Chapter 74: Kyoto

On August 1st, Minamoto Kiyomoto stayed up all night, yet he was still full of energy.

After turning into a red and black evil dragon, his capacity grew even more vigorously.

He closed his eyes, and his thoughts stretched out like thousands of vines, clinging to whatever they encountered—the small flowers on the roadside, the breaking waves, the “Mahavairocana Sutra”—clinging tightly, and even blooming a flower on top.

Each small flower was the result of a thought, and his curses improved by leaps and bounds.

Not only that, but he also became closer to the divine breath. When he entered divine power cultivation, it would cause a magnificent wave of divine breath, like a rainbow.

At ten o’clock in the morning, he opened his eyes. His eyes were ten times brighter than before, and even dazzling to ordinary people.

The red and black color in his pupils swirled slightly, possessing a demonic power that could control people’s hearts.

To some extent, he was no longer a pure human being.

“A curse is both a power and a restraint,” he chanted, and stood up.

He shook his body, and his bones cracked. The feeling of being a giant dragon still lingered in every part of his body. Compared to that powerful and divine body, the human body was too weak.

Just this psychological gap, over time, would make an ordinary cultivator lose themselves.

Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t care at all. He was confident that he would definitely surpass the red and black evil dragon in the future—this confidence came not only from the present, but also from the future.

For example, among college students, students from top universities are often more confident.

The source of their confidence, besides the better university, was also the guarantee of a relatively better future.

If there were still accidents in the future of college students, then Minamoto Kiyomoto had no worries about his future achievements. With such confidence, he naturally wouldn’t care too much about the temporary weakness and strength of his body.

He put the remains, which had been filled with divine breath, into his bosom, placed them close to his body, and walked out of the meditation room.

Next, he should go and call the two miko. It was time to leave Shikoku and go to Kyoto.

Kamibayashi Miko and Himemiya Izayoi lived in the same room. The room had three bedrooms and a living room.

In the living room, the shikigami were packing their luggage. Shirako was struggling to stuff the clay pot for cooking porridge from the inn into a newly bought suitcase.

The little butterfly used all her strength to push the pot and fly, her little face flushed, and she was babbling.

“Where’s Miss Kamibayashi?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked Shirako.

“Hmm,” Shirako pointed to the room with her chin.

Minamoto Kiyomoto knocked on the door twice, waited for a second, and then pushed the door open and went in.

Kamibayashi Miko was sitting on the windowsill with her knees bent, looking at the sea. When she heard the sound, she turned her head.

The wind moved her neat and shiny hair, and the hem of her skirt swayed.

Minamoto Kiyomoto couldn’t help himself. From the dark ambition of obtaining great power, he was dragged back into the bright, snow-white, and rational daily life, as if he had returned to the campus from the battlefield.

He laughed, “You’re not asleep?”

“I just woke up,” Kamibayashi Miko replied.

The window behind her was open, and the summer wind blew the white lace curtains, creating a beautiful picture of a beauty.

Minamoto Kiyomoto took out his phone and took a picture of her.

Kamibayashi Miko’s eyes showed a hint of confusion.

She opened her hand, meaning: give it to me.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the photo on his phone and handed it to him with satisfaction.

“How is it? It’s a good shot, right?” he stood beside her.

“What’s so good about this?” Kamibayashi Miko sat on the windowsill, looking at the photo Minamoto Kiyomoto had taken.

“You don’t understand,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her looking at the photo.

Kamibayashi Miko glanced at him with a ‘go on’ look.

“For people in love, the appearance and posture of the person they like are special and precious every day, no, every minute and every second,” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s tone was leisurely and slow, as gentle as the sea breeze.

“It seems I really don’t like you,” Kamibayashi Miko said. “Do you think there’s anything special or precious about you?”

“Hey, if you’re going to talk, talk properly. Don’t delete it,” Minamoto Kiyomoto took the phone from her hand. “This isn’t a sneak shot, or some obscene photo. Just let me keep it.”

“Not a sneak shot?” Kamibayashi Miko tilted her head slightly and looked at him with a smile.

