The night rain brought a deep chill.
Whatever the weather, Yanbai wore clothes that were neither thick nor thin.
Something felt off tonight. Yanbai went into the inner room, then came back out with the cat in his arms and stood beneath the eaves.
Yanbai listened to the rain in the darkness.
The damp made his robes heavy.
The faint rustling of the rain-soaked forest echoed in his ears.
Around him, cloth banners resembling sealing talismans swayed in the wind.
In the darkness, a few birds flew back through the rain, shook the water from their feathers beneath the eaves, then flew to Yanbai's ear and chirped.
Yanbai frowned. Standing in the corridor with the cat in one arm, he waved his other hand at the messenger birds. They found their rewards beneath the eaves on their own, then returned to their nests to rest.
A shadow settled over Yanbai's tranquil eyes.
Holding Satsuki, Yanbai quietly exhaled.
The rain continued to fall. Heavy clouds blocked the moonlight, leaving an oppressive gloom.
Satsuki looked up at Yanbai. Usually, it was very good at comforting people, but today, it felt that no comfort would help.
Dressed entirely in black and holding a pitch-black umbrella, Orochimaru walked toward the Memorial Stone at an unhurried pace.
His steps were not slow, and he soon passed through the Princess Mausoleum's barrier.
From a distance, a flash of lightning revealed Yanbai standing at the entrance to the Princess Mausoleum.
Orochimaru stopped involuntarily.
"Could it be..."
Even after confirming that he had not been mistaken, and even after Yanbai began waving to him from across the way, Orochimaru remained rooted to the spot.
Orochimaru struggled to steady his suddenly quickened breathing.
He was no longer the ignorant, naive person he had once been. He understood Yanbai