Genshin Impact, I, a mere mortal, cannot accompany you to the very end.

Kiyono brushed the snow off his shoulders, staring thoughtfully at the katana in his hand:

"Of course it hates, of course it curses this land. It has been hiding in Inazuma for hundreds of years, never showing itself. The filth of the gods kills and is reborn, and is killed again, endlessly. Even the shadow can't do anything about it."

But things are different now.

"Things are different now, because I've come."

Kiyono gently pulled out the snake-cutting blade; the slightly cold blade made a clanging sound, and its smooth, mirror-like surface reflected the light of snow.

"I, the one who killed it, have arrived. I, its most hated and cursed enemy, have arrived. And now I am old and dying, too old to even draw my sword. This is its last chance."

[So it revealed itself for the first time; it came to kill you, but that was exactly what you planned.]

"Yes Yes."

Kiyono gently brushed his hand across the Serpent Cutter, the fine lightning snake patterns caressing his fingertips. The Serpent Cutter trembled slowly, emitting a sound like thunder. "This is exactly what I planned."

"The filth of worshiping gods cannot be completely removed, nor can the divine cherry blossoms. Only this old man can remove it completely."

But it escaped; it knew your plan.

"It didn't run away; it was inviting me."

Kiyono gazed in the direction the giant serpent had gone. The wind and snow howled past, and as far as the eye could see, a vast, desolate snow-capped mountain stretched out before him.

"He was also a warrior who lived a proud life."

Kiyono laughed heartily, then sheathed the snake-slaying sword again, and the thunder gradually subsided.

Are you going? You're an old man.

"Of course I'm going."

Between heaven and earth, only the color of snow remained.

Kiyono Raimei tied the snake-cutting to his waist, wrapped his fur coat tighter around himself, took out a bundle of tobacco, lit it, and exhaled a thin layer of smoke. When the cigarette burned down to a tiny spark, it went out, and then he walked into the depths of the mountains.

"How could I refuse an invitation from an old friend?"

An old man, no longer young, carrying the knife he once wielded in his youth, braves the vast, boundless snow to attend an unfinished feast. Only such a grand ending can do justice to his life.

---

This stretch of road is very long. The snow-capped mountain is on Bayun Island, and there is another island between it and Narukami Island.

Kiyono was already very old, and with his leg strength, it would take him three days and three nights to walk.

It was already dusk.

The sun shrouded the vast white snow plain. Unlike the brilliant sunset in summer, the winter sun was hazy and yellowish, as if covered by a thin veil. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be layers upon layers of light snow.

Kiyono gathered some dry firewood, lit it with a tinderstone, and felt himself revive as the flames rose and the warm light shone on him.

He took off his shoes and put them by the fire to dry, and he also took off his overcoat and put on a new cloak.

The snow-covered coat was wet and heavy; the snow that had formed on it had melted into water, soaking the entire garment.

Qingye was well-prepared for this trip: a flint, dry food, two sets of clothes, and a tent.

When he was young and went out to fight, he didn't think so much and just acted recklessly. But as he got older, he could no longer be so willful.

But he still miscalculated. A cold wind blew by, and he felt a chill on his neck. He was speechless – he had forgotten to bring his scarf.

He baked some dry biscuits, made a trap to catch a wild rabbit, and roasted it on the fire. He ate it warmly and then fell into a deep sleep.

In his dream, Kiyono heard the sounds of blades and frost; this must be what they call 'Iron horses and icy rivers entering my dreams'.

-

"I'm sorry, Lord Miyaji, you cannot go in... The head of the family is away on vacation and is not home; he cannot receive guests..."

The gatekeeper of the Pillar State Mansion was very flustered and in a difficult position.

But Lord Kuji was very unhappy.

His dissatisfaction was clearly outward, and his fox-like eyes narrowed slightly.

She has been turned away for two days in a row.

This was the first time in all these years that she, the Eightfold Divine Child, had done this.

Yae no Miko has been rampant in Inazuma for so many years. What place hasn't she been to? What place would refuse her?

Even in Lord Mingshin's Tenshukaku, the noble fox lady can come and go as she pleases, so why are you, old man, avoiding her?

So what if I took a little advantage of you...?

The old man is so stingy.

