Chapter 80: The Opening of the Summer Festival

On August 15th, the cicadas seemed to have finally broken out of their cocoons from the deep sea, chirping as if they were about to shatter their bodies.

The sky was azure, and the relationship between the sun and the ground was even more intense than when Minamoto Kiyomoto kissed Kamibayashi Miko that night.

Kyoto was very hot.

Besides the temperature, the topics were also very hot.

The Divine Lord of Kyushu, who had been personally searching for cherry blossoms in various places, finally entered the capital on this day.

Previously, when Minamoto Kiyomoto was preaching everywhere, he heard people say that the three ‘Yaebeni Shidarezakura’ on the Kamo River Delta were personally dug up by the Divine Lord of Kyushu, without damaging any of the roots.

After the morning court session, his punishment was announced from the Shishinden Hall.

The position of Divine Lord was still temporary. The affairs of Kyushu were handed over to the Divine Lord of Shikoku, and the Divine Lord of Kyushu was only responsible for dealing with the Shinto religion and Yanagi Michiko.

The right to freely deploy the cultivators of Kyushu was also taken away.

There was another even hotter piece of news.

In just half a year, two Kosen were gone—one in Hakone and one at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. At this Summer Festival, the three rulers of Japan gathered to select a new Kosen!
For those who had a chance to become a Kosen, they were naturally eager to try—this was probably one of the reasons why the major temples brought out their treasures and invited Minamoto Kiyomoto to preach.

For those who had no hope of becoming a Kosen, it was also a grand feast of watching the battle.

The battles of Kosen-level cultivators, besides the “battles” where they faced death at any time, or the “purges” against the Shinto religion, could only be seen at this time.

This year’s Summer Festival was cherry blossoms for ordinary people, and the Kosen qualification battle for cultivators. The grand occasion was unprecedented.

From the 15th, all modes of transportation except for city buses and trams were banned in Kyoto Prefecture due to the large number of people.

Everywhere was a pedestrian street, and everywhere were people.

When there were too many flowers, there would be out-of-season phenomena. When there were too many people, of course, things would happen.

What a turtle-shaped stone was seen crawling away on its own in the Kamo River;
A woman went to the police station to report that she had been deceived by a handsome man who was the incarnation of Shuten-doji;

And someone saw the night parade of a hundred demons.

There was even someone who said that he was the reincarnation of Minamoto no Yorimasa and demanded that the Minamoto clan hand over his sword from that year—the “Lion King.”

In the afternoon when the “reincarnation of Minamoto no Yorimasa” appeared, another “reincarnation of Taira no Kiyomori” appeared.

This “reincarnation of Taira no Kiyomori” did not ask for any swords, but just shouted in the street, ‘Those who are not of the Taira clan are not human.’

Here, the Minamoto clan and the Taira clan were disgusting each other. On the other side, the Abe and Ashiya clans, because of the feud between their ancestors, were still cursing each other today.

The legend of the night parade of a hundred demons in Kyoto probably referred to these people.

In Minamoto Kiyomoto’s family letter in early August, he wrote at the beginning:
“Recently, preaching, unrequited love, love, and fighting have been popular in Kyoto. Young people are strutting on the streets, and the魑魅魍魉 are rampant and arrogant. The妖魔鬼怪 have returned to their ancestors and are doing foolish things that will implicate their descendants.”

After teasing Kyoto, he continued to write:

“The first few days in Kyoto were particularly interesting. As expected of the place where you were born, mother.”

“The incense of Kyukyodo, the paper and brushes of the stationery shop, the konpeito of Ryokujuan Shimizu, the bell of Shinnyo-do, the great torii gate of Heian Shrine standing by the Keiryu Bridge, and the wisteria of Sochu Shrine are still in bloom?!”

“Endless book buying, the Kamo River flows unhurriedly. After listening for a long time, time also becomes blurred.”

“In such a peaceful and quiet time, feeling the beauty and seeking wisdom, I feel that people should strive to live.”

“Also, the most unforgettable morning glory, the shaved ice at the Uji fireworks display was very delicious, and the aftertaste is endless. I even dream of it.”

He stopped his pen, as if he could smell the fragrance of the crape myrtle again, and returned to the cloud boat, seeing the fireworks imprinted on Kamibayashi Miko’s face.

Outside the window, he could vaguely hear the sound of “dong-dong” drums.

Minamoto Kiyomoto came back to his senses and continued to write:
“As I write this, I hear the sound of drums. It should be the miko practicing for the Summer Festival tomorrow.”

“I didn’t want to talk about the Summer Festival, for fear of worrying you. I suddenly remembered that by the time you receive the letter, mother, the Summer Festival will have long been over, and your son will already be a new Kosen famous in Kyoto!”

“As for safety, you don’t have to worry. With Miss Kamibayashi around, I also always remember what you said—if I die, you won’t live either.”

“My goal is to live to be eighty. By that calculation, you must live to be one hundred, mother, or you won’t be keeping your promise.”

“You taught me since I was a child that it’s okay to be a little bad, but you must never break your promise. Then you made me swear that I must be a good person—now that I think about it, mother, you’re a bad person.”

