Chapter 109: Shrine Maiden Kagetsu Igarashi

The next morning, at Fangyu City Airport.

Yun Xuan watched as a woman approached, dressed in a purple kimono, her complexion pale and her features delicate.

“Ding dong, detected a beauty with an overall score of eight,” the cat-eared girl Miao Miao’s alert sounded, but Yun Xuan ignored it and opened the car door.

“Thank you, Yun Xuan-kun,” Hanazuki Igarashi bowed gracefully.

“Get in,” Yun Xuan said calmly.

Hanazuki Igarashi climbed into the car, and Yun Xuan drove toward the Autumn Breeze Pavilion.

“Fangyu City is still so bustling. It’s been a long time since I last came here,” Hanazuki spoke softly, gazing out the window.

“You’ve been to Fangyu City before?” Yun Xuan frowned. As a shrine maiden of the Senkyou Shrine, how could she have visited a place like Fangyu City?

“About a decade ago, there was a fierce battle over a warrior’s treasure in Fangyu City. It was brutal. In the end, the treasure disappeared. Rumor has it that the treasure was the most important artifact of an ancient cultivator,” Hanazuki explained briefly.

“Ancient cultivator?” Yun Xuan murmured to himself, realizing she must be referring to someone who crossed over from that fantasy world.

…

The car stopped at the entrance of Autumn Breeze Pavilion. Yun Xuan and Hanazuki entered his office.

“Brother, you wanted to see me… and who is this?” Yun Xue, sitting on the sofa, was taken aback as Hanazuki entered.

“Xue’er, this is your mother,” Yun Xuan said.

“Mother?” Yun Xue opened her mouth in disbelief at the unfamiliar word.

“I’m sorry, Xue’er. Over a decade ago, Senkyou Shrine was in chaos. You were taken away and your whereabouts were unknown. I only recently found you here in Fangyu City,” Hanazuki said, wiping away tears as she looked at Yun Xue.

“I... I can’t accept this. There’s no way I’m leaving here! I want to stay with my brother and Sister Xun’er. No matter what happened back then, I don’t want to go back,” Yun Xue said firmly, tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.

“Mother won’t force you to go back. As long as you live well, that’s all that matters. I don’t want you to suffer my fate. Yun Xuan-kun, could you please give us some privacy?” Hanazuki choked up.

“No way. I want to stay here and watch over you,” Yun Xuan shook his head.

“I want to pass on the sorcery to her. That way, at least she can protect herself. But this inheritance requires that neither of us is bound by anything,” Hanazuki bit her lip and looked at Yun Xuan pleadingly.

“I have no interest in you. The only thing I want to see here is Xue’er safe and sound. Do you understand?” Yun Xuan said coldly.

He never trusted Hanazuki because she was a shrine maiden.

“Fine, please prepare a bath tub and warm water for me,” Hanazuki sighed.

She understood Yun Xuan’s protective instincts toward Yun Xue.

“I’ll have it sent over shortly,” Yun Xuan called He Wenyue.

Though a bath tub was old-fashioned, there were still alternatives.

He Wenyue acted quickly; two workers carried the bath tub to the door. Hanazuki and Yun Xuan carried it into the office. Yun Xuan drew the curtains and locked the office door.

“Brother, do we really have to listen to her?” Yun Xue blushed, uncertain about this inheritance but still looking at Yun Xuan.

“Trust me. Her power will give you the ability to protect yourself in the future, so no one will bully you,” Yun Xuan said softly.

Hanazuki removed her clothes, shyly covering herself, stepped onto a chair, and entered the bath tub.

Yun Xue, watching Yun Xuan’s unwavering gaze, mimicked Hanazuki by tossing her clothes aside and sitting in the bath tub.

“Don’t let go of my hand,” Hanazuki said gently, her face tender as she bit her finger, drew a strange symbol in her palm, and grasped Yun Xue’s hand.

Yun Xuan sat on the sofa, averting his gaze to avoid awkwardness, glancing once at Hanazuki’s clothes before turning his head.

The inheritance process was swift. A talisman-like mark appeared on Yun Xue’s arm, while Hanazuki grew visibly weaker.

They dressed again, and Hanazuki gave Yun Xue a complicated look.

“I can cure your illness, but… you must promise me one condition,” Yun Xuan suddenly said.

“What did you say…” Hanazuki stopped mid-motion, horrified.

…

Hanazuki agreed to Yun Xuan’s condition: providing one hundred million in funding, just enough to repay the money Yun Xuan had borrowed.

“I need to treat you for seven days. During this time, you will remain in a deep sleep. After seven days, I guarantee you will recover,” Yun Xuan said deliberately.

“Seven days in a deep sleep…” Hanazuki hesitated. This was essentially entrusting her body to Yun Xuan. What if he acted on impulse?

“I will be responsible for watching over Brother,” Yun Xue broke the silence.

“Alright, I trust you,” Hanazuki smiled. Whether or not Yun Xue forgave her, she wanted her to be happy.

“During these seven days, Senkyou Shrine will likely notice. They might send warriors, but with the special task force involved, it should be fine. You’d better contact the Eastern family,” Hanazuki said after a pause.

“Senkyou Shrine isn’t a monolith?” Yun Xuan was unsurprised.

“The Saga faction influences Senkyou Shrine. I belong to the conservative Yuga faction,” Hanazuki explained simply.

“I understand. Come with me, and Xue’er will come too,” Yun Xuan nodded, having already arranged a place for Hanazuki the night before.

The three left Autumn Breeze Pavilion and headed to the outskirts of Fangyu City, driving up a mountain road to a hilltop villa.

“This villa was booked in advance. It’s easy to defend but hard to attack. I have many helpers here. If anyone dares come, I guarantee they won’t return,” Yun Xuan said as he drove into the villa, turning to Hanazuki.

“Your strength is hard to read. Just protect Xue’er. I swear I won’t take her away from you. Please cherish and protect her,” Hanazuki said softly, standing before the villa.

“You don’t need to say it. I will,” Yun Xuan replied.

He led Hanazuki to the basement, where eight units of Mizunotsuki White, along with Ice Snow and White Snow, were prepared. Hanazuki entered the nutrient pod, and Yun Xuan closed it.

“Brother, is this enough?” Yun Xue’s eyes were wide with disbelief.

“Yes, this is a medical pod that can repair the body,” Yun Xuan nodded.

“Brother, what exactly is sorcery?” Yun Xue asked after a moment.

“I don’t know. We’ll find out when she wakes up,” Yun Xuan shook his head.

“Brother… after seeing Xue’er like that, you don’t have strange thoughts about Qingyu, do you?” Yun Xue whispered shyly in Yun Xuan’s ear.

“Ahem… Aren’t you upset?” Yun Xuan quickly changed the subject.

“With you by my side, I feel safe. She feels both familiar and strange,” Yun Xue leaned on Yun Xuan’s shoulder and murmured softly.