She gently clutched the scarf in her arms, finally making up her mind—but you secretly slipped out to play?

Without Lord Tsukasa...?

Miss Fox had already imagined Kiyono Raimei leisurely soaking in hot springs, staying in a guesthouse, eating warm and cozy fusukiyaki, and having a wonderful vacation... Just thinking about it made her bite her nails slightly with dissatisfaction, making an annoyed sound.

I'm going to have to extort money from you when you get back.

She thought this way, but for some reason, she always felt uneasy.

Ringo the Shrine Maiden looked at the High Priest with a slightly helpless expression, sighed unsurprised, and seemed quite used to it:

"As expected, it wasn't delivered again... You missed it again."

The priestess said:

"You should have sent him away the last time you saw His Majesty the Pillar of State."

She frowned, gazing into the distance with a hint of worry.

Gento Ringo is the fortune-telling shrine maiden of Narukami Shrine. She is in charge of all matters related to fortune-telling at the shrine. However, there is one thing she has been keeping from the chief priest.

Upon hearing that His Majesty the Pillar of State had left Inazuma Castle for a vacation, Ringo secretly performed a divination for the Pillar of State's trip:

That's the worst possible outcome.

Very bad omen.

---

PS1: Wow, that's amazing... You guys are really incredible.

This is the agreed-upon third watch, served as promised.

Then I'll start updating twice a day tomorrow.

PS2: The setting of Orochi in this chapter has been changed compared to the original work.

Book 1: Chapter Twelve - The Knights of Mondstadt

[What you need to know is that your next body is not yet mature; don't repeat the same mistake.]

The voice of the Human System echoed in Kiyono's ears, waking him up.

[You can't die before that; you still need to go to Mondstadt.]

[You have more to protect than just Inazuma]

Kiyono opened his eyes.

Actually, he was more likely woken up by the cold than by being disturbed.

Before dawn, the edge of the snow island was a vast expanse of white. The bonfire had gone out, leaving only scattered pieces of charred wood on the ground, with a few embers still clinging to them. The clothes he had hung out to dry were covered with a thin layer of frost from the light snowfall the night before.

"Then let's practice first."

Kiyono shook his cloak, brushing off the snowflakes. He slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, coughed twice, and narrowed his silver-gray eyes, watching the monster that appeared on the horizon.

"There are still two days left in the journey, and along the way, there are many things blocking our way."

Blocking his path were monsters resembling hunting dogs, but several times larger than ordinary hounds, with the imposing stature of bears, sharp, yellowed teeth dripping with saliva. They roamed in packs, entirely black, like ghosts.

[Beast Hound]

[A biological weapon from beyond the borders, not a creation of this world, designed to tear open the barrier and invite an invasion from the abyss.]

[Level: 25]

The Human System provided information about these monsters.

Regarding combat power levels, its definition is simple and straightforward:

Below level 10, they are ordinary Hilichurls; from level 10 to 20, they are Hilichurls; above level 80, they are at the level of a Demon God; and at level 90, they are in the realm of the Seven Rulers of the Mortal World, the true gods.

Kiyono Raiming's level in this world is stuck at level 89—which is also the limit of his body, the limit that a mortal can achieve.

The hounds, dripping with saliva, stared warily at Qingye, circling him. Clearly, they sensed danger emanating from him.

As the sun rose, it slowly cast its first rays through the icy mist, casting a pale orange glow over the snow-covered plain.

Kiyono Raimei's appearance suddenly changed, undergoing a significant transformation;

As the bones regenerated, the silver-gray in his eyes gradually spread out and then slowly coalesced, like a patch of paint on the surface of clear water, gathering and dispersing, and changing color with each stirring.

Violet-purple eyes.

His body couldn't get cold either. His heart was beating vigorously, supplying fresh blood. The boy's vigor dispelled the surrounding chill. Qingye took off his cloak, revealing his slender and well-defined upper body.

wind...

Huff... He squinted slightly, feeling the wind passing through his body.

The wind, carrying frost, was soft and whistling, like it was singing.

You haven't named yourself yet.

“Kiyono…” Kiyono Raiming opened his eyes and said, “Feng Yin.”

"The wind whispers through the clear fields."

[Qingye Fengyin]

[Level; 1]

[Daily Existence Time: 1 hour]