Chapter 79: The Law of Love Cannot Be Lightly Transmitted, Nor Can It Be Taken for Granted

These few days, cherry blossoms have been continuously transported into Kyoto from all over the country.

Standing on any of the thousand bridges over the Kamo River, one can see the dense cherry blossom trees on both banks.

In Heian Shrine, in the area of the Seihou Pond where Kamibayashi Miko lived, one could see thousands of cherry blossoms of various colors, beginning to bloom.

It was expected that on August 15th and 16th, these cherry blossoms would vie to bloom.

In the world of ordinary people, this abnormal phenomenon wasted an unknown amount of newspapers and traffic.

They were worried that on the day of the Summer Festival on the 16th, the weather would still be so “chilly in spring.” Although enjoying the cherry blossoms was also good, they had already seen them in spring, and summer was for enjoying the cool.

Every time he went to an old bookstore and heard the worries of the bookstore owner and customers, Minamoto Kiyomoto deeply felt the power of authority—he would definitely not spend the Summer Festival in spring.

On the 15th, the cooling would stop as if it had received an order.

By the day of the Summer Festival on August 16th, the temperature would return to midsummer.

At that time, the heat would be unbearable, and one would sweat after walking a few steps. The Summer Festival would still be the Summer Festival, but with the added scenery of falling cherry blossoms.

The cultivators were also discussing.

Transporting all the famous cherry blossoms from all over Kansai—even some places in Kanto—to Kyoto, what a great disaster would be suffered when the “Konohanasakuya-hime” passed by next year.

There were also cultivators who believed that the “Lord of Kyoto” had gathered these cherry blossoms together, perhaps to let other places suffer less and solve it quickly and safely in Kyoto.

No matter how people discussed it, no one knew the true thoughts of the “Lord of Kyoto.”

“Incredible,” in the evening, when returning to Heian Shrine, Minamoto Kiyomoto and Kamibayashi Miko passed by the “Kamo Ohashi Bridge.”

North of the bridge was the Kamo River Delta, where three ‘Yaebeni Shidarezakura’ were planted.

The cherry blossoms hung down like tassels, very beautiful and rich, like a canopy.

Under these three huge cherry blossom trees, a large terrace was built on each. On the terraces were the thrones of the “Lord of Kyoto,” the “Ogosho,” and the “Taiko.”

On both sides of the delta, downstream, the best cherry blossoms in Japan were planted in order. Under each tree, there was a small terrace.

The first terrace on the left was for the Divine Miko; the first terrace on the right was for the Ise Shrine Miko;

The second terrace on the left was for the Divine Lord of Hokkaido; the second terrace on the right was for the Divine Lord of Kyushu—the Divine Lord of Shikoku did not take a seat and was responsible for presiding over the entire Summer Festival;

The third terrace on the left was for a certain miko or Kosen; the third terrace on the right was for a certain noble of Kyoto, or a certain minister of Kanto or Hokkaido.

The fourth terrace on the left was again for a Kosen or miko; the fourth terrace on the right was still for a noble or minister.

In the downstream area, there were terraces open to ordinary people, which were built by the merchants along the Kamo River.

It was not one seat per person, and the luxury was far inferior to the upstream, but sitting on the terrace, enjoying the cool, drinking, eating grilled edamame, talking loudly, enjoying the cherry blossoms, and listening to the gurgling of the water, for ordinary people, it was much more enjoyable than staying in the upstream with all the big shots.

The clear river water, the cherry blossom trees on the bank vying for beauty, stretched straight down the river, beautiful, solemn, and dreamlike.

“I was there at that time. A light sentence from the Lord of Kyoto fell on the Kamo River and became the magnificent scenery in front of me,” Minamoto Kiyomoto turned to look at Kamibayashi Miko.

“So you, like Xiang Yu seeing the First Emperor of Qin on his tour, thought of replacing him?” Kamibayashi Miko asked.

“It’s not impossible to try,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a smile. “But that’s not my long-term residence. I still have to go back to Hakusan Shrine and be my shrine priest.”

“Nonsense,” Kamibayashi Miko walked east.

“How is it nonsense?” Minamoto Kiyomoto followed.

