NOVPUBThe other guests came over, exchanged pleasantries, and then enjoyed the Sacred Sakura banquet. When the sky turned orange, indicating dusk, Miko sent the guests away.
Visiting time was over, and the guests had no other reason to linger on the Sacred Mountain. Therefore, they could only bid farewell to Saintess Miko before descending the mountain. However, not everyone intended to return to their respective sects that soon.
"May I know when will you try to ascend?" Abraham stopped in his tracks, turning to the Young Demon God.
"Very soon." Sylvia answered.
"Then, we shall camp around Sacred Mountain to witness your ascension. I hope Sacred Sakura is willing to facilitate us as we ascend to the Divine World in the future to follow in your footsteps, Gerrard." Abraham nodded in understanding and raised his hand in farewell.
"Just come to Sacred Sakura when the time comes. Our Almighty Goddess is benevolent. As long as you are a good demon, you will always be welcomed at Sacred Sakura." Sylvia pointed her thumb towards the shrine abode.
"Almighty Goddess... is that the Supreme Goddess of Laws?" Skyla tried to ask further.
"That’s just one of her divine titles. You paid your respect to her statue a few hours ago."
"We will meet again, Gerrard. You need to wait for me."
"Mhm, just do your best, not for anyone but yourself."
Sylvia raised her hand to send Abraham and Skyla away.
"Hahaha, that was a wonderful banquet to celebrate my recovery. I will be around to witness your ascension, my friend. I guess I’ll be coming to Sacred Sakura in a few weeks for my ascension too." Klaus stroked his mustache and laughed heartily.
"Good. Next time, bring more gifts with you." Sylvia shooed the shameless vampire progenitor. She knew this vampire just wished to enjoy another banquet.
"That’s easy. It would not be nice to come and eat without bringing any gifts. Saintess Miko even gave out souvenirs to all the guests. She is so kind and lovely." Klaus gave a thumbs up and then patted the gift package Saintess Miko gave.
"Thank you for your visit. I’m sorry, Lady Zera doesn’t allow guests to stay at the mountain peak. But, we have several nice huts at the mountain foot." Miko apologized to her saintess friends and other guests who wanted to stay overnight.
"Very good. See you again, Saintess Miko." Klaus waved his hand and left.
"Can we ask you a favor to send someone to take us to the said hut, Miko?" Mingyue felt reluctant to share the hut with the strangers.
"Sure. I will personally take you to the guest hut on the mountainside after I tidy up this mess." Miko didn’t mind that.
"Then, let me help you." Meiying looked around. There were only a few disciples.
"Thank you." Miko appreciated the kindness.
Meiying, Mingyue, and Elder Li Mei soon helped Miko and Sacred Sakura’s disciples clean the guest pavilion and the pavilion hall.
"Why do I need to clean up too?" Elder Jie wondered while looking at the broom in his hand with a complicated gaze.
"No complaints. Keep cleaning, Uncle Jie." Mingyue snorted softly.
After that, they went down the mountain to a guest hut near the forest dweller’s gathering ground. Ranee escorted Saintess Miko’s group with the sea eagle and snow owl.
"This is the guest hut for our close visitors. No one will disturb you here. Miss Ranee will help you if you need anything. The open hot spring is also available. Feel free to enjoy it~" Miko put her hands together as she presented the special guest hut.
"Will you join us?" Mingyue wished Miko to stay the night with them, but it seemed Miko had other matters.
"Please forgive me, but I must return to mama’s side. I will meet you tomorrow morning for breakfast. Ranee and Ms. Snow Owl, please accompany the ladies. Mr. Sea Eagle, please accompany the gentleman." Miko gave her instructions to the three reliable forest dwellers.
"Leave everything to us, Saintess Miko." Ranee thumped her upper chest. She was happy to help and carry out Saintess Miko’s orders.
"Squawk!" The sea eagle and snow owl saluted in reply.
Miko then waved her hand and returned to the summit with Gabriella, Jophiel, and Michael as escorts.
"Well then... the winter is pretty cold. How about you join us at the hot spring and relax your body in our heavenly comfort?" Ranee clapped her hands once for attention.
"This, that’s a mixed open bath? I think it’s inappropriate, miss..." Elder Jie frowned.
"Men have our own open hot spring. Don’t mix with us. Or, you don’t want to visit our hot spring because of your noble status?" Ranee faintly smirked with a hint of sarcasm.
"Uhm, I’ve never been to a hot spring before. May I know how the custom is? Do we soak in the same pool as in meditation?" Meiying glanced at Elder Li Mei, but they were both completely clueless.
"Yes, with a towel is fine. Just like how you cultivate, but it’s also relaxing. Please follow me." Ranee led the way and took the ladies away.
