Becoming a Devilish Cultivator's Miko

"Is that so? I don't have a problem with it. Oh, right, let's ask Yuria to join too."

Hana readily agreed, then turned her questioning gaze to Miko.

"But Miko, I don't think I've ever seen you practice calligraphy. Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"Probably."

"Probably?"

Hana's gaze softened with pity.

"Ah, actually, I just remembered, the weekend is a bit..."

"Don't you have any faith in me at all?"

Miko grumbled, then waved her hand, "disappointed" in her plastic best friend.

"I'll go ask Yuria then."

"Alright, alright, I'll go with you. Don't blame me if you embarrass yourself later."

"That's more like it."

They agreed on a date to meet that weekend, and it was finally nearing the end of school. Miko also invited Yuria, who, completely unaware of Miko's calligraphy skills, readily agreed.

After that, Miko turned her gaze to Tono Zen, who remained as calm and expressionless as ever. She watched him calmly evade the questions of the reporters blocking his path, then walk out of the school gate, and silently followed behind him.

For some reason, she suddenly didn't want to speak directly to Tono Zen. She simply trailed after him as he walked down the street, until he entered a dimly lit alley. Then, she heard the sound of a cat.

As Miko drew closer, she saw what was happening. Tono Zen was cradling a small kitten, stroking its fur, a faint smile on his face. The kitten lay obediently in his arms.

"Hm? Classmate Yotsuya, are you still worried?"

Tono Zen naturally saw the person in front of him. Since Miko hadn't intended to hide, she stood directly in front of him, her face still etched with surprise.

"No, I just feel like you've changed a lot today, Teacher Tono."

"Have I?"

In response to her surprise, Zen withdrew his smile and looked at her, speaking sincerely.

"Actually, I should thank you, Yotsuya Miko. Your actions... I finally understand."

As he spoke, his thoughts returned to the previous afternoon. Not long after Yotsuya Miko had left, a small, seemingly insignificant ball reappeared before him. Accompanying it was Yotsuya Miko's voice echoing in his mind.

"Teacher Tono, that Silver Ball has dispelled the hardships you were under. The heavy burden you carried is the answer of salvation from the gods!"

Chapter 65: A Salvation (Part 2)

Tono Zen was not a man who believed in gods. His life had always been terrible, ever since his parents' divorce. No, it wasn't a divorce, he was simply abandoned. His mother, unable to cope with the heavy blow, made him her sole source of emotional support, controlling his entire life in an extremely unhealthy manner.

Such a family had shaped him—Tono Zen—a person with a terrible personality.

Tono Zen had once thought he would calmly end his life one quiet evening, without any regrets. But fortunately, that scenario never came to pass. Because the salvation he had never expected was brought to him by a girl, in her own way.

"Perhaps it truly was a gift from some god, but it was you, Yotsuya Miko, who truly made me aware of this gift."

Tono Zen looked at the girl before him and took the Silver Ball out of his pocket.

The Talisman Iron Pellet, shimmering with luster, had lost all its Spiritual Qi. However, mortals, unaware of this, placed their hopes within it, giving these creations new meaning.

"Although you already know about me from Cong, would you like to hear it again? It's a new story."

"...I understand, Teacher Tono."

Yotsuya Miko looked at the man before her. His appearance had indeed changed long ago. This change wasn't in his outward appearance, but in something deeper hidden beneath it. Previously, she had only seen lifelessness, but now, life had emerged from within that lifelessness.

"Please tell me."

And so, the story began.

It was the childhood of a boy named Tono Zen. His father and mother hadn't argued yet; they loved each other and doted on their young child.

Tono Zen was very intelligent and learned a lot from a young age, always achieving excellent grades at school. When he and his parents agreed that he would get a perfect score to attend a friend's birthday party, he failed. However, his parents didn't blame him. Instead, they comforted him and took the child and the gift he had bought with his allowance to his friend's house to offer birthday wishes, giving him a happy memory.

Tono Zen was a gentle child. One day, he saw a stray kitten by the roadside and secretly brought it home to raise. However, after only a short time, his parents discovered the stray cat. His parents, also full of kindness, took the stray cat to the vet, officially obtained the adoption qualifications, and made the kitten a member of the family. Tono Zen gave the kitten a lovely name: Mocha.

Mocha became a member of their family, accompanying Tono Zen throughout his childhood, just like his friends. After that, due to his excellent grades, he was admitted to a prestigious university. After graduating, he became a teacher beloved by his students, while his friend became a veterinarian. The two maintained a good relationship, keeping in touch. Their parents were also happy about their children's communication and proud of their respective careers.

Mocha the cat gradually grew old, but its offspring continued to accompany the Tono family. Tono Zen also met the girl he loved and entered into marriage, soon having his own child. His married life was harmonious and beautiful, just like his parents'. Although they inevitably encountered setbacks in life, they overcame them together with their optimistic attitude, just like their parents. They witnessed their children grow up and felt proud of their children's careers, until they, like Mocha, finally grew old.

"It was a good dream."

