This Japanese Monogatari Isn't Lame
Chapter 122 - 121. Magong Yongshi

Chapter 122: Chapter 121. Magong Yongshi

Beichuan Si took Nishijou Kurenai, who was perched on his shoulder, down.

Ignoring her flailing legs, Beichuan Si turned around and pulled open his backpack, from which he took out a key.

It was the key given to him by Magong Dongzi.

Beichuan Si pinched the lock, noting the key’s similarity in size to the keyhole, and inserted the key into it.

With a click, the lock with the white chrysanthemum pattern opened in response.

Beichuan Si put the key away, his thoughts tumbling in his head.

Even such a key was entrusted to Magong Dongzi, he conjectured that her status within the Magong Main Family must also be quite high.

However—

Among the coffins...

He had no idea what kind of secrets were hidden inside.

Beichuan Si muttered to himself in a low voice and pushed open the iron gate just enough to pass through, stepping inside.

The space mentioned by Magong Yongshi was actually more akin to a Shrine in Japan.

A path made of bluestone bricks led straight to the shrine’s steps.

Layer upon layer, the steps ascended, and under the eaves of the shrine, a girl in a white kimono sat gracefully on the corridor.

Her pale hands rested on her kneeling thighs; her delicate features seemed somewhat ethereal, with a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, and the cherry-blossom-petal-laden kimono fitted her slender figure perfectly.

Magong Yongshi.

Upon seeing her, Beichuan Si instinctively stepped back, his mind stirring slightly as Jian Ding also slipped into his palm.

It was no wonder he reacted this way.

Unlike her calm and elegant demeanor, her aura felt dark and murky under the gaze of death.

Yet the scale of the dark and murky air wasn’t vast.

It seemed like resentment, but then again, it appeared to be different from resentment.

This was undoubtedly a very strange state, how could one not be cautious?

Just as Beichuan Si was raising his guard, the girl suddenly spoke up:

"It’s been a long time."

It’s been a long time?

"Who are you? I have no memory of ever meeting you," said Beichuan Si bluntly, with Jian Ding gleaming with a cold light at his sleeve.

"My name is Magong Yongshi, you may not be aware, but I have seen you once before," Magong Yongshi said with a serene smile, her eyes opening wide, her sparkling pupils gazing directly at Beichuan Si.

That kind of gaze seemed as if it could traverse vast stretches of time.

"This is called ’Future Sight’... an exceedingly rare ability among the Soul Suppressing Twins across generations, I have always been able to see some strange fragments. Nine years ago in the spring, I had already seen you, and I even left a clue about ’The Chamber of Coffins’ in the library."

"Now, after nine years have passed, you indeed came to the Magong Family... It seems... the curse of calamity on her has also..."

Magong Yongshi’s voice trailed off, and a touch of sadness appeared on her face.

Beichuan Si interrupted Magong Yongshi’s recollections, "I have several questions and I hope you can explain them clearly, otherwise there can be no trust between us."

Magong Yongshi revealed a polite smile upon hearing this.

"Mm. I understand, but before that, I would like to know the name of our guest."

"Beichuan Si."

"Very well, Mr. Temple, please feel free to ask anything you wish," Magong Yongshi nodded.

Seeing her easygoing and composed demeanor, Beichuan Si wasn’t in a hurry. After briefly organizing his thoughts, he began to ask, "First, I want to know why there is such a strange aura emanating from Miss Yongshi."

Magong Yongshi, upon hearing Beichuan Si’s question, answered without a moment’s hesitation, "As Mr. Beichuan has seen, I have passed on long ago, surrounded by resentment. The reason I am able to maintain my lucid reasoning is due to the chamber’s location on an important stone, which has the effect of absorbing resentment, allowing me to remain clear-headed to this day. Otherwise, I might have lost myself, just like Sister Nayuki."

"Important stone?" Beichuan Si blinked.

He had heard of such a legend.

The legend in Japan says that earthquakes are caused by a giant catfish stirring in the earth and the important stone is the stake that suppresses the catfish, preventing it from wreaking havoc.

Magong Yongshi, clearly perceiving Beichuan Si’s thoughts, explained in a soft voice, "The important stone I speak of is not the legendary one, but rather an essential stone passed down through generations in the Magong Main Family to suppress the resentment of the past Soul Suppressing Twins. Moreover, it is necessary to supplement this with the ancient fallen tree outside the chamber to gradually draw out and purify the resentment of the Soul Suppressing Twins."

"Suppressing the resentment of the Soul Suppressing Twins?" Beichuan Si caught this key phrase from Magong Yongshi’s explanation.

It seemed that the ’important stone’ had absorbed all the scattered resentment, which is why the system had not alerted him.

"Exactly. The resentment generated after the death of the past Soul Suppressing Twins is so powerful that, if released, it turns into a miasma, rendering Shenzhu Village barren—although the current situation is not much better."

Magong Yongshi looked at the empty Magong Main Family estate, sighing deeply.

"Are you saying the Soul Suppressing Twins will die? Why would the Soul Suppressing Twins die? Is it because they have to become live sacrifices in some ritual?"

"That... I don’t remember very well," Magong Yongshi shook her head.

She explained calmly, "I have been waiting here for nine years, and likewise, resentment has been ever-consuming my body. To prevent key memories from being eroded by resentment, I have locked them away deep within my soul. Only upon encountering certain key items or places might I recall them."

"I could say that now I hardly remember how I died or even what led to my death. A large part of my memories are too vague, but there is one thing I do know—"

"What is it?" Beichuan Si inquired.

"The rituals performed and the secrets recorded are hidden within the Shenzhu Shrine on Shenzhu Mountain. The reason why the ritual failed that year and what caused its failure... there must be deeper reasons."

"Mr. Beichuan, I know you may not trust me now, but every word I say is true. Likewise, I need your assistance."

"Let’s not rush into that. Answer my next question first," Beichuan Si sidestepped the issue and continued with his second question, "Since you foresee the doom of the Magong Family, why not directly tell the Magong Family head? Why watch idly as the ritual fails?"

Indeed...

If she already knew how the future would unfold, why watch everything happen passively? Shouldn’t one struggle against it?

This was something Beichuan Si couldn’t understand and couldn’t let go of.

Magong Yongshi was initially taken aback by his question, but then her expression softened, and she murmured to herself,

"...If we don’t attempt it... how would we know it will fail?"

"Mr. Beichuan, I understand all that you have said, but what use would it be to tell the family head? The holding of the ritual is necessary, and regardless of what I say, it cannot possibly interrupt the ritual.

"Besides, my memories are currently blurred. Whether I made the effort or haven’t, I’ve forgotten it all... Only by finding the key to those memories can I proceed."

Magong Yongshi sat up straight, placing her hands before her on the wooden board, her polished forehead resting against the back of her hand, "No matter what, I need your assistance, Mr. Temple."