The Shogun stayed outside this time.
After experiencing Xia Zhi's strength firsthand, she had no desire to step in again. The outcome was obvious.
Sure enough, a moment later, Xia Zhi walked out. Ei trailed behind, looking just as unsettled as the Shogun had earlier.
Their eyes met, both showing the same helplessness.
"All right," Xia Zhi said. "Looks like that's settled. Let's head back to the internet café."
Ei nodded. "Okay."
The Shogun had no objections. "Mm."
On the way, Xia Zhi asked, "So what brought you two here anyway?"
Ei explained that she had been meditating beneath the Sacred Sakura when, somehow, she drifted into the dream.
"You didn't return to Tenshukaku to be with your sister?" Xia Zhi asked.
Ei shook her head. "She's busy. I didn't want to disturb her. I came here specifically to find you."
"Me? What for?"
"I want to learn cooking. I want to make Liyue dishes, especially Gods' Temptation."
Xia Zhi chuckled. "Planning to cook for your sister, huh?"
"Yes," Ei admitted. "She said she loves Liyue cuisine. Aside from martial skill, I can't do much else. And since there's no need for me to fight wars anymore, I want to help her in other ways."
Xia Zhi smiled. "You're a good little sister."
"So… will you teach me?" Ei asked seriously.
"Of course."
He had the Book of Erudition, already inscribed with the Culinary Grandmaster skill. With it, Ei could instantly reach Xiangling's level.
But… that would be boring.
A god volunteering to be taught? That deserved some proper hands-on instruction—well, "guidance."
"Tomorrow morning I'll be cooking breakfast in the shrine's kitchen," Xia Zhi said. "Come watch and learn."
"All right!" Ei agreed eagerly.
At the internet café, Xia Zhi set up two computers for Ei and the Shogun, letting them game on their own.
Then he slipped into the side room, where Furina and Focalors were waiting.
Their nightly routine.
Furina was lying on the bed, calling for her cousin to give her a Massage.
Xia Zhi laughed, obliged, and chatted with Focalors as he worked—telling her about tonight's events with Ei and the Shogun.
But his purpose wasn't idle talk. He had questions. "Their relationship… feels similar to yours and Furina's."
Focalors thought for a moment. "Similar, yes—but not the same. We're both one body and two souls, but the nature is different. I separated my personality from my godhood. Beelzebul, on the other hand, separated her consciousness from her body. Then she turned her body into a perfect puppet, from which the Raiden Shogun was born as a new soul. A soul like that is bound to have flaws."
"Flaws, huh…"
"Didn't you notice anything different about the Shogun?"
"Well," Xia Zhi said thoughtfully, "she's… mechanical. She only follows rules, with almost no personal feelings."
"Exactly. That's the flaw. Look at Furina—she laughs, she cries, she's a perfect human."
Furina frowned, cutting in. "Human? I'm a true Hydro Archon now. Not some local water god shackled by this world. My power comes from beyond, surpassing all this—"
Focalors rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you've got more water than me. You're amazing."
"Can't you be more ladylike?"
"You keep pretending."
Listening to their bickering, Xia Zhi smiled faintly and focused on his Massage.
--
Morning.
Yaoyao woke up early. After washing up, the little girl carried a long spear outside, where she spotted someone sitting cross-legged beneath the Sacred Sakura.
Huh? Sister Xia Zhen's up this early? …Wait, no. Those clothes… could it be—
Sensing someone's presence, Ei opened her eyes and looked at Yaoyao.
Being met with that calm, distant gaze made the girl's heart tighten a little. She quickly lowered her head, just as her master had taught her, and bowed respectfully. "Good morning, Lady Shogun."
Ei nodded slightly, her voice quiet. "Good morning. You're Yaoyao, right?"
"That's right!"
"What are you here for?"
"I came to practice my spear!"
"Oh. Then go ahead. Don't mind me."
"Okay!"
Even though she was facing an Archon, Yaoyao herself was the disciple of an adeptus, so her temperament stayed steady.
She held her spear and walked to the center of the clearing. After calming her breathing, she began practicing her spear techniques.
At first, Ei assumed that given her age, Yaoyao's skills couldn't be more than beginner level.
But after only a few curious glances, Ei's expression froze, then grew serious.
Because what she saw was spear mastery—already at the level of a true expert.
When Yaoyao finished the set and paused to rest, Ei finally spoke. "Yaoyao, your master is Streetward Rambler, isn't she?"
"Yes!"
"And that spear style you just used—she taught you?"
"No! I figured it out on my own!"
"You came up with it yourself?"
"Mm-hm! I slowly worked it out a few days ago when I was sparring with Noelle!"
