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

In short, not using demonic power is more profitable than using it. Unless you're a fool, everyone will choose the right option.

However, just as she was enjoying this gentle warmth, the door to the room in the hall was suddenly opened, and a cheerful voice entered their ears.

"Sister, Shimizu!" Chapter 323: Offended the Great God and still trying to run away?

As soon as she opened the door, Tamura Yoko spotted the two people warming themselves by the fire. She couldn't help but show her joy and called out loudly, "Sister, Asahi, welcome back!"

The two were drawn to the voice, and upon seeing the face that looked exactly like Lingzi's, they both laughed happily.

"Ye Zi, we're back... Father is here too."

Shimizu Asahi spotted the man behind Ye Zi and called out "Father" with a smile.

"Yes, welcome back."

Looking at his daughter and son-in-law whom he hadn't seen for a long time, Tamura Shigeaki's face couldn't help but show a happy expression.

After closing the door, Yoko and Tamura asked about their situation over the past two years.

Although there was correspondence, very little information could be conveyed, so the content was mostly about how well they were doing and not to worry.

After the Tamura father and daughter sat down, Shimizu Asahi briefly recounted their experiences over the past two years. Although there were troubles and anxieties along the way, there was more happiness and joy than anything else. The two years of travel had been very rewarding for them.

Listening to their stories, some happy, some frustrating, Ye Zi couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.

She also wants to travel with Shimizu Asahi...

But looking at his older sister beside him, she could only mutter helplessly.

However, she quickly composed herself and said with some anticipation, "This year's Spring Festival is sure to be very lively."

New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is a traditional festival that originated from an ancient and powerful Western country more than a decade ago. Although the festival has only been celebrated here for a little over a decade, it has become the most popular festival in the country in just over a decade due to its meaning and joy, as well as the promotion and advocacy of the Japanese Imperial Family.

Furthermore, in order to bring good luck, many people visit the gods on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, resulting in countless shrines being bustling with worshippers on these two days.

In particular, Emperor Kōtoku's policies were successfully implemented, and the nobles and the imperial family maintained a superficial peace without engaging in a life-or-death struggle. This led many people who were worried about war to believe that it was divine protection. They cried out for divine blessings and then desperately fought for a place to worship during the next two days.

The shrines, which had gradually declined due to the war, have been revitalized, and many shrines that had been neglected two years ago have reappeared before the world.

Of course, the one that has recovered to its most thriving state is Enmusubi Shrine.

With the war over, policies implemented, and life becoming more comfortable, people began to seek love again.

With the adoration of the people, Enmusubi Shrine was even more prosperous than Inari Shrine during this period.

Yes, this was the last glorious moment of the Silly Shrine before its decline.

However, in addition to the revival of shrines, Buddhism and Taoism also began to rise gradually. Because Emperor Kōtoku disliked Shintoism but preferred Buddhism and Taoism, many of his decrees were related to and beneficial to Buddhism and Taoism. However, he did not provide much protection for local shrines.

Even though the Ise Grand Shrine is the biggest backer of the Yamato Emperor's family, he made it clear that he would never go to the Ise Grand Shrine unless it was stipulated by his ancestors.

Although Shimizu Asahi was unsure whether what he was doing was right or wrong, he was very clear that the emperor had angered the gods.

Moreover, she is the most unruly and capricious deity who should not be offended—Amaterasu Omikami.

Although Emperor Kōtoku was 49 years old when he ascended the throne, he was still in good health. Even when he was fighting against the nobles, he was able to hold his own. Given his health at the time, he could have lived for another 10 or 20 years without any problem. However, he died of illness nine years after his accession, which is six or seven years from now. Shimizu Asahi would never believe that there was nothing wrong with this.

However, even so, Emperor Kōtoku was still a good emperor.

Thanks to him, the country will become more prosperous, and Buddhism and Taoism will flourish even more.

In this age of birds, he played a crucial role in bridging the past and the future.

Unfortunately, his death was inevitable; no one could survive after offending the Great God.

In short, it's like offending the Great God and then trying to run away?

This era is an era of gods and monsters.

After silently mourning for Emperor Kōtoku, who would die in a few years, Shimizu Asahi shook her head, putting the matter out of her mind, and then accompanied the Tamura sisters to stroll through the increasingly prosperous ancient city.

Although they have only been gone for two years, the city has already undergone tremendous changes.

The original stone bricks and tiles were replaced by red walls and green tiles, and the two-story buildings were replaced by pavilions and towers. Although it did not yet have the unparalleled appearance it would have three hundred years later, it already showed a hint of prosperity and enduring glory.

Moreover, with the Spring Festival approaching, many people began to arrange the pine trees in front of their doors, light firecrackers and fireworks, and hang up straw ropes to celebrate joyfully.

The strong festive atmosphere drove away even the surrounding cold.

"The Mountain City Kingdom is becoming more and more prosperous."

Standing beside Reiko, Shimizu Asahi looked around and then couldn't help but smile.

"Right? This emperor has issued many decrees that benefit the people, and even our Yamashiro Province has rapidly become prosperous."

"Many people would even mention the Emperor when they cheered for the gods' blessing."

Even Yoko had some respect for Emperor Kōtoku's actions.

"Emperor Tenmanpo was indeed a good emperor."

Shimizu Asahi echoed this sentiment, but he didn't delve into the matter of Emperor Kōtoku. Yoko also mentioned it briefly and then left it at that. The three of them peacefully enjoyed the tranquility of the moment.

Before they knew it, the sky darkened, and feeling that it was about time, they returned to the Tamura family home.

"call......"

As soon as she entered the house, a gentle wave of warmth greeted her. Ye Zi, who had been exposed to the cold wind outside for a long time, exhaled a breath of cold air. She took off her coat and clogs and walked into the living room barefoot.

