Crossover: A Different Inuyasha.

Chapter 76 The Gift at the Banquet, the Awakening of Kikyo

The New Year's banquet was held in front of the gate of Ruri Shrine.

The shrine was illuminated by thousands of paper lanterns, and the warm light stretched like a galaxy from the stone steps at the foot of the mountain to the eaves of the main hall.

To avoid the pressure of gatherings and inconvenience, the Water Mirror Technique was developed on a large scale two years ago, spearheaded by the Rain Master Bailu.

At this moment, above the shrine, two ethereal projections are suspended in the night sky, like two giant mirrors held up by moonlight.

The lights of Zenkenkyo were reflected on the left.

A stage was set up in the center of the square. Whenever there was a performance, the water mirror would be artificially focused, so that the joyful laughter would be carried by the night wind and sent high into the sky, spreading throughout the shrine and Rashomon.

On the right is Luo Shengjing's banquet.

The banquet was spread out more openly and wildly.

Dozens of huge bonfires were set up in the open space at the city gate, and the monsters sat in a circle around them, flowing out of the central performance area.

The Thunder Beast Clan's visually stunning electric and fire performance, the Fox Clan's lifelike transformation techniques, their extraordinary strength, and the simple and honest songs and dances of Shan Jianjing—it was a spectacle where one act followed another.

The yokai-themed TV projection simultaneously displays the bustling activity of two cities above the shrine, with every frame meticulously reflected.

The light and warmth of the Eastern New Year are laid bare under the moonlight without reservation.

And the cities that spread to the Eastern Kingdom with more than 5,000 people, which were officially organized.

Magnificent and unprecedented!

Meanwhile, the banquet in the shrine courtyard reached its climax.

Long tables were arranged in a row along both sides of the central courtyard, and the guests at the seats wore sun and moon epaulets with the symbols of "Celestial Phenomena" and "Condensed Qi".

These people are Inuyasha's direct subordinates, the true high-ranking officials of the Eastern Kingdom.

On the high platform, Inuyasha sat in the main seat, one hand resting on the edge of the table, the other casually resting on his knee, his posture relaxed.

Those eyes shone brightly in the interplay of lamplight and moonlight, like a beast king with half-closed eyes, yet taking in the entire courtyard.

Seated to the lower seat was Sesshomaru, the only "Transformation God Celestial Venerable" in the publicly available information of the Eastern Kingdom, whose power was so great that he could be considered the second-in-command.

His eyes were half-closed, neither looking at the high platform nor the courtyard, as he struggled with the wine in his hand—he wouldn't allow himself to fall down in the same place again!

In this strange, baffling place, the big dog was unexpectedly difficult to handle.

Further down are the two guardians, Yura, representing the yokai of Rashomon, and Kaede, representing the humans of Zenkenkyo.

The two exchanged toasts and chatted happily.

From the perspective of others, it symbolizes the harmonious coexistence of humans and monsters.

We are separated only by a narrow strip of water, and we are inseparable.

Then, the four leopard cat kings, Donglan, Chunlan, Xialan, and Qiulan, sat expressionlessly in the audience, while Donglan, Chunlan, and Qiulan each had a different expression.

They only breathed a sigh of relief when their eyes fell on the gleaming "Sun Wheel" epaulettes on their eldest sister's shoulder.

Unlike the [Moonlight] shoulder insignia, the only strong person now capable of wearing the [Sun Wheel] insignia is the eldest sister of her family, ranking third in the entire Eastern Kingdom!

The first two are Jieluo and Feng.

The confidence that came with their strength made the leopard cats, who were being targeted in private, a little nervous when they suddenly saw so many powerful figures in the central courtyard, but they quickly relaxed.

As the fireworks streaked across the sky, Xia Lan's cat tail flicked unconsciously.

Lei Shou and his two sons sat a little further back, with Lei Ming sitting upright like a bell, his gaze steady.

Hiten imitated Sesshomaru, pretending to be a deep and handsome man. However, Hiten's self-control was much weaker, and he soon ate with his mouth full of oil.

Rain Master Bailu sat opposite the Thunder Beast, slowly chewing a piece of rice cake, her eyes scanning the performance in the sky with great interest.

This kind of life is much more comfortable than being a stay-at-home water goddess in the countryside.

