Grand Narukami Shrine.
Since the Sakoku Decree, this was perhaps the only place in all Inazuma that still retained its beauty.
Soft pink cherry blossoms fluttered freely in the wind, drifting gently across the land.
The thunderclouds above seemed to deliberately overlook this place—or perhaps this was the Raiden Shogun's one sliver of tenderness toward an old friend.
Within the shrine, shrine maidens swept and cleaned in peace. Unlike the lifeless, puppet-like people elsewhere in Inazuma, they still lived quietly and contentedly.
Such tranquility did not distract Kujou Sara. She had no time for such things.
The shrine maiden guiding her stopped at the corridor of the rear garden and bowed.
"Lady Yae awaits you inside, General Kujou. Please, go ahead."
Sara passed her silently and stepped into the courtyard.
The first sight that met her eyes was the towering, luxuriant Sacred Sakura, its blossoms blotting out the sun. Legend had it that this divine tree was planted by the Raiden Shogun herself, saving Inazuma from the darkness of demonic beasts. Later, her closest friend Yae Miko became its caretaker.
Yet somehow, over time, the tree had grown into the shape of a fox.
The current Guuji even had the gall to justify it, citing a Liyue saying: "One who stays close to cinnabar becomes red."
Sara withdrew her gaze and looked toward the pink-haired fox beneath the tree, brandishing a giant pair of scissors.
One who stays close to cinnabar becomes red?
Anyone who believed that was a fool.
But she did not comment. This was Yae Miko's domain. If even the Shogun ignored her antics, Sara saw no reason to interfere.
"Lady Yae."
Seeing Yae Miko ignore her, Sara called in a low, firm voice.
Yae turned her head, feigning surprise, hurriedly hiding her scissors as if caught in mischief.
"Oh my, General Kujou, you're here. Sit, sit."
Sara paid no mind to the Guuji's theatrics. She knew her well—an incorrigible trickster. Every word, every gesture was meant only to amuse herself with others' reactions.
"What news do you have, Lady Yae? If you only wish to toy with me, forgive me—I've no time. The army requires my attention."
Yae pouted, propping her chin on one hand as she knelt languidly on the tatami, exuding a languorous, foxy charm.
"General Kujou is still as boring as ever. Spending time with someone like you is exhausting."
Sara remained silent, her eyes fixed on her.
"Let me guess. You received Liyue's reply—the Tianquan Star brushed you off. You were worried and angry, ready to report to your Shogun… but then remembered she cares only for Eternity. She wouldn't listen, and might even scold you. Correct?"
Sara replied evenly,
"So you summoned me here only to flaunt your intelligence network? If so, I advise you to hand it over to the shogunate and focus it on the resistance instead."
"What intelligence network? I wouldn't know a thing about that." Yae's smile widened.
"Just simple deduction."
Sara glanced at the sky, rose to her feet, and said,
"If wasting my time was your goal, you've succeeded. But next time, Lady Yae, find someone else to amuse yourself with."
She turned to leave. Yae sipped her tea leisurely, utterly unbothered.
Just as Sara reached the corridor's exit, Yae's voice drifted softly behind her:
"Tell me, General Kujou—have you heard? Recently, Liyue's people have been speaking fervently of the Path of Immortality."
Sara froze. After a moment, she asked gravely,
"In a locked-down Inazuma, how would you hear tales from Liyue? And how does this relate to that thunderstorm?"
"But of course."
Yae's smile deepened.
"Why, didn't your letter say it? The Geo Lord passed his tribulation."
"Absurd!" Sara snorted.
"The Geo Archon has lived over six thousand years. Never once has there been word of a tribulation. Lady Yae, perhaps you should spend less time on frivolous novels."
"Oh? What a pity." Yae stroked her hair idly, eyes sparkling as they lingered on Sara's back.
"I thought a message from my dear elder sister Ganyu might pique your interest."
Sara stiffened, then spun around sharply.
"Ganyu—the half-adeptus who served as Liyue Qixing's secretarial pillar for a thousand years?"
"I thought you had no interest in my information?" Yae teased with a mischievous grin.
Sara's patience frayed.
"If you found my earlier attitude offensive, I apologize. But the thunder that day gravely shook Inazuma. I must know the truth."
Yae only smiled quietly, offering no answer. At last Sara clenched her teeth.
"What do you want, Lady Yae? Within my ability, I will oblige—so long as it does not touch the Shogun."
At this, Yae finally relented.
"My, how loyal you are, General Kujou. I'm touched."
Her tone softened, though mischief still danced in her eyes.
"Since you insist… I suppose it would be rude not to oblige. Let's see. I've stayed in this shrine too long. I'd like a breath of fresh air. How about you lend me one of your supply ships?"
Sara's gaze hardened instantly.
