How did I, an Onmyoji, become the Lord of Yokai?

Meanwhile, to make it convenient for Hagoromo and Aika to go there, Tamamo-no-Mae chose a relatively close mountain that could be reached in just ten minutes.

Just as Shimizu Asahi and the others were heading towards the cherry blossom field, a special guest arrived at Mount Ōe, the sacred mountain worshipped by countless demons, to the west of Heian-kyo.

—The burly man, carrying a wine jug and a wine bowl, ascended to the summit of Mount Ojiang as if on a visit… Chapter 139, Section 142: Brother Chaoyang, I Want to Drink

"Is this cherry blossom? It's so beautiful..."

In a world of pink and white, Ali gently opened her eyes. Her dark eyes, like stars falling from the sky, sparkled with endless joy as if she had seen something breathtaking.

Before her eyes, countless pink and white flowers drifted down, like the purest elves playing quietly in the human world. Their pure white forms were like a clear mountain spring, silently washing away the restlessness in her heart.

Suddenly, a gentle breeze blew by, and the playful sprites danced with the breeze, playfully brushing against her hair and leaving their faint floral fragrance on her.

Raising her hand to lower her black hair, Ali gently lifted her long, snow-white neck, taking in the dancing figures of the elves.

Her stunningly beautiful face blossomed into a smile, as pure and innocent as a dancing sprite.

"This is the first time I've ever seen such beautiful cherry blossoms..."

Qingnvfang quietly stretched out a palm, and when the breeze stopped and cherry blossoms fell, a petal landed in her palm.

It seemed to like her very much, not struggling or moving around, lying quietly in her palm like a well-behaved child.

She looked at it, her delicate face revealing a hint of tenderness. It was very white, like a snowflake in winter, pure and flawless, but within that whiteness, there was a touch of pink.

The interplay of white and pink gives it a crystal-clear, elegant, and spotless appearance.

“It’s great, isn’t it? I was just like you when I first came here.”

Standing beside the girls, Shimizu Asahi smiled quietly.

"Hehe, Father put a lot of effort into these cherry blossom trees."

Aihua, who followed behind Chaoyang like a little tail, peeked out and laughed happily.

Although these cherry blossoms were prepared by her father for her and her brother, she hoped that more people could appreciate their pure beauty.

True happiness comes from being together.

Strolling amidst laughter, the group soon arrived at the top of the mountain.

Then, the girls' gasps of surprise rang out softly.

At the top of this mountain, there is a very large ancient cherry blossom tree.

Its diameter is about three or four meters long, and its fully extended branches and leaves are like a large umbrella, while the petals surrounding it are like a painting.

Qingnvfang and Ali were stunned for a moment.

This ancient tree existed before Tamamo-no-Mae arrived. Although it had lost its vitality at that time, Tamamo-no-Mae's demonic power brought it back to life.

Since then, this ancient cherry tree has continued to shine.

"Alright, let's go."

A gentle call brought them back to their senses, and their eyes involuntarily fell on the boy.

The joy that came from the depths of their hearts brought smiles to their faces, and the girls responded accordingly.

"Ah."

Arriving under the ancient tree, Shimizu Asahi and Aika skillfully laid out a mat and took out all the pastries and sake from the food box.

Both families made extensive preparations for this flower viewing trip. The pastries in the food boxes hadn't even been taken out yet, and the floor mats were already overflowing.

"It looks like there's a little too much."

Shimizu Asahi scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said this.

"No, Brother Chaoyang, you're going to enjoy the sunshine all day long today!"

Aika chuckled in response, then looked at the 'girls' who were already seated and declared, as if making a declaration, "The flower viewing party is about to begin!"

"Hehe, alright, sit down."

Seeing the happy girl, Shimizu Asahi rubbed her head and then pulled her to sit down together.

Although the flower-viewing festival has officially ended, for them, it can be a flower-viewing festival anytime, as long as they are willing and as long as they have family members by their side.

"Hehe." Aika sat happily next to Shimizu Asahi. The two of them were close together, their bodies familiar. Although there was a difference between men and women, they had grown up together and were as close as siblings, so this kind of contact was nothing unusual.

As soon as she sat down, Aihua picked up a plate of dumplings and said, "Brother Chaoyang, try these Hanami dumplings I just made."

Hanami dango is a type of confectionery similar to wagashi (Japanese sweets), but due to different preparation methods, their texture and taste are quite different.

Of course, Shimizu Asahi had tasted Aika's cooking skills before. If she could make good wagashi (Japanese sweets), she could certainly make good hanami dango (flower-viewing dumplings). So, with anticipation, he picked one up and put it in his mouth.

Then, in the next moment, his pupils lit up.

His teeth gently touched the soft, pink pastry. Before he could even apply any force, the soft texture and sweet fragrance immediately spread. As he bit into the pastry, the warm and sweet aroma inside filled his mouth.

