Qiu Bai looked at Yae Miko in front of him and smiled.
"The Thunder Sakura on Narukami Island can absorb most of the filth, but over time, the filth accumulates. If too much builds up, the Thunder Sakura will wither."
Yae Miko paused briefly, then continued her explanation.
"So, periodically, we need to perform a minor cleansing on the five Thunder Sakura roots scattered across Narukami Island, establishing barriers that grant them the power to repel filth."
"When enough filth accumulates within the barriers, a major cleansing is required. This is called the Grand Sakura Cleansing."
Yae Miko explained slowly as she looked at Qiu Bai.
"So, you want me to purify this filth?"
Qiu Bai murmured, stroking his chin.
Thinking about the Grand Sakura Cleansing, Qiu Bai mouth twitched slightly.
When he had played through this part in the game, he hadn't checked a guide for the final tumor.
Not knowing how to defeat it, he failed countless times before finally opening a guide and passing it easily.
"Yes, if it's you, I suppose there's no need to set up any barriers."
Yae Miko nodded, smiling at Qiu Bai.
"Narukami Island, is it..."
"See you later, Miko."
Qiu Bai smiled.
In an instant, he vanished. When he reappeared, he was already in the wilderness.
It was now afternoon.
Qiu Bai turned his head and saw a fox statue, and beside the statue stood what appeared to be a shrine maiden wearing a red and white fox mask on her face.
"Hanachirusato?"
Qiu Bai murmured, then slowly walked forward.
Sensing someone approaching, Hanachirusato turned around to look at Qiu Bai.
"Are you here to purify the filth in the Thunder Sakura?"
"Leave it to me."
Qiu Bai asked straightforwardly, looking at Hanachirusato.
"Who are you?"
Hanachirusato looked curiously at Qiu Bai, not understanding how he knew what she was doing.
"I am the eighth god of the mortal realm."
"The God of Yin and Yang, Morcius."
Qiu Bai form flashed with spiritual light, transforming into Morcius appearance.
The Yin-Yang Taiji hanging at his waist emitted brilliant light.
"A god..."
"Have you come to help me eliminate the Thunder Sakura's filth?"
Hanachirusato showed no particular surprise as she looked at Qiu Bai, only asking curiously.
"Yes, that's right."
"The head shrine maiden of Inazuma asked me to help."
Morcius nodded.
"Miko..."
Hanachirusato murmured.
"Thank you."
"My name is Hanachirusato, also a shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine. Lady Guuji sent me here yesterday."
"Are you still lying?"
"I've never heard of a shrine maiden like you at the shrine."
Morcius exposed her, looking at Hanachirusato.
"I..."
Hanachirusato lowered her head, unable to speak.
"If I'm not mistaken, you are also part of the Thunder Sakura's filth. If I purify the filth, you will disappear as well, won't you?"
Morcius continued, revealing her true nature without reservation.
Now in his divine form, his divine nature manifested as flowing light in Qiu Bai eyes.
His steady demeanor strongly resembled a certain old gentleman.
"Even so, I still want to protect Inazuma one last time."
"I don't want to see blackness and death devouring again."
Hanachirusato raised her head, and despite her mask, Qiu Bai could sense her determination.
"Hmm..."
Morcius sighed, closing his eyes briefly as he looked at Hanachirusato.
"Since you are so determined, then let it be so."
He said, opening his eyes and gesturing with his hand,
Hanachirusato was, in fact, a combination of filth and Kitsune Saiguu memories.
In a sense, Hanachirusato was actually Kitsune Saiguu herself.
A gentle and lively fox shrine maiden who, in the face of calamity, saw nothing but black death and devouring.
Yet all she thought about was the people of her homeland, praying that the calamity would kill her instead but spare the islanders.
Behind her intelligent and lively exterior must have been a soul of immense gentleness and kindness.
"Tell me the locations of those five Thunder Sakura..."
Morcius asked slowly after a moment of silence, looking at Hanachirusato.
"Yes."
Hanachirusato nodded and told Qiu Bai the locations of the five Thunder Sakura.
Morcius nodded and formed a hand seal.
The Yang incarnation separated from Qiu Bai body.
The Yang incarnation wore a smile, with gentle flowing light in his eyes, and the Yang component of the Taiji hanging at his waist.
He then transformed into a beam of white light, shooting up into the sky and flying toward one of the five locations Hanachirusato had mentioned.
Morcius looked up, nodding at the departing Yang incarnation, then turned his gaze to Hanachirusato.
"My incarnation has gone to deal with the filth."
"I believe in a little while, all the filth will be purified."
Morcius explained, looking at Hanachirusato.
Then he sat down on a stone next to Hanachirusato.
"How is Miko doing now..."
Hanachirusato asked softly after a moment of silence, her hands placed on her abdomen as she looked at Qiu Bai sitting on the stone.
"Hehe..."
"That little fox is doing very well now, eating fried tofu every day."
Morcius chuckled lightly, sitting on the stone.
"Is that so..."
"I shouldn't have lied to her back then. The position of head shrine maiden carries more responsibilities. She must not be feeling well inside."
Hanachirusato looked toward the Grand Narukami Shrine with a pained expression.
"That wasn't your fault."
"If you had told her the truth, she wouldn't have let you go."
Morcius said slowly, raising his head slightly to look at Hanachirusato.
"A well-intentioned lie."
"It was probably the best outcome."
Morcius said softly, looking up at Hanachirusato.
"When darkness descended back then, to protect Ioroi, I had to lie to him and tell him to hide."
"I said we were playing hide-and-seek, and he said 'you'll never find me.' I told him he must hide well and absolutely must not be found."
Hanachirusato said with some emotion, glancing at the Chinju Forest.
She wondered if after all this time, that innocent tanuki was still around.
"Ioroi?"
Morcius also looked in the direction of the Chinju Forest, hearing this.
He wondered why that great tanuki yokai had been sealed there.
"Hehe, speaking of Ioroi,"
"He was so funny. He was so silly. I remember back then..."
Hanachirusato seemed to recall something, and girlish laughter escaped from behind her mask.
She looked up at the sun that was about to set, saying with amusement.
She seemed to be reminiscing about something, gazing at the sunset on the horizon, lost in her memories.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Now you can read 30 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)