My personal opinion on Gensokyo

Having said that, Shang Yang glanced at the glutinous rice ball that he had swallowed most of, and sighed.

"Forget it, this is all we have left. We can't waste food. It would be shameful to disappoint Sister Xiaofeng."

As he spoke, Shang Yang casually put the remaining small ball of rice into his mouth, then took a big sip of tea and swallowed the rice ball that was filled with Xiao Feng's "gratitude" with the tea.

After a while.

Looking at the gray-haired young man's extremely ugly expression after swallowing the rice ball made by his sister, which was half glutinous rice and half salt, the corners of the shrine maiden's lips curled up slightly. However, perhaps in order to prevent the young man from noticing, the shrine maiden quickly restored her calm and gentle expression and asked softly.

"Is the initial injury no longer a problem?"

"...Huh? Oh, that one?"

Shang Yang was stunned for a moment when he heard this question, but almost instantly, Shang Yang remembered that what Kikyo was asking about was the injury on her body when she met him on a snowy night in late winter.

Realizing this, Shang Yang answered simply in a relaxed tone.

"The injury has long been healed. You know about Kikyo, and the demon poison was basically resolved some time ago. It's completely fine now."

Speaking of this, Shang Yang couldn't help but think that it had been more than half a year since he came to Feng Village.

However, regarding this point, Shang Yang only sighed slightly in his heart and then put the thought aside.

"Is it……"

Hearing this answer, Kikyo showed a little relief. Then, as if inadvertently, and as if hesitating for a long time, she slightly shifted her gaze and asked softly somewhat suddenly.

"...So, we're leaving here, right?"

Shang Yang was stunned again when he heard this question suddenly.

Uh...what does this mean?

From the tone of his voice, it didn't seem like he was chasing me away, and it didn't seem right either...

Shang Yang subconsciously turned his gaze to Kikyo who suddenly said this, and seemed to be lost in thought.

Kikyo didn't look at herself, but quietly looked outside the shrine at the scattered houses in the village.

Because it was already afternoon, gray smoke was rising from almost every household.

Although it seemed to be an unintentional question from Platycodon, Shang Yang saw the hint of loneliness in Platycodon's clear eyes.

Looking at the thin, almost frail witch, the young man with gray hair sighed softly, rubbed his hair a little, and spoke in a relaxed tone.

"Uh... probably not that soon. I quite like it here."

Hearing this obvious Shang Yang-style answer, a hint of tenderness appeared on the quiet and calm face of the witch.

Shang Yang was very surprised. Although he was a monster, he had never had any interest in the Four Souls Jade.

As the shrine maiden guarding the Shikon Jade, Kikyo understands best the immense temptation that the Shikon Jade holds for monsters, as it can transform the weakest monster into a powerful one in an instant.

This can be clearly understood by looking at Inuyasha's obsession with the Shikon Jewel.

And Shang Yang is also a half-demon similar to Inuyasha...

Half-demons are not tolerated by humans because they have a demonic side, and are rejected by demons because they have a human side.

Half-demons, who are rejected and despised by both humans and monsters, usually appear to be more paranoid and extreme in their character than pure monsters.

It is already commendable that someone like Inuyasha still maintains a kind heart and is unwilling to harm innocent half-demons. Before meeting Shangyang, Kikyo had never imagined that there would be such a "weird" half-demon like Shangyang in this world.

No, he is not just a half-demon. As a monster, Shang Yang is also extremely "weird".

Shang Yang does not look like an inhuman alien, but rather like a scholar with profound knowledge and a peaceful mind.

Shang Yang is not as cruel and bloodthirsty as other monsters. He just looks at the people and monsters living on this land with a peaceful gaze.

He seemed to be standing outside of humans and monsters, treating this world with a peaceful mind, calmly and tolerantly.

Shang Yang is different from the monsters who prey on the weak, are indifferent, or are evil. He is also different from the people living in this Warring States period, who are either kind or despicable.

There are things in Shang Yang that seem to be completely different from the Warring States Period, yet fit in perfectly with it, as if making it impossible for him to see clearly.

The miko, whose face seemed somewhat softer than her previous cold expression, paused for a moment, then asked softly.

"...So, what are your plans for the future?"

"I haven't thought about this yet..."

Hearing this question, Shang Yang also showed an expression that seemed to be annoyed and sighed.

"To be honest, I'm not very fond of fighting, but it seems that this land is full of humans and monsters who love fighting."

"Other humans and monsters are all trying to get ahead, but I seem to have no ambition."

"……Won't."

Shaking her head slightly, Kikyo whispered her thoughts.

"If everyone were like you, the world would be much more peaceful..."

Hearing this, Shang Yang sighed casually, not really caring.

"I guess so……"

Hearing the young man's response, the corners of the witch's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint and gentle smile. She stood up and picked up the ancient catalpa bow beside her. She turned slightly sideways, and her clear eyes like a clear spring looked at the young man with gray and messy hair in front of her. There was a hint of gratitude in her faint tone.

"Thank you for keeping watch over the village these days."

"Uh...so you knew..."

Hearing this, Shang Yang couldn't help but rub his hair in embarrassment.

"Uh, never mind."

Having said that, Shang Yang seemed to remember something, and hurriedly stood up and asked loudly to the shrine maiden who had already walked to the torii gate outside the shrine.

"By the way, Kikyo, the subtext of what you just said is that you are chasing people away, right?!"

"of course not."

The sweet voice of the departing shrine maiden slowly reached the young man's ears.

"...If you have nowhere else to go, you can always stay here."

Volume 5: Miko of the Warring States Period: Chapter 282: Inuyasha Returns

Two days later, in the remote countryside of Musashi in the eastern part of the country, in Maple Village.

At noon.

