Onmyoji, a nobleman in Heian-kyo

Page 795

The city bathhouse, which serves several hundred people, rarely has any customers.

The once prosperous Xingyuan City has long since vanished like smoke.

It seems that with the end of Shiranui's career, everything came to an end as well.

"The last time Shiranui appeared was about thirty years ago. Will she really appear tonight?" Kagura asked curiously.

They haven't appeared for thirty years, so why will they show up this time?

When Yaobikuni heard "thirty years", she paused for a moment.

She had sensed something amiss when she heard Kyosuke Kosaka mention it once, and when she heard it again, she vaguely felt something was wrong.

What a coincidence! It's just too much of a coincidence.

Thirty years ago, she moved into Phoenix Forest based on divination and waited for Seimei's arrival.

Then, Shiranui appeared around that time.

"Eight Hundred Bhikkhunis?"

"...It's nothing, I was just thinking about my trip to Phoenix Forest thirty years ago."

"Yes, that's right. It's your arrival that prevents me from igniting the flames here." A strange voice suddenly rang out.

"..." Yaobikuni fell silent.

She turned her head to look at the doorway and saw an old friend from the past.

She was an eerie woman with flame-like markings on her forehead.

"Phoenix Fire?"

"You've really changed a lot. Compared to before, I can feel your faint flame of life. Although it still makes me feel cool, it doesn't make me feel cold. You've made significant progress."

"That's a compliment. Why don't you come and soak in the water too?"

"Yes, it's a good experience to come out of Phoenix Forest every now and then. And this child, he's truly a dazzling and fiery flame..."

"My name is Kagura."

"I am the fire born from the phoenix, the phoenix fire."

The alluring woman, who had gracefully stepped into the bath, introduced herself with a smile.

Yaobikuni couldn't laugh anymore; she felt like she might have done something wrong.

"It's none of your business. I was just joking around, and you took it seriously? It seems your trip to Kyoto has really changed you." Phoenix Fire chuckled again.

She came here this time because she didn't want the brilliant and dazzling fire at sea to be extinguished.

Thirty years ago, she had assumed that the flames would ignite.

Little did I know that an unknown change would occur, and upon reflection at the time, I realized that I had been negligent.

"Phoenix Fire, do you know something about it?" Kagura couldn't help but ask.

Phoenix Fire chuckled: "I once saw that songstress dancing on the sea from afar. I originally thought she would eventually break free from the prison of her heart and take a step forward, but unfortunately, she only took half a step..."

Kagura was very clever; based on what Phoenix Fire had said when she first arrived, she immediately understood the meaning behind Phoenix Fire's current words.

"Phoenix Fire, are you saying that the songstress hasn't fully become a demon yet?"

"That's roughly it. Maybe someone needs to lend a hand. I initially thought someone would show up, but things didn't go as I expected."

Phoenix Fire was actually quite puzzled as well.

She hoped the flames would continue to burn.

Unfortunately, the Shiranui here was about to go out halfway through its burn, even though it could have been much more brilliant.

She wants to help.

“Then I’ll lend a hand too, as a way of paying the rent for Phoenix Forest over the years,” said Yaobikuni.

"It's not impossible if you're willing." Phoenix Fire's attitude was ambiguous.

Compared to before, the flame of life of the eight hundred nuns who left Phoenix Forest has begun to burn slowly.

Although faint, it is still very gratifying.

Of course, compared to the girl next to her named Kagura, Yaobikuni is far inferior.

Kagura's life force shone as brightly as the sun, and she loved it.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, the phoenix fire looked towards the door.

Kagura and Yaobikuni couldn't help but look over as well.

A few moments later, a silver-haired woman walked gracefully towards them, exclaiming, "Oh dear!"...

Bath time over.

Kyosuke Kosaka, Seimei, Hiromasa Minamoto, and others gathered in the lobby.

He was unusually stunned, chin in hand, staring blankly at the lively scene around him, unable to react for a moment.

Ibaraki-dōji, Fujiwara no Michitsuna, Hōōka, and finally, Aōon-dō, who came looking for them.

Is this a party?

“So everyone came looking for Shiranui…” Kousaka Kyosuke murmured.

What a lively scene!

According to the Onmyoji storyline, wasn't it only Tamamo-no-Mae who accompanied the main characters?

How come so many people suddenly appeared?

It's understandable that Ibaraki-dōji came.

Fujiwara no Michitsuna gave no reason whatsoever.

Phoenix Fire is shrouded in mystery.

Aoandon... is it probably related to him?

With four people arriving, it feels like even the Great Yue Maru of the Sea Kingdom could put up a fight.

They hope that Ōtakemaru will come, but they also hope that he won't bring his troops.

Well, it was just a bit of teasing.

Ibaraki-doji, Hououka, Aoandon, and other yokai are not things that can be commanded at will.

"Such a lively scene is truly rare," Fujiwara Michitsuna said with his usual smile.

Kousaka Kyosuke had no idea why he was even here to cause trouble.

According to the original storyline, this person's storyline doesn't only involve Kinnara's side.

It was only natural for Fujiwara no Michitsuna to want to save the god his mother sincerely believed in.

He went to great lengths to create an illusion that reflected Itsukushima's "past," and even used his life force to maintain his contract with Kinara...

Hmm?

The thought of this suddenly made Kyosuke Kousaka uneasy.

"Now that Daogang is dead, does that mean I'll have to contact someone else from now on?"

Compared to Fujiwara no Michitsuna, who is at most cunning but whose true nature is kind, Kousaka Kyosuke doesn't trust anyone.

No, this person can't die so young.

It seems we need to figure out a way to ensure Fujiwara no Michitsuna lives to be a hundred years old!

If someone else reports the problem to the Taoist priest, who knows how much they might embellish it?

Kousaka Kyosuke is worried.

With this in mind, the affairs of the Sea Kingdom had to be put aside.

After all, the Sea Kingdom could still be held up by Seimei, but the political struggles were no longer the case.

Kyosuke Kosaka not only has to fight against the Taoist priest's political enemies, but also against the Taoist priest's other vassals.

Once the Taoist priest has completely defeated Yi Zhou, then it will be a different kind of battle.

Since resources are limited, it's natural to compete and fight for them!

Even those in the same camp cannot avoid it.

Ultimately, whether noble, commoner, or even a non-human being, everyone must fight.

The problem is that Kyosuke Kosaka doesn't want to fight and struggle; he just wants enough resources for himself.

Unfortunately, others certainly wouldn't think that way.

In this way, Fujiwara no Michitsuna, a retainer of the Taoist priest, was a great help.

At the very least, when Fujiwara no Michitsuna was around, he must have helped him deal with some of the dirty political disputes.

To be honest, Kyosuke Kosaka doesn't want to go to work.

I'd rather stay at home.