My personal opinion on Gensokyo

"Kaguya-sama, take care of yourself."

Kaguya was stunned when she heard this and subconsciously looked at her adoptive father.

The old man Bamboo Cutter was in tears, but he still kept waving at Kaguya.

Kaguya smiled and stretched out her hand in response to her adoptive father.

The graceful bell music rang out again, and the luxurious carriage took off into the air, heading towards the moon along the moonlit road.

And the Bamboo Cutter Old Man just stared blankly at the luxurious carriage flying higher and higher.

The further you fly, the farther you go.

Volume 2: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter: Chapter 48: Thirty-six Years

In 741 AD, the 29th year of Kaiyuan reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and the 13th year of Tenpyo reign of Emperor Shomu of Japan.

Ji. Yue, - Yi⑹ seal lacquer clothes 2 is scar in the wild mountains.

Shang Yang was walking alone on the mountain path, looking at the flowers and plants on both sides of the road with interest. For more than forty years, Shang Yang was very familiar with every plant and tree in Mount Yoshino, but the difference was that after so long, Shang Yang had not had any change in his mentality at all. Or to be more precise, monsters did not have the melancholy feeling of the passage of time that humans have.

Longevity is not only the longevity of life, but also the longevity of mentality. For the immortal species, no matter how long it takes, everything they have experienced will not be erased by time, and the original mood will never fade.

Having lived in this era for so long, although still leading a life similar to that of his previous life, Shang Yang has also adapted to the local customs.

The young man's originally pure black hair gradually turned gray over the past thirty years.

This is the mark left by the young man who, nearly fifty years ago, overdrew his soul power almost crazily and used the power of yin and yang in order to save the black-haired girl who was about to fall into hell.

Over the years, Shang Yang did not stay in Mount Yoshino all the time. Instead, he traveled around Japan and encountered many monsters. However, it was not known whether the humans in this land had not yet developed a systematic fear of monsters and could only rely on their own instincts to cultivate their demonic powers. Among the monsters Shang Yang encountered, few had mastered their own abilities, and most of them relied on some illusory talents to hunt.

During this period, Shang Yang even went to the other side underground, that is, the underworld.

The empty hell is inhabited by all kinds of ghosts, but these ghosts have not yet formed the concept of "ghost clan". They just gather together instinctively.

Although the Yamas began to organize an institution to judge the dead, which was the prototype of the Hall of Right and Wrong, it was not as perfect as later legends said. Some legendary places did exist, such as the Sanzu River.

Simply put, as the culture of this island nation develops, fantasy species are also taking shape.

The key lies in myths and legends.

This is the conclusion drawn by Shang Yang.

This is not just the case in Japan. This is the conclusion Shang Yang came to after traveling around the world with Ai and Kaguya over the past few decades and visiting many places.

Yokai, or immortal, imaginary creatures, have existed for an extremely long time, perhaps even dating back billions of years. However, they are merely beings endowed with certain innate abilities. Even if powerful beings occasionally emerge with such abilities, they are fleeting. Among the myriad species of life on Earth, yokai are a rare and seemingly unrelated phenomenon. There are animals that become yokai by chance, such as fox and dog yokai, plants that become yokai unconsciously, such as tree and flower yokai, or inanimate objects that gain intelligence and become yokai, such as stone yokai. There are also some forms of life that arise from natural phenomena, such as wind and flame yokai. However, they are not the protagonists of life's evolution. These unreliable beings lack the population base to dominate Earth. However, with the emergence of intelligent and rapidly multiplying humans, things have changed.

When humans observed various alien creatures with unusual powers, they would feel fear, worship, and wonder about their origins, and thus myths were born.

Humans have created myths about the aliens based on their observed characteristics. Myths themselves are concepts of power, and aliens that have a "position" in myths are truly separated from "natural phenomena."

To put it simply, the relationship is this: humans saw non-human intelligent aliens, and in order to explain their existence, based on their appearance and the power they displayed, humans fabricated myths. Mythology itself is a concept, and non-human intelligent aliens, as the prototype of mythology, thus gained a "position" in mythology and were blessed by the concept of mythology.

Humans and the powerful non-human intelligent beings that existed as human myths thereafter, a perfect yin and yang.

