My personal opinion on Gensokyo

Feng rolled his eyes at Shang Yang and complained dissatisfiedly.

"Be careful, I'll tell Sister Kikyo to cut off your food supply. The people in the village went to the mountains to cut down some trees and brought them back. They plan to build a fence around the village, and Sister Kikyo went with them."

"The snow this winter is really heavy. If wild beasts like wolves can't find food in the mountains and invade the village in large numbers, that would be disastrous. So we need to prepare early. Sister Kikyo will also put talismans on the fence to prevent some cunning monsters from sneaking into the village."

"I see... I've heard that wild beasts and demonic beasts, when they can't find food, will invade villages and attack farmers."

After drinking the flavor-enhancing soup, Shang Yang nodded in understanding and sighed.

"In today's world, no matter where you are, it's very difficult to survive."

After expressing his feelings, Shang Yang picked up the multi-grain rice and cleaned it, then picked up the miso soup and drank it all. He then casually put the remaining half of the grilled rice ball into his sleeve, stood up, and greeted Feng naturally.

"Let's go."

"Walk?"

Hearing this, Feng couldn't help but asked in confusion.

"Where to go?"

"Your sister's place, let's go see if there's anything we can do to help."

Deep in the mountains not far from Maple Village.

"Ready! Move!"

The farmers in the village shouted slogans while moving the tree trunks that had been felled and had their branches and roots cut off to the carriage that had been brought with them.

Kikyo stood on a higher slope, holding a bow in her hand, alert to her surroundings. In the deep mountains and forests, there were many hungry wild beasts and even monsters that were eager to eat people. They were likely to attack humans who entered the mountains. This was why Kikyo came here with the villagers.

The villagers also knew that with Lord Kikyo around, their safety would be safe, so they all felt at ease doing their own things in the mountains.

At this time, Kikyo, who was on guard, frowned slightly, turned sideways, drew the bow, put the arrow on it, pulled the string, and pointed the arrow tip to the left.

Concentrating, waiting for something.

At this moment, a jade lotus that seemed to be carved from light green jade appeared without warning in the direction where Kikyo's magic-breaking arrow was pointing.

Then, Qinglian disappeared, and Shang Yang and Feng, who looked curious, appeared beside Kikyo.

"...It's you."

Kikyo breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, putting down the bow and arrow in her hand.

"Feng, didn't I ask you to stay at the shrine?"

"I'm sorry, onee-sama."

Hearing this, Feng hurriedly apologized nervously.

"Because some..."

"Don't blame her."

Without waiting for Feng to explain, Shang Yang interrupted his sister's nervous speech and explained to Kikyo slowly.

"I heard Feng say that you and the farmers in the village went into the mountains, so I came to check it out. It wouldn't be nice to leave Feng alone at the shrine, so I brought her here."

"Is it……"

Kikyo turned to look at Shang Yang and asked in a calm and gentle voice.

"Using strength now will affect the injury, right?"

"It's okay, it doesn't take much strength like this."

Hearing this, Shang Yang shrugged and said with relief.

"Don't worry, I will pay attention."

After hearing what Shang Yang said, Jie Geng didn't say anything more. He turned sideways and continued to be alert to his surroundings.

Seeing that Kikyo didn't intend to say anything else, Shang Yang also gave up the idea of ​​saying anything. He just stood beside Kikyo and observed the situation around him.

Helping to keep an eye on someone is also helping, isn't it...

Volume 5: The Miko of the Warring States Period: Chapter 248: Late Winter

Because of Platycodon's presence, the villagers were able to relax and put all their energy into logging and transporting wood. They quickly loaded enough wood onto the carts, and a group of people began to drive the carts out of the forest.

Kikyo, Shangyang and Feng followed behind the villagers. Although they were about to leave the forest, Kikyo still maintained a certain degree of vigilance, guarding against any wild beasts or even monsters that might suddenly attack the villagers.

Standing at the exit of the deep mountain forest, Kikyo finally breathed a sigh of relief after all the villagers had left the forest, entered the snow-covered plain, and rushed back to Maple Village. Finally, everything was safe.

And it was at this moment when Platycodon relaxed slightly, with the slight swaying of the bushes, a lone wolf with a body length of nearly one meter suddenly jumped out from under the snow-covered bushes and pounced ferociously on the slightly dazed Platycodon.

