In Type-Moon, people create a magic family lineage

I randomly gave her the wrong directions.

Although I don't know who this is, it looks like someone who's come to cause me trouble.

Of course, he wouldn't give her that chance!

So, half an hour later...

Lu Kang returned to the Yin-Yang Bureau.

"Hey hey hey, we meet again, you guy who gave me the wrong directions!"

The girl sitting in the hall gently waved her paper fan and looked at him with a smile: "My name is Kiyohara Noko, and I've been waiting for you here for a long time!"

In front of him sat Abe no Seimei in the head seat—he looked at Lu Kang with a smile on his face.

Like a fox, they wore expressions of anticipation, as if watching a good show.

Lu Kang: "..."

Chapter 121 Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shonagon's First Encounter in a Chaotic Situation

The bright red kimono sleeves hung down, giving her an air of elegance, but looking at the lively movements of the girl's dark eyes, Lu Kang could tell at a glance that this girl was definitely not a 'well-behaved' person!

His name naturally caught his attention.

Kiyohara Noko... He wasn't very familiar with this name, but just like 'Murasaki Shikibu' Fujiwara Kyoko—if you mentioned her other 'pen name', Lu Kang could react instantly.

That was Sei Shonagon, another of the three great female talents of the Heian period who lived in the same era as Murasaki Shikibu.

Of course, just as the still young Kyoko did not yet have the pseudonym Murasaki Shikibu, which originated from the Tale of Genji she wrote, Kiyohara Noko, who looked a few years older than Lu Kang and Kyoko but was no more than sixteen years old, naturally did not have the title of Sei Shonagon. Shonagon was an official position, an honorary title that she only obtained when she was nearly middle-aged.

Unlike Murasaki Shikibu, who was melancholic and prone to lamenting the passing of spring and autumn, Sei Shonagon's writing style, while also including descriptions of the various inequalities between the powerful and the common people in the Heian period and concerns about the future of society, generally maintained a positive attitude towards the overall environment.

It has a spirit of remaining optimistic and upward-looking even in adversity.

That perfectly matches the girl's demeanor...

This person is so aggressive, coming to challenge me as the so-called "greatest talent in the land of Yamato"!

To prevent Abe no Seimei from continuing to watch the drama unfold, you chose to bring 'Sei Shonagon'—Kiyoin Nobuko—to your room inside the Onmyōryō (Bureau of Yin and Yang).

[And decisively closed the door, opening the 'barrier' that blocked perception and sight.]

"That disrespectful old man..."

If in the first few years Lu Kang still had some respect for Abe no Seimei, the renowned and truly deserving Onmyoji of all time and the next thousand years, after a few years of getting to know him and seeing through the old man's various mischievous and childlike antics, that little bit of respect had long since vanished.

As for Lu Kang's muttered words as he decisively closed the door, Nuozi didn't mind at all, and just chuckled, "Lord Qingming is quite kind, isn't he?"

"Although he might seem old-fashioned at first glance, he speaks just like a normal person—"

“Friendly?” Lu Kang chuckled coldly.

If you're truly 'friendly,' you wouldn't bring your 'opponent' home just to watch a play.

However, he was still an elder, and even more so his senior apprentice, who had taught Lu Kang many things—he didn't really feel dissatisfied or unhappy, but rather just helpless.

Like Kamo no Yasunori's helplessness towards his junior apprentice.

He turned around, looked at Kiyohara Noko, and decisively changed the subject: "So, Miss Noko, right?"

"You can now state your purpose in coming to me... If you simply want to take away the title of 'the greatest talent in the world,' then I will give it to you right now."

That statement was made sincerely.

It's not simply because they find it troublesome.

In the end.

He used his 'talent and reputation' to gather the thoughts of the world, which to some extent has reached its limit.

All I can say is that a shortcut is ultimately just a shortcut; while it may lead to fame quickly, its potential is limited.

Even in the Heian period, a time of peace and prosperity that was rare in feudal times, those who paid attention to literature were still a minority.

Although compared to other fields, it is more likely to be passed down to future generations.

But he cannot gather the thoughts of future generations in the present.

So in fact, before this 'Night of Extreme Yin' arrived, he had already been considering turning to other areas that could make him more famous and cultivating them deeply—he had already touched the field of 'Great Yin-Yang Master' a few years ago, and his sudden appearance now was precisely because of this idea.

however.

Kiyohara Noko was clearly not satisfied with Lu Kang's explanation.

The girl, sitting upright with a large bow in her hair and dressed in a rather 'avant-garde' style, who was clearly unapproachable yet inexplicably possessed a touch of Western chic, merely glanced sideways and continued to scan Lu Kang's 'residence' with her dark eyes.

Although it was a lone man and woman, the Heian period imitated the style of the Tang Dynasty, both in architecture and social customs.

Relatively speaking, it is already quite open.

Even though this was Kiyohara Noko's first time encountering such a scene, it wasn't anything special.

Anyway, she came here to compete for 'number one'!

"Hmm... So this is the famous 'Peacock Prince's' 'nest'?"

Noko jumped up and hopped to her feet, her long hair cascading down like a waterfall and scattering like fireflies. She looked at Lu Kang's residence and saw nothing but a simple tatami mat, tall bookshelves that completely filled the four walls, and a dazzling array of books on them.

Most of them are books on Shintoism, incantations, Yin-Yang techniques, and so on.

A small number are poems, lyrics, and essays, originating from the policy essays of the Tang Dynasty.

