I, Wang Ha, the Three Red Unparalleled Assassin

"Before I have seen the light, I may be able to endure the darkness."

Chapter 124 Countdown to the Bamboo Scroll

For a moment, the house was completely silent.

The cool moonlight shone on Kaguya of Houraisan, like a thin veil draped over the girl's long, smooth black hair, or like a touch of light makeup on her bare face.

Although Kaguya Houraisan was wearing only ordinary home clothes, it did not diminish her overall appearance at all, but rather made her seem elegant and noble.

Sitting quietly, Eirin Yagokoro looked at Kaguya Houraisan and sensed a complex mix of emotions in her eyes, including reluctance, apology, and resolve.

The dramatic rise and fall from princess to prisoner did not break Kaguya Houraisan's mind; instead, it transformed her completely.

A scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days of separation.

Although it was only a few months of separation, Her Highness the Princess has undoubtedly grown a lot and is now able to stand on her own.

Eirin Yagokoro was naturally delighted by Kaguya Houraisan's change. She had been struggling with how to persuade Kaguya to abandon the Lunar Capital with her.

From her perspective as a teacher, Kaguya Houraisan, though seemingly carefree and rebellious, was actually a very conservative person at heart, and usually only chose to wear traditional kimonos that were the least understanding of human nature.

Now that Kaguya Houraisan has proposed to flee, Eirin Yagokoro, who had long planned to do so, has no more reason to hesitate.

"It seems Your Highness has made your choice, but can you really stand up against the escort team that will be led by some unknown Sage of the Moon?"

Eirin Yagokoro wanted to test Kaguya Houraisan's abilities again. Although her performance so far had been surprising enough, she was still far from being qualified.

"Oh, right, we could also add that cat demon lady, and the reclusive swordsman who adopted the princess on the ground. But this means going against the entire Moon Capital, and I think you should have a good idea of ​​what kind of power we might be facing."

Eirin Yagokoro smiled as she looked at Kaguya Houraisan, noticing the small fist clenched beneath the girl's sleeve. She shifted the position of her crossed legs and continued to press down:

"There's only one month left. I don't think you three alone can handle the entire Moon Capital."

"Moreover, even if we manage to escape this time, we will face relentless pursuit and capture by the Lunar Capital afterward."

"Therefore, Your Highness, the situation you are facing is truly dire, and may even implicate other innocent people."

When Kaguya Houraisan heard Eirin Yagokoro's last words, her pupils shrank sharply, and she couldn't even bear to imagine such a broken and desperate scene.

Although she had always admired the old mountain elder's calm and composed demeanor in the face of danger, and knew that the old mountain elder was very strong, she had no idea exactly how strong he was.

Perhaps Father's power is already enough to hold his own against Tsukiyo-no-Mikoto, but with the addition of a group of Moon Sages, what chance does he have of winning?

Kaguya Houraisan didn't want to gamble, because if she lost, not only would she face permanent despair, but her sister Himari and her father would also suffer misfortune as a result.

Kaguya Houraisan could never bring herself to endanger her most cherished family members and gamble her future with their lives.

"As expected, I, Kaguya Houraisan, am a woman who brings misfortune."

The girl muttered to herself with a self-deprecating tone, a fleeting look of melancholy in her eyes, because she would not give up trying to fight back.

"Don't worry, Teacher Yonglin. Although I'm still a little confused, I already have a vague plan in my mind."

"Indeed, my strength alone may not be enough, but I can achieve my goals by relying on the strength of others."

Eirin Yagokoro noticed the change in Kaguya Houraisan's self-reference, which indicated that the girl in front of her had taken an absolutely serious attitude, and these remarks also piqued her interest.

Kaguya Houraisan's gaze returned to the window, as if she could see beyond the layers of walls of the Fujiwara residence and into the entire Heian-kyo. Her tone was cold and devoid of any emotion.

"For example, those humans and demons who are still lusting after me right now!!"

"Is that so? Using oneself as bait to manipulate and exploit those with ulterior motives is indeed a viable tactic."

