I'm a thankful fox in Tokyo

Chapter 391 You really want to repay me?

Upon hearing this, Chun Yuan didn't say much, but simply nodded slightly: "Remember not to be impatient for quick success. Just keep the rest in mind."

She stood there, gazing at the torrential rain that obscured the world, seemingly lost in thought.

"I have the most patience."

As Higashino Yu spoke, he put the many treasures of Mount Oe out of his mind.

Now that the great enemy has been eliminated, and not knowing what the situation is outside, Dongye Yu wanted to leave this demon's lair as soon as possible. So he fiddled with the Oeyama Spirit Mansion Map in his hand and began to refine it.

But fearing that Shuten-dōji might have left some traps, he went to Shungen to ask for advice.

"Senior Chunyuan, could there be some kind of trap in this Spirit Mansion Map?"

Spring Plain, who had been watching the rain, came to his senses and pondered for a moment before saying, "These kinds of blessed lands and magical treasures are created by heaven and earth. Even their owners, unless they possess great supernatural powers, would find it difficult to leave any trace. Moreover, Shuten-dōji is arrogant by nature and would not set such a trap—"

She said this, but her tone was not firm—after all, the other party was a demon, how could she be judged by common sense?
"Show me."

As Chun Yuan spoke, she reached out her slender, jade-like hand, took the Spirit Mansion Map from Dong Ye Yu's arms, examined it carefully, and then handed it back to Dong Ye Yu.

"As I expected, this Spirit Mansion Diagram is filled with nothing but the resentment caused by these demons devouring living beings. Don't you have a scripture that can purify and deliver the dead? Use that scripture to purify this Spirit Mansion Diagram, and then you can begin refining it."

As she said this, worried that Dongye Yu might become engrossed in the magical treasures of heaven and earth, she added another word of advice.

"You don't need to fully refine it; you only need to leave your soul imprint to freely open and close the gate to this world."

Dongye Yu took the Spirit Mansion Map, but did not rush to refine it. Instead, he formed the Shangqing Seal with his hands and bowed slightly to the Spring Plain.

"Since I met Senior Chunyuan, I have received your kindness many times. This time, I was able to completely slay the demons of Mount Oe thanks to your rescue. I cannot repay such kindness for the time being. Please accept my bow. I will surely repay you handsomely in the future."

To be honest, this Imperial Inari has helped me so many times that sometimes I wonder what she's after.

However, Dongye Yu didn't think too much about it. No matter what she wanted, he had indeed been indebted to her and would repay her in the future. After all, he was a fox who repays kindness.

Chun Yuan glanced at Dong Yeyu and saw that he looked sincere, but his peach blossom eyes under the mask were slightly narrowed, indicating that he was a little unhappy.

"Do you think I came to save you because I want your gratitude?"

"You misunderstand. You are the Imperial Inari, and I am just a fox spirit. As for repaying a debt of gratitude, you probably don't care about that now."

Higashino Yu revealed a sincere expression: "I may not look down on you, but I can't take it for granted. There is an old Chinese saying that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. How much more so should I repay a great benefactor like you? I should do everything I can to repay you."

Chunyuan and Dongye Yu gazed into each other's sincere eyes for a moment, pondered for a moment, and said, "No need. Even if I hadn't come, you could have killed Shuten-dōji with that sword box."

"It's also possible that he would be killed by Shuten-dōji's magic weapon before he even drew his sword."

Dongye Yu's expression was serious. "What are you talking about? I, the fox, am a man of my word. If I say you're my benefactor, then you are my benefactor. You think you can run away?"
Chun Yuan remained noncommittal, then pulled out a pipe from somewhere, pushed aside the white fox-painted mask on his face, and took a puff of smoke.

"You really want to repay me?"

"I miss you so much! I dream of repaying you!"

Higashino Yu said earnestly.

Chunyuan has helped me a lot, including saving me from dire straits. I can't even imagine how generous the reward would be if I could repay him.

The Imperial Inari did not rush to reply, but turned around and slowly walked into the main hall of the castle tower.

Does she really need my help? Dongye Yu guessed, somewhat confused, but an expectation inevitably rose in his heart. He followed her, closed the door, and shut out the torrential rain that was about to wash the whole world.

The roar of the rain became much more muffled, the mermaid lanterns flickered, and the vast hall seemed even more silent.

Chun Yuan casually took out two cushions from his sleeve, placed them on a clean spot, and gestured for Dong Ye Yu to sit down.

The two sat facing each other. Chun Yuan was upright and looked very formal. Dong Yeyu also became serious and sat up straight. "Is there something troubling you? Can I help?"

Chun Yuan nodded slightly: "The matter I'm worried about is something that only you can help with."

"What is it? Please tell me."

"I want you to marry Miko." Haruhara said, his phoenix eyes fixed on Higashino Yu's face.

"Marry Miko?"

Higashino Yu was taken aback. He had originally planned to be with Miko and the others for life, a three-person couple. This was a completely easy question.
He immediately agreed: "I'm willing."

However, when she thought about some of her thoughts that she had shared with Miko earlier, she seemed to find it hard to accept.

"It's just that the prince might need some time."

Higashino Yu was too embarrassed to tell Haruhara that he wanted a lifelong, three-person relationship, so he gave a vague answer.

Chun Yuan naturally knew about Higashino Yu's messy and promiscuous affairs. He shook his head, his gaze intense: "What I mean is, you should only marry Miko and give up the other women."

Abandon Sanae and Hiiragi Kagami? Make me watch them marry other people? Why don't you just kill me?

Upon hearing this, Dongye Yu remained silent for a long time: "Although it is shameless to say this, I still have to tell you that I cannot do it."

“You know this is unfair to any of them, and I can’t accept you treating Miko like this.” Haruhara’s tone was icy.

"Is there a way to have it all? It's just a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils. You can call me shameless, but this is a decision I've thought about for a long time, and I won't change it until I come up with a better solution."

Higashino Yu lowered his head, but his tone showed he wouldn't budge an inch.

The atmosphere in the main hall remained silent for a while.

"Bad fate."

Chunyuan sighed and dropped the subject, saying only, "I'll rest and recuperate for a while. You go and refine the Spirit Mansion Diagram. The shrine needs my protection, and we need to leave here as soon as possible."

After saying that, he closed his eyes and refused to look at Higashino Yu again.

Even someone as thick-skinned as Higashino Yu felt ashamed at this moment, since Haruhara was not only the guardian deity of the shrine, but also, strictly speaking, the elder of the princess.
Despite feeling ashamed, the magic weapon still needed to be refined.

Dongye Yu bowed slightly to Chunyuan, then sat on the cushion and placed the Lingfu Diagram on his lap. He first recited the "Supreme Venerable of the Mysterious and Profound Heavenly Venerable's Wondrous Scripture on Saving from Suffering and Removing Sins".

Once the resentment in the painting has mostly dissipated, use your divine soul to drive your magical power to begin refining this magical treasure.

In less than an hour, Dongye Yu opened his eyes, his smile filled with the joy of an old farmer harvesting a bountiful harvest.

The restrictions on this magical artifact had dissipated with the death of Shuten-dōji, and he had purified his resentment with scriptures. At this moment, it was a completely blank sheet of paper, and it was easy to leave a mark on it.

Although one cannot control this world without complete refinement, leaving this place is still possible.

(End of this chapter)