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

The more she learned about her, the more she longed for her. The allure of the world overwhelmed her like a tide, and she desperately wanted to grow up quickly so she could go out into the world.

Majestic mountains, ceaseless rivers, leisurely villages, and bustling towns—this world is more beautiful than she could have imagined.

The seed of longing for freedom began to sprout slowly.

Time passed little by little, and the girl grew up little by little. Her singing, dancing and tea ceremony skills gradually emerged, and her master looked at her with increasing satisfaction.

At some point, her room transformed from cramped and crowded to spacious and comfortable.

As she grew older, the girl's smile became brighter and brighter; she knew she was about to leave.

The day before she turned thirteen, her master told her that tomorrow she would be starting a new life.

Upon hearing the news, she excitedly opened her arms, embracing the future as if embracing the whole world.

She was celebrating her future, unaware of the pitying gazes of the other prostitutes around her...

On her thirteenth birthday, she began a new life.

But things were different... not as she had hoped. The freedom she desired did not come, and the future she envisioned did not materialize.

What awaited her was still a dark and gloomy birdcage.

"No, it's not true, this can't be real, Master, it really can't be real!"

She cried and begged her master to let her leave, but her master's gaze had become less gentle. She wanted her to greet customers, sell smiles, and stay in this Liren Pavilion forever to earn money for her. If she didn't listen, a stick would fall on her body.

She didn't remember how many times she was beaten or how many meals she went hungry. In the face of the evil spirit called reality, she finally bowed her head.

At that moment, she realized that she was just a bird imprisoned in a cage.

So-called freedom was nothing more than the motivation for her to study hard and become the most beautiful bird.

The world she can see is limited to what is within her sight, and the only place she can move around is within the birdcage.

Freedom does not belong to her....

However, she did not give up. As long as someone redeemed her... as long as someone helped her, she could leave this place.

With this in mind, she began to perform with all her heart.

Amidst the beautiful waka poems and captivating dances, she unknowingly became the most beautiful courtesan.

She began to please the sparrows, becoming the most beautiful courtesan. Surely many would be willing to buy her freedom, and she would soon be free...

However, as time passed, day after day, month after month, and month after month, her heart grew increasingly panicked.

No one came to redeem her; not a single one of the dignitaries who had cheered for her from below the stage showed up.

"No, that won't happen. They like me so much, they'll definitely come, they'll definitely come..."

"It definitely will..."

Fear slowly descended upon her, and like a drowning person grasping at a straw, she cried and struggled incessantly.

"Your dream should end, Ali. You are a songstress, a songstress who is born to be looked down upon. Even if you are highly praised now, all they value is your appearance."

"When your temples turn gray and your beauty fades, you will be ruthlessly abandoned."

"They will lavish praise on the new courtesan, while you will be forgotten."

Even if you are bought, it's just moving from one cage to another.

"Ali, this is your fate. You are destined to stay in this cage."

Her master's words shattered her last illusions, her last lifeline vanished, and cold despair and darkness mercilessly swallowed her up.

"Can't I really... have freedom?"

His hands, as white as jade, gently caressed the wooden railing, his dark eyes as calm as a stagnant pool.

She's become numb.

Now, what remains in her heart is either obsession or resentment, she can't say for sure.

but.....

'I long to... fly freely just once...'

'Who can... take me away from here?'

......

"Sister, come quick! The city lord is here again!"

The silence was suddenly broken as the wooden door was violently flung open, and a ten-year-old girl appeared before Ali.

P.S.: This chapter... I'm sorry everyone. I promised three chapters today, but because of this chapter, it's so late. I'll get up early tomorrow and definitely make sure to write three chapters!

Chapter 108, Section 110: You are Free

Inside, the room was brightly lit and resplendent with gold and silver treasures and silks, exuding an atmosphere of extreme luxury.

These were gifts that Otahara gave to Ari.

Everything that Xingyuan owns is here.

