Chapter 3: Baishan Shrine

What are they?" Yuan Qingsu pointed at the sleeves of the shrine maiden's robe worn by Shenlin Yuko

This colossal creature, resembling a moth with coral-like horns atop its head, landed in Miyagi Prefecture and unleashed a massive tsunami with its three pairs of sky-blue wings that obscured the sun.

The girl dressed in a shrine maiden's attire almost blends into the scene before her, fitting in as perfectly as if she were in a morning temple, hearing the distant and tranquil sound of the temple bells

Yuan Qingsu, standing two meters away, followed Shen Lin Yuko into the room, arriving at a spacious tatami room

The crisp chirping of birds, the clamor of children, the daily gossip of housewives, and occasionally the cawing of crows

Shenlin Yuko put away her phone, and Yuan Qingsu took the opportunity to glance at it, clearly seeing that the screen displayed an email from the school's academic affairs office

Today, she is wearing a red and white miko outfit, layered with a white haori, the cuffs embroidered with white magnolias

The sky is a deep blue, as if washed clean, filled with the breath of spring, and everywhere is a vibrant green

There are monsters in this world

Some crows do not caw but will still attack people he kindly reminded

The girl in military uniform let out a satisfied "hmph," exuding an air of arrogance

On this spring morning when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, several housewives have already come to the shrine with their children to play

Including the "thank you" when they met, the other party had one last sentence left within ten minutes. Yuan Qingsu thought for a moment and said:

Wisteria's new green, casting down shade, the divine child of the forest is beneath the shade of the tree

The tsunami swept through Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, and Fukushima Prefecture

The girl in military uniform stands behind Shinrin Miko, appearing to be slightly taller than the two kneeling individuals

The butterfly little people flew away, and after a short while, they flew back again

He received this email last night, and it had a comment written on it:

Yuan Qingsu stepped back two meters

Thank you. Yuan Qingsu picked up the book, her eyes fixed on the exquisite, lifelike, and translucent little butterfly figures.

Shenlin Yuko was clearly uninterested in the crow, remaining silent as she walked straight towards the trunk of the banyan tree

At this moment, a female fairy, dressed in a priestess outfit and adorned with butterfly wings, gracefully danced while working together to bring tea and snacks.

Tender leaves sway atop, while the sunlight scattered beneath glimmers brightly

The chest is completely lacking, but the smooth legs beneath that military skirt can compensate for this shortcoming, achieving a balance

This may be considered another form of natural disaster

Monsters directly utilize the "Divine Aura," while Shikigami employ the "Divine Power"

Throughout the entire land of the East, all individuals endowed with divine power must participate in the extermination of monsters. This is known as the 'campaign'—a struggle between the few among humanity who possess divine power and the monsters, where it is a matter of 'either you perish or I do'.

Where is this? He withdrew his gaze and looked at Shinrin Yuko with confusion

Yuan Qingsu scrutinized the peculiar little girl before her

In the south wind carrying the fragrance of cherry blossoms, whether viewed from the side or head-on, Shinrin Miko appears as ethereal and graceful as a celestial being, evoking the phrase 'a hidden orchid in a secluded valley'.

The Secret Shrine. "Mikoto Kamibayashi explained, 'You come from Shikoku, where on Shikokukai Island in the Seto Inland Sea, there is a Secret Shrine with an entrance visible to ordinary people.'"

Thank you

Why

The "Chōdō Shrine" on "Shouying Island" is a hidden shrine that becomes visible to all when the tide recedes. However, only those with divine power can pass through the torii gate and enter the hidden realm

Yuan Qingsu walked down the stone steps and looked out into the distance

Tens of thousands of ordinary people perished, and the practitioners who participated in that battle suffered heavy casualties.

What is the difference between 'divine aura' and 'divine power'?

