Girls' Wishing Tree

Before Zhi could ask more, Ying took the pipa and started playing.

Her advanced pipa playing skills have surpassed most professional pipa players. Even in the pieces she plays casually, one can easily hear her skill in playing.

The song, which lasted just one minute, made Zhi and Rupa clap together.

"Wow! It sounds completely different from a guitar!" Zhi became interested in this instrument.

"It's a pity that it's not a very good pipa, otherwise the sound would be much better. Since it was sent from the other side of the sea, I didn't dare to buy a too expensive one, just an instrument around 100,000 yen. I can only wait for a chance to buy a better one." Sakura sighed while holding the pipa.

"How many musical instruments can Ying play? It seems like she knows a little bit of everything." Zhi said with some envy.

The girl holding the pipa smiled mysteriously and gave a series of irrelevant answers - she herself had no idea what instrument the system would let her learn, so she could only throw out the "setting" of why she could play the pipa.

"I learned the basics in China when I was a kid, and I've been playing it ever since. My old one broke, and now that I've settled down in Tokyo, I'm thinking of buying another one."

In the next few days, Sakura continued to practice violin with Miyazono Kaoru for a few hours every day. She temporarily relaxed her guitar and bass training and focused on practicing a few pipa pieces. She also took the time to sort out two songs from her previous life to make up for the weakness of Momoka's new band's limited repertoire.

She will appear as a guest in Popipa's performances and Taoxiang Band's performances, and her best instrument at the moment is the pipa.

Takagi Sakura remembered that in her previous life, there was a Chinese women's folk music band that was very popular in Japan, so the audience's acceptance of the Chinese folk music style should not be a problem, but her performance had to be up to par.

Momoka didn't invite too many warm-up guests to participate in this Live, but the two groups of guests she invited were very impressive - in addition to the already famous shrine maiden Sakura Takagi, she also invited SICKHACK, the band that Kikuri Hiroi is in.

Perhaps due to the appeal of the guest performers, all 160 tickets were sold out quickly, and Taoxiang and the other five members also devoted almost all their energy to the band's first performance.

On the morning before the rehearsal, the band performed, Takagi Sakura went to Starry early with her biwa, and happened to meet Ijichi Hoshika opening the door.

There was no dialog box displayed next to Xingge, but her sister Hongxia did. However, Hongxia did not show up today - probably as a student, Hongxia was in class.

Ying took the initiative to talk to Xingge: "Good morning."

Xingge looked a little unmotivated, but still waved to Ying and said, "Good morning, you don't have to come so early. Usually, there are always one or two people in the band who are late."

Ying smiled. "I'm bored at the shrine anyway, so I might as well come here early. This Live House isn't big, but the decoration looks more and more charming. The owner really put a lot of effort into it."

"This place...was originally a place where dreams come true, and we didn't give much thought to its scale."

"Fulfill a dream?" Sakura's curiosity was piqued.

"Yeah, you looked familiar to me, so I looked it up. Are you the shrine maiden from that music shrine that's been really popular lately?"

"I can't say it's fire, but she is definitely a shrine maiden from Sakura Shrine."

Xingge was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly said, "Sakura, can I call you that? Changing an old shrine to a musical theme should also be for the sake of dreams, right?"

"To some extent, yes." Sakura certainly couldn't say that the girls could provide her with shining points, but to say that she played music entirely for shining points was also biased - in this era of big girl bands, she also got a lot of happiness from playing music with the girls.

"So you should understand that Starry isn't profitable." Xingge pointed to the exquisite Livehouse, whose decoration was infused with many ingenious details. "It's a dream I wove. At least it allows people to grasp something less real in reality."

"What a romantic Live House!" Ying picked up her pipa and walked towards the stage. "I want to try performing without a microphone, relying solely on the sound of the instrument itself. Let me try first."

Takagi Sakura sat in the middle of the stage, and Xingge was the only one in the audience.

A girl in casual clothes sat down on the stage holding a pipa and gently plucked the strings. The sad feeling from the sound of the pipa came over her.

Xingge seemed to see some kind of farewell scene. She had not seen many musicians who could create a sense of picture with just an instrument, and each of them was a well-known musician.

The notes played become increasingly close together, but there is no sense of joy. The dense notes seem to express the girl's melancholy. It is not until the last part of the piece that there is a slight emotional "uplift", but it is not very thorough, giving people a sense of incomplete joy.

After finishing her performance, Ying waved to Xingge, who was still in a daze: "Xingge, is the volume okay?"

"What song is it?" Xingge took two steps forward. "It's very good. It would be a waste to perform it in a live house. We should go to a concert hall."

