The more she thought about it, the deeper she dug into the question, the more terrifying it became.
Even Raiden Ei — despite her overwhelming martial power — could not suppress the unease surging in her chest.
A chill crawled up the back of her neck.
Ever since her sister's fall, when she took up the position of Shogun herself, Raiden Ei had continued Inazuma's governing system exactly as it was.
She had never even considered questioning it — not because she agreed with it, but because she didn't understand such things at all.
Yae Miko, on the other hand, did understand… yet she too had overlooked something.
And when it came to serious matters, Yae Miko was never the playful, teasing fox she usually appeared to be — she was meticulous.
Thinking back, during the years when Ei herself was lost and uncertain, the entire nation of Inazuma had only survived thanks to Yae Miko's steady guidance.
And yet even she had failed to notice something so crucial.
That was not normal.
But the more unnatural it felt, the more it made Ei's heart tremble.
"Will this video… give an answer?"
Her eyes were fixed on the glowing screen.
Right now, she desperately needed something that could settle her heart.
But the video revealed nothing useful — no clues, no explanations.
It merely showed that after Gu Chen found out Yae Miko had been caught by Kitsune Saiguu for running around recklessly, he and Raiden Makoto brought her back to Tenshukaku and resumed their state affairs.
Ei frowned slightly.
Time in the video seemed to flow quickly — two, maybe three years passed in the blink of an eye.
"Two or three years… and Sister still hasn't succeeded?"
Even Ei was taken aback.
With a strategist like Kitsune Saiugu on her side, how had Raiden Makoto still failed to win Gu Chen over?
Was it Makoto's fault — or Gu Chen's?
Ei didn't bother to figure it out; her concern lay with what was happening next.
Inside Tenshukaku, the towering palace of the Shogun.
Today, Raiden Makoto would bring Raiden Ei to Celestia — to receive her Taixuan Apotheosis.
The Archon War was finally drawing to a close.
In the chat group, no one dared to miss even the smallest detail.
The divergence from known history was growing too obvious — impossible to ignore now.
Raiden Makoto: "Would you like to come too? I heard the scenery up there is wonderful — they say you can overlook the whole continent from the sky!"
Gu Chen smiled faintly and shook his head. "I'll stay. With Ei gone, I'm the strongest left in Inazuma. If I leave as well… who will keep our nation safe?"
"Who can guarantee that those creatures we exiled to the dark seas won't lash out in revenge? Inazuma isn't that far from them, after all."
Makoto's expression dimmed for a moment. She wanted to insist — but he was right.
So she simply turned to Ei and said, "Then let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll return."
"Mm."
As always, Ei was a woman of few words.
In an instant, the sisters became streaks of lightning, soaring toward the heavens.
Gu Chen watched their figures vanish into the clouds, then lowered his gaze.
"Now, the world should finally know peace," murmured Kitsune Saiguu, eyes narrowing in satisfaction.
"I hope so," Gu Chen replied softly.
When he returned alone to the grand hall of Tenshukaku, he stared down at the paperwork before him — yet his eyes were unfocused, lost in thought.
After a long silence, he sighed faintly.
"A storm is coming…"
[Kaeya]: Damn, he definitely knows something, right?! (Nahida pointing.gif)
[Venti]: Oh ho! Come on, Gu Chen, spill it!
[Gu Chen]: Don't start rumors. I don't even understand it myself.
[Kaeya]: Sure you don't. You swear that's true? (smirk)
[Gu Chen]: Those who know, know. (wink)
[Venti]: What I care about is… which event is he referring to? (thinking)
[Paimon]: What event?? (Keqing confused.gif)
[Heizou]: Don't play coy! Say it, let's all analyze it together!
[Venti]: Haha, the video will tell us soon enough.
[Prince]: What else could it be, besides that calamity? (cold laugh)
[Dainsleif]:
In the video, Gu Chen seems to have foreseen something.
But simply knowing that isn't enough evidence — after all, he can divine the future.
Still… looking at history from our era, aside from the Cataclysm of Khaenri'ah, nothing else fits that scale.
"Could he really have foreseen the Khaenri'ah War… this early?"