Shenlin Yuko remained silent, glancing at the butterfly figure lying on the tatami mat

The torii gate of the shrine has faded, and upon closer inspection, it seems that it was never red to begin with

Shadow Island

Ten minutes passed, and Shinrin Yuko calmly spoke

When they return to reality, they will understand that this is an illusion, because anyone who sees him will have such thoughts

Under the gaze of the source of clarity, she vanished into the trunk of the tree

"Who told you to kick me yesterday?" Yuan Qingsu held a grudge, "Do you know how I got back to the dorm?"

It suits you very well, " Yuan Qingsu said as he stepped forward.

It is not a monster that has killed an entire family or devoured countless people, but a creature as massive as a mountain, capable of splitting the deep sea and submerging islands

A butterfly fairy flew onto the delicate shoulder of the beautiful divine forest princess

Behind the torii gate is a straight path lined with trees, surrounded by lush greenery, as if one is situated in a deep mountain area during the spring season

The books are placed in front of Yuan Qingsu, and the little butterfly person who is moving the books is already out of breath from exhaustion

"White Child." Shendai Miko glanced at the girl in military uniform

... ...

After glancing at the cherry blossoms a few times, under the intentional or unintentional gaze of the housewives, he began to search for the 'thickest tree'

Just like living in Tokyo, yet only understanding the residents of "Roppongi" in "Suginami Ward" through television, Gen Seisou, born in "Shikoku", is completely unaware that there is an island called "Teikage" in "Shikoku"

Who allowed you to get so close to Lord Yuzi? Step back two meters!

Shenlin Yuko sighed, stepping forward with her feet clad in white socks, passing through the torii gate and walking along the path lined with pictures and books towards the worship hall, with Gen Qingsu following behind her

The three rulers of the Eastern Land: the Great Shogun of Kanto, the Lord of Kyoto in Kansai, and the Taiko of Hokkaido

Hmph! The girl in the military uniform named Baizi inserted a baton that fit her perfectly into her waist

That face is between a girl and a young woman, wearing a white female military uniform, with blonde hair styled into a small bun at the back of her head

Yuan Qingsu had no mood to pay attention to these matters

"What are you looking at, piglet!" The military uniform-clad girl tilted her delicate little face, her expression tense, displaying a poor attitude, causing her image to plummet instantly

The male protagonist in "The Tale of Genji"—Genji, is remarkably handsome, possessing a beauty that can rival the sun and the moon. He is exceptionally talented, and people refer to him as "Prince Hikaru".

After finishing the fifth sentence, Shinrin Yuko had already directed her gaze towards the vibrant courtyard filled with spring, and after listening to Minamoto Kiyosumi's "correction," she returned her gaze.

The Coral Sea Egrets were only seriously injured, not dead. After so many years, the nearby coastal areas dare only to use the land for farming, and do not dare to build a single residential house.

It was not until the "Shogun" ruling over the Kanto region dispatched skilled experts that the "Coral Sea Egrets" were severely injured and forced back to the Pacific Ocean

The bell transformed into a police baton, and this scene before him allowed him to glimpse the essence of this world through the cracks, causing his mood to become somewhat excited

Earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, heavy snow, volcanic eruptions, and landslides reported on television are not natural disasters, but rather monsters.

Speaking of which, Miss Shenlin turned out to be a member of the Literature Department," Yuan Qingsu smiled and said, "No wonder I felt like I had seen you somewhere before when I first met you. It's true that 'even if not related by blood, entering the same door'."

During the annual plum rain season, thousands of hydrangea flowers bloom, attracting a continuous stream of tourists to this otherwise ordinary small shrine.

"Harry Potter? Platform 9 and 3/4?" he said, as he followed along.

He sat face to face with Kamiyama Miko, still separated by two meters in between

At this moment, he sensed from Shen Lin Yuzi's gaze the prelude of "definitely going to take action" -- possibly even with his feet.

Yuan Qingsu said while flipping through the book

How do you know my hometown is from the Four Nations, etc.

