Chapter 87: Return Journey

“Lord King of Tsukushi—”

“Just call me Kiyomoto.”

“Kiyomoto-kun, the head of the Fujiwara clan wants to meet with you.” On the way down the mountain, Minamoto Nagatoku sized up Minamoto Kiyomoto’s expression and said, “The Fujiwara clan lives in the Higashi-Sanjo Palace.”

“The Fujiwara clan? What do they want to see me for?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked.

Minamoto Nagatoku secretly glanced at Kamibayashi Miko and subconsciously lowered his voice, “It should be about marriage.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto smiled and said nothing.

Minamoto Nagatoku didn’t know what he meant. Was it a refusal, or was it not convenient to talk now?

Minamoto Kiyomi, however, was sure it was a refusal. She had been observing Minamoto Kiyomoto.

When Minamoto Kiyomoto spoke to her and Minamoto Nagatoku, he was neither cold nor warm.

It wasn’t that he was expressionless, but he didn’t have much emotion. When he turned to speak to Kamibayashi Miko, he immediately smiled.

When Kamibayashi Miko spoke, he always looked at her. Being looked at with such eyes, any woman would be moved.

The way the two of them got along made people yearn for it.

If possible, Minamoto Kiyomi also wanted to find a boyfriend who would look at her like that.

After refusing Minamoto Nagatoku’s offer to send them back by car, the two of them still took public transportation back to Kyoto.

As soon as they returned to Heian Shrine, the little butterfly ran over.

“Lady Miko! Lady Miko! Shirako has a stomachache!”

“A stomachache? Was she poisoned, or did a yokai appear in Bunkyo Ward?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked subconsciously.

Kamibayashi Miko didn’t answer and quickened her pace slightly.

The two of them, along with the little butterfly, walked into the guest room of Seihou Pond. Shirako was lying on the bed, holding her stomach and groaning. The Xiangye crown that Minamoto Kiyomoto had lent her to play with was pushed to the corner of the bed.

Seeing her like this, Minamoto Kiyomoto was relieved. To be able to cry out so forcefully, it probably wasn’t a yokai appearing in Bunkyo Ward.

“Shirako,” Kamibayashi Miko sat on the edge of the bed, her hand gently stroking her stomach. Golden divine power flowed into Shirako’s body like hot spring water.

Shirako gradually stopped crying out in pain. She lay on the bed, her crystal-clear little mouth slowly panting.

“What’s wrong, Miss Shirako?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked with schadenfreude.

Shirako glanced at him and snorted.

“Lady Miko,” she said to Kamibayashi Miko, “there was a heavy rain at the shrine, and the mountain collapsed a little.”

“Okay,” Kamibayashi Miko’s voice was gentle. She didn’t take it to heart and continued to wrap Shirako in divine power.

Shirako looked at Minamoto Kiyomoto again, with a look of watching a show.

“What are you looking at?” Minamoto Kiyomoto was first confused, then understood. “My vegetable garden!”

This time on vacation, whether it was Kamibayashi Miko’s shikigami or Himemiya Izayoi’s, they all came out. Hakusan Shrine was empty except for the animals.

“What happened to my vegetable garden?” he quickly asked Shirako.

“It’s gone,” Shirako’s tone was so cheerful that it seemed like she was about to sing. The end of her voice was very pleasant.

“…My books,” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s face was full of grief. “Miss Kamibayashi, you rub it for me too. My stomach is starting to hurt.”

“The toilet is over there,” the little butterfly pulled the clothes on his shoulder and pointed enthusiastically in the direction of the toilet.

Minamoto Kiyomoto: “…”

Kamibayashi Miko smiled slightly and said, “After you go back, you can move to my place.”

“Hmm?” Minamoto Kiyomoto raised his head and looked at her in disbelief.

“Now even the Ogosho is eyeing you. Don’t waste any more time building a house, washing clothes, cooking, and messing with your vegetable garden. Hurry up and cultivate,” when Kamibayashi Miko said this, the smile on her face disappeared, and her tone was like she was handling official business.

“I don’t agree!” Shirako said loudly.

“Let him help you cook,” Kamibayashi Miko patted her little belly.

Shirako grunted twice and said reluctantly, as if she were moved but still pretending to be unwilling, “Alright then.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto still stared at Kamibayashi Miko, “Is it really okay?”

Kamibayashi Miko usually wouldn’t waste her energy answering this kind of question. She said:

“After you move in, the fee of 10,000 yen per hour will be cancelled. It will be collected once a year, one hundred million yen at a time.”

“…Are you kidding me?” Minamoto Kiyomoto thought he had misheard.

“When have I ever joked with you?”