Dainsleif's heart trembled.
If Khaenri'ah had possessed someone like Gu Chen — someone who could foresee disaster — could that entire "calamity" have been avoided?
Time passed swiftly.
Raiden Makoto and Ei returned after only seven days — delayed only by some minor matters.
"The Geo Archon treated us to a feast," Makoto said, smiling. "We're allies now — it would've been rude to refuse."
Gu Chen didn't dwell on it. Instead, he asked, "I heard he's created a new currency — Mora?"
"That's right!"
Makoto nodded eagerly. "It's convenient for trade, and the other gods approve of it. Once the nations start using Mora, our economies will flourish!"
"True enough," Gu Chen said quietly. "As long as we don't become enslaved by Mora, everything will look fine on the surface."
"Huh?"
Makoto blinked. "You mean… the Geo Archon has ulterior motives?"
"Not necessarily."
Gu Chen shook his head. "I only said it's a possibility. But it changes little, for now."
In a world where gods ruled, divine will was national will.
If a god played by the rules, Mora could indeed restrain them.
But if a god decided not to — no amount of currency could matter.
Even a collapsed economy could be rebuilt overnight.
Gu Chen was merely giving a warning.
"Oh, and the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles gave us this too — isn't it pretty?"
Makoto handed him a glowing violet chess piece — a Gnosis.
"A fine artifact," Gu Chen murmured. "It channels divine faith into power for its bearer… limited, but sufficient."
"Then I'll leave it with you!" Makoto said brightly. "After all, you're the one really running Inazuma!"
Gu Chen blinked — then smiled faintly. "As you wish."
He closed his hand, and the Gnosis vanished.
"Inazuma's growth is slowing," he said softly. "A little stimulus might be good. Mora will serve nicely for that."
He turned to her again. "I'll be leaving Tenshukaku soon — to survey the land. Everything else, including the implementation of Mora, I'll entrust to you."
"If I do well," Makoto asked hopefully, "will there be a reward?"
"A reward?" Gu Chen chuckled helplessly. "My lady, have you forgotten? You are the ruler of Inazuma. Must your servant really reward you for serving your own nation?"
Makoto scratched her cheek with an awkward smile. "It's called motivation! Keep working harder!"
"Then what kind of reward do you want?"
"Hmm… If I do well, you have to grant me one wish. Just one!"
Gu Chen thought for barely a moment. "Only one? Fine — but if I can't fulfill it, it doesn't count."
"Don't worry! I won't make it too hard… probably."
"We'll see. I'm leaving now."
"Alright! I'll be waiting for you to come back!"
Makoto watched him go, then threw herself into her work with renewed energy.
She handed her little fox familiar to Kitsune Saiguu, then began diligently reviewing the endless paperwork piled before her.
From that day on — until Gu Chen's return — all matters of state would be handled by her alone.
Fortunately, her keen mind and years of learning under him had prepared her well.
[Klee]: Klee understands this big sister now! (nodding.gif)
[Kirara]: When Lady Makoto asks for her "reward," Gu Chen's gonna be so confused! (excited)
[Venti]: Gu Chen: "What?! Your wish is… to be with me?! Why didn't you say so earlier!" (laughing)
[Kaeya]: Gu Chen: "You should've told me sooner! I would've agreed on the spot!" (winking)
[Lyney]: By the way, where did Gu Chen go? The camera's been stuck on Lady Makoto this whole time… (curious)
[Zhongli]: Indeed. Years passed, Inazuma's economy boomed with Mora — yet Gu Chen never appeared. (pondering)
[Venti]: @Zhongli Old man, you sure you're not the villain here? What's your real motive behind Mora, huh? (teasing)
[Zhongli]: I merely created it for convenience. As for Gu Chen's warning… I cannot deny the possibility, but I'm hardly so arrogant as to oppose all seven nations.
[Ningguang]: Liyue holds the sole minting right — true. But never forget, a god can always flip the table.
[Paimon]: The Seven may have tensions, but they're not at war! Just look at how they gave up their Gnoses to Snezhnaya — it's all quiet cooperation behind the scenes. Instead of worrying about that, maybe we should ask what Gu Chen's been doing. It's been fifty years! Lady Makoto must be dying of longing!