Tono Zen said calmly, without tears or anything else. If it were tears, his pillow would have been soaked long ago. If it were laughter, his throat would have been hoarse from laughing, unable to speak. He quietly savored this unreal dream. After this dream, nothing had changed. However, he finally felt much lighter on his shoulders, and some things he couldn't express were finally being said.

"Thank you, and thank that god."

He cradled the cat in his arms, gently stroking its fur, a faint smile reappearing on his face.

"I feel much better."

Yotsuya Miko felt as if her feet were sinking into mud, her throat was blocked by a blade, and her hands felt as heavy as lead. That Silver Ball had brought Tono Zen nothing. The scenarios Tono Zen had imagined, the completely opposite scenarios, had never come true. However, Tono Zen had come to terms with everything himself.

She wanted to explain something, but what came out of her mouth was this question:

"Will Teacher Tono get a cat in the future?"

Tono Zen simply answered her question plainly.

"Hmm, I suddenly feel like getting a cat. I really liked the one yesterday; I'll probably adopt that kitten."

"What about its name?"

"Mocha."

After this exchange, the two finally fell into a stalemate.

Yotsuya Miko looked at Tono Zen before her, unable to say anything more. She simply lowered her head and chose to leave.

She patted her face, feeling that she was acting incredibly strange. She had finally helped him regain his confidence and hope in life, so why was she feeling conflicted and depressed now?

"No, no, I should be happy, shouldn't I?"

She convinced herself, forcing a smile that was awkward and stiff, not like a real smile at all.

Walking home, she finally succumbed to her inner feelings and understood her thoughts: she was probably jealous that Tono Zen had so quickly moved past his trauma, with just a deceptive Silver Ball and her words.

"What... is wrong with me."

She tightly gripped her shoulder bag, feeling ashamed of her wicked thoughts.

"I should be happy for my teacher... but I can't."

The setting sun's rays scattered across the ground, casting only shadows behind Miko. In the fading light, Tono Zen walked down the street with the stray cat.

Tono Zen thought of many things. He could move out of his apartment that didn't allow pets, then invite his friends to celebrate his move, expressing his gratitude for their years of care. After that, he could get many cats and maintain a good relationship with his students.

He touched the Silver Ball in his arms, filled with hope for his future.

This was what Yotsuya Miko hoped for too, wasn't it? He thought for no reason.

Chapter 66: Before the Calligraphy Competition

The bright moonlight shone in through the window, illuminating the cold and chilling scene.

Bathed in the icy white light was a young girl in a beige coat, kneeling before a table. She held her breath, focusing intently on the Xuan paper before her. Her right hand, holding a calligraphy brush, descended gently, and within moments, she had written several Chinese characters.

These characters were identical to those on the phone placed beside her, even identical in form. They possessed a pleasing aesthetic beauty. However, Yotsuya Miko simply frowned and silently tossed the written characters into the pile of scrap paper, joining the heap that was already half a centimeter high.

Looking at the pile of scrap paper, Yotsuya Miko realized that practicing calligraphy, like drawing Talismans, consumed a great deal of time. Despite her extraordinary memory, coordination, and other abilities allowing her to imitate the works and styles of calligraphy masters to the greatest extent, when she actually wrote the imitated characters on paper, there were always subtle deviations. In her perception, her own writing was far inferior to the masters she imitated, even vastly so.

Was it the speed of the stroke, the trajectory of the brush tip... or some other factor? Miko couldn't figure it out. She just kept writing, over and over, until she finally became frustrated. The moment she put down the brush, she felt a sense of relief. She stood up and looked out the window.

The night air carried a breeze, which swept across Miko's face through the window, causing her thoughts to wander aimlessly. Gradually, she began to recall what had happened.

That sincere thank you, that individual who seemed reborn, and the intense discomfort within her heart. Even after some time had passed, she couldn't forget that scene. She felt lost and unsure of what to do.

Tono Zen had changed, but she, Yotsuya Miko, seemed unchanged after this series of events. She was still afraid of Ghosts, though weak Ghosts didn't cause her to show it. She still feared death, though she hadn't truly faced it. She was still uneasy; that box of Talisman Iron Pellets was the result of countless nights of fear.

On one hand, she felt her mindset was natural. On the other hand, she felt ashamed and inferior. It was natural because her previous sixteen years of life had been that of an ordinary person. The shame and inferiority stemmed from the fact that she had now become a cultivator.

Cultivators, as recorded in cultivation techniques, were supposed to transcend the mundane, fear no death, and seek only the Great Dao. She, however, had become an anomaly. A coward who possessed power but dared not advance, she felt immense shame and inferiority about herself.

If only I couldn't see them.

Miko thought to herself. If she couldn't see them, she wouldn't have so many troubles and worries. She could just be an ordinary person, going to school and coming home like any other high school student, chatting with friends about things they were interested in. She wouldn't feel danger and fear because of powerful Ghosts, nor would incidents like the "Guardian of Silver Pellets" rumor occur. Wouldn't this world be beautiful then?

She consoled herself this way, indulging in this false fantasy, until the long, eerie Ghost shadows outside the window let out noisy cries, shattering her delusion and mocking her. They drove her out of her fantasy and back to reality.