Ever since he was first rejected by Ari, he has been adding jewels to this place. Jewels and gold and silver produced in various places such as Xingyuan, Heian-kyo, Ichihara, Nagaoka, and Karita have been obtained by him through various means. Over time, the brilliance of the treasure has been enough to illuminate the surroundings.

However, even with his immense wealth, those he was obsessed with never gave him a second glance.

The long-awaited results gradually wore down his patience. He was prepared to forcibly take Ali in after the Sea Harvest Festival ended. However, as the saying goes, there is always a way out. At this last moment, he obtained a treasure that was enough to move Ali's heart!

Looking at the dazzling glass placed on the main seat, Otahara was overjoyed.

Glass, made from the legendary five-colored stone, is rare and exquisite, and its value surpasses that of jade, making it the most precious treasure in the world.

All the glassware in this country comes from that ancient kingdom.

Because of its extreme rarity, it can only be possessed by royalty and their relatives.

Even if one or two of them end up in the world, they will be carefully treasured by the person who finds them.

Otahara also searched for the five-colored glass, but no matter how hard he searched, he found nothing.

He thought he would never find it in his lifetime, but unexpectedly, someone brought it to him!

If you give this to Ali, Ali will definitely throw herself into his arms and become his exclusive songstress!

Otahara couldn't help but burst into laughter as his patience gradually wore thin and his pride about to succeed began to wail.

"Ah Li, you're mine!"

As the excited voice faded, light footsteps came from outside. Overjoyed, Otahara subconsciously turned around, and then, the girl came into view.

With skin as white as snow and hair as black as ink, the young girl was still breathtakingly beautiful.

"Ah Li, you're here!"

Otahara stepped forward with great joy, spread his arms wide, and proudly boasted, "Look, this is all I have prepared for you. As long as you promise me that you will be my one and only songstress, everything here will be yours."

Her dark eyes darted around, taking in everything before her.

However, nothing happened.

The mesmerizing colors and light could not even cause a ripple.

Ali's eyes were as calm as still water.

"This isn't what I'm looking for."

A cold, numb voice, devoid of any sense of self, gently rang out.

As always, after leaving those words, Ali turned and left.

However, Otahara stopped her.

There was no surprise or anger. He had blocked Liuli's presence in order to give the girl a surprise, so her reaction was exactly what he expected.

"Ah Li, wait, there's something else you haven't seen yet."

He stretched out his arm and said proudly, "Ali, look, this is the legendary treasure—glass—that I found for you after going through countless hardships! Aren't you happy?"

With a slight furrow in her brows and a flicker in her dark eyes, the young woman gazed at the treasure on the main seat.

Then... his pupils widened.

It was a multicolored hairpin, its colors flowing like clouds, exquisitely beautiful. The brilliance of the jewel was reflected in it, creating a dazzling light, and everything in the room seemed to turn into green leaves.

A hint of amazement flowed through her, and Ali, who had been numb like a puppet, revealed a glimmer of hope.

This is... Ruri?

She knew about Liuli, a legendary treasure from that ancient kingdom, which only royalty and nobility were entitled to possess.

This is not only a gorgeous piece of jewelry, but also a symbol of status, a treasure that everyone desires.

She never imagined that Otahara would bestow such a treasure upon her...

but....

His dark eyes closed gently, and the astonishment and brilliance that had been flowing through them returned to calm.

Ah Li left.

The only words echoing in the room were those of resigned acceptance.

"This isn't what I'm looking for."

"H-How could this be!?"

The girl's retreating figure left Otahara speechless with astonishment. This was not what he had expected. Things shouldn't be going this way. Shouldn't she be throwing herself into his arms? Shouldn't she be overjoyed?

That's glass, that's glass!

How could she possibly dare!

She was just a lowly courtesan!

'Damn it! Damn it! Damn it all!!!'

The initial pride and arrogance were shattered, and the smugness and pleasure in my heart were ruthlessly discarded.

The more confident he was, the greater the pain of failure became. Otahara's last bit of patience quietly dissipated, and his anger was ignited.