

Shirako and the little butterfly were playing flying chess on the other side of the windowsill. The edge of the curtain was gently swaying.

The vast sea was sparkling, and the white clouds were wispy.

“Catch!” Himemiya Izayoi threw the frisbee.

The little white dog ran out quickly. After a hard run to the edge of the waves, it did not see the frisbee fall.

“Hahaha!” Himemiya Izayoi laughed happily. “Don’t you think this dog is very much like you?”

Her laughter was as dazzling as the gravel on the beach in the early morning.

“It’s not that I’m like a dog, it’s that you, this witch, are too cunning,” Minamoto Kiyomoto snatched the frisbee from her hand and threw it towards the seaside.

The little white dog, which had been standing foolishly in place, really did jump to catch it like a rabbit.

“Tutu” ran back with the frisbee in its mouth, gave it back to Minamoto Kiyomoto, and then ran out excitedly, ready for the next round.

Minamoto Kiyomoto turned around and looked at Kamibayashi Miko by the window.

“Miss Kamibayashi!” He pointed to the frisbee in his hand, asking her to come down and play.

Kamibayashi Miko did not look at him, her gaze fixed on the end of the seaside road.

Minamoto Kiyomoto turned to look, and a figure came into view. It looked like an old man, but also like a middle-aged man, and also like a forest beast he had never seen before. It was very strange.

The other party walked over slowly.

When he looked up at Kamibayashi Miko again, her figure was no longer by the window.

“Who is this person?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked Himemiya Izayoi in a low voice. He could feel that the other party was unusual.

“The Divine Lord of Kyushu,” Himemiya Izayoi’s voice was full of interest, as if a good show was about to begin.

Only then did Minamoto Kiyomoto understand that the feeling of a ‘forest beast he had never seen before’ was actually like a yokai.

The feeling a yokai gave people was a terrifying divine breath as deep and unfathomable as the ocean. The Kyushu Divine Lord in front of him had a similar feeling. From this, it could be seen that the other party’s divine power was very strong.

“Woof, woof!” The little white dog stood on the sand and barked at the approaching Kyushu Divine Lord.

The Kyushu Divine Lord’s gaze swept over it. The little white dog immediately dug a sandpit on the spot and buried its head in it, its raised butt trembling.

Minamoto Kiyomoto found it both funny and surprising.

The other party did not use any divine power, but could actually make a dog so scared that it buried itself.

But on second thought, Minamoto Kiyomoto guessed that it might be related to the dog’s natural sensitivity and ability to see shikigami, so it could also perceive divine power.

He didn’t know what the other party’s purpose was.

Just as Minamoto Kiyomoto was thinking, Kamibayashi Miko, who had changed her clothes, had already walked out of the wooden door of the inn.

White shirt, light blue jeans, walking with the wind, her ink-black, shiny long hair swayed behind her.

‘A model on a catwalk.’ Minamoto Kiyomoto, who was thinking about the Kyushu Divine Lord’s purpose, was distracted.

Kamibayashi Miko was the first to walk to Minamoto Kiyomoto’s side.

“The sea is beautiful today, but still not as beautiful as you,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her.

“Under the current circumstances, you can save the insincere compliments for today,” Kamibayashi Miko didn’t even look at him.

Himemiya Izayoi leaned close to Minamoto Kiyomoto’s ear and, with a breath hotter than the sun and a smiling voice, whispered “woof, woof~” twice.

This was to mock him, saying that he was Kamibayashi Miko’s dog.

Minamoto Kiyomoto rolled his eyes at her in annoyance. Himemiya Izayoi pursed her lips and smiled.

At this time, the Kyushu Divine Lord walked up to the three of them. The strange feeling he had given people just now had disappeared, and he had become an ordinary old man.

“Greetings to the Divine Miko, the Ise Miko, and Lord Minamoto,” he spoke with a slightly archaic tone, and his tone did not seem to be malicious.

“What is it?” Himemiya Izayoi’s face was without a smile, as if she were being asked for directions by a stranger.

The Kyushu Divine Lord was not angry and said, “I wonder if the three of you are interested in Shintoism?”

“Shintoism?” Minamoto Kiyomoto subconsciously retorted.

“Oh? Oh my,” Himemiya Izayoi let out a light and teasing sound of watching a show, and smiled slightly at Minamoto Kiyomoto’s face.

Minamoto Kiyomoto invited the Kyushu Divine Lord into the inn.

They didn’t go to the fifth floor. Besides Minamoto Kiyomoto, Ayako did not allow any other man to enter.

The four of them were in the second-floor restaurant. They didn’t go to the window, but sat in a corner—there were already early-rising guests by the window, enjoying their breakfast while looking at the sea.

