The chill that emanated from nearby caused his body to stiffen slightly.

The Witch who had already approached him looked stunning in her attire; her expression was relatively calm, though her eyes were filled with coldness as she glanced at him briefly, then turned to the black-haired maiden approaching and in the direction of Miss Tamamo no Mae.

Finally, her gaze stopped on the Fox Elf standing beside the latter.

Hidechika didn't quite understand such matters and had no concept of them, as she had never attended similar events. People feared her for being a Half-Demon, avoiding contact with her on any occasion, be it weddings or funerals, so she had never witnessed a proper wedding.

Moreover, this wasn't exactly a proper wedding either, after all. It was the result of a ritual of sorts, providing more ceremonial flair, but with certain details and procedures not typical of this era.

Thus, the black-haired maiden naturally found it more unfamiliar, leading to her confusion upon arriving here about what exactly was going on.

How did she suddenly return to Rice Leaf Mountain City, how did she suddenly get asked by maids to wear such glamorous and flamboyant clothing, and how did she suddenly find herself at such a lively ceremony venue...?

Not being able to react didn't mean she would remain confused indefinitely. Even if she didn't fully understand what was happening, as she walked along, she heard the guests' blessings, and through their conversations, she finally pieced together what was going on.

——We... we're getting married...!

——Wait, wait! Is this really a marriage?!

The maiden was stunned, her eyes widening greatly.

The next moment, her face flushed a bright red, looking ahead at the young man in disbelief. She felt her cheeks instantly heat up, as if they were burning, her body temperature rising sharply, and she seemed to begin to tremble slightly.

"Come, come, come, we mustn't miss the auspicious hour..."

Gu Mo tried his best to ignore the fleeting chill, speaking with an air of calmness.

"By the way, what's the next part of the ceremony? Is it the kind where you bow to the Heavens and the Earth, and then to your parents?" He asked Miss Fox Spirit with great interest about the upcoming process, appearing immensely curious, showing no sign of his previous resistance and frantic denial.

Seeing his demeanor, it seemed like he had become more enthusiastic than anyone else.

However, in such situations... not giving up is also a form of giving up, after all, he had nothing left to fear. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"...Master!"

Observing his eagerness, even more than her own, and glancing at the other two maidens standing beside, Miss Tamamo no Mae couldn't help but shed tears, reprimanding the heartless person in a bitter tone.

"It was me, it was me first, clearly it was me first..."

"Pff—cough, cough!"

Gu Mo coughed a few times as if he'd been choked, quickly wiping his mouth with his red sleeve before hurriedly stopping Miss Fox Spirit's words: "Hey, hey, in such an occasion, let's not say these heart-wrenching things..."

He raised an eyebrow, his expression showing a hint of subtlety.

"Mmm..." Miss Tamamo no Mae bit her lip in vexation, glaring at him, making a sound like a puppy biting its owner's clothes.

"..."

"..."

The black-haired maiden beside seemed a bit dazed, her eyes gleaming with adorable circles, utterly at a loss for words and unable to speak.

Kikyo watched the scene coldly, remaining silent.

......

...

"Should be fine... should be fine..."

The wait was always excruciating, sitting in the cheerfully adorned room, Oda Chi was anxious and restless, occasionally getting up to pace around the room aimlessly, then returning to the bedside to sit down with a long sigh.

The Fox Demon Maiden had already left, and no words echoed in her ears anymore, so there was no longer anyone to soothe her nerves, fears, and apprehension perfectly at the right moments.

Especially waiting alone in the unfamiliar Heaven-Defending Tower, her anxiety grew, worry amplified, and Miss Ah Shi, just a young maiden after all, couldn't help but let her thoughts spiral. Seriously reviewing the recent events, without the Fox Elf's interference with banter, she realized the gravity of the situation.

With her small mouth pressed tightly, her face slightly pale, the young girl endured in unease, subconsciously perking up her ears to listen for any sounds from outside.

It should be alright, as even now, nothing chaotic has been heard outside.

Although faintly she could hear commotion, it sounded like the noise of a celebration banquet rather than any turmoil, indicating that nothing out of the ordinary occurred and everything was proceeding smoothly...

Silently cheering herself on inside, Oda Chi tried to divert her attention, her gaze inadvertently falling upon the festive decorations, finally fixating on the silently burning red candle. She sighed with melancholy in the quiet room, unsure why.

Is this right, or wrong?

Lost in thought, she dazedly slipped into slumber, yet it seemed like no time had passed before she was startled awake again.

Blearily glancing around, it took her a moment to realize her current situation, and her expression immediately started turning awkward.

Outside was quiet, no more sounds could be heard.

The party seemed over, the guests dispersed, the once lively room returned to stillness, and it was probably deep into the night...

How long had she been sleeping...?

No, didn't they say that afterward, they would immediately come to take her away?

Biting her lip, Miss Ah Shi sat alone and helpless on the bed, uncertain of what to do, feeling as if everything was somewhat unbearable.

......

Everything had come to an end.

Yet it wasn't completely over.

Amid the silent ambiance, Gu Mo and Kikyo sat facing each other, alongside others, in the ethereal and serene room at the top of the Heaven-Defending Tower, where no sound could be heard.

The air was frozen, and silence spread without a sound...

They were still wearing the ceremonial clothes from earlier.

Miss Tamamo no Mae drooped her tail and ears dejectedly, surrounded by ghostly glowing orbs, appearing as gray and lifeless. In such a condition, filled with regret and resentment, she couldn't even remember Oda Chi's existence.