Tea is ready.
Yu Xie took out the "Vision" pendant that Makoto and Ei had given him earlier, feeling the flow of the energy within it. The energy entered his body, and the discomfort caused by his coughing earlier seemed to dissipate.
Even so, he knew that it couldn't turn back time.
After a brief hesitation, Yu Xie put the pendant away and carried the tea back.
In the courtyard, Makoto and Ei were waiting for Yu Xie to return.
"Sister, why did you ask Yu Xie if he was okay earlier?" Ei voiced her confusion. "Yu Xie looked fine. That question you asked seemed off."
"It's nothing, just a usual greeting," Makoto replied with a smile.
"Really?" Ei frowned slightly, feeling something was wrong, but she couldn't pinpoint what.
At that moment, Yu Xie returned.
He walked to the stone table, placed the teapot down, and poured a cup for both Makoto and Ei.
The fragrance of the tea filled the air—it was indeed good tea.
Makoto looked at Yu Xie, noticing that he seemed to look better than earlier, which relieved her a little.
Under the night sky, the three of them sipped tea and chatted about mundane matters.
As time passed, it was getting late and it was time to rest.
Makoto knew she shouldn't stay any longer. Yu Xie needed to rest, and he would be fine here with so many people around to take care of him. But despite knowing that, she still found it hard to take the first step toward leaving.
"Sister?" Ei noticed Makoto's odd expression, growing even more confused.
"Let's go back and rest, Makoto. See you tomorrow," Yu Xie smiled and said.
"...Mm, see you tomorrow," Makoto finally nodded, forcing a faint smile, and left the Okuzumeshuu's mansion with Ei.
They would meet again tomorrow. Yu Xie wouldn't be leaving just yet.
After Makoto and Ei left, Yu Xie stayed in the courtyard for a while longer.
He looked up at the night sky. The moon had come out from behind the clouds, its light shining down, making the courtyard brighter.
Kitsune Saiguu had returned, though it was later than usual.
"I just ran into Makoto and Ei outside," she said to Yu Xie. "I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I feel like Makoto has something on her mind."
"Really?" Yu Xie replied. "Everyone has their own worries."
I'm sorry, Makoto, for making you carry this burden with me, Yu Xie thought to himself.
As the night grew deeper, Kitsune Saiguu went to rest. Yu Xie sat at his desk, the candlelight flickering faintly.
A thought that had already emerged in his mind grew more and more certain.
He placed a sheet of stationery on the desk and picked up his pen.
.....
The next morning.
Kitsune Saiguu went to the Narukami Shrine, and Yu Xie woke up early.
After breakfast, Yu Xie summoned several soldiers.
"Please take these six letters and deliver them to their recipients by this evening."
"Yes!" came the synchronized response, loud and clear.
Yu Xie smiled at the soldiers before heading out the door.
As usual, Yu Xie wandered the streets.
The weather was fine today. Although the rain from yesterday had left puddles on the roads, the sun was shining, and the air was full of the fresh scent of sunlight.
Yu Xie walked, looking around.
Everything around him was familiar. He could even walk with his eyes closed and know exactly where to go.
Yet, he still looked around carefully, as if trying to imprint these images deeply in his mind.
He knew it was useless. Once the next life began, he would forget everything here.
All the people he knew, the memories, the beautiful sights he had seen—everything would vanish from his mind.
He had been here, but he wouldn't remember.
Still, he wanted to try. He wanted to use whatever little strength he had left to remember what he could. If he could imprint them into his subconscious, maybe, just maybe, he could recall them later.
Yu Xie gave a self-deprecating smile. Even he knew that this was a slim possibility.
So far, not a single thing from his past life—no matter how small the detail—had come back to him.
So, it was unlikely the next life would be any different.
With that thought, Yu Xie continued walking down the street, observing the things along the roadside. Eventually, he arrived at the foot of the Mt. Yougou, standing at the gate of Narukami Shrine.
A shrine maiden noticed him immediately and rushed over.
"Lord Yu Xie, are you looking for Lady Kitsune Saiguu? Unfortunately, due to some work matters, she just left with Miss Yae Miko. She should be back by this evening."
"It's alright. I'm just taking a stroll, no need to notify her," Yu Xie said with a smile.
"I see, then please, make yourself comfortable," the shrine maiden said, before returning to her duties.
Yu Xie made his way to the place where the Sacred Cherry Blossom Tree was supposed to have grown. He stood still there, staring at the empty space, like a statue placed there in silence.
There was no one else around except for Yu Xie.
The wind blew across the top of Mount Inazuma, passing through Narukami Shrine.
The gentle sunlight touched Yu Xie's skin, and his hair and clothing fluttered slightly in the breeze. He closed his eyes.
[Are you sure you want to do this?]
—Yes.
[This will consume all the remaining time of your life.]
Rather than spending the last thirty days like this, leaving nothing behind in the end, it would be better to leave some traces in this way. At least, aside from everyone's memories, there would still be something to prove that I was here.
[I understand. I respect your decision.]
—Do you know where my next life will take me?
[Sorry, I cannot predict the future.]
—I see. Then, let's begin.
Yu Xie opened his eyes and took a cherry blossom seed from his chest.
He crouched down, using his hands to push aside the soil, planting the seed into the ground.
If a professional gardener had seen this scene, they would likely think that Yu Xie's actions were completely amateurish. With such a method, the chances of the cherry blossom tree surviving were low.
Yu Xie did not water it, nor did he perform any other cultivation tasks. He simply sat down slowly on the ground.
He closed his eyes again, and a faint light seemed to radiate from his body.
The seed buried in the soil seemed to respond to him, with a faint glow emerging from the earth.
Moments later, the young sprout of the cherry blossom tree broke through the soil, growing at a visible speed.
In the blink of an eye, the seed that was just planted had already grown taller than the roof of Narukami Shrine, and it continued to grow.
Its vigorous life force seemed like a miracle, as a giant cherry blossom tree rose at the peak of Inazuma Mountain, merging with Narukami Shrine.
Yet, Yu Xie's closed eyes never opened again.
He simply sat there quietly beneath the giant cherry blossom tree, a faint smile on his lips, as though he had entered a sweet dream.
"Sorry, I won't be able to stay with everyone."
"There are many things I promised to do, but now I can no longer keep those promises."
"If we meet again, please make sure to tell me about those things. I won't deny them."
"Everyone, we'll meet again in the next life."
Yu Xie's final words seemed to echo in the wind, carried along with it, drifting across the entire Narukami Island.
End of chapter
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