Chapter 657

"Isn't that a matter of course?"

On the streets, passersby, whether familiar or strange, muttered from time to time, pointing and commenting on the procession guarding the blade.

Most people did not care about everything happening among the commoners.

They were merely a small microcosm of this nation; the same scene was perhaps repeating itself elsewhere.

The only thing that was the same was that everyone held a feeling of absolute reverence born from the bottom of their hearts for the deity who ruled this nation.

Tenshukaku!

In the land of the high and mighty divine kingdom, looking down from the high pavilion, one could see the blade-guarding procession clearly.

Beneath the fluttering flags inscribed with the Triple Tomoe Seal, despite it being the dwelling place of a deity, there were unexpectedly many people gathered here.

From the wooden pavilion came the constant sound of women's laughter, whether dignified or cheerful, dissipating into the high sky along with the blowing sea breeze.

At some unknown moment, an instrument similar to a zither began to resound, with melodious music rising and falling, interspersed with the singing of female voices.

Looking at the scene before him, Luo Li was slightly lost in thought.

"What is it? With so many beautiful girls around you besides me, yet I don't see you looking happy?"

The teasing voice from beside him interrupted his daze.

Luo Li turned his eyes to look, meeting exactly the gaze of the bright yellow-clad girl, mixed with laughter and banter.

Sitting by his side, Lady Guizhong brushed aside her gradient-colored long hair that had been covering the corners of her lips due to the breeze, and blinked at him.

Luo Li raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled: "I was just stunned by what is before my eyes, to the point that I even forgot to be happy."

Lady Guizhong looked around and agreed very much: "That is indeed the case."

After speaking, she leaned over to seek agreement from the dignified woman on Luo Li's other side.

"What do you say, Makoto?"

Not wearing ceremonial robes, Raiden Makoto was simply dressed in everyday casual attire; the simple silk under her plain-colored yukata outlined her waist, and the wisteria flower on her hairpin swayed gently.

Hearing Lady Guizhong's question, Makoto pursed her lips and smiled, looking at Luo Li with implication: "What we think doesn't matter; the main person they are willingly fawning over is right here."

Within sight, two fox spirits, one large and one small, were reciting waka.

The little fox spirit seemed to have lost and was being teased with a wicked smile by the white-haired matriarch, Kitsune Saiguu, as she poured wine for her; the little fox spirit, Yae Miko, unable to resist, could only uneasily shake her ears, which were blended into her cherry-colored long hair.

Playing for them in the back was Asase Hibiki, the shrine maiden of Asase Shrine, and accompanying her was the Great Tengu of this generation, Mitsuyo.

In another part of the pavilion, the quite heroic leader of the Oni clan, Mikoshi Chiyo, was dancing with a sword; the blade's edge was surrounded by cherry blossom petals, outlining strips of flower ribbons as they scattered.

Yingda and Bonanus plucked their zithers, the deep, resonant tones of the ancient instruments blending perfectly with the accompaniment.

Hearing the topic shift to himself, which felt a bit off, Luo Li gave a light cough and said: "Speaking of which, how much longer until Ei finishes over there?"

"Hmm, looking at the time, we have to wait until the sacrificial prayer text is sent from there; it should be soon."

Having once again handed the task of going out for the grand sacrificial ceremony to her sister, Raiden Makoto guessed without the slightest sense of guilt.

Luo Li looked at her and said: "You aren't going this year either?"

"Giggle, Ei and I agreed, three times each; counting the turns, it hasn't reached me yet."

Speechless at Makoto, who felt no psychological pressure in ordering her sister around, Luo Li took a sip of wine and leisurely enjoyed Chiyo's sword dance.

By his ears, Lady Guizhong and Raiden Makoto seemed to be whispering, with suppressed laughter coming from time to time.

Closing his eyes slightly, Luo Li enjoyed this rather complete satisfaction.

"By the way, is that guy Morax doing well now?"

Suddenly, the question from Lady Guizhong made him open his eyes.

"Morax? He is living quite freely now, incarnating as Zhong Li to experience the various states of the mortal world."

"Oh?! Then we must find a time to see her; I hope she won't be startled when she sees me."

The mischievous Lady Guizhong plotted how to give Morax a big surprise.

Luo Li glanced at her and said: "You have to use 'he' to address that guy now; since we parted a thousand years ago, the Empress has already become the Emperor."

"Eh? Is that so? What a pity, one sister less."

Lady Guizhong pouted, looking less like an Archon who had experienced the vicissitudes of time, and more like a bright and young girl.

Although for an Archon, gender is not actually important; one can incarnate as male or female, entirely according to one's will.

·· ·Seeking flowers· ·······

However, Lady Guizhong's thoughts were ultimately not as indifferent as Zhong Li's, who liked to incarnate into thousands of guises.

Raiden Makoto smiled from the side: "Whether it's the Emperor or the Empress, I imagine he will be surprised to see you; even when he saw me back then, he was very surprised."

"Then I must tease him well."

Seeing the two Archons whispering, Luo Li laughed dumbly, mourning for Morax in the near future.

However, this private chat did not last long, and was soon interrupted by a flashing thunderbolt.

"Makoto, this is the last time; from now on, all government affairs are returned to you."

Accompanying the appearance of the thunderbolt was the current Narukami of this world, Raiden Ei.

The tone of the cold and glamorous royal sister, adorned with gentian flowers, clearly carried resentment and dissatisfaction.

"Aha, Ei, welcome back!"

As if she had not felt her sister's resentment at all, Makoto smiled very gently, impatiently beckoning her sister to come over.

Her mysterious behavior made Ei quite suspicious, and she subconsciously forgot the reason for her anger just now and leaned closer.

Witnessing the three Archons gathered together, competing in beauty, the noble women filled with different charms were now surrounding him.

Luo Li could not help but start to think seriously; perhaps it was time to take the "Gemini" a step further and become a more tense and exciting four-Archon battlefield.

Before he could think of a way to bewitch them, he looked up unexpectedly and found that all three goddesses were staring at him.

"What's wrong?"

The moment he spoke, he was driven to the side by the three women.

"We are going to discuss some little secrets; you go over there first, don't eavesdrop." The three women said in unison.

Thus, the forced-to-accept Luo Li had to move away, watching what the three unreachable deities were talking about.

"Sigh..."

Sighing, Luo Li leaned against the cherry blossom tree, enjoying the treatment of being a loner at this moment.

In the rare quiet, his gaze swept over each woman, and in his mind flashed those girls who were not here but were related to him.

Luo Li curled the corners of his mouth, revealing a faint smile that even he had not noticed.

Two thousand years ago, he did not yet have enough power to protect everyone, causing Lady Guizhong to fall sadly.

Five hundred years ago, he already had enough confidence to save Raiden Makoto, push through the Abyss, and change the history of Inazuma.

Now, no matter what changes occurred, nothing could move him anymore; the three-thousand-year journey was just a very short segment of his long life.

Luo Li believed that in the unknowable future, more stories worth remembering would be born between him and them.

PS: The end of the full text! A few.