The Twelve Trials Starting from Zero

However, his explicit willingness to intervene only aroused Kikyo's suspicion.

"So it really is related to Inuyasha?"

She immediately drew her bow and arrow, took a few steps back, and aimed at Su Qi.

“No, that’s not it.” The latter remained calm and looked at her quietly, saying, “I just want to ensure the safety of you, my future companion.”

"I've already said, I don't want to increase the risk!" Kikyo's eyes were resolute.

"As I've said before, I won't leave easily."

"Do you really want me to attack you?" She slowly pulled back the bowstring, her expression serious.

“You should know that even if you regain your spiritual power, you are no match for me.” Su Qi’s eyes were confident, and his tone of certainty seemed to be stating an unquestionable truth. “Your Demon-Slaying Arrow is extremely powerful against demons and monsters, but it is just an ordinary arrow to humans. In that case, even at this distance, I can cleave your arrow in two with a single strike.”

"Besides the most powerful anti-magic arrow, you should also know various spells and barriers. But spells take time to cast, and setting up powerful barriers also takes time. However, we are so close now that you simply don't have that kind of time. Therefore, in conclusion, I'm sure to win."

Whether this is true or not, we'll have to try it to find out.

"Then let's give it a try."

Before he could finish speaking, a soft clang rang out, and Su Qi's katana was already out of its sheath, transforming into a lightning-fast arc of light that cleaved the wooden bow in Kikyo's hand.

Before the latter could even react or fire an arrow, a clang rang out as the blade was blocked by a transparent barrier.

However, because it blocked the attack, the barrier also twisted and trembled, as if it might break at any moment.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Kikyo released the bowstring, and the arrow shot out, appearing instantly on Su Qi's right shoulder as if in a flash. Then... it was firmly grabbed by a hand, rendering him unable to move.

"See, I told you, I would win."

As he spoke, he sheathed his sword and handed the arrow he was holding in his left hand to Kikyo.

The latter took the arrow, put it back in the quiver, and remained silent.

Although the barrier hadn't broken yet, she knew very well that she had indeed lost. Her arrows couldn't harm her opponent, and his strike hadn't even been delivered with full force; otherwise, he might have been able to break through her hastily erected barrier. Not to mention, he still possessed two Shikon Jewels, which would undoubtedly make him even stronger once used.

The so-called priestess is ultimately a special profession that deals with demons and monsters; battles between humans are not her forte. Furthermore, given that Archer is facing Saber, it's only natural that he would lose.

“How about this?” Su Qi suggested. “Inuyasha has companions with him, and you just want to kill Inuyasha with your own hands, right? Then let me help you block his companions, and you can take this opportunity to see if I am on Inuyasha’s side. If I am, then you can find a way to get rid of my entanglement.”

Do I have any other options?

Kikyo gave him a cold glance, then turned and continued walking.

Su Qi sighed softly and followed. As he walked, he pondered how to proceed in a way that would both save their lives and dissuade Kikyo from her plan to die with Inuyasha, so that she would join him in targeting Naraku.

……

A few days later, in Maple Village.

On a tall oak tree by the village, the half-demon Inuyasha, barefoot, with silver hair, wearing a red fire rat fur coat and two white dog ears on his head, was leaning against a branch, gazing absently at the sunset in the distance.

"Inuyasha... Inuyasha... Inuyasha!"

The sound from below startled him awake. Looking down, he saw a beautiful young girl in a sailor uniform with long black hair looking up at him. Her eyes were bright and clear, and her pretty face showed a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha flipped down and landed beside the girl, somewhat absentmindedly asking, "Is there something you need?"

"Can't I come to see you if there's nothing wrong?" The girl's dissatisfaction grew stronger. She stared at him for a while, then her expression suddenly fell, and she said softly, "Inuyasha, are you... still sad about Kikyo?"

They had recently been attacked by Naraku and learned the truth about what happened fifty years ago. Since then, Inuyasha had been absent-minded, which made her feel somewhat worried and uneasy.

Inuyasha paused slightly, then said in a low voice, "I'm thinking about how to capture Naraku... I... want to avenge Kikyo; it's the only thing I can do for her."

……

"Inuyasha is such an idiot."

Behind the bushes not far away, a handsome man dressed in a blue-black robe and holding a staff secretly watched this scene and said with a helpless expression, "In this situation, how can I mention Kikyo-san in front of Kagome? I should say 'I was actually thinking about you' instead."

He is Miroku, Inuyasha's companion, who travels with him because of their hatred for Naraku. He is a lecherous monk who says "Please have my child" to any beautiful woman he sees.

"Mile, you seem to know a lot about this." At his feet, the young fox demon Qibao looked completely bewildered.

"Ha, of course, because I'm a mature man who has proposed to hundreds of girls."

"But...why hasn't a single woman agreed to have your child yet?"

"Seven Treasures, stop talking..."

Maitreya froze, then covered his face in heartache.

Tears streamed down my face.

But at that moment, Inuyasha's expression suddenly changed.

"This is... the taste of bellflower! How could this be? Didn't bellflower fall off the cliff?"

A look of disbelief flashed across his face, then he quickly said, "Kagome, wait here for a moment, I'll be right back," and leaped up, rushing outwards.

Chapter Sixty-Five: Don't misunderstand, we are innocent.

Inuyasha ran away in an instant, leaving Kagome standing there dumbfounded.

"Kagome, what's wrong with Inuyasha all of a sudden?"

Lemi and Shippo noticed something was wrong and immediately ran over.

“Kikyo…” Kagome looked at Inuyasha’s rapidly receding figure, her expression somewhat complicated, and said, “Inuyasha just said that he smelled Kikyo’s scent and chased after her without looking back.”

