Chapter 127-130
Chapter 127: Kamisato Ayaka: I Start Looking for My Brother Again
Inazuma Port.
The ship carrying Kamisato Ayaka and Yae Miko had not yet docked, but the shore was already crowded with people eagerly awaiting their arrival.
The crowd was divided into two major groups.
One group consisted of editors from the Yae Publishing House and priestesses from the Narukami Shrine. During her vacation in Liyue, Yae Miko had left instructions to keep things in order, but her absence still left a void. The staff of the Yae Publishing House and the shrine had sorely missed their leader's guidance. When word spread that Yae Miko was returning today, they gathered at the port early, desperate to consult her on pressing matters.
The other group was the Kamisato family, the esteemed leaders of Inazuma's community. Though Kamisato Ayaka had only been away from Inazuma for a few days, her family had endured those days in great anxiety. Losing sight of their beloved daughter, even for a short time, had been unbearable.
Fortunately, Yae Miko had sent a message to assure them that Ayaka was safe in her company. While this eased their worries, the Kamisato family still arrived early at the port, eager to welcome back their Shirasagi Himegimi.
---
When Yae Miko disembarked, she was greeted by a line of editors and shrine priestesses, all looking visibly distressed. The sight of their anxious faces told her that her peaceful days in Liyue were well and truly over.
Even before stepping onto Inazuma's soil, Yae Miko could already sense the chaos awaiting her.
She sighed, rubbing her temples in frustration. The joy she had felt during her vacation in Liyue had vanished entirely.
"I suppose it's back to reading a few good novels to lift my spirits," Yae Miko thought to herself. But then, she remembered that most of the manuscripts received during her absence were of poor quality.
Only Amon's stories had truly captivated her.
"If I'd known things would turn out like this, I should've tricked Amon into staying by my side. If he resisted, I could've thrown in that country girl who can't even cook," she mused with a wry smile.
Alas, regrets wouldn't change anything.
Yae Miko composed herself, stepped off the ship, and was immediately surrounded by her staff. They bombarded her with questions and concerns. Yae Miko listened carefully and offered solutions with her usual efficiency and sharp wit.
"As expected of Lady Yae!" exclaimed one editor. "She came up with a solution instantly for problems we couldn't solve for days."
"Yae Publishing House can function without anyone except Chief Editor Yae," another added with admiration.
While their praise was flattering, Yae Miko paid it little attention. Her expression remained serious and thoughtful as she walked.
Seeing her solemn demeanor, the editors and priestesses fell silent, assuming that Lady Yae was pondering an issue of utmost importance—perhaps something that could even affect all of Inazuma.
In truth, Yae Miko was preoccupied with a very different matter.
"When the festival begins," she murmured to herself, "I need to find a way to convince Amon to stay in Inazuma and share some of my workload."
---
Meanwhile, Kamisato Ayaka had rushed into her mother's arms.
Seeing her mother's tearful eyes and haggard appearance, Ayaka felt a pang of guilt and sadness.
"Mother, I'm so sorry for worrying you," Ayaka said softly. "I promise I won't be so mischievous again."
Her mother shook her head, wiping away tears. "Ayaka, it's I who should apologize. We've spent so much time focusing on what we want you to become, but we've neglected your feelings. From now on, please tell me how you feel. Don't keep everything bottled up inside, alright?"
Her mother added warmly, "I don't care if you become the perfect heir to the Kamisato family. All I want is for you to grow up safely and happily."
Ayaka froze upon hearing those words. They reminded her of something Amon had said to her in Liyue—how he, too, wished for her safety and happiness above all else.
It dawned on her just how deeply Amon's presence had influenced her life.
---
Back at the Kamisato residence, Ayaka's mother planned for her to rest after the tiring journey. However, Ayaka insisted on resuming her lessons immediately.
She had negotiated an agreement with her family: if she met their expectations, she would be allowed to visit Liyue periodically.
Determined to see Amon again, Ayaka threw herself into her studies with newfound enthusiasm.
Her brother, Kamisato Ayato, couldn't help but notice.
"My sister usually dreads these lessons," he thought, puzzled. "What's gotten into her today?"
Ayaka was especially eager for her kendo class, a stark contrast to her usual reluctance. Ayato raised an eyebrow.
"Have you finally decided to take kendo seriously, Ayaka?" he teased. "You've been away for days, so your skills are probably rusty. You might end up running to Mother, crying that I bullied you again."
Ayaka tightened her grip on her wooden sword. "Brother, let me tell you a secret. While I was in Liyue, I trained with Brother Amon. I'm not afraid of you anymore."