"'Zhaojun Goes to the Frontier' is a song about an ancient princess marrying far away. Unlike modern times, there were no airplanes or trains in ancient times, and once you left, it was almost impossible to return. Therefore, the song conveys feelings of sadness, reluctance, and helplessness, but these negative emotions did not affect her determination."

"It's really amazing." Xingge gave Ying a thumbs up. "The volume is fine. Just ask everyone to be quiet and enjoy the performance when you go on stage. With such a high level of performance, everyone will listen quietly."

Chapter 93 Shrines, Festivals, and Monsters: 50. I want to quit the band

SICKHACK didn't come to the rehearsal, not because the band was being arrogant, but because Ju Li always added her own touches every time she went on stage, and there was often some deviation between the rehearsal effect and the final performance. Xingge simply let her band practice in the rehearsal room on their own - this band had gone through a lot of things in the few years since it was formed, but not once had it been really bad.

The only time bass singer Kikuri drank herself into the hospital was when Sakura, the backup musician, took over.

As for Momoka and the others' rehearsals, they went relatively smoothly - four original songs, four covers, and two songs written by Sakura all went well during the rehearsal process, which also improved the atmosphere of the band, which didn't have strong cohesion.

Miao Meng put down the drumsticks and said, "Everyone performed well. Shouldn't we decide on a band name? When we go on stage tomorrow, we can't say that we are a band formed by Taoxiang on the spur of the moment, right? I suggest calling the band ROS."

"What does this name mean?" Rencai asked in confusion.

"Of course, we're riding on the popularity of the hottest bands right now, Roselia and RAS. As long as the audience compares us with these two bands, we'll make money." Miao Meng said naturally.

"No, how can we just force it like this? We can't produce works like theirs for the time being, right?" Zhi rejected it without even thinking.

"Hey, we're just starting out, so it's okay to use the name, right?" Miao Meng walked over to Zhi and said, "If you don't want to use these two bands, then you can use DiamondDust. Aren't we going to compete with them? We can call it BrokenDiamond or something, and have Taoxiang shout out a few revenge declarations during the live performance, and it will immediately become a hot topic."

This time it was Taoxiang's turn to object: "Meow Meng, what are you thinking? DiamondDust and I aren't that kind of relationship. This is our first live performance, so we should focus on the musicality, right?"

"There are only 160 people in the audience, so we need to find a way to generate buzz online to make the band more successful." Miao Meng walked off the stage and faced her four teammates. "There are too many girl bands out there. If we rely on accumulating popularity bit by bit without any major events, we'll probably fade away before we even become popular."

None of the four teammates spoke. Miao Meng turned his gaze to Ying again: "Ying, are you right?"

"You're right, but all the hype comes at a price." Ying didn't think the band could sustain itself long-term, so she gave up on trying to smooth things over and said directly, "The tickets for the first live have already been sold. We have a responsibility to the audience. After the first live, we can sit down and talk. For now, let's focus on the music."

"I took a leave of absence to come and rehearse, and so did Rencai. This should prove that I really want to make this band a success. When we were recruiting online, everyone also said that we are a band with high standards, right?" Miao Meng started to pack up. "Now, I have to go back to school."

"...Meow Meng, wait a minute. Everyone, I'm going to talk to Meow Meng." Ying said to the band members and followed Meow Meng out.

Miao Meng was obviously unhappy. Seeing Ying follow her out, she immediately started complaining to her: "Ying, I've prepared a lot. I went back to the apartment to practice drums after class. Nina also came from Kumamoto and is also practicing singing in her spare time. She should understand me..."

Ying did not respond to Miao Meng's words, but just listened to her complain about all four teammates.

"I'll help you hype up the performance online this time." Ying looked at Miao Meng and said, "I know it's not easy for you to be alone in Tokyo. Let's continue doing live broadcasts together in the future."

Miao Meng's mood improved slightly after she finished speaking. She bowed slightly to Ying and said, "I'm sorry for saying so much to Ying. After the live show ends tomorrow, I want to quit the band. I will tell you this in person at the end of the show."

"Why?" Ying thought that Miao Meng would not be able to stay, but she didn't expect her to be so anxious.

"Since the band can't bring me any buzz, I'll just create a topic myself. A member dropping out of the first live show is a good gimmick, right? And the buzz will basically be on me—of course, after all the songs are performed, so it won't affect the integrity of the live show."

"Have you communicated with Momoka and the others?" Ying guessed that Miao Meng definitely didn't tell the other band members, but she still asked to confirm.

