727: Chapter 140: Is There Such a Life?
(4) 727: Chapter 140: Is There Such a Life?
(4) ——[In the blink of an eye, five years have passed.
Fourteen-year-old Nagato Tsuruko is preparing to take over Zaodao Shrine from the Early Rice Shrine Maiden.
However, before that, Tsuruko must plete a priestess’s challenge.
The challenge is to expel a toad demon that has recently wandered into the mountains near Zaodao Village, without relying on the power of the Dog God.
Fourteen-year-old Tsuruko already possesses quite strong spiritual power, and the Early Rice Shrine Maiden has confidence in her.
But Tsuruko has never previously expelled a monster on her own, so she’s inevitably a bit nervous before setting off.
From the time she was six, when she watched Tsuruko grow up, to now at fourteen, these eight years have made the Dog God squatting in front of the shrine very familiar with some of Tsuruko’s little habits that others don’t know about.
For instance, when she’s nervous, she’ll sweep the courtyard in front of the shrine at dusk.]
——[“I hear you’re leaving the mountain tomorrow?” Inuyasha leaned on the back of his head and approached Tsuruko from behind.
Unknowingly, this little dog had already grown to the height of his neck.
To the Dog God, eight years is just a small part of his long life, passing by like a breeze.
But events from those eight years seem like an illusion, appearing as if they happened just yesterday; as long as he thinks about them, he can recall them.]
——[“Hmm.”]
——[“You might die; that toad demon is not easy to deal with.
Even for me, it would take some effort,” Inuyasha continued, emphasizing, “Of course, it’s just effort.
I, the great one, wouldn’t get hurt.”]
——[Tsuruko stopped her hands and tilted her head to look at him.
Perhaps for the Dog God, eight years really is short.
As a human, Tsuruko would soon grow even taller, then age like the Early Rice Shrine Maiden, and find a suitable successor just like her.
Then the new apprentice priestess will, with her help, bee the new master of the Dog God.
Inuyasha will guard the shrine for generation after generation, while the shrine priestesses will continue to change.]
——[“Why are you staring at me!” Inuyasha lightly snorted and said, “Are you scared, after all?
Then e and beg me!
I have a way to make that old hag not find out, and secretly help you!
But let me say in advance, I’m fine with helping you.
But you need to promise me one condition, to take off the necklace on my neck.”]
——[Tsuruko tilted her head to think for a moment, then threw the broom in her hand forward.
Without further ado, the Dog God boy of the shrine pounced and retrieved the broom.
Tsuruko took the broom, casually patted Inuyasha on the head a few times, and responded calmly, “I can do it, don’t worry.”]
——[“Who cares about you!!
You little dog!
Don’t treat me as that stupid dog!!” Inuyasha suddenly became furious.
He couldn’t understand why he would retrieve everything Tsuruko threw out every time.
Yes, every time!
“I’m not caring for you anymore!
You little dog, live or die on your own!
It’s better if you die, that way I’ll regain my freedom!” Inuyasha knew he couldn’t resist Tsuruko’s ‘sit down’ curse, and finally left in frustration.]
——[All night, Inuyasha did not appear.
As usual, Tsuruko acpanied the Early Rice Shrine Maiden for dinner and then started doing her assignments for the day.
In the middle of the night, there were strange sounds outside Tsuruko’s bedroom.
She opened the door to see an amulet left on the corridor outside.
Tsuruko picked up the amulet, knowing it was secretly brought by Inuyasha, and smiled before returning to her bedroom to meditate and gather her strength.
Tsuruko felt that her master, the Early Rice Shrine Maiden, would also pass one day.
So while she was still alive, taking the test early was actually a good thing.
If she failed the test, it would prove she ultimately couldn’t take over the shrine.
But if she could return, she would continue her cultivation under the Early Rice Shrine Maiden’s guidance.
If she didn’t return, the Early Rice Shrine Maiden would still have time to find and train a new succeeding priestess.]
——[Before dawn, Tsuruko quietly left the shrine.
Before leaving Zaodao Village, she did go to the Nagato House, just looking from a distance until the gate opened and servants came out, and only then did Tsuruko truly leave.]
——[Leaving Zaodao Village, Tsuruko passed through a valley and saw a stream flowing nearby, planning to rest there.
It was then that she heard the sound of crying from behind a layer of rocks by the stream—a child aged twelve or thirteen.]
——[“What happened?”]
——[“My brother was captured by a monster, I’m very sad, I wish I could personally deal with it, but I’m powerless, what else can I do but cry in secret here?” The child was heartbroken, and it seemed they had already been crying for some time.
Tsuruko guessed the monster the child spoke of was likely the same one the Early Rice Shrine Maiden had tasked her to expel, so she continued her inquiries and found her guess to be correct.]
——[This toad demon liked to wear a red kasaya, calling itself the ‘Red-Robed Sorcerer’.
Whenever it arrived somewhere, it would capture young boys.
The ‘Red-Robed Sorcerer’ believed that the blood and energy of children are the key to a long life, so it reared them by secret technique, and on certain days, it would dress the young boys in red clothes to conduct life extension rituals.
Once these children lost their value, it would eat them.
It is said that more than thirteen children have died at the hands of the ‘Red-Robed Sorcerer’.]
——[“I am an apprentice priestess of Zaodao Shrine.
I came here specifically to deal with the ‘Red-Robed Sorcerer’.
If you know where the ‘Red-Robed Sorcerer’ is, tell me to avoid more people getting hurt,” Tsuruko directly stated her purpose.]
——[The crying boy looked at Tsuruko, who was about the same age as he was, and naturally didn’t believe she could handle it.
With a sigh, he said, “I don’t want more people getting hurt.
My brother was taken; maybe it was fate.
But if his death can bring peace to the village, it’s worth it.
The ‘Red-Robed Sorcerer’ has powerful magic that you cannot handle.”]
——[Tsuruko directly took down her wooden bow, drew a feathered arrow, and shot at a large tree ten meters away.
Her actions were swift, releasing three feathered arrows in succession.
The arrows landed on the tree trunk, pinning a climbing raccoon dog under its armpits and above its head, the animal unable to move and showing a terrified expression.
Only then did Tsuruko calmly say, “Don’t worry, I have the ability to protect myself.”]
——[Seeing Tsuruko’s amazing archery skills, the child knew he’d encountered someone truly capable.
He’d longed for someone to deal with the ‘Red-Robed Sorcerer’, hoping it would happen.
He quickly revealed where the ‘Red-Robed Sorcerer’ was hiding and advised Tsuruko that midnight was when the ‘Red-Robed Sorcerer’ was weakest.]
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PS1: I’m in Hangzhou, and I seem to have heatstroke.
PS2: I definitely have heatstroke.
PS3: Actually, I wanted to say that since I have heatstroke…
this is all I’m writing…
really…
my head is full of murky white paste…
(dead face)
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