【Within Seagan Island, excluding the most hidden places, you have practically covered every inch in just a day or two.】
【There is almost no difference compared to the future. It is simply too much to ask for a single island to accommodate all the Seagan people.】
【What plagues the islanders remains the most pressing issue: famine.】
【Even though they live by the sea, the Seagan people are far from prosperous, they can only be considered barely surviving.】
【You speculate that this might be related to their identity as Seafolk, who revere the Great Seagan God and thus do not overexploit the ocean.】
【In this situation, you often hear the islanders expressing their longing for the eastern lands, claiming they have vast and fertile lands. If they could reach the eastern islands, they would be free from famine.】
【Listening to these discussions, you refrain from offering any opinions, but you can sense a certain silent power preparing to unleash itself.】
【The smoke of war hangs over the Seagan people.】
【That night, you ponder how to utilize this situation and take a walk along the beach.】
【Then, you see Mengu, with a hint of sadness, quietly gazing at the horizon.】
…………
Under the moonlight!
The beautiful shrine maiden sits on a rocky outcrop, combing her long hair, her jade-like bare feet resting in the sea, allowing the waves to caress them.
Beneath her, glowing fish and jellyfish swim around, playfully darting through the coral jade branches.
The young woman gently swings her legs, splashing water droplets.
At the same time, a soft and sorrowful whale song resonates.
The girl, who befriends the sea beasts, sings the Seagan’s dream of foam.
On the silent sea, only the continuous rhythmic waves accompany her.
Occasionally, a long, deep whale song answers from afar, and then several colossal sea beasts slowly emerge from the surface, diving towards the distance.
Witnessing this breathtaking scene, Luo Chen stands still, quietly listening to the beautiful song, inexplicably feeling a sense of unity with nature.
Until, at a certain moment, the girl’s whale song abruptly ends.
“Oh, I didn’t expect a guest to be here too. Taking a stroll?”
Spotting Luo Chen’s figure, Mengu greets him with a faint smile.
With the moon high in the sky, it is a bit of a stretch to call it a stroll. Who in their right mind goes for a walk in the middle of the night?
Oh, you are not human, so it’s fine.
However, Luo Chen does not respond directly, casually saying, “Couldn’t sleep, so I came out to walk.”
Without any shyness, he approaches the rocky outcrop where Mengu sits, and takes a seat beside the shrine maiden bathed in the silver moonlight.
With a suppressed giggle, Mengu places her fingertip to her lips and says softly,
“That little girl, Changpu, has been clinging to you a lot these last few days, hasn’t she?”
As a twin sister, how could she not understand her younger sister’s budding feelings?
Love at first sight, though rare, is all the more romantic for its rarity.
Luo Chen shakes his head, saying, “She's just a bit playful and innocent. I wouldn't consider it annoying.”
In fact, Changpu brings him a different kind of feeling.
In the era of gods, because of his superior divine identity, everyone, from the spirit guardians to the human children, respected and revered him.
The Great Compassionate Tree King and the Flower God, however, had completely different personalities. Their divine wisdom made it difficult for them to act like humans.
Now as the Lord of the Youkai, the high-pressure tactics and strength he wields instill more fear in his subordinates.
A bold and straightforward girl like Changpu brings a sense of novelty, something he hadn't experienced before.
“That’s good. Thank you for being so patient with her.”
Mengu gently combs her wet hair, brushing the clear seawater.
Gazing at this scene, Luo Chen remains silent for a long time.
They return to silence, but the atmosphere isn't awkward, as if some kind of unspoken understanding is flowing between them.
Until, at a certain moment!
“Speaking of which, was that the whale song the Yumin clan excels at? It sounded a bit mournful.”
At his words, Mengu’s movements pause, a smile forming on her lips, tinged with both pride and a hint of helpless bitterness.
Seeing this, Luo Chen changes his tone, continuing,
“These past two days, I’ve been hearing whispers of the Seagan people becoming increasingly radical.”
“There’s no turning back now, is there…?”
Mengu murmurs in a daze.
Growing up in the Coral Palace, she learned politics and various rituals from the current Human God Shrine Maiden, and so she understands the current situation perfectly.
It is definitely not optimistic.
This isn't a problem that can be solved with words.
“Mr. Luo Chen, what do you think the Seagan people should do?”
Luo Chen's profound wisdom, surpassing that of the abyss, has left the Human God Shrine Maiden and Mengu deeply impressed, thinking he’s no different from the Great Seagan God.
As such, Mengu unconsciously asks a sensitive question to a stranger she’s only recently met.
With her knowledge and intelligence, she faces an unsolvable problem.
If they can't meet the needs of the Seagan people, the outcome is clear.
Seeing the beautiful shrine maiden, seemingly fragile in the moonlight, staring at him with expectant eyes, Luo Chen does not answer directly, but instead looks at the distance and calmly says,
“I am an Onmyoji. I have travelled many places and I occasionally enjoy divining the future.”
Hearing this, Mengu subtly clutches her shrine maiden’s dress, uncertain whether it is anticipation or something else.
After a pause, he continues, speaking in the third person.
“Here, I see fragments of the future: war, death, the fall of a god, chaos, oppression, rebellion… ”
With each word spoken, the brightness in Mengu’s eyes gradually dims.
By the end, she has lowered her head.
“Is that so? Well, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Shaking off her emotions, she gathers her bitter feelings, straightens her slender frame, and reveals a radiant smile.
This strength and beauty, no wonder the King of the East Mountain fell in love with her, making bold vows to obtain the Great Tengu's mask as a gift.
“So, Onmyoji-sama, please tell me more stories about other countries. We didn’t finish one last time, remember?”
As if forgetting the gloominess of a moment ago, Mengu winks playfully.
Only now does she show the kind of playful and lively spirit she should have at her age.
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