The morning light grew brighter.
Kaede Village awakened from its slumber; smoke curled from chimneys, farmers began working in the fields, and the laughter and play of children echoed through the village paths.
This was a rare scene of peace in this era.
Inside the shrine, Kanbe Hikaru sat cross-legged under the veranda.
In front of him lay that purple Thunder Horn, the dark purple poison jiao scale, the jet-black Nekomata Claws, and the red comb from his bosom.
The spoils of the previous fierce battle were all here.
[horn of the thunder beast: favorability 4]
[poison jiao scale: favorability 2]
[Nekomata Claws: favorability 1]
[Yura of the Hair: favorability 3]
Kanbe Hikaru looked at the numbers on the panel and pondered internally.
The favorability was growing too slowly.
Although these items were all demonic artifacts—different from ordinary objects—they contained Demonic Qi themselves, could be used, and would not resist his usage.
However, they were still far from truly integrating their abilities into himself and becoming a part of his own changes.
He estimated that it would take 30 favorability to unlock the first talent, 50 to unlock the second, and 100 to fully fuse.
At the current speed, he was afraid he would have to "date" each of these things for a month.
He arranged the four items neatly in front of him, like a teacher assigning seats to students.
The Thunder Horn was on the far left, occasionally sparking an arc of electricity and jumping restlessly.
The Reverse Scale was in the middle, quiet, occasionally seeping a wisp of purple mist from its surface; it looked docile, but Kanbe Hikaru knew this guy was sinister to the bone.
The Nekomata Claws were on the far right, motionless, like a stone.
As for Yura of the Hair—
Hum.
Hum-hum-hum.
Yura of the Hair was vibrating at a rather intense frequency, as if protesting that she hadn't been placed in front.
"Are you turning on vibration mode here?" Kanbe Hikaru pressed the restless comb in his bosom: "Stop making a fuss."
"You didn't place me out!" Yura of the Hair's voice came from his lapel.
"Your place is on the inside."
"What does that mean!? Does 'inside' mean the most important?"
"It means I don't have to worry about you."
"..." Yura of the Hair was silent for two seconds, then vibrated even more violently.
Only then did Kanbe Hikaru take her out from his bosom and place her at the very front of the four items—in a separate spot, facing him.
It was like a homeroom teacher moving the naughtiest student directly under the podium.
The vibration stopped.
The expression on the skull was unclear, but the slightly upturned arc of the lower jaw clearly carried a sense of triumph.
This was what you called playing hard to get.
As expected of me.
Kanbe Hikaru thought, just watching like this, his face showing deep thought.
"What are you thinking about?"
A cool, clear voice came from behind him.
Kanbe Hikaru turned his head.
Kikyo was walking over carrying a wooden tray, which held two steaming bowls of porridge and a few small dishes.
She had changed into a clean priestess outfit; the white robe and red hakama were the same as always, her jet-black hair tied back with a white ribbon, and a few stray strands falling by her ears.
The morning light hit her profile, outlining her delicate and beautiful contours.
Her pale cherry lips were slightly pursed, yet her jet-black eyes carried an indescribable gentleness.
Kanbe Hikaru looked at her and suddenly felt that this scene was very unreal.
Last night, he was still fighting to the death with the Great Yokai Kidomaru.
This morning, he was eating breakfast with his lover.
The contrast was too great.
"Thinking of you." He said righteously.
Kikyo's movements paused for a moment.
A momentary fluctuation appeared in those jet-black eyes, then immediately returned to calm.
"Greasy."
She put down the wooden tray and sat beside him, not knowing if she was referring to the tray in her hand being greasy, the demon beside her, or both.
The two sat side by side, facing the village outside the shrine.
In the distance, villagers were already busy in the fields, and occasionally the lowing of cattle and the crowing of chickens could be heard.
Kaede was chasing a butterfly at the village entrance, fell down, and then climbed up to continue chasing.
Very peaceful.
Very ordinary.
It was as if that earth-shattering battle last night had never happened.
"Eat." Kikyo pushed a bowl of porridge in front of him.
Kanbe Hikaru still didn't say anything about not needing to eat; instead, he naturally picked up the bowl and took a sip.
It was very hot, but in the perception extended by his Demonic Qi simulation, the taste was not bad.
"Did you cook this?"
"It was sent by the people in the village."
Kikyo also picked up her own bowl and sipped it in small mouthfuls.
"They said they want to thank you for saving the village."
Kanbe Hikaru didn't respond.
He just looked at the bowl of porridge, thinking of the many slaughters and many massacred villages he had seen along the way.
Once upon a time, facing such a normal state of war, he would only watch.
Nowadays, could he actually protect a place?
Although, it was only by basking in Kikyo's reflected glory.
He nodded.
Their gazes met in the air.
In the morning light, that cool, aloof face was within reach.
He could clearly see the curve of her eyelashes and smell the faint scent of mountain wildflowers on her.
"Kikyo."
"Hmm?"
"You're sitting very close."
Kikyo was slightly startled.
She looked down.
The distance between them was indeed a bit excessive.
Her shoulder was almost brushing against his arm, and their knees touched through the fabric.
"..."
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