Ke Xue: Xiaolan delivers goods to your door at the beginning

"So, Mr. Lin, what brings you here?"

Before Lin Xiaofeng could speak, Hattori Heiji interrupted to answer.

"Ms. Ooka. Your former karuta teacher is very likely the perpetrator of this bombing. What are your thoughts on your teacher?"

Hearing Hattori Heiji's words, Ooka Momiji was stunned for a moment. She was almost killed in that bombing incident, and it was only because Lin Xiaofeng was there that she survived.

As for the butler Iori Muga, he is usually extremely loyal, but he can't be relied on when something really happens.

"Are you referring to Mr. Koyo, my former karuta teacher? He's been missing for five years."

“That’s right, it’s Nagoro Shikao.” Conan spoke up, making his presence known.

"Lin-kun, is that what you think too?" Ooka Momiji didn't answer directly, but instead sought Lin Xiaofeng's opinion.

"No, I don't think Nagoro Shikao is the culprit in the bombing, but it's certain that he's connected to it." Lin Xiaofeng frowned, speechless at Hattori Heiji and Edogawa Conan, who had both told them that the culprit was Achiba Kensuke, but somehow the two detectives went astray after their investigation.

“I do know that Professor Meisei and the Satsuki-kai had some disputes in the past, but it seems impossible for someone who has been missing for five years to suddenly come back and issue crime warnings and bomb the TV station building.”

Then, Ooka Momiji glanced at Lin Xiaofeng and slowly said, "Because before Teacher Meisho disappeared, he told me that he would find Ms. Satsuki the day before the competition to compete with her true strength, and then deliberately lose in the official competition the next day."

"Intentionally...lost?"

This was information they had never heard before, leaving Conan and Heiji Hattori stunned on the spot.

That was a life-or-death battle where the loser would disband the group, yet Nagoro Shikao was prepared to lose from the very beginning? If that's the case, then it means that Nagoro Shikao's original goal was to merge the Nagoro-kai into the Satsuki-kai.

"But why did he break down and disappear the day before the official match after losing to Ms. Satsuki?" Hattori Heiji asked in astonishment, his mouth agape.

"Ms. Ooka, are you sure Mr. Nagoro was really planning to lose the match?" Conan placed his hands on the table and leaned forward slightly.

"I am sure."

Ooka Momiji nodded, raising her face with a hint of reminiscence.

"I remember Mr. Meisho said that Ms. Satsuki was his first love. The reason he always wanted to defeat Satsuki Kai was to show off in front of his first love. But at that time, Mr. Meisho was suffering from an incurable disease and didn't have many years left to live. So he thought that he would entrust Meisho Kai to Satsuki Kai completely through this match."

Upon hearing this, Hattori Heiji and Conan were completely dumbfounded.

If that were really the case, then Nagoro Shikao would have no reason to carry out the TV station bombing, since disbanding the Nagoro-kai and merging it into the Satsuki-kai was his own wish.

Moreover, even if someone who was diagnosed with an incurable disease five years ago is still alive, they are basically in the final stages of life and wouldn't have the energy to do all that.

So the only possibility is that Chairman Achiba has some inside story he hasn't revealed, or that he's just lying!

Heiji Hattori stood up abruptly from the sofa.

"Ms. Ooka, are you sure what you're saying is true?"

"It's true."

The Kyoto girl spoke each word clearly.

Heiji Hattori nodded, then quickly turned to Conan beside him, exchanging a "let's go" look.

"Okay. Sister Momiji, I'm off too..." Conan, with his short 187cm legs, followed Hattori Heiji.

"Then I too..."

Just as Lin Xiaofeng stood up, his wrist was grabbed by a slender, delicate hand.

"I've given you some useful information. How about you show me around Osaka?"

"Miss Ooka, you've come to the wrong person. I'm not from Osaka." Lin Xiaofeng wasn't even very familiar with Tokyo, let alone Osaka.

“I know it well. I’m from Kyoto. It’s only a 30-minute drive from Kyoto to Osaka, and I often go to Osaka for fun.” Ooka Momiji’s beautiful face blossomed with a smile as bright as a flower.

Unable to refuse the kind invitation, and captivated by the beautiful face of the Kyoto girl, Lin Xiaofeng couldn't move his legs.

Lin Xiaofeng felt that even though he became stronger through the system, he was becoming increasingly powerless against beautiful girls, falling in love with every one he saw.

"Could this be my vast and loving heart?"

Lin Xiaofeng felt that his realm had become higher, no longer bound by worldly etiquette, spreading love everywhere and sowing the seeds of love in the vast fields of blessings.

323. My base was raided by Ooka Momiji.

Thanks to Lin Xiaofeng's reminder, Hattori Heiji and Edogawa Conan solved the case ahead of schedule.

In order to help Kazuha Toyama win the karuta tournament, Shizuka Ikenami and Yukiko give Kazuha special training.

So, during Lin Xiaofeng's free time these past few days, Ooka Momiji took advantage of the situation, essentially stealing Lin Xiaofeng's wives away.

