A Stardew Valley farmer came to Gensokyo.

"Ah, it's morning again."

Yawning, Xia Xun rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed.

His gaze fell on Ibuki Suika beside him. She was curled up in the blankets, sleeping soundly, her golden hair scattered messily on the pillow, her small nostrils flaring slightly with her breathing.

"Get up, Suika~"

Xia Xun reached out and gently pulled the girl, who had her back to him, from under the covers into his arms.

Ibuki Suika nestled softly against his chest, her eyes still tightly closed, making muffled gurgling sounds, like a little animal unwilling to wake up.

Xia Xun couldn't help but laugh, poking her flushed cheeks with his finger and pinching her soft earlobe.

"Ugh~ Don't do that."

Ibuki Suika forced open one eye, staring at him sleepily, her small hand weakly pushing against Natsumi's chest, trying to break free from the control of this great demon who was disturbing her sleep.

However, her resistance was futile. She was still held in Xia Xun's arms, like a cat being teased, allowing herself to be rubbed and stroked.

"Awooo!"

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Ibuki Suika opened her mouth and bit Natsumi's hand, leaving a mark on her sharp little fangs.

"Wow! I give up! I surrender!" Xia Xun shouted, pretending to be in pain.

Suika Ibuki finally opened her mouth, a smug yet bewildered smile on her face, as if she had won a great battle.

She squinted at the small teeth marks on the back of Xia Xun's hand, then suddenly leaned closer and gently licked them with the tip of her tongue.

Well, that counts as treatment.

"Ah~ Good morning, Xia Xun."

Ibuki Suika sat on the bed, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

The oversized men's shirt slipped down to her shoulders, revealing her fair, jade-like skin. The morning light illuminated her sleepy eyes, which seemed to be shrouded in a layer of mist.

She smiled and said good morning, her whole being bathed in the soft morning light, like a tranquil yet vivid painting.

Wow, what a sacred scene!

Xia Xun felt completely healed, and now he wished he could hug the petite and adorable Ibuki Suika tightly and cherish her dearly.

Last night, she was drunk, and when he came back, he simply helped her wipe herself down.

After all, he only wanted to be Electric Kid, not a Newborn.

And if Ibuki Suika were willing, the one who would get electrocuted might actually be the other person.

Suika Ibuki noticed the restless look in Natsumi's eyes, and puffed out her little chest with a smug look, her smile deepening.

She braced herself on the bed, slowly crawled to his side, and suddenly tilted her head back to gently kiss his cheek.

"This is a thank you for taking care of me last night."

After saying that, she nimbly jumped off the bed, stood barefoot on the floor, pulled at the hem of her overly long shirt, and turned around to ask, "Where are my clothes, Xia Xun?"

As expected, Suika is the eldest sister!

Xia Xun touched the spot where she had just been kissed; her earlobes felt slightly hot.

He quickly got out of bed and went to the backyard, taking down the clothes he had washed the night before from the clothesline. Although they weren't completely dry, it wasn't a problem for him, who had mastered water magic.

With a gentle cupping of the palm, the moisture in the clothes is quietly released, leaving them dry and soft.

After returning the dress to the room, Xia Xun turned and went into the kitchen.

He drank quite a bit of alcohol at the festival last night, and even with his current physical condition, he still felt a bit empty and astringent in his stomach this morning.

At this time, a bowl of warm, soft white porridge would be just right.

Of course, all we had left at home was rice for making porridge; the crops we harvested yesterday had already been cleared out.

The firewood crackled in the stove, and the rice porridge in the pot bubbled and steamed, the aroma of rice wafting through the air.

When Suika Ibuki changed her clothes and walked into the kitchen, this was the scene she saw: Natsumi had his back to her, gently stirring the porridge pot with a ladle, the morning light slipping down his shoulders and outlining his calm profile.

Hearing footsteps, Xia Xun turned around, waved a spoon at her, and smiled brightly: "Hungry? Breakfast will be ready soon."

"...Oh, I see."

Suika Ibuki suddenly felt a tightness in her throat, as if something soft was blocking it, and could only give a muffled response.

