During dinner, Xiangling kept sneaking glances at her master, Madame Ping.
And just like Yoimiya mentioned at noon, she noticed Madame Ping repeatedly looking toward their master.
Xiangling scratched her head. She honestly had no idea what was going through her master's mind.
If master Ping really was suddenly interested in their master, she'd have at least gone for a massage once. But she hadn't, not even once…
Xiangling hesitated, then decided older-generation business wasn't something she should interfere with. Acting clueless was safer.
She patted Guoba's head, lowered her gaze, and focused on her food.
Guoba had a mouthful of rice, cheeks puffed, looking at her with a confused expression.
By the time they finished dinner, evening had fully settled in.
Klee couldn't wait any longer. She sprinted to the shrine's storage room, dragged out the boxes of fireworks Yoimiya delivered earlier, and shouted, "Klee's lighting the fireworks!"
The girls opened the boxes, lined everything up neatly in the courtyard, and lit them one after another.
The fireworks shot into the sky in streaks of light, blossoming into clusters of green four-leaf clovers.
"So pretty!"
The girls craned their necks, eyes sparkling as the lights reflected in them. Their comments were childish but charming in their own way.
Xia Zhi stood nearby, watching the fireworks through his enhanced vision, and couldn't help smiling.
Fireworks were beautiful, but fleeting. That was part of their charm.
When the green clovers finally faded from the sky, the girls reluctantly lowered their heads.
Klee raced up to Xia Zhi and excitedly told him all about her first experience as a magical girl.
She insisted the gatling-style weapon felt amazing.
Yaoyao covered her mouth to hide a laugh, pointing out that Klee barely hit anything.
Araumi didn't have nearly as many monsters as Mondstadt during the siege, so the girl couldn't just shoot wildly and hit everything in front of her.
Klee immediately protested.
Their cheerful bickering warmed the night more than the fireworks did.
---
Hanamizaka.
Yoimiya was still working overtime at her workshop, assembling more fireworks.
Someone knocked at the door. "Hey, come eat."
Yoimiya froze and turned. "Mom?"
She rushed over and opened the door.
Sure enough, her mother stood there.
Yoimiya reached out instinctively to support her, but her hands were covered in dark gunpowder. She jerked them back to avoid staining her mother's clothes.
"Mom, why did you come all the way here?" she asked.
Her mother smiled. "Why wouldn't I?"
"But your health—"
Yoimiya stopped mid-sentence.
Even with only the lantern lighting the doorway, she could see the rosy color returning to her mom's cheeks. Her mother's posture looked steady, energetic.
"Hehe. After eating those pastries you brought home today, I felt much better."
She lifted the food box in her hand, smiling proudly.
"You said you were craving my Wakatakeni last time, remember? Since I was feeling well enough to move today, I cooked some for you. When I saw you were busy, I figured I'd bring it over."
Yoimiya felt her chest tighten with warmth. "Mom…"
"Go wash your hands."
"Okay!"
She dashed back inside, wiped her hands clean with a cloth, and her mom unpacked the food.
The bowl held a simple, elegant dish. Wakatakeni.
Yoimiya tasted a spoonful. Familiar warmth bloomed on her tongue.
It didn't compare to the incredible dishes Xiangling and Mr. Xia made at lunch, but it was unmistakably her mother's cooking.
"That good?" her mom asked.
"Really good!"
"Tomorrow morning I'll have your dad go to the market early and buy fresh eel. I'll make Grilled Unagi Fillet for lunch."
"Mm!"
Yoimiya ate while chatting with her mom.
When she finished, her mom packed up the bowls. "Be careful when you're making fireworks. Don't stay up too late. I finally understand it now—health is the most important thing."
"I know, Mom!"
"I'll head back then."
"Okay, get some rest!"
Her mom left.
Yoimiya watched her steady steps fade into the distance, her expression soft and dazed.
Boom… boom…
Distant fireworks echoed through the night.
She turned instinctively and saw several green four-leaf clovers blooming in the sky.
That direction was the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Must be that little girl Klee lighting fireworks again.