“You’re just a temporary part-timer. When did you become a shrine priest?”

“In the entire shrine, there’s only you and me. If I’m not a shrine priest, what am I?”

“When you die, I can let you serve as a ‘trainee’.”

“Isn’t that a trainee? Strictly speaking, it can’t even be called a priest, right? And I have to wait until I die?” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“Wait a minute,” he suddenly realized, “it doesn’t matter what the position is. Do you mean that we can’t be together when we’re alive because of our duties, but if I die and have no scruples, we can be together?”

He got excited and said again:
“Doesn’t this mean ‘you love me’? I’ve already won?”

“…Optimism is a good thing, but being too optimistic is a disease.”

“Speaking of which, I recently read a study from Doshisha University. They surveyed the obese people in a weight loss club and found that the more optimistic a person’s personality is, the smaller the weight loss results—Miss Kamibayashi is indeed omniscient. Being too optimistic is indeed not good.”

When Kamibayashi Miko was not speaking, Minamoto Kiyomoto would chat about medical news that ordinary people would not want to hear at all.

A few days before the Summer Festival, the “Kamo Ohashi Bridge” was not blocked. Tourists came and went on the bridge, and from time to time, one could see young women in spring yukatas.

Since the end of the sermon, the number of people visiting Minamoto Kiyomoto had increased, and many temples had invited him.

Minamoto Kiyomoto originally didn’t want to go and planned to hold another public sermon after the Summer Festival, but Kennin-ji Temple sent a gift, a screen of “The Wind and Thunder Gods.”

On the shining golden screen, the wind and thunder gods rode the clouds and mist, their angry eyes glaring, their heroic posture nimble, and their immortal ribbons dancing wildly.

Minamoto Kiyomoto liked it very much. After observing it for a while, and with the recent continuous thunderstorms, his thunder magic had improved a lot.

So he had to go to Kennin-ji Temple one morning.

From then on, the major temples continuously sent Buddhist scriptures, agate prayer beads, Buddha statues, and other precious items.

When he saw something he liked, Minamoto Kiyomoto would accept it, choose a time to go to the corresponding temple to preach, and by the way, get a free meal and enjoy the scenery.

After a few days, his only impression of the temples in Kyoto was that there were a lot of crows, and their figures could be seen everywhere.

When he went to the temple, Kamibayashi Miko also accompanied him to protect his safety.

Although he had initially mastered the first level of the Minamoto clan’s “From the Heart” style, in the crouching tiger, hidden dragon, and historically rich Kyoto, the combat power of a Kosen was not guaranteed.

Because he only went to preach after receiving gifts, under the manipulation of some unknown person, Minamoto Kiyomoto’s reputation had been half-ruined. He was said to be seeking fame and fortune, and there were all kinds of things.

He didn’t care.

Seeing the city full of cherry blossoms, his heart was no longer on these small things.

Seeing that the Summer Festival was approaching, the competition between the temples became more and more fierce. The “Nen-ryu” sent by Sanzen-in Temple caused an uproar in the entire Kyoto.

In today’s society, this was the highest level of involution.

The “Nen-ryu” was a sword style that was on par with the “Shinto-ryu” and the “Kage-ryu,” and was known as the three major styles in the world.

The rest, such as Higashi Ikkosai’s Ikkosai-ryu, Kamiizumi Nobutsuna’s Shinkage-ryu, Yagyu Sekishusai’s Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, and Miyamoto Musashi’s Niten Ichi-ryu.

Or Chiba Shusaku’s Hokushin Itto-ryu, Saito Yakuro’s Shindo Munen-ryu, and Momoi Shunzo’s Kyoshin Meichi-ryu.

And the Tennen Rishin-ryu, which was free in the cultivator academy and was said to be learned only by commoners.

These were all factions derived from the three major styles.

“What should I do?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked Kamibayashi Miko. “After the Summer Festival, should I continue my plan of public preaching?”

“Are you afraid that these people who sent you gifts will seek revenge on you?” Kamibayashi Miko said with a smile.

Shirako and the little butterfly were playing on a white deer in the air. It was a shikigami sent by Kasuga Taisha in Nara.