Eirin Yagokoro watched Kaguya Houraisan's changing expression. Her deep blue eyes were as unfathomable as a bottomless pool, and no one knew what she was plotting.

"Do as you wish, Your Highness. I've been out for so long, it's time for me to go back."

"Wait a minute, Yonglin. I have something else I'd like to ask you. Could you please take a look at someone's medical condition?"

"Oh? Who is it?"

"The wife of the owner of this mansion, Lady Fujiwara."

Eirin Yagokoro naturally wouldn't refuse Kaguya Houraisan's request, and she had also heard from the previous conversation about how the Fujiwara family had been taking care of Kaguya Houraisan recently.

In return for kindness, Yagokoro Eirin was also willing to repay those who had been kind to the princess in this way.

Lady Fujiwara suffered from tuberculosis, which was undoubtedly an incurable disease in that era, but Eirin Yagokoro did not find it difficult to treat.

"Um, Yonglin. This medicine..."

After receiving the potion prepared by Eirin Yagokoro, Kaguya Houraisan asked uneasily:

"Does that medicine have any side effects? If there are any precautions I should take, I can remind you."

Eirin Yagokoro thought about her prescription and said somewhat uncertainly:

"There shouldn't be any serious side effects, but it seems to cause patients to have a high fever for a period of time, but otherwise there shouldn't be any major problems."

"Really? Then I'm relieved."

Kaguya patted her chest, her tense expression easing. Looking at the potion in her hand, she couldn't help but feel happy for Fujiwara no Mokou and Fujiwara no Fuhito.

Eirin Yagokoro saw Kaguya Houraisan smiling, a genuine joy she had never seen on Kaguya's face before. It seemed that her troublesome disciple had finally made some reliable friends and partners.

"Your Highness, if there's nothing else, I'll be taking my leave now."

Upon hearing the sound, Kaguya Houraisan looked at Eirin Yagokoro. She couldn't help but take two steps forward and hug her, feeling the familiar warmth emanating from her.

"Teacher Yonglin, if there is a chance in the future, I will definitely introduce my father to you. I believe you will get along well!"

Hearing Kaguya Houraisan whispering in her ear, Eirin Yagokoro hugged Kaguya back and patted the girl's back, responding:

"There will be an opportunity. I really want to see what kind of person this is that you care about so much, Kaguya."

Eirin Yagokoro has left.

As Kaguya of Houraisan gave her her final disciple's salute, Eirin Yagokoro left seemingly without any regrets.

Leaping over the walls of Heian-kyo, Yagokoro Eirin returned to the hillside where she had been teleported down by Watatsuki Toyohime, and took out a jade medicine bottle from her waist.

"It would be impossible for Her Highness to complete such a large and complex plan by herself alone. It seems that I will have to use the excuse of seclusion in the Moon Capital to sneak down and help her in secret for the time being."

As Yagokoro Eirin muttered to herself, she uncorked the medicine bottle and, without the slightest hesitation, tilted her head back and drank the medicine inside.

Meanwhile, in the Sage's Abode in the Moon Capital, Toyohime Watatsuki activated her power as promised, and a passage connecting the moon and the ground slowly appeared in front of Eirin Yagokoro.

She casually smashed the empty medicine bottle and destroyed it, then walked into the spatial passage with a normal expression.

The jade pieces scattered on the ground shimmered faintly in the moonlight, and the words 'Penglai' could be vaguely seen on them.

------------

Bamboo grove under the moon.

The old man of the mountain, who usually enters a meditative state to rest, stands in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the bright moon hanging high in the night sky.

In countless poems, the moon is always associated with 'homesickness' or 'loneliness', but the old man of the mountain is clearly not like that.

As someone who follows the guidance of the evening bell, the old man of the mountain sometimes senses the approaching bell, for there is a destiny at play.

Although he didn't know why he had such a sudden urge, the old man of the mountain didn't care about the reason and would just silently wait for the evening bell to ring.

In the silent bamboo forest, the old man of the mountain murmured calmly:

"Is that filthy place where those who escaped their destiny gather? The evening bells have not yet tolled; it seems the time for demise has not yet come."

