Chapter 305

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 305: Do All Young People Want to Fall in Love?

As a result, the two of them didn’t go to the shrine because the sky had already grown completely dark.

Kokonohana Nori caught sight of the crimson moon slowly rising. From somewhere unknown, she took out a fox mask and placed it over her face. Then, she opened up a red umbrella, shielding herself from the moonlight. As the umbrella descended, it was accompanied by a faint veil of sheer fabric on its side.

Bai Wei stood halfway up the mountain, gazing down towards the foot of the mountain. He saw the lights shining brightly.

"Speaking of which, the mountain deity worship and the festival in the Ming Country are somewhat similar, do they both have night markets?"

"Perhaps," Kokonohana Nori replied noncommittally. She asked, "Would you like to take a stroll at the night market?"

"I had nothing else to do."

"But you just said that you wanted to prioritize your own matters."

"So I want to take a walk," Bai Wei replied. "Would you also like to come and see the festival with me?"

The funeral attendant, wearing a fox mask, subtly glanced at Bai Wei and said, "I hope you can convey these words to the young maidens at the shrine."

"If you don’t come, then forget it," Bai Wei said, just being polite.

"Alright," Kokonohana Nori nodded. With the red moon overhead, her ability to act was limited. By following Bai Wei, she would have a strong bodyguard. Moreover, it was a good opportunity to investigate the strangeness in the town, which would be easier to do at night.

Bai Wei asked, "Excuse me, ma’am, do you mind lending a hand?"

"What?"

"You’re planning to leisurely walk back?" Bai Wei tiptoed, grabbing the funeral attendant’s wrist and leaped into the air. Two dirt mounds appeared beneath his feet as he lightly stepped over the treetops halfway up the mountain. It was a simple and practical light skill known as "the Ming Country."

Kokonohana Nori was not completely incapable, but she didn’t want to waste her spiritual energy on rushing. As she was pulled by the wrist, she looked at Bai Wei with a strange expression in her eyes. She thought to herself that at her age, it was the first time she had been taken away by a man. However, considering her age, she was already a middle-aged woman in her forties.

If it weren’t for the red moon hanging overhead, and if she were a few years younger, perhaps she would have felt a little tempted. But now it was impossible, after all, she was getting older. In the martial arts world of the Ming Country, even when she stepped out, she would be respectfully addressed as "Master."

Imagine this, when Zhou Zhiruo and Zhang Wuji made eye contact, it was like a turtle meeting a green bean. But when Reverend Miejue and Zhang Wuji made eye contact, it was like a clash of Mars against Earth.

After landing, they arrived at the outskirts of the town.

Bai Wei raised an eyebrow and said, "Did you fly down fast enough?"

The funeral attendant reached out and plucked a few pine needles and leaves from Bai Wei’s shoulder and hair. Speaking in a calm tone, much like an elder, they said, "If there’s another time, remember to bring the girls from the shrine to fly down from the mountainside. Instead of holding hands by the wrist, remember to hold on to the waist. A little physical contact at a time like this would be fine. It would work wonders for girls who are yet to experience romantic love."

Bai Wei, "?"

Kokonohana Nori continued to advise, "Next time you visit the shrine, I will introduce you to a few lovely, obedient, and gentle sword witches for you to meet and get acquainted with."

Bai Wei was astonished, "Does your shrine also take care of these matters?"

"You didn’t know that shrines are responsible for matters of marriage and weddings?" Kokonohana Nori said matter-of-factly. "Even if we expand our services to include matchmaking, it would still be within our area of expertise. Many matchmaking agencies are actually under the control of shrines."

"Have you thought about visiting Jingūji?"

"She lacks a bit of drive, she’s not very proactive," the funeral attendant said confidently, "Giving her a little sense of pressure wouldn’t be a bad thing."

"And then I entered a fierce battlefield, right?" Bai Wei.

"Why go to such extremes? If you have the ability, just marry her," Kokonohana Nori said proudly. "As long as it doesn’t break any laws, what are you afraid of?"

"It’s, um… a case of too many monks and too little porridge."

"Then let everyone benefit equally."

The funeral attendant was very open-minded about this matter. Throughout the generations, the marriage rate of shrine sword witches was less than forty percent. Even if two sword witches married the same person, it could double the marriage rate. Although this matter was not within the funeral attendant’s responsibility, it could still be mentioned.

Of course, not everyone was eligible to marry a sword witch. It required testing one’s character, background, and abilities. Bai Wei had long since proven himself in these aspects, so all of that could be skipped. The only thing that brought about concern was the issue of nationality.

Bai Wei didn’t want to continue the conversation. Coincidentally, they had arrived at the site of a ceremony. It was a lively street, with various stalls set up on both sides, resembling a night market in the Ming Country.

Bai Wei wasn’t feeling talkative, but Kokonohana Nori, on the other hand, opened up. It seemed like she had forgotten the purpose of their visit and started a conversation with people from the Ming Country.

"Have you ever strolled through a celebration?"

"I have visited temple fairs before, and in my opinion, there is not much difference. The cultural customs of the younger generation in the East don’t vary too much."

