Chapter 690

The wind gently brushed the bamboo leaves, stirring a rustling sound like rolling waves.

Facing the setting sun, the group arrived at the Eternal Pavilion, their hair and sleeves still dusted with the white cherry petals unique to the path along the Hakkai Shrine's cliffside.

"You don't need to treat me this specially," Meng Qi said, gritting his teeth against the ache in his feet. "I'll just stroll back slowly."

"We're all bros—don't be so formal," Xiao Yan laughed heartily.

Actually, Meng Qi really wanted to say the truth: if he walked alone, he could ride the green ox, but since everyone was walking, he had to walk too.

Gensokyo isn't huge, but it's not small either; without flying, walking back nonstop would wear out your feet.

"Occasionally walking like this with a group isn't bad," Ye Fan said, his mood still fairly good. "It reminds me of my school days."

"That's true," Meng Qi replied, glancing back at the sinking sun and chuckling. "After-dinner stroll on the pavement."

This short stretch of road is negligible compared to the distance between universes.

Having grown accustomed to the convenience brought by the extraordinary, having spent too long in the clouds, having rushed through the Jianghu and Wu Lin with swift action, he'd forgotten that memories of strolling with friends through beautiful mountains and forests are far more precious.

None of them spoke of cultivation or supernatural phenomena; they only discussed wedding arrangements.

Ordinary, plain, unremarkable.

"Gensokyo's daily life is like this, but after a while, it gets boring—that's why we need to trigger anomalies as a change of pace."

Kaguya smiled brightly and explained, "But the winter city inspectors have a bad temper in the morning—too much chaos and you'll get taught a lesson by the Hakkai Fist."

"How sad—you've even figured out their temper," Su Lin said, shaking his head slowly with pity.

One by one, the group entered the Eternal Pavilion, and just then, the sun set; the mansion, enchanted with the Spell of Eternity, vanished once more from Gensokyo's history.

"Do you want to play games?" Kleine asked.

Huai Shi: "Still have bricks to haul."

He had to edit videos.

Today he recorded several pieces of himself playing the cello performing Touhou doujin music—perfect for uploading to the Multiverse Knowledge Platform.

"I have class tonight."

Zhongli would return with Teacher Yan Sen to teach the disciples, Ye Fan and Shi Hao would continue soaking in the Spring of Life, while Lu Mingfei would take Hui Liyi, who refused to let go of Xiao Yuan, for a walk.

The rest of the night would be private time—thankfully, the Eternal Pavilion had enough rooms to accommodate so many people.

"Your Majesty," Yuyin Yonglin called out to Su Lin.

As if a switch had been flipped, Su Lin's hollow, lifeless eyes instantly turned icy, his aura becoming ethereal and otherworldly.

He turned his head, his straightened spine and broadened shoulders relaxing again: "Honestly, I'm about to have a work-induced stress disorder—can you please not call me that?"

In a setting where there's no need to maintain external hierarchy or formal etiquette, such titles hold no practical meaning.

"Mr. Su," Yuyin Yonglin smiled. "Could you come with me for a moment?"

She turned and walked down the corridor toward the clinic named "Penglai Pharmacy," her gaze brushing over Meng Qi without notice.

"Do your best—maybe Yonglin will agree to our deal," Kaguya clenched her fist in encouragement. "Oh, I mean Penglai Medicine."

"I know you mean Penglai Medicine," Su Lin said, shrugging as if it were routine.

The translucence of the shoji paper allowed light to spill into the corridor, where rabbit yao were hurrying to light lanterns, as if they'd been slacking off too long and were now scrambling to fix things upon their master's return.

Yonglin opened the door, sat down in the chair, and sighed: "Has the Princess dug up the vanished gods from somewhere?"

"Not my problem," Su Lin said, pointing his thumb toward the outside. "Only the Three Pure Ones are locals here."

