Chapter 203: A big crisis for the supernatural society?
A major crisis for the supernatural society?
Hiramiya Chiye fell on Horii Suzune with an inquiring look. Did she read any novels or watch any movies this summer?
"When our Psychic Club was first established, we upheld the principle of quality over quantity, and there were only 13 members. However, this semester has just started, and I have received applications for resignation from four members."
Horii Suzune took out the four resignation application forms from under the drawer and had Yumeko Kazama hand them to Chiya Hiramiya.
"There are 12 people under me in total, and 4 of them quit at once. We have lost one-third of the core members. No matter what kind of club it is, this is a huge departmental crisis."
Horii Suzune's expression became more serious. Kazama Yumeko blinked and said, "I heard that there are only four people in the Astronomy Club. If one person quits, it will be equivalent to losing one-third of the core members..."
"Yumeko, pour me a cup of tea."
Horii Suzune stopped Yumeko Kazama from continuing to say inappropriate words.
"Sister Lingyin, wait a moment."
Yumeko Kazama came to the tea table in the corner of the meeting room with a smile and started to make tea.
She was very skilled in making tea, and it was obvious that she had been immersed in this art for many years.
Pinggong Chiye briefly looked through the reasons for the resignation applications and found that the reasons given by two members were that being exposed to too many supernatural events would easily expose themselves to the eyes of demons and monsters.
This is what Pinggong Qianye once told them, and they showed great enthusiasm for it at that time.
But after a summer vacation, there was a hint of fear in their words.
I guess I came across a supernatural incident during the summer vacation and was scared.
Another reason for quitting the club was that the Supernatural Society was only looking for the answers behind supernatural events and could not master supernatural powers.
The reason given by the last member is just one simple sentence: Everything is empty, everything is false.
After reading it, Hiramiya Chiya put down the four resignation applications and asked Horii Suzune how she planned to deal with the matter.
"Of course we're recruiting new members. What do you think of Yumeko?"
Hearing Horii Suzune mention her, Kazama Yumeko perked up and said with a smile, "I can prepare delicious snacks for everyone every afternoon after school."
"can."
Hiramiya Chiya nodded and approved Yumeko Kazama's joining the supernatural club.
"Hiramiya-san, are you already bought by Yumeko's desserts?"
"It seems that our Psychic Club has never prepared any snacks, right?"
"I just find it troublesome..."
Horii Suzune sighed and asked Kazama Yumeko to fill out the application for admission as soon as possible.
After solving this matter, Horii Suzune stretched out her hand towards Hiramiya Chiye, "Hiramiya-san, have you forgotten something?"
"Anything else important?"
Hiramiya Chiya just looked at Horii Suzune.
"Hey, oops, someone's expectations have been dashed."
Yumeko Kazama came over with two cups of tea, and as she handed the tea to Horii Suzune, she chuckled and whispered something.
"Sister Lingyin, this is a travel gift I prepared for you. Please accept it."
As she spoke, Yumeko Kazama took out an exquisitely crafted gift box from her schoolbag and tied a bow with a red ribbon.
Seeing this scene, Hiramiya Chiye immediately understood what Horii Suzune was talking about, and took out a fist-sized box from his pocket and handed it to Horii Suzune.
"This is a bracelet made of red sandalwood. It has great power to exorcise evil spirits."
Pinggong Qianye gave a brief introduction. This was a small piece of red sandalwood that he asked for from Abbot Kongzhi when he left Kiyomizu Temple. It was then ground into small beads and strung together by hand.
When Horii Suzune opened the box, she saw a string of dark purple Buddhist beads lying quietly inside the box, calm and reserved, like an old monk, full of high Zen spirit.
"Hiramiya-san, I really like this gift."
Horii Suzune smiled and put the string of Buddhist beads directly on her hand. She looked around and her smile became even brighter.
"Wow, this string of Buddhist beads looks like it was hand-polished. Mr. Hiramiya is really thoughtful!" Yumeko Kazama exclaimed, with a hint of envy in her eyes.
Soon, the two girls began to discuss every aspect of this string of Buddhist beads.
Hiramiya Chiye just smiled and said nothing. When he was about to leave Kyoto, he remembered that he had not bought any travel gifts. Then he went back to Kiyomizu Temple and asked Abbot Kongzhi for a piece of rosewood.
On the way back, when I had nothing to do at night, I would take out the beads, which can be considered a form of practice.
In the afternoon, just like last semester, I attended classes quietly and waited for school to end.
Most of the clubs in the new semester are very lively. They will organize a small party together, some will just buy some snacks and drinks and spend the time in the club activity room, and some clubs will go out to restaurants for a big meal.
The Supernatural Society is having a meeting.
