By the time they finished lunch, Xiangling and Yoimiya were already talking like lifelong friends.
Girls really did become friends that easily.
Yoimiya suddenly remembered something. "Xiangling, does Mr. Xia like wearing glasses?"
Xiangling shook her head, lowering her voice. "No… Master wears them because he can't see."
Yoimiya's eyes went wide.
"Mr. Xia is blind? Seriously?"
---
Far across the ocean, on the deck of a ship…
Beidou stood at the bow, checking the sea ahead.
Suddenly she sneezed, completely out of nowhere.
A sailor beside her glanced over. "Captain Beidou, did you catch a cold?"
"What are you talking about? I'm perfectly healthy! Look at this weather! How could I possibly get sick?"
Beidou grabbed a bottle of liquor, tipped it back, and took a heavy gulp.
The burning flavor slid down her throat.
She exhaled, wiped her mouth, and frowned. "Even if it's from Dawn Winery, it still doesn't taste as good as Diona's drinks."
Setting the bottle down, she looked out at the endless sea and sighed softly.
"Been sailing for days now, everything tastes bland… I really miss Xiangling's cooking."
---
Grand Narukami Shrine, cafeteria.
Xia Zhi was listening as Yae Miko explained more about Urakusai.
Legends said that during the era of the Hakushin, she had six disciples. All were powerful in spells and transformations, and they assisted their master in managing shrine affairs and protecting Mt. Yougou.
Urakusai had been one of them.
So had Kitsune Saiguu.
He had been a great kitsune, skilled in literature and tea. In old Inazuma, he'd been a refined, elegant figure.
In short, Urakusai had essentially been the Inazuman equivalent of Mountain Shaper.
Xia Zhi listened with interest. "Have you found his ghost already?"
Yae Miko nodded. "Yes. He's residing inside one of his old landscape paintings."
Xia Zhi asked, "So… you want to resurrect him, Cousin?"
Xia Zhen looked straight at him. "Can you?"
Xia Zhi smiled. "Of course. Once the ghost is located, resurrection is easy."
A bright smile formed on Xia Zhen's face. "Thank you."
She lowered her gaze and took a bite of her food.
Ei had added extra ingredients for her.
There was Slime mixed in. The texture was sticky, but the flavor was unexpectedly delicious.
Xia Zhen's smile deepened a little more.
After lunch, Xia Zhi and the others moved to the Sacred Sakura Tree behind the shrine.
The area was quiet and still.
"Take out the painting."
Xia Zhi cast a time barrier around them.
"Mm."
Yae Miko retrieved the ancient scroll and slowly unrolled it.
A glowing Electro sigil was marked on it.
Makoto had reinforced the seal earlier. The shrine was too close to the Sacred Sakura Tree, and the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual was strongest here. Without the seal, Urakusai would have been purified instantly, even behind layers of youkai energy.
Xia Zhi studied the painting curiously. He sensed traces of youkai energy, ghostly aura, and Abyssal Aura.
When the scroll finally unfurled completely, a crackle of purple lightning erupted. A strange breath surged out, gathering into the faint shape of a middle-aged man.
He looked around, then bowed toward Xia Zhi with deep respect. "Urakusai greets Lord Xia."
"You know me?"
"Lady Miko told me about you."
"I see."
Xia Zhi examined him.
His condition was even worse than Chi Yu's had been when she'd lost most of her memories. He was nearly at his limit, on the verge of dispersing entirely.
And he didn't have a progress bar.
Xia Zhi remembered that Chi Yu hadn't had one at first either. She'd stolen Incense every night until one evening a golden progress bar suddenly appeared.
He never figured out the exact reason, maybe something related to strength. But he could test it now.
He raised his hand and cast a fifth-tier spell: Resurrection Spell.
A white light enveloped the ghost.
A moment later, the light faded.
A large fox appeared before them.
So he'd returned in his true form.
Urakusai should've originally been at platinum level, just like Mountain Shaper.
But after resurrection, his level had dropped?
