Chapter 410: 155. Mountain God Sacrifice Approaching_5
Kasahara Fumi immediately looked up.
Across the path covered with white sand, a few stepping stones were perfectly placed, leading all the way to the water’s edge. A stone bridge connected both sides, and a group of women in gorgeous kimonos were walking this way over the stone bridge.
Kasahara Fumi nudged Kawashima Miki’s arm, signaling her to look over there.
Kawashima Miki turned her gaze, watching the group of women on the opposite side. The women were all dressed very plainly, except for the youngest and most beautiful one wearing a light blue kimono, its silk sheen as clear as the sky.
This group, much like noble young ladies out for a spring outing, carefully treaded over the irregular stepping stones. Their laughter echoed under the clear sky, seeming excessively crisp and pleasant.
"He sure has a lot of women around," Kasahara Fumi puzzled aloud.
"Jealous?" Kawashima Miki fixed her gaze on the woman in the light blue kimono, her elegant white neck so full and fair that it was hard to look away.
"Not really."
After Kasahara Fumi spoke, the group of women across the way had already crossed the stone bridge and were coming down the smooth path toward them.
The woman in the light blue kimono was indeed Natsuki Kuri.
"What are you doing here?" she came over, smiling amiably, "I’ve prepared lunch for you upstairs, but didn’t see you for ages, had me thinking that our little Koriya got snatched away halfway... With no other choice, I came down to welcome you in person."
Looking at Natsuki Kuri, who seemed every bit the hostess, Kawashima Miki suddenly felt a surge of rivalry.
In this place, it was her home turf, the place where she shared tender moments with Fujiwara Reya. Her youthful days were closely tied to it... If she could overthrow Kuri’s aura here, the position of the main wife would certainly be rock solid.
Unfortunately, Fujiwara Reya had just come out of the waterfall, unaware of what was on her mind.
If he knew, he would surely advise Miss Miki not to willingly seek trouble... To confront Natsuki Kuri, even he found her a headache, Miss Miki must not want to belittle herself.
Natsuki Kuri looked at the drenched Fujiwara Reya, frowning: "What nonsense is this?"
That gaze was earnestly like that of an elder, always fixed at the same angle on Fujiwara Reya, not letting any of his actions slide. Those were resolute and bright eyes, and from her expression, one could even feel a sense of reproach.
"Re-living childhood..." Fujiwara Reya shrank his neck, then pitifully gazed at a middle-aged woman standing next to him, "Aunt Qing, long time no see."
This woman was the manager of the sleeping palace, responsible for internal affairs.
"It’s been so long since you came home, have you forgotten Aunt Qing?" Aunt Qing took out a small fan from her waistband, gently tousled his wet head, and fanned while scolding affectionately, "The Mountain God Festival is approaching, and we already have guests. If they see you like this, they might privately laugh at you."
"Let them laugh." Fujiwara Reya smiled indifferently.
Thwap.
Aunt Qing tapped his head with the fan.
Immediately after, she too laughed helplessly, her expression turning from reproach to affection.
"Let me introduce you," Fujiwara Reya said to the other two, "this is Aunt Qing, the manager of the sleeping palace."
Kawashima Miki bent over to greet her softly, "Hello Aunt Qing, just call me Miki."
After some hesitation, Kasahara Fumi also bowed slightly, a bit compunctious, "Hello Aunt Qing, I am Fumi."
"And who are they?" Aunt Qing sized up the two beautiful women.
"My girlfriends, both of them!" Fujiwara Reya quickly replied.
Kasahara Fumi, who intended to self-introduce, thus solidified the ambiguous relationship between her and Fujiwara Reya.
"You, learning from your father’s bad ways, choosing to imitate his playboy habits!" Aunt Qing feigned anger, tapping Fujiwara Reya’s head with her finger, yet clearly in her eyes was a smile urging him to quickly marry them and have children. She then stepped to the soon-to-be brides, holding their hands as an elder would, "Come on, I’ll take you to the sleeping palace. Kuri made two outfits for you; we’ll see if they fit or need alterations... Oh, and before Lin Ye’s mother went to Takamagahara, she left gifts for her future daughters-in-law, I’ll get them for you..."
Kawashima Miki was brimming with joy, while Kasahara Fumi also foolishly got swept along.
Everyone walked from the front yard into the courtyard, situated on a flat mountainside.
From below, the space seemed not too large, but upon approaching, it was spacious beyond one’s eye reach. Surrounded by grassy pine forests, a vast lake lay at the center, a hundred-meter-wide rushing river flowing. Soft grass swayed waist-high, dancing in the summer breeze. Blooming flowers peeked out in places, teeming with vibrantly colored butterflies.
On this expansive land, the Mountain God Festival was already on rehearsal.
Nearly a thousand troops were practicing swift tour in courtly attire. They rode majestic horses, carried ornate palanquins, pulled ox carts, held ancient umbrellas, played flutes, and beat drums... Adorned with flowers, twelve divine palanquins carried girls in ceremonial attire, charmingly cute.
White cranes circled in the air, the strong wind wailing; powder-like light poured down like raindrops. White deer sipped water, their tongues lightly skimming the surface, rippling water rings.
Kawashima Miki and Kasahara Fumi were both quite awestruck.
In this place, they seemed to experience what divinity truly was... releasing restrictions, clarity, divinity mingling with the surrounding sound of the wind. Standing here, regardless of how unbelievable things usually were, at this moment, anything seemed credible.