Therefore, no matter whether they are gods, ghosts, or monsters, they are all "natural phenomena" that existed hundreds of millions of years before humans. It was not until the birth of humans that they recognized their existence and fabricated myths, allowing these already existing creatures to obtain a "position" in mythology and become "mythical species."

As more and more myths are born, there will be more and more "positions", and as more and more non-human things break away from "natural phenomena", they will become gods, demons, and monsters.

Humans gain a sense of security from myths and are responsible for creating new myths. Non-human beings gain a place in myths, gain faith from humans, and are responsible for giving humans hope, fear, and gifts according to myths. This is the "mutually beneficial symbiotic" relationship between humans and gods, demons, and monsters, a perfect and balanced state of yin and yang.

Myths and legends are an incredible concept. Although they are just stories woven with words, they have the power to influence the real world.

Shang Yang has lived in Mount Yoshino for a long time. In recent years, he has occasionally felt some unnamed power pouring in from the outside world. After Shang Yang's visits, he found that among the residents here, perhaps some residents accidentally saw him, and thus circulated the rudimentary myths and legends such as "The human-shaped monster in Mount Yoshino". Because it was such a simple myth, it neither wrote about Shang Yang's power nor was it widely circulated, so Shang Yang only felt a little "belief".

However, this was also a great discovery for Shang Yang. At least this phenomenon fully supported his judgment.

After walking around casually, Shang Yang returned to his house deep in Mount Yoshino.

When I got home, as expected, Ai and Kaguya were playing games together with their controllers early in the morning.

For decades, Ai and Kaguya haven't changed at all. Needless to say, Ai, who is already a monster, has no sense of the passage of time. As a person from Penglai, Kaguya has no sense of time, but it is estimated that this guy will remain the same in thousands of years.

Thirty years ago, "Kaguya-sama returns to the moon" co-starred by these three guys has made the story of "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" spread throughout Japan. Although the ending is not very happy, in the Nara generation, there is a niche ending that "Kaguya-sama returns to the ground in the end, and returns to the moon forever after seeing off the Bamboo Cutter and the Bamboo Cutter mother-in-law."

As for what the real ending is, who knows.

Thirty years earlier, the Yamato court had relocated its capital from Fujiwara-kyo to the newly constructed Heijō-kyo, marking the end of the Asuka Period and the official beginning of the Nara Period. Fujiwara no Fuhito had died of illness at home before the capital was relocated. Though honored posthumously, the Fujiwara clan had long since lost much of their influence over government. However, thanks to the current Emperor Shomu, a daughter of Fujiwara no Miyako, the declining but numerous Fujiwara clan awaited an opportunity to regain power.

Because the capital of the original Fujiwara-kyo was officially moved, the people followed the royal family and nobles to the new Heijo-kyo. Without the suppression, the gloomy and corrupt aura of hell soon occupied the entire ruins of Fujiwara-kyo. The south gate of the ruins of Fujiwara-kyo officially became a Rashomon connecting to the ground of hell. Soon, the ghosts who originally lived in hell began to live in the ruins of Fujiwara-kyo. In the following decades, many monsters moved to this abandoned human city. The original Fujiwara-kyo has now officially become an alien city belonging to ghosts and monsters. Even during the day, the ruins of this Kyoto still look gloomy and eerie.

However, Shang Yang, Ai and Kaguya thought it was a good idea, so the three of them visited the night market of ghosts and monsters at night. With the development of the country's culture, monsters also began to have their own myths. At the night market, various ghosts set up stalls and sold goods, which was a bit more lively than the human world.

Speaking of the Fujiwara clan, there is a very interesting thing. Thirty years ago, Princess Kaguya returned to the moon and left behind a secret medicine called "Penglai Medicine", which is said to give people powerful strength and immortal life. Taketori presented it to the then-reigning Emperor Mommu. The lost young emperor said: "Even if I live forever, I cannot see Princess Kaguya on the moon again. I don't want to suffer from the pain of lovesickness forever." He refused to take the Penglai medicine, but instead ordered his minister Tsukishima Iwagase to take the medicine pot containing the Penglai medicine to Mount Fuji, the immortal volcano in Suruga Province, and burn it. However, this plan failed. The envoy of Emperor Mommu fell to his death at the foot of the cliff, and the medicine pot containing the Penglai medicine disappeared. Not long after Fujiwara no Fuhito, a senior minister living in Fujiwara-kyo, died of illness, a daughter of the Fujiwara family also disappeared.

