CHAPTER 476: 168. FUKAERI CANNOT ESCAPE FATE

"Thanks to the great love from the gods of Takamagahara and the loyalty of the myriad spirits of Feitu Mountain, we have this grand gathering today. I shall revere the deities, purify myself, reflect on my actions, and continue the prosperity for generations..."

At the Furukawa Conference Hall.

Kitagawa Ryoko listened to the Mountain God’s speech.

Her respectful expression was as if she were listening to celestial music, devout and passionate.

"Ryoko." Yukino Ritsuko called out.

"Oh, Sister Yukino." Kitagawa Ryoko snapped back to reality, "What? What did you just say?"

"It’s time to change clothes." Yukino Ritsuko reminded her again.

With this reminder, Kitagawa Ryoko noticed that her companions had already gone backstage. Three or four companions slightly older than her had already put their legs on the bar, beginning their warm-up exercises before the performance.

"Yukino."

The Mountain God’s Wife, dressed in red wedding attire, suddenly walked this way.

Kitagawa Ryoko looked on curiously.

The Lady’s posture was graceful and her steps steady.

The girl was very curious about what kind of woman would captivate the heart of the young Mountain God. However, the mask covered the Lady’s face, and she could only see the Lady’s delicate chin and those deep, dark eyes. Under the chandelier’s light, the lines of the Lady’s neck and the family crest on her chest shimmered brilliantly.

"Go change clothes quickly." Yukino Ritsuko tousled Kitagawa Ryoko’s hair.

Kitagawa Ryoko looked back at her: "Sister Yukino, do you know the Lady?"

"Yes."

"Can you get pictures for Ryoko?"

"What?"

"The pictures of the three Ladies and the Mountain God, Ryoko wants them all!" Kitagawa Ryoko said with excitement and anticipation.

Yukino Ritsuko’s expression was a bit peculiar, she thought for a moment and smiled back at her: "Photos aren’t that special. Don’t you hate that Fujiwara Scumbag the most? Better not get the photos to save you some heartache."

"No way~" Kitagawa Ryoko recalled the scenes she had seen since entering Mount Yama, saying with infatuation: "Little Mountain God must be a youthful hero, otherwise, how could he win the hearts of three Ladies at once? That Fujiwara scumbag who only sweet-talks can’t compare to the Mountain God..."

Yukino Ritsuko’s expression turned even more peculiar.

Looking at the young, innocent girl who was naive to the ways of the world, she decided not to break the Little Mountain God’s image in the girl’s heart. After Kitagawa Ryoko went backstage to change clothes, she followed Kawashima Miki to change her attire and went to a compartment on the second floor with the best view.

The sliding doors and shutters were pure white Japanese paper, and the alcove displayed local floral arrangements of canola flowers. Pink flower buds poked out from light green leaves in a vase on the desk.

The antique screen seemed to have some history, decorated with Shouye School paint in Yamato style.

Kasahara Fumi and Natsuki Kuri had been waiting inside for a long time.

The beautiful police officer was also wearing red wedding attire, while the aunt was dressed in a solemn black kimono with a golden belt, holding a fan lightly waving to cool herself. They were chatting, with expressions that seemed as comfortable as soaking in water that’s not too hot nor too cool.

Kawashima Miki lifted the curtain to enter and said to them: "You all wait here for a while, I’ll go down to keep an eye on him."

"Indeed, he needs to be watched." Natsuki Kuri chuckled lightly.

"Yukino, you wait here too." Kawashima Miki said with the demeanor of a hostess.

"Alright." Yukino Ritsuko walked in and sat quietly.

She had been dressed up extravagantly, with makeup on her eyelids, and a blush reminiscent of a drunk flush on her cheeks. The space around the compartment was enveloped by an airtight silk embroidered screen, shielding her gaudy appearance from outsiders.

Natsuki Kuri crawled over from the other side of the low table, laying her head on Yukino Ritsuko’s lap.

Looking up with innocent eyes at that beautiful face, she said with a smile: "Yukino, you’re so pretty."

"What?" Yukino Ritsuko’s eyes shimmered with a serene and innocent glow.

"The beauty of snow clings to the cold, it’s a fragile beauty." Natsuki Kuri stretched and said meaningfully: "But when the spring breeze sweeps by, the cold snow will melt, turning into a warm mire that traps people, unable to move."

"?"

Yukino Ritsuko tilted her head slightly, wearing a puzzled look.

Kawashima Miki, standing at the door, turned back and chided: "Yukino has a simple nature, Kuri, don’t lead her astray."

"Wow, scary!" Natsuki Kuri immediately turned her head, crying to Kasahara Fumi, "Is this the aura of the head wife? Will I be oppressed by her in the future? Fumi, save me..."

Kasahara Fumi rubbed her forehead and sighed with despair.

She thought to herself that this time she had really been set up by her mother... If not for her mother’s persuasion, she wouldn’t have married so rashly and foolishly.

Just at that moment, two loud knocks on the wooden block sounded from the red and white draped podium, vibrating the air in the main hall.

The women all looked over simultaneously. Fujiwara Reya had finished his speech and was descending the stage. The guests surrounding the podium gathered around him, but he ignored them, breaking through the crowd with the maidservants escorting him as he headed straight this way. His raised gaze and eyes reflecting the lights were like distant crystals and distant music, exuding a mysterious beauty.

For some reason, Kasahara Fumi sensed his gaze was locked on her.

Instinctively, a wave of shame and nervousness surged within her, and she hurriedly stood up, fleeing to another compartment for refuge. However, she seemed to have forgotten... here in Fujiwara Reya’s domain, everywhere was his spies.

On the side stage of the hall, the girls from the Furukawa Conference Hall began their performance.