After activating the teleport anchor, Lu Chen and Miko were transported to Mt. Yougou, northeast of Narukami Island.
Upon landing, Miko sighed softly.
"With this teleportation device, traveling anywhere will be so much more convenient."
But after she spoke, she noticed Lu Chen hadn't responded for a while. Turning to him, she saw he was scanning their surroundings with a wary expression.
"What's wrong?"
"I sense a..." Lu Chen frowned deeply. "...a sinister aura."
"Here?" Miko was visibly surprised. This was the Grand Narukami Shrine's territory, protected by divine power.
Lu Chen nodded. Ever since becoming a demigod, his perception had heightened significantly. He could extend his consciousness outward—far enough to reach near Konda Village from here.
And now, he could clearly sense a faint, tainted aura spreading near the foot of the mountain. It wasn't the corruption of malevolent spirits—it was something even more threatening.
"Come with me." He gave Miko a glance, then disappeared in a flash, heading straight toward the source of the disturbance.
The two stopped near the roots of the Sacred Sakura at the mountain's base, and sure enough, a pack of Rift Hounds was prowling nearby.
"It's actually these things..." Miko's usual casualness faded into seriousness.
The sight immediately brought back grim memories of the "Pitch-Black Calamity" that ravaged Inazuma five hundred years ago—when these endless beasts roamed unchecked across the islands, taking countless lives.
"The border's growing more unstable," Lu Chen muttered. That wasn't a good sign. It meant the laws of the Heavenly Principles were weakening.
"Protect the roots of the Sacred Sakura, now!" Miko's voice turned urgent. The Sacred Sakura had always purified the filth of the land—if its roots were damaged, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Without wasting words, Lu Chen drew the last remaining Primordial Energy Traveler's Handy Sword and charged straight at the Rift Hounds.
The creatures howled harshly as they spotted him.
Their figures suddenly vanished into the pitch-black mist, warping space around them. In the blink of an eye, they reappeared—massive claws slashing toward him.
But Lu Chen didn't activate his usual Jade Shield. Against these Abyss-born beasts from beyond the "boundary," elemental defenses were useless.
Instead, he unleashed the full power of his Primordial Energy—blue light flaring brightly.
The light from the sword extended upward until it seemed he was wielding a giant blade several dozen meters long. Holding his breath and focusing his strength, Lu Chen slashed down hard on the pack.
With a single swing, all the monsters caught in its path were dissolved by the radiant blue energy, leaving deep ravines carved into the earth.
But several Rift Hounds remained—they were more cunning. They vanished again, launching attacks from every angle in a coordinated ambush.
"Watch out!" Miko called out anxiously.
Lu Chen, knowing the nature of Primordial Energy, recalled what worked last time. He stabbed the Handy Sword into the ground.
Primordial Energy took shape around him, forming a radiant aura of purification. The blue light expanded outward, enveloping both him and Miko.
The ambushing Rift Hounds slammed straight into the barrier and shrieked as they were repelled.
The battle ended quickly. As Lu Chen sheathed the Handy Sword, he surveyed the scorched earth. Only corrupted soil remained—the Rift Hound corpses had completely vanished.
Even after eliminating the threat, the two remained uneasy and continued patrolling the base of Mt. Yougou for some time.
Once they were sure no other monsters were present, they finally relaxed and began ascending toward the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Along the way, both of them were lost in thought.
Miko glanced at Lu Chen.
"The Pitch-Black Calamity won't happen again... will it?"
"To be honest, I don't know." Lu Chen looked up at the sky. The increasing instability of the boundary suggested something was happening beyond it.
"This kind of disruption will definitely keep happening. You should stay alert."
Miko nodded.
"When we get back, I'll have Ako and Hotaru monitor any changes around Mt. Yougou more closely. The Sacred Sakura has been purifying the land since ancient times. During the Calamity, it protected us all. We can't let anything happen to it."
"Since ancient times, huh..." Lu Chen looked at Miko.
"Yeah... I know what you're thinking." A trace of confusion crossed Miko's face.
