A One-Sided Love Song

Shuya wasn't just being polite.

You flatter me.

Tsuruko Aoyama is very humble.

She paused for a moment, then said, "Please follow me, the three of you. The car is ready."

She led Shuya and the other two out of the street and into the car.

The car drove towards the Shinmeiryu Dojo in Kyoto.

This dojo is not the headquarters, but only a branch.

If only Shuya had come, perhaps Tsuruko Aoyama would have taken him to the headquarters in the mountains, but with the Yukinoshita Sisters there, they could only go this far.

This branch is also quite large.

The Shinmeiryu is a very old style, so it's normal for them to have some resources.

"Inoue -kun, Miss Yukinoshita, please come in."

After leading the three out of the car, Tsuruko Aoyama took them directly to the dojo.

The dojo was quiet, with no disciples practicing. It must have been arranged by Tsuruko Aoyama on purpose.

"Huh? Isn't Motoko- chan here?"

Shuya asked.

"That child is practicing swordsmanship."

Tsuruko Aoyama smiled and said, "Motoko was distracted during practice yesterday, so I punished her by making her practice swordsmanship for a whole day and night. It's not over yet, hehe."

"A day and a night?"

Shuya clicked his tongue. "That's a bit tiring."

... No, no, no, I'm just a little tired?

Haruno's smile froze; she wondered if it was dangerous to leave Yukino in their care.

But Shuya had already asked aloud, "Miss Tsuruko, could you please come and see her?"

"Okay, leave it to me."

Tsuruko Aoyama led the aloof Yukino to the center of the dojo and then focused all her attention on Yukino.

Her full power was somewhat terrifying.

Swordsmen of the Shinmeiryu cultivate their inner energy, and upon reaching a certain level of mastery, they can master a secret technique called "Demon Eye."

The Demon Eye is very powerful, capable of seeing through an enemy's weaknesses and Strange Arts, as well as enhancing visual acuity such as dynamic vision.

At this moment, Tsuruko Aoyama used his Demon Eye.

Her pupils suddenly changed color.

The whites of his eyes turned pitch black, his black pupils became empty and pure white, and his whole body exuded an ominous and eerie aura.

Haruno couldn't help but take two steps back.

She never imagined that human eyes could become like this.

Shuya wasn't bothered; it wasn't the first time he'd seen it.

Yukino remained calm as she was being looked at.

Soon, Tsuruko Aoyama's eyes returned to normal.

Shuya stepped forward and asked, "How is it?"

"There's nothing seriously wrong. The fusion isn't too deep yet. Let me make a cut."

That's indeed very simple.

Shuya nodded.

"Wait, um? Miss Tsuruko, you just said... you wanted to make a cut?"

Haruno coughed.

Yes, is there a problem?

Tsuruko Aoyama tilted her head slightly in confusion, Shuya thought she looked kind of cute.

"Haruno, you've misunderstood. This slash is no ordinary slash."

Shuya explained, "In the Shinmeiryu school, there is a technique called the Demon-Slaying Sword Second Blade Sword. It is a move created to target people possessed by demons and monsters, capable of eliminating demons without harming them."

Tsuruko Aoyama nodded. "That's right, I just meant to unleash the Snow Woman power that's fused into her."

"Oh, I see?"

Having learned his lesson from his lack of knowledge, Haruno immediately shrank back and dared not speak.

She didn't actually understand.

At this moment, Shuya said, "However, Miss Tsuruko, I hope you won't directly defeat the Snow Woman's power. Could you seal it away first, allowing Yukino to gradually learn knowledge, instead of transforming her directly into Monster?"

"..."

Tsuruko Aoyama thought for a moment and smiled, "Inoue- kun wants Yukino- san to choose for herself in the future, right? No problem, I also know a little about Yin-Yang arts, so let's make the Snow Woman's power into Shikigami first."

"Thank you for your help."

Shuya nodded.

This should be the best approach.

"To avoid any unforeseen complications, let's begin now."

Tsuruko Aoyama went back to retrieve her weapon, a nodachi.

Shuya pulled Haruno away, leaving only Tsuruko Aoyama and Yukino in the arena.

Tsuruko Aoyama casually drew his sword.

She took a slow breath and then slashed straight down with her sword.

"Demon-Slaying Sword. Second Blade!"

