The afterlife blew up Gensokyo

Later, her high fever subsided, but her mother collapsed from exhaustion.

Helpless, she ran to her father, hoping he would visit her mother, but the man dismissed her with a nonchalant remark that he had already sent a doctor over. He didn't offer any words of concern, nor did he even glance at her.

She silently returned to her mother's room, and upon seeing that she was the only one there, she clearly saw the light in her mother's eyes dimming little by little.

That was her first argument with her mother.

It wasn't until her mother suddenly fainted that she belatedly realized how wrong she had been.

At that time, she sat beside her mother, hugging her knees, keeping watch all night without daring to close her eyes. Her gaze was fixed on the darkness before her, and her mind was filled with more complicated thoughts than ever before.

Why was that man so heartless? Why did her own mother still speak up for him? Why did her own mother still love him? And... what exactly is love?

She thought about it all night but still couldn't figure it out.

However, she later came to a realization: since that man couldn't protect her mother, then she would protect her mother herself. When she grew up, she wanted to become a general.

...This was her initial wish.

“Silly child…a girl is not fit to be a great general…your brothers, on the other hand, might be…”

When she excitedly told her mother about her wish, her mother gently reached out and patted her head.

Why can't a woman be a general?

She looked up at her mother with a puzzled expression.

"……Why?"

Her mother was stunned for a moment.

"...How can a woman become a general?"

...It seems that's really the case, because everyone says so.

..........................................

"I don't want to get married! I want to stay with you, Mother!!"

She sat obediently in front of her mother, and then spoke angrily.

"Silly child."

Her mother smiled gently as she combed her long hair.

"I think, with my sister Hong being so beautiful, the number of suitors will probably break down at our door in the future..."

"No! No, no, no!"

She covered her ears.

"But remember... a marriage is a matter of a woman's entire life... if she finds a good husband, that's fine... but if..."

A hint of sadness crossed her mother's face at first, then was replaced by a smile.

"But my sister Hong will definitely find a good family. Your husband will definitely treat you well... he definitely will... as long as you can be happy..."

Fujiwara no Mokou doesn't understand love, nor does she believe in it.

Shortly after her mother talked to her about her marriage that day, she secretly cut off her long hair with scissors without her mother's knowledge, began to secretly learn swordsmanship, started to try to fight, and began to try to make herself into someone that no one would dare to marry... Her mother's health was already very poor, and she wanted to stay by her mother's side to protect her.

Later, she became infamous in Fujiwara-kyo, and even those who had originally intended to propose marriage with her all gave up the idea.

She became the most rebellious member of the Fujiwara family.

Her mother still loved that man deeply. Even though he never wore any of the clothes, she continued to make clothes for him stitch by stitch, regardless of the weather.

Fujiwara no Mokou didn't understand what love was, but she felt she didn't need to understand it. As long as she could make her mother happy, that was enough. She believed she could protect her mother well.

One day, she overheard the man talking about a painting, and following the clues about the painting, she found a painter on the street. Later, she got a painting from the painter.

It was a rather peculiar painting. The night sky was serene and boundless, with dim and fragmented starlight, giving people a sense of loneliness and desolation. However, under this lonely starry sky, a blurry figure raised his head and looked up at the stars.

After she brought the painting home, the man somehow found out and, for the first time ever, came to her mother's house and took the painting away. Watching the man's hurried departure, she turned back unhappily, wanting to say something to her mother, but she saw in her mother a kind of composure she had almost never seen before, as if she had finally let go of something...

Later, in the afternoon shadows cast by the eaves, she nestled beside her mother and listened to her tell a long story.

It was actually a very old-fashioned story of a hero rescuing a damsel in distress. A playful girl was attacked by a monster on her way home, and a passing wandering samurai saved her, but the samurai was also seriously injured and died as a result.

Fujiwara no Mokou was puzzled as to why her mother would tell her such a tragic story. Her mother gently explained that it was a vague dream she had since childhood, and after seeing the painting Mokou brought home, the previously hazy dream became vividly real. The playful girl in the story was herself in a past life, and the samurai who died saving her was her father, whom she now resented. Her one-sided love for Fujiwara no Mokou stemmed from this.

Past lives create causes, present lives create connections. However, it's time to let go of some things we've been clinging to.

But that man doesn't love you.

Fujiwara no Mokou retorted blankly, and then her mother's smile became even brighter.

Those things aren't important. What matters is that I became his wife in this life, and that's enough for me. Not all feelings are reciprocated; love is never about possession.

Fujiwara no Mokou didn't understand, but seeing her mother become relaxed after so long, she couldn't help but feel happy too.

However, she immediately felt an endless curiosity about the painter who had created this magical painting.