As the president, Horii Suzune said a lot. The resignation of four members was a big blow to her.
"The issue of quitting the club is not limited to our club. Many clubs have seen a small wave of quitting the club."
It is normal for some members of the spiritual society to comfort Horii Suzune.
When many people first enter school, they think joining a club is a very interesting thing, but once the novelty wears off, many people would rather stay at home. Especially when they come back from winter and summer vacations, holiday syndrome still affects students.
"I heard that a lot of boys have been secretly gathering together recently, and I don't know what they want to do."
"Yes, it seems to be very confidential. If you want to join their group, you need to pass the introduction and assessment."
"I have a friend who is one of them and asked me if I would like to join them."
Pinggong Qianye listened to their conversation quietly, while thinking about another thing in his heart.
He has returned to Tokyo, and it is time to fulfill his promise and take Jingu Yaezakura down the mountain to see the city scenery.
Tonight should be a good time.
The supernatural society meeting was held from 4 to 5 o'clock, and Yumeko Kazama had people send many delicious snacks and drinks.
After putting the things on the conference table, a group of people gathered together, ate snacks, and talked about their summer vacation life.
One of the members told a very interesting story.
It is said that in a country village, the villagers would find that one of their shoes was missing when they woke up every morning. But no matter how they searched or how they took precautions, one shoe would disappear every day.
Later, a wandering priest passed by and learned what had happened. He suggested that the villagers hang their shoes on the windows of their homes and then tie a red rope around the shoes, saying that this would prevent the shoes from disappearing.
As for the rest of the story, because school was about to start, that member returned to Tokyo and did not witness it with his own eyes.
"I also have a story I want to share." Yumeko Kazama, who was sitting next to Horii Suzune, raised her hand enthusiastically, showing great interest.
"I've heard a story about the legendary monster Shiranui. She's actually not as difficult to approach as humans think..."
Yumeko Kazama tells a heartwarming story about Shiranui. In the story, Shiranui gently saves a little human girl and silently protects the girl's health.
Horii Suzune and Hiramiya Chiya looked at each other and remained silent.
This is obviously a half-true and half-false story that Yumeko Kazama made up based on her own story.
And it was the kind that contained serious private goods.
"Mengzi-san, have you really seen the great monster Shiranui?"
When someone asked, Yumeko Kazama narrowed her eyes and smiled, "I often meet her in my dreams."
"Really? What does the great monster Shiranui look like?"
"She probably looks about the same as us, very pretty."
"I want to meet Shiranui, too."
"You can see her when you come to me in my dreams at night."
"Yumeko-san is really humorous."
With the story of Yumeko Kazama as the beginning, other members also began to tell their own stories of nine fakes and one true in a vivid way.
It’s a pity that Qingxuande is not here, otherwise, the one hundred stories could be completed quickly.
It was almost half past five when Chiye Hiramiya left school and got on the train home.
Before leaving, Horii Suzune also gave him a gift, a calligraphy piece written by Zen Master Hakuin hundreds of years ago. There were only two words on it: Lotus.
This is an authentic work, bearing the traces of hundreds of years of vicissitudes.
Hiramiya Chiye didn't know where Horii Suzune got this calligraphy, but this gift was very valuable.
The Buddhist beads bracelet he gave me is far from comparable.
Although the thought behind a gift may be great, if someone really takes the time to choose a gift for you, it is better to give them something of equal value.
I can only wait until Horii Suzune’s birthday to give her a birthday present.
When he returned to the temple, Ruyi had already prepared vegetarian food. He was now becoming more and more skilled in cooking.
After dinner, Takeda Saburo came over to ask for his leave, saying that he had been out for too long and needed to return to Shitennoji to report to his master. At the same time, the four inheritors of the Shitennoji Dharma would also compete with each other.
Pinggong Qianye didn't have time, but Ruyi didn't want to leave Weilian Ancient Temple.
Akechi Mitsuhide was busy practicing, and only Hiratani Shuichi accepted his invitation and went with him to Shitennoji to see the excitement.
Saburo Takeda left Weilian Ancient Temple overnight. Ruyi sighed and looked reluctant.
"If you want to go, go ahead. Now that I'm back, there should be nothing to do at Weilian Ancient Temple."
"My skills are too limited, so I'd better not join in the fun."
Ruyi said, and laughed again, "And now Haifangzhu is used to me feeding him. He may not eat if someone else feeds him."
After a brief chat, Pinggong Qianye came to the main hall, sat cross-legged inside the hall, closed his eyes and recited scriptures.
Only after a bright moon appeared in the sky outside the gate did Heimiya Chiye leave the temple, ride his repaired bicycle and head to Tsukimi Shrine.
He was going to pick up Yaezakura Jingu and bring her down the mountain.
(End of this chapter)