“After coming to Kyoto, I understood two principles. I’ll tell you, mother.”

“One, power is really a good thing. I want to try it.”

“Two, this world needs some strange people.”

“Dedicating oneself to the great cause, walking a dark path, not hesitating to be crushed to pieces; being crazy for someone, being attracted by beautiful things, sometimes indulging in debauchery… don’t you think the existence of such ‘fools’ is very necessary?”

“Normal people won’t do these things, but normal people will be attracted by these things.”

“And, even if it’s just to see what kind of result will come from doing these foolish things to the end, it’s also a very interesting thing.”

“After the Summer Festival, I will go to Uji to sweep my father’s grave.”

“The Ichijo family also came to see me. On the first day, they took me to the flower street, which ruined my reputation. Mother, I think it’s better not to have such relatives, haha!”

“August, Kyoto, where bright yellow lanterns can be seen everywhere, on the eve of Minamoto Kiyomoto becoming a Kosen!”

“Your amazing son”

◇

The next day, August 16th, the Summer Festival began.

From the morning, a team of 10,000 people, dressed in court attire, paraded through the city.

They rode horses, carried palanquins, pulled ox carts, held ancient umbrellas, played flutes, and beat drums.

The young woman in the twelve-layered robe on the palanquin was pretty and cute. The young man on the horse sat up straight, and the sorcerer holding a long sword was majestic. The court lady under the flower umbrella had a graceful figure.

The streets were full of young men and women in yukatas, and families, welcoming the parade.

Unlike previous years, the entire city was filled with cherry blossoms.

Even the Akita dog, which was sleeping in the corner of the wall to avoid the sun, had a few petals on its body.

Downstream of the Kamo River, some businesses had started early. Many tourists who had not booked the official banquet at night were enjoying the cherry blossoms under the scorching sun on the daytime terraces.

The upstream was completely blocked.

Standing at the boundary of the blocked road, one could see the staff who were setting up the venue, and the occasional noble young men and women. That was another world.

All the priests of Heian Shrine had been preparing for the evening banquet since the morning.

By the Soryu Pond, Minamoto Kiyomoto sat cross-legged in a quiet room. The black divine power was like a deep pool, with no waves.

The remains of the red and black evil dragon floated in the void, also breathing in and out the endless divine breath.

The arrogant, domineering, and conceited capacity rushed out of the remains like a huge wave and hit Minamoto Kiyomoto.

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s divine power suddenly burned. He still sat upright, but his aura was the complete opposite of before, becoming fierce and domineering.

The aura of the remains, in front of him, was like a child’s fist, weak and powerless.

“The universe is my heart, and my heart is the universe.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto released his capacity and sucked the red and black evil dragon in. The man and the yokai merged into one.

“Roar—” the red and black evil dragon suddenly roared.

It saw an opportunity and wanted to turn the tables, swallow Minamoto Kiyomoto’s capacity, and occupy Minamoto Kiyomoto’s body.

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s capacity was instantly eaten clean.

The capacity of the red and black evil dragon roared ferociously and cheerfully. The next moment, the roar froze.

In the sea of capacity, the huge dragon face stared at Minamoto Kiyomoto, who had suddenly reappeared.

“When my eyes are open, the flowers are bright. When my eyes are closed, the flowers are silent. How can you possibly eat me?” As soon as his voice fell, Minamoto Kiyomoto suddenly changed his shape and also turned into a hundred-meter-long red and black evil dragon.

“I’m the one who’s going to eat you!” he let out a dragon’s roar and pounced on the red and black evil dragon.

The capacity of the red and black evil dragon was originally no match for Minamoto Kiyomoto, not to mention that he had now learned the “Nen-ryu.”

The “Nen-ryu” was like a funnel. When an ordinary person cultivated, they would purify the deepest part of their capacity, so that their curses and sword moves would burst out with even greater power.

The red and black evil dragon that Minamoto Kiyomoto had transformed into was the crystal of his removing the rest of his capacity, leaving only the arrogant, domineering, and conceited part.

Two completely irrational red and black evil dragons fought each other, their scales scattered everywhere, and blood flowed like a waterfall.

It was not until he had killed the red and black evil dragon 150 times that Minamoto Kiyomoto felt powerless and withdrew from the world of the sea of heart.

The remains sucked in the divine breath, like a dry and cracked land drinking a river. No amount of divine breath was enough.

In Shikoku, by the sea, Minamoto Kiyomoto had challenged the red and black evil dragon for the first time and only lasted for 131 waves. Now, just by relying on the newly learned “Nen-ryu,” he had actually lasted for 150 times.

Sure enough, only by concentrating on one thing could one reach the extreme. Even a genius like him could not escape this principle.

He cultivated until the evening, when the little miko came to remind him.

“Lord Kiyomoto, the banquet is about to begin.”

“Got it,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

The little miko outside the door was stunned. Although the voice had not changed, she felt that the person inside was not the Minamoto Kiyomoto who had been living here.

In the quiet room, Minamoto Kiyomoto suddenly opened his eyes. The arrogance that was far inferior to even the red and black evil dragon filled his black eyes.

