Traveler of the River of Time and Space-Chapter 502 - 21: Peach Blossom Spring (Part 2)

"Sakura? Are you there?" Qing Ji paused slightly and said.

Petals of cherry blossoms danced in the wind.

The next moment.

A beautiful woman in a light red kimono appeared, bowed slightly towards Qing Ji and said, "Lady Bai Ji."

"What are your instructions?"

Qing Ji was quite polite to this Cherry Blossom Spirit and said softly, "Today, Liu Ji caused some trouble and might need you to handle it."

The Cherry Blossom Spirit nodded slightly and said, "I’ll go right away."

After the Cherry Blossom Spirit disappeared, Qing Ji continued, "After my husband left, the Nine-tailed Fox came out to cause trouble once again."

"At that time, I had grown weary of the outside world."

"So I settled near Sakura Island."

"Later, some yokai came seeking refuge, and since this Secret Realm is not small, I decided to take them in."

The group continued forward.

In the distance, some ancient villages gradually appeared. Su Ziyu focused and saw some ordinary humans working in the fields. His expression was somewhat surprised as he said, "There are still humans here?"

"There are a few," Qing Ji said softly. "They were taken in during the Warring States Period."

"Some have left."

"The ones who remain are those who have adapted to life here and do not wish to go outside."

Su Ziyu had a thoughtful expression and said slowly, "Peach Blossom Spring?"

No wonder it’s called the Peach Blossom Secret Realm.

It was truly unexpected!

The Qing Ji, who was so quick to kill in the past, actually took in those displaced humans from the Warring States Period.

Over the years, Qing Ji changed many residences.

Initially, she lived together with her sisters and other yokai in one of the first discovered gaps, but later Qing Ji found that her sisters had many issues staying with the yokai, especially those from the Ghost Race with horns. After they became familiar, several sisters picked up habits of drinking.

Thus, Qing Ji later moved to settle in the Cyan Bamboo Forest.

But it was quite frustrating that the six Snake Princesses were quick to learn bad habits instead of good ones, and soon after staying in the Cyan Bamboo Forest, some of them became fond of gambling.

This time, Qing Ji was truly angry.

Crackling sounds.

After she gave the six Snake Princesses a good beating, Qing Ji temporarily settled near the Maple Forest of the Guhuo Bird.

Time flew by so quickly.

In the mountains, during training, they were unaware of the passing years. By the time all six sisters learned transformation, the outside world had already entered the tumultuous Warring States Period.

"Liu Ji met the Demon Sword Princess at that time."

Qing Ji couldn’t help but sigh as she said this, raised a hand to pick up the White Paper Umbrella, and knocked it on Liu Ji’s pitiful head beside her, angrily commanding, "Stop making friends with those reckless friends, sneaking out to drink all the time!"

Liu Ji didn’t dare resist, but still retorted stubbornly, "Sister."

"You shouldn’t talk about the Three-tailed Fox and Inugami like that; they’re not bad people."

The Demon Sword Princess was not an absolutely malevolent figure, nor did she commit any heinous acts, but she was indeed a restless Great Demon. As a Great Demon who appeared only during the Warring States Period, the Demon Sword Princess was very fond of challenging some of the strongest of her time. The first time Qing Ji saw her was in the Maple Forest, where she was being beaten by the Guhuo Bird.

Liu Ji unknowingly became friends with her over food and drink, and Qing Ji, unable to contain her anger, decided to teach the Demon Sword Princess a lesson.

Later, among those the Demon Sword Princess challenged, Qing Ji became another target.

"Over the years, the Demon Sword Princess has been kept confined in the Maple Forest," Qing Ji pointed towards a distant courtyard and said, "That’s my residence within the Peach Blossom Spring."

"But usually, I live with my sisters on Sakura Island outside."

"They’re attending school there."

"I want them to learn some things from humans."

As she said this, Qing Ji paused for a moment and then continued, "This time, it’s likely because the Guhuo Bird went to the Ghost Capital that the Demon Sword Princess managed to sneak out."

This courtyard?

Su Ziyu was momentarily stunned as he looked at the relatively ordinary courtyard in front of him. He expected Qing Ji’s residence to be very luxurious, given that the yokai referred to her as Lady Bai Ji, but didn’t anticipate her residence to be so simple, similarly modest compared to his memories of residences in Kyoto.