Of course, Kikyo would not be at a loss because of such an emergency. Just when the sharp claws of the lone wolf were about to touch Kikyo's white shrine maiden costume, Kikyo had already picked up the bow, pinched the arrow tail with her white hands, and fully strung the string.

The arrow was not released. Just before Kikyo released the fully-stringed arrow, Shang Yang, who was beside her, moved sideways to Kikyo and quickly grabbed the waist of the lone wolf that was pouncing from mid-air. He then pressed the hungry lone wolf onto the snow on the ground.

The lone wolf pinned to the snow by Shang Yang howled and twisted its body continuously, trying to break free from his grip. However, this level of struggle was obviously nothing to Shang Yang. No matter how the lone wolf struggled, it was still pinned to the snow by Shang Yang's hand and could not get rid of it.

Seeing Shang Yang subdued the lone wolf, Kikyo put down the bow and arrow in her hand, gently patted her sister Feng, who closed her eyes in fear and clung to her clothes tightly, and comforted her softly.

"It's okay now, Feng."

"I was a little careless. Thank you, Shang Yang."

"It's okay, Kikyo, you're ready too."

Hearing this, Shang Yang replied indifferently.

"Originally, I shouldn't have been so nosy, but now I'm a little curious about this lone wolf. If I'm not mistaken..."

Looking at the skinny lone wolf who was also looking at him with a pleading look, Shang Yang thoughtfully released his hand that was pressing the lone wolf to the snow.

After Shang Yang let go of his hand, the lone wolf crawled up on all fours, shook off the snow on its fur, tilted its head to glance at Shang Yang and Jie Geng, then turned its head and slowly went into the forest. Shang Yang also stood up and followed it.

Seeing this scene, Kikyo frowned slightly, turned around, took out a white talisman from her sleeve, and gave instructions to Feng who had calmed down.

"Feng, take this and go back with everyone first, go quickly."

"Yes, I understand, onee-sama!"

Feng took the talisman, nodded vigorously in agreement, then immediately turned around and chased the villagers who were already not far from the village.

Although Kikyo has set up a barrier in the village and the surrounding monsters dare not approach the village, we still have to be prepared for any eventuality.

On the other side, Shang Yang followed the skinny lone wolf for a short distance, only to see the lone wolf turn around and disappear behind the snow-covered bushes.

Shang Yang also followed behind the bushes, and when he saw what was behind the bushes, he showed an expression that said, "As expected."

It was a cave hidden behind the bushes. The skinny lone wolf was lying beside the cave entrance. As if they smelled the scent of the old wolf, three wolf cubs came out of the cave, surrounded the old wolf, and howled. They seemed to be extremely hungry. The old wolf just licked the cubs' fur over and over again. Then, tears flowed from the old wolf's ferocious eyes and flowed on the cubs' fur.

"As expected..."

Seeing this scene, Shang Yang couldn't help but sigh helplessly, walked to the old wolf, bent down, and casually groped in his sleeve.

"Luckily I still have some stuff here."

Half a roasted rice ball was placed in front of the wolf cubs. The cubs seemed to smell the aroma of the food, and they rushed over one after another and took a bite of the roasted rice ball that exuded the aroma of food. However, the old wolf did not move at all, but just watched the cubs devour it quietly.

Seeing this, Shang Yang reached out and touched the old wolf's thin body.

At this moment, a white hand placed two simple roasted rice balls next to the wolf cub. Seeing this white hand, Shang Yang was stunned and turned sideways.

What greeted me were Platycodon's clear eyes.

"Kikyo, this is a wolf..."

Shaking his head, the young man reminded the witch.

"If they can't hunt other animals, they will attack people in the village."

Hearing Shang Yang's reminder, Kikyo just shook her head slightly and said nothing.

"But it's nothing..."

Seeing Kikyo's reaction, Shang Yang shrugged.

"It's very difficult for them to survive this harsh winter with so little food. However, if they're lucky, when the old wolf dies, the young ones might be able to eat the old wolf's remains and survive until the warm spring next year. Of course, that's if they don't freeze to death."

Hearing Shang Yang's words, Kikyo was slightly stunned, and turned her gaze to the wolf cubs thoughtfully. Then, the witch with an indifferent expression raised her hand and gently placed it on the heads of the wolf cubs who were devouring the food. A gentle spiritual light emanated from her palm.

