He changed Tiwat

Upon seeing the photo framed in the viewfinder, both Ying and Paimon couldn't help but admire it.

In the photo, Ying sits sideways under a cherry blossom tree, surrounded by falling petals, with distant mountains like dark eyebrows behind her; she holds her hair in a braid with one hand and a tassel in the other, slightly raising her eyes to look at the camera, her expression a mix of surprise and shyness, like a young girl getting ready who has unexpectedly met someone...

If Ying and Paimon had also read the book of ancient poems left by Gu Hua, they would probably recall a poem called "Bodhisattva's Charm"—

"Small hills overlap, their golden light shimmering; her hair, like clouds, seems to brush against her snowy cheeks. She lazily rises to paint her eyebrows, her makeup and dressing taking her time."

—The pose that Han Fulai had Ying strike perfectly captured this mood.

The impressions people usually get from Lei's movies are "majestic generals", "solemn warriors", "powerful gods"... Such impressions often make people overlook the "feminine" aspects of her.

Even Ying and Paimon mostly experienced the "Thunder General" side when they came into contact with Ying, but the one recorded in this photo was not the god known as the "Thunder General", but a girl named Thunder Movie.

"That's because the source material itself is good; your photos would look just as good too," Han Fulai said modestly, explaining that he had simply taken a regular photo.

However, to be honest, his photography skills are probably among the top few on the Teyvat continent—the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, the use of light and shadow, and the interaction between the model and the camera... That photo actually contains a lot of professional photography knowledge from Earth.

As for why Han Fulai is such a good photographer… any guy who has dated a Chinese girl will become a photography and photo editing expert. This is especially true for guys with a strong survival instinct who don't want to be labeled "straight male photographers" and criticized online.

Hearing their praises, Ying also curiously came over to watch the images on the "projector".

Upon seeing the photo, she almost couldn't recognize herself: "Is this me?"

Since it was her first time taking photos, Ying's expressions and movements were quite stiff, like a young actor just starting out who doesn't know where to put their hands and feet in front of the camera—at least she herself felt that her awkward appearance just now probably didn't look good. But Han Fulai captured the most perfect moment, preserving Ying's posture in the most natural way.

So, I can be as beautiful as my sister...

This is Ying's most genuine feeling at this moment.

Although they are twins, Kage, as a "shadow warrior," has never paid much attention to his appearance.

The word "beautiful" has always been used to describe her older sister.

Lightning is truly the "goddess of life" in Inazuma, the light in people's hearts, and she should certainly be the most beautiful being in Inazuma.

As the elder sister's shadow, Ying always silently plays the role of the green leaf next to the flower.

A martial artist's attire should be simple and lightweight; ornate twelve-layered kimonos, elegant oil-paper umbrellas, and elaborate pearl headdresses are not things a martial artist needs.

Although Shin and Kosai-no-miya had tried to persuade Kage before, Kage felt that she should be different from her sister, so she insisted on a life completely devoid of dressing up. Even after she succeeded to the position of shogun, Kage maintained an extremely simple personal life.

He wore no more than eight sets of clothes for all four seasons, ate no more than five flavors, and slept on no more than one bed... These are all true reflections of his life.

However, at this moment she felt a strange sense of regret, regretting that she had never learned how to dress up and do her hair...

This is probably the commonality among women across the multiverse—no matter which world a woman is in, when taking a photo, she only wants to capture her most beautiful side.

To hide her inner turmoil, Ying quickly changed the subject: "This machine is amazing. It seems to be able to replicate everything we see... The actions on the screen are exactly the same, the scenery is exactly the same, as if that moment in time has been frozen in this machine... How does it do that?"

“That’s what makes it so amazing, that’s why I said it’s the best souvenir.” Paimon said smugly, raising his nose.

"Wait, I still don't quite understand the principle behind it. Could you explain it a bit more?" Ying looked eager to learn.

Paimon scratched her head sheepishly. She had used a phonograph before, but that was all she knew how to use it. It would be a bit much for her to explain the imaging principle of a camera.

"This... is beyond my ability to answer. Luminous, it's up to you!" Paimon passed the baton to the knowledgeable traveler.

The well-traveled traveler, hands on hips, exclaimed, "That's science! The specific scientific principles... well, we happen to have someone here working at the Liyue Academy of Sciences..."

Han, who established the Liyue Academy of Arts, couldn't help but chuckle. Who told you that working in the Academy of Arts makes you a scientist? There are administrative positions in the Academy of Arts too!

Of course, if you really want him to explain the principle, he does understand it, after all, Xavier has talked to him quite a bit.