I felt that my trip to Osaka with Ryūka Ryūka and Ryūka Kōfuku was pretty good, and I'm thinking of bringing Ryūka Kōfuku Temple to Kyoto for a visit.

When it comes to tourist cities, Kyoto is more professional than Osaka. Its ancient buildings are protected by law, so you don't need to go to any special attractions; the entire city itself is a tourist attraction.

The next day, Ooka Momiji had her butler drive to pick up Lin Xiaofeng, and they went to Kyoto together.

"You want me to play with you again? I remember you have a karuta tournament the day after tomorrow... Don't you need to practice?"

"What's there to train for? My strength is already enough to make me a force to be reckoned with. While Lin-kun is still in Osaka, let's exchange ideas more often."

Ooka Momiji's long, curved eyelashes revealed her undisguised admiration for Lin Xiaofeng.

"Let me give you a heads-up. Heiji Hattori's mother was a former karuta queen, and she's currently training Kazuha Toyama. Aren't you worried?"

"What's there to panic about?"

Ooka Momiji is currently obsessed with romance and only wants to date Lin Xiaofeng.

Upon arriving in Kyoto, Ooka Momiji first took Lin Xiaofeng to Fushimi Inari Taisha, a famous shrine and a must-see for any Kyoto tourist. It primarily enshrines Inari deities, headed by Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami. Inari deities are gods of agriculture and commerce, and worshippers come to pray for bountiful harvests, prosperous businesses, and safe travels. It is the most popular shrine in the Kyoto area.

Inside the shrine, you can see all sorts of fox statues, because foxes are considered messengers of the god Inari. Fox-faced ema (votive plaques) are also a unique feature here.

The most famous feature here is the dense cluster of vermilion torii gates behind the main shrine, one of Kyoto's most iconic sights. Hundreds upon hundreds of vermilion torii gates form a path leading to the summit of Mount Inari, interspersed with dozens of stone fox statues. Stepping inside, the old, faded dark red torii gates intertwine with the bright, vibrant vermilion ones, creating a spectacular and captivating sight under the sunlight—a truly breathtaking experience.

Lin Xiaofeng found it very novel at first, and Ooka Momiji patiently acted as his tour guide, explaining various historical anecdotes.

This shrine was different from other shrines Lin Xiaofeng had visited before; it was exceptionally large and had a particularly strong incense offering.

Moreover, they happened to be there during the first week of July, which is the main festival. A festival to thank the gods.

All the scattered stone lanterns and offering lanterns within the Inari Mountain grounds will be lit. Outside the worship hall, there are also many lantern paintings by Japanese artists and various lively activities.

After the tour, it was time for the routine process of drawing lots and making wishes.

"Lin-kun, why aren't you coming with us?" Ooka Momiji asked enthusiastically, clearly quite familiar with the place, having come here many times to draw lots and make wishes. "Whether you make a wish or draw a lot here, it's very effective?"

"Hmm... But I don't have any particular wishes I want to fulfill, nor do I have any expectations for the future." Lin Xiaofeng possesses a system, making him a chosen one who has everything he could want, so there's really no need for it.

"Lin Jun, are you a Buddhist detective?"

"I do not have Buddhist beliefs."

“I’m not talking about Buddhist faith, but about being like the Buddha, living without conflict with the world.”

"Buddha means the enlightened one. He was not detached from worldly affairs, but rather he knew everything and was simply weary of the endless cycle of rebirth."

"Hmm... okay." Ooka Momiji felt that her intelligence was completely out of sync with Lin Xiaofeng's rhythm.

After visiting Fushimi Inari Shrine, we had sukiyaki for lunch, which is basically Japanese beef hot pot. It's a beef dish where the sweetness of sugar and the saltiness of soy sauce are combined to balance the flavor of the meat. It's usually eaten with a dipping sauce made by mixing green onions, tofu, and konjac noodles with beaten eggs.

The afternoon's itinerary included another famous Kyoto landmark: Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

As the oldest temple in Kyoto, it has been burned down and rebuilt several times. The Kiyomizu Stage, which is suspended in the air in front of the main hall, is listed as a national treasure of Japan and is surrounded by green trees.

In autumn, the mountains are ablaze with red maple leaves, and in spring, cherry blossoms bloom in profusion. Because of this, Kiyomizu-dera Temple attracts a large number of visitors year-round. It is especially popular with Tokyo students for their spring break school trips.

Below the steps in front of Kiyomizu-dera Temple's main gate, a black luxury sedan slowly came to a stop on the side of the road.

"Okay, that's enough for now."

As the rear door opened, a pair of slender legs, wrapped in a kimono, emerged from the car and were lowered down.

Ooka Momiji got up from the car, holding onto the door frame with one hand, and walked towards the driver's seat through the open door.

“Iori, you can just drive to the parking lot and wait there. You don’t need to come with me.”

“I know, miss.”

The butler's cold voice came from the driver's seat.

