Noon.
Mt. Yougou.
Grand Narukami Shrine.
Blinding sunlight pierced through the windows and shone directly onto the bed.
Su Han woke from his sleep and stretched comfortably.
"What a great sleep."
He got out of bed and walked into the living room.
Kitsune Saiguu was handling official affairs. When she saw him walk out, she smiled with great interest and said:
"I really couldn't tell, your charm is quite something."
The pleasant expression on Su Han's face froze.
What was that supposed to mean?
Kitsune Saiguu raised a brow and gestured toward the table.
When Su Han looked at the row of Den Den Mushi on top of it, he instantly understood what had happened.
Cold sweat immediately poured down his face.
"Uh... about that, listen to my explanation, I mean defense."
Kitsune Saiguu rested her chin on one hand, looking completely entertained as she asked:
"What exactly are you trying to explain?"
"Is it the cold and glamorous Mondstadt knight?"
"Or the noble young lady from the fallen clan?"
"Or the caring and innocent little sister-in-law?"
"Just from Mondstadt alone, I received four calls in total."
"And that doesn't even include Liyue."
"Tsk tsk tsk..."
Su Han's face darkened.
Why did something unbelievably terrifying always happen every time he got drunk?
The first time, Hu Tao tricked information out of him.
The second time, it turned into a battlefield of romance.
He really didn't want to play anymore.
Suddenly, Kitsune Saiguu laughed and said:
"Alright, alright. I'm not one of those jealous little girls. I'm also not interested in managing your romantic gossip."
"But there's one thing I'm genuinely curious about..."
"Among those adepti in Liyue, there's one who's known as a ten-thousand-year-old iron maiden..."
"But for some reason, when I mentioned that you fought a great battle with Raiden Ei yesterday and still hadn't woken up yet..."
"She immediately looked extremely frightened."
"Well then..."
"Su Han, how exactly did you manage that?"
This fox...
She was becoming more and more mischievous.
Su Han's expression remained unchanged, calm like stagnant water.
"She's Shenhe's elder and likes researching creations. She's always valued me highly, so being concerned is perfectly normal."
"But you, teasing her like this isn't very nice."
"Come apologize with me later."
Kitsune Saiguu raised a brow. She clearly hadn't expected that answer.
Yet the smile on her face only grew wider.
Pretend.
Go on pretending.
Fine.
Even if nothing was happening on your side.
That iron-tree adeptus' reaction definitely couldn't fool her.
Originally, Kitsune Saiguu had only acted on a whim, wanting to test the reactions of the callers.
She never expected to uncover such a huge source of entertainment.
Should this count as an unexpected delight?
Or had she gained another love rival?
Still, since Su Han denied it, there was no need for her to continue pressing the matter.
As for what would happen next, she could simply wait and see.
About an hour later.
Several streaks of starlight descended from the skies above Inazuma. They traced arcs through the air before landing at the Grand Narukami Shrine on Mt. Yougou.
A shrine maiden sweeping the courtyard was startled by the sudden landing sounds.
Before she could react.
A cold and lofty voice entered her ears.
"Where is Su Han?"
The shrine maiden followed the voice and discovered that the speaker was an incomparably beautiful crane.
Having read historical books before, she instantly realized this was an adeptus from Liyue.
Then did that mean these people before her were also among the illuminated beasts of Liyue?
The shrine maiden blinked and respectfully pointed toward the back courtyard.
"Sir is resting inside. Please allow me to inform him."
"Resting? Wasn't he injured?"
Cloud Retainer looked utterly confused.
Not long ago, she had made a phone call.
Yet the one who answered had actually been a woman.
The other party claimed that Su Han had fought Inazuma's Electro Archon and battled for a very long time.
The adeptus had just finished her research. Once she heard this, how could she possibly sit still?
Without even thinking, she immediately gathered her friends and rushed over to support him.
Yet everything was actually a misunderstanding?
At that moment, Su Han heard the commotion outside and quickly stood up helplessly.