“Although not often, but occasionally. A rent of one hundred million yen a year is too much. Am I not a Kosen for nothing?”

“Do you think I care about this little bit of your money? Do you know how much a shrine with a hidden realm costs?”

“…Alright,” Minamoto Kiyomoto could only accept it.

This was also a happy event.

Suddenly, Minamoto Kiyomoto thought of Himemiya Izayoi. What would she think if she knew about this? Would she be angry?

At night, sitting on the roof of Yasaka Shrine, their sweaty hands held together, admiring the brilliant fireworks—the scene at that time appeared in his mind again.

‘This is also good,’ he then thought, ‘moving in doesn’t mean anything, but at least it can let Izayoi know my determination.’

He picked up the Xiangye crown, spun it on his right index finger, and turned to walk out of Seihou Pond.

“Aren’t you going to the toilet?” the little butterfly pointed at her lower lip, tilted her little head, and asked with confusion.

“No need, thank you, little butterfly,” he said with a smile.

His stomach seemed to really hurt a little.

◇

Starting from the 18th, Minamoto Kiyomoto began to preach at the Daigokuden.

There were no thresholds, no conditions. As long as one came, one could listen.

Before the sky was bright, the Daigokuden was already full. In the end, even the sando and the square were full, all the way to the Otenmon Gate.

Heian Shrine announced that it would be closed for renovation for half a month. During this half month, Minamoto Kiyomoto would recite the “Mahavairocana Sutra” once a day, as well as various simple and easy-to-learn curses.

He did not announce the yokai body curse, as well as some dangerous curses in the Xiangye crown—at the same time, they were powerful or strange, and were naturally criticized by some people.

He was too lazy to care about these. He preached during the day, cultivated at night, and occasionally took a half-day break.

“We’re going back tomorrow. What about you?” On August 29th, he was fishing at the Shinsen-en in the Imperial Palace. Himemiya Izayoi was also holding a fishing rod beside him.

“I’m done here too,” Himemiya Izayoi’s long hair was tied up, and it was fixed with a hairpin inlaid with cherry blossoms. Her beauty was so graceful that she was like a beauty who had walked out of a painting.

Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the motionless float on the surface of the pool and said:

“A few days ago, there was a heavy rain in Tokyo, and a landslide occurred at Hakusan Shrine.”

“Okay, and then?”

“My house, and my vegetable garden, are all gone.”

“What?” Himemiya Izayoi looked over, then laughed. “Look, I told you to do less bad things. Your karma has come.”

“As expected of the Lord of Kyoto, you can make up things out of thin air,” Minamoto Kiyomoto admired.

“Ahem,” Himemiya Izayoi made a proud sound.

Looking at her good mood, Minamoto Kiyomoto hesitated for two seconds, but still decided to speak.

“Kamibayashi Miko invited me to stay at her place, so I don’t have to waste time building a house, cooking, and washing clothes.”

“You agreed?”

“Yes.”

“I see,” Himemiya Izayoi nodded and continued to look at her float. “That’s good. There are more and more people staring at you now. Your yokai body curse has great restrictions. It’s a good thing to spend time on cultivation.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto glanced at her twice and found that her expression was not strange at all, and even a little approving.

On the night of the Summer Festival, was Izayoi’s witch consciousness acting up, playing with him?
Or, was the purpose the same as the Ogosho letting Kamibayashi Miko get close to him, but the person who got close was Izayoi herself?

“…A little unhappy,” just as Minamoto Kiyomoto was deep in thought, a depressed voice suddenly came from his ear.

He raised his head and looked at Himemiya Izayoi, who was staring at the water in a daze.

Minamoto Kiyomoto didn’t know what to say for a moment. What made him sad and conflicted was that his heart was uncontrollably happy.

While he was in a daze, “I got a bite!” Himemiya Izayoi excitedly lifted her fishing rod. A small black carp was struggling on the hook.

“How about we see who catches more? The loser has to grant the winner one condition,” Himemiya Izayoi didn’t even unhook the fish and turned her head to say to Minamoto Kiyomoto with a smile.

Her appearance made people wonder if the ‘unhappy’ just now was an illusion.

“No bet, no bet,” Minamoto Kiyomoto refused without thinking.

He turned his head and just happened to see his own float move. He quickly pulled it up, and a flame-colored carp was hanging on it.

“See, you got a bite too. Don’t be afraid. Come on, Young Master Kiyoshi.”

“Even if you call me big brother, it’s no use.”

“Pah, coward. I look down on you.”

“Look down on me, then look down on me,” Minamoto Kiyomoto had a roguish look of ‘I don’t care what you say.’

