At the mention of Kikyo's name, Inuyasha's expression changed instantly.
He lunged in front of Master Harumi, ignoring the wound on the man's chest, and grabbed him by the collar, shouting angrily:
"If you dare talk any more nonsense, I will never forgive you!"
The Young Monk nearby quickly supported Master Harumi and stepped in to stop Inuyasha, saying:
"W-we're not lying to you! That priestess is surrounded by many wandering souls!"
"Who's talking about that! I'm talking about the name!"
Seeing that Master Harumi was indeed seriously injured, Inuyasha let go and instead grabbed the Young Monk, demanding, "Why did you say her name is Kikyo?!"
"I-it's what we heard in the Village last night!"
The Young Monk trembled, terrified by the fire in his eyes, and quickly explained,
"The children in the Village call her that too, there's no mistake! That priestess is definitely named Kikyo!"
"The one collecting dead souls... is actually Kikyo?"
Hearing their conversation, Kagome's heart sank, and she subconsciously murmured to herself.
"Kikyo... you... are you still in this world? So, you didn't die back then?"
Inuyasha hurriedly asked where Kikyo had been seen. Before anyone could react, he dashed off to find her.
"Is it really okay to let Inuyasha go alone?"
After seeing off the two monks, Miroku looked at Kagome, who was sitting dazed on a withered tree trunk, and asked.
"He dashed off faster than a bullet; there was no stopping him."
Shippō spread his small hands and said with a serious face.
Kagome lowered her head, looking at the ground, her voice carrying an unmistakable dejection:
"Inuyasha... must still love Kikyo. So, it's better if we don't disturb him."
"Why is it better if we don't go?" Shippō asked, looking completely puzzled.
Just then, Miroku suddenly looked deeply moved and said in a heavy tone:
"I can understand his feelings.
A woman he once loved deeply might no longer be the person he remembers. If that's the case, he naturally wouldn't want others to see her like that."
Shippō was completely confused. He scratched his head and asked curiously:
"What are you talking about? What if things aren't as bad as you think? What then?"
Miroku rubbed his chin and blurted out without thinking:
"If it were me, I'd probably make up with her."
As soon as he finished speaking, Miroku felt a bone-chilling coldness wash over him.
A second later, Kagome's cold, piercing voice came through, laden with murderous intent:
"Oh? Is that so?"
Miroku's body froze instantly. He slowly looked up to see Kagome had already stood up and was pushing her bicycle away without a word, the atmosphere around her terrifyingly heavy.
"Just now... I felt like I was pierced by an exceptionally cold gaze." Miroku wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, speaking with lingering fear as he watched Kagome's retreating back.
"I think... that definitely wasn't an illusion!" Shippō nodded vigorously, speaking with a serious face.
The two didn't dare linger and quickly caught up. Miroku called out awkwardly as he ran:
"Um... Miss Kagome, wait for us..."
"What!" Kagome stopped abruptly and shot them a cold glance, her tone full of irritation.
"Maybe... we should go after Inuyasha after all?" Miroku suggested cautiously.
"I don't want to! Why should I go after him?" Kagome said, her voice filled with obvious grievance and resentment.
Just then, a wave of demonic aura suddenly filled the air, causing the three of them to turn serious instantly.
They looked up to see countless Soul Reapers emitting a faint white glow slowly flying past them through the dim sky, heading into the distance as if guiding the way.
"It's the scent of demons! These demons are carrying dead souls! Quick, after them!"
Seeing these demons carrying the dead souls they were looking for, the group hurriedly gave chase.
In the direction the Soul Reapers were heading, Kikyo sat quietly on the branch of a tall tree, lost in thought.
She lowered her eyes slightly, her long hair fluttering in the wind. The questions Retsu had asked her before she left echoed in her mind, and a trace of confusion flickered in her eyes.
"Kagome is your reincarnation. Which one do you think is the real you—the current you or her?"
"If Kagome ends up with Inuyasha, would that count as you continuing your past bond through reincarnation? Or has Inuyasha long forgotten the dead you and turned to love someone else?"
"If I successfully help you resurrect, do you plan to fight Kagome for Inuyasha, or will you choose to let go?"