Although he knew nothing about cooking, his intuition told him that this was a perfect dish.

"It's delicious, Aihua, your cooking skills have improved again."

Without holding back his praise, Shimizu Asahi smiled and complimented her.

"Really? Hehe... I'm glad you like it, Brother Chaoyang."

The girl, who had practiced diligently for two months, smiled even more happily; her efforts had not been in vain.

Not only Shimizu Asahi, but also Tamamo-no-Mae, Shimizu Mio, and the other three who tasted Aihana's sweets praised her craftsmanship.

Amidst the praise from the crowd, the girl felt a little proud.

Um... just once.

After praising the flowers, everyone joined in admiring them.

Laughter and cheers quietly descended.

Perhaps it was the first time they had seen such a beautiful view, so A-Li and Qing Nufang had a rare opportunity to chat together, while Shimizu Mio was naturally with Tamamo-no-Mae. Thus, Shimizu Asahi and Aika were left alone together.

Upon seeing his younger sister whom he hadn't seen in a long time, Shimizu Asahi showed concern for her brother, asking him questions such as "Is the training of a shrine maiden difficult?" and "Is studying cooking tiring?"

Faced with his concern, Aihua answered very seriously. She didn't say anything like "it's not bitter," because how could it not be bitter?

The rituals, dances, and order of worship performed by the shrine maiden are not things that can be easily accomplished.

Although her training has been underway for two months, she has only learned the basics and has a long way to go before becoming a qualified priestess.

However, although the process was tough, she didn't dislike it. The feeling of gradually getting closer to her mother made her very satisfied.

Seeing the girl's happy face, Shimizu Asahi couldn't help but cheer her on.

After receiving her brother's care and encouragement, Aika told some other interesting stories.

The laughter of the brother and sister filled the surroundings for a moment.

However, after telling a certain story, Aika suddenly tugged at his sleeve. The girl glanced cautiously at her father, Tamamo-no-Mae, and after confirming that he wasn't paying attention to her, she looked expectantly at Shimizu Asahi.

"Brother Chaoyang, I'd like to drink some alcohol, is that okay?"

P.S.: I'll gladly accept your comments, hehe.

Chapter 143, Section 140: Brother, I want more!

"liquor?"

Shimizu Asahi blinked gently, and then a hint of surprise and astonishment appeared on her face.

He never expected that Aihua would say to him, "I want to drink."

After all, Aika has always given people the impression of being innocent and lively, and even in this era where everyone drinks alcohol, it is difficult to associate her with alcohol.

That's indeed the case. When Shimizu Asahi and Kohae first tried drinking, they invited Aika along. However, Aika didn't really like sake at the time, so she didn't drink with them.

"That's really surprising. Aika is starting to get interested in alcohol too. She's grown up."

Looking at the adorable girl with such anticipation, Shimizu Asahi couldn't help but smile. Then, he handed her a small sake cup filled with sake.

"Give."

"Thank you, Brother Chaoyang!"

Aihua happily accepted the glass, looked at the clear liquid inside, and then carefully tried it.

The wine, carrying a faint fragrance, flowed down her red lips and between her teeth, quickly making contact with her delicate pink tongue.

Then, the smooth texture quietly spread, and the sweet, sour, and bitter taste, like a gentle breeze, instantly filled her mouth.

A hint of surprise flashed in the girl's pale yellow eyes. She looked up happily, as if she had discovered something new and interesting, and said, "Brother Chaoyang, this wine is so delicious."

"Hehe, I'm glad you like it."

Smiling, he patted Aihana's little head, and then Shimizu Asahi brought the red wine bowl in his hand to his lips.

The pure and refreshing taste filled his mind and body once again.

"Ah."

After responding to Chaoyang-gege's call, Aihua lowered her head again and began to savor the purest sake, bit by bit.

The soft fox ears twitched gently with their owner's joy... For some reason, Shimizu Asahi suddenly had an urge to touch them.

Come to think of it, it used to be the same; whenever he saw Aihua's ears twitch, he couldn't help but want to touch them.

Hmm... touching it should be fine, right?

The black-haired boy suddenly put down his wine bowl and began to think about this potentially important question.

However, his thoughts were soon interrupted by Aika.

The lovely white-haired girl raised her head again. Perhaps because she had drunk a little sake, a blush appeared on her pure face, and her clear eyes became slightly misty.

She leaned against the handsome young man and whispered in a happy and longing tone, "Brother, I want more."

"You're blushing so quickly?"

Seeing Aika's seemingly tipsy state, Shimizu Asahi was momentarily stunned. Although he had indeed heard of people who could become intoxicated with just a drop of alcohol, he hadn't expected Aika to be one of them.

Now, we can't let Aihua continue drinking.