"They've arrived. I'll go receive them."
Walking to the courtyard entrance.
Su Han came face to face with the shrine maiden.
Her face had been somewhat tense, but after seeing him, she immediately calmed down.
"My lord..."
"Mhm, I already know. Go prepare some snacks and tea. These are all my friends."
"Yes."
The shrine maiden gave a slight bow before hurrying off to work.
Su Han walked outside and looked at the familiar group with a smile.
"You all must've had a hard journey coming all the way from Liyue. Come in and sit for a while."
The moment they saw him appear.
Everyone immediately realized it had all been a misunderstanding.
Mountain Shaper sensed the atmosphere becoming strange and instantly glanced at his old friend before coughing lightly.
"Since you're fine, then that's good. This immortal hasn't visited Inazuma in a very long time, so I'll just take this opportunity to admire the scenery."
After speaking.
He frantically raised his brows.
The other adeptus who shared his peculiar wavelength didn't understand the meaning, yet somehow instantly got the message and chose to leave together with him.
After they left the shrine.
Moon Carver asked in confusion:
"Why didn't you at least drink some water first?"
Mountain Shaper sneered and reminded him:
"How can you still not understand the situation? Have you forgotten who owns this shrine? Matters between women should be left for them to handle."
Moon Carver turned around and glanced back, instantly understanding.
"So it's her territory!"
Kitsune Saiguu of Inazuma.
The most cunning fox of the past.
Although her cultivation was inferior to the adepti of Liyue, her cunning and intelligence surpassed all three of them combined.
Originally, he had wondered why they had rushed thousands of miles over here only to not even rest.
So that was the reason.
Suddenly, Moon Carver recalled something and asked doubtfully:
"Wasn't the owner of this shrine lost during that calamity? This immortal remembers that the current ruler here is only a pink-haired fox junior."
If it was Kitsune Saiguu, then they naturally had to give some face.
But merely a junior?
There really wasn't much need for that.
Mountain Shaper rolled his eyes and complained:
"Those Haki methods Su Han taught, were you seriously not studying them at all?!"
The flying adeptus looked somewhat unconvinced after hearing that.
"And what does that have to do with the matter at hand? Don't change the subject..."
Mountain Shaper stopped atop a small hill and explained:
"You couldn't sense it earlier because you lack Observation Haki. Deep within that courtyard, there was clearly another powerful figure. In terms of strength, she's not much weaker than us."
"You mean she's still alive?"
Moon Carver stared in shock.
This was truly huge news.
Mountain Shaper looked at him with an expression that said "you finally understand."
"I couldn't remind you back there. Although gossip is interesting, involving two immortals only brings trouble!"
"And you're always saying Haki is a crude technique."
"But when cultivated to a profound level, it can still strengthen our senses. That much is undeniable."
Special cultivation methods.
Even in Liyue, there were very few.
Though they were immortals, their strength had not improved for thousands of years.
Not long ago, the two of them had met with Rex Lapis.
Before parting, the Geo Archon's words left a deep impression on this adeptus.
"The power we cultivate ultimately belongs to this world. Since we cannot break through its limits, why not try another path instead?"
Though it had merely been a casual sentence.
Mountain Shaper took it deeply to heart.
Unexpectedly, the power of Observation Haki had found a unique use today.
Even if all it did was help them avoid getting caught in gossip.
Faced with his friend's advice, Moon Carver fell silent for a while before sighing emotionally.
"You're right. It seems I've been too stubborn."
The sun and moon alternated endlessly.
That was simply the natural order.
If one refused to progress, who knew when erosion might one day affect him as well?
Moon Carver certainly didn't want to end up sealed beneath rocks.
After the two adepti left.
Only two people remained at the scene: Shenhe and Cloud Retainer.
Shenhe did not act unfamiliar at all. She walked straight to Su Han's side and looked at her lover gently.
"How have you been lately? Since you've been busy, I didn't want to disturb you. But in my heart, I've always been thinking about you..."