Shenlin Yuko does not like to have contact with others, and for this reason, he even imposes self-restraint. He does not understand it, but he respects the choices of others

If one were to consider it carefully, his slightly condescending gaze is indeed somewhat impolite

◇

Cannot.

There, two little butterfly figures peek out from what seems like a cave, looking outside

That gaze is too familiar to me

The next day, the first Saturday of April, was a sunny day with a warm breeze.

Go, go, go! On the shoulders of Shenlin Yuzi, she cheers them on, but doesn't move a muscle, her slender legs still happily swinging.

He is handsome and clear, when women along the way see him, they will definitely take a few more glances, and then a strange feeling will arise in their hearts.

Strangers who coexist for a period of time, and will continue to be so. Shenyin Yuzi's eyes are as clear as water, reflecting the purity of the source under the pillar.

Four little butterflies are lifting a book, flapping their wings with all their might

"Be polite, piglet, do not point at His Excellency!" The girl in military uniform swiftly drew a bell from her waist, transforming it into a black baton, appearing ready to teach a lesson.

Here you can see the backyard, where there is a green plum tree that has already borne fruit. In addition, the fragrance of some unknown flowers keeps wafting into the Japanese-style room.

The "Divine Aura" consists of the sun, tides, wind, and water; the "Divine Power" is electricity—these are all written in my book. After reading it, please inform me of your final decision

The "Coral Sea Witch" that appeared in Kanto not only killed Kanto practitioners, but also caused heavy losses in Kansai and Hokkaido.

Subsequently, he turned his gaze towards Shinrin Yuko

Why not meet directly at the torii gate? Even the worship hall or the water purification station is better than the 'thickest tree'.

Spirit? Monster? Source Qing Su's heart was filled with speculation

... ....

I understand. He hurriedly said, "The essence of wind power and hydropower is fundamentally unimportant! What matters is that the 'divine energy' cannot be directly used by us 'electrical devices', right?"

As the main battlefield, the city of Luqian Gaotian has been reduced to rubble, leaving only remnants of walls and ruins

Yesterday, the luxurious black straight hair that naturally hung over the shoulders is today gathered into a bundle with a hollow metal headband

He can be called a genius in terms of peering into the opponent's vulnerabilities, able to sensitively grasp the key points of the problem, which has almost become a part of his subconscious.

Hmm. Shénlín Yùzǐ nodded slightly, changed her shoes, and walked into the ancient wooden house

No change back to the bell, it seems that this "prison guard" is ready to come up and punish at any time.

She stared at Yuan Qingsu

Understood

Spirit, my shikigami. explained Shenlin Yuzi.

Such popularity, his birth and past experiences are naturally not a secret

The number of monsters is very small, but there will always be a few every year.

It hasn't been ten minutes yet, there are still three minutes.

Yuan Qingsu came out of "Baishan Station" and followed the map towards "Baishan Shrine".

It feels as though I have met this person many times in a dream

The butterfly dwarf immediately shrank his head back when he was pointed at by him.

This has nothing to do with military uniformed girls.

"Lu Qian Gaotian" didn't even have the courage to grow crops, and became a paradise for weeds, a desolate land.

Yuan Qingsu felt waves of danger and couldn't help but move back. Later, she simply found a pillar and leaned against it before opening the book in her hand.

He came to his senses, took a second to recall the conversation from ten minutes ago, and finally understood what she was saying.

I am a junior student majoring in Language in the Literature Department. The matter of being called "Prince of Guanghua" has been talked about since the day I entered school.

Mountains, rivers, weather, animals, everything in the world has the potential to transform into monsters.

At this moment, she looked at Yuan Qingsu like a taxidermist examining a butterfly, with a cold gaze.

What kind of relationship do we have? He asked, half in agreement and half out of curiosity.

The two walked silently under the shade of the trees. Yuanqing suddenly felt as if she was really being taken to meet the divine.

During the remaining three minutes, to be precise, since that one-yen coin was folded in half, he has been pondering about the mysterious girl in his heart.

