After Kaori quietly closed the door and left, Maruhi’s spacious bedroom fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the soft glow of the golden lantern and their ragged breathing. Hikaru sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes still carrying a trace of worry after tending to her.Maruhi stirred slightly. Her long lashes fluttered, then slowly opened. The moment her deep, captivating eyes met Hikaru’s, her previously pale face lit up with uncontainable joy and raw desire.“Hikaru… you’re still here…”Her voice was hoarse, laced with a vulnerability rarely seen in such a strong woman. Without waiting for him to respond, Maruhi sat up, her long arms wrapping tightly around his neck as if terrified he might disappear. Her tall 187cm body pressed firmly against him, her massive, soft breasts crushing against his chest, radiating warmth and the intoxicating scent of camellia flowers.She kissed him.It wasn’t a gentle, exploratory kiss — it was wild, desperate, as if she wanted to pour all the f

A short while later, the rear courtyard of the Hashira estate had grown busy.Bodyguards and servants moved in and out without pause. A temporary altar had been raised in the middle of the yard, facing straight toward the main residence. Seven braziers of charcoal had been arranged according to the bearings Hikaru had specified. Yellow paper, cinnabar, raw rice, clean water, and the various improvised ritual implements had all been laid out neatly to one side.Hikaru stood in the center of the courtyard, the sleeves of his kariginu drifting faintly in the early morning wind.The sky today was not in good temper.Grey clouds hung low, the sunlight pressed into a thin, hazy glow. The Hashira estate had always been cold, but this morning it felt more like a great wooden box left out in damp fog, every corner faintly carrying the scent of age and rot.From the floor above, several members of the Hashira Clan were watching down through the windows.They did not bother to conceal the contem