Ei looked at her earnest face and sighed inwardly. Liyue's Streetward Rambler had really picked an incredible disciple.
So young, already at the level of a master, and still training diligently every morning. At this rate, she was bound to reach grandmaster one day.
"And who's Noelle?"
"She's a friend I met in Mondstadt."
"How old is she?"
"Two or three years older than me!"
"And she uses a spear too?"
"No, Noelle uses a greatsword."
"You said you sparred with her? Is her swordsmanship that good?"
"Mm! She's amazing. I can't beat her!"
"…."
Ei blinked.
If Yaoyao was telling the truth, then that girl named Noelle was also already at a master's level.
So Mondstadt had such talent as well… Meanwhile, Inazuma was starting to feel a little barren in comparison.
Ei looked back at Yaoyao, then shook her head. "Practicing alone will never match the progress of sparring with others. Since I'm free right now, why don't I give you some guidance?"
Yaoyao froze. "Huh? Lady Shogun…"
"Don't think of me as a god. I just happened to spot a fine jade and couldn't resist carving it a little."
"Then… forgive me!"
…
After a while, Ei sensed something and glanced toward the shrine gates. "That's enough for this morning. It's almost time for breakfast."
"Okay! Thank you for your guidance, Lady Shogun." Yaoyao bowed politely again before leaving with her spear.
Watching the girl's small back fade into the distance, Ei suddenly had the odd thought that taking on such a well-mannered disciple might not be so bad.
She shook her head, vanished, and reappeared at the shrine's entrance. There, she saw Azhdaha, Venti, and two adepti arriving.
"You weren't planning to stay outside overnight?" she asked. "Why so early?"
Azhdaha waved dismissively. "Breakfast outside is terrible. We came to the shrine for a free meal."
"…Free meal?" Ei echoed, stunned.
"We're not too late, are we?" Venti asked.
Ei shook her head. "No."
"Great!" Venti grinned. "Then we'll wait in the dining hall."
The two adepti bowed formally to Ei—respect due to a god—then hurried after Venti and Azhdaha. As they caught up, the group spoke in low voices.
"Did you see Beelzebul's expression just now? She looked… unimpressed."
"It's just a free meal. Nothing shameful about it."
"I think it's pretty shameful."
"Nah, doesn't matter. It's not like that's why we came."
"It's not?"
"Of course not. We came to witness Beelzebul's cooking."
"…Is it really as terrifying as they say?"
"It is."
At that, Venti's eyes carried the shadow of unpleasant memories.
Ei didn't linger outside and instead went straight to the kitchen.
It had just opened. Several chefs were bustling about.
As members of the Grand Narukami Shrine, they naturally recognized Ei. They immediately stopped what they were doing to bow. "Shogun!"
Ei nodded lightly. "I'm only here to look. Continue your work."
"Yes, Shogun!"
Xiangling and Guoba were also there. Xiangling greeted her cheerfully. "Good morning, Lady Shogun!"
"Good morning, Xiangling."
"Would you like something to eat?"
"No. I came to learn cooking from your master."
"Eh? Really? But if it's Master you're looking for, you'll have to wait a bit."
"That's fine. I'll wait here."
Ei stood off to the side, quietly watching Xiangling cook.
Before long, Xia Zhi walked in.
The chefs also greeted him with great respect.
He returned their greetings with a smile.
Ei stepped forward. "As agreed, I'm here to learn."
Xia Zhi nodded. "Good. Watch me cook first, and I'll explain the techniques as I go."
"Understood."
As he prepared breakfast, Xia Zhi explained in detail. As a Culinary Grandmaster, what he taught far outstripped the scraps Ei had once learned from Kitsune Saiguu—much more useful, but also far more difficult.
When breakfast was done, Ei was left in deep thought. Xia Zhi asked, "Learn anything?"
"Some, I think…"
"Then it's your turn."
"Okay."
He stepped aside. Ei took his place and followed his instructions to the letter.
Her steps were all correct. Yet the finished dish… looked indescribably strange.
Xia Zhi tasted it. The flavor was equally impossible to describe.
He set down his chopsticks and thought for a moment. "Try again."
Ei did, carefully.
The result was the same.
Through his special vision, Xia Zhi stared at the plate, and a thought surfaced—Diona.
Back then, Diona often threw random ingredients into her mixes, yet the drinks always turned out excellent.
Ei was the exact opposite. She followed the recipe perfectly, but the results were bizarre.
Diona had the Blessing: [When mixing alcoholic drinks, you will always succeed in creating fine wine.]
Could it be… Ei had something similar, but in reverse?
----
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