Even fewer came from the West—the West was still in the Dark Ages at that time, with few books surviving, and even fewer worth bringing out.

"I thought it would be a mess, like a bird's nest built haphazardly."

The girl walked up to a bookshelf.

“This isn’t a bird’s nest,” Lu Kang said, seeing that the girl didn’t directly answer his question. “At least we won’t be incubating eggs here.”

"But a peacock that sings its song and the world turns white has hatched here!" Nuozi replied while glancing at the table of contents.

Each book had a label affixed to the back of its upright side.

Each bookshelf shelf also has its own specific categories below it.

She thought to herself that even the way the books were placed was so meticulous and special.

She also thought to herself, "No wonder he has such a high level of education after reading so many books."

She felt even more strongly that the other person was worthy of her 'challenge'!

Kiyohara Noko did not come from a privileged background like Fujiwara Kaoru. She was born into the Fujiwara clan, which held regency power more than a hundred years ago. Although her family lineage was no less than that of the Fujiwara and had close ties with Emperor Tenmu three hundred years ago, she was not actually from a cultured family.

Her father held a low-ranking official position and focused on management in the business field. She loved reading and writing from a young age, entirely out of her own interest and hobby, rather than due to family influence.

Because of this, she developed a naturally active and competitive personality from a young age.

She was considered quite talented in her family's area and was a well-known 'talented woman'.

In recent years, however, the name 'Sugawara no Hajime' has been constantly on my mind.

Of course she'd be unhappy!

"The rooster crows and the world turns white." Lu Kang raised an eyebrow: "Besides, I'm not a peacock, but a human."

"Birds can sing of the dawn, but humans can reveal all the mysteries of the world."

Even the truth is actually in the hands of a minority.

"Hmm...that's well said, I like it!"

Nuozi looked at Lu Kang, her eyes bright like two shiny black pearls and agates: "Truth held by a minority...?"

"This is what is meant by 'a high wind does not make one lonely, and a song does not make one few; rumors do not spread, but their weight lasts for eternity.'"

For a young girl like Lang Lang, he seems a bit immature.

Her gaze drifted to the stage, then suddenly stopped: "Huh...you actually have a selection of Li Bai's works here?"

The poet Li Bai, with his elegant words, uttered half of the glorious Tang Dynasty.

Even though the Yamato Kingdom during the Heian period revered Bai Juyi, there were still many people who liked Li Bai.

Nuozi is clearly one of them.

She looked at the book on the top shelf and reached out her hand—but couldn't reach it, so she had to stand on her tiptoes.

As things stand, she should probably 'fall down' next... Lu Kang thought to himself, and waved his sleeve, causing his shikigami 'phantom spirit' to create a gust of wind that made the book fall down on its own.

With a thud, it hit the girl in the bow on the head.

What sounds good is a good start.

Noko cried out in pain, but still managed to catch it steadily, and happily prepared to open it...

"It really is a collection of Li Bai's poems, and it even looks like an original Chinese text!"

The moment she opened the book, Nuozi was not just about to jump up, she actually jumped up.

She even forgot that her purpose in coming here was to challenge Lu Kang. Clutching her book, she rushed excitedly in front of Lu Kang—and, to Lu Kang's astonishment and helplessness, she suddenly plopped down on him as he sat down.

The kimono draped down, its hem fluttering, and even through the heavy fabric, the girl's slender figure remained soft against it. The fabric-bound hips pressed gently against her lower body, bringing Lu Kang an even greater sense of helplessness.

No, you're not even following the usual script... so why are you still here?

Nuozi, however, didn't care about any of that.

Instead, he said, "Quick, help me translate this—"

Yes.

Unlike those truly talented women who come from privileged literary families.

By this generation, the son of a merchant father did not understand the Chinese script, which was common knowledge among the upper-class nobles of this era.

She didn't even begin to formally learn Chinese grammar until she grew up and entered the court as a 'Shonagon'.

I really don't understand it right now...

all in all.

Let's get her up first!

Otherwise, things won't go right.

Although Lu Kang is still young in this life, he has already begun to develop... That's what he thinks, and that's what he plans to do.

The words hadn't been spoken yet.

Then, another sound came from outside the door behind them.

"Lord Yuzhang, are you there?"

"Xiangzi has taken the liberty of visiting..."

Another girl's voice, still so childish and innocent.

With a light knock on the door—and the push that naturally opened the door a crack.

Then, his purple eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Lu Kang paused slightly.

Noko's excitement came to an abrupt end.

A blush immediately spread across her face.

...

'Murasaki Shikibu' Fujiwara no Kaori and 'Sei Shonagon' Kiyohara no Noko.

Among the three great female talents of the Heian period, Izumi Shikibu, who lived more than ten years later than them, can hardly be considered a contemporary. However, they lived in the same period and were only a few years apart in age. They are truly two women who can be mentioned together. In fact, based on various sources, it can be inferred that their interactions were quite frequent.

Throughout her life, Murasaki Shikibu never held Sei Shonagon in high regard.

In her book, she described him as extremely arrogant, disdainful of others, and fond of misusing Chinese characters.

She was also described as a 'shameless' woman.

Later historians speculated that this was entirely due to their shared relationship with Sugawara no Hajime, the greatest talent of that era and a renowned sorcerer and yin-yang master who ended the Fujiwara Regency era.

Anecdotes about Literati in the Heian Period (written in 1998)