In recent years, Shang Yang has concentrated all his energy on the cultivation of the power of yin and yang and the soul blue lotus. Shang Yang's soul blue lotus has become more and more powerful, and the operation of the power of yin and yang has become more and more advanced. However, Shang Yang always feels that the power of yin and yang lacks a key point. If he does not know where this key point is, the power of yin and yang will not be able to advance to the level of a big monster in a thousand years.

Shang Yang rubbed his gray hair, put it aside and started thinking.

This land has been plagued by natural disasters and wars recently. The opportunity I have been waiting for is about to come. How about going on a long journey?

Thinking of this, Shang Yang immediately recalled the current situation.

No problem, it's totally doable.

Thinking of this, Shang Yang casually greeted Ai and Kaguya.

"My love, Princess, shall we go on a long journey starting tomorrow?"

Her Royal Highness the Princess asked casually without even turning her head, her beautiful eyes fixed on the screen.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"I'll probably have to stay in Tang for a while."

"Yeah, I'm fine with that. What about you, Love?"

Her Royal Highness the Princess asked the black-haired girl beside her for her opinion.

"Hmm."

Ai nodded slightly, also staring at the game screen and pressing the controller continuously.

...The young man felt that it was definitely not his fault that Ai became what she is now, but it was definitely Kaguya's fault. In the first few years when Kaguya and Ai knew each other, Ai was just a literary girl who liked taking baths and reading books. Now she has become a NEET otaku who is almost as good as Kaguya.

…While this setting isn’t bad, I still feel like something’s not right.

The next day, Yoshino Mountain, hot spring resort.

"...Do you have to bring so many things?"

When Shang Yang woke up early in the morning, he saw a package as big as two people placed in the main hall and was stunned.

"Xiao Ai and I's luggage..."

Kaguya looked at Shang Yang strangely and said as a matter of course.

"This is too much..."

Shang Yang asked speechlessly.

"No more, no more."

Her Royal Highness the Princess waved her hand casually without any pressure.

"I was going to tuck the bed in, but Xiao Ai made me put it back."

...Princess, are you still particular about your bed?

Sighing helplessly, Shang Yang complained about Her Royal Highness the Princess in his heart, then looked around and asked curiously.

"Where's love?"

“Love is preparing dry food for travel.”

Kaguya answered casually, then turned to look at Shangyang and asked.

"By the way, I haven't asked you how we're going to get there, Shang Yang. How are we going to get to Tang? We're not going to fly, are we? We agreed in advance that you'd carry me halfway through the flight."

"What about love?"

Shang Yang asked back.

"Peace of mind."

Her Royal Highness the Princess waved her hand, not caring at all.

"If love gets tired, I will be responsible for carrying her."

"...Which means you both are on top of me."

Shang Yang's eye twitched.

"Princess, aren't you afraid that I can't hold on by myself and all three of us will fall into the sea?"

"...We're going by boat this time. Although it's not as fast as flying, it's like traveling on the sea. By the way, Princess, do you get seasick?"

"I don't know, probably not."

Kaguya tapped the corner of her lips with her index finger, feeling a little uncertain.

"I'm from Penglai, so I shouldn't get seasick?"

“…It’s okay to get seasick.”

Hearing the princess's uncertain answer, the young man immediately tried to "retaliate".

"If you get seasick, Princess, I'll knock you out with a knife. I'll knock you out every time you wake up, and then I won't hit you again when you wake up. What do you think, Princess?"

"...You dare?! Then I'll knock you out first!"

Chikuzen, Hakata.

As early as this era, Hakata in Chikuzen Province had become an important port for Japan to trade with the outside world. The dock was bustling with traffic, with large Tang ships constantly entering and leaving the port.

“What a lively scene.”

Kaguya was wearing a conical hat and ordinary inconspicuous clothes, and she looked around curiously.

"Over here, Princess."

Shang Yang was carrying a package of medium size. He placed the items he might need in the storage space of the Cause and Effect Mystery Ritual. This package was used to conceal his presence.