The breakfast at Minamoto Kiyomoto’s family’s inn was always rice porridge, cooked in an earthen pot.

On the wall of the restaurant hung a calligraphy written by Ayako herself, ‘The Ten Benefits of Porridge’—

It fills the stomach, quenches thirst, makes the skin smooth, restores physical strength, prolongs life, calms the mind, keeps the mind clear and the breath fresh, aids digestion, prevents diseases, and improves constipation.

The four of them each took a portion of breakfast.

On the snow-white rice porridge floated a few red beans. The side dishes were arranged around the rice porridge like satellites. From left to right were pickled plums, kelp, salted salmon, and sea bream miso.

The porridge was steaming hot. He scooped a spoonful with a wooden spoon and put it in his mouth. The texture was soft and dense.

“Mmm—” Himemiya Izayoi covered her face with her left hand and let out a happy sound.

“You mentioned Shintoism just now?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked the Kyushu Divine Lord.

“The matter of the three of you surrounding and annihilating Shintoism in June has already spread. Everyone in the world knows that you have a grudge against the ninth group,” the Kyushu Divine Lord said.

Himemiya Izayoi put a pickled plum on the steaming red bean porridge.

After tasting it, she said to Minamoto Kiyomoto, “It’s very sour, but still very delicious!”

Although she had eaten it two days ago, she was being dramatic today.

The Kyushu Divine Lord glanced at Himemiya Izayoi, picked up the porridge in front of him, and also took a spoonful.

“Mmm,” he nodded in appreciation. “Even a simple porridge is so delicious. Ayako is indeed worthy of being the nyogo who served His Majesty in the ‘Shokoden’.”

The porridge at Minamoto Kiyomoto’s family’s inn was indeed delicious and could subvert the average person’s perception of porridge.

The Kyushu Divine Lord took a bite of salmon, drank a mouthful of porridge, and then continued, “I have received news this time, news of the Shintoism competition.”

“Shintoism competition?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked with confusion.

The Kyushu Divine Lord had already seen that Minamoto Kiyomoto was the one in charge of negotiations.

This was not strange. When he usually negotiated with other high-ranking people, both sides would also send their subordinates.

The subordinates could argue as much as they wanted. The two sides themselves could leave a little room for maneuver. When the talks were almost over, they would come down and not hurt their feelings.

But in the face of him as a Divine Lord, they still let a subordinate come out, which made him a little unhappy.

Could it be that because he was now a substitute Divine Lord, they looked down on him?

The Kyushu Divine Lord was extremely concerned about his face. Ever since he became a substitute Divine Lord, he felt that everyone was laughing at him.

Thinking of the Summer Festival in August, if he could not atone for his sins, then the whole world would laugh at him.

“Lord Minamoto may not know,” the Kyushu Divine Lord’s tone was gentle, “Shintoism has a competition once a year, which is also the day to discuss the year’s affairs. At that time, all the experts of the entire religion will be present.”

“Is the Divine Lord asking us to help surround and annihilate them?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked.

“That’s right,” the Kyushu Divine Lord put down his porridge bowl. “This Divine Lord already knows the location of this year’s Shintoism competition.”

“Oh?” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with curiosity.

“The ‘Four-Horned Green Bull’ and the ‘Lord of the Rainy Season’ were able to wreak havoc in Kyushu all because Shintoism organized people to set up a barrier and intercept the cultivators who came to support. This Divine Lord was also held back.”

“So there was such a hidden story. Shintoism is truly inhumane,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a frown.

The news had reported these two disasters, and many people had been killed or injured.

“After the ‘Four-Horned Green Bull’ was killed, this Divine Lord immediately began to investigate Shintoism and finally found out the location of their competition this time,” the Kyushu Divine Lord said.

“Where?”

“Right here in Shikoku.”

By the window of the restaurant, a Chinese couple, the boyfriend holding a camera, the girlfriend holding a bowl, were making cute or funny faces.

“The ninth group of Shintoism has a grudge against us. It’s either you die or I die. Of course we are willing to help,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “But with just the few of us, can we deal with Shintoism?”

The Kyushu Divine Lord smiled calmly and said:
“The six Kosen of Kyushu went to Kyoto in advance to participate in the Summer Festival. In fact, they have already arrived near Shikoku. I also borrowed three Kosen from the Shikoku Divine Lord. As for the cultivators below the Kosen level, in order to keep it a secret, I did not gather them.”

“A Divine Miko, an Ise Miko, nine Kosen, plus you, Divine Lord, there is indeed great hope,” Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded.

