Cherry blossoms fell gently across the Mitsuyo estate—not summoned, not controlled.
They fell because the season allowed it.
Kyuroto Mitsuyo stood at the entrance of the inner grounds, dressed simply, without ceremonial armor or symbols of authority. Behind him were his relatives, elders and younger members alike—none radiating pressure, none asserting dominance.
They smiled.
Not the smiles of nobles.
The smiles of family.
Yixia noticed it immediately.
She had expected tension.
She had expected judgment.
Instead, what greeted her was warmth.
Families Meet
Yixia's parents arrived quietly, escorted not by guards but by attendants who bowed with genuine respect. No one looked down on their modest clothing. No one whispered.
Kyuroto stepped forward first.
He bowed deeply.
Not as a ruler.
Not as an outerversal being.
As a man meeting the parents of the woman he loved.
"Thank you," he said calmly, "for raising Yixia the way you did."
Her father froze for a moment—then returned the bow, visibly moved.
"You honor us too highly," he said.
Kyuroto shook his head. "No. I honor what deserves it."
Yixia's mother's eyes softened.
The Grandmother's Welcome
Footsteps echoed softly.
Kyuroto's grandmother appeared—no pressure, no aura, no authority waves. Just an elderly woman with gentle eyes and a presence that made people want to listen.
She looked at Yixia.
Then she smiled.
"So this is the girl," she said warmly, "who made my grandson laugh again."
Yixia bowed deeply. "I hope… I can live up to your expectations."
The grandmother waved her hand lightly. "Child, expectations are heavy things. I prefer sincerity."
She took Yixia's hands in her own—wrinkled, warm.
"You are welcome here."
No trial.
No judgment.
Just acceptance.
Kyuroto exhaled quietly.
He hadn't realized he was holding his breath.
A Celebration for Everyone
The celebration began—not inside closed halls, but across open courtyards.
Tables stretched beyond the estate walls, into nearby districts. Food was served freely—not only to guests, but to workers, travelers, the poor, and those with nowhere else to go.
No names were checked.
No status was asked.
Kyuroto walked among them—not as a host above others, but as someone ensuring everyone was comfortable.
Yixia watched in disbelief.
"These people…" she whispered, "they don't even know who you are."
Kyuroto smiled faintly. "Then it's easier to protect them."
Resources flowed—not just wealth, but medicine, education tokens, cultivation access, housing rights. Not charity—infrastructure.
Yixia felt it then.
This wasn't money.
This was abundance beyond concepts, distributed without arrogance.
Her parents were stunned.
"This alone could sustain nations," her father said quietly.
Kyuroto nodded. "So it should."
Yixia's Shock
Later, as lanterns lit the night, Yixia stood beside Kyuroto, her voice low.
"Your family… this is far more than power. It's… unreal."
Kyuroto looked at her. "Does it frighten you?"
She shook her head. "No. It humbles me."
He smiled genuinely.
"I'm glad."
A Promise Without Threads
Kyuroto took Yixia's hand.
Not subtly.
Not secretly.
"I won't just protect you," he said softly.
"I'll protect your parents. Your roots. Even people who don't know my name."
Yixia's eyes shimmered. "You don't have to—"
"I want to."
No probability shifted.
No destiny rewrote itself.
This choice was his alone.
The Silence That Watched
Far beyond the estate—
beyond realities, beyond frameworks—
Something observed.
Not with eyes.
Not with intent.
Just silence.
And that silence approved.
Kyuroto did not sense it.
No one did.
But the night felt… steady.
As if the story itself had been allowed to continue.
End of Chapter 71
No crowns were raised.
No power was displayed.
Only kindness, shared food, quiet laughter—and a family expanding, not through bloodline, but through choice.
Infinity did not bow.
It simply stepped aside.