"You and Ei always said the Sacred Sakura didn't originally exist. But in my memory, it's always been here—growing since ancient times. It's strange... Could my memory be wrong?"
"Your memory isn't wrong. Neither is ours," Lu Chen said with a shake of his head. "It's a distortion in the flow of time. A higher being interfered—someone helped us."
"Time... and a higher being..." Miko murmured, lost in thought.
As they chatted, the front gate of the Grand Narukami Shrine came into view. A young girl in red and white shrine maiden attire ran up excitedly.
"Lady Yae, you're finally back! Where have you been all this time?"
"Ah, Ako~" Miko smiled and instantly returned to her usual playful demeanor.
She gently patted Ako's head, leaving the girl both flustered and thrilled.
"I went to a magical world," Miko said teasingly. "A world full of light novels! I got so hooked I didn't want to come back~"
"Really?! There's such a place? That sounds amazing!" As Yae Miko's biggest fan, Ako naturally believed every word without question.
But not everyone was so gullible. Inoue Hotaru also walked over, visibly annoyed.
"While you were gone, there was no one to oversee the festival—we were swamped! Now that you're back, you better not disappear again!"
Miko just smiled, eyes squinting playfully. She didn't mention she'd be gone again in a few days.
"You've all worked hard while I was away. As a reward, I'll treat you to something delicious~"
"Something delicious?" The other shrine maidens looked at her curiously. She clearly wasn't carrying anything.
Then Miko turned her gaze to Lu Chen, her smile growing wider.
All eyes shifted to the unfamiliar man who had arrived with Lady Yae.
Ako was shocked—Miko had never brought a man to the shrine before. She stared at Lu Chen, sizing him up.
Lu Chen clicked his tongue, clearly displeased.
"So I'm just the Grand Narukami Shrine's chef now? Weren't we only supposed to make some fried tofu?"
Miko gave him a sidelong glance, smiling sweetly.
"I've been helping you these past few days—contacting allies, navigating social obligations... it's been exhausting. Can't you at least do this one little thing for me?"
"Hmph, you're asking for way too much." Lu Chen glanced at the shrine maidens. Honestly, staying here and cooking for this many pretty girls didn't sound bad—but his time was far too valuable.
Miko's emotional switch was instant. She feigned heartbreak.
"I knew it... not even this small request... But Ei told me you used to cook for your blonde travel companion every day... So I really don't mean anything to you, huh... sniff sniff..."
"Ugh..." Lu Chen was speechless. Why did everyone keep bringing up Lumine? That was totally different!
While the two bantered back and forth, the shrine maidens watched in stunned silence.
They had never seen Lady Yae express such a range of emotions toward anyone besides the Raiden Shogun—especially not a man.
This was truly... a rare sight to behold.
"Alright, alright..." Lu Chen waved his hand in resignation.
"Fine, I'll do it."
Miko glanced at her subordinates—still frozen in shock and whispering among themselves—then returned to her usual unreadable smile.
"Okay, enough gawking. Dismissed for now. I'll meet you all in the main hall shortly—there's something important I need to discuss."
"Yes..." The shrine maidens reluctantly dispersed, still wearing confused expressions.
"If I tell them I'm leaving again soon... I bet Hotaru will throw a fit," Miko said with a helpless smile.
"So your plan is to bribe them with food?" Lu Chen immediately saw through her ploy. "You really know how to handle them, huh?"
"I don't have a choice!" Miko said as she walked into the courtyard, heading toward the Sacred Sakura Tree.
Lu Chen paused under the tree, looking up. The Sacred Sakura's branches were thick and full, its pink blossoms like a canopy sheltering the ancient Grand Narukami Shrine.
In the quiet air, a gentle breeze swept through. Petals drifted down, carried softly on the wind.
He knew, with how things were progressing, he'd soon meet that old friend again.
"I really do miss the days when she was still here..." Miko murmured, eyes clouded with emotion.
"Yeah," Lu Chen replied softly.