But for some reason, the other party hasn't come out at all in the past few days. She went to the tree in that place to wait many times, but she never saw the other party come out to set up the stall again.

On the contrary, she met Hieda Arie, who was also searching for the painter. After learning from him about the things that had been troubling him for the past few days, Fujiwara no Mokou immediately thought of her own mother.

"You mean he died saving me in my past life, which is why I have such a deep impression of him in this life?"

After listening to Fujiwara no Mokou's confident account, Hieda no Rei was completely stunned.

"That's right, that's exactly it. Let me show you that painting first!"

Based on her so-called experience, Fujiwara no Mokou excitedly dragged Hieda no Rei to her house.

As a retainer entrusted with important responsibilities by the Emperor, and a genius with a photographic memory renowned since childhood, Fujiwara no Fuhito naturally knew Hieda no Rei, so he readily agreed to the other's request to borrow the painting.

"How is it? Does anything come to mind?"

Looking at Hieda Rei, who seemed somewhat lost and pressed her forehead with her hand, Fujiwara no Mokou showed a lot of anticipation.

"Hmm... some vague memories did surface, but they weren't very clear..."

Hieda Rei frowned slightly.

"I think I met him on a ferry... Later, I vaguely remember falling into the river from the boat for some reason, and then he fished me out... Wait... why fish?"

Hieda Arie's expression suddenly became somewhat strange.

"There must have been a storm, so you fell into the river and he rescued you. Isn't there a saying that goes, 'It takes a hundred years of cultivation to share a boat ride, and a thousand years to share a pillow'? Just like my mother's story, it's a hero rescuing a beauty."

Fujiwara no Mokou nodded seriously.

"What happened in your past life has led to what you are destined to be with in this life. That's why you were able to meet again in this vast sea of ​​people! Just like my mother!"

"But I always feel like something's not quite right... Do you know what mahjong is?"

Hieda Rei pressed her forehead hard with her hand, looking quite conflicted.

In her hazy memories, she seemed to have jumped off the boat because of the other person… So something's clearly not right, right? And what exactly is this memory that she so desperately wants to recall…?

"I don't know, but we'll find out if we go find him together. Since he painted this picture, he must have already regained his memories before you. Let's go find him together!"

After watching her mother become more cheerful and relaxed day by day, Fujiwara no Mokou also regained some of the vitality that a child her age should have.

Although the man still rarely came to see them, seeing his mother's health and mood improve day by day was enough.

Fujiwara no Mokou didn't have many extravagant desires or wishes. As long as she could protect her mother and make the only person in the world who was good to her happy forever, nothing else mattered. So she wanted to thank the artist who had changed her mother.

After spending a great deal of time and effort, they finally managed to find out where the other person lived—a bamboo house deep in a remote bamboo forest.

The jungle cottage is surrounded by lush green bamboo leaves, with a few scattered emerald green bamboo leaves on the bluestone path. In terms of scenery alone, this relatively remote place is absolutely stunning.

Before coming here, both Fujiwara no Mokou and Hieda no Rei had planned what they would say when they met each other. However, when they actually arrived and saw the person sitting at the table in the house, all the words they wanted to say changed to... perhaps shock?

Inside the lush and tranquil bamboo house, a man dressed in white sat peacefully at the table, drinking tea. Brilliant sunlight streamed into the house through the gaps in the bamboo grove, reflecting a rainbow of colors.

As for the reason that shocked them... behind someone, a building that looked like a scaled-down version of the bamboo house in front of them was floating and rising in mid-air.

These are actually nothing compared to what's most important: inside the bamboo house suspended in mid-air, a breathtakingly beautiful petite figure is curiously observing them.

Sensing the focus of the two people outside the door, Shi Bai turned his head with a slight puzzlement. When he saw the empty table, he felt a little relieved at first, but then his face stiffened as if he had thought of something, and his gaze slowly moved upwards.

—The runaway princess from the moon capital blinked at him innocently, then pointed to the door.

The meaning conveyed by this NEET princess's actions was quite obvious, and Shi Bai clearly saw the words "It's my fault, isn't it?" in her eyes.

Shi Bai: "..."

The twelve zodiac talismans each possess magical power. He originally thought he had given the other party a snake talisman, but it seems that what he gave the other party before was... a rooster talisman?

P.S.: Good morning!

ヽ(ー_ー)ノ

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Crisis Quietly Vanished

As it was his first formal visit, Hieda no Rei did not stay in the bamboo house for very long.

Her original purpose in coming here was to seek confirmation from the other party and resolve her doubts. However, after this trip, her doubts not only did not decrease, but actually increased.

"As you can see, we are a brother and sister who wandered here."

Pointing to Kaguya Houraisan, who was sitting properly on the table, maintaining the demeanor befitting a princess, Shi Bai's expression was concise and to the point.

