Chapter 698: Chapter 34: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter – Five Treasures
Judging from the expression of the black-haired girl, she indeed felt a headache.
She was extremely frustrated by the continuous harassment from the Earth-dwellers. From the moment her existence was leaked—not really, but when she gave a large amount of gold to the couple who adopted her to improve their lives—everything was already destined.
Fortunately, she hadn’t lost her power, allowing her to easily put an end to those insane actions. Otherwise, a good thing would turn bad.
The Bamboo-Gathering Elder couple, who became famous because of her, weren’t very cautious about this matter. Even after her warnings, they didn’t strictly follow her advice in using the gold, and quickly exposed the great wealth they had acquired. To hide the troubles brought about by this, she agreed to let the elder celebrate her birthday with a grand banquet—
Inviting all kinds of singers and dancers to perform.
Families from nearby, regardless of age or gender, were invited to join the party, which remained lively for three days.
Thus, her existence spread widely, from ten to a hundred, causing quite a stir, and eventually became famous across the world... The reason being, she proactively exposed her presence to overshadow the gold acquisition incident and draw attention to herself.
After all, with the current troublesome situation, she could still handle it with ease...
Otherwise, the Bamboo-Gathering Elder couple might have already been killed.
In recent years, however, the situation became increasingly troubling. The Bamboo-Gathering Elder couple couldn’t understand what the black-haired girl did for them, yet they felt joy and pride as nobles, lords, and ministers sought their "daughter," so accomplished and famous.
They still held onto the general common foolish notion of the time, not agreeing with the black-haired girl’s indifferent attitude towards suitors, fervently hoping she would settle on a marriage... They believed that men must marry and women must have husbands—
Hence, they thought even "Princess Kaguya" must follow this path.
The elder who just left the courtyard was there to persuade her again, and this wasn’t the first time recently.
Recently, although the black-haired girl seemed to relent under the elders’ repeated requests, she posed five obviously impossible challenges to the five suitors who seemed most hopeful, as conditions, clearly showing no sincerity.
The Bamboo-Gathering Elder just came by to plead, hoping "Princess Kaguya" would reconsider and earnestly settle down.
Yet, on this particular point, the black-haired girl still did not agree.
So that elder sighed deeply when he left, looking worried. He felt it was wrong; clearly, he and the old lady were doing this for "Princess Kaguya’s" good, so why couldn’t the child understand?
"Actually, Zao Malu isn’t too bad, but his views are just like other Earth-dwellers, likely unchangeable..." saying this quite gloomily, Princess Kaguya sighed, then smiled again cheerfully, waving at the slightly frowning Eirin, "Of course, it’s not a big deal; Eirin, there’s really no need to worry."
"...Really, no problems?"
The silver-haired girl frowned, seeming to feel the situation was not good. After hearing the princess explain recent events, she found the people outside bothersome enough,
Though soon, the princess would be free from her exiled label, able to leave the earth, she thought perhaps she could do something.
"There really is no problem. The five challenges I proposed were to let them retreat in the face of difficulty... Anyway, in time, I will regain freedom," Princess Kaguya said indifferently, pacing back and forth in the courtyard, "Besides, Eirin, you know my ability, no need to worry for me..."
"Indeed..."
Thinking about the black-haired girl’s abilities, Eirin was slightly reassured. Though the princess wasn’t strong in combat, she had no issue protecting herself, and if she chose to resist, whether the Moon Capital could successfully exile her was a question.
Realizing this made her feel more guilty, understanding the real reason.
But—
"Wait, Princess, what are the five challenges?"
Recalling the keyword she just heard, Eirin couldn’t help but ask.
"Those who think they’re something, sticking like a leech without conscience," said the black-haired girl, expressionless, "Exactly five, so I gave them five challenges to seek five treasures..."
It was really frustrating.
Why couldn’t these people understand human speech; they are humans, right?
Even one guy, merely having spoken with his daughter a few times, shamelessly assumed she was interested in him? Just thinking of this, Princess Kaguya could only laugh in exasperation.
Thus, intentionally making the challenges difficult because she knew fully well that no one could gather all five treasures.
Hopefully, they would take the hint and retreat in defeat.
Such an outcome would be fortunate for everyone...
"The Fire Rat Fur, the Stone Alms Bowl Before the Buddha, the Dragon Head Jade, and the Swallow’s Cowrie?" The silver-haired girl named Eirin thoughtfully nodded, understanding the key to the princess’s challenges, "And finally the Penglai Jade Branch, with that one, it should be no problem."
"Of course, there won’t be any problems. Moreover, I wasn’t serious anyway; with a little intelligence, they’d know it wasn’t a condition but a challenge. Anyone with insight would understand..."
The black-haired girl said smilingly, gently waving her hand.
She had no intention of marrying herself off, and if worse came to worst, she could always backtrack.
