Regarding the question of whether one thousand lives are enough to beat Honkai Impact 3rd.

Based on the events that Yae no Shinto has accomplished in the course of history, Su Qing'an is prejudiced and believes that there will be many open and covert attacks.

But their current attitude is practically like they're looking for a son-in-law.

Let's continue with this topic. Perhaps this situation is actually more conducive to us staying in the Yae family. Otherwise, given the current circumstances, they don't have a sufficient reason to stay here.

So Su Qing'an said seriously:

"Miss Yae is a rare beauty. Her hair color left a deep impression on me. Her manners and upbringing are also excellent. The stern look on her face when she holds the knife makes me sigh at the beauty of her posture."

Su Qing'an does hate lying, but it's actually different from what Fu Hua thought. His habitually cold expression makes it harder for him to see through when he lies.

Fu Hua thought it looked good to wear it only because she was the one being lied to.

Facing the Eighth Divine Lord, Su Qing'an naturally possessed the ability to speak to people in a way that suited them.

The man laughed upon hearing this, then a shadow crossed his face, and he said:

"Hahahaha, my wife was a beauty when she was alive, and Sakura's looks are just like hers."

The expression of the Eightfold God Lord turned solemn, and he continued:

"I heard that Su Jun intimidated the monster with his words in the mountains and forests, and then killed it with a single punch, which allowed Ying to retrieve some of the villagers' remains. I don't know how I can repay this kindness."

Su Qing'an suddenly understood; he realized the fundamental reason why he was being treated this way.

It's not the grand and righteous kindness that Yae no Shinto speaks of.

It is power.

Indeed, even with the physical abilities of an ordinary person, Su Qing'an possesses the fighting strength to defeat a hundred men.

It is difficult to kill a normal human unless their numbers accumulate to a certain level.

The ability of "momentum" alone is already a magical ability, like stopping time, for ordinary people.

If the obstacle he faces next is simply the villagers, then describing it as going on a rampage would not be an exaggeration.

At the same time, he also understood the source of the subtle feelings he had when he left. Yae Sakura was watching them nearby at the time, but deliberately concealed her presence because she did not want to come into contact with the two of them.

Su Qingan gave an official response:

"It's alright. I've been wandering around for many years and have a habit of hunting monsters. This time it was just a coincidence."

The Eightfold God said:

"I have great respect for Su Jun's martial arts skills, which are like those of gods and demons. However, as a fellow martial artist, I can't help but have the idea of ​​asking him for guidance. I wonder if Su Jun would mind?"

Is this a test to see if Yae Sakura's chart is just a fabrication?

That's certainly cautious, but it's a common human trait; it's hard to have a sense of awe without witnessing things firsthand.

But that's fine too; it should keep him in line for a while.

Su Qing'an smiled broadly and said:

"it is good."

So the boy stretched out a finger and reached out to the Eightfold God Lord.

It was a normal, even slow, pace, but the man's body seemed frozen, and the oppressive feeling in that instant was like the gaze of a dragon.

Finally, her fingertip touched the man's forehead.

The concentrated force burst forth from his head, leaving a fingertip-sized mark on the wooden wall behind him.

Hitting a cow from across the mountain.

"Is this enough, Mr. Yae? Please bear with me these next few days."

After saying those words, the boy turned and left.

Only the pale-faced man remained, still immersed in the lingering aftertaste of that finger.

In that instant, he was completely unable to move. His body and martial arts skills, which he had not practiced for many years, were utterly useless in front of this young man.

As the sacrificial ceremony approached, the Eightfold God Lord's gaze immediately fell upon the white-haired girl. However, the girl was very close to Su Qing'an, and her sorcery-like oppressive aura made it difficult for the man to harbor any evil thoughts.

It seems Sakura wasn't lying. He thought.

Since they're not easy targets, let's make this a real show.

Son-in-law? If the village has such fighting power, the shrine maiden's only responsibility will be to reproduce.