The young man held Ai's soft white hand with one hand. Seeing that Kaguya had walked a little far away, he hurriedly pulled Ai forward and grabbed the arm of the princess who was curious about everything, and pulled her towards a large Tang ship docked at the port.

"Oh, Shang Yangjun actually cares about me? This is really rare."

Her Royal Highness the Princess glanced at the young man holding her arm, covered her mouth with her hands and smiled slightly, pulled out her arm, and handed her slender white hand to the young man with gray hair.

"I'll allow you to be rude just once."

"Yes Yes……"

Shang Yang grabbed Kaguya's delicate hand and pulled the two girls towards the large Tang ship.

When Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Moon City saw the young man with gray hair naturally holding her right hand, she playfully winked at the black-haired girl beside the young man and secretly made a "V" gesture with her left hand.

The black-haired girl felt helpless when she saw the childish behavior of Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Moon City.

Then, the black-haired girl unconsciously tightened her grip on the hand of the young man with gray hair.

The young man with gray and messy hair naturally did not notice the secret interaction between the two girls in private.

Volume 2: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter: Chapter 49: The Homeland in My Dream

In 742 AD, the first year of the Tianbao reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty and the fourteenth year of the Tenpyo reign of Emperor Shomu of Japan.

Looking at the huge Luoyang city gate in front of him, Shang Yang was also sighing. The last time he came here was nearly fifty years ago during the time of the Queen of Heaven and Sage of the Tang Dynasty. Half a century has passed, and Luoyang, the eastern capital of the Tang Dynasty, has become more magnificent. The city gates are wide open, and merchants, farmers, dignitaries, and people from all walks of life are coming in and out in an endless stream, making Luoyang City seem full of vitality. It also demonstrates the dominance of Luoyang, the eastern capital, as one of the two capitals of the Tang Empire.

Ai had already pulled Kaguya into Luoyang. As soon as she saw the magnificent Luoyang city gate, Ai left Shangyang behind, pulled Kaguya, who was lying bored in the carriage, out of the carriage, and entered Luoyang first.

The Tang Dynasty was a country of openness, unprecedented in history. It was perfectly acceptable for a Tang noble daughter to appear in public with her maids, and even openly date men. Ai and Kaguya had a way of staying inconspicuous, so there was absolutely no problem.

What's more, Ai and Kaguya are not weak either. Although it cannot be seen normally, Kaguya's strength is actually the same as Shang Yang. In recent years, Shang Yang has relied on fighting to support fighting and practicing the power of Yuanshen Qinglian and Liangyi in Japan at the same time. He is basically about to reach the pinnacle of the monster level. This speed is already scary. After being a monster for fifty years, he can be close to the pinnacle of the monster level. The talented monsters need at least more than a hundred years of hard practice to approach this level.

Shang Yang relied on his exceptional talent, belonging to the Primordial Heavenly Demon, and his unconventional practice of simultaneously cultivating the Primordial Spirit Azure Lotus and the power of the Yin and Yang, to reach the pinnacle of the yokai realm within fifty years. But from Shang Yang's perspective, Kaguya Houraisan, formerly the Moon Princess and now Neet Princess, spent her days watching anime and playing games. Shang Yang had only seen her occasionally cultivating her Eternal and Instant Powers with her eyes closed on the rockery near the hot springs. He had no idea how she cultivated this, but her accumulated strength and Eternal and Instant Powers were no less than Shang Yang's. Yet, she still couldn't defeat Shang Yang simply because her Eternal and Instant Powers were so severely suppressed by the Yin and Yang Powers.

Princess, you won't wait until hundreds of years later when the Moon Messenger arrives on Earth. You won't be able to kill the Moon Messenger yourself without the Eight Senses Eirin turning against you, will you?

Shang Yang exclaimed so, and then continued to practice the accuracy of operating the power of Liang Yi.

I must continue to cheat, otherwise I won't be able to beat Kaguya in the future, and will be laughed at by Her Royal Highness the Princess of the Moon City for the next millennium.

As for Ai, I heard from Miss Lord God decades ago that Ai has mastered the ability, but Ai has never taken the initiative to explain or demonstrate it. It seems that she wants to show it when needed to surprise Shang Yang and Kaguya.