It was said that the immortal of Kasuga Taisha came riding a white deer, so there were deer everywhere in Nara.

“If I don’t continue, it will be against my original intention, but if I continue, I will be too sorry for these people who have given me heavy gifts,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said in a dilemma.

“You shouldn’t have accepted the ‘Wind and Thunder Gods’ screen in the first place,” Kamibayashi Miko said. “If you want to do great things in the future, it’s best not to do anything you’re hesitant about.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her with a strange gaze.

“Miss Kamibayashi,” he reminded, “you were the one who told me to accept it at that time.”

“Did I?”

“Yes. Have you forgotten? Right in this pavilion, Kennin-ji Temple sent over the ‘Wind and Thunder Gods’ screen. As soon as I opened it, you said, ‘This will be helpful for your cultivation of the Eight Divine Thunders. Accept it. Anyway, you’re going to preach later’.”

“I don’t remember,” Kamibayashi Miko said innocently.

“…A silly Miss Kamibayashi is cute.”

“Thank you.”

The next day, the two of them set off from Heian Shrine and took a taxi to Sanzen-in Temple—recently, Kyoto was overcrowded. People squeezed into the train, it was like stuffing meat into a chili pepper, making ‘stuffed chili peppers,’ and the chili peppers were still thin erjingtiao.

Sanzen-in Temple was in the mountains of Kyoto, and the vicinity was all paddy fields.

Although it was midsummer, the scenery along the way was all of the budding spring.

“Are the two guests also here to see the cherry blossoms in Kyoto?” The driver was also wearing spring clothes to keep out the cold.

Minamoto Kiyomoto glanced at Kamibayashi Miko. Kamibayashi Miko’s hair was blown by the “spring wind” from the window, and she seemed to have no intention of speaking.

“Yes,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied to the driver.

“Many experts say it’s abnormal weather, and they also say something about the cold current from the Alps. What do you think?” The driver shifted gears, accelerated, and overtook a city bus full of people.

“I guess so.”

“It can’t be that simple!” the driver’s tone was a little excited. “This is a blessing from heaven to Kyoto. Kyoto is a place where such miracles happen.”

“I think it’s because of the cold current from the Alps,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at Kamibayashi Miko with a smile. Kamibayashi Miko still looked uninterested.

She was wearing a spring coat today, with her hands in her pockets, which was a little cool—when they met in the morning, Minamoto Kiyomoto had already praised her.

The driver glanced at the two of them through the rearview mirror.

“Are you a couple?” the driver asked.

“No,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at Kamibayashi Miko. “She’s the object of my unrequited love. I’m pursuing her.”

“You came to Kyoto to pursue her?”

“Hmm—I guess so. I also went to Shikoku before.”

“Give up. There’s no hope,” the driver stretched his head, looked to the left, and slowly turned the steering wheel, passing a crowded pedestrian crossing.

“Why?” Minamoto Kiyomoto was not angry, but rather interested. “I’m also very puzzled. I’m studying medicine at the University of Tokyo, I have no bad habits, and in terms of looks, I’m worthy of her.”

“It has nothing to do with those,” the driver shook his head.

“Then what does it have to do with?” Minamoto Kiyomoto pressed.

Kamibayashi Miko looked at him leaning forward slightly, as if he couldn’t wait to take out a notebook and prepare to take notes, and found it very funny.

She didn’t laugh out loud, but her eyes, which were looking at the farmland outside the window, had a slight smile in them.

“You don’t understand romance,” the driver said in the tone of an experienced person.

“Romance?” Minamoto Kiyomoto was a little puzzled. “I took her boating a few days ago. Isn’t that romantic enough?”

“Boating? In Arashiyama? So, people from the University of Tokyo only know how to study, unlike the students of Kyoto University who are imaginative and free-spirited.”

“She’s also from the University of Tokyo,” Minamoto Kiyomoto introduced Kamibayashi Miko.

“No matter where you’re from, to pursue a woman, you don’t need an occasional romance, but a romantic way of thinking,” the driver said.

“A romantic way of thinking?”