She checked the time on her phone, then closed the window and drew the curtains. Standing by the bed, she changed into her pajamas and slipped under the covers. However, despite closing her eyes, she felt no sleepiness. She didn't know when she finally fell asleep. When she woke up again, some sunlight was filtering through the window, signaling a good weather day.

She had slept for a few hours, or perhaps a few minutes?

Miko was unaffected. She dressed as usual, then washed up and ate breakfast.

"Sister, are you perhaps getting nervous?"

Today, Yotsuya Kyosuke's sharp senses detected a change in his sister's expression. Seeing Miko's absentminded look, he quickly associated her mood with the calligraphy competition today.

"Hmm, maybe?"

Miko replied uncertainly while eating breakfast. Her state wasn't just bad today; it had been consistently so. Unbeknownst to her, Yotsuya Kyosuke and Yotsuya Touko exchanged glances, both expressing their confusion about Miko's condition.

Over the past few months at the Yotsuya household, Miko's condition every morning had been remarkably poor. However, even when they wanted to ask her about it, they couldn't for various reasons. Kyosuke would likely be brushed off by Miko, while their mother, Touko, worried that her daughter was entering puberty and didn't want to communicate with her parents, or was deliberately doing things away from them.

Thus, no matter how many questions they had, they could only keep them to themselves and try to find out what was happening to Miko through other means.

Touko glanced at Kyosuke, who quickly understood his mother's meaning and casually changed the subject.

"Is Sister going to the competition alone?"

"I made plans with friends to go together. They're also happy to watch the competition."

"Is that so... Then I'll go too. Although I don't think you'll win, it's still worth watching."

"You're going too?"

Miko looked up at Kyosuke in surprise.

"I thought you wouldn't want to go at all."

"Still, watching is good. Miko, take Kyosuke out with you. I'd be a bit worried leaving him home alone."

Her mother spoke up, bringing the matter to a conclusion, and subtly patted Kyosuke's back as she moved closer to him. Even if she tried to be discreet, such a noticeable action couldn't escape Miko's Spiritual Sense. She paused slightly, likely understanding her mother and brother's intentions, and couldn't help but sigh.

"I know, Kyosuke will go with my friends then."

"Alright, it's a deal. Oh, is it still that big orange-haired sister? The one who eats a lot?"

"Mm, that's Hana, and there's another older sister too, but we'll talk about that later."

Although she didn't plan to tell her family about the Ghosts, Miko knew that if she continued like this, Kyosuke and their mother would worry. She was troubled by this, yet it was difficult to hide her emotions. She wasn't the type of person who could face terrible things and still appear optimistic.

She could only try her best not to let them worry about her. At least if Kyosuke went back and told their mother about her situation at school, their mother would be a little more at ease.

Chapter 67: Kyosuke and Yuria's Meeting

The competition venue wasn't too far from home; it was a well-known local stadium. It was originally used as an indoor sports facility, but under the organizers' persuasion, it was simply modified into a venue for a calligraphy competition. Yotsuya Miko, Yurikawa Hana, and Yuria had agreed to meet in front of this stadium.

With her shoulder bag slung over her shoulder, Miko glanced at the message Hana had sent and stood quietly in front of the stadium, waiting. Beside her was Yotsuya Kyosuke, who had nothing to do. This cross-eyed, fierce-looking brat was much more active than his older sister, constantly scanning their surroundings, trying to see what the other friend his sister had mentioned looked like.

To be honest, he felt his sister was hiding a lot from the family now. If he directly asked that silly orange-haired girl, he probably wouldn't get anything out of her. It would be better to set his sights on the other friend his sister hadn't met yet.

"Miko!"

After waiting for a while, the two finally spotted Hana waving at them in the crowd, along with Yuria, whose presence was less noticeable beside her.

"Hana, and... Yuria."

Miko called out their names respectively and introduced Yuria to Kyosuke.

Kyosuke naturally turned his gaze to the petite girl beside Hana and subconsciously compared their heights. She probably wasn't much shorter than him. If he didn't know she was his sister's friend, Kyosuke might have mistaken her for an elementary school student of the same age.

"We're a little late, but is Kyosuke here to watch the competition too?"

Hana, who had run up to the Yotsuya siblings, said apologetically, shifting the topic to Kyosuke. She had met Kyosuke a few times, but Miko and Kyosuke rarely appeared together. When Miko accepted her invitation, she wouldn't bring Kyosuke along, and when Miko invited her, Kyosuke wouldn't come to bother them. Therefore, seeing the two of them out together today, especially after Miko had invited her and Yuria, Hana was understandably surprised.

"Mm, Mom told me to take Kyosuke out for a bit."

Miko said, pushing Kyosuke forward with her hand. Understanding her intention, Kyosuke reluctantly called out their names.

"Hello, Hana-neechan, and... Yuria-neechan."

He wasn't too willing to call a girl almost his height "older sister," but upon hearing his respectful address, Yuria looked slightly taken aback before breaking into a faint smile.