The Shikon Jewel

That day, the sky was overcast, and a fine drizzle began to fall. With a bamboo basket on her back, Xu Zhiqiu held a large Yezi over her head with both hands to keep off the rain. She jogged back from the woods and saw a group of stern-faced men in battle attire standing before Kikyo.

The gentleness that had softened Kikyo's face gave way to gravity.

As Xu Zhiqiu hesitated over whether to approach, the man at the head of the group spotted her and asked, "You must be Lord Autumn?"

"Yes." Xu Zhiqiu stepped onto the veranda to shelter from the rain, and Kohaku helped take the basket off her back.

Xu Zhiqiu glanced at the purple bead in Kikyo's hand, glowing violet and exuding murky black fumes. Was this the Shikon Jewel? She looked away and turned to the Yōkai Exorcists standing in the rain. "What happened?"

"The Shikon Jewel has been tainted by evil energy. We fear it may fall into the hands of demons. Having heard that Lady Kikyo and Lord Autumn possess powerful spiritual power, we came here specifically to seek your help."

The man paused, looked at Kikyo, and continued, "Surely, with two powerful priestesses such as Lady Kikyo and Lord Autumn guarding it, the Shikon Jewel will return to its original state."

"Now that you have entrusted it to us, please rest assured. Qiu and I will purify the Shikon Jewel." In the end, Kikyo could not refuse their request and accepted the duty of guarding and purifying the Shikon Jewel.

Once the priestess agreed, the Yōkai Exorcists knelt before them, gazing solemnly at the two priestesses before finally departing through the rain.

After they left, Xu Zhiqiu looked at the jewel in Kikyo's hand.

The destined plot had unfolded as usual after all.

Kikyo said to Xu Zhiqiu, "Qiu, we'll have more to keep us busy from now on."

Xu Zhiqiu gave her a knowing smile. "Understood."

"It's a wild rabbit!" Kohaku's eyes lit up when she spotted a large wild rabbit in Xu Zhiqiu's basket.

Ever since Xu Zhiqiu arrived, Kohaku had often been able to eat the game she hunted. It was meat-who wouldn't like it?

"This rabbit has babies in her belly. Once they're born, we'll fatten them up, and then we'll have lots of rabbits to eat." Xu Zhiqiu crouched down and explained her sustainable rabbit development strategy to Kohaku.

Hearing that there would be more rabbits to eat in the future, Kohaku clapped her hands and looked up at her older sister, her eyes crinkling with delight.

Kikyo was quietly moved. She tightened her grip on the Shikon Jewel, determination settling over her cool, aloof face.

To purify the Shikon Jewel, Kikyo fashioned a pendant for it out of white stones and cord, then enshrined it in the shrine.

The rain had kept falling for the past few days.

Xu Zhiqiu sat inside, listening to the rain outside.

Today, she had changed into pale yellow clothes, with a white sash wrapped around her waist. Although the villagers called her a priestess, that would not change her taste in clothing colors. She would not wear Miko Robes at all times the way Kikyo did.

She had tried to persuade Kikyo, but Kikyo said she would not wear ordinary girls' clothes, wanting to keep herself focused.

Sooner or later, she would eat her words. Sometimes, unable to withstand Xu Zhiqiu and Kohaku's pleading, Kikyo reluctantly put on a pretty dress in pale pink or another color when she played with the children.

It was rather stuffy indoors after all. Xu Zhiqiu slid open the wooden door and stepped outside, tilting her head back to gaze at the gray sky before shifting her attention to the two vegetable plots in front of the house.

After a few days of settling in, the wild vegetables had begun putting out green shoots, their roots gradually spreading into the soil. She believed it would not be long before she could eat fresh leaves.

Besides the main house, she had also built a small latrine, a thatched bathing shelter, and a woodshed. With grass and a home, life was beautiful no matter how she looked at it.

If the plot truly could not be changed and Kikyo died, she would stay with Kohaku and watch over the village, waiting for the girl reincarnated as Kagome, as well as Kikyo-recreated by the demon hag Urasue from sacred bones and grave soil, possessing part of Kagome's soul and the memories of her past life-to return.

Bringing the family back together was what mattered. Why bother with infighting? They could gather the Shikon Jewel shards while farming, growing vegetables, and living happily.

I wonder if I can live another fifty years. I did injure Onigumo's eye, but that Demon of Rakshasa blew Onigumo up with explosives before. After Onigumo offered his soul to those demons, they merged to become Naraku. Even with Onigumo's memories, Naraku never went after that Demon of Rakshasa to settle the score. So I should be able to scrape by for a while too, right?

Xu Zhiqiu thought optimistically.