The operating principle of this "projector" is similar to that of old-fashioned cameras on Earth, also using convex lenses and a darkroom to create an image. To put it simply, it's all basic junior high school physics. If necessary, he could even recite the mnemonic for convex lens imaging to the projector, such as "One focal length distinguishes between real and virtual images, two focal lengths distinguish between large and small images; virtual images are upright on the same side, real images are inverted on opposite sides"...

But to explain these things, he would have to go all the way from "pinhole imaging" to "lens imaging"—it would take at least a dozen class periods to explain them in a few simple sentences.

Moreover, it's clear that the shadow wasn't really there for an optics class.

Therefore, Han Fulai simply summarized the function of this machine in one sentence: "This machine has indeed frozen that moment in time into this photograph... It can turn a fleeting instant into 'eternity'."

Ying suddenly opened her eyes wide.

This machine can turn a fleeting moment into "eternity"?

Han Fulai smiled and patted the "projector": "We can develop the photos we just took and make them into prints for you. The beautiful scene of that moment will be preserved in the prints forever, and the memory of that moment will also be passed down with the prints. Whenever you see the prints, you will be able to recall the scene."

"Furthermore, this machine can not only capture still images, but also record your movements and voice, preserving all of these as 'images.' Currently, due to technological limitations, this machine can only record about an hour of 'images,' but technology will continue to advance, and we will be able to create many more of these recordings in the future..."

“You see, without any ‘power of time,’ humanity can make what is merely a fleeting dream last forever.”

"This is also what I want to tell you—in the process of pursuing a better life, humanity has always been able to create many great achievements that even the gods could not have imagined. 'Humanity has its own unique strengths,' doesn't it?"

“‘Human beings have their own inherent qualities’…” Ying silently repeated Han Fulai’s words.

The "projector" right in front of us seems to be the best illustration of this statement.

As Ying gazed at the "projector," the words the Divine Child had spoken to her in the "Pure Land of One Heart" echoed in her ears once more—

“Shadow… In the five hundred years you’ve been in seclusion, you’ve missed so much, so many things… So… you don’t know that in these five hundred years, humanity has been moving forward continuously, leaving you, who had stopped, far behind.”

Hesitant and stagnant, she seems to have truly been left far behind by humanity.

In the past, she might have felt annoyed by this, but now she only feels relieved.

She can now admit without any reservation that she was indeed wrong in the past.

At the same time, she felt a sense of relief—because it was not too late to realize her mistake, and she still had enough time to accompany her people to find new possibilities.

She will have the opportunity to see a bright future created by the possibilities of humanity.

“I… I think I understand.” Ying sighed softly. “Alas, you have witnessed my clumsiness. You may not realize it, but these things have truly challenged my understanding… Along this journey with you, I have witnessed things that were completely beyond my comprehension.”

"If we define it by these things, then the Inazuma of today is completely different from my impression of her. But we can't say that the Inazuma of today is no longer Inazuma, can we?"

Han Fulai smiled and nodded.

The fact that Yingzhen could say these things shows that she has really figured things out, so today's "shopping trip" can be considered a complete success, right?

"'Eye Hunting Order', 'Thousand-Handed Hundred-Eyed God Image', these things are all for the purpose of giving birth to 'Eternity'... But if I really achieve that 'Eternity', none of this story will happen."

As Ying spoke, she bowed deeply to the three of them.

"I want to thank you again for pulling me back from the wrong path."

“I now understand what kind of ‘eternal’ path I should pursue.”

The future was already crystal clear in her mind.

Ying and Paimon exchanged a smile.

"Today's bodyguard duty was worthwhile."

"My role as a tour guide was also very valuable!"

"No, no, Paimon, all you do is shop and eat, right?"

"Hey, aren't you the same way!"

Amidst the laughter, Ying posed a question to the three: "How many people's images can this machine capture?"

Paimon immediately understood Shadow's meaning: "Shadow, do you want a 'photo'?"

"'Group photo'... yeah, it's a group photo." Ying readily accepted yet another new term this time.

Taking photos, group photos... it all seems to be related to her name.

"of course can."

Han Fulai quickly adjusted the timed camera function of the "projector" and then called everyone to stand in a row under the cherry tree.

Five hundred years ago, right under this cherry tree, Kage drank with her sister, Kitsui-no-miya, and Mikoto Chiyo, enjoying a fleeting moment of beauty together.

Five hundred years later, under the same cherry tree, four friends gathered together again.

This time, the moment will become eternity.

The four of them stood together under the cherry tree, smiling at the camera.

After his "incognito visit," Han Fulai took the "film camera" by boat to Bayun Island to find Xavier to develop the photos he had taken that day. He had arranged with Ying to frame the photos and give them to her as a lasting keepsake.

In addition, over the next few days, Sara will be coming to Hachiyun Island with official documents from the shogunate to discuss the "Umigi Special Zone" with Shinkai. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, he will also need to remain on Hachiyun Island to mediate.