In the morning courtyard, the dew on the grass blades had not yet evaporated and sparkled in the morning sun.

Xia Xun carried two bowls of white porridge to the stone table and placed one of them in front of Ibuki Suika.

"Be careful, it's hot." He casually reminded her, sat down in front of his bowl of porridge, looked at the slowly rising sun in the distance, and sighed softly, "It's another new day."

"By the way, Suika, where are you planning to go today?" Xia Xun turned around and asked Suika Ibuki curiously.

Suika Ibuki was unconsciously stirring the porridge in her bowl with a spoon when she heard this. She looked up at Natsumi for two seconds, then suddenly scooped up a full spoonful of porridge and put it in her mouth with a "whoosh".

She puffed out her cheeks, chewed, and mumbled with a spoon in her mouth, "Today, I want to go see the Monster Mountain."

“Hey~” Xia Xun thought for a moment and nodded. “I remember that Youkai Mountain used to be the territory of the Oni Clan. Tengu was one of your subordinates, right? It’s normal to want to visit your old haunts after just returning to Gensokyo.”

He took another bite of porridge and continued, "However, the Demon Mountain is now under the control of the Tengu, and the Oni clan has been gone for quite some time. In short, be careful."

Looking at Natsumi, who made no attempt to hide her worry, Ibuki Suika suddenly smiled, her delicate face appearing unusually arrogant and conceited at that moment.

"Hahaha! I am one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Clan—Ibuki Suika!"

She laughed loudly, grabbed the wine gourd from her waist, tilted her head back and took two gulps, then wiped her mouth hard and said proudly, "Nothing will happen! Even if the ghost clan has been gone for a thousand years, those tengu wouldn't dare to attack me."

She patted her chest, her crimson eyes gleaming.

"Because I am the Ghost King!"

Absolute power brings absolute dominance.

Looking at her expression, Xia Xun deeply understood the meaning of those words.

"Oh, I'm relieved then." Xia Xun smiled with a relaxed expression. "By the way, since you're going to the Monster Mountain, could you also find me a tengu named Aya Shameimaru? Please ask her to hand over the photos she took of me yesterday."

“Yes, I’ll take care of it,” Suika Ibuki readily agreed.

The bowl of porridge was quickly emptied.

After cleaning up the dishes, the two went out together.

As they walked to the west gate of the Human Village, Natsumi watched Ibuki Suika's retreating figure as she headed towards the Youkai Mountain, then suddenly raised her hand and waved it forcefully.

"Suika, remember to come home early tonight!" he called out in a raised voice. "I'll save you some dinner!"

The wind carried his words away. Ibuki Suika didn't turn around; she simply waved her arm with her back to him, and her figure gradually disappeared at the end of the misty mountain path.

Xia Xun watched Ibuki Suika walk away, yawned in the rising sun, and went to work.

Chapter Ninety-Two: The Soul-Piercing Demon's Shocking Kneel

7:50 a.m.

Xia Xun arrived at Stardew Valley Farm and began his daily patrols.

This time it went very smoothly. Thanks to yesterday's rat extermination campaign, no crops were stolen today.

The garlic planted in 3.2, and the two square meters of strawberries initially gifted by the fairy, are only two days away from being harvested again. The cucumbers picked two days ago are now bearing small, green, and tempting fruits.

The other crops are also growing well, and the fifteen acres of land are lush and vibrant with life.

The inspection of the farm took Xia Xun almost an hour in total.

When I came to my senses, it was already bright daylight, and the rising sun on the horizon was already halfway up.

"It looks like things will be settled this afternoon."

Xia Xun gazed at the scarecrows scattered along the field ridges and decided to finish adding the rest as soon as possible.

With the scarecrow protecting her, Xia Xun no longer had to worry about birds and other animals stealing her seeds.

However, did Marisa drink too much and oversleep last night?

By this time, even Reimu, that lazybones, should be up by now; she was supposed to go to the Hakurei Shrine for a thorough cleaning today.

