One day, Yakumo Feng was cultivating. Just then, Fujiwara no Fuhito arrived. Yakumo Feng looked at Fuhito's cheerful expression and asked, "Fuhito, what's wrong with you today? You're so happy." At the same time, an ominous feeling arose in his heart.
"Do you know? Today, Kaguya-hime accepted my marriage proposal!" Fuhito said excitedly.
Upon hearing this, Yakumo Feng couldn't help but sigh and think, "What was bound to happen has finally come. Logically, he should be looking for one of the five secret treasures now. Why does he have time to come here? Could it be…?"
"Then why are you here?" Although Yakumo Feng had guessed the reason for Fuhito's visit, he still asked.
"Well, that… Although Kaguya has already accepted my marriage proposal, there are also four other people who proposed at the same time. Kaguya asked the five of us to each find one item, and she would marry whoever found it. And what I need to find is the penglai jade branch." Fuhito said with a bitter smile.
Upon hearing this, Yakumo Feng finally confirmed his thoughts and asked with a twitching mouth, "You came here, surely you're not asking me to help you find the penglai jade branch, are you?"
Fujiwara no Fuhito scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "Yes, if you go look too, the chances will be even greater. Yakumo, please help me. I truly love her."
Yakumo Feng looked at Fuhito and sighed, thinking, "Sigh, I was already wondering what excuse to use to leave, and unexpectedly, one was delivered to me. Meihong, it's not that I don't want to help you. This incident will be a crucial turning point in your life. If I meddle and cause serious consequences, then I really wouldn't know what to do."
Yakumo Feng said to Fuhito, "Alright, I agree, but I don't know if I can find it. I hope you don't have too much hope. Whether or not it can be found depends on your luck."
Upon hearing Yakumo Feng agree, Fuhito nodded excitedly repeatedly and said, "Don't worry, if you can find it, that's best. If you can't, I won't blame you. I'll just blame it on Kaguya and I not being destined."
Yakumo Feng looked at Fuhito and said, "Don't tell Meihong that I'm going to look for the penglai jade branch. If she asks, just say I've already gone back!" After speaking, he walked into the house without looking back.
Fujiwara no Fuhito agreed directly after hearing Yakumo Feng's words. Then he left happily.
Meanwhile, Yakumo Feng sat in the house, sipping tea slowly, lost in thought. Suddenly, Yakumo Feng spoke to the space behind him, "You've been watching for so long, it's time for you to come out."
As soon as Yakumo Feng finished speaking, a gap with two butterfly knots suddenly appeared behind Yakumo Feng. Yakumo Yukari then slowly walked out. "Are you really going to look for the penglai jade branch? You know that place is very hard to find."
Yakumo Feng looked at Yakumo Yukari and shrugged, saying, "Who would actually go look for it? Just hearing about it, I know Kaguya-hime is making things difficult for them, trying to make them give up. But they're all happily going to look for it.
I really don't know what's in their heads. I heard you have some connections with the Oni tribe. Can you let me go there? My current strength needs actual combat to improve faster. Relying on myself is too slow."
Upon hearing Yakumo Feng's words, Yakumo Yukari couldn't help but say, "Aren't you afraid they'll kill you? You know the Oni tribe are all very warlike."
Yakumo Feng said, "If I were afraid, I wouldn't go. Besides, would they kill me? I know Ibuki Suika's personality. And I have a way to prevent them from killing me."
Upon hearing this, Yakumo Yukari covered her face with her folding fan and said, "I know you've barely been out and rarely interact with people. Yet you know Suika and them. From your tone, it sounds like you understand them quite well. And you can actually make the Oni tribe not kill you? What method is it? Can you tell me? I promise to keep it a secret."
Yakumo Feng observed Yakumo Yukari for a moment and said, "This method, to say it's simple, it's very simple. To say it's difficult, it's very difficult. As for what method… it's a secret."
"Little Maple is really something, keeping secrets even from me. That makes me very sad, you know." Yakumo Feng covered his face with his folding fan, feigning sadness.
Yakumo Feng heard this and said, "You'd be sad? That's a wonder of the world! I'd really like to see that."
"If Little Maple wants to see me sad, I can find a time to be sad for you," Yakumo Yukari said with a smile. Then her expression turned serious, "Speaking of which, when are you leaving? Now?"
