Angering Naraku

"When did you get together with that demon? No wonder you didn't want to be with anyone else. Your heart already belonged to someone," Kikyo said.

Even an icy beauty could be this nosy?

Xu Zhiqiu wiped away nonexistent cold sweat. "Actually, that demon was Naraku. My Jade Blade couldn't hurt him, which was why Inuyasha saw us like that."

"Naraku?" Hearing another unfamiliar name from Xu Zhiqiu, Inuyasha asked curiously.

Xu Zhiqiu explained, "Naraku was the demon born when Onigumo merged with a multitude of demons."

"A half-demon?" Inuyasha's furry dog ears twitched.

"Yes, he should be. He can summon plenty of demons to seize the Shikon Jewel. We absolutely have to stay on our guard," Xu Zhiqiu reminded them gently.

Kikyo had initially been happy that Xu Zhiqiu had found someone she liked. Upon hearing that name, however, the smile faded from her face, and worry showed in her eyes. "My spiritual power has already weakened. The barrier won't last much longer, but purifying the Shikon Jewel will still take some time."

As she spoke, Kikyo looked at Inuyasha beside her.

Inuyasha understood what Kikyo meant. Lifting his chin, he said, "Kikyo, I can wait that long."

"Mm." Kikyo smiled serenely.

Watching the two of them, Xu Zhiqiu felt as though she had drunk and eaten her fill. Their sweet interactions really were sugary.

"What are you going to do about Naraku?" Xu Zhiqiu asked, breaking up the pink bubbles floating around them.

Kikyo and Inuyasha both looked at Xu Zhiqiu, remaining silent in perfect unison.

Although Xu Zhiqiu had explained herself, the fact that they had embraced meant their relationship surely wasn't as simple as she made it sound.

Seeing neither of them speak, Xu Zhiqiu fell silent too. "You aren't going to make me stall him so you two can get your happy ending, are you?"

The corner of Kikyo's mouth twitched. "No. We just don't know what we're dealing with, so we can only take things one step at a time. Qiu, you need to stay safe too. I have a feeling that Naraku's intentions toward you are anything but simple. As for our affairs, Inuyasha and I will handle them."

"Oh, all right." Xu Zhiqiu shrugged.

With that settled, they continued discussing what lay ahead.

"The demons have been appearing at irregular intervals lately. We're going to be busy for a while."

"Mm, that's fine. Let us be busy, then. Hopefully, this life of slaying demons every day will end soon," Xu Zhiqiu said.

Although Kikyo and Inuyasha said nothing, they wholeheartedly agreed with Xu Zhiqiu.

When they were about to leave, Xu Zhiqiu stopped them.

"Before you leave, boil some water to deal with the rabbit's fur. We're having a big pot of rabbit stew tonight."

At the mention of meat, Inuyasha's eyes lit up, but the light quickly faded. "Why rabbit stew again? Can't we have roast meat?"

Xu Zhiqiu glanced at him and said a single name. "Kohaku."

Inuyasha had been about to complain some more, but immediately shut his mouth at that.

The atmosphere grew quiet.

He volunteered, "I'll boil the water."

Xu Zhiqiu took Kikyo by the wrist. "Kikyo, let me show you that rabbit."

"Mm." Kikyo came back to herself and answered.

A bee landed by the window and listened to their conversation without missing a single word.

After several hours of work, they sat inside the house, picked up their chopsticks, and began eating.

Thanks to Xu Zhiqiu's Chinese-style meals, everyone ate their fill and had become much healthier. The children, in particular, had visibly plumper cheeks.

In an age of war, hunger was a problem. Living off the mountains, hunting game and digging up wild vegetables to get by-only Xu Zhiqiu could have thought of that.

Xu Zhiqiu's reasoning was that there were so many lush trees all around them. If there were demons, there had to be other animals too. Those people feared demons and didn't dare wander about, but she was different. For the sake of survival, as long as there was food, why fear demons? She knew the Jade Blade technique, after all.

With a technique at her disposal, she had something to rely on, and her confidence soared.

It was another evening of clean plates.

After returning from Kikyo's home.

Xu Zhiqiu bathed and changed into clean clothes. She dragged a chair out onto the veranda, sat down, and admired the moonlight while rubbing her little belly.

The courtyard was quiet. She had eaten all the rabbits, so even the occasional squeaks she usually heard were gone. Everything was silent.

She had still felt somewhat confident before, but now that confidence was gone. If Kikyo and Inuyasha really ended up with one dead and the other sealed away, where would she belong?

A trace of bewilderment flashed through her eyes as she looked at the dark trees ahead. Kaede's Village really was rather remote. Aside from the demons drawn by the Shikon Jewel, life here was decent enough.

If things didn't work out, should she just give up and let everything slide?

As though sensing the change in her mood, her jade emitted a warm, gentle glow.

Xu Zhiqiu reached back and clasped it. The light disappeared, and it returned to its original state, leaving no clue as to what had happened.

She let go and resumed her boneless sprawl, digesting the food piled up in her belly.

"Qiu." A white figure appeared behind Xu Zhiqiu.

Xu Zhiqiu slowly stopped jiggling her leg and rolled her eyes. "You've already appeared in front of me three times today. Didn't we agree to each be our own unique self? What's the meaning of showing up again?"

No, wait.

She frowned and turned to look at Naraku behind her, raising her guard as she demanded, "How did you get into the village?"

Seeing Xu Zhiqiu's wariness toward him compared with her gentleness toward Inuyasha and Kikyo, Naraku felt rather displeased. She really did treat them differently.

He extended a tentacle to coil around Xu Zhiqiu's chair, seized her hand in a tight grip, then bent down to blow into her ear. His gaze inadvertently caught the enticing glimpse down the front of her clothes, and a gleam flashed through his red eyes.

"Kikyo's barrier no longer has any effect on me. That priestess has now fallen hopelessly in love. Giving up her own abilities for a worthless half-demon-how foolish."

Damn it.

Xu Zhiqiu stiffened, looking at the hand he held captive. Why wasn't her jade having any effect? Did her current situation still not count as a threat? She snorted coldly. "You call Inuyasha a half-demon, but how are you any better, you mongrel composite?"

A sinister look crept over Naraku's face, and his expression chilled as he savored Xu Zhiqiu's words. "A mongrel composite? Qiu, is that how you see me, Naraku?"

"Let go, or I'll make you regret it!" Xu Zhiqiu frowned.

"Oh? You'll make me regret it? But your jade hasn't taken effect. Could it be that you have no killing intent toward me?" Naraku stated evenly.

He had thought she had no feelings for Onigumo, but now it seemed she did harbor some affection for him, didn't she?

At that thought, Onigumo's heart beat faster. He was excited.