"Worried about me? But... just because you were worried about me, did running out to find me mean you could help?"
Yae Sakura was speechless. Didn't Xia Ji know she was dead weight? Running out not only wouldn't help, but if anything really happened, she would only make things worse.
"I... I..."
Xia Ji was left speechless... but she felt terribly wronged.
At that moment, Kikyo walked over. She looked at Xia Ji, then at Yae Sakura, seemingly lost in thought.
"Lord Yae, this Miko is...?"
Xia Ji also noticed Kikyo. She quickly hid her aggrieved expression, then looked curiously at Yae Sakura.
"I don't know."
Although she knew Kikyo, this was their first meeting, and she had not even asked her name. Naturally, she could not simply call her by name.
"I am the Miko Kikyo. I was entrusted to come here and slay demons." Kikyo was not one for many words, but she still introduced herself.
"Kikyo..."
Xia Ji froze upon hearing that. Wasn't this the person Yae Sakura had asked her about before? Xia Ji immediately looked at Yae Sakura in surprise.
But she promptly introduced herself as well. "My name is Taniwara Natsu."
"Xia Ji's guards were eaten by demons, so I happened to be escorting her home," Yae Sakura added.
"Taniwara? The one from the Taniwara family?"
Upon hearing this, Kikyo realized who Xia Ji was. She was the daughter of a daimyo from this area.
After getting to know Kikyo a little better, Yae Sakura learned that this was Musashi Province. However... it was still a long way from Kikyo's village, Kaede Village.
Kikyo had been entrusted by the village chief of a nearby village to come and exterminate demons.
At this time, Kikyo had indeed not yet taken possession of the Sacred Jewel. Though she was famous... she was not that famous yet.
Her reputation was only especially great within a small part of Musashi Province, particularly around Kaede Village.
She was also known in other countries, but only within certain circles. Ordinary people did not know of her, and even if they did, they merely regarded her as part of a story.
After all, this was not the modern age. Many people had never left their village in their entire lives.
As for why Xia Ji did not know Kikyo, it was because Xia Ji knew little about such matters.
As a princess, she had been required to study etiquette, literature, and painting from childhood. She had no spare time to learn about such things.
"So there's a village nearby? Could you take the two of us there to stay for the night?"
If there was a village, they would not have to sleep in a cave.
Kikyo glanced at Xia Ji. After all, she was a noble's daughter, and it was far too dangerous for her to be out in the wilderness. Kikyo nodded and agreed.
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