A golden progress bar shimmered above the fox.
Xia Zhi rubbed his chin. Maybe it was because he'd used the most basic Resurrection Spell with no divine power added.
If he'd used Divine Resurrection Spell, would Urakusai have revived at his original platinum level?
He didn't plan to test that. The resurrection was done. He couldn't kill the fox and do it again.
The fox opened his eyes, still dazed.
He looked down at his fox body, then bowed his head deeply. "Thank you, Lord Xia, for granting me life once more."
"No need." Xia Zhi waved casually.
Losing a rank wasn't all bad.
Now he could get a golden treasure chest from him.
As for the issue of being stuck in fox form, a single Transformation Pill would fix it.
A Transformation Pill cost five hundred points, which meant five hundred points for a guaranteed golden chest. With Xia Zhi's incredible luck, he'd definitely profit.
A lot of powerful youkai had perished in Inazuma five hundred years ago. Reviving them all would give him a mountain of treasure chests…
Xia Zhi considered it, then turned to Xia Zhen. "Cousin, didn't Inazuma used to have the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons?"
The treasure chests didn't actually matter.
He genuinely wanted to help her bring back Inazuma's former glory.
Xia Zhen nodded. "The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons sounds scary, but it was really just a gathering of youkai. They'd drink together, then use their powers to soar into the air. So many of them would take flight that their silhouettes covered the moon. People called that sight the Moonless Night."
Xia Zhi considered it. "Sounds impressive. But I guess Inazuma can't see anything like that now."
Xia Zhen sighed softly. "Yeah…"
If even great youkai like Kitsune Saiguu and Urakusai had fallen, how could the weaker ones have survived that pitch-black calamity? Unless they hid themselves away like Ioroi, none of them had made it through.
Judging from Inazuma's decline, it was obvious most youkai never chose to run. They'd died fighting to protect the nation.
That disaster had taken far too much from Inazuma.
A deep guilt flickered through Urakusai's eyes. He lowered his fox head. "Lady Baal, this old one carries unforgivable sins…"
Xia Zhen looked at him gently. "Then spend the rest of your life repaying them."
Urakusai was quiet for a moment, then answered seriously. "Yes, Lady Baal."
Xia Zhen turned. "Alright. You can all go."
Ei blinked. "Sister…"
"You too, Ei. I need to speak with my cousin alone."
Ei glanced at Xia Zhi, then nodded obediently. "Okay, Sister."
When everyone left, only Xia Zhen and Xia Zhi remained beneath the Sacred Sakura Tree.
Xia Zhen lifted her head. "Cousin…"
Xia Zhi smiled. "You want to bring back the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, don't you?"
"Yes. You caught that, huh?"
"You never said it out loud, but ever since we left Mondstadt, it's been written across your face."
"Huh? Was I that obvious?"
"I'm joking. You weren't. Xia Ci told me."
"…I swear, that girl…" Xia Zhen pressed her fingertips against her forehead. "Did she say anything else?"
"No." Xia Zhi thought about it. "She just said you'd definitely ask me sooner or later."
Ask… Xia Zhen immediately remembered that embarrassing conversation she'd had with her best friend. Her face flushed.
From Xia Zhi's perspective, her sudden shyness seemed completely out of nowhere.
Xia Zhen asked quietly, "Cousin… this is going to be a huge hassle, isn't it?"
Xia Zhi nodded. "It's complicated. They're easier to resurrect than you were, but the number of youkai is enormous."
Xia Zhen thought for a moment. "Then maybe… resurrect only a portion…"
"No way."
Xia Zhi's expression turned firm.
Those were treasure chests. Every single one.
"They died protecting Inazuma. There's no reason to choose only some of them. If we're doing this, we revive all of them."
"But…"
"I'll spend the extra effort. It's fine."
"Cousin…"
Xia Zhen stared at him, deeply moved.
Then she rose on her toes and expressed her gratitude the best way she could.
It wasn't the "asking with her mouth" that Xia Ci had teased her about…
But it absolutely counted as asking.
----
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