She turned around, her gaze crossing the long stone steps, landing on Hikaru below.
Hikaru stepped up.
Twenty-seven steps, reached in an instant.
"Morning," Hikaru greeted.
Kikyo nodded slightly. "How did you sleep last night?"
"I am a yōkai; I don't need to sleep—"
Hikaru replied.
Kikyo was stunned, seemingly realizing that she had forgotten this point.
But looking at the appearance of the 'young man' before her, it was no wonder she hadn't remembered.
Finally, Hikaru continued, "Of course, if you mean the recovery of Demonic Qi, thanks to you, I am quite full."
Hikaru spoke the truth.
That offering last night was indeed very 'filling'.
Kikyo didn't continue this topic, just quietly looking at him, seemingly waiting for him to explain his purpose.
But Hikaru originally had no purpose regarding Kikyo—he had come more for the Affection of the shikon jewel.
But at this moment, while watching Kikyo cultivate, a thought suddenly popped into his mind.
A somewhat absurd thought.
He didn't dawdle.
"I want to learn."
The Ghost Samurai in the form of a youth pointed to the kagura bell in Kikyo's hand, then pointed to her whole person.
"I want to learn spiritual power."
The wind stopped.
In Kikyo's cold, clear eyes, for who knows how many times, an emotion named 'astonishment' appeared.
"You are a yōkai."
She then immediately spoke, saying so.
"Spiritual power is the power to exorcise demons; it is the natural enemy of Demonic Qi."
Kikyo looked at him as if looking at a madman.
"If spiritual power is generated within a yōkai's body, it is like swallowing burning hot charcoal into one's stomach; apart from self-destruction, it has no other use."
"That is for ordinary yōkai."
Hikaru's expression remained unchanged: "Although this body of mine is a demon, my brain, my consciousness, is still human."
"Besides, who says water and fire can't coexist?"
"Know yourself, know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. I have to know how to deal with this stuff, so next time you shoot your arrows at me, I can at least dodge a couple more."
Kikyo fell silent.
The reason was very strange.
But...
She looked at the young Ghost Samurai before her.
His eyes could not be called clear, but they held no malice either, only pure curiosity.
She had never seen that kind of look on many human mages.
However, he was a demon.
A yokai.
A very strange yokai.
"Consciousness is indeed the key."
After a long while, Kikyo spoke.
She placed her Kagura bell on the stone platform nearby.
As if she had agreed to Hikaru's request, she suddenly began to explain:
"The 'Qi' between heaven and earth is divided into pure and turbid."
"Turbid Qi sinks, gathering to form demons; it governs the physical body, desires, and obsessions."
"Pure Qi rises, condensing to form spirits; it governs the soul, will, and faith."
Kikyo's voice was cold and clear, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, echoing in front of the empty shrine.
Hikaru listened very carefully.
These theories were not explained in such detail in the original work.
"Ordinary demons have chaotic souls and only know how to kill and devour, so they can only absorb Turbid Qi to strengthen their demonic bodies."
Kikyo looked at Hikaru: "You are indeed somewhat different."
"Your soul... is very complete."
"It is even more resilient than most ordinary people."
This was the truth.
After all, he was a transmigrator who had experienced life and death; if his mentality hadn't been stable, he would have collapsed long ago.
"So, I want to try," Hikaru said.
Kikyo pondered for a moment, appearing to have made a decision.