Just then, Kikyo's eyes shifted as if she had sensed something. She immediately pulled her thoughts back, looked toward the forest path in the distance, and spoke softly, "You're finally here."
A moment later, there was a heavy "thud" of something hitting the ground, followed by the rustling of crushed grass and then a girl's tearful cry of pain: "Ouch! That hurts!"
Kikyo looked down to see Kagome sprawled on the ground, rubbing her sore knees, looking quite disheveled.
Looking at the clumsy Kagome, Kikyo spoke with a hint of disdain, "I don't think my reincarnation would be this stupid."
She truly couldn't understand how such a clumsy fool could be her reincarnation—someone who not only competed with her for a man but eventually succeeded.
"This place is..." Kagome slowly stood up while rubbing her knees. Hearing Kikyo's voice, she reflexively looked up, meeting Kikyo's eyes, which were filled with clear disdain.
Seeing Kikyo surrounded by countless Soul Reapers, Kagome murmured, "Ki... Kikyo..."
Sensing Kagome staring at her with such a foolish, dazed expression, Kikyo was reluctant to admit that this woman was her reincarnation.
However, when she was resurrected by Urasue, the soul within her had clearly told her that Kagome was her reincarnation.
"Don't look at me with that blank expression. Come here," Kikyo said, her voice carrying a trace of unmistakable disdain as she stared at her.
"Kikyo, you..." Hearing her words, Kagome was confused but found herself walking toward the tree involuntarily.
"Since you were able to pass through my Barrier to get here, you should know that I have something to say to you," Kikyo interrupted before she could finish, her tone calm and steady.
"B-Barrier? Was there such a thing?" Kagome looked around blankly, completely unaware of anything, and asked in confusion.
"...If you say there wasn't, then there wasn't." Kikyo sighed and rubbed her forehead, feeling that since her dead souls had been replaced by Retsu's Chakra, there was now one more person who could make her feel weary.
She suddenly paused, realizing that ever since the Chakra had merged into her body and replaced the dead souls that originally supported her form, her emotions had become increasingly rich.
Before, aside from her resentment over Inuyasha's betrayal, she had almost no significant emotional fluctuations regarding anything else.
But now, she not only fell into deep confusion because of a few words from Retsu before he left, but she also felt disdain for Kagome's clumsy actions, and even felt a trace of inexplicable irritation.
"Is it the Chakra?" Kikyo gently touched her chest, feeling her soul growing stronger and more solid under the nourishment of Chakra and spiritual power, and murmured softly to herself.
"You're the one who gathered those young girls' souls, aren't you, Kikyo?" Kagome's voice pulled Kikyo back to reality. Kagome looked up, her eyes full of hope. "If it really is you, please let them go back."
Kikyo looked at the hopeful Kagome and, without much hesitation, simply waved her hand. The Soul Reapers surrounding the young girls' souls seemed to receive an order and released their hold.
Freed from their bonds, the young girls' souls turned into ribbons of shimmering white light, instantly soaring into the air. They followed a path through the forest toward where their bodies lay, gradually disappearing into the horizon.
"I no longer have a need for such things," Kikyo said slowly, looking at Kagome after lowering her hand. "I gathered them primarily to lure you here."
"Eh? Me... me?" Kagome was stunned, her face filled with confusion.
Kikyo didn't answer directly but changed the subject, asking, "Are you and Inuyasha not together?"
At this question, Kagome's eyes instantly dimmed. She lowered her head, her voice carrying a hint of subtle grievance, "Inuyasha... he said he was coming to find you."
"And what about you?" Kikyo's gaze suddenly became sharp as she stared intently at her, asking sternly, "Exactly who are you to Inuyasha?"
"Me... me?" Kagome was taken aback. Her eyes flickered, and for a moment, she didn't know how to answer.
"Yes, you."
Kikyo nodded slightly, then looked toward the dense forest nearby and said calmly,
"Inuyasha is already outside, held back by my Barrier. Tell me, should I let him in?"
With that, she turned her gaze back to Kagome and spoke slowly:
"Guess—is he here to save you, or to see me?"
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