Chapter 810: The Prelude to Kaguya's Evolution

"I wonder how Kaguya's studies have been progressing during this time." Lingyun pushed open the bamboo door and walked into the Bamboo House.

"Uh, Kaguya, what are you doing?"

When Lingyun saw Kaguya's appearance, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch. Before him, Kaguya was lying on a bamboo bed, clutching a Game Console in her hands. The quilt on the bed had long since been kicked off to who knows where, and the clothes on her body were somewhat disheveled. There was a flush on Kaguya's face, as if she had reached some critical juncture.

"Snap—"

Seeing Kaguya's state, Lingyun slapped his own forehead directly. He could already imagine the scene of Eirin seeing this and coming after him with her longbow to fight for her life. He never expected that he would be partly responsible for Kaguya becoming a NEET Princess.

"Ah, Lingyun?"

Hearing Lingyun's voice, Kaguya nearly jumped straight up. Then, Lingyun heard the sound of "game over" coming from the Game Console; clearly, Kaguya's game character had died.

Hearing this sound, Kaguya's complexion turned ashen in an instant, as if life itself had lost all meaning, and a mournful cry escaped her lips: "This is the best version I spent several days in a row playing to get, and now it's gone..."

"Spent several days in a row playing?" Lingyun sneered, his Divine Sense sweeping out and snatching the Game Console from Kaguya's hands. "Kaguya, my dear good student, have you forgotten what I said before I left? Have you finished the homework I assigned you?"

"Te, Teacher..." Seeing Lingyun like this, Kaguya trembled slightly. "Why did you come back so soon?"

"Let me think, I've only been gone for nearly a month, and you've already turned into this state. If I had come back any later, what would you have become?" Black energy faintly surged around Lingyun, and the Game Console emitted whimpering sounds under an invisible force.

"Waaah, Teacher, don't!" Hearing the whimpering of the Game Console, Kaguya's expression changed drastically, and an invisible force radiated from her body, forcefully erecting a barrier around the Game Console.

"Hmm?" Lingyun raised an eyebrow; he could feel Kaguya using her Soul Power to protect the Game Console beside her.

"As expected of the future NEET Princess, to have such an outstanding performance just for a Game Console!" Lingyun chuckled, and with a sweep of his Divine Sense, he easily brushed aside Kaguya's Soul Power.

Seeing the Game Console fall into Lingyun's hands, Kaguya's eyes dimmed. Lingyun tossed it aside, and under the influence of an inexplicable force, the Game Console landed directly on the table.

"When you can break the barrier I've set on this Game Console, it will be yours," Lingyun said.

"Really?" In an instant, Lingyun felt as if Kaguya's eyes had turned into dazzling light bulbs, nearly blinding him.

"Of course, I keep my word." Lingyun nodded. "However, until you succeed, you are not allowed to touch this Game Console even once!"

"Okay, I will definitely work hard!" Kaguya clenched her small fists and said with a solemn vow.

Watching Kaguya, Lingyun secretly made a decision in his heart; he didn't want Eirin coming to fight him for her life later on.

"Kaguya, how has Taketori no Okina been doing during this time?" Lingyun asked.

"Father?" Hearing Lingyun mention Taketori no Okina, Kaguya climbed off the bed. "I went to see Father earlier; Father's condition is quite good right now!"

"Quite good, is it? It just so happens I have time today, so let's go see Taketori no Okina. It's been a long time since we met, so we can catch up," Lingyun said.

"Ah, I understand." Kaguya nodded.

Lingyun felt time stagnate slightly the moment Kaguya stood up. Looking at Kaguya again, she no longer had the disheveled appearance he had seen earlier, but had returned to the look of a refined young lady.

"Tsk, this ability of yours really makes it easy to tidy yourself up!" Lingyun sighed lightly and said. "However, does Taketori no Okina know about your lazy side from before?"

"Hee hee, how could I let Father know about me like that? In Father's eyes, I am a well-behaved daughter!" Kaguya said to Lingyun with a giggle.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell Taketori no Okina about this situation of yours?" Lingyun reached out and gave Kaguya a flick on the forehead without hesitation.

"Would Teacher have the heart to let Father blame me?" Kaguya opened her bright, sparkling eyes and acted cute toward Lingyun.

Lingyun slapped his own forehead; he was certain that the Kaguya of the past would absolutely not have this skill. As for where she got this skill now, nine times out of ten, it came from the Game Console. He couldn't help but feel a bit fortunate that he had left a contingency in the Game Console; otherwise, he didn't know where this Moon Princess would have been led astray by the games inside.

Seeing Lingyun bring Kaguya to visit, Taketori no Okina was naturally extremely delighted. He had heard before that Lingyun had gone out to travel, and he had been somewhat worried about Kaguya's studies—without Lingyun's guidance, could Kaguya study well? Not to mention that the world was dangerous now, with Youkai running rampant; it would be bad if Lingyun encountered some misfortune outside. Now that Lingyun was back, his heart was finally at ease.

Lingyun's gaze fell upon Taketori no Okina's current residence, and there was a hint of understanding in his eyes. The place where Taketori no Okina used to live was nothing more than a dilapidated little house, but now Taketori no Okina's house had changed drastically, becoming the most luxurious house in the village. The way the other people in the village looked at Taketori no Okina also held a bit more respect.

The people in the village also knew that Taketori no Okina's life only started getting better after he gained an extra daughter. Although some people were curious about why Taketori no Okina had gained a daughter for no reason, and at the beginning some people were spreading rumors that this child was not a good sort and might be a Youkai or something, these gossips disappeared completely once Kaguya was taken in as a student by Lingyun.

During the time he lived in the Bamboo Forest, Lingyun had eradicated all the bloodthirsty Youkai, large and small, around the Bamboo Forest for the sake of his own peace and quiet. This area happened to encompass the small village where Taketori no Okina lived, so the villagers all believed that Lingyun was an Onmyoji with extremely high cultivation.

In the eyes of these commoners, an Onmyoji capable of driving away Youkai and ensuring their safety was a high and lofty existence. Moreover, because those Youkai had been driven away, there were far fewer deaths in their village caused by Youkai. It could be said that everyone in the village owed Lingyun a debt of gratitude for saving their lives. And how could someone taken in as his student be a Youkai? So now, the people in the village only felt envy toward Taketori no Okina—why wasn't it them who found Kaguya back then?

At the time, these matters were just a casual effort for Lingyun, so he hadn't taken them to heart, never expecting the villagers to still remember them. After visiting Taketori no Okina, Lingyun didn't stay in the small village for long, but instead took Kaguya and headed toward Heian-kyo. After all, Kaguya had wanted to go for a stroll in Heian-kyo a long time ago. However, Taketori no Okina had been worried that he couldn't take care of Kaguya alone in Heian-kyo, so he had never taken her. Now that Lingyun was going to Heian-kyo, Taketori no Okina had also entrusted Lingyun to take her along.

Having obtained Taketori no Okina's permission, Kaguya excitedly pulled Lingyun along as they hurried toward Heian-kyo.