Ayato's face darkened. He had already been irked by how often Ayaka mentioned Amon since her return.
"Well then," Ayato said, picking up his own wooden sword, "let's see how much you've improved. Show me what Brother Amon has taught you."
---
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Chapter 128: Tears Flowed Silently
Soon,
The Kamisato siblings stood on the left and right sides of the dojo, ready to compete.
With the entrance of the kendo teacher, the competition officially began.
At that moment, Kamisato Ayato strode forward, holding the wooden sword tightly in his hand.
He was very fast, like a swift little cheetah.
His eyes were fixed on Ayaka, who was not far away.
He was observing, trying to predict how the little girl would respond.
Kamisato Ayato preferred to use the tactic of defeating the enemy with the last move.
He enjoyed predicting his opponent's actions and countering them.
However, what surprised Kamisato Ayato was that Ayaka was not as flustered as before.
She did not make any response but just stood there, her hands holding the sword in the same position as before.
Her big watery eyes showed surprise and confusion.
Seeing this, Kamisato Ayato couldn't help but shake his head slightly:
"The little girl has been away from home for a few days without training. I suspected that her swordsmanship would be less refined."
"But what I didn't expect was that she was even a bit slower to react."
In Kamisato Ayato's opinion, Ayaka's strength had declined significantly.
Learning is like sailing against the current; if you don't move forward, you will fall behind.
This is absolutely true.
Kamisato Ayato was considering whether to give his sister a break.
After all, her strength had obviously declined. If he got serious again, it would feel like bullying her.
He decided to go easy on her and make the fight less of a rout.
It would be better if his sister didn't lose so quickly.
...
Seeing Kamisato Ayato approaching, Ayaka, who was standing still, showed a surprised expression.
Why did she feel that her brother was slowing down?
It was so slow, as though his moves were disassembled.
Every move had clear loopholes.
No, it wasn't that her brother had become slower, but that her reaction had become faster!
Is this the sword art that Brother Amon talked about?
I think I understand a little bit.
Kamisato Ayaka came to her senses and clenched the wooden sword with both hands.
At that moment, there was no longer any confusion or surprise in her eyes.
There was only absolute focus.
She entered a state of emptiness, her mind filled with the skills Amon had taught her during this period.
How to strike faster, how to be unstoppable…
Kamisato Ayaka only knew that Amon had a profound understanding of the way of the sword.
Little did she know that Amon's guidance was actually the highest state of mind in the Kamisato-ryu sword technique.
When Kamisato Ayaka raised the wooden sword with both hands, her aura suddenly changed.
It was like a calm lake that suddenly turned into a turbulent sea.
This scene made Kamisato Ayato slightly stunned.
My sister's strength has not declined; on the contrary, it has improved a lot?!
The feeling he got was that during the few days Ayaka stayed in Liyue, she improved her swordsmanship more than she would have in a year of studying at home.
Without time to think about it, Kamisato Ayato also became serious.
He no longer let her win but decided to use his true strength to defeat his sister.
Ayaka started to move. She first nimbly dodged her brother's attack.
Then she swung the wooden sword with both hands and attacked Kamisato Ayato.
Kamisato-ryu Tachijutsu: Tilting.
Kamisato Ayato reacted quickly and used his wooden sword to block.
On weekdays, it was Kamisato Ayato who kept swinging the sword, while little Ayaka struggled to hold on.
Now, the situation had reversed.
Kamisato Ayato fought and retreated, trying to find Kamisato Ayaka's weakness.
But what he didn't expect was that he couldn't find any flaws in Ayaka's defense.
While Ayaka was attacking, she also defended well.
There was no opportunity for Kamisato Ayato at all.
This left Kamisato Ayato dumbfounded.
They were both learning the same Kamisato-ryu sword technique,
So why did it feel like the little girl's swordsmanship was much more mature?
Watertight, flawless,
This was Kamisato Ayato's first impression.
He began wondering what had happened during the days Ayaka spent in Liyue.
Why was her rate of progress so astonishing?
When Kamisato Ayato was distracted, little Ayaka seized the opportunity, knocked the wooden sword out of her brother's hand, and threw it heavily to the ground.
Kamisato Ayato subconsciously looked up at Kamisato Ayaka in front of him.
My sister was still the familiar sister.
But in terms of kendo, her improvement made him look at her with new eyes.
Little Ayaka smiled brightly and said with pride, "Brother, I finally beat you once."
Kamisato Ayato, who had come back to his senses, also had a faint smile on his face.
"Yes, that sword just now really surprised me."
Kamisato Ayato looked down at the wooden sword on the ground, as if he was still savoring the scene just now.
