I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

It's like a top student who has always studied hard and whose parents tell her not to think about anything other than exams and studies, suddenly getting a long vacation where she doesn't have to study and can just play, eat, and sleep. For Amber, life at sea is completely different from before; it's more about freedom.

“I’ve been thinking about this for the past few days. Could we not go to He Island? Could we go somewhere else, anywhere? Let’s find a small island, build two houses, fish, raise some animals, and live out our lives like that.”

She said this, then suddenly realized what she had said and quickly corrected herself.

"That's not what I meant. I didn't want to spend my life with you..."

"I know."

"No, it's not that it's impossible..."

"Ah."

"Sigh, anyway... I don't want to be a shrine maiden anymore."

Amber gave up trying to explain.

Lu Ban understood Amber's feelings very well.

Simply put, it means I want to touch it.

This has nothing to do with Lu Ban; it's just that she, who has been tense all along, now has an excuse to relax, to catch her breath, and to stop trying.

For the past decade or so, Amber has been instilled with the ideal of becoming a high priestess and saving the world. It's hard to say whether these ideals are what she truly wants, but Amber simply had no choice.

Now that she has a choice, and having experienced the world of freedom, Amber feels that the responsibility of saving the world is far too heavy.

Indeed, how can you possibly convince a teenage girl that she is the hope of the world, that the world cannot do without her, and that she must give up her future freedom to sit in the Wajima Taisha Shrine and practice archery every day?

Qin Tiantian, who is about the same size as Amber, plays games and slacks off every day, living a happy and carefree life. Why does Amber need to be bound in a cage?

Lu Ban couldn't figure it out either.

However, his mission is to escort Amber to become the high priestess, so if Amber backs down at the last minute, the mission will not be completed.

"How about this, we'll go to Changfeng Island first, without revealing your identity. We'll stay for a couple of days, experience the life of ordinary people, and then make a decision, okay?"

Lu Ban decided to go ashore first.

"Ah."

Amber nodded, her hesitation evident.

Although Lu Ban could tell her that with great power comes great responsibility, this was ultimately just an idea imposed on her by others.

Watching Amber leave, Lu Ban let out a sigh of relief.

I never imagined I'd be helping teenage girls design their future lives and do career planning.

Looking at the beautiful moonlight, Lu Ban suddenly had a thought.

He looked at the task.

[Mission Requirements: Escort the shrine maiden to Wajima Taisha Shrine]

[Task Requirements: Witness the priestess become the high priestess]

It seems there's no specific requirement that it must be amber?

Chapter 346 It's leaking air

Lu Ban repeatedly confirmed that Amber's name was indeed not in the mission details.

Therefore, he could send the amber to the Wajima Shrine, wait for the shrine maidens' election to end, watch a ceremony, and that would be the end of it.

But is it really okay if Amber isn't the new high priestess?

Lu Ban had confirmed the power of amber; its ability to carve out a patch of sunlight amidst such a storm was truly astonishing.

If she could become the high priestess, then Kazushima should be free from the troubles of impurities for a period of time.

Moreover, becoming a high priestess would surely bring wealth, power, and the adulation of thousands.

Amber can have anything she wants, eat whatever she wants, and is above all others; she is the most supreme and noble being in this world.

Even if she becomes a high priestess, she should still be able to enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and play in the water in summer, leading a life that may not be so easy, but at least she can have a lot of happiness.

"Is this task really that simple...?"

Lu Ban decided to deal with the invading Chosen Ones first.

Since he knew the other party was not dead, the other party must also know that Amber was not dead, so they would definitely make a move after chasing after him.

Whether Amber wants to become a high priestess or live a peaceful life somewhere else, Lu Ban definitely has to kill this intruder.

Early in the morning, Lu Ban and Amber took a small boat to the dock. He did not reveal Amber's identity, but in this era of underdeveloped communication, these people certainly wouldn't recognize Amber.

