Lin Wei suddenly realized something. He looked down. The "Yae Sakura figurine" that should have been in his hand was gone.
"Hello, Miss Yae Sakura. It's a true honor to meet you. My name is Lin Wei. You can just call me by my full name."
It really is an honor. You have no idea how much effort it took just to meet you!
Yae Sakura was clearly hesitant. How does he know me?
She took a step back, hesitated for a moment, then spoke, "Apologies, Mr. Lin Wei. I don't recall that name... I... shouldn't know you."
Decisive, direct, almost blunt to the point of being hurtful.
Actually, there was a faint sense of familiarity, like seeing him in a dream. But Yae Sakura found the notion too ridiculous to mention.
Perhaps just a coincidence. After all, the differences between people are really just height, weight, and the size and placement of facial features.
"It's alright, Miss Yae Sakura."
Lin Wei understood. After all, Yae Sakura's true consciousness had long since sunk deep within. The person before him could be considered her, or not her – just a part of her subconscious, perhaps mixed with other things.
Two consciousnesses had been entangled, battling within the same body for five hundred years, almost completely fused. His sudden intrusion was like dropping a massive boulder into a stagnant pool, stirring up the nearly solidified sediment and bringing new life to an otherwise unsolvable stalemate.
"I came here for you, Miss Yae Sakura."
Lin Wei felt a little cruel. This dreamscape seemed so peaceful right now, yet he was about to tear it open violently, exposing the harsh reality behind it.
"I was entrusted by someone to bring you a message from an old friend."
Yae Sakura was stunned by his words. The phrase "old friend" struck her heart like a thousand-pound weight, making her lips tremble. There was excitement, but more than that, confusion.
"Old friend... who?" Yae Sakura felt it was important, yet she couldn't remember, no matter how hard she tried. Forcing herself to recall only brought a splitting headache.
She gripped her head tightly, fighting pain with pain, desperately trying to remember, searching for the answer.
"Is it the person I'm waiting for?"
Unable to find the answer, Yae Sakura finally gave up, her expression mournful as she gazed at the clear river water.
She had been lingering by this riverside for days, unsure why, only feeling that perhaps, in the next moment, someone important would drift down the river, delivered right to her.
Her?
Why did she know it was a 'her' and not a 'him'?
Her head started to throb again...
But why can't I remember? Come on, remember!
An infinite wellspring of grief and indignation rose within Yae Sakura, an emotion as deep as centuries of suppression. She couldn't help but clench her fists and pound them against her head, making herself dizzy and unsteady.
Lin Wei stood nearby, watching the girl's helpless state, his heart aching with sympathy.
Although he knew his actions were ultimately a form of release for Yae Sakura, the scene unfolding before him still made him feel like a complete bastard.
"Ah, apologies, Mr. Lin Wei. I lost my composure."
After a long while, Yae Sakura finally calmed down, still unable to unearth the answer she craved. She could only reluctantly give up for now.
She raised her head, pursed her pale lips, and tried her best to show a proper smile, so that she wouldn't look so miserable.
"As an apology, please allow me to invite you to my humble home for tea."
She pleaded, "And also, please, convey the message from that old friend to me, so that I may finally find closure."
With that, she slowly bowed, her expression both mournful and resolute.
"She finally realized something after all."
Lin Wei sighed softly, deeply admiring this girl who appeared frail on the outside but possessed incredible inner strength. He hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself, forcing a gentle smile onto his face.
"It's alright, Miss Yae Sakura. It was I who was abrupt first, causing you distress. I deeply apologize."
He paused. "Later, I will tell you everything I know, one by one. I only hope Miss Yae Sakura won't think me an unwelcome guest then."
"How could I? You exaggerate, sir."
Yae Sakura smiled with relief upon hearing his words, bowed gracefully again, and then gestured for her guest to follow.
They walked side-by-side onto the wooden bridge, heading towards the village. The feeling of the wooden planks underfoot was strangely comfortable; there was none of the expected creaking, only the cool mist rising from the murmuring water flowing beneath.
"What a beautiful place!" Lin Wei exclaimed, always susceptible to beauty that could purify the soul. He then asked Yae Sakura curiously, "It's truly an honor to meet you in such a place. Do you often come here for leisure, Miss Yae Sakura?"
Actually, I was waiting for someone, Yae Sakura thought. But none of that matters anymore. She felt she would soon know everything she wanted to know.
"You flatter me, sir. Yae Village is just an ordinary village. The scenery here is common, nothing remarkable." Yae Sakura demurred modestly. "However, if you have leisure later, sir, perhaps take a walk around Shinano? You might find truly beautiful sights. It's a pity it isn't spring now, otherwise, you would surely see fields full of cherry blossoms while touring Shinano. That is the most captivating scenery."
Speaking of this, Yae Sakura sounded a little regretful.
"Unfortunately, as the shrine maiden, my duties prevent me from easily leaving Yae Village. Therefore, I cannot accompany you on your sightseeing tour and fulfill my duties as a host."
