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

It was buried under the sacred cherry tree.

As Qingnuo Rock shed its last handful of yellow earth, dusk was approaching. The true sunset and the sunset created by the vibrant cherry blossoms overlapped, thickly covering the branches of the sacred cherry tree. Beyond the sunset was a pale blue sky, where stars could be faintly seen.

According to his promise to Ying, it was time for him to go home.

"Are you hungry?" Qing Nuoyan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said to Hua Sanli, "Do you want something to eat? I'm a great cook."

Hana Sanri shook her head. "I don't need to eat. I'm not hungry."

"But eating is not just about relieving hunger."

Qing Nuoyan said earnestly, "I have always felt that being able to patiently savor a delicious meal is a very happy thing. The reason why three meals a day are so precious is that in the daily routine of regular meals, in the rising smoke from the kitchen, you can feel that you are alive—feel that you are living."

"Do you think I'm alive?" Hana Sanri paused, taken aback.

"nonsense."

Qing Nuoyan said without looking up, "Of course you're alive."

Of course you're alive.

Hana Sanri's eyes flickered slightly.

"In short, let's go back to the tofu shop and have a good meal first," Qing Nuoyan said. "Then find your friends—the Divine Child should be the easiest to find. Take your time with the others."

"I see." She tilted her head and smiled.

She liked seeing Qing Nuoyan like this, so confident, as if nothing could stump him.

They chatted as they walked down the mountain, their shadows bathed in the setting sun.

Whom do you plan to find next?

“Lily of the Drawer,” Qing Nuoyan pondered. “He is from the same clan as Qingye Saluo. With that connection, we should be able to find him.”

...

"Hmm, where's Ying?"

"Should I try writing a letter?" Qing Nuoyan said, troubled. "I should at least give it a try, shouldn't I?"

"I see."

.

.

P.S.: Phew, time for another nap!

I need to ask for leave tomorrow because of my calligraphy certificate exam.

null

Chapter 128 "Having heard the most deafening thunder, I could hear no other sounds."

The maple leaves burned like fire in the evening.

A few patches of sunlight dappled through the gaps in the fine maple leaves. As the maple leaves swayed in the wind, the patches of sunlight also shimmered and danced. In the song and dance garden of Narukami Taisha Shrine, the maple leaves and the setting sun created a desolate autumnal hue.

This was a very grand gathering.

It was also a competition, or rather, a dance performance.

Before His Holiness Narukami.

Kiyono Raimei lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze calm and still. He knelt on the other side of the courtyard, a katana covered with layers of lightning patterns lying across his knees. He wore a plain white kimono, and the dim yellow shadows of maple leaves fell on his snow-white sleeves, making the young man look like a painting.

Ten years have passed, and he has changed a lot since he first started out.

The nobles who had attended the grand banquet sat around the courtyard, especially the women of their respective noble families. They watched the handsome young man in the center of the stage with admiration and let out soft sighs of praise.

A slender, pale index finger gently touched the hilt of the knife. Qingye hummed a song softly, a smile seemingly playing on her lips.

"Ready?"

A clear and resolute female voice.

Directly opposite Kiyono Raimei is Mikoto Chiyo.

The beautiful oni girl tilted her head, her long, flowing hair cascading down to the other side, revealing her smooth, delicate neck. She also had a smile on her lips—a slightly excited smile. Kiyono Raimei could see the white canine teeth showing between the slightly upturned corners of her mouth.

Mikoto Chiyo wore the traditional Inazuma 'twelve-layered kimono', the most elaborate and intricate attire, perfectly suited for this splendid and magnificent festival.

A katana was also lying across her lap.

For Kiyono Raimei, the beautiful young woman in front of him was his dance partner.

And this dance performance was a sword dance.

They offered a dance to Narukami.

As the most extraordinary person on the high platform, who wields eternal thunder, gave the signal, heavy drumbeats sounded, a courtesan played a sansou zither, maple leaves began to flutter, and Qingye Leiming drew his sword, the young man's figure leaving many afterimages as he spun to the beat of the drums, his snow-white robes floating among the scattered maple leaves, his katana wrapped in thunder slashing through the air.

Zheng.

The lightning dissipated, and a crimson longsword blocked the boy's path.

The demon girl's long hair was loose, and she walked barefoot on the stone slabs covered with maple leaves. The twelve demons trailed in the air like crimson clouds, which made her look even more beautiful and gorgeous.