But Yoimiya wasn't admiring her own handiwork.
She was thinking about her mom.
Her mom had eaten only half a box of pastries from Xiangling, and her health improved drastically.
If she ate more of that kind of food… would she recover completely?
Once that thought appeared, she couldn't shake it off.
Yoimiya lowered her head and pulled out the Omikuji she'd drawn earlier at the shrine.
It was a Great Blessing.
Her fingers ran along the wooden stick, and her eyes gleamed in the night.
"This must be a sign from Lord Narukami…"
---
Grand Narukami Shrine.
A large fox lay beneath a cherry blossom tree, absorbing moonlight as he cultivated.
Footsteps approached.
Urakusai opened his eyes.
Standing before him was someone familiar.
"Baal."
"Urakusai, how's your cultivation?" Xia Zhen asked.
"Not bad."
"How long until you can take human form again?"
"This… I've done it once before, but I can't predict the exact time…"
"I see."
Xia Zhen nodded and took out a porcelain bottle.
Urakusai's ears twitched. His gaze settled on it.
Xia Zhen tilted the bottle, letting a single golden pill roll into her palm.
"Looks like we'll use this after all."
"What is that, Baal?"
"This is a Transformation Pill. Take it, and you can return to human form immediately."
"A pill like that exists?"
Urakusai's eyes widened.
Even at his peak following Lord Hakushin, he'd heard countless strange tales, but never of a pill that could force a youkai into perfect human form.
Xia Zhen chuckled and tossed the pill.
It floated in front of him, held up by an invisible force.
Urakusai studied it, then opened his mouth and swallowed it.
"Thank you, Baal."
A soft white glow spread across his fur and wrapped him completely.
Xia Zhen glanced at the moon, set a barrier around the area, and left.
About ten minutes later, the glow faded.
A human figure stood under the tree.
Urakusai opened his eyes, dazed for a moment, then looked down at his hands.
The pill was truly miraculous.
The transformation was painless, and unbelievably fast.
Where had Baal gotten it? Was it from Mr. Xia?
Urakusai thought briefly, then stepped out of the barrier.
Because he had just transformed, hunger crept up on him.
He decided to head to the kitchen for some fried tofu.
He wasn't craving it, of course. He simply needed food.
The kitchen was technically closed, but that wasn't a problem for a great youkai.
He phased through the door, sniffed the air, and found the cabinet where the fried tofu was stored.
He opened it.
A whole basin full of fried tofu sat inside.
His eyes lit up. He reached in and lifted the basin, ready to grab chopsticks and feast.
But then he felt two gazes on his back.
Slowly, he turned.
Standing at the door were Cloud Retainer and Moon Carver.
The kitchen door was still shut.
Clearly, they had also snuck in using their arts.
The two adepti recognized the aura around the person in front of them.
Urakusai.
The three of them stared at one another.
The air turned awkward.
Cloud Retainer coughed lightly. "What a coincidence."
Urakusai smiled. "Quite the coincidence indeed."
Moon Carver glanced at the basin in his hands. "The Dragon King and Venti want to drink. We came to get something to go with the wine."
Urakusai nodded. "Ah, that makes sense."
Cloud Retainer offered, "Why not join us?"
Urakusai agreed immediately. "Then I shall accept graciously."
The mood in the kitchen warmed instantly.
Carrying the food, the three walked out chatting comfortably.
From a distance, Venti waved. "Oh? Isn't that Urakusai?"
Urakusai bowed quickly. "Greetings, Anemo Archon, Dragon King."
The Dragon King waved a hand. "No need for formality. Come, drink with us!"
Urakusai loved good wine. He slipped right into the group.
After a while, he looked around. "It seems like the others aren't in the shrine?"
He scanned the surroundings with his senses. Aside from ordinary shrine maidens, only this small drinking group was present.
Venti's expression twitched. "They're all in the Serenitea Pot enjoying a bath and massage. Don't worry about them, let's keep drinking…"
Bath and massage?
Urakusai didn't get it, but he raised his cup. "Oh."
----
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