Ling Qi 2 (Spiritpact 2)

Shouken's body will unlock the mirror of the underworld.

We'll touch him at the same time.

What's going on? Something is off.

I feel a strange shaking.

This is...

Heart

The soul-binding circle has been broken.

Shouken.

It's time to go home with me.

Why am I here again?

What's your name?

My name is Shinryuu Shouken.

Shouken...

~Bond of the Underworld~

Episode 9 His True Identity

I am Shinryuu Shouken.

I was born into the venerable Shinryuu family who are well-versed with medicinal herbs.

My brother had been hard on me ever since I was young,

but I believed it was for the sake of the Shinryuu family.

But then my brother

told me that there would an important mission for me in the future,

and that's when I knew:

My purpose was to protect someone.

My father was the head of the Shinryuu family

and everyone spoiled me because I was the youngest in the family.

When my parents left this world, my brother became the head.

And I waited for the important mission my brother had said would come.

Finally, it came.

I didn't expect this to come before you were fully grown.

It was originally planned for your brother,

but the Tanmoku family requested someone close to your age.

My brother is an adult after all, and kids don't like him.

That's true.

And he is the head, so he can't be absent.

Leave it to me. I will complete the mission and come back.

You're not going to be able to come back so easily from this mission.

The master that you will serve cannot leave the Tanmoku family.

You mustn't leave him alone for a moment.

Please call me from time to time.

Brother told me not to use the phone since it could be bugged.

Just to chat should be fine.

Okay, then. Will you be married to my brother by the time I get back?

Don't be ridiculous.

Shouken.

This is the key to our home. Keep it with you.

I will be waiting here for your return.

Okay.

But this would be the last time I would ever see this sight.

Because I would never be able to come back here again.

The great Tanmoku family has a history of over a thousand years.

They have been producing Youmeishi for generations.

And the current Youmeishi has the strongest spiritual powers in the world.

It is said that he completes every ceremony perfectly.

And my mission was to protect him.

That legendary Youmeishi was even more pure and gentle than I had imagined.

Without a hint of impurity, it was as if he was a fairy.

What's your name?

My name is Shinryuu Shouken.

I am your bodyguard.

As of this moment, he became the most important person in my life.

How dare you steal my things?!

I-I didn't.

Since he wasn't part of the main family, he was often treated unfairly.

Don't try to play dumb.

Give it back already.

I didn't steal anything.

How dare you?!

Let go of me.

Protecting the young master is my duty. Please forgive me.

Looking for something?

Jiun was probably upset because she lost the hair ornament which is important to her.

She comes here a lot to read, so I figure she might have dropped it here.

You are going to help her even though she falsely accused you?

I knew it'd be here.

Shouken, see?

Please excuse me.

We have a favor to ask of Ki-sama.

Will you give this to Jiun for me?

Yes.

Young master is too pure.

If I gave this to her, it would be like admitting he stole it.

I will have to think of another way to give it to her.

My, I was wondering who the beautiful girl crying by herself was.

So it is you, my lady.

Still unable to find your hair ornament?

Leave me alone.

I can find it for you. Please tell me.

This has nothing to do you. You're his bodyguard.

That is unfortunate.

The Shinryuu family is rather good at finding treasure.

But if you would rather I didn't, then please excuse me.

Wait!

I won't forgive you if you're unable to find it.

Leave it to me.

Hey, how much longer? I've been waiting forever.

Please wait a bit more.

Some treasure finder he is.

Is this it?

That's it. Thank goodness.

You really won't be my bodyguard?

Forgive me, but I protect the Youmeishi.

What if I became the Youmeishi?

If I became the Youmeishi, would you be by my side?

Probably.

At the time, I didn't know that such a casual response would invite a huge disaster.

You know you are not supposed to eat food made by other people.

I thought it'd be fine if I just ate a little bit.F

She came from so far away, so I didn't want to disappoint her.

Young master.

His body was so weak that it seemed like it would break just by touching it.

How could he bear such a heavy burden with such a weak body?

Did you think such things when you were standing at the altar?

Is it worth sacrificing yourself to make someone else happy?

That's not it.

I've never thought of it as a sacrifice.

It makes me glad when everyone feels happy.

My heart is full when I am offering up my prayers.

I am content when I can listen and respond to everyone's wishes.

That's when I understood.

Neither observation nor guidance had any meaning for him.

His thoughts far exceed our imagination.

I felt as though I knew why god would give him such unsuitable power.

God trusts him and he deserves to be trusted by god.

The next day, I sent my first secret message to the Shinryuu family.

I simply said that he was the natural-born Youmeishi.

His body was still growing, but it was already beginning to wear out.

He started taking the medicine he took after the ceremonies every day.

When the ceremonies were over,

all the wishes and thoughts of the spirits weighed heavily on him.

He could have refused them, but he never did.

What are you doing, young master?

I'm writing down the wishes I heard during the ceremony.

Have you always done this?

I grant what wishes I can.

I write down the ones I'm not able to grant so that I can grant them... someday...

It is impossible for even god to make everyone happy.

Shouken.

Please listen to me.

Every spring, in the mountains where I lived, the fish swim upsteam to lay their eggs.

That is the time when bears wake up from hibernation.

The bears will decide on a target and eat it with a snap

as the fish jump up.

Because that is their meal.

Do you understand?

The fish wants to go upstream and the bear wants to fill its stomach.

The bear will starve to death if the fish's wish is granted,

and the fish will be annihilated if it is reversed.

You do not need to grant every wish.