"Miss Kikyo...didn't she pass away fifty years ago?"

"No, she was resurrected by a monster called Kijo Ritsu. Later, she fell off a cliff during a battle and disappeared."

"Resurrection? Does Miss Kikyo know the truth about what happened fifty years ago?"

She shook her head slightly. "I heard that after being resurrected, Kikyo harbored deep resentment towards Inuyasha, always believing that he had betrayed her, so she was determined to kill Inuyasha to take revenge."

“That would be troublesome.” Maitreya frowned, his face grave. “We’d better chase after them immediately.”

"Chase after them?" Kagome was taken aback at first, and said with some confusion, "Is that a good idea? I don't want to be a third wheel between the two of them."

"Because Inuyasha is very likely to be killed."

"Inuyasha...is he likely to be killed?"

“That’s right. It’s normal to feel guilty when facing an ex-lover, and to let your guard down. If Kikyo seizes the opportunity, Inuyasha will be in great danger.”

“Master Maitreya, you really know a lot,” Qibao remarked.

"Don't say anymore, Qibao..." Maitreya gazed into the distance at a 45-degree angle, with a hint of tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. "A mature man always has a few unspeakable stories from his past."

Inuyasha is dangerous...

Realizing this, Kagome temporarily suppressed her complicated emotions and immediately rallied, "Master Miroku, Shippo, let's chase after them!"

I don't want Inuyasha to be in danger, I don't want Inuyasha to die... Although I'm annoyed by Inuyasha's two-timing behavior, this is the only thing I truly care about.

Just as the two humans and one demon were about to set off to give chase, Inuyasha, who was not far from the village, happened to stop.

This is the back mountain of the village. At the entrance to the jungle, a handsome man dressed as a ronin, with a long sword at his waist and wearing blue clothes and black hakama, blocked the way.

"You must be Er Gouzi..." Su Qi pretended not to recognize Inuyasha at all, and said arrogantly, "Kikyo told me to wait for you here."

"Who are you?" Inuyasha frowned, looking suspicious. "What's your relationship with Kikyo? Also, I'm not called 'Second Dog'."

"Huh? Aren't you Inuyasha?"

"I am Inuyasha, but not a dog!"

"But aren't you a dog? And you're the second oldest in the family, so aren't you just 'Second Dog'?"

"I'm not a dog!" he said angrily, pulling out the Tessaiga with a clang. "You bastard, want to fight?"

"Sigh, too hot-tempered, too impulsive." Su Qi shook his head, looking disgusted. "You draw your sword at the slightest disagreement. No wonder Kikyo is disappointed in you and even hates you to the point of wanting to kill you."

"What do you know! What exactly is your relationship with Kikyo?"

"Heh..." He chuckled smugly. "These past few days, I've been taking care of Kikyo every step of the way. I've seen her at her most vulnerable, I've walked with her, lived with her, and even hugged her. What kind of relationship do you think we have?"

"What!?"

It was like being struck by lightning, a bolt from the blue.

The Tessaiga clattered to the ground in his hand, and Inuyasha felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. His face turned deathly pale, as if a piece of his heart had suddenly been torn away, and he was in so much pain that he could not breathe.

However, Su Qi then said in a serious tone, "That's right, we're just temporary companions. More than strangers, but not quite friends. The reason I hugged her was because she had just fallen off a cliff, and I had no choice but to do so to save her. Actually, our relationship is as pure as a white lotus flower, so don't get the wrong idea."

Damn it! Why did you say it so ambiguously? And why did you emphasize that your relationship is pure? Doesn't that make it easier for people to misunderstand?

Inuyasha quickly recovered, but was annoyed by Su Qi's way of speaking. He glared at him and said, "Where is Kikyo? She's in the woods behind you, isn't she?"

Just as Su Qi was about to speak, a dead soul insect suddenly flew out from the forest behind him and began to circle around him.

"Alright, it seems our Miss Kikyo can't wait any longer." Seeing this, Su Qi shrugged, stepped aside, and gestured, "Then please, she's waiting for you inside."

"Humph!"

Inuyasha glared at him fiercely, but ultimately suppressed his anger, sheathed the Tessaiga, and walked into the forest.

"Oh, right."

As they passed each other, Su Qi suddenly said, "I'm not lying. Kikyo wants to kill you right now, so be careful."

Inuyasha paused, glanced at him suspiciously, and then, guided by the Soul-Soul Insects, frowned and walked deeper into the forest.

"Er Gouzi, I've gone to such lengths to calm you down, so don't let you get taken down so easily like in the original story..."

Su Qi murmured softly, but didn't hold out much hope. After all, Er Gouzi had low emotional intelligence and was easily swayed by his feelings, so he was really unreliable in this regard.

A moment later, Kagome, Miroku, and Shippo, along with the demon, finally arrived.

"Kagome, Shippo, let's stop for a moment."

Upon seeing Su Qi ahead, Maitreya warily stopped everyone and then stepped forward, saying, "Hello, did you see a young man in a red robe pass by here just now?"

"Are you talking about Inuyasha?" Su Qi smiled and said, "Of course, I'm the one who let him in."

"You know Inuyasha's name?" Miroku frowned, becoming increasingly wary, and subconsciously guessed the identity of the person in front of him.

“No need to guess.” Su Qi said directly, “I am Kikyo’s companion. My mission is to guard this place and not let anyone except Inuyasha in.”

"Why? Do you intend to harm him?"

"You guessed right, but there's no reward." He clapped his hands lightly, his gaze slowly sweeping over the three faces, and said in a sinister tone, "Kikyo resents Inuyasha and wants to drag him down to hell with her. Now... Inuyasha should be getting his comeuppance soon."