**Chapter 44: The Absurd Engagement**
Kamisato Ayaka and Yoimiya watched Columbina and Jing Chen from afar.
"Ayaka, we really have no chance, do we? We have to give up, right?"
Kamisato Ayaka closed her eyes tightly and nodded slightly.
Yoimiya lowered her head and kicked a small stone at her feet.
"The Immortal Spirit's curse... is there truly no power that can break it? Raiden—no, even the Raiden Shogun herself..."
Kamisato Ayaka bit her lip hard and shook her head again.
Immortal Spirits were beings even older than the Raiden Shogun, described in ancient texts as the great race that first guided humanity.
Their everything—their past, their curses—were beyond the reach of both Ayaka and Yoimiya.
Now that Jing Chen had transformed into an Immortal Spirit, he would live for eternity, even without the curse.
At most, Ayaka could accompany him for a century. But what would happen after those hundred years?
*I'll be old and withered, turning to fertile soil, while Jing Chen lives on alone?! For a thousand years, ten thousand years, or even longer?!*
*Sigh, it's best to let Columbina stay with him.*
Ayaka said helplessly, "Yoimiya, at least Columbina is with him. That's the best choice we have right now."
"But... but I..."
Kamisato Ayaka turned back to Yoimiya, forcing a smile.
"Yoimiya, there's no 'but' about it. You said yesterday you wanted to take care of their child. Perhaps that would be for the best."
Yoimiya lowered her head, remaining silent for a long time.
"What's wrong, you two?" Columbina's voice snapped Ayaka and Yoimiya back to reality.
"Ah?! Nothing, nothing. Ayaka and I were just discussing the fireworks festival."
Columbina smiled knowingly, choosing not to expose their lie.
Ayaka asked softly, "Columbina, has Jing Chen gone out again?"
"Yes."
"What are the Fatui's goals? To completely ignite war between Narukami Island and Watatsumi Island, or something else?"
"At least for Jing Chen and me, our only goal is to obtain the Raiden Shogun's Heart."
Ayaka gasped in shock.
"What?!"
"Don't worry, Ayaka. The Raiden Shogun's Heart means little to the Raiden Shogun herself. For the past five hundred years, she's entrusted it to Yae Miko. Our interest in Yae Miko is simply to get close to her."
"I... I... Then what's the truth about the Raiden Gokaden?!"
Columbina proceeded to explain to Ayaka and Yoimiya the full extent of Scaramouche's actions in Inazuma.
***
Outside the Serenitea Pot, "Xuan Dong Lingguo" arrived at Jing Chen's room to deliver his meal.
She discreetly slipped him a note before hurrying away.
Jing Chen paused, then opened the note to read:
Lord Jingchen, I will find a way to rescue you. Please rest assured.
"Hmm? Was that priestess Liuda Shika?! Wait, does she think I've been captured by Yae Miko?"
Columbina yawned, her voice drifting lazily from within the Serenitea Pot.
"Liuda Shika? Didn't the Fatui report her death recently?"
"Probably faked it. Yae Miko's mastery of such tactics is unparalleled."
"What about the real Xuan Dong Lingguo?"
"Returned to the Tenryou Commission, I suppose."
"Oh. Well, enjoy your meal. I'll chat with Ayaka and Yoimiya a bit longer. Their concern for you seems genuine."
"Alright."
After quickly finishing his dinner from the Grand Narukami Shrine, Inagi Hotaru came to collect the dishes.
She also brought a stack of light novels from Yae Publishing House to help Jing Chen pass the time.
Jing Chen glanced at them briefly before setting them aside.
"Hmm? Lord Jingchen, don't you like these light novels?"
"It's not that. I just don't feel like reading them right now."
"Oh... Then, then would you like me to read them aloud to you?"
Jing Chen paused, then declined.
"Inagi Hotaru, right? I'm not really in the mood for light novels right now."
Inagi Hotaru lowered her head.
"Ah... I knew it."
"Knew what?!"
"Lord Jingchen was indeed forced to marry High Priestess Yae."
"What?! Marry?!"
"Yes. High Priestess Yae has already announced your engagement for next week to all of Inazuma.
I heard Watatsumi Island and Narukami Island are even halting their war for this. Sangonomiya Kokomi herself will briefly attend your wedding with High Priestess Yae.
Five or six wedding invitations were even sent to Liyue."
"I... What the hell?! That Yae Miko must be insane!!"
Seeing Jingchen's reaction, Inagi Hotaru asked again, "Lord Jingchen, were you truly forced into this?"
Jingchen was stunned. Cloud Retainer from Liyue, his two senior sisters Hu Tao and Keqing, and Ningguang—all of them had given up on him because of Columbina. Yet now, they'd inexplicably received wedding invitations from him and Yae Miko?!
*No way! This has to be a joke!*
"Isn't that obvious?! Inagi Hotaru, there's no way I'd ever marry Yae Miko!"
"But Lord Jingchen, I heard you confessed to High Priestess Yae ten years ago. Have you already moved on to someone else?!"
"Sigh... I... You don't know the truth, so I don't blame you. In any case, this engagement with Yae Miko is entirely one-sided. I, Jing Chen, have never agreed to it!"
"Alright..."
Inside the Serenitea Pot, Ayaka and Yoimiya exchanged bewildered glances. High Priestess Yae Miko engaged to Lord Jingchen? And they're preparing for a wedding?!
After Inagi Hotaru left Jing Chen's room, Columbina radiated waves of frost and flames. She stormed out of the Serenitea Pot, acting completely irrationally, and grabbed Jing Chen by the throat.
"Jing Chen! Jing Chen! What does this mean?! An engagement with Yae Miko?! You—!"
"Aya, calm down! Calm down! I know nothing about this marriage! It's all the doing of that sly fox, Yae Miko. You've been with me every day lately—you know that's true!"
Columbina huffed loudly. Immortal Spirits aren't allowed to love humans, but there's no rule against loving fox spirits!
"I'll make Yae Miko pay!"
Columbina clenched her tiny pink fists, and Jing Chen hurriedly pulled her into a hug.
"Aya, calm down! This barrier is powered by the combined might of Inazuma and the Raiden Shogun's Heart. Even if you used all your strength, you might not be able to break it."
"If we awaken Raiden, neither of us will escape Inazuma unscathed."
"I don't care!! I want to make a scarf out of Yae Miko's fox tail~!!"
........
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(End of Chapter)