Truth is everywhere within range

July 14th.

This morning, Qiao Qiao did not take Haruka Sasaki out to exorcise spirits as originally planned.

This was not because he was lazy or because Sasaki Haruka ran away overnight after hearing the news.

It's because a wedding is being held at Shimogamo Shrine today.

As said before.

In Japan, funerals are left to temples and weddings to shrines.

It is the so-called wedding ceremony before gods, also known as wedding before gods.

Of course, with the development of the times, more and more Chinese people have begun to choose other forms of weddings, such as the recently popular Christian weddings.

The kind where you wear a white wedding dress and exchange rings in the church.

Affected by this impact, the income of various shrines has decreased somewhat.

Shimogamo Shrine is hosting a wedding today.

The shrine has been busy since five o'clock in the morning.

The bride and groom put on makeup in the preparation room. The groom put on a black haori, while the bride also wore a white haori under her dress.

As for the witches, they are busy inside and outside, taking care of everything.

The wedding ceremony before the gods was much simpler than the wedding in the church, but with only five shrine maidens, there was still a shortage of manpower, and outsiders were not allowed to help. Therefore, Ariko Asano, who got up early, could only wait aside.

When Qiao Qiao got up at eight o'clock, the wedding was about to start.

The two young men were only about 25 or 26 years old. The priest held a huge red umbrella and the two shrine maidens Maki Araki and Kotone Hashimoto led the way, walking step by step from Mitarai to the front hall of the shrine.

Behind the two, there were family members from both sides, some wearing traditional kimonos and some wearing suits, all of whom were dressed more formally.

"so good."

Qiao Qiao sighed with emotion.

He is not a relative or friend of the couple, nor is he a relevant staff member of the shrine, so naturally he cannot enter the front hall to participate in the wedding.

I could only stand in the corridor and look at the bustling front hall.

"The priest will recite a congratulatory message, then the couple will exchange rings, and then toast each other with three different cups. This is a relatively complete ceremony."

Naturally, Ariko Asano did not enter the front hall. When she saw Qiao Qiao, who had gotten up early, she walked over.

"It is indeed very happy for the union of two people to be witnessed by the gods."

Perhaps because of the atmosphere, she was also a little moved.

"Indeed, I heard from Maki-san before that the cost of holding a complete wedding ceremony before God is one million yen."

"?"

Is this the point?

I didn't know what to say, and after a moment of silence, Ariko Asano asked again.

"In the teacher's country, there are similar ceremonies, right?"

"Indeed there are."

Qiao Qiao nodded.

"But compared to the testimony of gods, people probably believe in each other's promises more."

"promise?"

Ariko Asano tilted her head, not quite understanding.

"China has a saying about things like this."

Qiao Qiao glanced at Ariko Asano.

"Hold your hand and grow old together with me."

"%\u0026 # ￥, @\u0026￥* @?"

Ariko Asano tried to learn the pronunciation, but it was completely unclear where the alien language came from.

"To put it simply, it means holding your hand and growing old with you. That's what it means."

Qiao Qiao explained in Japanese.

"ah."

Ariko Asano exclaimed quietly, then covered her face with her hands, looking a little shy.

"So that's what it means."

"Of course, some people think this is the emotion between comrades during the war, but I think soldiers would not say such words. No one hopes that the war can last forever, so it is more like soldiers saying to their families Out."

Qiao Qiao explained again seriously.

"Guo, you really have a teacher's style."

Ariko Asano showed a bitter smile.

At noon, there is the unveiling banquet of the bride and groom, with speeches by the matchmaker, relatives and friends of both parties, followed by a traditional wedding banquet, during which there will also be a Kagura dance performance by the shrine maidens, which can be said to be very lively.

But these have nothing to do with Qiao Qiao.

Sasaki Haruka had nothing to do in the afternoon, so he was taken out by Qiao Qiao to eliminate the spirit.

Also accompanying us was Ariko Asano.

She seemed quite dissatisfied with the fact that Qiao Qiao and Suzuka went to the Ren O Hall headquarters together yesterday, and also went to the market in Kamogawa together in the evening.

Although Qiao Qiao bought a gift, it seemed that it could not quell Asano Miko's resentment.

So today, while Suzuka was still sleeping soundly, the three of them went out.

The destination is Pontocho.

This is a commercial street located near Kamogawa.

It is said that during the Edo period, this was once a famous flower street in Kyoto. Until a few decades ago, there were still courtesans sitting here.

Speaking of which, Gion of the Gion Festival is actually the most famous red light district in Kyoto.

Gion comes from the Buddhist concept of "a lonely garden with only trees", and the guardian of Gion Abode is the Bull-headed King.

In the era of the integration of gods and Buddhas, many Japanese gods had Buddhist identities, and Suzhanmingzun and King Gyuzuten merged into one god, and Yasaka Shrine also had the name "Gionsha".

However, with the development of the times and the decline of kabuki, this place became an ordinary commercial street.

Today's Pontocho is considered a famous tourist attraction in Kyoto.

Izakaya, shops, restaurants, clothing stores, everything is available.

Since Ponto Town is not far from Kamogawa River, the three of them walked.

This year's long rainy season is finally coming to an end, but it's still raining lightly.

The three of them were holding three umbrellas and walking along the Kamogawa River.

The Kamogawa River in the rain is quiet and peaceful. People stop and look at it from time to time, just like Heian Kyo a thousand years ago.

Sasaki Haruka was very well-behaved and listened to Qiao Qiao briefly introduce the situation along the way.

Their destination is an izakaya in Pontocho called "Sanrenaba", but the client is not the owner of the izakaya, but the son of the proprietress.

Makoto Sakurai is forty-six years old and works in a construction company.

His mother, Junko Sakurai, was in her sixties and ran an izakaya in Pontocho.

This izakaya was opened by Sakurai Makoto's father Sakurai Kuro and has a history of more than 50 years.

Sakurai Kuro died in an accident when Sakurai Makoto was six years old. After that, Sakurai Junko raised Sakurai Makoto while running the izakaya.

After Sakurai Makoto started working, although he once persuaded his mother to stay at home and stop working hard, her mother insisted on opening this store and more than 20 years passed.

"It's so hard."

Sasaki Haruka didn't know if he thought of something, and sighed.

Due to the wedding ceremony in the morning, Sasaki Haruka was still wearing a red and white miko costume, which caused many tourists to look back.

However, as the Gion Festival approaches, it is not uncommon for shrine maidens to appear.

Outside of Pontocho, construction of Yamaboko has begun. Each of the thirty-three districts in Kyoto will design a gorgeously decorated float to participate in the Yamaboko Parade on July 17. As the parade approaches, Pontocho becomes more lively. .

"But Mr. Makoto Sakurai, why do you want to find a spiritual slayer?"

Ariko Asano was wearing a light pink dress and white sandals. Her hair was tied into a ponytail with red sandalwood paper. She walked carefully on the floor tiles under a transparent umbrella.

"Well, Mr. Makoto Sakurai believes that his mother is haunted by a ghost."

Qiao Qiao looked at the information and replied.