“Seeing a crane dancing, a high mountain surrounded by clouds and mist, a lotus flower standing tall and graceful, a beauty by the window of the sea, a person subconsciously raises their camera. This is called art, understand?”

“Go and call your Izayoi. Don’t show off your sophistry here.”

“What my Izayoi? The girl I’m looking forward to is only Miss Kamibayashi, whose figure is clear and who protects the weak and has a compassionate and gentle heart.”

Kamibayashi Miko opened her hand again.

“I’m going, I’m going,” Minamoto Kiyomoto put his phone back in his pocket. “I’m just a dog that comes when called and goes when waved away, and I can’t even eat a spirit bone.”

Looking at his departing back, Kamibayashi Miko couldn’t help but smile.

Walking out of the door, Minamoto Kiyomoto poked his head back in and reminded her, “We’re leaving soon. Don’t forget your things.”

Leaving Kamibayashi Miko’s room, next door was Himemiya Izayoi.

“Knock, knock, knock,” Minamoto Kiyomoto knocked on the door and waited.

“Come in,” Himemiya Izayoi’s voice.

Minamoto Kiyomoto pulled open the door and walked in. He saw her sitting in front of the mirror by the window, and Haruarashi was combing her hair.

“Lady Izayoi, it’s time to leave,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said as he walked over.

“Where did you come from?” Himemiya Izayoi asked without turning her head.

“What?” Minamoto Kiyomoto was stunned for a moment, then he reacted, “Miss Kamibayashi’s side.”

Himemiya Izayoi snorted coldly.

“I knew it,” she sighed with self-pity. “If you don’t go to her place first, you won’t come to mine.”

“A scheming woman,” Minamoto Kiyomoto laughed. “Don’t think I’ll believe you’re really jealous. I won’t be moved.”

Himemiya Izayoi laughed cheerfully. In a pile of bottles and jars on the dressing table, she picked out a lipstick.

She took off the cap, twisted out the lipstick with a faint fragrance, and gently applied it to her lips in front of the mirror.

After applying it, she pursed her lips and asked Minamoto Kiyomoto, “How is it?”

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her in the mirror.

“Hmm—” After thinking for a long time, Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t think she looked any better. “I think you don’t need these things. Besides my hairpin, no decoration is worthy of you.”

“Yes, I won’t wear clothes either, to the benefit of you, this little pervert.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto laughed. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, not looking at the mirror, but at her face.

Himemiya Izayoi extended her snow-white right middle finger, wiped it on her alluring lips, and spread the lipstick more evenly.

Then, she took Minamoto Kiyomoto’s left hand with her left hand, and her red right middle finger wiped it several times in his palm.

“It won’t come off if you wipe it like this, and it’ll get my hand dirty,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said as he watched her wipe. His palm was itchy, and the itch went all the way to his heart.

“Who said I was wiping it? This is a reward for you to eat,” Himemiya Izayoi let go of his hand and said with a smile. “I don’t have a spirit bone for you to eat, but I do have lipstick.”

“You were eavesdropping?!” Minamoto Kiyomoto pointed at her.

“You’re allowed to take sneak shots, but I’m not allowed to eavesdrop?” Himemiya Izayoi tilted her head and said with a smile.

“Haruarashi, you step aside. Today, I’ll do Lady Izayoi’s hair,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said as he was about to reach out.

“How dare you!” Himemiya Izayoi quickly laughed and cursed.

“I don’t dare, I don’t dare!” Minamoto Kiyomoto leaned back against the wall again.

He raised his left hand, brought it to his nose, and sniffed. It smelled very good.

“You’re not going to lick it?” Himemiya Izayoi asked as she wiped off the lipstick in front of the mirror, her smiling eyes glancing at him.

“Is the word ‘lick’ a bit too lewd?”

“I’m only lewd to you.”

“Come on, you witch.”

Himemiya Izayoi let out another enchanting laugh. In the laughter, she said, “Then you taste it.”