A strong wind blew in, making it hard for Haruno to open her eyes.

Shuya were unaffected.

Under the attack of the Demon-Slaying Sword, Second Blade, Yukino's body surged with an icy blue light, and a unique, cool aura rose from her.

This aura offered no resistance, allowing Tsuruko Aoyama to unleash its power.

Seeing how smoothly things went, both Tsuruko Aoyama and Shuya were taken aback.

But this did not affect Tsuruko Aoyama's actions.

She stretched out her finger and wrote in the air, her Power of Will forming lines of incantations that flew toward the icy blue light.

The incantation compressed the icy blue light, transforming it into a necklace.

The necklace was crystal clear, as if sculpted from ice crystals, with a teardrop-shaped ice-blue bead hanging on it, shimmering with a watery light.

The necklace was being worn around Yukino's neck.

After Tsuruko Aoyama finished all her actions, the icy aura around Yukino completely dissipated.

Her eyes regained their human emotion.

Chapter 179, Page 163: A One-Sided Love Song

Yukino blinked.

A few seconds later, her eyes lit up.

She bowed deeply to Tsuruko Aoyama and Shuya: "Miss Aoyama, Mr. Inoue, thank you so much for your help."

"Hehe, what a polite child."

Tsuruko Aoyama laughed.

"You're welcome, I also have my own purpose."

Shuya did not take credit for it.

Haruno walked over and touched her younger sister, asking, "Yukino- chan, are you alright? Is something wrong?"

"If you don't touch me, nothing's wrong."

Yukino said calmly.

It seems that even without the influence of the Snow Woman, she would still be a cold and aloof person.

"Ah, it's always Yukino- chan."

Haruno nodded and poked Yukino's cheek with her finger.

Yukino ignored her and turned to ask, "Miss Aoyama, is this necklace the Snow Woman's?"

"That's right..."

Tsuruko Aoyama looked at the necklace with a subtle expression.

"Hmm? Is there something wrong with this necklace?"

Yukino frowned.

Tsuruko Aoyama shook her head and said, "No, how should I put it, it's just that it's relatively rare."

"Really."

Shuya nodded in agreement.

Seeing the curious looks on the Yukinoshita Sisters, he explained, "What just happened shows that the remnant of the Snow Woman merged with Yukino is too pure and gentle. This is a legacy, and it can no longer be called residual power."

Tsuruko Aoyama said, "From this, we can see how much Miss Snow Woman loved Mr. Ikeda Ichinosuke back then."

Shuya nodded. "I can imagine what happened back then— Ikeda Ichinosuke's death made the Snow Woman want to die. She knew that Ikeda Ichinosuke had passed on the First Snow and the inheritance to Li Shuhong. So she did the same thing, and even more extravagantly... Even if she had to endure the pain of her soul being split, she wanted to leave behind her entire inheritance, just so that the inheritor could inherit as much of her as possible."

"To meet 'Ikeda Ichinosuke' again, so that I can be my most complete self."

Tsuruko Aoyama sighed, "Then, after nearly a hundred years, Inoue- kun inherited Ikeda Ichinosuke Northland New Snow Thousand-Fold Style, 'Yukino, you received the legacy of the Snow Woman."

Finally, the two transcended time and life and death, and were reunited.

"This can truly be said to be the most romantic thing for us cultivators."

"A real eye-opener."

Shuya agreed with Tsuruko Aoyama's words.

The two were lost in thought about this tragic love story, speechless for a moment.

In their leisurely moments, they all imagined this scene:

On the icy, snow-covered land where endless winds and snowstorms raged, a blue-haired woman with sorrowful eyes lay on the snow, looking at the boy who had closed his eyes and would never open them again.

Her pale hand caressed the boy's face, which seemed to be in a deep sleep.

She endured immense pain and mustered all her strength.

Even knowing that Ikeda Ichinosuke only had eyes for Asagami Miin and that her feelings would never be reciprocated, she still accompanied him through thick and thin without complaint.

Even knowing that Ikeda Ichinosuke fighting only for Asagami Miin, she was willing to give her life for him in the final battle.

She was happy as long as he was happy.

If he chooses to die, she will follow him.

A love that is both profound and deep.

True and pure love.

Seeking no reward.

I don't seek anything in this life.