The toad and the old woman Li Tao sat side by side, one short and one tall, one fat and one thin, with a lot of food piled on the table between them.

The wolf demons sat near the center, with the old white wolf sitting upright, and Steel Fang and Changpu sitting to his left and right respectively.

The old white wolf was speaking in a low voice, and Steel Fangs lowered his head, listening attentively.

There are also evil spirits such as wolf and wolves, some sitting upright and others leaning casually.

As time passed, everyone's gaze, drawn together in the darkness, fell unanimously on the crimson figure on the high platform.

News has already spread that at today's Lunar New Year banquet, the Divine Lord will bestow new spiritual garments according to merit!

No one knows who will win, but everyone is calculating their own achievements.

As midnight approached, a third projection appeared in the sky, inserted between Zenkenkyo and Rashomonkyo. The image showed the scene in front of Ruri Shrine—dozens of young shrine maidens were arranged in a square formation in front of the main hall, dancing to the sound of flutes and drums.

White robes and scarlet trousers fluttered in the interplay of moonlight and lantern light.

Like a flock of white cranes lifted by the night wind, they circled and drifted between the firelight and the night.

The clear, melodious songs flowed from those tender lips, like the tinkling of a mountain stream, one after another, overflowing the entire courtyard, climbing up the eaves, and swirling in the night sky between the lights and stars.

Sesshomaru, whose eyes were half-closed, subtly raised his gaze.

A group of lovely and charming girls appeared in the golden eyes reflecting the lights and starlight.

As the dance ended, the projection in the sky changed—the image of the young witches, innocent and full of life, vanished like ripples on water, replaced by the actual scene in the courtyard at that moment.

The lights, the long table, the faces of the high-ranking officials filling the room, and the figure in a red robe on the high platform were all reflected in the night sky, making the scene completely quiet.

"Gentlemen!"

Inuyasha picked up the wine cup from the table, stood up, his eyes blazing, and his voice resounded throughout the heavens and the earth, echoing across the four corners of the eastern lands!

"Today marks the seventh year of the Eastern Kingdom. From a small corner of the land to the entire Musashi region, where humans and demons coexist, these seven years have not been just my seven years. They have been built brick by brick by each and every one of you with your swords, your blood, and your daily hard work."

As Inuyasha spoke, he turned his head slightly, taking in the faces of everyone.

"Some charge into battle, some hold the rear; some command the wind and rain, some bury themselves in farming; some risk their lives, some guard the land. Without any one of them, the wall of the East cannot stand."

The audience was completely silent, with only the soft tinkling of the copper bells on the eaves in the night breeze and the rising and falling of breaths warmed by the lamplight.

"So today—" Inuyasha raised his sake cup even higher, "is not only a New Year's Day, but also a day for rewarding those who have rendered meritorious service."

"At tonight's New Year's banquet, each person will be bestowed with two pieces of spiritual armor according to their merits, to protect the majestic mountains and rivers of our Eastern Kingdom!"

The moment the words fell, the air below the stage seemed to ignite.

A low murmur arose from the seats, like the wind sweeping through wheat fields, layer upon layer.

It wasn't one, but two?! Hope has increased!

Some people sat up abruptly, some gripped the edge of the table tightly, and some lowered their voices.

Even Sesshomaru raised his eyes, anticipating a worthy opponent.

Meeting the surging gazes, Inuyasha brought the sake cup to his lips, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

He then put down his empty cup, pointed to the audience, and announced, "First up, Leopard Cat Chunlan!"

In that instant, the commotion in the courtyard seemed to be silenced by an invisible hand.

A surprised commotion arose from the seats, spreading outwards in concentric circles like wind across a lake—no one had anticipated this outcome.

In terms of merit, the Leopard Cat Clan messed up while hunting Naraku, so they're in a dilemma about whether or not to give him a reward; in terms of seniority, Donglan is the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings, and Xialan is also quite active.

All eyes turned to the leopard cat's seat, filled with astonishment and resentment.

When Chunlan's name was called, her mouth dropped open, like a fish pulled from the water.

Her cat-like eyes widened, and her tongue moved as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. In the end, she could only stick out a finger and point to the tip of her nose.

"Huh? Me—me?"

Her voice was two octaves higher than usual, carrying an adorable air of near bewilderment.

The cat's tail suddenly straightened from behind and then slowly drooped down, like a kitten that had been suddenly praised by its owner, completely unaware of what it had done to deserve such praise.