After all, in the end, it is because she is tormented day and night that she hangs up such a sign that seems to refuse battle. If only she could peacefully serve out her sentence, who would want to stir up trouble? However, these beings who seem human yet completely misunderstand human speech, are never discouraged and constantly harass her—
Using the Bamboo-Gathering Elder and his wife as entry points, they brainwash the elderly day by day, working on their thoughts.
Thus, making the elderly, who were inherently stubbornly feudal in their thoughts, deeply agree, and then unite inside and out to pressure her, trying to force her to relent.
Even though Princess Kaguya felt grateful towards the elder couple who took care of her on earth, she was not so old-fashioned as to think she should unconditionally obey their arrangements in this matter, leading to such a ridiculous life... That was simply impossible.
So even though the elderly kindly and earnestly said to her—"Considering how we painstakingly raised you to adulthood"—and hoped she would listen to their requests and comply with their arrangements, she merely went along superficially and then bluntly presented five difficult conditions.
"This is good as well; hopefully, they will back down after realizing the difficulties..."
The silver-haired girl nodded, about to speak further, when she suddenly furrowed her brows tightly.
"Hmm! What is this..."
Simultaneously, the black-haired girl across from her also widened her eyes, as if she had sensed something.
Outside, the crowd was pacing back and forth, either singing folk songs or playing flutes, or loudly reciting their own poems. Like peacocks spreading their tails, these people were trying hard to showcase their talents. But in that instant, they all shuddered.
Those with strong physiques felt a terrifying chill that made their hairs stand on end and caused beads of sweat to appear densely on their foreheads.
As for those with slightly weaker physical conditions and resistance, they directly fainted in an instant!
There will be death!
Death is certain!
It felt as if death would come in the next moment! It was an indescribable fear, like an ultimate terror that seemed to lead all life to inevitable doom!
It was a wave of a deathly aura unseen by human eyes, sweeping in from the horizon, within just a few breaths, like a powerful shockwave from a nuclear explosion, it swept across the entire Mount Fuji, and, like a tidal wave, charged toward distant places!
"It’s not here; it should be a thousand miles away, where some particularly thick force of death has been triggered..."
Stepping out of the courtyard, Eirin turned her gaze in a certain direction in the distance, almost instinctively making a judgment.
Though lacking substantial destructive power, both of them appeared somewhat grave, knowing that once this conceptual lethality broke out, it would be far more frightening than a real explosion shockwave.
The next moment—
An unknown fluctuation accompanied by moonlight spread from that direction, with an unhesitantly rapid speed.
Vaguely, it seemed as though another bright moon had risen at the end of the distant horizon.
A magnificent silver moonlight spread over thousands of miles, illuminating everything, and wherever the light swept, all motion seemed to hit pause: the treetops swaying in the wind, the leaves lifting and falling, and the panic-stricken waking people all froze before they even had a chance to see the additional moon in the sky.
Senses lost, thoughts frozen, almost no one could move or think any longer.
...
...
The terrifying deathly aura rolled in like waves, yet in an instant, it froze.
In a corner of the courtyard, using barriers, demon techniques, and gaps to resist the invading power of death, the Monster Maiden looked up at the sky somewhat dumbfounded.
It is said that Eastern monks and immortals strive for comprehensive cultivation, leaving themselves no apparent weaknesses, but not many can truly achieve this; most still develop one-sidedly. However, in the brief battle just now, this person proved it.
All sorts of Qi prohibition escape techniques, substitution techniques emerged endlessly, various barriers, arrays, restrictions, as well as transformation body protection and fortune-telling means, stubbornly withstanding the fearsome power of the Demon Cherry Blossom, one step at a time, approaching, no matter how the Demon Tree instinctively launched terrifying counterattacks.
It was either the Qi Prohibition Technique or the Protective Body Light, uninjured by slashing, unpenetrated by stabbing...
There was also the Illusion Technique, ever-changing; or the Staff-Storage Technique, transferring damage;
or Beheading Undying, or Invisible Clone, or the separation and unscathed reassembly of various body parts, instantly restoring too, without the slightest trace of injury.
She suddenly understood why the Flower Demon would become so furious; as long as this person was prepared, even by simply stalling, they could wear the opponent out without breaking a sweat, with endlessly emerging Daoist talismans in a perfect cycle, barely overcoming one layer before the next reinforcement was already applied.
Now the same was true, forcing the Demon Cherry Blossom to unleash its most terrifying Power of Death—
Yet, this person seemed to have been prepared.
At this moment, he seemed to transform into a bright moon, all aglow, with his robes flowing in the air, accompanying a seemingly mighty ultimate move, forcibly stopping the outburst of the Power of Death.
Five treasures glowed radiantly, floating around him, sustaining the spell’s casting.
Fire Rat Fur, Stone Alms Bowl Before the Buddha, Dragon Head Jade, Swallow’s Child Amber, and Penglai Jade Branch... were re-enacting Kaguya’s time suspension spell.
