[That scum fox, grinning so maliciously!]
[Don't tell me she's plotting something behind my back!]
Seeing the wicked smile at the corner of Yae Miko's mouth, Ye Xi had a bad premonition.
This woman always smiled so seductively.
[Whatever, anyway, leaving Inazuma means saying goodbye to friends.]
[Ei's side won't be hard to deal with? Just make some Tri-colored Dango and it'll be fine.]
With that thought, Ye Xi settled his mind.
Jealous Scum Fox, Draw Your Sword!
He didn't notice that the Yae Miko beside him was stifling a laugh again, her pink tail swaying restlessly in the air.
She'd heard Ye Xi's words crystal clear.
Lately, she'd noticed Ye Xi was getting better at reading her— he could even guess what she was up to at night.
Of course, she wasn't about to just watch him leave like this!
"Leave the leftovers to me. Occasionally, let your head priestess do something too."
Yae Miko casually finished the last piece of fried tofu as if nothing was amiss, then took the initiative to clear the table of the meal boxes.
Ye Xi nodded, his eyes full of admiration.
Don't let her lofty position fool you—she was always above, ruling the shrine.
In reality, she was quite deft at tidying up dishes.
All in all, if someone married her, she'd be the epitome of a virtuous wife.
At the very least, nights would be unbearable.
When he was involved in creating this character back then, he'd set one core principle.
Yae as a wife—goji berries won't cure it—!
After entrusting it to Yae Miko with peace of mind, Ye Xi returned alone to his small room.
He took a map from the bookshelf and spread it out on the wide wooden desk, snapping his fingers to light a candle lamp.
He carefully examined Liyue and Mondstadt.
In terms of distance, Inazuma to Liyue was definitely the closest.
The seas around Inazuma often had thunderstorms, so there weren't many ships that could navigate them.
The one he was familiar with was the Crux Fleet's Alcor.
Over the years, he'd been drinking buddies with the big sis captain Beidou; if he asked her, there'd be no issue.
But the Alcor didn't head to Mondstadt, so he'd have to make landfall in Liyue first.
Anyway, there were still a few days before the story truly began, so heading to Liyue to get familiar with the place wouldn't hurt.
After all, Liyue was home!
As Ye Xi was making his plans, two pointed shadows appeared at the base of the window nearby.
The pink tips twitched slightly.
After finalizing his plans, Ye Xi blew out the candle, lay down on the bed, and drifted off to sleep peacefully.
Outside the room, a small pink fox leaped down from the window ledge and vanished into the courtyard.
At the highest point of Inazuma City, Tenshukaku.
This was the residence of the Raiden Shogun.
The fox slipped past the guards at the entrance and entered Tenshukaku.
At that moment, the Raiden Shogun was kneeling on a cushion with her eyes closed in meditation.
This wasn't the real Raiden Ei—it was merely a puppet.
The fox got straight to the point, heading to the puppet's sheathed sword and entering a small inner world: the Plane of Euthymia.
This was the mental realm Raiden Ei had created after sealing herself away.
"Miko?"
"What brings you here so late?"
Raiden Ei opened her eyes and looked at her old friend, a faint trace of hostility flickering in her gaze—all because of Ye Xi!
To be honest, every time she saw her former close companion inseparable from Ye Xi, her heart filled with envy.
If it weren't for her pursuit of eternity, she would have joined Ye Xi for meals too! Chatted with him! Admired the moon together!
During her meditations, thoughts of her old friend keeping Ye Xi company always shattered her focus!
Suddenly, specks of starlight bloomed around the little fox, a dazzling halo swirling about it. A figure gradually took shape before her eyes.
"Ei, I have some bad news for you." Yae Miko's form materialized. She patted her tail and tucked it away.
Raiden Ei's brows furrowed slightly, her expression turning grave. "Bad news from your perspective? Tell me."
Even with a twinge of jealousy, as the Electro Archon and ruler of Inazuma, she had to set aside personal grievances for the sake of her people.
Besides, Yae Miko now held an extraordinary position outside.
Three years ago, after Miko had left without a word and Ei had secluded herself in the Plane of Euthymia, it was only because of Ye Xi that they had resumed contact.
Since Yae Miko had tacitly approved of her philosophy of eternity, if Miko was facing difficulties, Ei naturally had to lend a hand.
Moreover, as the head priestess of the Grand Narukami Shrine, if even Miko found something troubling enough to call it "bad news," it had to be a serious matter!
She needed to treat it with gravity.
With that in mind, Raiden Ei extended her long, elegant legs, descending from her floating state to the ground.
Her purple kimono showed no wrinkles whatsoever, the gold and purple tassels swaying gently.
Seeing this, Yae Miko felt a slight ripple in her heart.
She remembered that Ye Xi had a fondness for Raiden Ei's attire, so watching her best friend in that outfit stirred a bit of sourness in her.
What was so great about this dark-toned kimono anyway?
Wasn't a shrine maiden's outfit better?
Defiling something sacred—wasn't that the kind of taste from those "study materials" he liked?
Men's hearts were such a mystery.
"What's wrong? What is this bad news? You're spacing out."
Raiden Ei's gaze was full of suspicion.
Yae Miko snapped back to reality and said leisurely, "For a long while to come, you might not get the next installment of *Tales from Another World*."
"Nor will the tri-colored dango that Xi makes be delivered."
"Even meeting in person—"
Before she could finish, a swift purple blade flash streaked past Miko's ear.
In an instant, it severed a few strands of pink fox fur.
Yae Miko had already retreated several steps in a flash.
But the sword's shadow didn't relent; it clung to her like glue.
"Yae Miko—!"
"You burnt fox, have you been sleeping with Xi?!"
"As the head priestess of the Grand Narukami Shrine, you dare break your vows so blatantly and come here to gloat shamelessly!"
"A mere five-hundred-year-old stinky fox..."
"Daring to strut around like this—!"
"This moment is your end!"
Blade lights and sword shadows wove densely, sealing off every escape route for Yae Miko.
Of course, this wasn't a killing strike without mercy.
Though Raiden Ei was fuming with rage and embarrassment, she wouldn't truly harm her friend.
She just wanted to vent her frustrations on Miko.
With a flick of her youjutsu, Yae Miko widened the distance between them.
"Is that your reaction? Hehe."
"Ei, you really can't fool your own heart."
Raiden Ei's body stiffened, her cheeks flushing crimson.
When she whirled around in humiliated fury to face Miko, the other's face was already alight with sly triumph.
Only then did she realize she'd bitten the hook!
She'd been tricked!
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