Lin Wei listened quietly. He felt there was a hidden meaning in Yae Sakura's words, but he had no proof.
"Miss Yae Sakura is too humble. This place is clearly like a paradise, utterly captivating."
"It's only because the gods have shown mercy in recent years, blessing Yae Village with favorable weather and rising river levels, providing ample water for irrigation and drinking, that we have this current prosperity. If it were a drought year..."
Yae Sakura suddenly stopped, pressing her lips together silently for a moment. She gave Lin Wei an apologetic smile. "Apologies, I've embarrassed myself again, sir."
As they spoke, they had already walked past the field paths and entered the village proper.
It looked prosperous from afar, but walking inside, it felt even more absurdly so.
The roads were wide and straight, capable of accommodating galloping horses side-by-side, all paved with large flagstones, sturdy and durable, swept spotlessly clean.
Rows of houses lined both sides of the road, closely packed together, with deep alleys stretching out of sight, hinting at countless households.
Neatly stacked firewood piled up in front of every door, corn cobs and cured meats hung from roof beams, water vats brimmed with clear water, and there were other tightly sealed jars or cabinets. After asking Yae Sakura and receiving permission, Lin Wei gently lifted the lids of a few to check.
Just as expected, they were all filled to the brim with grain.
For people of the past, this must be the most beautiful world imaginable.
Lin Wei sighed inwardly.
However, this incredibly rich and bustling "village" was utterly silent. The sun was already slanting towards dusk in Yae Village. Logically, even during busy farming seasons, people should be returning to the village by now, especially women and children.
And when they walked past the fields earlier, it had also been completely quiet.
There wasn't a single person here. It was a dead city.
Yet Yae Sakura seemed oblivious, occasionally speaking to the empty air beside her. Sometimes her tone was casual, like talking to a friend her age; sometimes she nodded frequently in agreement, as if listening to an elder's teachings; sometimes she bent down, hand outstretched in a petting motion, clearly interacting with a well-behaved child; sometimes she adopted a stern expression, her tone slightly severe, likely addressing a mischievous child.
But there were only two people here.
Witnessing this bizarre scene, Lin Wei felt his skin crawl.
Again, even though he was mentally prepared, it was hard to stop the feeling of uneasiness in his heart when he personally witnessed a creepy reality.
"Hm? Mr. Lin Wei, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something wrong with my appearance?"
Yae Sakura's senses were sharp. She felt Lin Wei's gaze was strange, so she first gestured farewell in one direction, then turned back to look at Lin Wei even more curiously.
"Ah, it's nothing." Lin Wei pursed his dry lips. This eerie scene of him openly seeing a ghost was truly making him feel uneasy. He steadied himself, and asked a question he was curious about.
"I see you've been greeting people, but you never mentioned me. Don't they ask you about the stranger?"
"It's alright, don't worry. They can't see you, so naturally, they won't ask."
Yae Sakura stated it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Dun dun dun DUN!
That sentence was terrifying! Lin Wei almost burst into tears from fright.
Big sis, please don't say such creepy things with such a calm expression, it's too scary!
Alright, Lin Wei knew Yae Sakura had a mischievous, slightly dark side (fukuguro/haraguro), but did she have to express it this way?
This kid's still young, he can't handle this!
"Is there a problem?" Yae Sakura glanced at him strangely.
"No. None." Lin Wei felt he needed a moment to himself.
This place, even the air, felt permeated with strangeness. It offered no sense of security.
Lin Wei started improvising. He looked around and spotted an apple tree in a resident's yard, laden with lush leaves and plump, red fruits hanging heavy on the branches. The weight bent the branches over the courtyard wall, as if pleading for help from passersby on the road.
"Oh my, Yae Village has a surplus of food! I must help out, wouldn't want it to go to waste."
Lin Wei rubbed his hands together like a fly, walked over, jumped, grabbed, and snap – plucked a large apple. He grinned, didn't bother washing it, and took a big bite.
Surprisingly sweet.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lin Wei looked himself up and down, then asked, his speech slightly muffled by the apple.
Either Yae Village or Yae Sakura, one of them is definitely off. Might as well take the initiative and probe.
"I can pay. Miss Yae can pass the money to the villager for me and apologize on my behalf."
He finished, then looked seriously into Yae Sakura's eyes.
"Or, I can personally hand the payment to him." I just need Miss Yae Sakura to make the introduction.
Yae Sakura had probably understood the subtext of what Lin Wei had said. She smiled magnanimously, and bowed slightly. "You're joking, Mr. Lin Wei. You are a guest, there is no reason for us to let you pay. It is only a fruit. If you like it, I can prepare more for you before you leave."
Then she changed the subject. "My humble home is just ahead. Unfortunately, my family is poor, and the furnishings are simple. Please forgive any shortcomings in hospitality."
"Not at all." The probing ended. Lin Wei had his answer.
This Yae Sakura indeed seemed aware of something and was trying her best to maintain the current status quo.