Ever since Shang Yang killed the centipede demon woman who tried to take the opportunity to kidnap Feng and threaten Kikyo to hand over the Four Souls Jade two days ago, and it seemed that it was also because of Shang Yang's previous cleansing of the deep mountains and forests around Feng Village, in the past two days, no monster tried to sneak into Feng Village and wait for an opportunity to seize the Four Souls Jade.

Although the monsters were extremely eager for the Four Souls Jade, for the sake of their own safety, the monsters in the deep mountains and forests around Maple Village also quieted down.

Since there had been no recent monster attacks, Shang Yang was able to spend two leisurely days in peace, with nothing happening at all.

However, that's where it ends.

Leaning against the door of the shrine, Shang Yang sighed helplessly, tilted his head, and looked with half-opened eyes at Ergouzi, who was sitting cross-legged in front of the altar of the shrine, staring at the Four Souls Jade placed on the altar, which was glowing with spiritual light. He crossed his arms, hidden in the sleeves of his fire rat fur coat, and put on a thoughtful look. He asked slowly and boredly.

"...I say, Inuyasha, you haven't given up yet. You can't break Kikyo's protective barrier just by staring at it."

"Tsk! How could I possibly give up?"

Hearing Shang Yang's question, Inuyasha snorted disdainfully and glanced with contempt at the young man with gray and messy hair leaning against the door.

"You've been trying to get that miko to let down her guard against you, so you can seize the Four Souls Jade. You're the one who's giving up! I won't give up on seizing the Four Souls Jade! Oh, by the way, is there anything to eat here?"

Hearing Inuyasha's words, Shang Yang shrugged indifferently, picked up a rice ball from the paper bag on the table next to him and threw it to Inuyasha.

"By the way, Inuyasha, how are things going in the West Country?"

"Oh, you're talking about the Western Country."

Inuyasha caught the rice ball thrown by Shangyang and his expression suddenly became complacent.

"With this old man rushing over to help, those cats were easily defeated by this old man."

"Oh...that's really amazing."

Shang Yang asked casually, his eyes still half open, as he drew out the word in boredom.

"Have you seen Seshomaru?"

"Tsk, if possible, I don't want to see that guy."

Inuyasha's tone was extremely disdainful.

"That guy is still the same, with a dead look on his face. Just seeing him makes me mad... Pfft! Damn it! What the hell is this?!"

While complaining about his elder brother Seshomaru's indifference in a disdainful tone, Inuyasha took a bite of the rice ball.

In an instant, Inuyasha's expression became very interesting. After swallowing the rice ball with difficulty, Inuyasha glared at Shangyang, who still looked very bored, and questioned loudly angrily.

"The rice balls made by Kikyo's sister, Xiaofeng, taste a bit strong and not to my taste."

Shrugging again, Shang Yang answered casually.

"It's just what you want to eat, Inuyasha. I'll give it to you. How about it? You must have experienced a lot of battles in the West these days. Eating some food with a stronger salt taste is just right. It can replenish your physical strength and energy."

"How can a rice ball that's half rice and half salt be considered 'slightly salty'?"

Inuyasha became furious when he heard Shangyang's perfunctory answer.

"You must be teasing me!"

"No."

"Don't act like you're just trying to put me off! Tsk, damn it!"

Seeing that Shang Yang still had a perfunctory and bored expression and complained angrily, Inuyasha turned around unhappily and continued to stare at the Shikon Jewel in deep thought, and no longer intended to pay attention to Shang Yang.

Seeing Inuyasha like this, Shang Yang sighed indifferently and asked slowly at a leisurely pace.

"By the way, Inuyasha, you want the Four Souls Jade. You want to use the power of the Four Souls Jade to become a real monster, right?"

Hearing Shangyang's question, Inuyasha snorted unhappily and asked back unhappily.

"Yeah, so what?"

"It's okay, just asking."

Shang Yang shook his head indifferently and continued speaking slowly in a casual tone.

"But, Inuyasha, if you really become a real youkai, what will you do after that?"

"Huh?! Is that even necessary?!"

Hearing Shangyang's strange question, Inuyasha couldn't help but look at him with contempt and spoke as a matter of course.

"Of course... eh?"

After saying these words, Inuyasha couldn't help but be stunned, not knowing what to say next.

If he really thinks about it, Inuyasha has never considered what he will do after becoming a real monster with the power of the Shikon Jewel.

Defeat Seshomaru and dominate the West like his father?

Extremely boring...

If you think about it carefully, the reason why Inuyasha wanted to become a real monster was simply because he was fed up with those monsters who rushed up to him and caused trouble without saying a word when they saw that he was a half-monster.

As for what he would do with this after becoming a real monster, Inuyasha had never really thought about it.

Inuyasha thought for a long time but couldn't come up with any answer, so he snorted again in dissatisfaction.

"When I become a true youkai, the first thing I'm going to do is teach you and that annoying miko who's always trying to stop me from getting the Shikon Jade a lesson! Tsk! So annoying! I'm definitely going to get the Shikon Jade!"

After saying this with an unhappy look on his face, Inuyasha stood up, walked out of the shrine, and with a few jumps, disappeared into the mountains and forests not far from the shrine.

Leaning against the door, Shang Yang was lost in thought as he watched Inuyasha suddenly leave the shrine and disappear into the forest.

It seems that because of his words, Inuyasha remembered his mother...

However, it could also be due to other reasons...

While thinking this, Shang Yang casually shifted his gaze to the torii gate outside the shrine gate.

The shrine maiden in white clothes and red skirt, with an ancient cypress bow tied behind her, has already walked to the bottom of the all-red torii.

"Don't worry, no monsters will come to seize the Four Souls Jade today."

Shang Yang raised his hand and waved to the approaching Kikyo, still speaking casually in a slow pace.