"This is the real swordplay of the Kamisato family…"
Seeing that she had defeated her brother, Ayaka was in a good mood. She had finally beaten him.
The little girl dropped the wooden sword in her hand and wanted to tell her mother the good news.
Because her mother had told her before,
As long as she could beat her brother Kamisato Ayato in a sword-fighting competition once, she could go to Liyue to play for a few days.
Ayaka guessed that her mother had been trying to encourage her at the time,
But she never expected that Ayaka could actually defeat Kamisato Ayato.
But no matter what, Ayaka had done it now.
She wanted to find her mother and then take a boat to Liyue!
When she thought about seeing Brother Amon again soon, Ayaka felt that today's sunshine became even brighter.
Hehe~
...
When Ayaka ran to the door of her mother's room, she saw several doctors coming in and out, their faces filled with anxiety and panic.
This was accompanied by a gloomy and depressing atmosphere in the Kamisato family.
The smile on Ayaka's face gradually faded, her heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly had a bad feeling.
She immediately ran into her mother's room.
She saw her pale mother lying on the bed, barely breathing.
Ayaka was stunned.
When she first saw her mother, she noticed that she looked a little haggard.
The little girl hadn't thought much about it at first, assuming that her mother missed her and hadn't slept well.
But now it seemed that her mother had been ill for a long time.
And the illness was very serious.
In order not to make Ayaka worry and sad, her mother had deliberately concealed the matter.
But now, she couldn't hide it anymore.
Ayaka thought of her mother who had come out today to pick her up, so she cheered herself up and went out.
On the way, her mother listened to Ayaka's story about her experience in Liyue with a smile on her face. She was probably forcing herself to smile while suppressing the pain.
Recalling her mother's gentle and caring words,
Ayaka's tears flowed silently.
She didn't want anything to happen to her mother, and she didn't want her mother to leave.
Ayaka immediately stopped a doctor and asked about the situation.
But after seeing Ayaka, the doctor just shook his head and sighed helplessly.
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Chapter 129: Where is the Life-Saving Medicine in the World
The doctor sighed and said helplessly, "Madam has been suffering silently and hiding it from everyone."
"Madam did this so that the Kamisato family could operate normally, but this also caused her to miss the best time for treatment…"
The doctor's cold words were like steel needles that pierced Ayaka's heart, making her burst into tears.
The Kamisato family has always been maintained silently by the parents.
The mother didn't want to bring pressure to others, so she endured it quietly. Even when she was sick, she didn't tell anyone.
She was clearly living in excruciating pain every day, but she insisted on bringing smiles and warmth to little Ayaka.
Thinking about this, Ayaka felt deeply sad.
She looked up, pulled the doctor's clothes, and said in a choked voice, "Doctor, all the people in Inazuma say that you are a miracle doctor who can bring people back to health."
"You are such a good doctor; you must be able to save my mother, right?"
"Please save my mother, please…"
Little Ayaka cried loudly, deeply saddened.
Kamisato Ayato also hurried over.
As the eldest brother, he should shoulder the responsibility of the Kamisato family after his mother passed away.
Although Kamisato Ayato didn't cry, his eyes were filled with tears, and his fists were clenched.
"Doctor, please think of another solution."
"As long as my mother can recover, you can get any reward you want!"
Looking at the Kamisato siblings, the doctor shook his head and sighed helplessly. "We have tried everything we could, but none of it worked."
"There's nothing we can do now. I'm sorry."
The doctor knew it was cruel to announce such a result to the two children, but the reality was such that there was nothing he could do.
The doctor paused and continued, "Madam has been waiting for you to come. She must have something to tell you."
"She doesn't have much time left, so please communicate with her as soon as possible."
The doctor said, then quietly retreated.
The other members of the Kamisato family also stood aside silently without disturbing them.
They all knew clearly in their hearts: This was the last time the Kamisato siblings would see their mother.
They let the two children see the lady off for the last time.
After hearing the doctor's words, Kamisato Ayato and Kamisato Ayaka did not dare waste a single second.
The brother and sister quickly ran to the bedside.
At this moment, their mother looked haggard and frowned slightly.
It seemed like she was in great pain.
But even so, when she saw her two children coming to her bedside, she still tried to force a smile.
"Ayaka, Ayato, you're here."
Their mother greeted them with a smile, as usual, but this time she spoke very softly.
"I'm sorry to let you see my sick side."
"I'm ugly now, but there's nothing I can do about it."
The mother's tone was a little sad.
She had always hoped that in the hearts of her children, she would be seen as an excellent mother in all aspects.