Xia Xun was pondering whether or not to go to the Magic Forest to provide a wake-up service for Kirisame Marisa when an overly serious voice suddenly came from behind him.

“Lord Xia Xun”.

"Waaah!"

Xia Xun was startled and jumped forward a long way.

Turning his head, he saw that the spirit demon was standing silently behind him.

Why do you people always make such a frightening entrance?!

He pressed his hand to his pounding heart, almost unable to breathe.

The spirit demon, who had been looking serious and preoccupied with figuring out how to persuade Xia Xun to help her, was taken aback by his exaggerated reaction.

She immediately looked around warily, thinking that something terrifying was lurking nearby.

"Stop looking, you're the one who scared me." Xia Xun couldn't help but complain, "Are you a ghost? There wasn't a single footstep."

"Is it...it's me?" Upon hearing this, the Soul Demon hurriedly turned around and bowed repeatedly to Xia Xun. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry! I habitually conceal my movements, I didn't expect to frighten Your Excellency Xia Xun."

She paused, then added earnestly, "However, Your Excellency Xia Xun is truly knowledgeable. I am indeed half-human and half-spirit, so calling me a ghost wouldn't be entirely inaccurate."

Then, she craned her neck, her face tense, as if she were about to be punished: "Please punish me severely, so that I can atone for this sin!!"

Wow, what a serious girl!

Xia Xun sighed inwardly.

This straightforward and stubborn personality does indeed fit the image of a swordswoman, since swordsmanship is inherently direct and straightforward, no matter how it changes.

Just like the girl in front of me.

To be honest, Xia Xun quite appreciates this kind of personality; it's easy to get along with, and you don't have to worry about guessing what's going on.

"No need for that, it's nothing." He waved his hand and then asked, "Did Miss Youmu come here today to buy some vegetables?"

Soul Demon breathed a sigh of relief, but upon hearing Xia Xun's question, she suddenly took a deep breath.

The next second, he suddenly knelt down in front of Xia Xun with a loud "thud"!

"Lord Xia Xun, I beg you to help me with my cultivation!"

"If you are willing to agree, I will do everything in my power to repay this great kindness!"

Before he finished speaking, he kowtowed again.

The sound was so crisp it felt like it was hitting Xia Xun's own skull, making his head buzz.

"wait wait wait!"

Xia Xun was so frightened that she quickly dodged away. The other person's action almost made Xia Xun and her husband bow to each other in shock.

What kind of movie is this?!

"Miss Youmu, get up quickly!" He hurriedly reached out to help her up, but once again felt his own powerlessness.

Despite her petite stature, Soul Dream is a skilled swordswoman with an arm as steady as a rock, which Xia Xun could not possibly shake.

When the straightforward girl noticed that Xia Xun had moved, she even wriggled to adjust her direction, trying to bow to him again.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Xia Xun's scalp tingled, and he raised his voice to shout, "Get to the point! Stop this!"

Seeing that the spirit demon paused in its movements, he steeled himself and uttered a harsh threat:

"If you keep acting like this, believe me, I'll kneel down and beg you to do it too! We'll finish our wedding vows today, and tonight I'll go find Youyouzi to propose marriage and send you straight to the bridal chamber!"

Who knew that the spirit demon raised her head, her forehead still covered in grass clippings and dirt, but her little face was full of seriousness: "If Your Excellency Xia Xun is willing to move to the White Jade Pavilion in the Underworld, I can marry you to repay your kindness."

Xia Xun was so taken aback by her words that she took a half step back.

What's going on? Is it about taking his life, or about taking him as a person?

They even brought out the classic trope of offering oneself in marriage!

"After all, this is an extremely shameless request of mine, made solely to satisfy my own selfish desires."

With her back straight, Youmu Konpaku poured out her thoughts in one breath: "I earnestly request Mr. Xia Xun to provide some ingredients free of charge so that I can practice my culinary skills!"

Her gaze was intense, and her voice carried a do-or-die determination: "After last night's banquet, I have come to a deep understanding of my shortcomings as Lady Yuyuko's attendant."