Shang Yang looked at Kikyo's actions with a little surprise, thinking about something.

"Is this... a spell that prevents monsters and beasts from harming humans?"

Coming back to his senses from his thoughts, Shang Yang was stunned when he saw the situation in front of him. He quickly stood up and chased after Platycodon who was about to go far away.

"Hey, Kikyo, don't just carry the little wolf away like that! Even though you cast a spell, have you considered the feelings of the villagers?"

As a result, Shang Yang's complaints were completely unnecessary. After Jie Geng assured the villagers that the old wolf and the young wolves would never hurt anyone, all the villagers believed him.

Well, Shang Yang was right, the villagers believed it directly...

The severity of this winter far exceeded that of previous winters, especially after entering the coldest deep winter, even the ground began to crack due to the excessive cold. However, for the people of Maple Village, although this winter was difficult, under the protection of Lady Kikyo, they did not starve to death. The fence surrounding the village was built on the third day after the villagers came back from cutting trees, and the extra dead branches were distributed to each family as firewood in the winter.

In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed, and Shang Yang had also lived in the shrine of Maple Village for more than a month. Of course, the opportunity to visit the house where Kikyo and Kaede usually lived was pitifully rare...

...This is not the point. The point is that the villagers of Maple Village have now begun to get used to the presence of the strange young man in the shrine.

When Kikyo is not at the shrine, after visiting the shrine, the villagers will also instruct the strange young man standing at the door in boredom and daze, asking the young man to help tell Kikyo to say "Say hello to the shrine maiden".

This also made Shang Yang quite speechless.

1514 AD, the second year of Zhisheng in the Tang Dynasty and the eleventh year of Yongzheng in Japan.

On the night of the Lunar New Year's Eve, although in this day and age, it is impossible for anyone in a remote rural area like Fengzhi Village to set off fireworks, the villagers still prepared the most sumptuous dinner they could in their homes according to the New Year's customs of this land.

The adults lit a fire in the center of the village. Although it was a bit cold, most villagers still insisted on coming out, chatting with their neighbors and eating the most sumptuous food they could make.

Although, the so-called most sumptuous food is nothing more than rice balls with side dishes such as pickles.

Maple Village, Shrine.

"Kikyo, it seems like you haven't had time to eat since this morning?"

While cleaning the dust behind the statue with a broom, Shang Yang casually asked Kikyo, who was half-kneeling and wiping the pine floor with a rag.

Kikyo didn't look up, but just asked softly.

"what happened?"

Early this morning, Kikyo was busy preparing for the evening sacrifice.

Although in this era, especially in remote villages, the annual sacrifices were simply to thank the gods in the shrine, Kikyo still tried her best to make the simple sacrifices solemn.

After the evening ceremony ended, Kikyo did not stop and immediately began to clean the shrine. Feng was now taking the old wolves and young wolves who were temporarily kept next to the shrine to play with the children in the village by the campfire.

Kikyo did not deliberately stop her sister from going out to play, so Shangyang, who was also staying in the shrine, was forced to do hard labor by Kikyo.

Although I guess Shang Yang himself is also very happy that Yue Yi* is the first to post it...

"If you haven't eaten yet."

Hearing this, Shang Yang shrugged and answered casually.

"I still have some food."

After a while.

After opening the paper package containing the food and seeing what was inside, Kikyo was a little confused.

"Is this... a bun?"

When the paper package was unfolded, five round baked buns were revealed, with the skin having a golden hue.

"Yes, it's a baked bun with meat filling."

Shang Yang casually advised, picking up a toasted bun and taking a bite.

"I know you usually eat very simply, but how about treating yourself once in a while during the New Year?"

Without refuting Shang Yang's words, Kikyo remained silent for a moment, raised his hand, picked up a baked bun with a golden crust, and took a light bite.

Seeing that Platycodon was so dignified and elegant even when eating, Shang Yang sighed helplessly and spoke slowly.

"Stuffed with human flesh..."

After hearing this horrifying statement, Kikyo's expression did not change at all, she just gently put the toasted bun in her hand back.

Then, the witch picked up a bow and arrow from the side, drew the bow and put the arrow in one go, pointing the arrow directly at Shang Yang who was startled by her action.

"Hey, hey! Just kidding!"