She really didn't want the two children to see her like this.
Hearing her mother's words, little Ayaka's tears started to fall.
She held her mother's hand tightly and kept shaking her head.
"To Ayaka, no matter when, Mom is always the most beautiful."
Kamisato Ayato also nodded. "My mother's beauty is known to everyone in Inazuma. There is no such thing as her becoming ugly."
Listening to the words of the two children, the mother had a gratified smile on her face.
She looked at Kamisato Ayato and said softly, "Ayato, you are the older brother. From now on, there will be a younger sister in the Kamisato family. Please take care of her."
"You are a smart child. I can rest assured leaving the Kamisato family in your hands."
The mother tried to make her voice as clear as possible.
She knew that her life was coming to an end, and what she was most reluctant to leave behind were the two children in front of her.
Kamisato Ayato didn't say anything but just nodded vigorously with tears in his eyes.
He didn't want his mother to leave with regrets, so he would agree to whatever his mother asked for.
Then, the mother turned her gaze to Kamisato Ayaka.
She held Kamisato Ayaka's hand and said with a smile, "Little Ayaka, you will have to walk your own path in the future."
"I was worried about you at first, afraid that you would be bullied after I was gone."
"I'm afraid you'll be depressed and unhappy every day."
"But I heard that you made friends in Liyue. Mom is sincerely happy for you."
"In that case, I can leave without any worries."
Kamisato Ayaka lowered her head, and tears fell continuously.
Her voice choked with sobs. "Mom, I don't want you to leave."
The mother had a faint smile on her face. She raised her hand and tried to wipe away the tears on Kamisato Ayaka's face. "Silly child, why are you crying?"
"Parting and death are things that everyone has to face."
"I just feel sorry that I couldn't see you grow up."
"I didn't get to see Lingren get married and have children, and I didn't get to see Ayaka get married…"
"I'm sorry, please don't blame Mom."
"Mom doesn't want to leave you either…"
As she spoke, tears flowed from the corners of Ayaka's mother's eyes.
When she was sick and in great pain, she didn't cry.
When the doctor said there was nothing he could do, she didn't cry.
But now that she was about to be separated from her children, she felt deeply reluctant and cried sadly.
Kamisato Ayaka cried bitterly, hugging her mother tightly, unwilling to let go.
Because she knew that this letting go would mean a farewell forever.
When she was sad, Ayaka seemed to suddenly remember something.
She reached for her pocket.
There was the medicine that Amon had given her.
Before they parted, Amon said that the potion should be taken when injured.
Most importantly, this medicine could cure any difficult and complicated disease.
Kamisato Ayaka was thinking that all the doctors were helpless now.
Her mother's life was coming to an end.
Why not give it a try?
Even if the hope was slim, she should still try!
Kamisato Ayaka wiped away her tears and quickly handed the medicine to her mother.
"Mother, this is the medicine Brother Amon gave me. He said it can cure most diseases in the world."
"Take the medicine quickly; maybe your illness will be cured!"
There was anxiety in Ayaka's tone because she didn't want anything to happen to her mother.
Kamisato Ayaka's mother smiled bitterly and said, "Silly child, where in the world can you find such a magical potion?"
However, in order not to make Kamisato Ayaka sad, she still tried to take the medicine.
At that moment, Kamisato Ayaka's mother felt a little hot.
There was an indescribable, incredible force running rampant within her body
The feeling of pain was instantly swept away.
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Chapter 130 Kamisato Ayato: The Little Girl Has No Conscience
For a moment, Lady Kamisato was so surprised that she was speechless.
She could feel the huge changes the medicine had brought to her body.
First, all her body aches disappeared completely, and her body felt more relaxed than ever before.
It felt as if all the shackles that had bound her body were broken free.
The consciousness that was gradually becoming blurred now became exceptionally clear.
She felt more energetic than if she had slept for three days and nights.
Lady Kamisato sat up from the bed and looked down at her hands with a look of disbelief on her face.
Everything seemed so unreal, like a dream.
It made her feel dazed.
Had she had a close call with death and then come back?
Seeing her mother's complexion return to normal, Kamisato Ayaka cried with joy and hugged her mother tightly.
Kamisato Ayato also smiled, feeling relieved.
The doctors outside the door heard the cries of the Kamisato siblings and hurried into the room.
For a moment, everyone was dumbfounded.
They saw Lady Kamisato sitting on the hospital bed, and she was in good spirits.
It didn't look like she was seriously ill at all.
But how was this possible?
You know, not long ago, the doctors had reluctantly announced that the lady's life had come to an end, and there was no way to save her.