He snatched the remains of the red and black evil dragon, held them tightly in his palm, and stood up.

Minamoto Kiyomoto took a bath and changed into a black kimono and a red haori. Unlike the dashing look of last time, now his every move carried a strong sense of oppression.

‘I wonder if Miss Kamibayashi will be moved when she sees me.’ As soon as he thought this, his heart suddenly turned cold.

Minamoto Kiyomoto was stunned for a moment, then his right middle finger tapped his glabella twice, “A curse is indeed both a power and a restraint.”

In his capacity, the arrogant, domineering, and conceited parts, which were originally more than the others, after the effect of the “Nen-ryu,” became even more dominant.

For others, if their capacity could be improved, even if their personality became extreme, it was something they couldn’t ask for.

But Minamoto Kiyomoto, precisely because he was arrogant, looked down on this kind of method. At the same time, he would not take this side effect to heart.

He believed in himself, and he also believed in Kamibayashi Miko.

If Kamibayashi Miko was gone, what was the point of him being gentle or not?
He came to the Seihou Pond. Kamibayashi Miko had already changed into her miko outfit. Her long sleeves fluttered, her waist was slender, and her black hair was tied up.

Minamoto Kiyomoto rarely did not indulge in Kamibayashi Miko’s beauty, nor did he immediately praise her. Instead, he observed her to see what her reaction would be to him wearing this outfit.

Kamibayashi Miko glanced at him, then quickly looked away.

Minamoto Kiyomoto pretended not to see it, and just put his hands behind his back arrogantly, not looking at anyone directly.

“You, let me hug you,” he ordered arrogantly.

“Don’t push your luck,” Kamibayashi Miko said.

“You’re the one who shouldn’t be willful!” Minamoto Kiyomoto pointed out her problem.

Kamibayashi Miko ignored him and walked out of the shrine—Shirako and the little butterfly had already ridden a deer to the Kamo River to play.

As soon as they got on the street, they saw a sea of people. The melodious sound of flutes and the deafening sound of taiko drums could be heard.

Looking around, countless red lanterns were hung along the eaves of the street, swaying in the wind, a magnificent sight.

The long river, under the moonlight, meandered like a ribbon, with white water light and thin mist.

The cultivators who had arrived early were sitting on their respective terraces. Cherry blossoms danced above their heads, and clouds and mist filled the air at their feet. Singing and dancing, it was like a banquet of the gods.

“This is my first time attending this kind of banquet. Are there any rules?” Minamoto Kiyomoto leaned over and asked Kamibayashi Miko in a low voice.

“It’s my first time too,” Kamibayashi Miko replied softly.

“First time, that sounds so lewd.”

Kamibayashi Miko was about to twist her waist and raise her leg.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Minamoto Kiyomoto quickly moved aside. “Today is the Summer Festival.”

“Does it have anything to do with me?” Kamibayashi Miko said in a cold voice. “Come here.”

“Let me stand on my own?” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at her pointing at the riverbank in disbelief.

Fortunately, a maid came over at this time.

“Lady Divine Miko, I will show you to your seat,” the maid bowed and made a gesture of invitation towards the upstream.

“Lord Kiyomoto, your seat is over here,” another maid led Minamoto Kiyomoto to the middle stream area.

The cultivators here were either of middle to upper official rank, or had some fame among the cultivators, and there were also some young members of noble families.

“Brother Kiyomoto!” Minamoto Kiyomi waved vigorously from the opposite bank.

Beside her were Minamoto Kiyone, Fujiwara Shino, and a few other noble young ladies and young men who he didn’t know.

Across the Kamo River, they were divided into two factions: one that valued the status of cultivators, and one that valued the status of nobles or official rank.

Minamoto Kiyomoto waved and greeted them, and sat down on his terrace.

The terrace was made of red wood, and there were railings. On it were a table and cushions. Above his head was a weeping cherry tree, which hung down like willow branches, graceful and beautiful.

As soon as he sat down, a duck shikigami on the Kamo River swam over with dishes and wine.

Another dedicated maid who was serving him placed the dishes and wine on the table one by one.

Besides the fixed dishes that were changed every half an hour, there were also ducks on the river carrying other dishes.

They swam around in the river. If any cultivator wanted to eat a certain dish, they just had to tell the maid, and the duck would swim over.

Minamoto Kiyomoto picked up his wine glass. Before he could drink, a cherry blossom petal floated down and floated in the glass like a pink boat.

He looked up again.

Countless dishes, geishas dancing on the water, the shimmering water, and the ripples of light echoed on the terrace and on the cherry blossoms.

The guests present, the slender young women, the elegant and dignified ladies, the well-bred young ladies, the quiet and steady noble young men, and the cultivators who exuded a cold temperament.

Their clothes were also varied, beautiful, cute, gorgeous, dignified, and majestic.

The Kamo River was lined with floor lamps, which were lit one by one, and the hand-held lanterns of the maids who were welcoming and seeing off guests were as bright as the Milky Way.

These scenes intertwined, presenting a magnificent and blissful world.

Minamoto Kiyomoto drank the wine along with the cherry blossoms.

The taste of the nectar, the color of the rainbow clothes.

(End of Chapter)