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

The simple-minded god calmed down.

However, this calm did not last long. With a hunch in her mind, she would become uncontrollably flustered whenever she thought of that possibility.

Yuanjie Shen looked at Qingshui Chaoyang with a conflicted and flustered gaze. She should tell him her guess; he had the right to know. However, she dared not reveal the answer.

She couldn't imagine how...despairing Shimizu Asahi would become after learning the answer.

As long as the longing continues, the red thread can guide lovers back to each other, no matter where or where they are; the power of longing will be conveyed.

There are only two ways to stop longing.

Severing our ties to each other, and... death!

The so-called fate is the manifestation of mutual feelings, the product of intertwined longings. Therefore, the longing of one person alone cannot sustain the existence of fate.

If two people in love lose the red thread, it means that one of them has changed their mind and no longer misses the other.

But if the red string remains, but the longing is no longer felt, then it means... he or she has died.

Three hundred years ago, Qing Shui Chaoyang traveled through time and space. His existence disappeared, and the world lost all traces of him. Therefore, he 'died,' and the red thread representing marriage lost its original function.

Now, Shimizu Asahi has returned, he has been resurrected, and the broken thoughts have been reunited, but the red rope still does not react, just as it did when he 'died'.

Perhaps it's simply because the red rope lost its power three hundred years ago, or perhaps some special force is shielding Reiko's presence, or perhaps the divine power I injected wasn't enough to activate the red rope, or perhaps...

Countless reasons echoed in the heart of the Goddess of Fate. She searched for countless reasons to cover up the breakage of the red rope, but... would he accept it?

As a deity, a deity who brings marriage and love to the world, even if she could convince herself of this explanation, she could not convince Shimizu Asahi.

Reiko is dead.

This is the only correct and only possible answer!

She tried to deny it, desperately denying it as soon as she realized it, but her divine power was exhausted, the red rope didn't react, and everything was telling the truth.

Even if Enmusubi is kind and simple, she is still a deity who has lived for thousands of years and is an ancient god who lived in the same era as Mio.

...She accepted this fact.

What she needs to do now is tell Shimizu Asahi this fact.

Looking at the black-haired boy before her, and at his earnest and gentle demeanor, Enmusubi was speechless. She couldn't give him that answer... It was too cruel for him!

Abandoning his wife and family, leaving home like a heartless man, he's finally returned, only to endure this torment again... Chapter 416, Section 413: You can even get this wrong? Typical you, silly god!

What's wrong with this world? Why can people who break their vows and abandon their promises still live happily, while those who keep their promises and wait for hundreds of years cannot achieve their goal?

Why do this to them? Why is it so unfair?

Can't we even satisfy something as simple as letting people who truly love each other be together?

An immense rage arose in the heart of the God of Fate.

"..."

The marriage between Shimizu Asahi and Reiko was extraordinary for the god of marriage.

Three hundred years ago, human society began to develop rapidly. The vibrant colors adorned people's lives and also confused their hearts. The pearl that was once as clear as glass was covered with dust, and she, dressed in splendid clothes, began to fade.

One by one, marriages began to fall apart, vows began to vanish, and the god who controlled marriage and love began to doubt love and humanity.

She began to stop believing in love, and she also stopped believing in promises—a lifelong promise, something that no human being can ever truly keep.

However, no matter how much she cried and struggled, there was always a force supporting her.

As long as predestined relationships exist in the world, as long as people pray to her, she will not disappear... Yes, predestined relationships will not disappear, nor will they be severed.

She will never disappear, no matter what.

The fate that accompanied her along the way told her this truth.

Encouraged by this connection, the Goddess of Fate gradually regained her confidence and began to believe again that true love exists in this world.

If those who truly love each other cannot find her shrine or pray to her, then she will go there herself and personally bring their destined love to them!

She will ensure that those who truly love each other receive the blessings of the gods!

Yes... what helped her through the low point was the bond between Shimizu Asahi and Reiko!

That bond that transcends race and grudges, entrusting one's innermost feelings to another, is like a bright lamp in the dark night, dazzlingly bright.

She once firmly believed that even if the seas dried up and the rocks crumbled, and heaven and earth united, their destiny would never disappear.

But now...

The connection that meant so much to her, the one that helped her get back on her feet, has vanished.

The God of Fate lowered his head, and an emotion called anger was quietly spreading within him.

After she pulled herself together, she decided to stop resenting anyone, but now, resentment has returned to her.

However, no matter how much she lamented the injustice of fate, she was powerless to resist. In the end, she could only sigh and then look at Shimizu Asahi with immense pain.

"..."

No, I can't tell him this news so soon.

Perhaps telling him now would help him get out of his pain more quickly, but her kind heart made it impossible for her to make that decision, so she chose to keep it a secret.