"You should come and see the annual festival at the shrine. The witches’ beautiful and enchanting sacred dance is a sight to behold. But in the Ming Country, this scenery cannot be seen."

"I have been to Chang’an and witnessed the Sword Dance," said Bai Wei. "Twelve sword dancers formed a circle, with a total of thirty-six individuals forming three concentric circles. There were a total of nine circular formations, comprising a magnificent sight of one hundred and eight performers dancing on the platform of Gongsun Terrace. It was truly a breathtaking scene." Bai Wei, with a hint of longing, replied, "Also, a scenery unseen in Yingzhou."

"…When elders speak, do you need to argue back like this?" Kokonohana Nori frowned.

"It doesn’t have to be an elder," Bai Wei denied. "If one day, I suddenly go crazy and willingly become a son-in-law of the shrine, then you can act all wise and old. But the chances of that happening are almost non-existent, so it’s better for you to completely let go of that thought."

"Is the Ming Country really that wonderful?"

"Of course."

"Is it the best?"

"Not necessarily," Bai Wei thought to himself. "Europe is also great, the Ming Country is not bad either, and the allied countries are also fine. None of them are my own home, but I’ve spent more time living in them than Yingzhou."

"Do you not like Yingzhou?"

"It’s neither a matter of liking nor disliking," Bai Wei shook his head and said, "In terms of novelty, many places are more exciting initially. However, after seeing them for a while, they become less interesting. Moreover, Yingzhou is quite chaotic and not suitable for retirement."

"You, being a person like this, where can you settle down?" Kokonohana Nori chuckled and said, "Those who talk about retiring and living a comfortable life without working hard at such a young age, nine out of ten of them are just pretending. In reality, they are more ambitious and determined than anyone else."

"Hahaha!" Bai Wei burst into laughter three times, his expression becoming somewhat weary. "Ah, that’s actually quite accurate…"

For generations, this is how our hardworking lives have been, but unfortunately, our strong will doesn’t allow us to work ourselves to death.

"If you’re just choosing a tourist destination, Yingzhou is a nice place, staying for ten days or two weeks would feel very exciting. But if the time is extended to a year or more, then you will definitely not be able to bear it."

Kokonohana Nori asked, "Why is that? The difference between the Ming Country and Yingzhou isn’t that big, many people from the Ming Country have settled in Yingzhou, forming a considerable community there."

"Maybe it’s because I don’t find it appealing," Bai Wei walked in the middle of the road, looking at the crowds on both sides, the food and goods displayed on the stalls, which were diverse and abundant, yet he didn’t feel any desire to shop. "Some people say that you can fall in love with a city because you love someone, but I have yet to experience that feeling. Even though I’m in Yingzhou now, I don’t have the strong urge to stay here."

The funeral attendant hesitated and asked, "Doesn’t Jingūji count?"

"Not really, there are just some lingering ties, unable to let go of her heart."

"Yagyū Simozi?"

"Simozi is my sister. Family members cannot always stay together forever. She has the right to choose her own path in life," Bai Wei stopped walking and bought a serving of takoyaki from a nearby stall.

"From what I hear, you sound like you’re trapped in this city."

"Who isn’t? Aren’t you?" Bai Wei countered, "Being a sword witch of the shrine must be challenging, right?"

"For so many years, I have already grown accustomed to it," Kokonohana Nori said softly. "That’s how it is for me, but not for the other girls. They still have time to choose their own paths in life, like Jingūji. She can decide not to become a sword witch."

Bai Wei simply asked, "Are there really choices?"

Kokonohana Nori sighed, "Why is someone so young so mature in mindset? It doesn’t seem like they are a young person at all."

"What should a young person be like?" Bai Wei picked up a takoyaki and put it into his mouth. The savory flavor slowly melted in his mouth as he continued, "Having dreams, aspirations, and enthusiasm, wanting to see the icy landscapes and blooming flowers of spring? I used to have all these, but I lost them along the way."

"No," Kokonohana Nori looked deeply at Bai Wei. "The value of life is a false proposition for many people. We are all just going with the flow, passing through a long journey called life. What most people seek are tangible things. Everyone wants to love others wholeheartedly and be loved wholeheartedly in return."

Bai Wei choked.

He stopped chewing. "So, in the end, you went in circles and came back to this topic?"

Kokonohana Nori smiled behind her mask and said, "Liking a city, a country because of someone? And yet, you haven’t fallen in love with Yingzhou, which means you haven’t fallen in love with anyone yet, young one. Have you never been in a relationship?"

There’s no chance that Bai Wei, being a pure-hearted young boy, would blush like that. He said, "Every day, I think about things like falling in love."

"Why not give it a try?" said the funeral attendant with a mischievous grin. "It will definitely be a fresh and delightful experience in life."

For some unknown reason, Bai Wei suddenly thought of what the dormitory aunt at Far East University used to say, "Boys must take good care of themselves when they are outside."

He didn’t not want to fall in love, but there were no suitable people around him.

As he was about to say something, suddenly, while crossing the intersection, he caught sight of a yellow exclamation mark flashing.

[You have arrived at your destination]

[The event has been triggered]