“Yes,” the driver slowly stepped on the brake. The traffic light in front was red. “For example, how can you say that the phenomenon in Kyoto is because of some damn cold current? It’s a miracle, a miracle of love!”

His tone was extremely certain.

Minamoto Kiyomoto finally understood. After going around in circles, the driver still had to prove that the cherry blossoms blooming in Kyoto in August was not because of scientific reasons, but because ‘this is Kyoto.’

This was a typical Kyoto person. Even in the face of the towering buildings, the flowing traffic, and the dazzling luxury of Tokyo, they would only sigh, but never praise.

“That makes sense,” Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded seriously, thinking that he indeed lacked a romantic way of thinking.

When they arrived at Sanzen-in Temple, Kamibayashi Miko paid the taxi fare—taxis were too expensive, and Minamoto Kiyomoto couldn’t afford it.

Those temples had sent all kinds of things, but no one had sent money. With this kind of insight, even if the Buddha stood in front of them, they wouldn’t recognize him.

The two of them turned left and walked towards Sanzen-in Temple. On the way, Minamoto Kiyomoto said to Kamibayashi Miko:
“Miss Kamibayashi, you have to be careful in the future. I’ve learned the true teachings of a Kyoto man, and my skills in love have reached a new level.”

“What are you doing here today?” Kamibayashi Miko admired the shade of the trees above.

It was not raining now, and the bright sunlight shone on her face, which was much more beautiful than any shade.

“I’m here to preach at Sanzen-in Temple,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

“Is this your new level?” Kamibayashi Miko looked at him.

“What do you mean?”

“You ask me,” Kamibayashi Miko turned her gaze to the rural scenery of Ohara.

“Miss Kamibayashi, what are you doing here today?”

“Pretending to protect you, but actually wanting to be with you,” she turned her head and revealed a brilliant smile that was not at all shy.

“…I see!” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s right palm slapped his forehead. “I’ve learned it. But, I’m taking this sentence seriously.”

“Are you a fool?” Kamibayashi Miko said in a helpless tone. “Give me the taxi fare later, half and half.”

“You don’t have a romantic way of thinking. I’m going to criticize you.”

Climbing the short slope in front of the Sanzen-in Temple gate, walking along the country road of Kyoto, when the small road turned into stone steps, the entrance of Sanzen-in Temple was in front of them.

There was nothing to say about the sermon, but the scenery was not bad.

The shade was deep and quiet, and there were small stone Buddhas and small stone Guanyin statues scattered everywhere. Because it had been raining recently, they were covered with moss.

The mountain rocks and flowing water, the lush trees and secluded bamboos, looking out from the Buddhist hall, the greenery seemed to be about to rush in from the window.

A gentle breeze blew, and the carp also began to doze off. It was a quiet and pure place.

“Thank you, Lord Kiyomoto,” the abbot of Sanzen-in Temple saw the two of them to the door.

There were many nobles in Kyoto with the surname Minamoto. They all addressed each other by their titles or official positions. If they had none, they would use their names.

“It’s nothing,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “I was also thinking of showing Miss Kamibayashi around. You’ve helped me. The matcha was very good.”

After saying goodbye, the abbot watched the two of them walk down the stone steps and heard Minamoto Kiyomoto say:

“How was that sentence just now? Did you feel a little moved? My learning ability is not bad, right?”

“Have you been preaching too much recently? I feel that you’ve become very long-winded.”

“…All my interest is gone. I don’t want to talk on the way back. Hey, Miss Kamibayashi, look, there’s a frog here. I thought of a summer poem.”

“What?” Kamibayashi Miko asked.

“Every year when the plums are ripe, I worry about the steaming heat, but I love the croaking of the frogs in the small pond.”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to talk on the way back?”

“You asked ‘what,’ so I said it!” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“I was just testing you, and you couldn’t help it. I hate impatient men the most.”

“A sharp-tongued Miss Kamibayashi is also cute,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her side profile with a smile.

“You can’t think of anything to say, so you change the subject and praise me for being cute? Heh, I can’t stand shallow men either.”

“…I love you. I won’t argue with you,” Minamoto Kiyomoto raised his head proudly.

(End of Chapter)