Chunlan turned her head to look at Donglan, as if to confirm whether she had misheard.

Dong Lan's expression at that moment was truly fascinating.

Her proud face froze slightly, her eyes gleaming with disbelief, and her cat ears involuntarily perked up.

Her pursed lips relaxed again, and her gaze shifted from Chunlan to Inuyasha on the high platform.

What's this guy up to?

Donglan wanted to question it, but Chunlan was her younger sister. How could an older sister not be happy when her younger sister obtained a spirit costume?

But then again, having your own things is worse than having your parents'!

"Ugh, I'm so jealous!"

As expected, it's still the same as before, that despicable evil half-demon!

Donglan gritted her teeth, thinking of the transformed, all-powerful Sesshomaru, her eyes reddening, and she almost cried.

The other two reacted much more directly.

Xia Lan sprang up from her seat, braced herself against the edge of the table, raised her cat tail high, and burst into an uncontrollable laugh.

She called out to Chunlan, "What are you standing there for? Get on stage!"

Qiu Lan raised the roasted chicken leg towards Chun Lan, grinning as she said, "Hurry up and go up." Then she used her other hand to push Xia Lan back into her seat.

"That's right, it's you."

Seeing Haruaki's surprised and bewildered expression, Inuyasha said, "Don't just stand there, come up here."

Chunlan seemed to thaw out, staggering to her feet from her seat, so nervous that her cat tail was almost stiff as a stick.

Her heart was pounding as she strode toward the platform. Her steps were initially unsteady, but after a few steps she regained her composure.

It's really her.

Very good!"

Chunlan climbed onto the high platform, and Inuyasha led her to the platform.

"Aren't you all wondering why it's Chunlan?"

Inuyasha asked a question with an air of composure that silenced everyone as he finished speaking, "When it comes to charging into battle, the Leopard Cat Clan has Donglan; when it comes to command and coordination, they have Xialan; when it comes to overcoming difficulties, they have Qiulan."

"Chunlan has never really stood out much; sometimes, she even seems like the weakling among the Four Heavenly Kings."

Upon hearing this, Chunlan almost lashed out at Inuyasha with her claws. What?! She was clearly very useful! Inuyasha continued, "But what you don't know is that in recent years, news of the search for the elixir of resurrection has gathered in Rashomon from all directions. Who has been recording, comparing, organizing, and archiving it? It's Chunlan!"

"The leopard cat clan traveled all over the world, and every ancient scroll and every oral account they brought back was meticulously sorted out by Chunlan, who picked out the truly useful information from the vast sea of ​​miscellaneous data."

The audience fell silent, and some gazes began to shift from doubt to seriousness.

As Inuyasha finished speaking, he turned his head slightly, glanced at Haruaki, and affirmed.

"The resurrection spell plays a crucial role in the development of the Eastern Kingdom and in the lives of everyone present!"

"so""

Inuyasha turned around and faced the audience, "This spirit dress is not a prize for Harunashi's cat paws, but a prize for her brilliant mind."

"She deserves this award!"

Xia Lan was the first to clap her hands, and Qiu Lan followed suit. The two clapped vigorously as if a floodgate had been opened, their cat tails swishing wildly.

Slightly better than illiterate, Donglan, who prefers action to thought, clapped along.

The others, while clapping, seemed to be deep in thought.

Clearly, Inuyasha was emphasizing that there are irreplaceable things that can enhance the cultural heritage of the Eastern Kingdom, and these are more important than mere performance.

Chunlan stood on the high platform, the tips of her ears already bright red, and her cat tail unconsciously curled up and then loosened.

She lowered her head, looking at her toes, and mumbled something in a low voice, as if afraid of being overheard.

"I thought you'd forgotten."

Inuyasha chuckled, "I'll never forget you, the one who just keeps working hard."

As he spoke, he looked at the second person and said in a clear voice, "Nine-Nine Toad!"

Another low commotion arose during the gathering, but this time it was a much stronger surprise than it had been during Chunlan!

The leopard cat clan is powerful and should have more authority, but you are just a lowly Qi Condensation cultivator with no clan backing you. Why should you receive a reward?

Based on the daily management of the Eastern Kingdom?

Is that something amazing?

