Chapter 226: The Art of Social Maneuvering

Just like the bamboo grove, the interior space of the Eternity Pavilion was far larger than it appeared from outside, even describable as vast, its decorations embodying the ultimate blend of luxurious simplicity—every object placed with perfect aesthetic harmony, yet…

Crack! Crack!

The sound of shattering glass echoed continuously.

Terrifying circular shockwaves erupted within Eternity Pavilion, one after another, the ground violently trembling without pause; the rebounding shockwaves shattered every furnishing, and massive fissures spread from the floor toward all surrounding walls.

Mid-archery exchange, his hands never pausing, Jia Ji's gaze sharpened, piercing through the rippling air to see the archer behind.

Dressed in alternating red-and-blue Dao robes, her silver-white tresses braided into a thick plait, she fired her longbow in rapid succession, her speed rivaling a machine gun on the verge of sparking, her goddess-like face expressionless as she launched relentless attacks.

Yagumo, Eirin.

Though she appeared a young girl, her expression and aura carried the distinct mark of an immortal—a weariness of having witnessed every storm and tide, hmm… even more profound than Yagumo Shikie.

Three hundred years ago, at the end of the Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, Princess Kaguya was exiled to the mortal realm to atone for her sins; when her sentence ended, she was among the envoys sent to retrieve Kaguya.

Yet for reasons known only to the two of them, she conspired with Kaguya to kill the other envoys—a mystery that left all others baffled.

"Physician," "Brain of the Moon," "Sage of the Moon," "Shikigami"—these were titles and reputations she once held, but this ancient goddess who once dwelled in the heavens discarded all such meaningless things without a trace, choosing to vanish with Kaguya into the filthy mortal world.

Yet, despite her youthful appearance and unknown age, this ancient goddess revered as the deity of learning, examinations, and architecture—possessing wisdom and knowledge beyond human comprehension—could she have foreseen this situation?

No, absolutely not.

For the intruder surpassed her expectations; even the most flawless strategist must sometimes overlook something.

After seeing the attacker's appearance, Jia Ji's head throbbed: "Dual-wielded rapid-fire bow?! How is the Brain of the Moon's brain even structured—does it run entirely on an obsession with victory?"

Left bow, straight shot—so that's your brain, Domā?

"Wait a minute! Doma… Yagumo Eirin, I'm here to negotiate!"

Upon hearing this, the goddess Yagumo Shikigami promptly set down her divine artifact, the Heavenly Magakumo Bow. As the caster herself, she knew anyone who could traverse the bamboo grove and stand before her was no ordinary being.

Each arrow she had fired could shatter mountain peaks and pierce the earth, yet this man, who gave her a strange feeling, had caught them bare-handed and returned them with perfect, identical force.

Such skill could only be described as divine—she rarely made such an assessment of a human.

Though her face showed no visible expression, her mind was in full "bowl of shrimp" mode.

Since he had voluntarily shown goodwill, out of respect for a being of his caliber, Yagumo Eirin was willing to grant him an opportunity to state his purpose.

Her world-shattering wisdom told her that most problems could be solved simply by wielding overwhelming power; true wisdom was only needed when power alone proved insufficient.

Once actual combat began, she had no certainty she could fight these three simultaneously while still concealing Eternity Pavilion from the Moon Capital's surveillance.

In the instant both sides mutually ceased hostilities, the powdered furnishings within the room began to restore themselves, just like the bamboo grove outside—Eternity Pavilion itself was enchanted with the magic of 【Eternity】.

"Here we go."

As Jia Ji stepped inside, he suddenly remembered something and immediately stepped back, pulling Inaba no Tsukuyomi in front of him as a shield while advancing cautiously.

The more beautiful the woman, the more she lies.

Yagumo Eirin was another master of hidden agendas; Jia Ji was still uneasy despite her swift agreement—what if the Brain of the Moon grew displeased and secretly prepared a secret alchemical technique in her sleeve, waiting to ambush him the moment he entered?

After all, Yagumo Shikie beside her had already prepared her Inverted Realm, primed and ready.

This is the art of social maneuvering among sages. pg

"You seem to know me…" Yagumo Eirin said in a casually indifferent tone. She wasn't unfamiliar with the flower spirit and the Sage of Demons beside her—but she was certain she had never seen this male human before: his fierce gaze, unmistakable features.

A male powerhouse, exceedingly rare in today's world.

Not like the male sword masters and warriors who emerged in waves every few centuries—short-lived, limited in talent, no matter how hard they trained or how much they cultivated, they posed little threat to beings of her level, and would inevitably crumble to dust in the fleeting passage of time.

Male demons, due to their aggression and recklessness, perished before reaching the peak far more often, making them rarer than divine beasts.

Yet Jia Ji before her was neither an immortal nor a long-lived demon—he was younger than her smallest fraction, yet already possessed power equal to hers; he was a creature as rare as a mythical beast.

Worse still, her bamboo grove side had been at a Qingbao disadvantage from the start—this opponent knew everything about her, while she knew nothing of him—and that infuriated the goddess of wisdom.

Yet she was Yagumo Eirin; she would not let fleeting emotion sway her judgment.

"Hey, we're practically family…"

Whether through Yagumo Eirin's or Kaguya's power, the space had been stretched into boundless expanse. At the host's invitation, Jia Ji boldly sat across from Yagumo Shikigami—though he dared not touch the sudden snacks and delicacies that appeared before him.

He no longer dared continue practicing tea ceremony either—after all, this was Yagumo Eirin. Though the goddess who could "create any medicine" showed no sign of attacking again, Jia Ji wouldn't risk testing whether his resistance to toxins could withstand her full menu.

Even the antidote techniques of the North Star Fist wouldn't help.

"Then I'll be direct—I've come seeking a favor."

Flanked by his two guardians, Jia Ji prepared to rely solely on his eloquence.

The silver-haired physician's pitch-black, beautiful pupils locked onto Jia Ji—and before he could speak, she made her deduction with absolute certainty.

"You… are here to propose to the Princess, aren't you?"

(End of Chapter)