Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

"Well, I'm back."

......

"Finally found!"

Miyakojiru excitedly hugged a tobacco pipe whose surface was covered with dark brown mud stains and whose head was cracked from years of corrosion.

In the bamboo forest under the moonlight, the open area in the center is full of holes several tens of centimeters deep.

Referring to the last burial site before her death, Miyako Shiraishi searched nearby for quite a while before finally digging it up.

Fortunately, the overall damage wasn't too severe; the tobacco pipe was buried in the damp mud, preserving its integrity to the greatest extent possible. Miyaguchi Ruiling hadn't had high expectations for it to begin with, given how many years had passed. But to find it still so well-preserved was nothing short of a miracle!

Despite not having used it for a long time, Miyakochi Ruiling still used it with the same ease as a muscle memory honed through countless trials. She brought the pipe to her lips and took a sharp drag.

There was nothing else to taste but the earthy smell emanating from the pipe, a scent that had been steeped in the soil for so long.

But Miyaguchi Ruiling was delighted with this, firmly believing that she had tasted that wisp of smoke that had traveled through time, from that starry night a hundred years ago.

The long iron chain around her neck swayed in the wind, bumping against the shackles in her hands, and Gong Chu Ruiling looked puzzled.

She clearly remembered that there should have been a huge rock in front of her, big enough for someone to sit on and rest, but where is it now?

After searching high and low, Rui Ling only found a fist-sized stone on the ground.

"That's strange, it's really gone."

Wow~

A gust of wind blew by, and the rustling sound of bamboo leaves filled my ears until the sound subsided.

Akina Sawa also stepped out of the shadows and onto this spacious area under the moonlight.

"You must be Miyaguchi Ruiling, right? What's your purpose in summoning me here?"

This was the first time he had seen Miyako Ruiling's true appearance when she was not possessed.

A long, high blue ponytail, a red and white striped jacket, and chains and shackles... she looked exactly like a prisoner.

Akina Ze also ignored this, his expression calm and composed. Knowing the truth, he believed that Miyaguchi Ruiling would not harm him.

Moreover, even if he were to die, he could be resurrected in his bed, which was one of the reasons he could remain so calm.

"You really came alone... wait, why is there a little mouse secretly following behind you?"

He tucked his tobacco pipe into his chest, Miyakojiru smiled insincerely, his eyes peering through Akina Ze towards the shadows not far away.

......

Chapter 151 The Eyes Behind the Scenes

A rustling sound came from the direction of the living room.

Shameimaru Aya lay on the bed in the study, his eyes wide open, listening intently.

She quickly deduced from the light tapping of toes on the floor that Akina Sawa was outside, because Nikua and the Great Fairy's footsteps wouldn't make such a heavy sound. Mimi

Judging from the noise, Akina Ze was also walking outside, so it didn't seem like a night raid. Although she was looking forward to it, Aya Shameimaru also knew that a dull block of wood wouldn't do such a thing. If no one took the initiative, he would stay in his comfort zone. A few traces of dissatisfaction were revealed in his dark red eyes.

Aya Shameimaru knew that Sawa Akina had been doing something behind the scenes lately. If a famous reporter in Gensokyo didn't know what his roommate was doing, that would be a huge failure.

She had already heard about the large number of mysteriously fainting monsters in the Human Village, and in the past few days she had been searching for possible clues in the streets and alleys of the Human Village, just to report it on the front page of the news as soon as possible.

For this purpose, she also prepared a lot of other materials, such as real footage of the fainting monsters taken at the first moment and interview records after they woke up. She even had stacks of film negatives.

Even so, Aya Shameimaru still had no clue. Even when she tried to experience the feeling of fainting, she failed. It was as if the prisoner had deliberately bypassed her, or perhaps she was just lucky.

"What is Akina Sawa going to do so late? Is he on patrol with Hakurei Reimu in the middle of the night?"

Aya Shameimaru looked puzzled. At first, she thought that might be the case, but then she thought, "It's so late, all the yokai have gone home, right? There are no victims, and the culprit won't show up, so what is he going to do?"

While I was wondering what was going on, Akina Ze in the living room had already put on his shoes, opened the door, and was ready to leave.

Aya Shameimaru, who had been listening silently, immediately rolled off the bed. Her white pajamas shone softly in the moonlight. She quickly took off her pajamas and put on a shirt dress. She stood up, bent down, and stuffed her delicate feet into her black mid-calf boots.

The sound of the courtyard gate closing could be heard outside. Aya Shameimaru pushed open the back door of the study, thinking he should hurry up and catch up.