"The world was originally a chaotic mess of myriad things," Yonglin said, leaning back in her office chair and staring at the ceiling.

"The First One became 'Three'; the rainbow of myriad phenomena brought 'Seven'; ten foundational pillars constructed the framework of cosmic order."

"Later, the ancient gods assigned 'names' to all things within this framework, allowing cognition to exist—in other words, this act of bestowing cognition is what we call 'creation.'"

"Now it seems both Three and Seven are inside the Eternal Pavilion—this is likely why the Youkai Sage changed her attitude and began scheming."

She rubbed her temples, pulled open a drawer, and took out a consultation form; after a brief pause, she picked up a pen.

"It may involve privacy, but could you tell me how exactly you received this injury?"

"I burned myself to save a world on the verge of destruction."

"Ah… then I owe you my deepest respect."

Yuyin Yonglin's tone carried a touch of reverence.

"It's nothing—I'm the one who got burned."

"?"

After giving the stunned Yuyin Yonglin a brief explanation, Su Lin summoned his Skyward Manifestation for her to collect data.

"I can't be certain I can make a medicine to heal you."

"It's fine—Doctor, you've done your best."

Su Lin exchanged a few words with Yonglin, then smiled, opened the door, and stepped out of the clinic—only to suddenly stop. "Inaba?"

The rabbit-eared girl widened her eyes; the next second, both their figures vanished, replaced by the sound of rapid footsteps echoing down the corridor.

"Why are you chasing me?!"

"Come here—I'll show you a treasure!"

A voice like this seemed to drift from afar.

Inside the clinic, Yuyin Yonglin sighed again and turned her chair to face behind her.

"Yonglin, sighing too often makes you age faster," Kaguya teased.

"I just saw your reflection in that man—it was an instinctive bodily reaction," Yonglin said helplessly. "The way he acts, recklessly seeking the joy of being alive—it's exactly like how you used to be in the Moon Capital."

Kaguya smiled faintly. "Are you complaining about your long-standing dissatisfaction with me?"

"I wouldn't dare."

Between them, there was an air of blame and apology, yet not the slightest hint of discord.

"Princess, you haven't developed the same thoughts as Confused Siming, have you?"

"You mean Zhao Shuangdian?"

【At first, I didn't know it was a blind date—Li Huowang just asked me to come over. But later, I thought: if the match were Doctor Su, my future research would surely be much easier. Besides, he saved my life. From a partner's perspective, he's also a decent choice.】

Provided he has romantic feelings for me.

"The lady with gray hair? You mean, isn't it normal for Doctor Su's Lady to have three wives and four concubines?"

Yonglin repeated Zhao Shuangdian's exact words.

"Uh…" Huiye's lips twitched several times.

No wonder, back at the Hakkaisan Shrine, when I saw those two standing together, Yonglin kept staring at them with such a strange look.

"But why did you bring me into this?"

"."

In response to Huiye, only Yuyin Yonglin's silent gaze remained.

Well, I may have gone a bit too far in daily life—but there was a reason.

"To fully draw out his true nature, I carefully guided him step by step, spending a long time nurturing him. After emerging from eternal time and space, he lived up to expectations and became even more interesting."

"But then, halfway, Yileina snatched him away—and he reverted a bit."

Huiye clenched her right hand, her tone shifting: "I'm a bit resentful. Why don't you just make something like a forgetfulness potion, Yonglin?"

Another sigh.

"You know I'm joking, right, Yonglin?"

The sigh continued.

"Even I, as vile as I am, wouldn't go that far."

This time, she didn't react at all—Yuyin Yonglin picked up the medical form on the desk and began studying it.

"Yonglin…"

"Speak."

"I just wanted her to lend me some luck. Why run off so fast?"

Feeling unlucky, Su Lin tried to boost his fortune—but the Usagi's escape speed was simply too fast.