Flying Sky from the Thunder Beasts, Steel Fang from the Demon Wolf Clan, and even Daigokumaru, who was hiding in the Hundred Ghost Bats and acting like an invisible person, all stared intently at the Nine-Nine Toad.

However, the old white wolf, along with other more intelligent demons and humans like Tsukiyomaru, managed to figure out something about Inuyasha.

Meanwhile, some people who were not strong enough and had no one to support them had a gleam in their eyes.

It wasn't until the old witch Li Tao nudged Jiu Jiu Chan with her elbow that the latter snapped out of his disbelief.

With a push of his short, fat legs, he almost rolled off his seat and rushed toward the platform in two quick steps.

He knelt down on the platform with a thud, placed his hands on the stone slab, and kowtowed heavily.

"I was originally just a country bumpkin, living a muddled and aimless life."

The toad reminisced about its past, realizing that its life only gained color after being captured by Inuyasha and made his lackey.

"I am able to stand here thanks to Lord Inuyasha's guidance! It was you who gave me the opportunity to step onto the national stage and become a person of power!"

As Jiujiu Chan spoke, she raised her head, her eyes glistening with tears, like two warmed pebbles in the lamplight.

"From this day forward, I swear to follow Lord Inuyasha to the death—I will never betray this kindness!"

"You are the sun of the East!"

Inuyasha looked at the toad lying at his feet, used his power to lift it up, and then turned to the faces below the stage, some quiet and some craning their necks, and his voice slowly spread out.

"In the seven years of the Eastern Kingdom, all you have seen is the expansion of the land and the filling of granaries, 7..."

"But do you know who is promoting land reclamation? Who is planning irrigation canals, measuring fields, counting population, and encouraging childbirth?"

""

"It's a nine-nine toad!"

"Without him, there would be no granary in Seonkenkyō, no supply line in Rashomōkyō, and no foundation for the elderly to have support, children to be cared for, and 400,000 people to live and work in peace and contentment in the East."

Inuyasha's voice deepened, "Therefore, this second Spirit Gear is awarded to those who have made contributions in pioneering new territories and establishing institutions!"

"At the same time, I appoint you as the Lord of Shanjian Capital, in charge of all affairs of the Eastern Kingdom!"

"I will obey your orders, sir!"

The toad bowed down again, and when it raised its head, its eyes were burning with a crimson intensity.

Inuyasha nodded slightly, said no more, and opened his palms upward.

A deep blue flame ignited, seeping from the lines of the palm, like a flower awakened from slumber, unfurling each petal.

The eyes of the crowd below turned toward them, filled with awe and curiosity.

Many of them witnessed the commotion when Sesshomaru awakened his spirit form.

The demonic power surged to the heavens, both divine and demonic—this was the first time I had ever witnessed Inuyasha using his azure flames to help someone awaken their spirit armor.

Unlike the magic crystal he gave Sesshomaru last time, this time he planned to use a blue flame that had evolved once, possessed greater power, and could transform into pure magic essence, to awaken the soul manifestation of the two of them.

Before the world, tell them with absolute certainty that only he can awaken the spirit armor, and only he can bestow it!

He is the only God of the new world!

In Chunlan's eyes, filled with both fear and longing, and in Jiujiuchan's eyes, brimming with anticipation and excitement, the Azure Flame merged into their bodies, igniting their souls!

Meanwhile, in the shrine's backyard.

In a room filled with flowers, Kikyo slowly opened her eyes.

Her vision went from blurry to clear, like a thin mist being slowly blown away.

The first thing you see is a bright red, festive ceiling with crimson silk hanging down from the beams, and paper-cut "囍" characters that glow warmly in the candlelight.

A faint fragrance floated in the air, delicate and elegant, a scent she liked.

Kikyo blinked.

Thoughts after a long sleep are like turbulent water in a pond, slowly settling and becoming clear.

Memories surfaced like fragments: gray mist, spider lilies, Inuyasha, a bright blue sun, and then a warm hand enveloped her consciousness, enveloping everything in a comfortably soothing darkness.

It's like being in that person's arms, not having to think about anything.

Kikyo opened her mouth, her voice initially soft, like the edge of a dream touching reality.

But the word "dog" had barely left his lips when the last syllable hardened, like the sound of a blade scraping against stone, carrying a sorrowful and hateful tone that had been repeatedly torn apart and was already intertwined with love.

"—Inuyasha"