"Crack... crack..."

The faint morning light filtered through the leaves above, illuminating some of the wispy hair on Yan Huan's forehead.

He changed into a set of plain clothes with a wrinkled 20th-century style, leaned against the tree trunk, and gazed into the distance, observing the scene by the mountain.

He got up early this morning and took a loop around this isolated village before dawn.

After all, being in a foreign land and suddenly transported so far by Sakuragi Hitomi's Barrier, he had to be extra cautious.

Moreover, this sort of remote, secluded village always gave the "well-read" Yan Huan a strong sense of déjà vu.

Could there be some strange customs, an unknown cult in residence, or maybe even a female disguise...

Oh no, it's all grandpas and grandmas here, shouldn't be.

At least, while resting at night, he had Meow-chan keep watch to make sure no one approached him and An Le.

Nothing happened last night, and after another round this morning, Yan Huan discovered that the village chief hadn't lied.

The torrential rain last night caused multiple landslides on one side of the narrow mountain path, and the portion closest to the village was severely damaged.

This village is isolated, and the roads are old. When blocked, it's like a natural barrier.

The village is full of elderly people who can't do heavy work, and they have to wait for people from the town to come and clear it.

Seven days...

The village chief was probably being optimistic.

Seven days is just enough to make the road barely passable. To fully restore it to its original state, who knows how long it would take.

Yan Huan slowly withdrew his gaze and turned towards the village.

"Rustle... rustle..."

At a corner on the edge of the village, where the mountain started to rise, amidst the lush greenery, Yan Huan stopped in his tracks.

Ahead was a not-so-long stone staircase, and at the end of the staircase was an ancient Torii.

Most of the Torii was obscured by wantonly growing trees, yet the words "World Shrine" could still be dimly seen.

This was the Shrine where they were temporarily staying.

"Oh, you're back."

"Ah, Grandma Jindai."

In the courtyard, an old woman in a white witch costume was sweeping the ground, while the other two old ladies were preparing breakfast inside.

After chatting last night, Yan Huan learned that the three old women were actually sisters, all surnamed Jindai.

This Shrine had been passed down from their ancestors, said to have been built in the Heian era, a very old place, although no one knew if it was true.

After greeting the old woman, Yan Huan glanced around and was about to speak when the old woman gave him a look and, smiling, said,

"Looking for that young girl?"

"Yes, Grandma, where is she now..."

"Oh, her... The old clothes borrowed from the village chief last night didn't fit her, so we gave her clothes from the Shrine. Turns out they still don't fit; now my sister is using needle and thread to adjust them for her..."

Upon hearing this, Yan Huan was slightly taken aback, as if realizing something.

And the old woman was still clicking her tongue in wonder, no longer sweeping the ground, just holding a broom while watching Yan Huan.

"You, ah, are truly blessed. It'll be good for you when you have children in the future. Back then, when my sister didn't have enough milk, her husband crossed mountains to another village to borrow milk from those who raised cows..."

The more he listened, the more awkward Yan Huan's expression became.

The old woman seemed to think they were a young couple, puzzled last night as to why Yan Huan and An Le didn't sleep in the same room.

She said things like, "After such a big event, she must be scared. Of course, you should stay by her side."

The problem is, would Yan Huan dare to sleep in the same room with An Le?

Don't forget, An Le wanted to take away his first time.

If they slept together that night, by morning, they'd probably have already decided on the first child's name and be planning for a second in a year.

Thinking this way, staying with An Le for a whole week, it's likely purity couldn't be maintained.

But on the other hand, with no other modifier hosts left, it's a perfect opportunity to try solving her modifier issue.

That promise...

"Grandma, I'll go see her now. There are some things I want to discuss with her."

With that thought, Yan Huan moved his heart and interrupted Grandma Jindai's chatter with a subtle smile.

"Oh, okay..."

He then turned and walked into the courtyard.

The deity enshrined in the Shrine was unknown, but there was a grand altar in the center of the main hall, surrounded by railings.

Yan Huan had previously heard that the deities worshiped in Ying Country were numerous, claiming to have "eight million gods," and the altars often featured offerings of "swords," "mirrors," or "jewels."

Perhaps this Shrine was similar...

Anyway, according to Grandma Jindai, the reason this shrine was called the Divine Homeland was precisely due to the deity enshrined here.

"Meow~"

On his shoulder, Meow-chan appeared silently, examining the splendid altar.

Yan Huan glanced at it and couldn't help but tease,

"Meow-chan, why do I feel like you're becoming more useless, less helpful than the dead objects worshiped in the altar..."

"Meow?!"

"At least Grandma Jindai said visiting the Shrine could change your fate... As for you, you just drain all my luck, making me draw junk!"

Meow-chan blinked its big eyes, using its paw to push against Yan Huan's mouth, trying to stop him from saying more hurtful words against cats,

"Yan Huan, when leaving the Barrier last night, I smelled many Fragments around the Shrine! At least three!"

As it pushed, Meow-chan suddenly thought of something, looking at Yan Huan with sparkling eyes and said,

"Fragments?"

"Yes, meow, last night near the Shrine, there was a fierce fight, and many Fragments fell! We must go back there and collect them all, meow!"

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