He dropped the carrot he'd been holding to feed with, then entered the room where Huiye stored her collections and treasures. Shi Hao and Ye Fan were still soaking in the endlessly gushing Spring of Life, while Meng Qi was in the small courtyard trying to feed the Horned Blue Ox.

"Don't be picky—have some dietary fiber."

So the one herding the ox isn't necessarily the Cowherd—it could be the Three Pure Ones.

The one bathing nearby isn't necessarily the Weaver Girl—it could be some Hun Tian Di.

Dammit, my childhood feels contaminated.

"Something's off," Meng Qi said.

Su Lin glanced toward the corner and saw Xing sitting cross-legged in meditation, occasionally scratching his head and rubbing his hair, then quickly falling still again.

No gaming, no scavenging, no wriggling like a worm wrapped in blankets—this was definitely off.

Su Lin walked over. "Wai bi wai bi?"

Xing opened his eyes: "Wai bi ba bu."

"Are you good, Malaysia?" Su Lin spread his hands.

Xing shook his head and pitifully pulled out a bamboo slip.

Su Lin pointed at the two soaking in the bath: "Why not just ask them?"

"Oh." Xing nodded in sudden understanding, then rose and walked toward the two meditating figures.

"She just encountered some parts of her cultivation she didn't understand," Su Lin said.

"Never mind what your team's secret code is," Meng Qi pointed to the sky. "I'm talking about this—something's wrong."

In the sky, red mist spread like a woven net, swallowing the night. Within the mist glowed a deep crimson light, darker than blood.

Su Lin was startled: "What's going on?"

"It's an anomaly—red mist originating from the Scarlet Devil Mansion," Lingxian pushed the door open and bowed respectfully. "Guests, please don't worry—so long as you remain inside the Eternal Pavilion, you're absolutely safe."

Boom!

One by one, room doors swung open.

Kleine, wearing a top hat; Huai Shi, carrying the Sword of Virtue; Lu Mingfei, chambering a round in his revolver—all stepped out in sequence.

"Wait, where are you guests going?"

"Anomalies are a specialty of Gensokyo—can't miss one."

Lu Mingfei stood before Hui Liyi, offering the smile of a mature man.

"Didn't this red mist anomaly already happen before?" Song Shuhang frowned.

In his room, Hearing Song Shu had arranged around him: "Confucian Cultivation Method," "Buddhist Cultivation Method," "Thirty-Three Beasts Primordial Qi Art," "Sword of Shattered Tyranny," and more—as if trying to determine his future cultivation path by drawing lots.

"This symbolizes the end of the past and the beginning of a new cycle—the return of the first red mist anomaly. Gensokyo will open a new chapter in its history," Kleine declared in solemn tones.

"This line is used only for the opening of 'Touhou: Scarlet Devil Mansion 2.0.' Any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental."

You might as well just stop talking—you're already stacking your own buffs.

"It wouldn't be bad to go out as the main character," Huiye poked her head out from behind the door to Su Lin. "If that little vampire loses, follow the defeat scenario and turn the Scarlet Devil Mansion into a hentai."

"Don't make me eat the smallest bullet."

Still, another red mist anomaly at this time is a bit odd.

Su Lin remembered yesterday's dream—something inside him felt like a radar had activated.

Xing had just woken Shi Hao and handed him the bamboo slip: "I'm going to cultivate—I won't go."

"I won't go either—I have to teach my disciples later." Su Lin walked toward the door opened by the Cross-Domain Talisman.

Coach, there's an anomaly here too.

Lu Mingfei and the others stared in shock, their eyes darting back and forth between Su Lin and Xing.

Just as Su Lin was about to step into the room, Kleine suddenly said: "Could this anomaly have something to do with you?"

In the blink of an eye, Su Lin seized Kleine's collar and snarled:

"How dare you slander my reputation?!"

Kleine stared blankly at Su Lin, while Meng Qi had already unfastened the Golden Veil Rope tied to his pant leg.

