| Author: Carrot Sauce | Original Source: SFACG | Word Count: 3167 characters |
| Translator: Yuki | English Source: Re:Library | Word Count: 1974 words |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | ||
As Lily burst through the door, a gust of damp wind rushed in, causing Rei’s silver hair to flutter and the beads of sweat on her skin to disperse like glistening crystals. Rei gazed at Lily with an expression devoid of panic or shame, as if Lily were her most familiar lover, a seductive allure emanating from her every move.
Rei’s fluttering eyelashes beckoned to Lily, her body contorting into an even more enticing pose. She playfully flicked her silver hair and formed a seductive smile on her lips.
“Sister Uesugi…” Lily’s cheeks flushed with shyness and embarrassment. If she hadn’t known that Rei was in danger, she wouldn’t have known how to react to this provocative scene.
“Ahh… it’s Lily. How embarrassing to be caught by my dear sister in such a peculiar act…” Rei said, sensually sucking on two slender fingers. Her eyes brimmed with charm, and her cheeks took on a rosy hue.
Although Rei spoke those words, there was no trace of embarrassment in her demeanor. However, Lily sensed the peril hidden within the erratic fluctuations of Rei’s soul.
Lily hurriedly reached out and grasped Rei’s arm. As she drew closer, Lily found herself enveloped in Rei’s intoxicating feminine fragrance, causing her eyes to narrow.
“Sister Uesugi, what is happening?” Lily inquired, her voice filled with concern.
“What’s happening… little sister, have you lost your senses? Surely you’ve experienced this before… come, my hands and legs feel a bit weak, lend me your aid,” Rei responded, her voice filled with a hint of mischief.
“Huh?” Caught off guard, Rei gave a tug, and unable to resist, Lily lost her balance and tumbled down between Rei’s legs.
“Uuhh…” Lily realized that her lips and the tip of her nose were in an inappropriate position.
“Ah… ahhh…” Rei’s body shuddered with intensity.
“Mgh, no… don’t… nggh… d-don’t do this” Lily, fully aware of the situation now, tried to retreat, her face burning with embarrassment. However, Rei had already wrapped her arms around Lily’s neck and clung to her tightly.
The usually strong and confident Rei, now soft and seductive, remained motionless.
If Lily hadn’t known that something was wrong with Rei’s soul, she might have pinned her sister to the floor in that moment. But her hesitation allowed Rei to push her down instead.
When two females were entangled like this, the one who gained the upper hand would take control of the situation.
“Sister Uesugi, please calm down. There’s something wrong with you… nnn…” Rei straddled Lily, covering her mouth with one hand while the other hand ventured toward Lily’s thighs, exploring.
“Noo…” Lily tightly shut her eyes, desperately searching for a way to break free. Suddenly, Rei went limp and collapsed, unconscious.
“Sister! Sister Uesugi!!” Lily quickly flipped over and laid Rei flat on the ground. She gently shook her sister, checking her temperature, heartbeat, and the condition of her spirit palace.
The skin around Rei’s spirit palace was scorching hot, her heartbeat weak and rapid, and the soul fluctuations even more chaotic. Lily realized that Rei’s body was already frail, and this extreme emotional outburst would only hasten the depletion of her energy.
Rei was in grave danger!
Lily lifted Rei from the ground, but the fierce wind and rain outside posed a risk of chilling her further. She carefully placed Rei back inside the room and rushed out to gather everyone, seeking their assistance.
……
Shortly after, Ayaka, Shimizu, Shiu, and Nariaki hurried into the room. Nariaki quickly lit candles while the others closed the windows and doors.
“Sister Ayaka, are you okay?” Lily asked, concerned.
Ayaka shook her head. “I’m fine. My injuries aren’t as severe as they appear, but they won’t heal overnight. Let me examine her.”
Ayaka proceeded to check Uesugi Rei’s pulse. Being one of the greatest medical practitioners in the world, Ayaka possessed immense expertise, although her own wounds presented a significant challenge.
Rei’s face was flushed, her eyes tightly shut, her skin dry and hot, and she breathed rapidly and shallowly. Ayaka furrowed her brow as she felt Rei’s pulse. She carefully reached under Rei’s clothing, examining her armpits and lower abdomen before finally checking beneath her skirt.
All present recognized the necessity of such medical examinations, given the all-female environment. Ayaka’s expression grew serious as she shared her findings.
“Lily, if I’m not mistaken, Miss Uesugi has been poisoned by a particularly insidious toxin known as Dreaming Fragrance, one of Shuten Doji’s concoctions,” Ayaka revealed.
“Dreaming Fragrance?” The name alone instilled a sense of foreboding in everyone.
“Uesugi Rei has indeed been poisoned,” Shimizu exclaimed, taken aback.
“This is one of Shuten Doji’s cruelest poisons, specifically targeting women. If left untreated, the poison remains dormant for a month before triggering a series of effects. The body becomes more delicate, seductive, and tender, surpassing one’s normal beauty, while passion surges. However, simultaneously, both vitality and soul are gradually depleted. Just like the ephemeral bloom of an epiphyllum flower, a woman under the poison’s influence will wither and perish as her vitality and soul are drained1. Shuten Doji employs these poisons to prevent women under his control from escaping, and among them, Dreaming Fragrance is the most malevolent,” Ayaka explained.
“What can we do, Sister Ayaka? Is there a cure?” Lily inquired.
“This is one of Shuten Doji’s unique toxins, and no one other than him possesses the antidote,” Ayaka replied solemnly.
