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

Faint black lines appeared on the surface of Qingnuo Rock.

Don't take advantage of others!

This female colonel doesn't look like someone to mess with.

"..."

Kiyono Sara seemed a little embarrassed. She shook her head calmly and said softly, "Please don't make fun of me."

"And how does it taste to you?" Miss Fox asked with a smile.

Qingye Suluo paused for a moment before replying:

"It is indeed somewhat different from what Lord Kuji did."

"What does the tofu that I, the priestess, make taste like?"

Miss Shenzi's fox ears drooped lazily, her pale purple eyes gleaming with a faint light. She looked very proud and smug. She leaned lazily on Qing Nuoyan's shoulder, about to say some wicked and strange things.

His cheeks were slightly flushed by the firelight.

The beautiful blush was like a splendid sunset painted on a clean sky.

Her red lips parted slightly, and her breath, thin and warm, drifted into the air, gently caressing Qing Nuoyan's neck.

"Does the fox udon that I, Lord Tsukasa, made taste like my mother's?"

...

The tofu shop fell silent for a moment.

The light rain outside the window pattered against the eaves, making a clear and crisp sound; that was the only sound.

The dark lines on Qingnuoyan's cheeks deepened.

What is the taste of mom's cooking?

My fox sister, what are you talking about?!

I told you not to take advantage of others, how could you still team up and take advantage of others?!

Qing Nuoyan knew that this pink-haired fox was unpredictable in everything she did and said. To put it nicely, she was unconventional; to put it bluntly, she was unconventional and utterly wicked. But she never imagined that she would be so unconventional.

Such an insult—aren't you afraid the samurai will commit seppuku at any moment?

Even more somber-looking than Qing Nuoyan was Miss Ying.

Dark clouds covered the surface of Qingnuo Rock, while the bright red surface was covered by a violent storm.

Like a little lion with its mane bristling, she forcefully pried the fox-like lady off Qing Nuoyan's shoulder. Strands of hair on her forehead cast deep shadows in her eyes as she stared at the languid divine child, her silver teeth grinding together in a threatening, cracking sound.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

"That blond-haired girl, would you like to be my second daughter?"

"you..!"

The pink-haired fox and the yellow-haired girl started bickering again, which Qing Nuoyan was used to—it was a daily occurrence at the tofu shop.

While they were making a ruckus, their faces showing increasing annoyance, Kiyono Sara, the person involved, remained surprisingly calm.

Qing Nuoyan was surprised that even after taking advantage of her like this, she didn't react much, as if she had tacitly agreed.

It really does taste like 'Dad's'.

Kiyono Sara ignored Yae no Miko's strange words. She just stared blankly at the steaming udon and put another piece into her mouth.

She closed her eyes and lowered her head, remaining silent.

Seeing Shaluo's silent demeanor, Qingnuoyan became somewhat worried, wondering if things had gone wrong. So she tentatively asked, "Is it not tasty?"

"call..."

Saro pursed her lips.

She raised her eyes, her bright golden eyes reflecting the boy's clean and earnest face, and a sense of confusion arose in her heart.

Puzzled.

Kiyono Sara had never seen the young appearance of the Pillar of State, nor had she ever seen his youthful temperament. She did not know what that man was like when he was young, or what his personality was like.

Although she was the adopted daughter of the Pillar of State, she only spent ten years with Kiyono Raimei in her life. In her memory, the Pillar of State was always so dignified and calm—in this respect, she was different from Yae no Miko.

She knew nothing about the young Zhuguo, just as most people never know their parents.

Elders are not born elders; before the wild goose cries in the west wind, they too had their youth, with red candles and silk curtains.

It is precisely because of this that the Divine Child and Kiyono Sara have different understandings of Kiyono Rock.

Even better, Kiyono Sara is a taciturn but meticulous warrior.

Of course, she wouldn't conclude that the person in front of her was Kiyono Raimei just because of a bowl of fox udon—that would be too absurd, too far-fetched, and wouldn't conform to the general logic of ordinary people.

The most important reason is that the time she spent with Kiyono Raimei was too short. Ten years is a long time, but it was as short as a moment in the two lifetimes.

She is different from Yae no Miko.

The Divine Child grew up with Kiyono Raimei and was the first friend he met in Inazuma. Even Lord Narukami spent far less time with him than the Divine Child—after all, the latter had spent a hundred years in the Pure Land of One Heart and had not seen that person for a hundred years.

It is precisely this lack of intuition that leads to errors... and perhaps even regrets.

