Chapter 109

Early the next morning.

Inside the cave, the Serenitea Pot emitted a soft glow as Lumine and Paimon emerged.

The two stretched lazily, feeling refreshed and energized! Resting in the Serenitea Pot was truly too comfortable! It was indeed the ultimate must-have for traveling.

"Let's go, Paimon! We need to move quickly today!" Lumine said. "Let's not have a repeat of yesterday! If it's like yesterday again, I'll be so annoyed."

"Definitely not! Let's hurry!" Paimon shuddered at the memory of Lumine being chased by lightning. She never wanted to experience that again in her life.

The two moved quickly, and knowing the way, they reached Yashiori Island in just half a day.

"Lumine! Look! That's Musoujin Gorge up ahead!" Paimon suddenly exclaimed, pointing excitedly.

"Wow~" Paimon flew ahead.

Lumine quickly followed, and when they got closer, she realized that Musoujin Gorge was hundreds of meters wide, like a natural chasm, and its length stretched as far as the eye could see.

"Oh my! This was really created by a single slash," Paimon marveled. "With that kind of power, if it hit someone, they'd be instantly obliterated, right? The battles between gods are truly terrifying."

"Yeah," Lumine said, seeing Musoujin Gorge with her own eyes. She finally understood how inadequate words were to describe such a sight and the sheer might of the gods. This power was truly fearsome.

"Lumine! Look at the river below," Paimon suddenly pointed at the water, which was churning with a purple hue. A bird flying overhead fell into it and was instantly turned to charcoal.

"Oh no! I can't believe the residual Electro energy is still so strong after hundreds of years! We have to be careful. If we fall in, we're done for," Paimon warned.

Lumine nodded. The concentration of Electro energy here was so intense that even though she had awakened her own Electro abilities, she still felt a slight numbness just being near Musoujin Gorge. It was terrifying to think how dense the Electro energy was here.

Following Musoujin Gorge, Lumine and Paimon hurried along, as crossing the sea at the end of the gorge would lead them to Watatsumi Island.

"Hey! You there! What are you doing? It's too dangerous!" Just as Lumine and Paimon were nearing the end of Musoujin Gorge, an elderly voice called out from behind, tinged with urgency.

"Huh?" Lumine and Paimon turned to see an old woman standing far away, calling out to them.

The two exchanged a glance, nodded, and quickly ran over.

The woman who had called out to them was dressed simply, hunched over, with a large basket on her back filled with muddy wild vegetables.

"Oh dear, how could you get so close to Musoujin Gorge? It's very dangerous," the old woman said as Lumine and Paimon approached. "Every year, people get too close, become paralyzed, and fall in, never to return."

"Don't go near it anymore," the old woman waved her hand as the two moved away. "This old lady is heading home now."

"Grandma, where do you live? Let us take you back," Paimon quickly offered. It was too dangerous for the old woman to be alone in this wilderness.

"I live on Watatsumi Island, just across the sea. No need to trouble yourselves," the old woman waved her hand.

"What a coincidence, Grandma! We're also heading to Watatsumi Island. Let us take you," Paimon said.

"You're going to Watatsumi Island too? Alright then, thank you," the old woman agreed.

The three boarded a boat, and Paimon curiously asked, "Grandma, if you live on Watatsumi Island, why did you come all the way to Yashiori Island alone?"

"Sigh…" the old woman sighed. "There's no choice. The vegetables on the island are all gone, and the Sakoku Decree prevents us from trading with the outside world. I had to come to Yashiori Island to dig up some wild vegetables."

"Huh?" Lumine and Paimon exchanged a glance. "But isn't the Yashiro Commission still supplying food to Watatsumi Island?"

"Yes," the old woman nodded, clasping her hands together. "We're truly grateful for the Great Divine Sovereign's mercy! If it weren't for his approval to supply food, Watatsumi Island would have starved to death."

"But the soil on Watatsumi Island has become too barren. The vegetables we plant have stopped growing, so…" the old woman sighed.

"Barren soil? What's that?" Paimon asked curiously.

"We're not sure either. This is what Lady Sangonomiya told us. All I know is that the barren soil makes the land infertile, and plants can't grow properly," the old woman shook her head. "The barren soil has been around for a long time, and we used to rely on the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri to counteract it. But in recent years, the rate of soil degradation has become too severe."

"Is that so?" Lumine pondered for a moment. She decided to ask Akio later if he had any solutions for the barren soil.

"By the way, Grandma, what do you think about the conflict between the Watatsumi Resistance and the Shogunate?" Paimon asked, remembering the task Akio had given them.

"My thoughts?" The old woman shook her head. "I'm old, and I don't know much about these things. But I think there really shouldn't be any more wars. So many children have gone to the battlefield and never returned."

"But… aren't Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate part of the same family? Even though we worship different gods, we're all part of Inazuma," the old woman said sadly. "My grandson is in the Resistance, and I haven't heard from him in a while."

"And now that the Great Divine Sovereign has lifted the Shogunate's blockade on Watatsumi Island, I don't want to see any more wars. Wouldn't it be better for everyone to live in harmony?"

"…" Lumine raised an eyebrow. "So, now that the Great Divine Sovereign has lifted the blockade and provided food, has the Resistance disbanded?"

"Not yet," the old woman shook her head. "I don't know the specifics."

"I see…" Lumine nodded.

Soon, the three arrived at Watatsumi Island.

The old woman bid farewell to Lumine and Paimon, preparing to head home, but Lumine stopped her and handed her a large bundle of seaweed.

"Lumine, what's this?" the old woman asked in surprise.

"This is some seaweed I gathered earlier, Grandma. Take it home and cook with it," Lumine said with a smile. She had a habit of collecting things, and she had plenty of seaweed in her inventory. She even grew some in the Serenitea Pot.

"I have a lot more, so please take it as thanks for bringing us to Watatsumi Island," Lumine added, fearing the old woman might refuse.

"Alright, thank you, Lumine," the old woman no longer refused. The seaweed was indeed much needed.

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