The demon girl and Kiyono Raimei were very close, their breaths almost mingling.

“You’ve become more amazing than before.” Mikoto Chiyo whispered into Kiyono Raimei’s ear, her crimson eyes sparkling with excitement, “I’m really looking forward to it.”

"We eagerly await your sword dance, Kiyono Raimei."

For the War Ghost, this was the thing he looked forward to the most.

Zheng.

The drumbeats started again.

Kiyono Raimei turned his katana around, took a step forward, lowered his body, and faint lightning snakes slithered along the blade; Mikoto Chiyo was not to be outdone, she took a slight step back with her bare feet, pressed her soft hand against the blade, and slashed out with a horizontal cut.

Clang, clang, clang.

Razer's katana and Maple's katana collided in mid-air time and time again, sparks flying from their impact.

Their speed increased, and gradually, the frequency of the sparks rose higher and higher. The sparks strung together, and the two of them could no longer be seen. Only the brilliant firelight, like maple leaves in full bloom, could be seen!

The trail of lightning across the sky is the shortest and most dazzling, while the traces of falling maple leaves are the most serene and eerie. Ironically, the dance of lightning and maple leaves is perfectly synchronized, and thunder roars and maple leaves seem to be ablaze in the Shinsakura Shrine.

The entire audience erupted in cheers.

The warriors in the stands erupted in thunderous cheers. For them, witnessing such a magnificent and spectacular contest was truly a life well-lived.

Zheng.

During a clash of blades, a flickering spark briefly illuminated both of their faces.

Kiyono Raimei noticed the oni girl's smile.

She laughed heartily and contentedly, her laughter truly radiant, fine beads of sweat scattering in the air, rustling softly.

"Kiyono Raimei, we are delighted!"

"I'm very happy too."

"Kiyono Raimei said softly."

The crimson blade raised a maple leaf, which then fell down with it.

Miyuki Chiyo's crimson eyes reflected Kiyono Raimei's face. In the instant that the blades clashed and sparks flew, Kiyono Raimei suddenly heard Miyuki Chiyo say softly, "Would you be interested in marrying into the Miyuki family?"

The words are not surprising and die endlessly.

...Kiyono Raimei almost lost his breath.

He looked at Mikoto Chiyo and found that the latter looked very serious, her red face reflecting the maple leaves like frost.

"What...?"

"We must revitalize the Oni clan—this is our dream." Mikoto Chiyo's logic was straightforward. "Naturally, we need the strongest offspring, and you are the most powerful man in Inazuma."

“I’m not going to breed,” Kiyono Raimei said in a low voice, “because let’s forget about it.”

"There are other reasons too."

The demon girl smiled as maple leaves fell one after another, "I really like your sword dance, and you like mine too, right? After we join the Yu Yu family, we can dance together."

Kiyono Raimei was stunned.

For some reason, he subconsciously glanced at a certain spot on the high platform, at the highest and most terrifying person in the world, who was watching the dance. He paused, then seriously refused, saying, "...I am a servant."

...This sword dance seems to be dedicated to her.

"Is that so?"

Chiyo didn't seem discouraged at all; she always had that carefree demeanor, just like a samurai should be... She smiled and said, "That's a real pity, our lineage is about to end."

"It can't be that bad," Kiyono Raimei paused.

“Because there is no more skilled samurai than you.” Red maple leaves fell and rose again, and Mikoto Chiyo walked barefoot in the dance of maple leaves, her eyes as bright as spring sunshine. “And there is no sword dance like yours.”

"After hearing the loudest thunder, you can't hear any other sounds."

Zheng.

The strings of the zither rang out.

The lightning was briefly thrown into disarray.

"what."

Mikoto Chiyo's eyes gleamed, as if she had noticed something and seized the opportunity. The crimson blade sliced ​​upwards, along the gap in Kiyono Raimei's blade, piercing through the only opening. Maple leaves passed through the sea of ​​lightning and lightly brushed against Kiyono Raimei's cheek.

The scarlet sword hovered near Kiyono Raimei's cheek.

The world seemed to fall silent.

"Phew..." Chiyo laughed, "We've won, we've won."

She was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Your swordplay faltered for a moment, wavered for a moment, didn't it? Ah? Is that so?"

Kiyono Raimei said calmly, "...It was just a momentary lapse in attention. I was startled by you."