This was a reunion after five hundred years, and although the two parties had long since changed, their profound friendship, spanning thousands of years, still shone brightly.
Ei gazed at Chiyo, who still looked as radiant as ever, a sight she had not seen in a long time. Even with a will as strong as a god's, she still held a soft spot for Chiyo.
Chiyo's spirit still retained her small and lively appearance, as if five hundred years had left no trace on her. However, Ei, Yae Miko, and Miyashiro, who knew Chiyo well, were all keenly aware of the terrible erode she had endured over these five centuries.
As a powerful and valiant warrior, Chiyo did not die honorably on the battlefield like Sasayuri. Instead, her mind was corroded by dark monsters, becoming part of them, and even turning her blade against her best friends.
After her defeat, she fled into the wilderness, only to be slain by Maguu Kenki, who harbored the memories of her son, treating her like a rampaging beast.
Miyashiro only wanted to say about this tragic storyline, "MiHoYo, you're not doing human things!"
Chiyo looked at the silent Ei with a pained expression and said with a bitter smile, "What's wrong? Ei, have you forgotten me? Or do you refuse to acknowledge me, a traitor of Inazuma, as your friend?"
Forget it. I don't have much time left in this state. To see you again is already a gift from fate. I don't ask for anything more. My lingering regret is gone; it's time for me to leave."
With that, specks of white light appeared within Chiyo's spirit, as if she would dissipate with the wind at any moment.
Seeing this, Ei could no longer hold back. She quickly reached out to stop her, saying, "Wait! Chiyo! Don't go! I don't blame you!"
Chiyo heard this and a sly smile appeared on her face, the white light on her spirit body gradually dimming: "Hehe, you've already taken over from Makoto and become the Raiden Shogun for so long, yet your taciturn nature hasn't changed. But then again, that's just like you.
However, governing Inazuma with your personality, you must have suffered greatly, right? I wonder what Inazuma is like now?"
Chiyo was indeed the one who understood Ei best. Her teasing words actually became a prophecy, which brought a complex expression to everyone's faces.
Seeing the awkward expression on Ei's face, Chiyo's smile gradually faded, replaced by a surprised look as she said, "No way? Ei, did I really hit the mark?"
Ei crossed her arms, huffing proudly, "My previous understanding of eternity was too one-sided. With Miyashiro's help, I now understand Makoto's true meaning of eternity, and because of this, Inazuma is developing in a good direction."
Hearing this, Chiyo's surprise became even more evident: "To be able to convince a stubborn, taciturn martial arts fanatic like you to change your mind, I really want to meet this Miyashiro you speak of. What kind of person is he?"
At this moment, Miyashiro stepped forward and said, "Greetings, General Chiyo. I am the one you mentioned."
Chiyo scrutinized him from head to toe, then showed an aunt-like smile and said, "My intuition tells me you are an opponent not to be underestimated. If you had been born five hundred years earlier, Inazuma might have had a different outcome, right?
Alas, there are no 'ifs.' But I am very pleased that you could eventually appear by Ei's side and enlighten her. Ei is a blockhead, both dull and clumsy. Kitsune Saiguu and I used to joke that if she took over from Makoto, things would surely go awry.
Huh? Wait, where's Kitsune Saiguu? Why isn't she here? Isn't this the Grand Narukami Shrine?"
Chiyo looked around. Even after five hundred years, the Grand Narukami Shrine on Mt. Yougou hadn't changed much.
Ei herself had come to the Grand Narukami Shrine, so how could Kitsune Saiguu, the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, be absent? Could it be... Chiyo's face showed a look of anxiety.
At this moment, Yae Miko, who had been performing a ritual nearby, slowly walked forward and said, "Lady Chiyo, do you still remember me? I am the current Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko. After you were afflicted with the curse, Lady Kitsune Saiguu, in order to find a way to exorcise the monster's curse, risked herself and was ultimately completely devoured by the darkness."
Chiyo heard this and asked in disbelief, "Are you that little fox that Ei used as a hand warmer, perched on Urakusai's shoulder, always bickering?"
Pfft—Miyashiro couldn't help but burst out laughing at this. For the current Yae Miko, this was practically exposing her dark history to her face. Miyashiro's action immediately earned him a glare from Yae Miko.
My fists are hard! If I couldn't beat Miyashiro, I would definitely show him a thing or two, hmph! If I can't deal with you, can't Shenhe deal with you?
At this point, Chiyo's voice was already trembling slightly as she cautiously asked, "Ei, what was the final outcome of that dark calamity? What has happened in Inazuma all these years? Can you tell me?"
This question brought Ei's thoughts back five hundred years. She nodded and said, "In the war with Khaenri'ah, Raiden Makoto fell in battle, Miko Chiyo succumbed and rebelled, Kitsune Saiguu perished in the darkness. Among Inazuma's great yokai, less than one in ten survived. The era of the Hundred Demons' Night Parade has completely become history..."
And so, Ei succinctly and detailedly explained the major events of the past five hundred years, from her creation of the Raiden Shogun to govern Inazuma in her stead, to the implementation of the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree, and finally to the Regent Miyashiro's ascension and his series of measures.
Chiyo listened quietly. At first, she couldn't help but clench her fists, a gritting expression on her face. But then, she returned to her usual demeanor, turning to look at Ei with much more heartache in her eyes.
In that war for the throne of Inazuma, although Inazuma ultimately achieved victory, the cost of that victory left everyone without the joy of triumph.
One battle had taken all of Ei's close friends and family. For Ei, who possessed unprecedented combat power, it felt like a disgrace, a failure to protect them.
In this five-hundred-year history, Ei glossed over most of the earlier period, but recounted the events of the past year or two to Chiyo in meticulous detail.
Though not eloquent, she could speak about the events of the past year or two as if they were precious treasures, showing that Ei had not merely been cooped up in Tenshukaku during this time.
Gradually, Chiyo's clenched fists slowly relaxed, for she saw a light in Ei's eyes, indicating that with the help of Miyashiro, she had emerged from the shadows and was moving towards the future.
This brought a relieved smile to Chiyo's face, and just then, white light re-emerged from Chiyo's spirit.
This situation made everyone present realize: Chiyo's lingering regret had now been completely released, and it was time for her spirit to pass on.
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