"If we communicate with them, the show won't be effective." Miao Meng made a "hush" gesture, put her index finger in front of her lips, and winked at Ying: "Please keep it a secret for me."

Sakura didn't answer directly: "I'm going back to the shrine. I need to be in my best condition for tomorrow's performance."

She had thought the band would break up, but she didn't expect it to happen so soon - but as long as the first live performance was completed, she wouldn't have any control over it afterwards. The most she could do was help the members find the most suitable band for each of them.

If Meow Meng quits, would it be appropriate to keep the remaining four together? Momoka and Zhi are quite compatible in arranging music, but Zhi and Rupa seem to want to form a professional band, which Momoka has some concerns about...

Sakura was still thinking about the band when she suddenly received an email on her phone.

It was sent by Otte, whom I met online.

[I'm at your shrine, but why is there only one shrine maiden who can't speak Chinese? Where are the people?]

Sakura originally wanted to go back to the tree directly, but she still had her cell phone and pipa with her, so she didn't do that.

Besides, she had another thought.

The system is indeed unreliable, but one cannot fully trust the Taoists who speak in a very arrogant tone on the Internet.

If he went back to the tree directly, the tree demon's true form would be exposed. If he went back now, he could test her and see if Otte could see through his true form.

Sakura is very cautious about things related to "monsters" that did not exist in her previous life.

The system did help her escape from the situation of being a tree in the shrine yard, unable to go anywhere, but the options it provided later were suspected of manipulating the lives of the girls.

As for this guy Otte, his identity as a "monster" can be seen from the live broadcast. He also said that he was entangled by "dirty things" and his mouth was particularly smelly. I don't know whether he was swindling or really capable.

"Wait a minute. I'm performing outside on the street. I'll be here in an hour. I'll call Sayu, who's staying at the shrine, and have her entertain you."

Sakura took out her cell phone and called Sayu, asking her to entertain the little nun who came to the shrine, and then took the subway back to the shrine.

On the subway, she wanted to play with her phone, but she felt distracted.

When Gao Muying walked out of the subway station, her steps slowed down a lot. The pedestrians who walked faster than her squeezed past her one by one, and no one cared about her abnormality.

That's how it is in a big city like Tokyo.

Forget it. Otte cares about me and is willing to use fake documents to get a visa to come to Tokyo to help me. No matter what, I have to give her a chance.

Chapter 94 Shrines, Festivals, and Monsters: 51. The Current Situation of Monsters

Sakura Shrine.

Takagi Sakura walked very slowly, but still reached the shrine.

As soon as she walked through the torii gate, Sakura saw a girl wearing a windbreaker and a JK skirt. Her long hair was tied into a small bun and fixed with a wooden hairpin. If there was anything wrong, it was that she was holding a peach wood sword in her hand and slowly circling around the cherry tree.

"Otte?" Takagi Sakura moved closer.

The girl didn't respond and continued circling the cherry tree.

"Guo Yu?" She took another step forward.

The girl who dreamed of being Guo Yu suddenly turned around, ran quickly to Ying's side, and looked her up and down carefully.

"What?" Sakura took two steps back.

"This is the first time I've seen a living monster." Guo Yu pointed at the cherry tree and said, "Don't worry, I've found the problem for you. It's this tree that has awakened the wisdom of a tree demon and is haunting you. As long as I explain the truth to it, your problem will be solved."

"Ahem—" Ying coughed twice: "You keep calling me a monster. What gives you the right to say I'm a monster? You have a pointed face and monkey cheeks, and I even called you a monkey spirit."

This guy could tell that the cherry tree was a tree demon, but he couldn't see that he was the incarnation of the tree demon. Either he was not well-trained, or he had ulterior motives. Naturally, Sakura was not so polite.

Guo Yu blushed and resumed her online self-proclaimed name: "I came all this way out of kindness! You little monster, I don't care about you anymore. Just wait to be eaten by the tree demon! The demonic energy of this cherry tree is as strong as that of a great tree demon! As long as someone guides it, it can transform!"

Sakura understood instantly—this guy was simply a dish.

She laughed. "Have you ever considered that it might have taken shape?"

Guo Yu froze in place, scratching his head several times. He took out a pair of monoculars and looked at Ying again: "Fuck, you are this cherry tree! Did you use the method of soul transfer to transform?"

"What does it mean to transfer the soul?"

"Forget it. Someone like you who can't restrain his demonic power must be a wild monster." Guo Yu walked to the corridor, opened his backpack, and took out a book from it. "Read it yourself. I'll help you find where the dirty things are. Arrange accommodation for me these few days. It will take more than a few days to do it. And this amulet, carry it with you and hang it on your chest. It was made by my master."