"Sister!"

"Sister!"

In Su Ziyu’s line of sight, images of the Snake Princesses emerged, appearing almost identical, with only one wearing a pale green kimono while the others were dressed as high school girls like Liu Ji.

The girl in the kimono leading the group should be the First Sister.

Because she styles her hair in the ancient lady’s bun like Qing Ji, and her dress and behavior are most similar to Qing Ji.

The one exchanging glances with the Sixth Sister is probably the Fifth Sister, her hair in a bun, eyes darting around, with a slightly mischievous and sly smile.

As for the others, there’s not much of an impression.

After all, Su Ziyu did not spend much time with them in the past.

Among these six serpent sisters, except for the First Sister, who left a deep impression on Su Ziyu, the others are rather vague because when he left, some of the serpent sisters hadn’t even gained sentience. So now, they are all looking at Su Ziyu with curiosity and suspicion, and the bolder ones are whispering about something.

"Is this the man our elder sister has waited a thousand years for?"

"He looks pretty ordinary!..."

"Shh! Don’t talk nonsense!... Be careful not to anger our elder sister!..."

Thwack.

Qing Ji’s face turned slightly cold as she tapped on each of the six serpent sisters’ heads with the White Paper Umbrella, while the Sixth Sister trembled beside her, looking grievance-stricken.

Today, she received the most strikes.

Su Ziyu’s expression wasn’t awkward; he just looked at the six serpent sisters in front of him with some emotion, sighing to himself, "Qing Ji hasn’t had it easy these years..."

These six serpent sisters were born from the tail of the Orochi.

Their malice and demonic aura are much heavier than other demons’, and they are like this now thanks to Qing Ji’s good discipline. If they had been let loose back then, they would definitely have been a group of Great Demons causing harm to one side.

"My husband, please rest for a moment."

Qing Ji slightly bowed, a happy smile appearing on her beautiful face, and softly said, "I will go make some of your favorite dishes."

"Okay." Su Ziyu stood and stepped into the courtyard in front of him.

The flowers and grass before him were almost exactly as he remembered, making him indeed feel like he had returned to the time when he stayed in Kyoto.

Inside the hall.

Su Ziyu was idly flipping through the ancient texts in front of him when a head suddenly peeked out from outside. As she realized Su Ziyu had noticed, she touched her head with two large bumps, and with a cheeky grin, she said, "Brother-in-law!..."

"I brought some delicious snacks for you."

Su Ziyu tilted his head to look at the Sixth Sister in front of him, who was holding a wooden box in her hands, with one of the snacks on top already nibbled on.

"Thank you." Su Ziyu said with a smile.

The Sixth Sister beside him was restless, as if she had something to say but didn’t dare to.

"Is there something you want to say?" Su Ziyu asked softly.

"Hehe." The Sixth Sister couldn’t help touching her head, grimacing a bit when she felt the bump. Qing Ji had hit hard enough to ensure it hurt but wasn’t too damaging, so it wouldn’t heal soon.

She smiled awkwardly and suddenly whispered, "I heard you have a very powerful Demon Gourd?"

"They say it’s Jiutun Tongzi’s treasure?"

"That it can brew unparalleled wine?"

"Can I have a taste?"

As the Sixth Sister was speaking, Su Ziyu’s expression suddenly turned serious; he straightened up and said slowly, "It’s not impossible."

"Great!" The Sixth Sister couldn’t help but rejoice, "Quick, show it to me."

Ahem.

Su Ziyu coughed lightly before saying slowly, "But you need your sister’s permission for this."

"You better ask her yourself."

The smile on the Sixth Sister’s face suddenly froze, then she slowly turned around like a puppet to look behind her.

Qing Ji, smiling, placed some delicious-looking dishes in front of Su Ziyu, but when she turned around, her eyes suddenly squinted, scaring the Sixth Sister so much that she trembled.

It was clear that she couldn’t avoid a beating.

Just then.

A bird call suddenly came from the sky, followed closely by a childish voice: "Lady Bai Ji."

"There are magical creatures appearing to the south of Kagoshima again."

Qing Ji stood up immediately upon hearing this and asked gravely, "What kind of magical creatures?"

The childish voice paused for a moment and then seemed to change to a young female voice, urgently saying, "It’s a [Void]."

......