[Heizou]: Yeah, fifty years! If people hadn't occasionally spotted him in the mountains, she'd think he was dead by now! (Paimon shocked.gif)
In the video, Gu Chen's figure had long vanished.
For the first few years, Makoto worked tirelessly.
But as time passed, she began to miss him more and more, worrying endlessly.
As Heizou had said — if not for rare rumors of sightings, she truly would have believed he had perished.
At Narukami Shrine, Makoto whispered with reddened eyes:
"Ei said his power grows with time. Endless work hasn't slowed him down… Could it be that he's already found a way home?"
Her voice trembled; her face was full of longing.
She could not bear to imagine life without him.
At first, she had never thought that far ahead — but now, the more she thought, the more it terrified her.
Kitsune Saiguu sighed quietly.
Makoto had fallen — deeply, dangerously in love.
Her heart was caught in a net she couldn't escape.
"Don't think too much," Saiguu said gently. "Didn't he say he was just surveying the land? He'll return once he's done."
Even she didn't know if that was true.
"But… Why would surveying the land take him to such remote mountains? Some even saw him over the ocean!" Makoto lowered her head.
With his power, circling Inazuma would take mere days — yet he had been gone fifty years.
How could she not worry?
"Don't fret," Saiguu said at last. "Here — take this little fox. She's grown clever. Keep her with you. I'll go find him, and ask what's on his mind."
"Then… please, I'm counting on you!"
Saiguu nodded, then departed.
But though Inazuma was small, Gu Chen's movements were erratic, impossible to trace.
Even her secret arts failed to locate him.
[Yoimiya]: The more I watch, the less I get! What is Gu Chen doing?! (confused)
[Collei]: I don't understand either… (blank stare)
[Tighnari]: His personality in this lifetime feels very different from the last. Ever since he became Lady Makoto's retainer, he's acted with clear purpose — always pushing Inazuma toward prosperity. But after that trip to Celestia, something changed. It's as if… he was shaken by something he saw there.
[Albedo]: Indeed. Even from an outside view, his actions make little sense. Judging from the map and reports of where he's been seen — he's not "inspecting the land." He's searching for something.
[Raiden Ei]: What is he planning?! Is he plotting against Sister?!
[Heizou]: Calm down, my Lady! True, one of the video tags says [Suppressing a God], but Gu Chen has no reason to rebel! It's obvious to everyone that Lady Makoto cared deeply for him — he couldn't possibly be unaware of that!
[Kokomi]: From a psychological standpoint… I think Gu Chen does understand her feelings. But I also sense a heavy burden in his heart — perhaps he foresaw Inazuma's impending crisis? Do you all remember the calamity five hundred years ago?
Silence fell in the chat.
[Venti]: Wait— you mean… he actually foresaw the future?! (shocked)
[Paimon]: Hold up! Kitsune Saiguu found him! Let's see what he says!
Fifty years of searching — and at last, Kitsune Saiguu found him by chance.
"So you really are surveying the land?" she asked, eyes full of hurt. "I've looked for you for fifty years. Tell me — what are you really looking for?"
Gu Chen didn't answer.
Her voice trembled as she went on:
"People say humans have hearts — emotions, desires. But you… you don't have one, do you?"
"You're like a soulless machine, ruling this nation with cold precision. Every expression, every word — all just part of your political calculation."
"You march forward without feeling. But have you ever once looked at those who follow behind you?"
"If you had even a fragment of a heart — you'd have noticed her feelings long ago!"
"She waits for you in Tenshukaku, year after year, terrified to leave — afraid she might miss the moment you return. A century is nothing to a god, but to her — every moment of that century is torment."
"Please… stop wandering. Go back to her. I'm begging you, even if you truly feel nothing — go back just once. Let her see you, even if it's only to break her heart and set her free. Don't stay away forever… please?"
Tears streaked down her face.
Gu Chen stood silent for a long time.
At last, he whispered — voice low and heavy as thunder.
"I have seen… destiny."
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