Visitors from Inuyama Castle

Seeing how stubborn Xu Zhiqiu was, Kohaku said no more.

Once Xu Zhiqiu had sat down with them, Kohaku continued speaking to Kikyo. "Now Inuyasha and your reincarnation, a girl named Kagome, are collecting Shikon Jewel shards. Their relationship..."

Just as Kohaku was about to continue, Kikyo cut her off.

"Enough, Kohaku. I don't want to hear about Inuyasha and that girl."

Her heart had originally been filled with joy, but then she had seen Inuyasha being so intimate with that girl right after waking up.

Perhaps her relationship with Inuyasha had never been as good as they imagined. If they really used the Shikon Jewel to turn Inuyasha into a human, would their future together truly be happy? Countless demons bore grudges against them. Could she and Inuyasha really live an ordinary life?

Realizing she had raised her voice a little, Kikyo softened her expression. "Right now, I only want to deal with the Shikon Jewel. I won't consider anything else for the time being."

"All right." Kohaku came back to herself and nodded.

"Then what do you two plan to do from here?" Kohaku asked them.

Xu Zhiqiu's appearance had not changed, and staying in the village would inevitably stir up gossip. That was even more true of Kikyo, someone who had died only to suddenly reappear in the world.

Xu Zhiqiu picked at her nails. "I'm going to look for Shikon Jewel shards."

Kikyo fell silent for a moment before answering, "So am I."

"Alas, in the end, this all comes back to the Shikon Jewel." Kohaku sighed.

For once, neither Xu Zhiqiu nor Kikyo said anything more.

They stayed for lunch, then bid Kohaku farewell and left Kaede's Village.

With her bow and arrows on her back, Kikyo sat on a tree trunk and looked at Xu Zhiqiu beside her. "Qiu, tell me honestly. You like Naraku, don't you?"

Xu Zhiqiu was silent for a long while. "A little, I suppose. But not much."

"All right, I understand." So she does like him.

Xu Zhiqiu reached out and ruffled Kikyo's hair, saying guiltily, "I'm sorry." If she had been there back then, might things have turned out a little better?

"It's fine. It's all in the past." Kikyo brushed it off lightly, but only she knew how much she had endured.

Xu Zhiqiu's heart felt a little heavy. After stroking her hair for a while, she withdrew her hand, hugged her sword, and lifted her head to gaze at the scenery ahead.

The two sat there for a while.

Leaves rustled, and insects and birds called.

"Inuyasha has the Shikon Jewel. I'll get it for you." As Kikyo spoke, she stood up.

Xu Zhiqiu looked up at her. "We don't have to be in such a hurry. Let's take a few days to relax first. We can find all sorts of enjoyment on our journey to search for the Shikon Jewel. We may have to find it, but that doesn't mean we have to make ourselves miserable, right?"

Kikyo glanced at Xu Zhiqiu's radiant face and hesitated for a moment. In the end, she sat back down and joined Xu Zhiqiu in admiring the scenery from the tree.

Along the way, Xu Zhiqiu and Kikyo earned money slaying demons and bought clothes as they went. Sometimes, browsing clothes without buying anything was a pleasure in itself.

Under Xu Zhiqiu's influence, Kikyo also learned to apply eyeliner and makeup. She was even better at teaching herself than Xu Zhiqiu was.

They each carried their own bundle.

Xu Zhiqiu and Kikyo chatted as they walked, but the smell of blood hung in the air, and they soon realized something was wrong.

As they headed farther ahead, they found corpses, weapons, and fallen battle flags everywhere, along with many wounded soldiers lying on the ground and groaning.

War still raged in Japan, and casualties were inevitable.

Xu Zhiqiu turned to Kikyo beside her. Seeing the emotion on her face, she quickly understood what Kikyo intended.

They would stay here and help the wounded first.

What a saint.

The corner of Xu Zhiqiu's mouth twitched, but in the end, she joined Kikyo in helping those people.

She knew nothing about medicinal herbs or saving lives, but she could make soup. All she had to do was put anything edible into a pot and boil it. Onigumo had drunk soup every day back then and had still managed to survive.

Kikyo made no distinction between friend and foe when saving people. If someone was wounded, she would help them.

Then those who were starving went to Xu Zhiqiu to collect a bowl of thick soup.

Both women were beautiful and possessed spiritual power, and word of the two kindhearted priestesses soon spread.

As long as you were capable, could slay demons and save lives, and possessed spiritual power, people would recognize your face and regard you as a priestess in their hearts, even if you did not wear Miko Robes.

Xu Zhiqiu and Kikyo stayed for seven or eight days. Then, one day, a group of armed men with murderous expressions blocked their path.

They rattled on at length before finally making it clear that they wanted Kikyo to come to the castle.

"Inuyama Castle?" Xu Zhiqiu came over carrying a medicine pot and overheard what they said.

The man in charge looked at the woman beside Kikyo and studied Xu Zhiqiu's face, feeling that she looked familiar. "Priestess, have we met before?"

"What do you think?"

"I think she's the lady," a warrior behind him stepped forward and whispered beside the man in charge.

"My deepest apologies. Your subordinate failed to recognize you."

The men who had been so aggressive immediately dropped to their knees.

Xu Zhiqiu looked at Kikyo beside her. "Kikyo, I'm going back to take a look. Would you like to come with me?"

Kikyo knew that the Naraku Xu Zhiqiu knew was at Inuyama Castle. She answered calmly, "No. There are still wounded people here who haven't been treated. I'll come find you in a while."

"All right, then. See you another day." Xu Zhiqiu waved to her, then walked toward the kneeling men. "Let's go."

"My lady, our lord is currently ill and needs a priestess to treat him." The man in charge hesitated.

"It's fine. I know a little medicine myself," Xu Zhiqiu said.

"Yes!"

After Xu Zhiqiu left with the servants, Kikyo watched until her figure disappeared, then collected herself and returned to her work.

The Kikyo in this story is very different from the one in the original anime. I hope Kikyo can do what she likes, wear brightly colored clothes, and live happily while helping others.

About Onigumo's soup: Xu Zhiqiu cooked a large pot every two or three days. The first serving was simply poured out, the second was warmed up, and the third was reheated too. As long as it hadn't started to stink, it was drinkable. Xu Zhiqiu never tasted it herself, but Onigumo never said anything either.