He unhooked the carp. Himemiya Izayoi also threw her hook over. He had to unhook the carp on her hook and also help her re-bait.

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“Afraid of what?” Minamoto Kiyomoto raised his head.

At some point, Himemiya Izayoi had also squatted down. Her charming and innocent face was very close to him.

Even after getting along for so long, being so close all of a sudden, he still had a feeling of being stunned.

“If you don’t bet with me, you’re actually afraid of falling more in love with me.”

“A person can have nothing, but they can’t have no confidence. But being narcissistic is not good.”

“Hmm—” Himemiya Izayoi’s tone was meaningful.

The two of them were like a little boy and a little girl whispering in a corner. The atmosphere was indescribable, and the air was filled with a special magic.

“Alright,” Minamoto Kiyomoto let go of her hook.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Your Majesty. Can you not stare at me so closely?”

Himemiya Izayoi stretched out her hand and gently pushed away Minamoto Kiyomoto’s bangs.

Minamoto Kiyomoto subconsciously grabbed her hand. It was soft, delicate, and had a comfortable feeling.

Himemiya Izayoi blinked, and her soft eyelashes trembled slightly.

“Shameless,” she took back her hand and stood up.

“Who’s shameless? You’re the one who touched someone else,” Minamoto Kiyomoto also stood up.

“It’s okay to move in, but don’t do anything to let me down.”

“Miss Izayoi, the person I like is Kamibayashi Miko.”

“If you do, I’ll really be unhappy.”

The two of them threw their hooks back into the lake. Minamoto Kiyomoto was thinking about whether to talk about the kiss.

In the end, he still didn’t say it.

First, although it was the most important moment of his life, it did not bring any substantial progress to his relationship with Kamibayashi Miko;

Second, you can’t raise fish in clear water. A heart that is too honest will definitely not be able to survive in this world;
Finally, he had no need to be frank with Himemiya Izayoi. If he had this idea one day, things would be really dangerous.

The next day, August 30th, it was time to go back.

Before that, Minamoto Kiyomoto also had to go to Hokkaido. He was still thinking about the lavender fields of Furano and had to dig up a piece to take back.

“Roar!” In the divine garden of Heian Shrine, the red and black evil dragon shot into the sky.

The cultivators of Kyoto had not received the news that Minamoto Kiyomoto was leaving and did not have time to see him off. He had already disappeared in the northern sky under the watchful eyes of everyone.

When passing through the Noto Peninsula, Minamoto Kiyomoto descended from the clouds and met with Itomi Sayaka, who was waiting here in advance.

“You’re making a big splash. As expected of my boyfriend!” Itomi Sayaka’s face was a little pale, but her spirits were still good, and she teased with a smile.

Hanyu Chika stood beside Itomi Sayaka, looking at Minamoto Kiyomoto with surprise and astonishment.

She couldn’t imagine that a cultivator who had only cultivated for four months could actually defeat the famous Ashiya Doman, who had been resurrected after a thousand years.

“Your living expenses have been cut off, and you still expect me to be your boyfriend? Don’t dream,” Minamoto Kiyomoto spun the Xiangye crown on his index finger and said with a smile.

“You money-grubber,” Itomi Sayaka cursed.

“How have you been lately?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked.

“Alright, it’s just that quitting smoking is a bit painful,” Itomi Sayaka said, then took out a piece of chewing gum and gave a piece to everyone.

Kamibayashi Miko, Himemiya Izayoi, Shirako, and even the little butterfly all had one.

“Is this the Xiangye crown?” Itomi Sayaka sized up Minamoto Kiyomoto’s fingertips. The golden hair crown was being played with like a keychain.

“Yes, I can’t wear it all the time, and I have nowhere to put it. It’s a headache.”

“I wish I had such a problem.”

“Yes, what do you want to learn?” Minamoto Kiyomoto put the golden hair crown on his head. His black hair grew wildly and was all bound by the Xiangye crown.

Along with the yokai body curse, Minamoto Kiyomoto gave her some powerful or life-saving curses.

Hanyu Chika also learned some, as well as an advanced curse for evolving weapons with divine power.

“The Shinto religion plans to cause trouble for you,” in the sound of the waves, Itomi Sayaka said.

“What?” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at Shirako and the little butterfly playing on the beach. The sky was vast and blue, and white clouds were piled up on the horizon.

“No one wants the enemy to become stronger. And, someone wants your yokai body curse,妄图 to become the Underworld Demonic Dragon.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto laughed twice and turned to say to her:
“You also know the danger of the yokai body curse. Even I almost failed. If they need it, you can just find a reason to give it to them.”