Although she still had a vague feeling that something was reminding her, reason ultimately prevailed.

“Young man.” She paused, gazing intently at Qing Nuoyan, “You have won.”

"what do you mean?"

“It’s delicious.” Kiyono Sara nodded, her golden eyes conveying a serious emotion. “I’m very pleased. You’ve won.”

"Then..." Qing Nuoyan stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening in surprise.

Sara remained kneeling, her hands folded in front of her knees, her straight body lowered, and she slowly lowered her head until her forehead touched the cold tatami mat. This posture is called 'dogeza'.

It is the highest form of courtesy to express apology.

“I apologize,” she said earnestly, “it was my arrogance that insulted you. I have lost, and I submit to your disposal.”

Kiyono Sara is a very serious girl and a very serious samurai. She strictly adheres to the traditional honor of Bushido. To her, the outcome of any duel, even a cooking duel, is sacred and inviolable.

The loser must accept their defeat.

Her frank and solemn demeanor made Qing Nuoyan quite embarrassed, and he seemed a little at a loss: "Ah... don't be like this, get up quickly... I don't have any requests, just being able to stay here is enough."

"Let me stay here—stay at this tofu shop." Qing Nuoyan smiled. "I'd be happy if you didn't kick me out."

“Your magnanimity makes me ashamed.” Kiyono Sara slowly straightened up. “I promise that no more shogunate troops will bother you.”

"Since you feel ashamed, then do me a favor."

At this moment, Miss Fox suddenly said, "This fox is really good at climbing up the pole by feeling around: 'Sara, do us a favor.'"

"...Please don't make fun of me," Kiyono Sara said quietly.

"Do me a favor... find out about the Fatui's plans, especially that executor called 'Lady'." Yae no Miko said, "You are the Shadow's attendant, so it shouldn't be difficult for you to find out some secrets."

"A hidden secret?" Kiyono Sara was somewhat puzzled.

"About this guy," Miss Fox pointed at Qingnuoyan, "you need to find out why the lady is looking for him."

"Is the lady looking for him?"

"To be honest, this guy is an illegal immigrant, and the Fools are after him."

Yae no Miko has decided to reveal some information about Seinoan to Sara.

"His real name is Qing Nuoyan, not Qing Shui Nuoyan."

Of course, this is only partial information.

Since she couldn't guess Qing Nuoyan's true identity, Yae no Miko naturally wouldn't reveal it, because Qingye Zhuguo had offended too many enemies in his life. If his enemies knew that the Zhuguo had now become a boy, there would inevitably be endless trouble.

The fewer people who know about this, the better.

More importantly, Yae no Miko didn't want to be entangled by the troublesome karma of the past anymore. That old codger had been the Pillar of State for five hundred years; it was time for him to retire.

However, Yae no Miko felt that she was no longer the annoying cause and effect of the past, and that the standards for a scoundrel fox were always very flexible.

She gazed at Kiyono Sara.

She is a trustworthy person.

Pure warriors are trustworthy, especially since she had just incurred a huge favor.

When facing an unknown enemy, one should naturally make use of everything that is available.

“I will investigate.” Kiyono Sara nodded slightly.

"Oh, right." Miss Fox drooped her ears. Cherry blossoms were falling in the rain outside the window. She looked up at the cherry blossom rain, was silent for a while, and then suddenly said, "Don't let Ying know about this either."

"We mustn't let Lord Narukami know...?"

"right."

The Divine Child nodded. "Don't let Shadow know anything... about the existence of Qingnuoyan, the plans of the Fatui, or the Lady's purpose... don't tell Shadow anything."

Because the current film is unfamiliar.

Very strange.

This was the only thing she didn't trust about Ying.

“I’m sorry, but it’s difficult for me to agree to that.” Kiyono Sara shook his head. “I am now a subject of Narukami and cannot do anything to deceive my lord.”

“Not lying is not deception.” Yae no Miko was eloquent. “As long as she doesn’t ask about these things, you shouldn’t tell her proactively—that should be achievable, right?”

Saro gently bit her thin lips and nodded with difficulty, "But what if Your Majesty asks about it?"

"Then go ahead and tell her. If that's the case, I'll be relieved."

Yae no Miko smiled with a hint of self-deprecation. "But why would she care?"

"She is still that shadow, that Narukami-sama on the castle tower. Narukami-sama has never looked at mortals."

Whether it's Kiyono Iwa or Kiyono Raimei, they're all like that.

Like a child, she always waits for someone to come to her.

She thought to herself.