The pirates had a considerable amount of savings. Lu Ban had a sum of money from the island. There were no hotels open to the public on Changfeng Island, only post stations run by the She Fengxing and the Island Fengxing, which were definitely not available to ordinary people.

Without revealing his identity, Lu Ban could only find a fisherman's family and rent a room they used to store miscellaneous items. He also bought some girls' clothes for Amber to change into.

"W-How is it?"

Amber twirled around. She was wearing the clothes that an ordinary girl would wear this season. The fabric was slightly finer, and it wasn't quite as comfortable as silk or cotton, but the plain-colored clothes were embroidered with patterns like hydrangeas, making the wearer look more lively.

"Shouldn't you dress more simply?"

Lu Ban rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought.

"???"

Amber, not hearing what she wanted to hear, looked slightly resentful.

"Otherwise, you might attract attention. After all, with your looks, you should be quite eye-catching on this island."

Lu Ban added.

"...Then should I wear a plain-colored one?"

Amber glanced shyly at her clothes hanger.

Amber, who had never bought clothes before, bought a huge pile of them, mostly clothes for this season. Many of them had cute patterns, but due to technical limitations, the patterns were all very simple.

It is said that during the ceremony of becoming the chief priestess, the priestess must wear a very formal white robe and scarlet hakama, with a pine and crane patterned senhaya over it, a crown, and a sacred bell with fifteen bells in her hand, and dance under the watchful eyes of the gods.

However, Amber now feels that those things are very far removed from her own life.

"Let's take this one."

Lu Ban didn't let Amber change her clothes again. Her amber eyes were already eye-catching enough. If the invading Chosen Ones came to Changfeng Island, they could easily find their location.

This was also part of Lu Ban's plan.

Instead of hiding, it's better to fish with a straight hook and lure the other party out.

However, once the mission is complete, Lu Ban will return to his own world, leaving Amber alone.

So, Lu Ban couldn't really agree to anything she said.

As you open the door, there is a cherry blossom tree in the courtyard. You can see this kind of tree almost everywhere on Wajima Island. The thickest cherry blossom tree is at Wajima Taisha Shrine. Behind the torii gate of the shrine is a towering tree, also known as the Divine Cherry. Every spring, the petals of the Divine Cherry fall from the treetops to the entire island of Wajima Island. The cherry blossoms fall gently like raindrops, and the scene is amazing.

After three days on Changfeng Island, the two have gradually adapted to life on the island.

The fisherman's daughter, only five years old, was wearing somewhat tattered clothes and playing with a slightly deflated ball in the yard.

"Your ball is deflated."

Lu Ban said seriously.

"It's leaking air...it's leaking air!"

The little girl repeated her lesson.

Can you read?

Can you read?

The little girl repeated the lesson again.

"As expected, the essence of humanity is that of a broken record; you can see it even in human infants."

Lu Ban stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Don't treat children like that."

Amber said something, then leaned closer to the little girl and patted her head.

"Will your older sister play with you?"

"I'll play with you... I'll play with you... Waaaaah—"

The little girl suddenly burst into tears, leaving Amber at a loss for what to do, and tears welled up in her eyes as well.

"Wait, wait, don't cry, don't cry."

The tears were about to spread from the little girl to Amber.

Lu Ban squatted down.

"Let me show you a magic trick."

He said to the little girl.

Upon hearing this, the little girl quickly stopped crying and looked at Lu Ban with curiosity.

"These are my hands."

Lu Ban held up a finger and waved it in front of the little girl.

Then, he rubbed his finger on the pebbles on the ground, breaking the skin and drawing blood.

Seeing the way Lu Ban's fingers looked, the little girl's eyes welled up with tears again, and she was about to cry.

At that moment, a blade of grass suddenly sprouted from the tip of Lu Ban's finger.

The little girl's crying face was frozen in time.

With tears in her eyes, she stared wide-eyed as the grass on Lu Ban's finger grew taller and taller, even blossoming into a flower.

Lu Ban picked the flower and handed it to the little girl.

"Isn't that amazing!"

He said excitedly.

"Be serious!"