"Huh?" Elder Jie looked right and left. Everyone left him alone. Only the nearby sea eagle remained by his side.
"This way, gentleman. We true men also need relaxation in the hot spring, especially after a tiring day. It’s almost the shift change, so it’s still empty. The perfect opportunity for a serene atmosphere." The sea eagle flew away, showing the direction.
"..." Elder Jie considered several things and followed the talking eagle. Mingyue was with Sacred Sakura’s people, so he could put the responsibility for Mingyue’s safety on Sacred Sakura.
---
"Aahn~ This is heaven." Ranee soaked in the hot spring and leaned against the warm boulder.
"The others shall join us soon. Before many people arrive, now is the ideal quiet time." The snow owl transformed into her demi-human form. She wrapped her humanoid body in a towel and dipped herself into the hot spring pool.
"..." Mingyue, Meiying, and Lin Mei gasped upon that sight.
The snow owl transformed into a graceful lady. If they ignored those wing-like arms and bird-like feet, this snow owl would possess an almost perfect human shape like Ranee if they ignored those sharp spider legs on Ranee’s back.
"Chrip!?" The little firebird on Mingyue’s shoulder was so surprised. That snow owl was also a bird, but she was the only one that didn’t have the human form.
The three girls soon shyly took off their dresses and wrapped their bodies in large towels. After that, they soaked themselves in the hot spring, enjoying the comfort and pleasant sensation of the Sacred Mountain’s hot spring cultivation spot.
They cultivated for a few minutes, but Meiying felt she could no longer contain her curiosity. Thus, she dared herself to ask. "Pardon me, Miss Ranee. May I inquire who Saintess Miko’s mother is?"
"Hmm, I don’t really know either. However, I heard rumors that Saintess Miko is the treasured daughter of the Supreme Goddess, the Sacred Sakura’s founder. You paid your respect to her divine grace’s statue, right? Don’t you find they have a lot of similarities?" Ranee tapped her chin and glanced at the snow owl. She was sure about her hunch, and the rumors came from the truth.
"!!!" Elder Li Mei was taken aback.
"Huh?" Mingyue and Meiying gasped in shock.
"Fufu, you are so lucky to befriend our saintess. Don’t make her sad or disappoint her, or you will regret it for the rest of your life." Ms. Snow Owl covered her mouth with her hand.
"Understood..." Mingyue and Meiying nodded in understanding reflexively. Elder Li Mei followed suit.
They were still shocked to know Saintess Miko held such a lofty status. However, Saintess Miko was humble, kind, and benevolent. There was not the slightest hint of arrogance typical of high-status people.
"Ahem, may I know why you and other forest dwellers never talk around Saintess Miko? However, you talk as you please and even transform into your humanoid form." Elder Li Mei expressed her suspicions as she could feel a particular custom among the Sacred Mountain’s forest dwellers.
"We’re basically her pet, and she regards us as forest dwellers. She can understand us without us needing to speak human language as well. We’re happy to serve her and protect Sacred Mountain as we are now." Ms. Snow Owl smiled gently as she gazed at the moon. 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝒃.𝒄𝒐𝙢
"..." Elder Li Mei felt the situation was not like that, but she remained silent.
These forest dwellers probably never showed their human form to Saintess Miko, like Miss Ranee’s situation. She believed that was why Saintess Miko regarded them as guardian beasts or pets...
---
Meanwhile, Miko returned to the humble abode to invite her mama to soak in the hot spring with her. Unfortunately, Zera did not give permission.
"No, wait for another two days, and everything will be fine." Zera firmly refused Miko’s plea.
"Ah, alright. That’s two days..." Miko felt a bit depressed. Yet, she remembered that her baby mother was not ready to come into contact with a hot spring, especially the high-grade cultivation spot.
Her mama was not only recovering, but repairing one’s body and spiritual damage. Two days were short. She could bathe together for a skinship with her mama soon.
"Fufu, be a little patient. In another two days, I will regain my original form. At that time, we can soak in the hot spring together." Elysia was amused by Miko’s dejected expression.
"Understood. Please don’t rush to regain your original form, mama. I’ll request it the day after tomorrow, mama. Then, please have a good rest. I’ll sleep in Gabriella’s room tonight. It’ll be an all-girls sleepover, she said." Miko nodded in understanding.
"Mm, that will be fun. Alright, good night." Elysia waved her hand, then used Yuuki’s fluffy tail as a blanket. She glanced at Yuuki and Zera. "I will use my foresight skills to peek at some future events. Please guard me."
"Is that alright? You just regained a fragment of your power, master. Don’t rush it." Yuuki was concerned.
"It’s safe to use in my current condition because it is a unique ability belonging to the Goddess of Fate and Fortune." Elysia reassured the worried Yuuki. She then lay down and closed her eyes.
