Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

Large patches of light converged from the cherry blossom saplings toward the Great Fairy.

It's probably almost over, right?

Akina Ze also turned his head to focus his attention back on the outside world.

Things are more likely to change as they approach their end.

"Hehehe~"

The spirits outside seemed to realize they were about to lose their last chance for reincarnation, and they began to stir.

As the undead drew closer, the encirclement tightened, until Akina Ze could smell the earthy odor emanating from the unearthed skeleton.

The flashes of sword light were becoming fewer and fewer, and Youmu Konpaku was almost too weak to wield them.

She could even cleave through a rusty kitchen knife, making the weakest of the weaklings practically useless, while still consuming her stamina.

Every strike he makes is a full-force attack; he's incredibly honest.

Reimu Hakurei, who was doing her best to prevent the barrier from collapsing due to the hole, had some anxiety in her eyes. However, the fusion was not yet complete, and severing the hole prematurely might cause all her efforts to be in vain.

Sweating profusely, Akina Zeya was now the only one left on the field. Konpaku Youmu was barely able to support herself with her sword to keep from falling.

"Sorry..." That was Youmu Konpaku's voice from behind.

But Akina Ze didn't have time to respond to her at that moment. He was swinging his fists, smashing any undead that dared to approach. Even a ghost could be burst like a balloon with a single punch using his air-filled fist.

He threw a punch, then pulled it back, and threw it out with all his might once more.

Gradually, this became instinctive...

"boom!"

Suddenly, a loud bang.

A fiery red meteor appeared in the sky and hurtled towards us.

"Boom!"

The loud thud kicked up a cloud of dust.

"Cough cough cough~" Akina Ze squinted his eyes and waved his hand to fan away the dust in front of his nose.

"I thought something had happened. In the middle of the day, a putrid stench permeated the entire place. So it was you guys causing trouble here?"

With her hands in her pockets, Fujiwara no Mokou emerged from the dust, her face full of displeasure.

"Mokou, I'm so sorry, there's a reason for this!"

Once he came to his senses, Akina Ze quickly stepped forward and smiled apologetically.

"I can tell." Fujiwara no Mokou glanced around and said with disgust, "It stinks! How come there are so many dead old things?"

"Why is that old geezer running out here instead of lying quietly on the ground?" Fujiwara no Mokou said indignantly, lightly tapping the ground with her toes, and a ring of fire appeared out of thin air. "And the damn guy is still alive, it's so annoying."

As soon as the ring of fire appeared, the surrounding undead retreated as if they had seen their natural enemy, fearing that they would be contaminated.

Seeing that the danger had passed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and Qiu Mingze was especially relieved, sitting down on the ground with a thud.

This time, the workout went a little too far.

He rubbed his thigh; such strenuous exercise would probably leave him unable to stand up tomorrow due to the pain.

"Explain explain."

After releasing the fire ring to repel the undead, Fujiwara no Mokou did not leave immediately, but instead went to Akina Sawaya's side and asked him a question.

With no other option, Akina Sawa could only give Fujiwara no Mokou a brief overview of what they were currently doing.

"I see." After roughly understanding, Fujiwara no Mokou nodded, but then questioned sharply, "Why didn't you tell me something like this? Do you think you're not human?"

"terribly sorry!"

Akina Ze also looked apologetic, saying, "I didn't know this would happen."

"Hmph!" Fujiwara no Mokou snorted coldly, "Tell me earlier next time, maybe Keine and I can help you."

"But now it's time to deal with the uninvited guests."

Fujiwara no Mokou shielded the bewildered Akina Sawa behind her.

Uninvited guests? What other kind of undead are coming?

Akina Zeya's question didn't last more than a few seconds.

It's like their hidden methods have been exposed, so they no longer hide them.

Yukari Yakumo appeared before everyone, her parasol twirling slightly in her hand, and sneered:

"Perhaps you are the uninvited guest, Fujiwara no Mokou."

“So, there are still too many old fogies.” Fujiwara no Mokou pulled her hand out of her pocket, twisted her neck, and showed no intention of backing down.

"hehe."

Yukari Yakumo twirled her parasol and chuckled, "I'm only 17 years old, still young. Don't talk nonsense."

Chapter Fifty-Four: It Smells Good?

"Ha, what a hypocrite."

Fujiwara no Mokou spat on the ground disdainfully and raised her middle finger to taunt Yakumo Yukari.

Yukari Yakumo's beautiful appearance can only fool newcomers; most of the veterans of Gensokyo know the truth, though they may not say it, because they have the power to back it up.

But Fujiwara no Mokou wasn't the kind of person who was afraid of a strong fist. She could fight Kaguya-hime to the point of shattering her meridians and devouring each other's flesh and blood. The word "fear" didn't exist in her dictionary.

Bang! Meaty stool

The ping-pong ball took off.

Right under Akina Zeya's nose, Fujiwara no Mokou, like a bird separated from its flock, disappeared into the body of a pine tree in the distance.

The wind pressure, far exceeding the speed of sound, stung Akina Zeya's cheeks.

Her snow-white, healthy thighs were pulled back into the hem of her gorgeous skirt.

