Chapter 5
Third person perspective.
In the aftermath of this incident, the government acted exemplary by both appeasing the public and quickly establishing a new framework for the Knife God Society.
Onmyoji were dispatched to repair the barrier, and compensatory resources were sent to every citadel involved, including but not limited to charcoal, tamahagane, cooling materials, whetstones, and other materials.
Fuyuki excitedly entered the forging room, then slunk out.
She tried forging twice this time, both times with an all-350 rating, and got the same scrap material. Fuyuki suspected that the problem was with the forging room, but everything in the citadel was under the control of the Saniwa. In her perception, there was nothing wrong with the forging room, so she had to give up the idea of forging for the time being.
Sitting on the veranda, Fuyuki stroked the little tiger in his arms with one hand and flipped through the terminal with the other. There were many Saniwa discussing on the forum that the Sword God had been found by the Time Travel Army a few days ago, which served as another warning to everyone.
After browsing for a while, Dongshu found it boring, put away the terminal, reached for the cookies placed to the side, leisurely swung her legs, and looked up at the trees in the distance.
The tree was very large and located at a very high position, so it could be seen from anywhere in the citadel.
The tree, which originally had only withered branches, was transformed when the spiritual power of the winter tree filled the citadel. It blossomed with cherry blossoms, which looked like pink clouds covering the sky when viewed from afar.
After a long while, a gentle breeze blew by, and Dongshu finished enjoying the cookies. She patted the crumbs off her hands, wiped them clean with a tissue, and then moved the little tiger in her arms aside and got up.
Several tiger cubs at Dongshu's feet kept tugging at his socks, while Wuhu Tui, who was standing nearby, had a tiger cub circling around him. He looked at the tiger cubs at Dongshu's feet with a hint of urgency on his face.
He whispered, "Little Tiger, you can't..."
Wu Hutui was interrupted before he could finish speaking, and he was somewhat stunned.
It was the Saniwa who pinched his face. Her small hand was a little cold as she gently pinched his right cheek. The Saniwa's fair face was chubby and her bright, dark eyes were focused on him.
When he looked over, she withdrew her hand, as if she hadn't done anything at all.
The Saniwa's eyes grew brighter, and a smile appeared on her face as she looked at the boy whose cheeks were flushed. Fuyuki, who had been standing on tiptoe, landed and said with a grin, "Don't worry, I like the little tiger too."
As she spoke, she squatted down and touched the most lively and smug one. It had no stripes on its back, black toes, and beautiful golden eyes. A black ribbon tied a black bow to its tail, which was now trying to wrap around Fuyuki's wrist.
"Look, they like me too."
"Hmm." Gokoto gave a shy smile.
Gokotai is a shy child, but as his personal attendant today, he is equally capable of fulfilling his duties perfectly.
"Master, it's time for dinner."
"I'm coming right now."
—
It was late at night, and everyone, exhausted from a long day, had already fallen asleep.
What appeared before Fuyuki was a door.
A dilapidated door.
Fuyuki had a feeling that something was waiting for her inside. She groped her way into the building, which resembled a citadel, and stepped into a dilapidated and abandoned world.
This building, which should have been magnificent, appeared dilapidated, with peeling wallpaper on the walls and messy wooden planks on the floor, all revealing the vicissitudes of time.
Along the narrow corridor, accompanied by the creaking of footsteps, Dongshu wandered through the dilapidated building.
The sky was dark and gloomy, and the doors were tightly shut. She could not see a ray of light. Looking around, all she could see was darkness, as if she were lost in the long river of time.
Suddenly, a faint light shone through a crack in a door in the distance. Dongshu walked quickly toward the door, her face stopped, and she slowly pushed it open. The scene before her stunned her.
Inside the room, the walls, weathered and worn, bear the deep marks of time. The furniture of yesteryear has been swallowed up by time, leaving only scattered fragments. A ray of sunlight shines through the broken window, illuminating a corner of the room.
Tsurumaru Kuninaga leaned against the corner of the wall, injured. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell on his pale face, reflecting his exhaustion.
His tattered robes, stained with blood, revealed his tragic past. Dust swirled gently in the corner with each breath, a testament to the passage of time.
The slight sound of the door being pushed open penetrated his eardrums and caught his attention.
Tsurumaru Kuninaga squinted, watching the movement at the doorway.
Fuyuki's figure gradually appeared in front of him. Her black hair fell to her shoulders, and the slight curls shimmered with a soft luster in the sunlight.
Her eyebrows were light in color, and her dark eyes revealed the purity and innocence of her heart.
Her appearance surprised Tsurumaru Kuninaga, as there shouldn't be a Saniwa here.
The strange phenomena that suddenly appeared around us were probably due to this Saniwa who had suddenly appeared.
He tried to smile, but his lips wouldn't move. A dark glint flashed in his red eyes as he said, "Oh dear... were you startled?"
Dongshu's footsteps creaked as he walked on the wooden floor.
She didn't answer him, but walked around some clutter to Tsurumaru Kuninaga's side and leaned down to look at him.
She thought, "How could Tsurumaru Kuninaga... look so disheveled?"
Under the gaze of those red eyes, she raised her hands and gently touched Tsurumaru Kuninaga's wounds.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled patterns on them, like the marks of time etched upon them. The debris on the wall swayed gently in the breeze.
“You…” Tsurumaru Kuninaga’s pupils contracted sharply. He felt spiritual energy being transmitted through the little girl’s fingertips, giving him a warm sensation.
The sky outside the window was gloomy and gray, without a single white cloud, as if it were about to rain.
Fuyuki's movements were slow and gentle as she continuously channeled her spiritual energy into Tsurumaru Kuninaga's body to alleviate his pain.
She moved very gently, afraid of hurting him.
The tranquil atmosphere made Tsurumaru Kuninaga's nerves tense, but he didn't make a sound to disturb Fuyuki.
Fuyuki didn't notice Tsurumaru Kuninaga's state; she continued to look at him intently, the warmth in her eyes gradually widening.
"..." Tsurumaru Kuninaga opened his mouth, wanting to say something shocking, but ultimately chose to remain silent.
He hadn't seen any Saniwa or Tsukumogami for a very long time, but he didn't know exactly how long...
Fuyuki's face was solemn. She didn't stop injecting the spirit into Tsurumaru Kuninaga until there were no more wounds on the spirit in her eyes. Without pausing, she got up, turned around, and walked towards the door of the room.
Just as she was about to open the door, as if possessed, she turned back and said her name: "My name is Dongshu."
Then, she opened the door and left the dilapidated house.
The black crane gazed at the little girl who had healed his wounds but left only her name. He dusted himself off, and Tsurumaru Kuninaga, now unharmed, easily stood up. He gripped the sword that was his true form in one hand: "Life needs a few scares, doesn't it? But a little surprise like this is nice too."
As Fuyuki left, the building gradually disappeared, revealing its original form in darkness.
A red light flashed in the darkness.
"Oh, it's over here."
—
Dongshu woke up suddenly in the early morning, rubbing her head, her mind a little foggy.
She murmured to herself:
"It feels like I had a dream... What was it again?"
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