But in the blink of an eye, Lady Kamisato had recovered?
A respected female doctor came to her senses and immediately examined Mrs. Kamisato.
After a moment, she couldn't hide her excitement and said with great emotion, "Madam has not only recovered, but is in very good condition."
"It's a miracle, this is a miracle!"
"I have never seen a case like this before. It is no exaggeration to say it is a miracle."
After these words were spoken, all the doctors looked at each other, speechless.
The difficult and complicated diseases that had left them helpless were cured quickly in just a few minutes?
What was going on?
Faced with the doctors' confusion, Ayaka explained that she had given her mother a special medicine from Liyue.
The doctors looked at each other, their expressions becoming more and more confused.
They had been to Liyue for exchanges and studies before but had never seen such a miraculous special medicine.
It could revive a patient who was breathing their last breath in just a few minutes.
It was no exaggeration to say that this medicine was a divine power bestowed by God.
It seemed that only an extraordinary person could make such a special medicine.
That person must be the top doctor in Liyue.
If they had the chance, they would like to meet the miracle doctor who made this miraculous medicine.
...
The doctors stayed for a while and then said goodbye to the Kamisato family.
Before leaving, Kamisato Ayato asked the doctor to prescribe some medicine for her mother to recuperate.
But the doctors refused.
The reason was that her mother was in good health now and did not need any medicine to regulate her body.
Looking at her mother, who had regained her health, Ayaka breathed a sigh of relief and finally relaxed.
The luckiest thing in the world is a false alarm.
Of course, Ayaka was more grateful in her heart, grateful for the medicine Amon gave her.
In fact, Ayaka knew very well in her heart.
If it weren't for the medicine Amon had given her today, then it was very likely she would have lost her mother.
For a moment, Amon's figure reappeared in Ayaka's mind.
Although she was at Kamisato's house in Inazuma, her thoughts were with Liyue on the other side of the coast.
She really wanted to meet Brother Amon.
Retracting her thoughts, Kamisato Ayaka pulled at her mother's clothes, raised her head, and said seriously, "Mother, you promised me before—"
"As long as I beat my brother in the sword competition, you would allow me to go to Liyue for a few days."
"Now that I've done it, will you also fulfill your promise?"
The little girl blinked her big eyes, her face full of anticipation.
Kamisato Ayato, who was standing next to her, also nodded with a wry smile, confirming that his sister wasn't lying.
Hearing what Kamisato Ayaka said, her mother was a little surprised.
Little Ayaka defeated her brother in the competition?
In previous competitions, the little girl had never beaten her brother once.
Could it be that just for the purpose of going to Liyue, she had unlocked some hidden potential?
Her mother reached out and gently stroked Ayaka's little head. She said softly, "Since you've fulfilled the agreement between us, then Mom will not break her promise either."
"I will arrange a ship to Liyue in the near future, and then I'll ask your brother to escort you to Liyue."
Originally, Kamisato Ayaka's mother had also planned to go to Liyue.
After all, Amon had helped a lot, and she really wanted to thank him in person.
But the Kamisato family had too many things to deal with every day, and any delay would cause a lot of trouble.
If she left, the house would probably become a mess.
After careful consideration, Kamisato Ayaka's mother decided to stay at Kamisato's house.
When Amon came to visit Inazuma, she would go and express her gratitude in person.
Upon hearing her mother's agreement, little Ayaka smiled with eyes curved and looked extremely happy.
Kamisato Ayato, standing next to her, crossed his arms over his chest, pouted, and looked a little jealous.
Why didn't Ayaka look so happy when she met him?
Who was the real brother here?
The little girl had no conscience.
Kamisato Ayato wanted to see what the man named Amon was capable of.
He had actually managed to trick his sister into running away.
Her mother reached out and rubbed Ayaka's little head, then gently reminded her, "Ayaka, it's okay for you to go to Liyue to play."
"But let me make it clear first. You can only go and play for three days. After three days, you have to come back and behave yourself. Don't be naughty. Got it?"
Her mother also took into consideration that Ayaka still had many classes to attend and couldn't delay them.
It was okay to go out and play appropriately, but there had to be a limit.
Little Ayaka nodded vigorously and said obediently, "Yes, mother, don't worry, I promise I will be back on time."
Right now, the little one's mind had drifted away.
She just wanted to take a boat to Liyue as soon as possible.
They say that a day without seeing someone feels like a long time.
At first, Ayaka didn't understand the meaning of this sentence, but now she clearly felt it.
This wasn't just a gap of three autumns; it felt like a gap of many, many autumns.
Her longing was about to overflow.
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