“This is something my boyfriend gave me. I can’t bear to give it to others.”

“…I said we’ve already broken up. I don’t like clingy women,” under the watchful eyes of Kamibayashi Miko and Himemiya Izayoi, Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“A divorce still requires a signed agreement. How can a breakup be done without my consent?”

“Alright, alright, whatever you say. I’m leaving. You be careful.”

“Wait, there’s one more thing,” Itomi Sayaka called out to him. “When you go back to Tokyo, no matter how my sister begs you, don’t tell her about cultivation.”

“A small matter,” Minamoto Kiyomoto nodded. “I have some power now, and the Ogosho also wants to win me over. No matter what happens, your sister won’t be in danger.”

“Thank you,” Itomi Sayaka looked at him, not expecting that the blind date she hadn’t taken to heart at first would actually give her a sense of security like a real boyfriend.

Minamoto Kiyomoto waved his hand, and the black light raged, turning into a red and black giant dragon.

The giant dragon flashed past the seaside, grabbed Shirako and the little butterfly who had run out of sight, and flew into the clouds in a blink of an eye.

The two who were left behind, their hair was blown back by the strong wind stirred up by the giant dragon.

“Minamoto Kiyomoto’s capacity is truly one in ten thousand,” Hanyu Chika said with despair and admiration.

“There’s no need to compare with that kind of person,” Itomi Sayaka comforted with a smile. “If cultivation is a sea, and we are people walking into the sea, struggling with every step, then he is a fish.”

“Still a sailfish,” Hanyu Chika said.

“A sailfish?”

“One of the fastest swimming fish in the ocean.”

“Oh,” Itomi Sayaka was not interested in fish. “Want some chewing gum?”

Hanyu Chika didn’t answer, but just blew a bubble. The chewing gum she had just eaten had not been chewed for long.

◇

“You’re very good to Sayaka,” sitting on the back of the red and black evil dragon, Himemiya Izayoi said with a faint smile.

“I admire her. She’s willing to sacrifice for her family,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

“Aren’t you going to do something about him?” Himemiya Izayoi asked Kamibayashi Miko again.

“It’s useless to do anything. He secretly ran out alone and held hands with a woman with ill intentions,” Kamibayashi Miko said.

For some reason, Himemiya Izayoi stopped talking. The evil dragon didn’t dare to speak either, but he was thinking in his heart: what’s holding hands? I’ve even kissed you.

All the way north, across the Tsugaru Strait, they arrived in Hokkaido and landed at the Hinode Park in Furano.

Unfortunately, even the late-blooming lavender could only be enjoyed until early August.

And as soon as August began, in order to preserve the flower stalks, some flower fields would harvest the lavender early.

“How can this be!” Minamoto Kiyomoto was furious.

“Why not?” Himemiya Izayoi was happy to see him suffer.

“Do I have to wait until next year?!”

“Calm down,” Kamibayashi Miko said lightly, then took Shirako to buy lavender-flavored ice cream—the little butterfly had already run into the sea of flowers, immersed in the endless nectar.

“I want some too,” Himemiya Izayoi followed.

Minamoto Kiyomoto was left alone, thinking about whether to just take some other flowers.

At this moment, someone spoke to him.

“Are you here to see the lavender?”

Minamoto Kiyomoto turned his head and saw a young woman as beautiful as a doll.

Her skin was delicate and smooth, and her long, soft hair was parted on both sides. She was holding a few flowers wrapped in white paper.

Her slender body was wrapped in a dress, making her look even more beautiful and pure.

“Yes, I came all the way from Kyoto,” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied. “Unfortunately, I’m late.”

“I know a place where there’s still a small patch of lavender. Do you want to see it?” her voice was soft and gentle, with not much emotion, like snowflakes falling from the sky.

“Really?!”

“Yes,” the woman nodded. “Please follow me.”

Minamoto Kiyomoto quickly followed. The two of them left the flower field and walked on the ridge of a field in the Hokkaido countryside.

“Are you a local?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked.

The woman was noncommittal and nodded ambiguously.

After a while, the two of them came to a wooden windmill.

Around the wooden house, there was a small patch of lavender in full bloom, purple and bright, exceptionally cute in the sun.

Before the woman could turn her head, Minamoto Kiyomoto immediately gathered his divine power and disappeared from her sight.

He took a few steps forward and began to transplant the lavender.

“What are you doing?” a cold voice came from behind him.

A chill ran down Minamoto Kiyomoto’s neck. He turned around, and the doll-like beautiful woman was staring at him with her eyes wide open. Her hair was flying, and it slowly turned white.

The sky, which had been clear just now, began to snow lightly.

(End of Chapter)