Ying and Paimon naturally continued their journey to Narukami Island; there were still many beautiful places outside Inazuma Castle that they hadn't visited yet.

Meanwhile, Shadow returned to the castle tower and began adjusting the general's "underlying code".

She condensed all her thoughts and insights from today into this adjustment.

That very night, the shadow in meditation vanished into a beautiful dream.

It seemed as if only she remained in the world, along with another "self" that existed like a mirror image.

"General...?" Ying looked at the "self" in front of her with some confusion.

Generally speaking, a general's consciousness does not enter the "Pure Land of the Mind," so their communication is mostly a dialogue within their consciousness. The current situation is an example of the general and her having a dialogue within their consciousness.

However, the former general would only make sounds and would not directly reveal his form.

This is the principle that the General adheres to as the "Eternal" assistant—she is the "Shadow Warrior" of the Shadow, so she has always just followed orders and there is naturally no need for her to show herself to emphasize her "self".

But the general seems different tonight.

The puppet general's voice, like a sigh, flowed into her ears: "The 'eternity' you hold dear has been shaken by the myriad 'wishes' of the people. Therefore, you are now my enemy."

“…I see.” Ying instantly understood the situation.

Even when creating the doll, Shadow had considered all the potential dangers.

After experiencing too many losses, Ying once thought that she herself would "wear down" one day in the future, so the worst case was that she herself might one day become a threat to "eternity".

But her determination to save Inazuma was just as strong then as it is now—she had to move forward, she had to reach "eternity".

This will cannot be stopped by any external force.

Therefore, when she tried to modify the general's "underlying code" today, she also triggered the "defense mechanism" she had left behind.

The doll's words are a reflection of her past, a self-examination:

"You believe you are more determined now than you were in the past, so you are right now. Is that right?"

"Have you come up with new ideas now, or have you suffered irresistible 'wear and tear'?"

The same faces tell different stories.

The battle with oneself and with the past is bound to come sooner or later.

But not today.

Ying knew very well that she was not ready yet.

Her mind was clear and tranquil, she had already reached a state of no thought... but when she heard the people's cries, she stopped in her tracks.

The mirror is no longer clear and empty; the hall of selflessness is now filled with the cawing of crows.

As dawn breaks, the samurai will take up her sword.

This dream seemed both real and unreal, like a bubble in the sky.

Chapter 216 The Disappearance of the Eightfold Son of God [4k]

This time, Han Fulai stayed on Bayun Island for nearly a week.

If you had to say what he did this week, it would be—a lot of meetings.

After the war ends, the problems left over from the war must be resolved one by one.

For example, the formal characterization of this civil war, the handover of land between Hachiyū Island and Kannazuka Island, which were occupied by Umijima Island, whether Umijima Island should retain armed forces and how many armed forces it should retain, the delineation of the "Umijima Special Zone" and the powers and responsibilities of the head of the Shinkai Special Zone, etc...

Although many things were agreed upon before the meeting, there were still many details that needed to be carefully discussed by both parties.

In addition, Umijima itself had different beliefs from the shogunate and had accumulated grievances during the war. Both sides' negotiation teams had some radical "hawks" who advocated more radical views, making it particularly difficult to reconcile their opinions.

For example, many officials on the shogunate side advocated that the Shinkai should retreat to Kaigi Island and strictly adhere to the boundary established two thousand years ago; correspondingly, many generals on Kaigi Island claimed that using the remains of the snake god to create "Tamagang" was an injury to the Kaigi people and that "Mikage Furnace" should be destroyed immediately, or at least managed by the Kaigi people.

These conflicts, in addition to overt verbal disputes, are also manifested in covert underhanded actions.

During the talks, there were even serious incidents such as soldiers from both sides secretly assassinating each other's commanders and planting explosives at the meeting site.

The good news is that Han Fulai was prepared for this.

He now holds the Treaty of the Sea of ​​Love and also serves as the Minister of the Interior of the Inazuma Shogunate. It can be said that he has "interests" in both sides, so of course he will not allow anyone to disrupt this meeting.

Moreover, in his eyes, the "enemy" who would sabotage the talks at this time was actually very clear.

The Fools lost two executives in Inazuma, as well as the "Evil Eye Factory" and "Crystallized Bone Marrow." They were also ordered by the general to expel diplomats and merchants. It can be said that their years of hard work were wiped out in one fell swoop. It is impossible for them not to feel resentful.

At the same time, Han Fulai also believed that since there was a "Mr. N" in the resistance army, there must also be a "Mr. M" in the shogunate. Judging from the extent of the collusion between the Kujo family and the Hiiragi family and the "ladies", it is clear that the Inazuma shogunate has been infiltrated by the Fools for more than just a year or two.