“Am I so poor that I have no food to eat? I have to eat lipstick,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“Eating lipstick and eating the lipstick on someone else’s mouth are two different things. Young Master Kiyoshi is a student at the University of Tokyo. You don’t even know this?”

“I don’t know. I’m studying medicine, not lipstick.”

“Studying medicine has no future. You’ll be a middle-class person for the rest of your life. This miko will show you a way.”

“Oh? Please tell me,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said solemnly.

Himemiya Izayoi turned her head, and before she could speak, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but curl up in a smile.

“A car worth 100 million, I can buy it if I want. Young Master Kiyoshi, do you understand where the road is?” she asked with a grin.

“You’re playing with me again!” Minamoto Kiyomoto walked forward, and Haruarashi smiled and stepped aside.

“Don’t move!” Himemiya Izayoi protected her coiled hair with her left hand and picked up the hairpin with her right. “Here, this is all that’s left.”

“I don’t want it.”

“Be good. If my hair comes loose, you’ll be the one waiting. Big sister is doing this for your own good.”

“…What if I can’t swallow this anger?” Minamoto Kiyomoto was unwilling.

“Just eat some lipstick,” Himemiya Izayoi propped her elbow on the dressing table and turned her head to look at him with a grin.

“Hmph, sit tight!”

“Don’t move, you know? Big sister doesn’t like disobedient children,” Himemiya Izayoi turned around.

In the mirror, Himemiya Izayoi’s innocent and charming delicate face was full of smiles.

Minamoto Kiyomoto stood behind her and inserted the cherry blossom hairpin into her night-black hair with a smile.

“How is it? Young Master Kiyoshi’s makeup skills are not bad, right?” Minamoto Kiyomoto said proudly.

“Yes, it’s beautiful,” Himemiya Izayoi said in a tone of coaxing a child.

“I ask you,” she turned her head back, and the hairpin swayed with her movement. “What if Miss Kamibayashi finds out that you helped another girl with her hairpin?”

“…Ah.”

It’s over. I’ve fallen for the witch’s temptation.

“Ah?” Himemiya Izayoi repeated with a smile, as proud as a little fox.

The two of them walked out of the bedroom. Kamibayashi Miko was chatting with Shirako in the living room.

“Lady Miko, Lady Ayako has agreed to give me the pot. I can cook porridge for you when we get back,” Shirako said happily.

“Then I want to drink Shirako’s porridge every day,” Kamibayashi Miko rubbed Shirako’s golden hair.

“Leave it to me!” Shirako straightened her small body.

“I also want to drink Shirako’s porridge every day,” Minamoto Kiyomoto walked over with a smile.

“A piglet only needs to eat corn,” Shirako immediately changed to an arrogant expression.

“You took my family’s pot and still scold me. Miss Kamibayashi, aren’t you going to do something about her?” Minamoto Kiyomoto complained.

Kamibayashi Miko glanced at his left hand and sneered.

Minamoto Kiyomoto: “…”

“Don’t be sad,” Himemiya Izayoi, who was beside him, put her hand on his shoulder—it was not a comforting hand, and her face was full of smiles.

The group of people came to the fifth floor and said goodbye to Ayako.

“Mother, I’m leaving,” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s mood darkened.

Ayako looked at her son. No matter how many times they had parted, the reluctance in her heart had not diminished in the slightest.

So much reluctance, when it came to her mouth, turned into the usual phrase: “Be careful.”

“Yes,” Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded.

The three of them, along with Shirako and the little butterfly, came to the balcony on the fifth floor.

They had sung songs, eaten watermelon, and danced here.

The stool they had sat on that day was still there, untouched. At that time, they thought: the summer vacation is still long, and there will be a next time.

Minamoto Kiyomoto moved all the stools back. Ayako said she would clean up later, but he didn’t listen.

After taking one last look at his mother, Minamoto Kiyomoto followed the others and flew into the clouds.

The clouds gathered, and lightning flashed. The head of a huge giant dragon poked out from the clouds and looked down at the Minamoto family’s inn.

Ayako smiled and waved.