But as soon as she took a step, the cold winter wind blew on her face. Only then did Aya Shameimaru realize that something was missing from her head. She had no choice but to turn around and put on the small red five-pointed hat before rushing off in the direction that Sawa Akina had gone. The tassels hanging from the brim of the hat swayed in the air.

......

Aya Shameimaru followed behind Sawaya Akina all the way, but the more they walked, the more confused she became.

Because this was not the path leading to Hakurei Shrine, but rather heading towards the edge of the Human Village, she remembered that there was a bamboo forest ahead, but it was still some distance from the Lost Bamboo Forest.

The process of following was quite boring, and Aya Shameimaru couldn't help but wonder about Sawaya Akina's intentions in sneaking out in the middle of the night.

The direction of the Hakurei Shrine is not here, and neither is the direction of Kirisame Marisa, the girl she recently noticed behaving strangely.

Wait, could it be a third person she doesn't know about?!

The moment this thought arose, Aya Shameimaru's mind was like a stormy ocean, turbulent and turbulent.

But this conjecture is highly probable... because this is the direction leading to the Lost Bamboo Forest, and besides the rabbits that are a specialty of the Lost Bamboo Forest, there is also a heavyweight character—Kaguya Houraisan.

Princess Kaguya possessed an unparalleled beauty, and she was renowned throughout the world for her beauty, which was enough to bring ruin to a country.

If it's because of Princess Kaguya... Aya Shameimaru's clever little mind raced.

If it were true, she wouldn't mind giving Kaguya Houraisan a few big reports in her newspaper, but upon closer inspection, the possibility was too low, because Kaguya Houraisan was almost never going out, and Akina Sawa hadn't left the Human Village recently either, so there was no possibility of them meeting, so she couldn't go to find her.

Aya Shameimaru breathed a sigh of relief upon reaching this conclusion, while Kaguya, far away in Eientei, was still staying up all night playing games in front of her computer screen, unaware that she had missed another opportunity to be criticized in the newspaper.

But this brings us back to the original question... What exactly is Akina Sawaya going to do?

Just then, Aya Shameimaru noticed that Akina Sawa ahead had also turned and walked into a bamboo grove by the roadside, so she quickly followed after him.

A gentle breeze rustled through the bamboo grove, making the dry, yellow leaves rustle softly.

......

"I came alone, what are you talking about?"

Upon hearing Miyaguchi Ruiling say that there were others following behind her, Akina Ze asked in confusion.

He was certain that he had come alone. Even when he was at home preparing to leave, he was very quiet and didn't wake up the two fairies in his room, let alone Aya Shameimaru in the study, who was separated by a living room.

It's impossible that someone was following him while he was walking down the street, because Akina Ze kept looking back and didn't find a trace of anyone. Besides, who would secretly follow him?

Of course, there are a few possibilities if Fujiwara no Mokou finds herself being followed while walking on the street late at night, but the probability of that is too small. Mokou also needs to sleep, so how could she possibly come out to patrol in the middle of the night?

"Hehe~ Sorry, it's me, Akina-kun~"

Just as Akina Sawa was looking at him with a "what are you talking about?" expression, Shameimaru Aya stepped out of the shadows behind him with an awkward smile on her face.

It was a rare experience for Aya Shameimaru to have her superb stalking skills discovered.

"Miss Wenwen, weren't you sleeping in the study?"

Akina Sawa was also very surprised. He never expected that someone would actually be following him, and it was Aya Shameimaru.

"It's because you've been getting involved in things that have nothing to do with you lately, making me sensitive too." Aya Shameimaru pouted and rolled her eyes at Zeya Akina.

"Haha, I can't help it, people always come knocking." Akina Ze scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"You still dare to talk back! You just go whenever someone invites you? Don't think I don't know about your trip to Alice's house last time!"

Upon hearing this, Aya Shameimaru immediately became angry and kept complaining.

From the magical forest on the surface to the Earth Spirit Temple underground, Aya Shameimaru complained about every place she could find out information from with her spies.

Akina Ze could only lower his head and obediently accept the scolding. After all, making a mistake meant getting a beating, but correcting it was absolutely out of the question.

"Crack!"

A tree branch was snapped in half by Miyako Ruiling, veins bulging on her forehead. "You two, if you like to show off your love, go home and do it!"

Having never experienced the taste of sweetness or bitterness in her life, Miyakojiru Ryouki, now a vengeful spirit, is forced to have her mouth stuffed with food after death. She says she's had enough!

"Now it's my time!"

"No way! Zeya! You're even going to attack vengeful spirits?!"

Upon hearing this, Aya Shameimaru was quite surprised and turned to question Sawa Akina.

"Ah? No!"

