Chapter 434

Watatsumi Island!

Hearing Luo Li, lost in indulgence and romance, had no idea what he was about to face.

The twin Archon sisters had already united behind his back, ready to stab him in the rear at any moment.

Thinking everything was still under his control, it was yet another day he crawled out from a bed of soft fragrance and warm jade.

Only this time, in addition to Mikoshi Chiyo, Asase Hibiki had been added to the mix.

Unable to resist the persuasion, Hibiki had ultimately failed to overcome the longing in her heart.

Walking to the window of the Sangonomiya side hall and glancing at the pitch-black blindfold in his hand, Hearing Luo Li could only sigh that Chiyo really knew how to play; she was truly worthy of being a spirited Oni.

She had talked about wanting something different and made him wear it, forbidding him from cheating or taking it off himself.

"So that's the game."

Of course, he had sensed something was wrong halfway through—one person or two, he could still tell the difference—but since it was already halfway done, he couldn't just stop.

And so, in a daze, he pretended not to know and let them have their way.

Glancing at the messy gauze curtains, Hearing Luo Li shook his head and stepped out of the room on light feet.

Adding one or subtracting one didn't put much pressure on him.

Perhaps it had something to do with Asase Hibiki being human.

If it had been Mitsuyo, she might have been able to hold out a little longer.

When he emerged along the inner halls of Sangonomiya, he realized it was already approaching noon.

Sangonomiya Kokomi, who was in the main hall reviewing government affairs, saw the figure stepping in without being announced and, knowing it could only be one of a few people, cast her gaze over.

Upon seeing it was Hearing Luo Li, she couldn't help but give him a resentful look.

The reason for this was entirely because Father had been neglecting her during this period.

Seeing his daughter's aggrieved little face—the kind that said "I'm upset but I won't say it"—Hearing Luo Li found it quite amusing.

"What's wrong? Did you run into a problem you can't solve? Let me take a look."

Coming to Kokomi's side, Hearing Luo Li glanced at the documents on the desk, only to find they were simple matters of civil governance, which left him feeling very surprised.

"These are very simple little problems; surely they wouldn't stump my precious daughter?"

Kokomi pouted slightly, deliberately turning her face to the side, and said dejectedly, "Does Father not like his daughter anymore?"

Her soft, delicate voice seemed to seep into his heart, soaking through everything like water.

"Why do you ask that?"

"Father hasn't slept and rested with his daughter for a long time."

Biting her lip, Kokomi didn't even have the energy to process government affairs.

Even though her energy hadn't been exhausted, she felt a restlessness that was always pressing at the bottom of her heart.

Because before Mikoshi Chiyo and Asase Hibiki arrived, Hearing Luo Li had been holding her while she slept for those days, letting her enjoy Father's warm and safe embrace alone, along with the occasional stolen kiss.

It could be said those were Kokomi's happiest days.

But now, with two bad women from the outside world occupying Father's time, she could only keep an empty room to herself.

That kind of thing—surely a daughter could do it too.

As various thoughts swirled, the young girl felt even more aggrieved.

It was only in name, after all; if a student could do it, why couldn't she?

Meeting Kokomi's moist eyes, Hearing Luo Li didn't know what to say; he had never seen anyone so enthusiastically push themselves on him.

The main thing was that he had taken the relationship a bit too seriously, which made it hard to make a move.

Otherwise, with Hearing Luo Li's unrestrained personality, how could he remain unmoved?

Just as he was thinking about how to persuade Kokomi, a report came from outside.

"Sangonomiya-sama, someone has come to seek an audience, claiming to represent the Shogun, Raiden Shogun, to negotiate."

"Negotiate?"

When it came to serious business, Kokomi stopped being clingy with Hearing Luo Li, immediately composed her emotions, and said softly, "Please, let the envoy in."

…………

Outside Sangonomiya!

Looking at the many shrine maidens dressed in blue and white, a pink-haired figure standing there looked quite interested.

"Hmm, the style of the shrine maiden robes is slightly different from those at my Grand Narukami Shrine."

The pink-haired woman, who looked like a young girl but possessed a mature and charming temperament, evaluated them to herself: "Some of the details on the clothes could be borrowed, but it's a pity those shrine maidens refuse to wear slightly more revealing decorations; otherwise, I have some good ideas."

Thinking of the scene where she was sternly rejected by many shrine maidens, the pink-haired woman sighed.

"How boring. They are clearly in the prime of their youth, yet they don't know how to bloom with beauty. It would be a good thing to complement the shrine, and it could attract more pilgrims."

After finishing her extremely snarky remarks, the pink-haired figure continued to judge the shrine maidens walking back and forth...

Even though the people around them desperately didn't want to pay attention, they couldn't help but cast their gaze toward this pink-haired woman located in the center of the fountain.

Those fox ears, which almost blended into her pink hair, were truly itchy to look at; they twitched from time to time, as if trembling in their hearts.

Besides that, the short sleeves revealing her fragrant shoulders were even more eye-catching.

Her beautiful face and appearance were enough to make peaches and plums feel ashamed.

Not caring about the gazes cast her way, Yae Miko was already used to it and instead enjoyed the surrounding scenery to herself.

It had to be said that the scenery of Watatsumi Island was truly beautiful, not inferior to Narukami Island, and even possessed an extra touch of ethereal purity.

"It would be great if I could retire here."

A girl who looked no more than seventeen or eighteen years old uttered such an old-fashioned line.

That's right, the one who appeared here was none other than the current Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Yae Miko.

As for why she came here in the name of the Raiden Shogun, she had her own purposes.

"According to what the Traveler said, that guy should be inside Sangonomiya."

Squinting to examine the complex and magnificent palace ahead, Yae Miko seemed to see the figure of that bad person.

"Yae Guuji-sama, Sangonomiya-sama invites you in."

Just as she was thinking about whether the person she was about to see would show a look of surprise, the shrine maiden who had previously gone into the palace to report appeared again, inviting her to follow.

While following the shrine maiden to Sangonomiya, Yae Miko looked around and said casually, "Your place is really nice; it's much more comfortable than my Grand Narukami Shrine."

The unintentional line made the shrine maiden's expression stiffen.

What did that mean?

Could it be she wanted to replace Sangonomiya and set it up as a branch of the Grand Narukami Shrine?

A single sentence sent her mind into a whirl of wild thoughts, secretly guessing the subtext of Yae Miko's words.

However, Yae Miko was merely sighing; she had no idea that her unintentional remark had made someone else suspicious.

"Yae Guuji-sama is joking; Watatsumi Island cannot compare to Narukami Island."

With a stiff smile, the shrine maiden barely maintained proper politeness.

With a light chuckle, Yae Miko did not reply.