"...I don't get it. So, where exactly is this place?"
Xin Yu flew into the sky, looking down from a high altitude, only to see a vast expanse of layered mountain forests and a distant coastline. He had no idea where he had ended up.
Moreover, the place he needed to find was just a small village. In an era where information traveled by human effort, it was highly probable that villages separated by merely one or two mountains wouldn't even know of each other's existence. And to pinpoint the specific village the miko had spoken of...
"Crap. I was so focused on looking cool and directly time-traveling that I forgot to ask that miko which village it was! She didn't mention the specific name of the village when she told her story. This is troublesome now."
Of course, Xin Yu could directly travel back to the previous point in time to ask for the precise location and information. But the problem was, just transmigrating here had cost him 1/4 of his lifespan. If he did it again and lost another portion, wouldn't the previously lost 1/4 of his lifespan have been wasted for nothing? That was too much of a loss.
Xin Yu pondered for a moment. Should he use the Fate-Burning Art (燃缘法 - Rányuán fǎ) to directly replicate his previous operation and find the Yae Sakura of this era?
"Speaking of which, how exactly does this spell of mine... Huh? Wait, what did I use this spell for before? It seems it was to find someone... but who was I looking for?"
A bewildered expression appeared on Xin Yu's face. When exactly had he learned this spell? And who had he used this spell to find? The first time he had expended 1/4 of his lifespan, it seemed it wasn't just to alter Raiden Mei's mother's fate. Who else was there?
Why can't I remember?
Xin Yu suddenly understood. Burning away the affinity (缘分 - yuánfèn) between individuals didn't mean they couldn't meet again through various coincidences; rather, it meant, in the truest sense, that there was no longer any destined connection between them. Even memories ceased to exist. Even if they met again, they would merely be strangers who didn't recognize each other.
Otherwise, how could it be considered as having no affinity at all?
So, who had he forgotten?
Xin Yu floated in the sky, somewhat dazed, for a long while. By the time the sky had completely darkened, he rubbed the bridge of his nose, casting aside all those complicated thoughts. Now was not the time for sentimentality.
He picked a random direction and flew off directly, his speed incredibly fast. Seen from behind, he looked a little disheveled.
Yae Sakura stood beneath the cherry blossom tree, her youthful face filled with bewilderment.
The education she had received since childhood was to revere and believe in the gods. But now, her own younger sister was to become a sacrificial offering to these gods. The reverence and faith in the gods, cultivated since she was young, were now profoundly shaken.
As the miko of the gods, if a ritual sacrifice was to be performed, it meant that Yae Sakura, as the elder sister, would even have to kill her own sister with her own hands.
On one hand, it was her duty; on the other, it was her familial love.
Yae Sakura was in immense anguish. She didn't want to lose her younger sister, and even less did she want to kill her with her own hands.
Therefore, Yae Sakura decided to take her sister and leave this place tonight. Over the years, to care for her frail and sickly younger sister, she had often left the village to gather medicinal herbs in the mountains behind it, and had long since become familiar with the various terrains of the back mountains.
She just needed to take advantage of the night, escape into the back mountains with her sister, Yae Rin, under the cover of darkness. Then, the two of them would surely be able to leave this village successfully. As for where to live after leaving? Yae Sakura hadn't figured that out yet. Right now, she only thought of escaping this place with her sister. As for their future life, that was something to consider after they had escaped.
Yae Sakura waited outside until dusk before returning home. She knew that her father would be discussing the sacrificial ritual with several village elders at this time and wouldn't be home.
She just needed to quietly sneak Rin out and then leave this place with her.
But when Yae Sakura opened the closed door of the room and saw her younger sister lying on the floor, the tendons in her hands and feet all severed...
Yae Sakura's pupils constricted violently. She collapsed to the ground as if all her strength had deserted her. At the same time, a series of heavy footsteps sounded from behind her.
"Sakura, as my daughter, how could I not know what you're thinking? Don't be willful. This is for everyone in the village. If the gods don't grant us rain, everyone will starve or die of thirst due to lack of water. Rin is dying to save everyone in the village. Her death has meaning; it is exceptionally sacred. Don't be willful anymore."
"Remember, you are the miko of the Yae Shrine. Do not forget your identity."
Her father's footsteps gradually faded into the distance. Yae Sakura, somewhat stiffly, walked to her sister's side.
Yae Rin looked at the pain and despair on her sister's face and managed to squeeze out a smile. "It's alright, sister. Rin is going to serve by the side of the great god. You don't need to be sad for me... Sister, Rin will serve the great god well over there, and will ask the great god to bless everyone in the village, to bless you, sister, and to bless father."
"Rin..."
At this moment, Yae Sakura desperately wanted to pick up her sister, turn around, and flee this place. But it was impossible. As a young girl who hadn't fully grown, Yae Sakura simply couldn't escape from here while carrying someone, especially since her father was keeping a close watch. Escape was impossible.
Yae Sakura had no idea how she got through the remaining time. She only felt her heart filled with an agony as if it were being gnawed by insects. With despair and numbness etched on her face, she endured until nightfall, when she was forcibly pushed by her father to the site of the sacrificial ritual.
At the site, Yae Sakura saw the villagers surrounding her, their faces filled with reverence and craving. They revered the gods and craved for the gods to send rain; therefore, they had to offer a sacrifice to the gods.
And that sacrifice was her own sister.
Her father began to recite the prayer. The surrounding villagers knelt down one by one, also chanting some words. But because each voice was low and overlapped, the sounds resembled the low moans of ghosts.
"Sakura, do it."
The man thrust the ritual dagger into Yae Sakura's hand, ordering her to complete the final step of the ceremony.
How could Yae Sakura possibly bring herself to do it? She just stood frozen on the spot, unmoving.
The man's expression gradually grew impatient. Sacrificial rituals were very particular about timing. If they delayed any longer, they would miss the auspicious moment.
The man grabbed Yae Sakura's hand and began to drag her towards Yae Rin.
"No!"
Yae Sakura's desperate cry changed nothing, nor did it reach the ears of these people.
The man dragged Yae Sakura before Yae Rin, preparing to "help" her. He forcefully gripped his daughter's hand, intending to use her hand to wield the ritual dagger and kill his other daughter.
"Great God! If you truly exist, please open your eyes and see! Please save Rin! Save me!"
Yae Sakura could only pray to the god in despair.
This should have had no effect at all.
But...
A miracle occurred.
Just as the dagger was about to pierce Yae Rin's body, a sound of something tearing through the air rang out. Something shot from a distance, directly shattering the dagger.
Then, accompanied by a swirling gust of wind, a young man descended from above.
Yae Sakura stared blankly at the young man who landed on the ground. He smiled at her and then said,
"I've come to save you."
My god... has descended.