“Oh, you know, very few people know about this spot. It’s a great place to watch the fireworks. I thought I was the only one here.”
Naturally approaching, the woman’s lips, hidden beneath the mask, curled into a charming curve.
Seemingly unconcerned about the potential danger of encountering a stranger in such a desolate setting, she sat down by the slope without hesitation.
“It will be more comfortable if you sit down.”
Meeting the woman’s golden eyes, which held wisdom and cunning, a flicker of interest passed through Luo Chen. He sat down beside her as instructed.
As he enjoyed the fireworks blooming high in the sky, he felt the woman’s gaze fixed upon him.
With an indifferent attitude, accepting whatever her intentions might be, Luo Chen didn’t rush to ask anything.
It was unclear whether she had run out of patience or had guessed his thoughts.
The silver-haired woman, with eyes like a fox, clicked her wooden clogs and said cheerfully:
“Oh dear, upon closer inspection, isn’t this the Onmyoji who recently rose to fame in Inazuma? It’s truly a pleasure to meet you.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Chen finally turned his head to acknowledge her.
“I didn’t expect an Onmyoji like you to attend such a mundane gathering organized by mere mortals.”
The words, laced with a hint of teasing, or perhaps a deliberate attempt to grab his attention, flowed from the red lips beneath her mask.
Her golden eyes, like water, shimmered with light as the woman tilted her head and breathed towards him.
He could clearly smell the strong scent of alcohol. Luo Chen scrutinized her from head to toe, his mind forming a general guess.
He turned back towards the fireworks and said calmly:
“Everything in the world is intertwined and entangled. It is precisely because of this entanglement that illusory visions arise. Even the fleeting beauty of fireworks has its value.”
The woman pondered for a moment and nodded solemnly: “Hmm, that makes sense. So, Onmyoji, you seek momentary beauty?”
“To attempt to capture fleeting beauty forever is like trying to hold a morning dewdrop in your hand.”
Luo Chen clearly stated his stance with a single sentence.
The woman with eyes like a fox mumbled: “Always talking in such obscure terms, can’t you just say it simply?”
“I’m simply answering you in a way you’ll understand, Ms. Fox.”
“Eh, Ms. Fox? Where?”
The woman pretended to be clueless and looked around.
Luo Chen spoke slowly, “Before you deny it, could you please retract the tail you’ve been rubbing against me?”
As he spoke, he reached down to his waist, grabbed a soft, fluffy tail, and placed it between them.
Caught in the act, the large white tail still struggled slightly.
If one followed the tail, they would find its end connected to the woman’s hip, slightly higher up.
“Oh dear, I must have been so drunk I didn’t notice my tail was out.”
The fox woman realized her mistake, tapped her lips lightly with her index finger, and then complained, “But that was truly rude. A lady’s tail cannot be touched so freely.”
Neatly retracting her tail, the intoxicated fox woman swirled the wine bottle in her hand, taking another large gulp.
“Hmm, so refreshing! Would you like some, Onmyoji?”
Seeing that the wine bottle, which had been half-full, was now half-empty, the fox woman quickly snatched it back.
She carefully shook it, and hearing only a thin layer of wine left, she glared at him angrily.
Unfazed by this, Luo Chen nodded and gave a fair appraisal: “Not bad. The fine wine of the White Fox clan ranks among the top three I’ve ever tasted.”
The fox woman’s movements paused, a slight look of surprise in her eyes.
As he spoke, Luo Chen stood up.
At this moment, the meteor-like fireworks in the sky came to an end, leaving behind a final, beautiful trail of light, dissolving into sparkling stars, slowly vanishing into the sky.
Gazing at the dissipating fireworks and the still lively festival atmosphere, Luo Chen finally faced the enigmatic woman beside him, whose origin remained unknown.
“I’ve enjoyed a beautiful view today. The only downside is that there wasn’t enough wine. But I will make sure to have plenty next time when I visit Narukami Grand Shrine. I’m sure you’ll make sure there’s enough, won’t you, Lady of the White Fox, Kitsune Saiguu?”
Revealing her identity with a single sentence, he drifted away.
After a brief moment of shock, seeing the great Onmyoji disappear into the depths of the slope, the fox woman couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I didn’t expect to be discovered so quickly.”
She finished the last drop of wine and stretched lazily, her title as the mistress of Narukami Grand Shrine, the leader of all yokai, the great white fox, brought a comfortable feeling.
“The conversation ended so quickly. Not only did I fail to learn anything, but I also suffered a small loss. How will I explain it to the Grand Shogun?”
The silver-haired, golden-eyed kitsune was quite troubled, especially thinking about her friend possibly teasing and ridiculing her, making her even more 郁闷.
…………
On the other side, Luo Chen, who had left the slope, was in a good mood.
【You have met Kitsune Saiguu, the current mistress of the White Fox clan】
【You made a very strong impression on her. Considering a fox’s tendency to hold grudges, they’ll likely remember you for a long time】
【You’re probably a bit speechless, but this is reality】
【The good news is, she has no ill intentions towards you. Today’s encounter was purely coincidental and not premeditated】
That was quite a coincidence. I hadn’t planned on meeting Inazuma’s high-ranking officials so soon.
Since I’ve already met them, I’ll adjust my plans slightly.
【Therefore, you decided to change a small plan that you had already outlined】
【Amidst Inazuma’s festival frenzy, you quietly left Inazuma City, passing through the White Fox Field, the Guardian Forest, and reaching your final destination】
【Shadow Peak】
【Shadow Peak is not just a single mountain, but a vast mountain range inhabited by countless sprites and demons】
【Legend has it that the Tengu clan resides deep within Shadow Peak, and warriors often come to challenge them】
【Thinking about these rumors, you revert to your youthful form and enter the peaceful, quiet forest】
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