"You want to leave Inazuma!"
"Only a short trip." Yae waved a hand casually.
"My sister Ganyu and I are close. A little visit to Liyue might let me learn a few stories from her. And surely, General, you wouldn't want Inazuma blind to events abroad, only to be caught up unprepared?"
She leaned closer, voice lilting:
"That thunder that day… terrifying, wasn't it? Stronger even than your Shogun. If it truly was the Geo Lord's tribulation, then… will our own Shogun face one too?"
Sara bit her lip. She longed to refute her, but Yae's rhythm controlled the conversation utterly.
Eyes closed, Sara deliberated in silence. Yae, sipping her tea, was in no rush. She knew Sara would agree. The general's loyalty was both to the Shogun and to Inazuma itself. The events of that day—and the flimsy reply she had received—would haunt her thoughts endlessly.
At length, Sara opened her eyes and spoke in a low voice:
"Very well. But we will only carry you past the storm."
"Perfect." Yae smiled brightly.
"After all, I have some ability of my own."
What she needed was not their protection, but the divine imprint upon the shogunate's warships. That mark alone would let her slip through the storm barrier unnoticed by the Shogun's will.
Though Inazuma was locked down, it still traded for essential supplies to wage war. Concealed aboard such a vessel, Yae could cross safely into the open seas.
And she, too, was deeply curious about Liyue.
"The letter, then?" Sara held out her hand.
Yae shook her head.
"No letter."
"You mock me!" Sara shot to her feet, fury flaring.
Yae only laughed, delighted.
"Oh, General Kujou, your angry face is truly priceless. That alone has made my day."
Seeing Sara on the verge of exploding, Yae finally waved her hand.
"There is no letter, no. The incident came too suddenly—no time for slow correspondence. Ganyu and I spoke through adeptal arts, so naturally no written record exists."
Sara inhaled deeply, then demanded,
"Enough games. Speak."
Yae shrugged lightly, her tone turning thoughtful.
"I reached out to Sister Ganyu that day, but she did not respond until three days later. Her reply was vague—yes, it was indeed a heavenly tribulation, but not the Geo Lord's. She said they are engaged in something that could reshape the future of all Liyue—indeed, of all Teyvat. More than that, she would not reveal. It was confidential."
Sara's eyes blazed with frustration at the useless answer.
"But…" Yae's lips curved again.
"Today, I also received a letter from Master Zhenyu, that notorious procrastinator. He says he will cease writing for some time—Liyue is changing. Stories of cultivation flood the common folk, and a fervor for immortality has swept the land. Many even claim to have seen figures soaring through the skies on swords—so-called 'Sword Immortals.' Zhenyu intends to seek the Dao himself."
Her voice softened, slyly pressing the point.
"Tell me, General Kujou—what could make a nation that once forbade mortals from seeking immortality suddenly embrace it overnight?"
Sara's face changed, her mind racing. After a long pause, she said grimly:
"Public opinion… It must be the Ministry of Civil Affairs guiding the narrative!"
Yae said nothing, only smiling as she sipped her tea.
Fragmented clues converged in Sara's thoughts, forming a single impossible yet undeniable guess.
"Liyue has a cultivation plan! If it was not the Geo Lord undergoing tribulation… then someone else has surpassed him, and Liyue has allied with them?"
Yae raised a brow, chuckling.
"Mere speculation, is it not? So—you'll go to Liyue to see for yourself?"
Sara pressed her, but Yae corrected with a playful tilt of her head:
"Strictly speaking, it's called seeking immortality, isn't it?"
Her eyes gleamed.
"Well then, General Kujou—does that not warrant the promise you've made me?"
Sara gave no reply. She stared into the rippling tea in her cup, her mind heavy. Whatever had happened that day—perhaps it was good news. But only for Liyue. And Ganyu had said this concerned the future of all Teyvat. The meticulous adeptus secretary would not exaggerate.
If so… sending someone ahead to investigate was the prudent choice.
After a long silence, Sara rose abruptly.
"Three days from now, the supply ship will await at Ritou's port."
Yae said nothing, merely raised her cup in a distant toast.
When Sara departed, Yae stepped to the edge of the shrine, gazing toward Tenshukaku.
"You reckless girl… you do make one worry. But this time, I must go."
She recalled Ganyu's message through adeptal arts. In her eyes, a spark of fire lit.
"This may be our only chance… Forgive me."
"You've hidden long enough. Isn't it time you came out for something sweet… my dear god?"
For Ganyu's reply had contained one final line, one Yae did not share with Sara:
"Shenzi, little sister—true immortals have descended upon Teyvat. The Lord Emperor, the Anemo Archon, and I have all entered their sect.
Resurrection, eternal life, command over sun and moon—all lie in Mount Shu! Come quickly!"
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