"Ha..." The Eightfold God Lord sighed deeply, his inner shirt already soaked with cold sweat. Su Qing'an's figure had already disappeared. The other party had obviously left him a way out, so as not to completely expose his loss of composure.

Although everyone knows the truth, the existence of a fig leaf can sometimes avoid a lot of trouble.

"Su Qing'an, a traveler from a faraway place? You seem to be a young man with a strong sense of justice. I hope you won't get involved in anything related to the rituals."

The man revealed a sinister, demonic smile, his eyes filled with a rampant red mist.

"Otherwise, no matter how strong you are, you will not be able to withstand the wrath of the gods."

Yes.

The gods are not to be defied.

Therefore, offering up his own daughter was the only option he had.

65. And so everything returned to its original course.

"Sakura. The offerings for this year's festival have been decided."

"It's Rin."

These are words that have echoed in my memory countless times. The man's cold, hard face is bathed in shadow and cannot be clearly seen in the candlelight.

His eyes seemed devoid of emotion, filled only with a matter-of-fact indifference.

In the past, Yae Sakura would choose to remain silent afterward.

Because this is nothing but an illusion, investing emotions in an illusion will only lead to her defeat even faster.

But defeat is unacceptable; Yae Sakura absolutely cannot lose before she gets the answer.

But things are different now; Yae Sakura can no longer remain silent.

The girl looked up at Yae no Kami, her father.

This is my father.

When exactly was it?

When exactly did the two of them drift apart to this extent?

That was a memory from far away, but the priestess still remembered that when her mother was still alive, the man was not such a cold and heartless person. He would often smile, and it was not the fake smile he had now, but a genuine smile with gentle eyes and brows.

That kind of smile was the kind of expression that only a young shrine maiden would show to her beloved father.

After his mother's death, something seemed to have been permanently removed from this man's body.

What would that be?

Is it emotion? Human nature? Or something even more inexplicable?

After that, his expression toward Yae Sakura and Yae Rin grew increasingly cold, and even the slight grief he felt because of their resemblance was becoming increasingly invisible.

His own father, Yaehiko.

Perhaps he died the moment his mother died.

All that remained was a listless puppet, devoid of most of its soul.

With a complex expression, she asked Yaehiko the question she had never uttered in tens of thousands of reincarnations:

"Father. What exactly are Rin and me to you?"

The man paused for a moment.

Yae Sakura is a weak and indecisive girl. Although she is not lacking in courage and strength, in Yaehiko's eyes, the way she would resist might be by remaining silent or by shouting and refusing.

But this was the only question he hadn't expected.

Yaehiko remained silent.

"You are my daughters." These were the words that instinctively wanted to slip out, but at that moment, the man swallowed them back down.

I am no longer qualified to say those words.

No matter how many rhetoric, excuses, or reasons are used.

The fact that he, as a father, had to sacrifice his daughter's life could not be changed.

The position of the deity.

The responsibility of the village.

Numb emotions.

Awakening and reawakening under the girl's complex gaze, they then became entangled, transforming into a massive vortex that dragged the man into it.

After a long silence, Yaehiko looked directly into the shrine maiden's eyes and said:

“Sakura, this is for the village. As a member of the Yae lineage and a shrine maiden, it is only natural that we should give everything for the village while accepting its offerings.”

"And no matter what the road ahead may be, whether I am despised by myself or misunderstood by you and Rin, as the Lord of the Eightfold God, I can only make this decision."

Eightfold lineage.

Offering sacrifices to deities.

As the Lord of the Eightfold Gods, I had no choice but to make this decision.

it is ridiculous.

This is almost as if he expects her to cut a path with her sword and take Rin away from the village.

What did you expect?

Did you ever expect anything after severing Rin's Achilles tendon, holding my hand, and killing Rin with a knife?

The contradictions have reached such a despicable level that it's utterly ridiculous.

Overwhelmed by rage and sorrow, the priestess pondered the hidden meaning in the man's words and suddenly let out a bitter laugh.

That smile contained extremely complex emotions; the girl raised the corners of her lips, and the upward curve had an eerie, captivating allure.