'When did he do it…?' Lu Mingfei wasn't surprised—Su Lin causing trouble wherever he went was the norm; what was surprising was when he didn't. But he had no idea when exactly Su Lin had created this mess.

He suddenly felt someone tugging at his sleeve.

He turned around—it was Hui Liyi, dressed in a shrine maiden's robe.

"Is everything alright?" Hui Liyi pointed at Su Lin, who was being dragged away, bound tightly.

"Completely fine. Leave it to me."

Lu Mingfei smiled confidently, thinking: Finally, it's my turn to shine—those two arrogant bastards are crippled and useless.

The group leapt forward, trying to resolve the anomaly before the Hakurei Shrine Maiden could intervene.

"This technique…" Shi Hao retracted his spiritual sense, stunned: "Where did you get this?"

"Qiong gave it to me," Xing said.

Shi Hao passed the technique to Ye Fan, who scanned it with his spiritual sense; his eyelids twitched violently before he fell silent.

"Maybe you should…" Ye Fan whispered:

"Go beg him again and see how much more he's got stashed?"

"For example…"

He hesitated, then winked at Xing as a hint.

"Dress myself up like a trash bin?" Xing mused.

Not necessary.

"How do you cultivate this?" Xing asked.

"Don't rush," Shi Hao grinned: "Wait until I've integrated it into my newly created Dao method…"

"Perhaps this technique can be expanded into 365 foundational Great Dao pillars!"

…

A tearing, piercing red light coalesced into a beam, shaking heaven and earth, evaporating all moisture, and hurling Lu Mingfei, who was at the top, into a crater formed after the mountain shattered.

"Why isn't it a spell card?"

Lu Mingfei lay sprawled in a star shape, eyes vacant.

"Don't go wild—I have to maintain the barrier to prevent further destruction," Reimu muttered from the ground, face pressed into the dirt.

She quietly lifted her head, gazing at the towering, arrogant figure above, wings of bat skin spread wide.

"What's gotten into that little vampire today?"

A gale howled; crimson mist swelled into clouds, with distant thunder rumbling.

In everyone's eyes, an endless sea of blood spread outward, and the small, curly-haired child wearing a white lace-trimmed hat blurred into view, seated atop a crimson Wang Zuo, looking down upon all things with supreme disdain.

"Cut the Dao and behold me—Red Moon Catastrophe!"

A blood-red moon descended; red light opened in all directions—up, down, left, right—transforming heaven and earth, rolling waves of martial Dao energy surged forth.

"This is…"

Remylia's Baiwan opened; crimson clouds burst forth, draping her in hazy bloodlight: "My Undying Crimson Demon Body!"

Su Lin, tied to the back of an ox, glanced at Meng Qi, who had quietly climbed up behind him; ignoring Meng Qi's finger-to-lips gesture to be silent, he kicked out with his right leg.

"It's not my fault!"

Meng Qi's hands were cuffed by Kleine's hand.

"You have the right to remain silent," Kleine said.

"I told you all—you misunderstood me," Su Lin sighed.

"If it were you, the figure above should be an unspeakable angel," Kleine released Su Lin's bindings: "Sorry, Mr. Su Lin, but this proves my intuition isn't always right."

"Heh." Su Lin maintained a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Remy, what are you doing?!" Marisa rode her broom like a meteor, desperately fleeing through the crimson light.

Boom—

Starlight shattered, crimson radiance surged; as blood-red lightning crackled and spread, a clear, resonant verse rang out:

"The Crimson Demon is never satisfied; Heaven cannot contain the truth; Hell cannot restrain arrogance; Mortal world cannot quell baseness."

Remylia unfolded a reverse crucible magic array, shifting space and time, gripping Marisa's throat with her fangs: "The Holy Realm was born from me."

Lu Mingfei pointed at Su Lin and shouted: "Grab that guy!"

"What's it got to do with me?!"

"You're the only one reciting poetry in the group!"