He, Naraku, Would Never Be Swayed by a Woman

Just as he was about to act on Onigumo's desires, he realized something was wrong and twisted aside, but he still couldn't avoid her kick.

Pain shot through his groin.

Naraku's expression changed. He released Xu Zhiqiu and darted aside.

Xu Zhiqiu lowered her leg and breathed a sigh of relief. In a pinch, bringing up her knee and kicking a man there really did work.

She looked up at Naraku, who had flashed to one side. He looked deep in thought, plotting who knew what schemes. She said sarcastically, "Naraku, you're still being influenced by that Onigumo. You need to be your own person."

With that, she ran off.

If he wouldn't leave, she would.

Naraku came back to himself. After settling Onigumo's emotions, he watched that pale blue figure gradually disappear from view without pursuing her again. The red in his eyes deepened. He gave a derisive laugh and vanished.

When she sensed that Naraku wasn't following her, Xu Zhiqiu stopped, supported her lower back, and slowly walked toward the village.

Remembering that embrace, she still hoped Naraku wouldn't be influenced by Onigumo. Otherwise, with Onigumo's lecherous thoughts about her, never mind worrying about Kikyo and Inuyasha-she couldn't even keep herself safe now.

When the villagers working nearby saw Xu Zhiqiu return, they all stopped what they were doing and greeted her respectfully. "Lord Autumn."

"Mm. Mm." Xu Zhiqiu acknowledged them and headed home.

Half a year had passed. The vines she had planted along the fence the previous year had already wound around the wooden posts and blossomed with delicate purple flowers. She could even see bees gathering pollen.

The vegetables in her garden had gone through a round of growth, replacing the old leaves from the beginning.

Carrying a basket, Xu Zhiqiu bent over the vegetable patch and picked enough for the day, then went into the woodshed and grabbed a rabbit by its ears. She needed to give Kohaku something nourishing.

With that thought, she lifted it and looked at the barely breathing rabbit. If she didn't slaughter it today and it died tomorrow, the quality of its meat would change.

After rubbing its fur for a while and having her fill of playing with it, she put it back in its cage.

She walked over to the water jar and saw that there wasn't much water left, with bits of gravel still lying at the bottom. She picked up the gourd dipper, scooped out the remaining water, and cleaned the jar, then took two wooden buckets outside.

There was a small river beside the village where the villagers usually fetched water for their crops and drinking. But Xu Zhiqiu was a little fastidious about cleanliness. The water near the village was bound to be somewhat dirty, so it was better to fetch water from a secluded stretch of the river.

She sprang lightly into the air and headed toward her water-fetching spot. She didn't have much spiritual power left, but that didn't hinder her leaps.

The weather was clear, the leaves lush and green, and the grass soft and verdant. Butterflies fluttered gently past, and crisp birdsong rang out through the woods.

Everything was so beautiful.

Xu Zhiqiu crouched on the bank and leaned forward to look at her reflection in the clear water. Her flawless skin had a faint rosy glow, and her red lips curved slightly upward. A gentle breeze brushed past, stirring the loose strands over her forehead and revealing her lustrous eyes.

An unpolluted environment really was wonderful. Eating green, organic food and drinking the clear, sweet spring water gifted by nature had sent the quality of her skin soaring. It was far better than using skincare products full of chemicals.

While Xu Zhiqiu was still admiring her own beauty, a white figure appeared on the water's surface. The wind swept over the water, sending ripples spreading across it.

At the sight of that familiar baboon face, Xu Zhiqiu's fairly pleasant mood vanished instantly. It hadn't even been an hour, and Naraku had already found another Baboon Skin. How had he found one so quickly?

Back then, she had searched the area for ages and only found one. Did Naraku's household really deal in wholesale Baboon Skins? Every time one was ruined, he had another.

If he weren't a villain, she would have wanted to buy Baboon Skins from him wholesale and open a shop in town to sell them. It would be a profitable business, at any rate.

"Why are you here again? What, do you still want to do something indecent to me?" Xu Zhiqiu rolled up her sleeves and submerged one of the wooden buckets in the water. With a series of gurgles, it soon filled to overflowing. She lifted it onto the bank with one hand, then took the other bucket and repeated the process.

Naraku looked at Xu Zhiqiu's hands. There were scars on the backs of them that somewhat marred their beauty. He collected himself, his lips curling coldly. "Since you've come outside the barrier, why wouldn't I dare appear? Heh, do something indecent? How could I, Naraku, possibly do such a thing? It was merely Onigumo's heart stirring up trouble."

"Oh, as long as that's what you think." Xu Zhiqiu lifted the bucket in her hand onto the bank, grabbed the other with her free hand, and headed along the route back to the village with a bucket in each hand.

Naraku stared at the piece of jade swaying on Xu Zhiqiu's wrist, his eyes narrowing. That jade must have been what allowed this woman to use the Jade Blade's techniques.

Onigumo's lingering memories contained glimpses of that jade. His attempted rape had failed, and he had lost an eye instead. After being left crippled and then rescued by the very person who had once hurt him, his lustful nature remained unchanged, and he had still fallen for her. Beyond his intense possessiveness, there were feelings of love.

Heh, human emotions really are complicated. I would never be swayed by a woman.

Xu Zhiqiu had just reached the path with her two buckets when Inuyasha and Kikyo came toward her. Seeing her carrying them, Inuyasha immediately bounded over and took both buckets from her.

Free labor was there for the taking, so Xu Zhiqiu had no reason to refuse. She let go and allowed Inuyasha to carry them for her.

"Autumn, do these go in the woodshed?"

"Just leave them by the door," Xu Zhiqiu said, supporting her slightly aching lower back. Then she turned to Kikyo. "Kikyo, what's wrong?"

Kikyo wore a conflicted expression. She hesitated, then finally said, "Let's go inside first."

"Oh."

Inside Xu Zhiqiu's house.

Inuyasha sat off to one side like a puppy. Xu Zhiqiu poured each of them a cup of tea, then sat down nearby. "What is it?"

Kikyo held her cup, took a small sip of tea, and looked at Inuyasha.

Holding his cup, Inuyasha poked at the water inside with a claw. When he noticed Kikyo looking at him, he pulled it back and drained the cup in one gulp.

Kikyo turned her gaze back to Xu Zhiqiu. "Inuyasha said you were with a male demon giving off demonic energy earlier."

"Hm?" Xu Zhiqiu had been leisurely sipping her tea, but Kikyo's words nearly made her choke.

She widened her eyes at Inuyasha beside her. "Inuyasha, are you sure you didn't see wrong?"

Inuyasha looked utterly straightforward. "That demon was bare-chested, with white furry clothing on his lower half. He was taller than you. Oh, and his black hair was curly. He was holding you then, and you two were also..."

As Inuyasha's description grew more and more detailed, Xu Zhiqiu hurriedly interrupted him. A hundred mouths couldn't have cleared her name, but she still wanted to say, "It wasn't what you're imagining."