I'm in Tokyo, caught in the clutches of the demon princess.

Yuka Ikeda won't let Kazasawa Mako get away with this.

"Get up, get up quickly."

Forced to turn on his phone, Kazesawa washed up and then went to the outside of the shrine with Ikeda Yuka.

As Yuka Ikeda said, it's very lively outside.

They all wore the same priestly robes, both men and women.

The courtyard was filled with ritual implements.

Two laymen watched the spectacle unfold when two shrine maidens dressed in red and white robes appeared beside them and respectfully said:

"Two guests, His Holiness the God is waiting for you to dine in the main hall."

"No need to wait for us, let the Lord eat first, I'll watch for a while longer."

The two priestesses said nothing. "Then we'll wait by the guests' side."

Seeing this, Feng Zejian felt somewhat helpless. "Then let's go."

"Please follow us, both of you."

The two followed the shrine maiden to the main hall of the shrine.

Three low, long tables were placed in the center of the hall, one on the front, one on the left, and one on the right, facing the entrance.

Directly in front of them sat Yutaka Yanase and Saya Yanase.

On the left is a middle-aged couple. The man is wearing a black priest's robe, has a V-shaped face, wears glasses, and gives off a refined and scholarly air.

The woman was dressed in a purple shrine maiden's outfit, and her appearance was about 80% similar to Yanase Saya, only more mature, with an indifferent expression—the kind of haughty indifference.

Chapter Twenty-One: Preparations Before the Soul-Sending Ceremony

The refined gentleman is Yanase Saya's father, Yanase Takasawa, while the haughty lady is Yanase Saya's mother, Yanase Akie.

The table on the right is empty; it seems to be where Kazesawa and Ikeda Yuka were seated.

"Esteemed seniors, I apologize for keeping you waiting."

Yuka Ikeda bowed in response.

He took his seat at Yanase Toyo's gesture.

This is considered lunchtime according to the time, and the dishes are quite plentiful.

Everyone ate quietly.

To be honest, Feng Zejian didn't like this atmosphere, but because he was a guest, he politely remained silent throughout.

Having eaten enough, Feng Zejian wanted to let everyone know he was leaving.

"Kid, don't leave after you finish eating. Go change your clothes, and the girl too."

Upon hearing this, Feng Zejian did not act rashly and nodded in response, "Yes, Lord God."

After the couple at the opposite table finished their meal, their gaze also fell upon the boy at the same table.

Saya's father, Yanase Takazawa, looked at Kazesawa with a smile.

"It must have been so kind of you, young man, to bring your mother's belongings back from so far away. Is there anything I can do to repay this kindness?"

Although Feng Zejian doesn't need anything, he can't do without everything.

After a moment's thought, Feng Zejian said:

"I've heard that the amulets from Fuji Shrine are very effective. If you still have any, I'd like to ask for a few."

Yanase Takasawa was somewhat surprised.

"Is that all? I don't think this is enough to repay your kindness, young man."

"That's enough. Nothing is more important than living safely."

Yanase Takasawa nodded slightly. "Is that so?"

Feng Zejian could tell that the other party wanted to distance themselves from him.

Making exorbitant demands might reassure the other party, but it goes against Feng Zejian's principles.

In short, just quickly witness the ceremony and leave.

After everyone had finished eating, the two of them, led by Yanase Yutaka, arrived at the shrine's special dressing room.

The clothes were all purple, probably for a special ritual. However, it took the two of them two a full two hours just to do their makeup, and Yanase Saya also did her makeup along with them.

She changed into the palace attendant's clothes, with vermilion adorning her forehead with peony-like patterns. Her long hair was styled into a hairstyle similar to that of a noble concubine, but two strands of hair remained on either side of her face, and she wore a gold hairpin with dangling ornaments.

There aren't many modern cosmetics mixed in; the makeup here is still the old-fashioned rouge and face powder, and even the lipstick is made of red paper.

Suddenly, a system notification sound rang out.

[Trigger a hidden quest, obtain a temporary quest item, the Soul-Guiding Melody Score. Sing the Soul-Guiding Melody during the Soul-Sending Ceremony. Completing this temporary quest will transform the temporary quest item into a permanent one, granting you access to the System 2.0 update.]

Feng Zejian's pupils contracted slightly. System version 2.0? He wasn't stupid. Based on his previous experience, the current version 2.0, and the triggering of the hidden mission, it was conceivable that the targets of the 2.0 version system might not be just simple humans.

Coming to her senses, Yanase Saya was breathtakingly beautiful without any makeup. Before, she was just dignified, but now she truly looked like a goddess.

You're completely mesmerized.

Yuka Ikeda's words brought Kazesawa back to reality.

Saya Yanase covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

Kazema felt a little awkward and turned to look at Ikeda Yuka.

Kazema was stunned once again. Ikeda Yuka was already a natural beauty, and with a light touch of makeup, she was even more beautiful.

That clear and pure quality was something Feng Zejian had never experienced before.