This is utterly an undeserved disaster! Although Miss Miyaguchi Ruiling is indeed quite beautiful, I can't do just anything.

"I've had enough!" Miyaguchi Rui suddenly sprang to her senses, intending to possess Shameimaru Aya to make her faint and shut up.

Although he was bickering with Aya Shameimaru, Akina Sawa was also keeping an eye on Miyaguchi Zuirei's actions. The moment she made a move, he picked up Aya Shameimaru and turned around to protect her behind him.

......

Chapter 152 Bamboo Forest Under the Moon

"Miss Miyagami, is this your way of treating guests?"

Akina Ze also faced Miyaguchi Ruiling who was flying towards him and said loudly, "If that's the case, then there's no need for us to continue talking."

These words reminded Miyaguchi Ruiling, who was blinded by anger, of her purpose for coming here tonight. She calmed down, and although her face was still somewhat pale, she stopped her attack. Her tone was a mixture of anger and compromise, "I hope that tonight's conversation is known only to the two of us."

“I assure you, Ms. Aya won’t tell anyone about this,” Akina Sawa said, turning to Aya Shameimaru behind him. “Right, Aya?”

"Huh? Yes...yes."

In a daze, Aya Shameimaru heard the words in her ear, snapped back to reality, and responded softly.

She looked at Akina Zeya's broad back in front of her, and realized that in the blink of an eye, she had been pulled up by the waist and placed behind him.

Aya Shameimaru wasn't caught off guard, but the warmth emanating from the thick palms of his hands completely drained her of her strength.

This is so embarrassing... Aya Shameimaru blushed deeply, and a faint white mist rose from her hair.

However, Akina Sawa did not notice anything unusual about Aya Shameimaru, only that she was standing quite close to him.

"Look, Miss Wenwen has already agreed. If you don't agree, then I'd better leave."

Akina Sawa knew that Miyaguchi Ruiling must have something to ask of him, otherwise why would she tell him through Suika that she was waiting in the bamboo forest?

Moreover, judging from the events of the past few days, Miss Miyaguchi Ruiling is not a vicious person. The fact that she only made the possessed monster unconscious for a short time and was unharmed after waking up shows that she is quite sensible.

Others may not know the truth, but Akina Sawa does. Even after such a betrayal, Miyaguchi Ruiling still did not choose to kill. If it were him, none of them would have escaped.

Considering all aspects, Akina Sawa was not afraid of what Miyaguchi Rui Ryo might do to him.

Facing the figure so close at hand, Akina Ze showed no sign of backing down.

"Sigh~" Miyako Ruiling sighed. She could tell from his eyes that he was serious. Even though he had become a ghost, why wasn't he afraid?

This vengeful spirit is such a failure...

Miyaguchi Ruiling subconsciously reached for her pipe, but then remembered she had no tobacco, so she gave up. She looked up at Akina Sawa and said, "If you insist on this, I really can't do anything about it, but I just want to ask you one thing."

Miyaguchi Zuirei slowly asked, "In your opinion, is life outside better or life in Gensokyo better?"

Why is this the problem?

A flicker of doubt flashed through Akina Ze's mind. He had expected the conversation in the middle of the night to reveal some earth-shattering secret, but it had turned out to be so mundane...

He opened his mouth, about to say something casual to brush it off, but seeing the serious look in those light blue eyes, Akina Ze fell silent.

The guardian of the old era awaits an answer... Even now, as a vengeful spirit, traces of the past can still be seen on her face...

Among the guardians, they slay demons and monsters.

If we choose to be perfunctory here, it is not only perfunctory towards Miyako Deguchi Ruiling, but also perfunctory towards ourselves.

However... Akina Sawa was also somewhat surprised to find that his memories of the outside world had become blurry, while his memories of the year he lived in Gensokyo were very vivid.

Is this a bad thing?

Akina Ze thought about it for a while but couldn't come up with an answer. But with his current life, he had already found the answer.

"Ms. Miyakuchi, I just want to tell you that I'm doing very well now. I love Aya... and everyone else."

Despite the excruciating pain in his lower back, Akina Ze remained unfazed and spoke to Miyaguchi Ruiling.

"During this year, I did not see any humans being bullied by monsters. Everyone was living quite well. Perhaps it was not as exciting as the outside world, but it was still a kind of happiness."

"If you think I'm lying, then please stay in the human world for a few more days and take a good look."

Taking his current life seriously was a choice Akina Zeya made. He looked directly into Rui Ling's eyes. Although he was just a farmer, he knew a little about martial arts. If anyone insisted on disrupting his peaceful life, he might as well give them a few punches in the face.