As Ying took the amulet, the system's prompt sounded: "Don't wear it, this amulet is dangerous!"

Guo Yu held the peach wood sword in one hand and his monocle with the other, continuing to search for the "dirty thing." Ying didn't immediately put on the amulet, but instead suppressed her voice and bargained with the system: "Why not wear it? Are you that dirty thing?"

"This amulet will block the system's functions." The system quickly explained, its speech speed increasing a bit: "The system is completely harmless, it's just an auxiliary system. If you block the system's functions, you won't be able to earn shining points, nor will you be able to use the dialogue box to talk to the girls. It will do you no good—"

"Then I can just take it off when I need it, right?" Takagi Sakura hung the amulet around her neck and opened the thread-bound book in her hand.

The system will speak, explaining that the amulet is indeed useful for shielding the system. Coincidentally, when she was reading this book, she didn't want the system to know the contents.

This book, called "Record of Life", was a manual written by plant-type monsters when Zhu Di, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, led the monsters to conquer Mobei hundreds of years ago. The first half is a basic knowledge popularization for plant-type monsters, and the second half records some cultivation methods and spells.

The book was a photocopy and a version from hundreds of years ago, but to Sakura, it was precious material.

At least such a thing definitely did not exist in the previous life.

The stages of plant-type monster training are consistent with those provided by the system - when you can first transform, you are a small monster, if you can use spells, you will be considered a big monster, if you can run with tree roots, you will be promoted to a senior monster, and if you can get rid of the weakness of putting away your plant body, you will be an ancestor-level monster.

The book also records some different things.

There are three ways for plants to transform into humans. The first is called soul transfer, which is to place the spiritual consciousness in the illusory human form. It is least affected by the tree itself. Even if the tree is cut down, it can take root in the ground in the human form and spend several years to grow a new tree. But the weakness is that if the human form is killed, it will be destroyed.

The second type is called Exorcism, which is the same as Sakura's current state. Unlike Transmigration, the human form is not a weakness, but if the trees are cut down, it will be destroyed.

The third type is called pseudo-spirit, which is to gradually cultivate the plant form into human form. The advantage is that the plant form is flexible and has strong combat capabilities. The disadvantage is that it has to reach the senior tree demon stage before it can leave the original place. When it is still a big tree demon, it does not have a human form, but the tree form looks barely like a human.

After confirming that she had transformed herself through the spirit-exorcism method, Gao Muying was still reading a book. Guo Yu walked over and said in a frustrated tone: "I didn't find it."

"Didn't find it?" Gao Muying narrowed her eyes, one hand unconsciously resting on the amulet on her chest: "Then can you help me analyze why I was targeted by this unclean thing?"

"Huh? Need I explain that? I don't know how you managed to become a great tree demon! You don't control your demonic energy at all, so it's no wonder you're targeted by strange creatures. Unclean creatures can't gain anything from humans, but your demonic energy is a great tonic for them."

"Ahem—" Sakura coughed a few times to hide her embarrassment.

Guo Yu took the photocopy of "The Record of Life" from Ying's hand, flipped to the middle page, and put it back in Ying's hand: "Here, the method of suppressing demonic energy. When monsters release demonic energy, it is a provocation and can easily bring misfortune. Keep the demonic energy contained when you are not using it."

"Um...are there many monsters in Tokyo?" Guo Yu asked nervously.

"Probably not many. Most monsters don't like big cities. I'm not familiar with Japanese monsters, but Chinese monsters basically hide in villages deep in the mountains and old forests. Two monsters even told me that even villages hidden in the mountains now have poverty alleviation cadres coming to persuade them to relocate."

"Um... aren't monsters officially managed?"

"Not all monsters are recruited. And not all recruited monsters like to live in big cities. The only one I know of who enjoys appearing before mortals is a senior ginkgo tree demon. He's settled in a scenic area and currently works as a tour guide. He tells tourists every day that touching his bark will bring them wealth."

"Pfft..." Takagi Sakura couldn't help laughing: "I really want to meet you if there's a chance. By the way, are you a monster?"

"No, I'm a Taoist." Guo Yu grabbed Gao Muying's ear and said, "If it weren't for Master saying that helping kind monsters can bring good fortune, I wouldn't bother with your affairs. You're so obsessed with dirty things, and you still have the mood to play the game of keeping a beautiful woman in a golden house. You really know how to play."

"What do you mean by hiding a beautiful girl in a golden house?" Gao Muying was a little confused.

"Tsk, they're sleeping in the same room." Guo Yu pointed at Sayu in the distance.