"My younger sister was cursed by a villain, which is why her body has become so small. I am currently looking for a way to turn her back."

Regardless of whether what the other party said was true or just an excuse, Hieda Rei already understood that the other party and she were not in the same world at all.

Perhaps it was due to innate talent, but upon entering the room and seeing the erhu, a musical instrument lying horizontally in the corner, it was as if some kind of catalyst had suddenly made those previously vague fragments of memory clear.

The other party's true identity is not some brother and sister who were framed by villains and wandered here homeless, but a grim reaper who guides the souls of the dead on the Sanzu River!

After recalling these memories, her face turned slightly pale, and she didn't stay there for long before hurriedly making an excuse to leave.

This is like a civil servant excitedly visiting a friend he has just made, only to inadvertently discover that the friend's true identity is actually the Black and White Impermanence.

In this situation, even knowing that the other party probably meant her no harm, fear was inevitable. Although she possessed a photographic memory, she was still just a weak human being, and it was only natural that she would feel those emotions. Only someone completely unaware of the situation would show such curiosity.

...That's the Grim Reaper from the underworld!!

Unable to suppress it, Hieda Rei's mind began to wander.

What is the purpose of the Grim Reaper from the underworld coming to the mortal world? Why did he specifically choose to settle in Fujiwara Kyo? And that girl named Houraisan Kaguya, who is not even as big as her hand... She felt that something big must have happened that she didn't know about.

Perhaps in the near future, a large-scale death incident will occur in Fujiwara Kyoto. Will it be a large-scale invasion of monsters, or a terrifying plague outbreak? That's the Grim Reaper... wait a minute.

As if suddenly remembering something, Hieda Rei abruptly stopped in her tracks, her expression changing slightly.

Leaving Fujiwara no Mokou alone with the Grim Reaper... Will she really be alright?

..................................................................

Shi Bai was naturally unaware that his image had been drastically altered in someone's mind, and that the other party had even attributed all of Fujiwara Kyo's subsequent deaths to him... or rather, even if he knew, he wouldn't care much.

He didn't explain too clearly the incident of Kaguya Houraisan being discovered due to the misunderstanding caused by the chicken charm. He was originally worried that his clumsy excuse might not be able to fool Hieda no Rei, but the other party left on his own for some reason, which saved him some effort.

As for the destined bickering couple, Houraisan Kaguya and Fujiwara no Mokou, their first meeting was surprisingly peaceful, perhaps even excessively so.

Kaguya Houraisan originally wanted to put on a show of being aloof as a princess, but she was defeated by Fujiwara no Mokou's exclamation that she had never seen anyone as beautiful as her. The two then chatted happily, while he couldn't get a word in edgewise.

In the end, after pouring Fujiwara no Mokou a cup of tea, he simply let the two of them chat.

Hieda Rei's intentions were unclear to him, but Fujiwara no Mokou's intentions were quite obvious from the beginning: she simply wanted to express her gratitude.

After briefly inquiring about the changes that had occurred to Fujiwara no Mokou's father and mother, Tokihaku remained noncommittal, but became interested in Hieda no Rei's situation.

The painting he gave to Fujiwara no Mokou to take back could only work on certain special people. Only those who held onto an obsession and never forgot it could recover memories related to that obsession through that painting. Such beings were one in ten thousand.

However, similarly, these special souls are the food that evil gods love the most. Neither Hieda Rei nor Fujiwara no Mokou's mother knew that when they regained their memories because of that painting, they had actually already been marked with the mark of evil gods.

—This is one of the methods that evil gods use to hunt for food.

Walking into the courtyard, he looked up and squinted at the sky through the gaps in the bamboo grove for a while before snapping his fingers.

Stand users are attracted to each other, and so are evil gods. If a god devours a soul or allows the power of an evil god to remain in the world for too long, it will attract the attention and invasion of evil gods from other worlds, or even ancient gods.

Because of the unconscious influence from his subconscious, the painting he gave to Fujiwara no Mokou was imbued with an unusually slight power of an evil god. If it weren't for the later incident involving Hieda no Rei, the power of the evil god might have actually been able to secretly spread throughout the world without him knowing.

He was indeed influenced by the evil god Shi Bai from the very beginning; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to react with such rage later, choosing to kill the other party ten thousand times to vent his anger.

Every single one he imprisoned had an extremely strong tendency to destroy the world. Although the reason the Undying Evil God did this was to take this opportunity to spread its power and then escape from prison, and that attracting other evil gods to spy on and pollute the world was just a side effect, it didn't care about all that at all.

Basically, every now and then, those guys would try to break out of prison and cause a lot of trouble. This level of prison break incident is just child's play, and that's the kind of trouble he has to deal with.