Tabi (socks) did not exist in this era. Although ancient Western countries existed, trade between Yamato and those countries was only just beginning. Therefore, many things were not introduced, including tabi.

For this reason, people in this era generally did not like to go out in winter, because going barefoot would be very uncomfortable due to the cold.

Even Ye Zi, upon returning home, immediately went to the heater to warm her feet.

However, as soon as she sat down, she saw Shimizu Asahi pull Reiko to sit next to her. He covered her hands with his palms and her feet with his, trying his best to warm her up as quickly as possible. (Chapter 321, Section 324) Sister, Asahi, you should consider getting married.

Shimizu Chaoyang's actions startled Yezi. She blinked, and then a hint of envy welled up from the depths of her heart.

That's wonderful... Sister... has such a loving fiancé.

Whether it was this era three hundred years ago or that era three hundred years later, women's status was extremely low. Apart from the few women who became priestesses, their lives were generally very difficult.

Although Ye Zi had never experienced these things, she understood them clearly.

Let alone husbands warming their wives' hands, even when their wives are so cold they can't stand it and want to rest, most husbands will choose to have them boil water for them.

No, perhaps it should be said that this is the most normal social phenomenon.

She even heard that in ancient times, men treated women as objects. They considered women to be just objects, like bowls, chopsticks, tables, and chairs, and that they didn't care how they were used. If necessary, they would even let their wives accompany their friends to show their generosity and tolerance.

Although such situations have disappeared due to the progress of the times, the low status of women remains unchanged.

Ye Zi had imagined that her older sister and brother-in-law would be very loving, and that Shimizu Asahi would dote on her sister, given his gentle nature. But this scene truly surprised her.

Even when my father and mother were at their most loving, he never did this; at most, he would just drape his coat over my mother...

Looking at Lingzi's smile, Yezi admitted that she was jealous... no, nothing at all, there was nothing to be jealous about, she wasn't jealous at all.

only......

If I had been just a little braver two years ago, I would be the one being taken care of by him now...

Unconsciously, this thought popped into Ye Zi's mind.

However, the moment this thought crossed her mind, she shook her head violently.

No, no, how could I think such a thing? Chaoyang is my brother-in-law, how could I...? A person shouldn't, or at least shouldn't...

With unwavering willpower, this unintentional thought was quickly suppressed.

However, Ye Zi glanced at Qing Shui Chao Yang again, then murmured with a hint of sourness, "He's done a lot of harm."

After speaking as if she were a child sulking, she suppressed her emotions, returned to her original state, and asked curiously, "By the way, sister, Chaoyang, have you decided when to get married?"

"Get married?"

The boy and girl leaning against each other were stunned, seemingly not expecting Ye Zi to ask such a question.

To their surprise, Ye Zi replied matter-of-factly, "Yes, you've been engaged for two years, it's time to consider getting married."

"this..."

Shimizu Asahi blinked, then looked at Reiko. Indeed, two years was a long time, long enough for him and Reiko to feel like a real couple, long enough for intimate gestures like this to become a daily routine. Getting married now was definitely a natural outcome.

Moreover, when they returned just now, Tamura Samurai had also subtly tested him.

When he learned that Reiko was still a virgin, he smiled with happiness and relief. He still didn't quite approve of her behavior before marriage. However, after that, he said things to Shimizu Asahi that were almost like explicit statements, such as "I'm getting old," "It's time to retire," and "It would be great if I had a grandson now."

Clearly, this man, nearing fifty, also longs to have a grandchild.

"Chaoyang, it's time you started thinking about this too. How about this year?" Seemingly sensing the hesitation and contemplation in the black-haired boy's heart, Ye Zi added a little encouragement, and these words did indeed make him think.

Indeed, it's time for him to marry Reiko, but... is this really a good idea? Can he marry her in this era?

He will eventually go back, back three hundred years in the future. If he marries Lingzi now, it would be tantamount to abandoning her for three...

No, if that's the case, then no matter what I choose, I'll abandon Lingzi for three hundred years... He's destined to let her down for three hundred years.

"..."

In the two years after leaving Izumo, he gradually began to forget that he was not a part of this era. Little by little, he truly and genuinely integrated into this time and space, leaving behind bonds and family, as if this were the place where he had always lived.

But in reality, he was just avoiding the issue of 'leaving'.

At first, he could easily say that he would leave after helping Lingzi establish the Sea Kingdom, but now he couldn't say it. He couldn't easily abandon the feelings he had developed over the past two years, and even if they could meet again in three hundred years, he still couldn't bring himself to say it.

Originally, he planned to wait until he was about to leave before tearing off this disguise and making the most painful decision, but he didn't expect that Ye Zi would tear it off for him in advance.

Getting married...?

Looking at the girl beside him, Shimizu Asahi was unable to make any decision for a moment.

Perhaps it was his hesitation and pause that made Lingzi realize something. When she heard the word "marriage," her face flushed slightly, but she immediately calmed down. She grasped Shimizu Asahi's hand and said, "Don't worry too much about my opinion. As long as you're by my side, that's enough. As for when we'll get married, that's up to you."

"Monsters live much longer than humans, so I can wait no matter how long it takes."

"Reiko..." The heartfelt comfort and sincerity moved Shimizu Asahi deeply. But it wasn't just the emotion that stirred his sense of responsibility as a man.

Looking at Lingzi, he took a deep breath and then said, "This year, this year I will definitely give you a perfect answer!"

"You don't need to force yourself. Although I live here with human characteristics and habits, I am, after all, a yokai, and I'm not particularly attached to marriage, so..."

"Even so, I hope you will have no regrets in your life." Shimizu Asahi gently interrupted Reiko, patted her head, and said, "I will definitely keep my promise to you."