“The leaders of the nine groups of Shintoism,” Himemiya Izayoi blew on the hot porridge in her spoon, “are all Kosen. The powerful groups have even more Kosen. With this number of people, it’s probably not enough to wipe out Shintoism.”

“Izayoi, you’re wrong,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a smile.

“Where am I wrong?” After saying this, Himemiya Izayoi put the spoon in her mouth.

“Our target is only the ninth group. The Kyushu Divine Lord’s target, of course, will not be the entire Shintoism.”

“Lord Minamoto is indeed a genius unseen in Japan. This Divine Lord’s target this time is also the ninth group, Yanagi Michiko,” the Kyushu Divine Lord’s tone was firm, as if there was the sound of iron clashing.

Himemiya Izayoi looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto with a smile.

The Kyushu Divine Lord’s plan was exactly the same as what Minamoto Kiyomoto had said in the coffee shop on the “Angel Road” a few days ago.

“Since there are no cultivators below the Kosen level participating, I certainly can’t participate in this mission. You guys can make your own decisions,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said to the two miko, picked up his spoon, and started to drink his porridge.

The Kyushu Divine Lord glanced at him, feeling that he seemed to have misjudged the relationship between the three of them.

Looking at Minamoto Kiyomoto carefully, he only then discovered that his appearance was extremely outstanding. In his sixty years of life, he had never seen such a handsome person.

It seemed that even a miko could not avoid being confused by looks.

“Miko?” Himemiya Izayoi asked Kamibayashi Miko across Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“Date, specific location,” Kamibayashi Miko said.

The Kyushu Divine Lord finally let out a slight sigh of relief. Even if he was a Divine Lord and could command all the cultivators in Kyushu, he could not deal with Shintoism.

He took out a map and pushed it in front of the three of them.

A horizontal line was drawn on Okinawa, and a vertical line was drawn on Kochi Prefecture in Shikoku. The point where the two intersected was circled with a red brush.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the red circle a few more times.

The drawing was flamboyant and imposing. It was obvious that the Kyushu Divine Lord had drawn it when he was excited after getting the news.

After the Kyushu Divine Lord left, the three of them went to a seat by the window and drank post-meal kelp tea.

The Chinese couple was gone. They had gone to the seaside.

The girl in the red dress held her sandals and stepped on the white waves. The boy held a camera and knelt on one knee on the sand to take a picture of the girl.

Minamoto Kiyomoto called Itomi Sayaka.

The phone rang four times.

“Sayaka,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said, “you’re really lucky to be my girlfriend.”

“Yes,” Itomi Sayaka was not yet awake and replied in a daze.

“Come to Shikoku today.”

“What’s wrong?” Her voice was a little clearer, and he could hear the sound of her combing her hair.

“I miss you,” this was a code.

“I miss you too,” Itomi Sayaka’s lazy voice came from the other end of the phone.

After hanging up the phone, Himemiya Izayoi supported her chin with her left hand, held a teacup with her right, and said in a chatty tone:

“Is she really thinking of you, or does she have some intelligence?”

“Who knows,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied casually.

“Then do you miss her?”

“I only think of the sun in the sky, the sea on the ground, and Miss Kamibayashi beside me.”

“You don’t miss me?” Himemiya Izayoi took a sip of kelp tea. It was refreshing and very delicious.

“I don’t, and I can’t,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

“Why?”

“I have to be faithful to love.”

“Pah,” Himemiya Izayoi spat the kelp she had drunk back into the cup.

Minamoto Kiyomoto turned his head and said to Kamibayashi Miko, “Miss Kamibayashi…”

“I’m going to send breakfast to Shirako,” Kamibayashi Miko put down her teacup and stood up to leave.

“She doesn’t like you at all,” Himemiya Izayoi still maintained her posture of supporting her temple with her hand, looking at Minamoto Kiyomoto with a smile on her face.

Minamoto Kiyomoto watched Kamibayashi Miko, saw her go to the counter to get the porridge, and then disappeared at the entrance of the restaurant.

“Slowly,” he seemed to be answering, but also seemed to be talking to himself.

“Slowly? Don’t let me hear such useless words a second time,” Himemiya Izayoi’s delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she scolded.

“Then what should I say?” Minamoto Kiyomoto turned his head and asked her.

“What I want is definitely mine,” Himemiya Izayoi looked at his eyes, her tone calm and not allowing for protest.

The two of them looked at each other for a while.

“Yes, yes, and then?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked with curiosity.

“I will use force and wisdom to obtain everything in the world.”

“Domineering,” Minamoto Kiyomoto clapped his hands. “Is there more?”