Four days later, with the help of Yagokoro Eirin's medicine, Lady Fujiwara had begun to recover her health.

Lady Fujiwara, still weak from her recent illness, could only rest in bed. But the good news brought a joyful and relaxed atmosphere to the entire Fujiwara household.

Kaguya Houraisan, who regularly fed the medicine to Lady Fujiwara every night, kept her deeds a secret and did not tell anyone what she had done. Himari silently witnessed everything.

Fujiwara no Mokou, who had been sullen, smiled again and regained her usual liveliness, full of energy in everything she did.

The happiest person was naturally Fujiwara no Fuhito, who had become famous throughout the entire Heian-kyo city for taking care of his wife every night without changing his clothes when she was seriously ill.

People were moved by the deep affection between the Fujiwara couple, praising Fujiwara's unwavering devotion. Countless young women even made the same wish, hoping to meet such a loyal and devoted husband in the future.

In a short time, Fujiwara no Fuhito's reputation soared among the people, and many popular sayings such as "If you're going to marry, marry Fujiwara no Fuhito" emerged.

Hieda no Rei wanted to tease Fujiwara no Fuhito with this, but the clever Fujiwara no Fuhito didn't respond at all, leaving Hieda no Rei feeling awkward.

Life seems to be back on track, and everything is moving in a positive direction.

After letting go of his long-standing burden, Fujiwara no Fuhito devoted most of his energy to political affairs, but he also took some time each day to be with his family.

He might sit by the bed and chat with his wife about everyday matters, or personally check the children's homework and studies, balancing work and rest.

However, this warm and beautiful life only lasted for five days, when an imperial edict from the palace summoning Fujiwara no Fuhito shattered the brief peace.

Kaguya Houraisan naturally heard about this as well. She hid in the shadows and watched Fujiwara no Fuhito board the carriage and head towards the palace. If things really developed as she expected, then the first step in the plan to rebel against the Moon Capital would be a natural success.

In a side hall of the imperial palace, Emperor Monmu sat calmly on his dragon throne, flipping through the memorials in his hands, but the image of Kaguya Houraisan kept popping into his mind, making it impossible for him to concentrate.

"Hey!"

An enraged Emperor Monmu slammed the memorial down on the table, leaned back in his chair, and gazed at the ceiling, recalling the splendor of Kaguya of Mount Hourai when she removed her veil.

Since seeing Kaguya of Houraisan some time ago, Emperor Monmu, who used to be quite fond of bedchamber activities, has not favored any of his concubines.

He even lost his appetite and became increasingly thin, causing great concern among his close attendants and court officials, who frequently submitted memorials offering advice and expressing their concern.

The imperial physicians were also summoned to examine Emperor Monmu, but in the end they could only prescribe some nourishing remedies to help him recover.

"Your Majesty, this is a mental illness. Mental illness requires mental medicine; ordinary medicine will not be very effective."

Even without the imperial physician's diagnosis, Emperor Monmu knew in his heart that he was lovesick.

Throughout the country, commoners dreamed of marrying Suzuki Take, while many noblemen wanted to win her heart. Even Emperor Monmu harbored such thoughts.

When he has free time lately, he likes to write poems on the theme of "bamboo," simply because Suzuki Take's name contains the character "bamboo."

Emperor Monmu was naturally aware of the various rumors circulating outside. He had secretly ordered people to be sent to Fujiwara's residence to try to gather information or investigate Kaguya's preferences, but none of them returned to report.

It is likely that they were all killed by that so-called great demon shikigami during the course of their mission.

With so much time passing and no progress made, Emperor Monmu was growing impatient.

Although Kaguya Houraisan has remained in the Fujiwara residence without venturing out, preventing others with similar aspirations from making any progress and leaving them only able to wander around the residence every day, there is no guarantee that things won't change later.

Just as Emperor Monmu was pondering, Fujiwara no Fuhito and others, led by palace eunuchs, arrived at the side hall and bowed to Emperor Monmu.

"Lord Fujiwara has arrived. Please sit down and let's talk."

"Sir, obey the order."