"Yes, yes, yes, it is a stroke of luck for you as a couple."
The middle-aged man laughed it off, touching his nose with a hint of boredom. His gaze drifted to [Tomie] beside him, seemingly expecting her to say something to liven up the atmosphere.
[Tomie]'s red lips curved into a subtle arc. She dragged out her tone, her voice languid and carrying a touch of careless playfulness.
"Half a month later, huh? [Toshiyuki]-kun is so young, yet he is about to step into the grave of marriage? What a pity."
[Toshiyuki] frowned slightly and looked at [Tomie]. His eyes remained gentle, but they now held a clear sense of distance and dissatisfaction.
"Miss [Tomie], you must be joking. Marrying [Hinako] is, for me, opening the door to happiness."
The smile on [Tomie]'s face faded slightly, and a trace of displeasure floated up in her heart.
Since the birth of this specific individual [Kawakami Tomie], whenever she displayed her charm, almost no man could remain indifferent to her. [Amamiya Rin], that stinky monk, was one thing, but this man before her actually ignored her charm and openly professed his love to an ugly woman?
[Tomie] lifted the teacup before her, her fingertips gently caressing the warm wall of the cup. Her gaze shifted between [Toshiyuki] and [Hinako], and she suddenly let out a light chuckle, her tone innocent yet carrying a hint of cruelty.
"Although [Toshiyuki]-kun says that, Miss [Hinako] looks like she hasn't fully prepared yet. [Toshiyuki]-kun, are you sure Miss [Hinako] genuinely wants to marry, and isn't just unable to refuse you because of family arrangements?"
[Tomie]'s words were as blunt as they could possibly be, like a sharp needle piercing into the originally peaceful atmosphere.
The smile on the middle-aged man's face froze, and he looked at [Toshiyuki] with some awkwardness.
[Toshiyuki]'s brows furrowed slightly. The hand holding [Hinako]'s tightened. His tone remained gentle, but it now carried a distinct chill.
"[Hinako] is just nervous, that is all. She still has half a month to adapt."
[Hinako] raised her head and looked at [Toshiyuki]. Her expression was complex; her lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing.
[Tomie] took in [Hinako]'s entire reaction. The smile on her red lips deepened, carrying unmasked malice.
"Oh my, I was just showing some concern. After all, marriage is a major life event. If Miss [Hinako] is unwilling in her heart, wouldn't that be pitiful?"
"Miss [Tomie]!"
[Toshiyuki]'s voice rose a notch. He released [Hinako]'s hand and instead wrapped his arm around her shoulders, protecting her slightly trembling body. He looked at [Tomie] with a sharp gaze.
"Please watch your words. [Hinako] and I are childhood sweethearts. We have been corresponding and expressing our feelings to each other for many years. I know her heart better than anyone; we do not need an outsider to make presumptuous speculations."
"Sorry~ I didn't mean any harm."
[Tomie] pressed her palms together and stuck out her tongue playfully. With her demonic countenance and eyes like silk, no one could bear to accuse such a beauty.
However, [Tomie] could confuse others, but she could not confuse the other members of the [Tomie Network].
*
[Kikoku Temple], inside the Zen room. The blue smoke of incense rose straight up, and the air was permeated with an aura of tranquility.
[Amamiya Rin] and the [Abbot] sat facing each other across a tea table.
"[Abbot], does this world possess any methods for exorcising evil and subduing demons?"
[Amamiya Rin] put down the teacup in his hand and asked the [Abbot] with a sincere expression.
The [Abbot] spoke slowly: "Benefactor, you cultivate the Buddha's Dharma, but do you believe in gods and Buddhas in your heart?"
[Amamiya Rin] answered candidly: "Rather than worshipping the Buddha, I believe more in the principles elucidated by the Buddhist Dharma itself."
The Buddhist Dharma is logic/truth; gods and Buddhas are faith. Even the Buddha himself did not believe in blind worship and told everyone not to believe blindly either.
"Not believing in specific gods or Buddhas, but believing in the true meaning of the Dharma—this is also a form of believing in the Buddha. It is just that what you believe in may be the Buddha as understood within your own heart."