“You even have to ask me this. Are you a fool? I think in the future, you’ll just be a good-for-nothing who smokes and drinks all day, plays pachinko, and waits for your wife to give you money.”

Himemiya Izayoi scolded Minamoto Kiyomoto. At this time, Ayako walked into the restaurant. She immediately put on a noble and elegant smile like a noble.

“Come, Young Master Kiyoshi, have some tea,” she handed the teacup with the kelp she had just spat out to Minamoto Kiyomoto’s mouth.

“…”

◇

Itomi Sayaka only arrived in the afternoon.

The coastal road had completely entered the summer style.

Every restaurant had outdoor tables in front of the shop, and the blue and white signs for ice cream fluttered in the wind.

Temporary shower rooms were assembled by the seaside. Many people held surfboards, waiting for the perfect wave of their dreams.

The white sails of the sailboats on the sea reflected the sunlight, so dazzling that it hurt one’s eyes.

Amidst the sound of the ferry’s whistle, with her short hair flying and her slender figure, she stepped onto Shodoshima.

“Did you miss me, little brother~~” As soon as they met, Itomi Sayaka rubbed Minamoto Kiyomoto’s face.

“What are you doing?” Minamoto Kiyomoto impatiently took her hand away.

Itomi Sayaka ignored him and smiled slightly at the two miko, “Hello.”

“Is she being provocative?” Himemiya Izayoi deliberately asked Kamibayashi Miko in a low voice.

“Yes,” Kamibayashi Miko glanced at her. “Are you going to hit her? I support you.”

“Minamoto Kiyomoto is your man. It’s more appropriate for you to do it,” Himemiya Izayoi said with a smile.

“Minamoto Kiyomoto, they’re going to hit your girlfriend!”

“Alright, don’t say these things at the pier,” Minamoto Kiyomoto greeted.

The four of them did not go to the inn, but walked randomly on the island and came to a terraced field with nothing to see.

During this time, Minamoto Kiyomoto told Itomi Sayaka about the Kyushu Divine Lord one by one.

Itomi Sayaka crossed her arms and lowered her head in contemplation.

Just as Minamoto Kiyomoto was taking a picture of Himemiya Izayoi and Kamibayashi Miko with the wheat field as a background, she raised her head and said to him:
“Was it you who told the Kyushu Divine Lord the news, took benefits from him, and then notified me of the news that the Kyushu Divine Lord knew, to win my favor?”

“…Am I that kind of person?” Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t know what to say.

“I’ll testify for him. He thought about it, but he didn’t do it,” Kamibayashi Miko said.

“Miss Kamibayashi, actually, you don’t have to be so honest about this kind of thing.”

“Sister didn’t raise you for nothing,” Itomi Sayaka’s tense face relaxed. “I also have some news for you.”

“What?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked, deleting the photo of her with her eyes closed just now under Himemiya Izayoi’s command.

“I also just got the news. The main purpose of this Shintoism competition is for the Kyushu Divine Lord.”

The three of them all looked at her at once.

Itomi Sayaka crossed her arms and said:

“The subjugation of the ‘Four-Horned Green Bull’ and the ‘Lord of the Rainy Season’ two yokai caused heavy losses, making him a substitute Divine Lord. This Shintoism competition, the purpose is to kill a few of Kyushu’s Kosen, so that he completely loses the trust of the ‘Lord of Kyoto’.”

“Interesting,” Himemiya Izayoi laughed.

“Then why did you suspect Minamoto Kiyomoto just now?” Kamibayashi Miko questioned.

“Someone in the religion leaked the news, which doesn’t mean he wouldn’t leak it,” Itomi Sayaka shrugged indifferently, revealing a brilliant smile.

Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t care about these things, just as he saved the world, not for the world to remember him.

“No matter what happens to the Kyushu Divine Lord,” he said, “you and your ninth group will be in danger this time.”

Speaking of this, Itomi Sayaka’s expression became gloomy.

“I got the news yesterday and was worried until midnight,” she said. “This matter was already very dangerous, and now he’s asking you to help.”

“Originally, I was thinking of letting Yanagi Michiko not go, but now it seems that she must go. Only with the two of you working together can you let the other members of the ninth group survive as much as possible,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“But Yanagi Michiko…” Itomi Sayaka lowered her head, hesitating.

“Don’t worry,” Minamoto Kiyomoto laughed. “You’re not alone now. You still have us.”

She raised her head and saw Minamoto Kiyomoto’s brilliant smile.

Itomi Sayaka felt that this person was really strange.

He looked exceptionally honest and refreshing, with the warmth of the sun and the tenacity of the earth, but he had to be treated with caution and must not be careless.

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(End of Chapter)