A shroud of darkness enveloped Lily’s vision as the realization sank in. Uesugi Rei had likely ingested the poison as a means to gain Shuten Doji’s trust when she surrendered. However, she had never intended to survive after attempting to assassinate him, never considering the possibility of obtaining the antidote. Lily’s voice trembled with sadness as she articulated her understanding.
“Requesting the antidote from Shuten Doji is futile. He would seize the opportunity to harm us. What are we to do…?” The weight of despair hung heavy in her words.
“Sister Ayaka, what is the current state of Sister Uesugi’s condition? How much time do we have before it’s too late to obtain the antidote?” Lily’s voice trembled with concern.
“Fortunately, amidst this misfortune, it seems that Uesugi Rei has embarked on a new secret training method. Her body emanates a powerful and robust aura that surpasses that of an ordinary woman. It appears that her physical capabilities have made remarkable advancements, resembling those of a celestial maiden trained for battle. Although this constitution cannot fully resist such a vile poison, her vitality is significantly stronger. Otherwise, she would have already succumbed,” Ayaka explained.
Lily’s heart raced as she sought a more specific answer. “Then, how much time do we have left?”
Ayaka’s voice carried a hint of urgency. “I estimate no more than three months. If we can obtain the antidote within that timeframe, there is a chance to save her. However, if the three-month mark passes… I’m afraid the outcome will be dire.”
“Three months…” Lily whispered, her mind processing the limited window of opportunity that remained.
There was still time.
Throughout the night, Lily remained steadfastly by Uesugi Rei’s side, watching over her motionless form. Ayaka had assured her that this state of unconsciousness was temporary and that Rei would awaken in a few days. No medicines, treatments, or external methods could reverse the effects of the Dreaming Fragrance. It ravaged the essence of vitality and soul, a toll that external remedies could not undo.
Lily’s thoughts drifted back to a time when Uesugi Rei had refused to join her in the mission to rescue Ayaka. Despite Rei’s bold and daring nature, she had chosen to stay behind. Lily now understood the reason behind her sister’s decision.
“No wonder Sister Uesugi hesitated to accompany me on the rescue mission. Her personality dismisses the notion of danger. Even if she had concerns about her own abilities to assist in battle, she would have found other ways to support me. Yet, when Shizuka Gozen arrived, she remained absent… She had known all along that the poison was nearing its activation point…” Lily muttered.
Tears streamed down Lily’s face as she tightly held onto Rei’s hand. “Sister Uesugi, why did you have to pretend to be so strong in front of me? Why didn’t you confide in me about this2?” Her voice quivered with a mixture of sadness and frustration.
In this dire situation, there seemed to be no other choice but to obtain the antidote from Shuten Doji. However, the idea of easily exchanging treasures or negotiating with such a treacherous figure was nothing but a futile fantasy. Lily harbored no trust towards Shuten Doji, especially considering his ulterior motive of acquiring her.
“It seems I must return to Mount Ooe once again. If he keeps the antidote stored there, I have a chance to retrieve it with my current strength. But if he carries it with him… then we have no choice but to confront him head-on!” Determination flickered in Lily’s eyes as she made up her mind.
The only problem was that she knew Shuten Doji’s realm far surpassed her own. Ayaka had already enlightened her about the formidable strengths and power levels of the experts at the Big Dipper Realm. Lily had indeed reached the required level to face them, but she understood the immense challenge that lay ahead.
“According to Sister Ayaka, Shuten Doji is a quintuple-soul Big Dipper, while my purple lunar force can only reach a maximum of triple-soul Big Dipper. Even with all the treasures, techniques, and resources at my disposal, I simply cannot compete with him. If I were to go to Mount Ooe now, it would be a certain death! No, perhaps even worse than death,” Lily pondered, weighing her options. Fortunately, she still had three months.
Lily retrieved the ancient map of the Mirror Girl she had kept and studied it intently. “The Tsukuyomi swordstyle… the third, fourth, and fifth stances!” Currently, she could only utilize the second stance of the Tsukuyomi swordstyle, and she still had a long way to go before reaching the Big Dipper Realm. If she wanted to swiftly increase her combat prowess, learning the third stance of the Tsukuyomi swordstyle would be the fastest way. With her newfound celestial maiden physique, she no longer faced any barriers in mastering the swordstyle.
The three steles of the Tsukuyomi swordstyle were scattered throughout the Heian dynasty. After examining the map closely, Lily discovered that the third stele was located northeast of Suno, thousands of miles away in the western Tajima province near the northern seas. To her, a thousand miles was merely a day or two of travel.
Determined, Lily stood up and left the room, gently closing the doors behind her. She lifted her gaze to the stormy night rain, ready to embark on her journey, “Looks like I will be traveling to the Tajima province for some time.”
Upon her return to the front hall, where Ayaka and the others had gathered, Lily inquired, “Sister Ayaka, how are your injuries?”
Ayaka looked up and replied, “Lily, I might have lost my treasures and belongings, but the medicines and materials left by Tamamo-no-Mae here are sufficient for my healing. The herbs you gave me have been quite effective as well.”
Lily had collected various medicines and herbs from the Bureau of Divination, and she had acquired even more during her journey. She had given Ayaka a storage jade filled with useful herbs and materials, while Shimizu and the others received storage jades containing magatamas, treasures, and other useful items.
Lily realized that she had accumulated a surplus of general treasures and materials during her adventures.
“Sister Ayaka, sister Shimizu, please rest and practice here for the next few days. I have a specific destination I need to visit,” Lily requested, her determination shining through her words.