Conceal this news, conceal this incident, and wait until it can no longer be concealed before telling him.

The God of Fate secretly tensed up and made a decision.

Then, she smiled again and said with an embarrassed expression, "Hehehe... um, I don't have enough divine power right now, I can't find Reiko's location..."

"But don't worry, once my divine power is restored, I will definitely help you find Lingzi as soon as possible!"

"I am a deity, I will not abandon my believers!"

The girl tried to change the atmosphere. Although she had never studied acting before, her decision-making brought a completely different feeling from before, sweeping away her worries. Unconsciously, the tense atmosphere in the room quietly disappeared.

Shimizu Asahi blinked in confusion, the sudden change in atmosphere making him feel somewhat... bewildered.

Just a moment ago he acted as if it shouldn't be possible, but now he's patting his chest, saying he'll definitely find Reiko...

The God of Marriage... really didn't find anything?

His intuition told him that the God of Fate was hiding something from him.

Out of concern for Reiko, Shimizu Asahi wanted to find out what the Goddess of Fate was hiding, but given her appearance, it was unlikely that she would tell him. Even if she pressed her, she might just drive the Goddess of Fate away.

So, it's best to leave it at that and ask about it.

The Goddess of Fate wouldn't harm him, and she must have her reasons for not saying anything now, so he should just wait and see.

Upon realizing this, the black-haired boy smiled gently and replied understandingly, "Lord of Fate, there's no need to apologize. I was just a little hasty."

"Moreover, now that I think about it, what Reiko probably wanted was for me to find her using my own strength, rather than relying on someone else."

"Therefore, I am already very happy that Lady Enmusubi can tell me that I will be able to reunite with Reiko soon."

No matter where Lingzi is or what trouble she is in, he can't get to her side immediately. Instead of worrying here, he should focus on doing what's in front of him.

Besides, the God of Fate has already told him that he and Lingzi will be able to get married and make up for their past regrets with his sister's witness.

The future has already been decided; he just needs to move towards that future step by step.

"Eh...???"

On the other side, Enmusubi, upon hearing Shimizu Asahi's answer, subconsciously paused for a moment.

She stared blankly at the boy, seemingly not realizing what he had just said.

Just now, Chaoyang said that he would be able to reunite with Lingzi soon.

...No, no, he said...I told him this?

When did I say that...?

The somewhat simple-minded deity instinctively wanted to refute, but just as she was about to do so, she instinctively froze.

Wait a minute, this... it seems like I really did say it myself.

She traveled all the way from the Northeast just to attend their wedding and witness the perfect moment of this couple who have been together for three hundred years.

Yes, their destiny told her that they would truly be together in the near future.

That means... Reiko is still alive!?

His previously blank stare brightened with joy once more.

That's right! It must be! Reiko is still alive, Reiko is still alive!

Fate doesn't lie, and destiny doesn't lie; their longing for each other has not truly been severed!

"That's right, that's right! I said it all, it was all my own words!"

"You and Reiko were able to reunite; the bond between you can never be severed by anyone!"

Without much thought, the simple-minded goddess immediately beamed with joy. She patted her chest and made a promise, looking as if she were about to reunite with her beloved.

She said, "How could God be so unfair, separating my lover who has walked with me for three hundred years from me at the last moment? It turns out I was wrong."

That's wonderful... This is truly wonderful! Chapter 414, Section 417: Some people just disappear as they walk along, right, Goddess of Fate?

The worry vanished, and the room was filled with joy and happiness once again. Shimizu Asahi stopped mentioning Reiko and started asking Enmusubi how long he had been there and whether he was getting used to living there. Enmusubi responded to each of these everyday questions.

However, unlike Shimizu Asahi, who was completely relieved, Enmusubi still harbored a trace of doubt in his heart.

Just now, she once again explored the future of Shimizu Asahi and Reiko. The destiny that had always existed in her heart told her firmly and affirmatively that they would reunite and grow old together. Their future was bright.

This unbroken bond foreshadowed their future, but what about the unresponsive red thread?

The fate that the God of Fate can see is somewhat different from the red thread formed by the condensation of fate.

She can see the future of one side from the other's perspective, and through that future, she can glimpse the other side's feelings. This is a one-sided power. The red thread formed by fate represents the power of both sides. If either side is lost, the red thread will lose its power.

Therefore, the God of Fate guarantees the future more, while the Red String guarantees the present more.

If her vision of the future is correct, and the broken red string is also correct, then it means that Reiko is very likely to have been 'dead' and resurrected.

Although this may seem quite unbelievable, considering the clear water and the rising sun, the god of marriage felt that it was not impossible.

Perhaps, Reiko also came from the past to the present with the help of the Yasakani no Magatama and the Yata no Kagami?