Sweet words of affection.
They were forever the most pleasing to hear.
Su Han smiled faintly. Holding Shenhe's small hand, he could feel her emotions becoming richer and richer. The entire person had gained more warmth and humanity.
Although the cold and glamorous aura of an immortal beauty stirred a strong desire to conquer.
This kind of caring little wife.
Su Han liked even more.
"I'm fine. Let's go inside and talk instead. What do you think, Cloud Retainer?"
After comforting his little wife.
Su Han looked up at the silent adeptus.
Ever since the two adepti had found excuses to flee, she had clearly become nervous.
Although he didn't know why.
Su Han still felt that continuing to stand in the courtyard wasn't appropriate, especially since many shrine maidens were busy nearby.
Considering this adeptus' personality, he felt she would be more comfortable inside.
Cloud Retainer originally wanted to leave, but after another thought, she worried Su Han might suffer losses while staying in Inazuma.
So she agreed to his request.
At the very least, with an adeptus supporting him, the people here should behave themselves somewhat.
"Then let us go inside."
Su Han instantly let out a sigh of relief and quickly led the way ahead.
The three walked through a small path.
Very soon, they arrived at the back courtyard where the Sacred Sakura tree stood.
Flower petals continuously drifted down from the sky.
The beauty resembled a dream.
Cloud Retainer looked at the enormous Sacred Sakura tree and immediately sensed its extraordinary nature. She turned toward Su Han and asked:
"What exactly is this thing? Why has this immortal never heard of it before? It seems to contain tremendous power."
Several hundred years ago.
She often traveled through other nations as well.
But after the calamity, old friends died or disappeared one after another.
Gradually, she lost the mood for wandering.
Thus, she completely shut herself inside her home.
Su Han's gaze flickered as he vaguely replied:
"It's somewhat special. It was born five hundred years ago, after the calamity..."
"Hm?"
Cloud Retainer looked at him suspiciously.
Why did that timeline sound so strange?
She originally wanted to ask in more detail.
Yet unexpectedly, a familiar figure walked out from the room.
Although the other party's appearance had changed somewhat, their aura could not deceive her.
"You... you're the fox of Mt. Yougou?"
"Hehe, Cloud Retainer truly has a good memory. I never expected that after five hundred years, you would still remember this little woman. What an honor..."
Seeing herself recognized, Kitsune Saiguu immediately smiled brilliantly.
She walked all the way to Su Han's side.
Then, right in front of Cloud Retainer, she wrapped her arms around the man's arm and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.
Such bold and unrestrained behavior stunned the adeptus completely.
The corner of Kitsune Saiguu's eyes continuously observed the two guests.
That human girl showed no reaction at all.
But this adeptus was exactly as she expected.
How interesting.
A barely noticeable curve rose at the fox woman's lips.
Su Han himself was somewhat stunned as well.
Although the two were lovers and had the Flames of Lovesickness as proof, today was actually their first time being this intimate.
However, once he noticed Cloud Retainer's expression.
His face immediately darkened.
As expected, not a single fox was ever easy to deal with.
Kitsune Saiguu was clearly using him to provoke Cloud Retainer.
The key point was that it really wasn't necessary.
He had always treated her as an elder.
Although Cloud Retainer possessed a pair of soul-stealing long legs.
Although Cloud Retainer's figure was incredibly tall and graceful.
Although Cloud Retainer was very beautiful.
But what exactly did any of that have to do with this?
Or perhaps there was some grudge between the fox and this adeptus?
That didn't seem likely either.
While Su Han was still deep in thought.
Cloud Retainer's face darkened as she said:
"You fox, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Kitsune Saiguu looked utterly innocent as she gazed at her in confusion.
"Cloud Retainer, why say such a thing? This little woman was merely excited to see her lover. Surely I didn't offend you, did I?"
"Or perhaps..."
She paused.
The smile on her face was almost impossible to hide now.
"You wish to discipline my Su Han on behalf of your disciple?"
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