The [Abbot] nodded slightly. His fingers moved the prayer beads at a leisurely pace, and there was no anger on his face.
"It is recorded in the Konjaku Monogatarishu that Kobo Daishi once held a rain-prayer ritual by order of Emperor Junna, making offerings to Zennyo Ryuo according to Esoteric Buddhist rites. Once the ritual was completed, sweet rain fell from the heavens, nourishing the entire country."
"There was also a monk named Genno. Seeing the [Killing Stone] bringing disaster to the world, he saw the true form of Tamamo-no-Mae—the White-faced Golden-furred Nine-tailed Fox—in a dream. After waking from the dream, he held a Vajra and struck the stone three times. The [Killing Stone] shattered at the sound, and the fragments scattered everywhere."
"The former event is not recorded in official history, which only states that there was a spring drought in the first year of Tencho and envoys were sent to pray for rain; the latter is also mostly folklore. However, the Vajra used by the monk Genno back then is indeed preserved in this temple."
[Amamiya Rin]'s eyes revealed a look of doubt: "Does the [Abbot] mean... that gods and Buddhas truly exist in this world?"
In his understanding, [Junji Ito]'s worldview contained ghosts, hell, and various supernatural entities, but it seemed there had never been a direct manifestation of gods or Buddhas in the true sense.
The [Abbot] shook his head. He slowly stood up, walked to the Buddhist altar, took out an ancient Vajra, and handed it over.
"This is the Vajra left behind by the monk Genno. Benefactor, please take a look. Does it appear to be some incredible magical treasure?"
[Amamiya Rin] took the Vajra. It felt heavy and cold in his hands.
He examined it repeatedly. The object was about the length of a forearm, dark in color, and covered with traces of wear from the passage of time. However, no matter how he looked at it, there was nothing special about it; it was just an antique from a long time ago.
"I cannot see anything special."
[Amamiya Rin] placed it gently back on the tea table and spoke truthfully.
"Because it was originally forged by an ordinary blacksmith. However, [Ranko] once relied on it to destroy the wraith of the White-faced Golden-furred Nine-tailed Fox that revived from a fragment of the [Killing Stone]."
The [Abbot] stated this calmly.
"Officer [Indou] is actually that strong?"
[Amamiya Rin] was startled. That was a Nine-tailed Fox, after all. Even if it was just a wraith born from a fragment of the [Killing Stone], in some fantasy manga, it could serve as a mid-stage Boss.
He knew that characters with squinty eyes were monsters, but he didn't expect Officer [Indou] to be strong to this degree.
The [Abbot] returned the Vajra to its original place and asked [Amamiya Rin].
"Why do you think this ordinary Vajra could help [Ranko] eliminate the Nine-tailed Fox's wraith?"
[Amamiya Rin] shook his head.
The [Abbot] said: "This country has had the concept of 'Eight Million Gods' since ancient times. Mountains, rivers, grass, trees, tools, and utensils can all harbor gods. This does not mean they are born sacred, but rather due to human cognition. Essentially, it is using an unknown perspective to explain the incomprehensible myriad phenomena of the universe. Long-term belief makes them special. 'Absolute sincerity can crack open metal and stone.' Kobo Daishi and Master Genno did not necessarily pray to a specific god to achieve supernatural phenomena."
[Amamiya Rin] looked thoughtful: "In other words, the special power actually originates from the recognition of the collective unconscious? The Vajra could subdue the Nine-tailed Fox's wraith because Officer [Indou] believed the Vajra had such ability, and over the long years, the beliefs of countless people also endowed the Vajra with the meaning of subduing demons."
The [Abbot] nodded, expressing approval of [Amamiya Rin]'s conclusion.
"Just like a knife. In the hands of a chef, it is a tool for cooking; in the hands of a samurai, it is a weapon for slaughter; and in a ritual, it can become a sacred ceremonial vessel. The object itself does not change; what changes is the person using it and the mind viewing it. Even personal conviction, obsession, and desire can possess powerful strength, enough to even distort reality."
____
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