Yuka Ikeda's pretty face flushed slightly.

Why are you looking at me like that?

"Of course I was stunned, you're so beautiful."

Yuka Ikeda rolled her eyes at Kazesawa, a look that was full of tenderness.

Saya Yanase harbored a secret jealousy.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I'm clearly beautiful, so why doesn't that same sigh apply to me?

Yuka Ikeda joked, "In my opinion, Saya is much prettier than me."

Feng Zejian smiled.

“You are both beautiful, but your beauty is different. Your beauty is tangible, the kind that makes you want to get close to and protect her, while Sayame’s beauty is the kind that is unattainable and can only be admired but not reached.”

Kazema's description was quite apt, but Yanase Sayasu didn't quite feel the same way.

Yanase Saya also has some feelings for Kazesawa.

We might not be close enough to like each other, but being ordinary friends would be perfectly fine.

When it was almost time, the three of them left the dressing room.

In the courtyard, everyone, dressed in the special attire for the soul-sending ceremony, stood on both sides of the path paved with a red carpet, with men on the left and women on the right.

Yutaka Yanase handed the box containing his wife's belongings to Kazesawa.

"The soul-sending ceremony requires the person sending the soul to carry the deceased's belongings from the bottom of the mountain to the gate at the top, and then hand the belongings over to the priest. Are you sure you're okay with that?"

Feng Zejian shook his head.

Yutaka Yanase continued:

“In the past, being a soul sender was actually a profession. When sending off a soul, one would chant a unique soul-guiding song to guide those souls with low self-awareness home or reincarnation. Unfortunately, this profession declined and eventually disappeared for various reasons, but this does not prevent the soul-sending ritual from taking place.”

With a slight smile, Kazema descended the mountain carrying Yanase Tomomi's belongings.

There was a very peculiar feeling in the wind and rain as I stood before the stone steps leading up the mountain.

He felt like this wasn't the first time he'd done this, or that he'd seen others do it before.

The sound of drums came from the mountain.

A reminder came from Yanase Tomomi.

"You can go."

Feng Zejian took a deep breath.

Brain loading, Requiem.

Feng Zejian took a step, and an ethereal voice rang out.

Her ethereal voice, combined with the originally melodious and graceful tune of the Requiem, resounded through the mountains.

Feng Zejian walked instinctively, some strange memories drifting through his mind.

A child follows behind an old man who carries a tattered bundle on his back. The old man sings the same soul-summoning song in a weathered voice, only this time his song is grand and majestic.

The Requiem has lyrics, but those lyrics do not belong to any known language.

The children behind them hummed along.

Feng Zejian knew that those might be his memories from before he was reborn here, his true memories.

Listening to the soul-summoning melody echoing through the mountains, Yanase Yutaka's expression showed a hint of shock.

"That kid, could this be the will of Heaven?"

The mountain road was not short, but Feng Zejian made the journey unusually easy, as if an invisible force was gently pushing him from behind.

The melody of the soul-guiding song, coming from afar, signifies that Fengzejian is gradually approaching the mountain gate.

Then Feng Zejian's figure slowly appeared in front of everyone.

Standing on the right, Yuka Ikeda looked at Kazesawa Makoto, who was gradually approaching in the distance, with a somewhat dazed expression.

Dressed in a black priest's robe, he moved with light and steady steps, carrying a box in both hands. His expression was unusually calm, but with a hint of melancholy, a melancholy of compassion for all humanity.

Combined with his already handsome face, he's truly captivating to young girls.

Chapter Twenty-Two: I Will Resist Too

Moreover, he only had Feng Zejian in his field of vision, but he always felt that there were many things around him, not bad things, but like small animals, kind, cute and harmless.

Yanase Yutaka, Yanase Takasawa, Yanase Akane, and Yanase Sayasu were all stunned when they saw Kazesawa Masaru.

Unseen by countless humans, the spirits of the mountains and fields surrounded Fengze, sheltering him from the wind and rain and helping him move forward.

Only those who deliver souls can enjoy such treatment.

As Kazesawa stepped through the shrine's gates, that invisible force vanished.

Instead of immediately handing the keepsake to Yanase Saya, Kazema turned and bowed to the mountain spirits that were standing outside the mountain gate.

He can't see it, but he can feel it vividly.

Kazema turned around and handed the belongings to Yanase Saya.

They continued to sing the soul-summoning hymn.

The sky above Fuji Shrine was bathed in a glow, just like the legendary miracle.

Feng Zejian stared intently.

Everyone followed Feng Zejian's gaze and saw the same scene.

Even at shrines, it's been a long time since we've seen such a miracle.

Yutaka Yanase gazed at the boy watching the sunset.

"Who exactly is this person...?"

Saya Yanase presented Tomomi Yanase's belongings to Yutaka Yanase.

"grandfather."

This sound also brought Yanase Yutaka back to reality.

Yanase Yutaka received his wife's belongings and brought them into the main hall. There, Yanase Yutaka knelt down and began to speak to the hall.