You probably already know, but let me introduce myself - my last name is "Yuan", Yuan Qingsu.

"Wait a minute!" Yuan Qingsu moved back half a meter.

Yuan Qingsu, because of her surname "Yuan", her good looks, and outstanding academic performance, has been secretly given the nickname "Guanhua Gongzi" by many girls.

Is it okay to be close to these instead of people? He continued to ponder.

Battle?

Tied around her slender waist are a pair of bells, which, like her eyes and hair, are golden.

Some things must be clarified with you. Once you start practicing and possess divine power, you must participate in battles.

Apart from the golden hair, golden eyes, and golden bells, she was pure white all over, like a gathering of sunlight.

Miss Shen is such a blessing as my teacher!

The butterfly figurine sat on top, swinging its legs like a child, while its blue eyes curiously observed Yuan Qingsu.

After walking around the shrine, I found the thickest tree on a small slope.

Completely different from Tokyo, the fresh air fills the entire lungs, just like opening the refrigerator door in summer.

Your Highness. In front of the courtyard gate, there stood a little girl.

No matter how you look at it, they are not normal people.

Then they either sat on the tatami or lay on the floor, watching them.

Passing through the Tang-style wall, bypassing the main hall, the two arrived at a spacious and simple ancient house.

Anyone, as long as they spend some time together, can roughly guess the other person's thoughts.

Not a monster. Yuan Qingsu nodded and asked again, "By the way, can monsters be used as shikigami?"

Shinrin Yuzi glanced at him and replied:

The girl cast a spell on herself, limiting her to only five sentences in ten minutes.

Our school experienced a crow attack incident today, near the location of 'French Building No. 2'. When the crow makes a "caw-caw" sound, it is a signal of danger. Please be mindful of your surroundings when passing by, faculty and students.

If there is a way to contact Shenlin Yuzi, he would have called the other party last night to reason with them.

Yuan Qingsu lifted her head from her notes and looked at Shenlin Yuzi's exquisite and ethereal face, for a moment unable to distinguish reality from illusion.

Yuan Qingsu looked at the waist of the girl in military uniform, to be precise, the police baton on her waist.

That is a banyan tree, with dense shade and sturdy interlaced roots.

On the left side of the banyan tree, there is a small flower bed. Behind the flower bed is an adjacent pergola corridor.

Sorry. Yuan Qingsu treats the other party as a child and has a very good temper.

According to the ancient treaty signed by the three parties, if any party encounters a monster within its territory, the other two parties must send practitioners from their own territories to provide assistance.

Yesterday, when she took her book and kicked him into the "San-Sirō Pond," it was with this very expression

On March 11, 2011, "Coral Sea E" appeared in the waters of the East Pacific Ocean.

Dressed in a shrine maiden's outfit, with her hair tied up in a bun, she exudes an increasingly ethereal grace, illuminated by the sunlight that glimmers upon her.

"Ah!" The little butterfly people scattered in fear, hiding in the clothes and hair of the divine forest prince.

Miss Shenlin, I have noticed that you are very skilled at explanations; however, there is one point that needs correction: the energy of tides, hydropower, and wind power all comes from the sun, merely manifested in different forms

Shenlin Yuzi slowly moved his gaze away from him and looked back at the courtyard, already considering whether to dig a pond there.

I am not your teacher.

Beneath the torii stands a stone tablet inscribed with the four Chinese characters "白山神社".

Not long after, I climbed a flight of steps and the "Baishan Shrine" appeared before my eyes.

Yuan Qingsu checked the information of "Mount Bai Shrine" yesterday.

With a height of only about 1.3 meters, although not tall, the proportion is coordinated, so it does not appear to have short or unattractive legs, but rather petite and exquisite.

Before entering, I first used my hand to explore. My hand also didn't touch the trunk and reached into the unknown space.

When he walked in, he found himself standing beneath a torii gate, which this time was red