Lin Wei politely fell back one step behind Yae Sakura, following her lead, no longer scrutinizing her, just silently calculating in his mind.
Perhaps this place is a delicately balanced zone formed by the entanglement of three consciousnesses. This Yae Sakura, as the original owner of the Stigma, is trying her best to maintain the balance here.
Looks like I really do have to break the balance.
Lin Wei decided not to condemn himself anymore.
Committing evil while simultaneously condemning oneself – does that change the nature of the 'evil'? It's just self-comfort.
In that case, be decisive. Better a short, sharp pain than a long, drawn-out one. A quick resolution is better for everyone.
I really am a bad guy, being able to commit bad deeds with such peace of mind.
Lin Wei passed judgment on himself.
In the center of the village stood a massive tree, requiring at least three people to encircle its trunk. Yae Sakura explained it was a cherry tree that bloomed profusely every spring, its fragrance filling the entire village. It was just unfortunate that Lin Wei had arrived at the wrong time.
Yae Sakura expressed regret over this.
She then led Lin Wei around one last corner and pushed open an ordinary wooden door.
It was very unexpected. The other houses, which were supposed to be the homes of the villagers, were all sturdy brick and tile buildings. Not to mention the huge plaza in the center of the village, which had been built in a dignified and solemn manner. No matter how he looked at it, Yae Village didn't seem to be lacking in money.
But what was reflected in his eyes right now, was a rather run-down looking residential building. The wooden corridor, wooden windows, and thatched roof, the eaves were also quite short. Between the door and the wooden house was a dirt path that had been swept very clean.
Both sides of the path were planted with unknown small flowers, some tall and some short, interspersed with each other, vibrant and lush. It was obvious that they were being taken care of very well.
Lin Wei glanced back outside the gate. That prosperous, grand Yae Village, and this humble little wooden hut before him – which one was real?
Or perhaps this seemingly poor but cozy hut was the self-imposed prison?
Lin Wei didn't know, but it didn't matter. He would find out.
Yae Sakura led Lin Wei inside, offered him a clean cushion to rest on, and then excused herself to prepare tea.
The kneeling posture wasn't comfortable for Lin Wei, but he maintained a quiet seated position, watching the girl's back through the window frame as she busied herself by the water vat.
Actually, instead of drinking tea, he would much rather taste the large onigiri that Miss Yae Sakura made herself.
Lin Wei thought secretly, but he was too embarrassed to say it.
Fetching water, boiling water, brewing tea – the whole process took a while. Yae Sakura could only offer her guest a cup of warm water first, then lit the charcoal fire and placed a meticulously cleaned earthenware kettle on it.
Lin Wei wondered why Yae Sakura's home always had warm water readily available. He took a sip, feeling the perfectly warm liquid in his mouth, and guessed the answer.
"Apologies. It's been a long time since we had guests, so preparations were inadequate. Thank you for your patience, sir."
Yae Sakura brought the tea set over, placed it on the small table, sat opposite Lin Wei, flipped over an inverted teacup, presented it to Lin Wei with both hands, and carefully poured him a steaming cup of tea.
"My home is simple, and the hospitality lacking. Please forgive me."
"Not at all, it is I who am intruding," Lin Wei waved his hands repeatedly, genuinely meaning it.
Lin Wei picked up the teacup before him, gently blew away the steam, and carefully tasted the precious liquid.
So bitter...
It was so bitter that it was hard to swallow, so bitter that it went to his heart and lungs.
Lin Wei hesitated slightly, then, without pausing, drank the tea slowly, sip by tiny sip, carefully savoring the bitterness that had settled here for five hundred years.
"Is it to your satisfaction, sir?"
Lin Wei was already somewhat dazed by the bitterness. He cleared his head and looked up to see Yae Sakura drinking the tea with a normal expression, clearly long accustomed to it. Although she asked if he was satisfied, her expression remained placid, showing no expectation for any particular response.
How can an outsider know her bitterness or joy?
Now Lin Wei knew. It was truly bitter, a bitterness that made life feel worse than death.
If that's the case, then let the bitterness end.
Lin Wei put down the teacup, hardening his heart.
"Miss Yae Sakura, have you ever thought about seeing the world outside?"
Lin Wei got straight to the point.
But Yae Sakura was clearly unmoved, politely refusing, "The world outside? Do you mean Shinano, sir, or elsewhere? I appreciate your kind offer, sir, but as the shrine maiden, my duties..."
"Five hundred years have passed outside. That is the message from the old friend I came to bring you."
Lin Wei interrupted Yae Sakura, incredibly cruel yet incredibly sincere in this moment.
"Kallen is dead."
"Are you willing to come with me and see the world outside?"
After that, there was a long silence, a silence where no one answered, no one spoke, and it was as if the passage of time had stopped.
Crack
Until a tiny shattering sound came from somewhere unknown, growing louder and louder, spreading from one point in all directions.
Until the entire world collapsed like a mirror.
A helpless sigh drifted through the collapsing scenery.
"Why be so cruel, sir?"