Akina Sawaya's pupils contracted slightly.

A streak of crimson appeared on the tip of Yakumo Yukari's white shoe, and she shook her foot in disgust.

Seeing that she couldn't shake off the bloodstains, Yukari Yakumo clapped her hands and said nonchalantly, "Alright, the troublemaker is gone. Can everyone stop what they're doing now?"

Judging from their hostile intentions, Akina Sawa swallowed hard, wanting to step forward and talk to them, but then Hakurei Reimu's voice rang out.

"Give me a reason."

"Reason?" Yukari Yakumo twirled her parasol. "Reimu, I don't remember you being such a warm-hearted person."

"I was just helping a friend, and people can change, right?" Reimu Hakurei said expressionlessly.

"Friends for less than a year?" Yakumo Yukari smiled. "A bright red ribbon, a red and white shrine maiden outfit, um... and an exorcism wand that's getting longer and longer. Has anything changed? No, I don't think so."

“I think he is, that’s it. And maybe you should get to know me again.”

Reimu Hakurei smiled and did not respond further; the barrier still enveloping the mansion remained completely still.

"Reimu..."

Akina Sawa didn't know what to say. Was it really worth it for someone he'd only known for less than a year?

"Don't worry, it's alright." Reimu Hakurei turned around and smiled.

Saigyouji Yuyuko, who had been silent all along, suddenly sighed.

"Hey......"

She turned around, raised her head, and stared at Yakumo Yukari with unreadable pink eyes, her plain blue kimono skirt swaying in the wind.

After a long silence, Saigyouji Yuyuko finally spoke, "I thought you had given up."

"I never gave up."

"But I don't care anymore."

"I care."

Yukari Yakumo gripped the umbrella handle tightly, looking back at Yuyuko, unwilling to let go.

“Why bother…” Saigyouji Yuyuko turned around and looked at the cherry blossom sapling in the courtyard—a part of the Saigyou Ayakashi.

Moreover, it also contains forgotten memories, memories of her time as a 'human'.

Why should we preserve memories that have been submerged in the long river of history?

No one remembers anymore... not even 'I' care.

A roaring, high-temperature flame swept in from afar, a long trail of fire.

A gap appeared out of nowhere and completely swallowed it up.

"Even if you are a sage among demons, don't underestimate people!"

Fujiwara no Mokou, having broken free from the tree trunk, flew through the air, her long, white, ankle-length hair flaming with flames, and radiating red light that trembled wildly.

"So, the people of Penglai are just a nuisance."

Yukari Yakumo turned to face the incoming phoenix.

"Don't! Mention those two words!"

Fujiwara no Mokou loathed this term, especially when she was called a person from Hourai.

A massive pillar of fire descended from the sky, scorching everything around it, and the snow on the ground completely melted.

But where she landed, Yukari Yakumo remained completely unchanged, not even the angle at which she held the umbrella handle. A few meters away, a gap in mid-air completely absorbed the attack, like a stone falling into the sea, unable to stir up any waves.

The ranged attack was completely ineffective, but Fujiwara no Mokou did not give up. Her fists blazed with fierce flames, and she threw a heavy punch at Yakumo Yukari.

“Useless.” Yakumo Yukari shook her head, then kicked out with her right leg, passing straight through the gap.

"Ok?"

Yukari Yakumo exclaimed in surprise, as her attack, which had passed through the gap, was actually blocked.

The other gap appeared in Fujiwara no Mokou's abdomen, which should theoretically be unable to catch it.

But she overlooked the fact that there was another person present – ​​Akina Sawaya.

In less than a second, Akina Sawa managed to block the kick for Fujiwara no Mokou.

Akina Ze was also panting heavily, with an uncontrollable smile on his lips.

From Yakumo Yukari's first attack, he noticed her attack method—a spatial displacement attack through gaps.

Such an attack is almost impossible to counter without dedicated surveillance.

So Akina Sawa kept staring at Yakumo Yukari's thighs, betting that she wouldn't change her attack method next time.

How could someone as proud as Yukari Yakumo change?

So Akina Sawa won his gamble.

"Quick, lend a hand!"

Akina Sawa also held tightly to Yakumo Yukari's leg, which was kicked through the gap, refusing to let go.

Since ranged attacks are ineffective, why don't I just stay put like a slime and not leave?

Even though Yakumo Yukari was quite old, she had never seen such a way of breaking through. She tried to pull her leg back, but she didn't expect Akina Zeya to be so strong that she couldn't pull it out for a while.

"Kids, don't look!" Saigyouji Yuyuko covered Youmu's eyes with both hands.

Reimu Hakurei was also stunned. She rubbed her eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing, but nothing changed.

"Zi...you..."

"You did a great job, kid!"

Fujiwara no Mokou was still in the midst of a fight, and quickly came to her senses. She grabbed Akina Sawaya's waist and pulled him up with all her might, like pulling up a radish.

"Let me go!" Yakumo Yukari was furious and embarrassed. When had she, a dignified youkai sage, ever been in such an embarrassing situation?

"I won't let go!"

Akina Ze hugged her tightly, pressing his entire body against hers.