“Roar!” The giant dragon let out a roar, turned its head, and plunged into the clouds, disappearing into the northeast sky in a blink of an eye.

“Ah—” Shirako and the little butterfly stood on the tree-high dragon horns and shouted loudly.

The wind blew the two miko’s clothes, and the sea of clouds churned under the giant dragon.

In the distance, a Jetstar passenger plane from Osaka was heading towards them.

‘Life starts from this moment!’ Minamoto Kiyomoto thought as he passed the passenger plane.

◇

Kyoto, a legendary city.

Every year, various places in Japan pay money to Kyoto just to market themselves under the name of Little Kyoto.

The crepe silk produced in “Tango” had to be sent to Kyoto for dyeing before it could be circulated in the market as a decent commodity—without Kyoto dyeing, the crepe silk of “Tango” could not become a commodity.

There was only one and a half places where one could be proud of their place of origin. One was Kyoto, and the other half was within the Yamanote Line in Tokyo.

This city, which imitated Chang’an of the Tang Dynasty, had remained unchanged for a thousand years. In some traditions, it had even surpassed Chang’an, which had changed dynasties constantly.

“We’re in Kyoto!”

Hearing Himemiya Izayoi’s happy voice, Minamoto Kiyomoto looked down.

A city divided into a checkerboard pattern by horizontal and vertical roads appeared before his eyes.

In his scarlet dragon eyes, this city was guarded by the four spirits on all sides. They were the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, and the Black Tortoise, which had been personally bestowed by the Tang Emperor back then.

These four spirits were all first-rate among all the four spirits in China.

Under their protection, Kyoto’s divine breath was a pillar supporting the sky, far surpassing the nearby cities of Osaka, Nara, and Uji.

The place with the most concentrated divine breath was the Kyoto Imperial Garden, where the “Lord of Kyoto” lived.

“Insolent!” Before he could take a closer look, dozens of figures wrapped in divine power rushed up.

“What?!” Everyone was startled when they saw the red and black evil dragon.

Where did this yokai come from? It actually ran out of its birthplace and came to Kyoto? Did the local cultivators not want to live anymore!

“Everyone, stand down. This is my mount,” Himemiya Izayoi’s laughter spread far and wide.

Only then did everyone notice the person and the shikigami on the huge dragon.

“Lady Miko!” these people quickly bowed.

Himemiya Izayoi ignored them and said to Minamoto Kiyomoto, “Go over there.”

She pointed at the Heian Shrine.

Minamoto Kiyomoto let out a dragon’s roar, and the sound waves rolled through the mountains and seas, piercing the sea of clouds.

The dragon’s tail flew, and the red and black giant dragon broke through the air and flew towards the Heian Shrine, leaving a group of cultivators standing foolishly in the empty high sky where the sea of clouds had disappeared.

Arriving above the Heian Shrine, Minamoto Kiyomoto retracted his dragon form.

“Just fly down,” Himemiya Izayoi was very dissatisfied.

“I’m not a mount,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “Besides, what if I’m ambushed by Kosen when I go down?”

“With me here, what are you afraid of!”

“I’m afraid you’ll deliberately not speak, let things get out of hand, and let everyone in Kyoto know that you have a dragon mount.”

Himemiya Izayoi was extremely happy.

“You guessed it. It seems we’re really fated,” she said.

“Stop dawdling, let’s go,” Minamoto Kiyomoto urged.

“Alright, alright, I’ll listen to Young Master Kiyoshi.”

Himemiya Izayoi took the two of them and rushed down from the sea of clouds, landing in the Heian Shrine.

A group of Shinto priests in hunting clothes and miko in miko outfits quickly came up to greet them and bowed.

“You two will stay here for the time being. I have to go back to the palace to report on what has happened during this period. I’ll come and play with you when I have time,” Himemiya Izayoi said to the two of them.

“Can I go?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked.

“What are you going for?” Himemiya Izayoi looked at him strangely.

“To see you get scolded.”

“Go to hell. You’re the one who should be scolded,” Himemiya Izayoi said with a smile and walked outside.

(End of Chapter)