"Wait a bit. I'll leave Meihong a letter and personally cook her a meal," Yakumo Feng thought and said. Although Meihong had only accompanied him for ten years, in those ten years, she had given him a feeling he had never experienced before, a feeling Yakumo Feng liked very much and was very reluctant to part with.
After saying that, Yakumo Feng began to write the letter. Yakumo Feng had thought about waiting for Meihong to return and saying goodbye to her in person. But he was afraid. He was afraid that if he saw Meihong crying, he would be soft-hearted and stay.
After Yakumo Feng finished writing the letter, he placed it on the table and went to the kitchen. Yakumo Feng had cooked once before, and it was so delicious that one would want to swallow their tongue. Although he hadn't cooked since then, it was partly due to cultivation and partly due to laziness.
Soon, the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen. Gradually, the scent grew richer and more fragrant. Yakumo Yukari swallowed with difficulty while smelling the aroma. After a while, Yakumo Feng brought the cooked dishes to the table: one meat, two vegetable dishes, and a soup.
At this moment, Yakumo Yukari was staring at the dishes on the table, drooling. Without turning her head, she said to Yakumo Feng, "Can I just have one bite? Just one bite."
Yakumo Feng looked at Yakumo Yukari and said, "No, these are for Meihong. I'll cook for you when I have time in the future. But you absolutely cannot touch these dishes now. If you do, you'll never get to eat my cooking again."
"You said that! If you can't satisfy me then, you'll be in for it!" Yakumo Yukari looked at the food on the table with reluctance and said hatefully to Yakumo Feng. After speaking, she opened a Gap leading to the Oni tribe.
Yakumo Feng sighed, then walked into the Gap with Yakumo Yukari.
Not long after, Meihong returned, skipping and hopping. Meihong didn't see Yakumo Feng in the courtyard and thought he was cultivating in the house. But when Meihong entered the house, she only saw the food on the table and a letter. Meihong didn't know why, but an ominous feeling rose in her heart. She quickly went over, picked up the letter, and read:
Meihong, I'm leaving. You must take good care of yourself from now on. You can stay in this courtyard if you want, or go to Kaguya's place if you don't. Don't be lazy in the future; cultivate your swordsmanship more. Don't always think about playing.
Although you've only learned Suzaku, Suzaku comes at the cost of burning your own life force. You must never use it unless absolutely necessary. Also, no matter what you encounter in the future, you must live happily. Although I won't be by your side, I will still be watching over you.
Finally, this meal was personally cooked by me; you won't find it anywhere else. Last but not least, please take good care of yourself. If I see that you haven't taken good care of yourself next time, I'll be angry.
After reading the letter, Meihong knew that Yakumo Feng had left. Although she knew Yakumo Feng would leave, she didn't expect it to be so soon. Tears streamed down her face. Her left hand unconsciously touched the bracelet on her right hand, which was made from Yakumo Feng's hair. She bit her lip tightly, trying not to cry out loud. She knew that with Yakumo Feng's departure, they might never see each other again.
Meihong looked at the food on the table, walked directly to a stool, sat down, and then picked up the bowl and chopsticks. She ate while crying. Although this was the most delicious meal Meihong had ever eaten, she couldn't bring herself to be happy. After finishing the meal, Meihong silently wiped away her tears and tidied up the dishes.
Finally, Meihong went into the house, packed her belongings, and then headed towards Kaguya's residence. Although this place held Meihong's most beautiful memories, staying would only increase her sorrow.
---
Yakumo Feng followed Yakumo Yukari through the Gap and arrived at the place where the Oni tribe lived. How should he describe it? It was no different from an ordinary village. However, when Yakumo Feng saw the Oni, he couldn't help but exclaim, "As expected of a warlike race! Those builds, those muscles! Nothing to say about them."
However, Yakumo Feng suddenly thought of Suika and Yuugi. Suika and Yuugi were also members of the Oni tribe, yet they didn't give off a tomboyish vibe at all. With their slender arms and legs... But Suika and Yuugi were not the weakest; they were the Kishin Four Devas, the strongest of the Oni! Could it be true, as someone once said, that concentrated things are the essence?