At the same time, Lin Xiaofeng got out of the back seat. He looked up at the sparsely populated hundred stone steps in front of the main gate of Qingshui Temple and couldn't help but mutter to himself in curiosity.

"There seem to be a few people."

"Everyone goes to Fushimi Inari Shrine to participate in the grand festival, so Kiyomizu-dera Temple is relatively less crowded."

"So that's how it is. No wonder Fushimi Inari Shrine was packed with people this morning."

As she stepped onto the stone steps in front of the main gate, Ooka Momiji said as she walked.

"There's a legend about Kiyomizu Stage at Kiyomizu-dera Temple. It's said that if two people confess their feelings on Kiyomizu Stage at a specific time, they'll be together forever. That's why it used to attract a lot of high school students. But this legend hasn't come true for a long time now. Guess why?"

"Why is that..."

Lin Xiaofeng looked at the beautiful and radiant eldest daughter of the Ooka family.

The girl noticed his gaze, turned her face to him, and gave a slightly smug hum.

"Of course, it's because most of the high school students who come back here are on school trips. Tour groups don't care if you've planned to confess your feelings or not; they just rush through one attraction and move on to the next... Unless someone plans to confess to their crush in front of all their classmates, but usually, no one has the courage to do that, hehehe..."

After speaking, Ooka Momiji slightly raised her head and glanced through the gaps in the dense cherry blossom grove on both sides of the stone steps at the Kiyomizu Stage, whose outline could already be vaguely seen in the distance, with only two or three tourists. She couldn't help but smile.

324. A gentle kiss

"As expected, it was the right decision not to join the crowd at the Mantō Festival." Ōoka Momiji looked pleased with herself.

"...What is that?" Lin Xiaofeng asked.

"It's the grand evening festival at Inari Shrine. At night, it's even more lively than when we went in the morning."

"How crowded would that be?"

"That's exactly what I meant."

The.

Ooka Momiji smiled and looked away. "It's so pleasant to be able to stroll around Kiyomizu-dera Temple so easily with a guy I like." Then, she changed the subject, took out her phone from her small bag, and glanced at the time. "Hmm, it's four in the afternoon now. There's still about an hour until sunset. Let's wait until sunset before going to the Kiyomizu Stage. In the meantime, let's wander around Kiyomizu-dera Temple for a while and find a place to sit?"

"It's all up to Miss Ooka's arrangements," Lin Xiaofeng said casually.

"Can you call me Momiji?" Ooka Momiji suddenly asked.

Lin Xiaofeng blushed shyly: "Hongye."

Hearing Lin Xiaofeng call her name, Ooka Momiji smiled happily.

Perhaps feeling that the time between day and night was more evocative and ceremonial, Lin Xiaofeng and Ooka Momiji arrived at the edge of the Qingshui Stage at this time. Looking down from the stage, the ten miles of red maple leaves had not yet bloomed, but the cherry blossoms covering the mountains were exceptionally beautiful.

"Now is the specific time I mentioned."

Gazing at the picturesque scenery in front of the Kiyomizu Stage, Ooka Momiji tightened her grip on Lin Xiaofeng's arm, their fingers intertwined beneath their kimonos.

She turned her face slightly to the side.

"Hey, I just thought of something. If Miss Toyama were standing in my position right now, do you think she would confess her feelings to you?"

"Has she already confessed her feelings to me?"

"What! Why didn't you say so sooner?" Hongye said angrily.

"You didn't ask." Lin Xiaofeng felt innocent. He was a complete and utter scumbag, and he never hid anything. "By the way, Hongye, shouldn't the person you like be Hattori Heiji?"

“I have no interest in competing with a little boy for a man,” Hongye pouted. “However, I am very interested in competing with Toyama Kazuha for a man.”

"Ah... the process was different, but we still ended up on the same path."

In the original storyline, Ooka Momiji was competing with Toyama Kazuha for a man—specifically, for Hattori Heiji, a hopelessly chauvinistic man. Now, she's competing for the ultimate scumbag, Lin Xiaofeng.

"I'm asking you, did you and Toyama Kazuha do everything?"

"you mean……"

"Don't ask when you already know the answer... It's the kind of thing only lovers do." As Ooka Momiji spoke, she blushed.

"No, not at all. My relationship with Toyama Kazuha is very innocent," Lin Xiaofeng said honestly, mainly because he hadn't yet had the opportunity to make a move on Toyama Kazuha. These things can't be forced; only by letting things happen naturally can one have a wonderful experience.

Ooka Momiji raised her hand, her fingertip lightly touching her lips: "It seems I haven't lost yet."

"Lose? You mean the karuta tournament?"

"Idiot, who told you that?"

So, under Lin Xiaofeng's puzzled gaze, Hongye turned around, tiptoed slightly, and left a kiss on his lips as the last rays of the setting sun disappeared into the horizon.

That evening, Lin Xiaofeng was taken back to her home in Kyoto by Ooka Momiji.