Ye Xi was startled by Yae Miko's bold move.
His brain short-circuited on the spot.
Coach, she's charging with the ball!
And besides, was this even about sleeping with tails?
He knew Yae Miko's personality well.
She loved stringing people along, toying with them in the palm of her hand.
Giving the illusion of almost having something, but never quite getting it.
[This tail really is comfortable!]
It felt like he could reach out and touch it, but by the time he did, she'd have slipped away entirely.
For her to stick this close now was absolutely unprecedented!
[Could it be that this marriage thing isn't Ei's demand?]
[Or maybe it's the sly fox's idea, and Ei's just going along with it!]
[Then haven't I wronged Ei?]
[Thinking about it, Ei's the one who's sacrificed the most for Inazuma!]
[As Inazuma's Raiden Shogun, she's toiled for five hundred years! Lost her family and friends!]
[No one pities her, and no one dares to.]
[In front of the citizens, she has to pretend to be strong—even after losing her older sister, she can't show a hint of grief.]
[Friends betray and leave one by one, and if anyone had consoled her, she wouldn't be in this closed-off state now.]
[Ei doesn't deserve this treatment!]
Hearing Ye Xi's current inner thoughts, Raiden Ei's gloom and irritation from Miko instantly evaporated, replaced by a wave of sweetness.
He's understanding me!
In all of Inazuma, only Xi understands me!
Only Xi thinks this way!
As expected, choosing Xi was the right decision!
Losing her sister had already turned her heart to ash.
If she lost Xi, she'd only turn her blade on herself!
She realized she couldn't live without him!
With Xi here, she could have a home!
Yae Miko, however, felt a twinge of jealousy.
He'd just been saying nice things about her a moment ago—how did he switch to sympathizing with Ei in the blink of an eye?
This bad guy! Let's see what you think now?
She leaned closer into Ye Xi, bringing their bodies even nearer.
Sure enough, Ye Xi's inner thoughts shifted immediately.
[Hiss... The sly fox is really going all out to keep me—she's pressing this close!]
[But this must be her delaying tactic!]
[If I agree, by the time we actually marry, it'll be something like "In your dreams~"]
[She's clearly just trying to make a fool of me!]
[With that sly fox's style, she'd absolutely do it!]
[But I have to admit, the tail is fluffy and really comfortable.]
[Plus, this fox is very clean—her scent is quite nice, with a faint cherry blossom aroma.]
Ye Xi's heart raced from Yae Miko's intimate gesture, chanting "cut it out" inwardly to suppress the stirrings of restlessness.
Overhearing Ye Xi's thoughts, Yae Miko felt her heart flutter like a startled deer.
This was the first time she'd been this close to a man, and she discovered that Ye Xi's scent felt detached from the mortal world, bringing an unprecedented sense of novelty.
Being complimented on her tail's smooth fur and her pleasant smell made her feel a bit shy.
But this time, she truly had no intention of teasing him.
She was serious about the marriage.
Usually, she toyed with Ye Xi, but he'd never made any indecent moves—completely unlike others.
So, being with Xi, she was willing.
Just as she was about to clarify things further, she suddenly heard Ye Xi's inner thoughts again.
[But if the sly fox is serious, what then?]
[Even if the feelings are real, I can't stay in Inazuma.]
[If Lumine or Aether doesn't defeat Stormterror, if none of what follows happens, the world's order will change.]
[In the end, who will raise the banner of rebellion against the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles?]
The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles!
Hearing that name was like a bucket of cold water dousing both Yae Miko and Raiden Ei.
Five hundred years ago, it was precisely because of the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles that the Seven Archons and Khaenri'ah erupted into a brutal war.
In that battle, the Electro Archon Baal had fallen.
It was Inazuma's deepest wound!
A profound scar etched into the monument of Inazuma's history.
Yae Miko glanced at Raiden Ei.
They hadn't taken that matter from Ye Xi's heart seriously before.
Rewriting the world's order? So what?
Inazuma was eternal!
No matter how the outside world changed, it couldn't touch Inazuma—they could spend a lifetime cozy with Xi!
That's why they wanted to keep him.
But if it involved the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, even Raiden Ei had to reassess the gravity of it!
The Sustainer was an existence the Seven Archons couldn't defy.
If they angered the Sustainer, Khaenri'ah's tragedy would befall Inazuma!
Reluctantly, Yae Miko released Ye Xi and forced a smile. "I'm done teasing you. The authors at Yae Publishing House get holidays too—it's fine if you go out and clear your head."
In that instant, she felt this was the right choice.
Ye Xi breathed a sigh of relief. "You two, even joking has its limits."
[As expected, it was just a joke. Almost fell for it.]
[That was close, that sly fox is really hard to handle.]
Hearing Ye Xi's thoughts, Yae Miko felt a quiet ache in her heart, her tail drooping limply.
But the atmosphere lightened up a bit, less tense than before.
Raiden Ei knew Ye Xi had to leave.
If it involved the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, it demanded careful consideration.
"Xi, can you tell us your plan? When do you intend to leave, and when will you return?"
Ye Xi pulled a map from his pocket and spread it out on the wooden table, pointing to the marked off-coast island. "After the captain resupplies at Qingyun Peak, I'll board the ship and head to Liyue Harbor."
"Then I'll travel the mountains and rivers, take in Liyue's majestic peaks, and sample all its famous cuisine."
"Through Stone Gate to Mondstadt, to experience the winds of a foreign land."
"Don't worry, it won't take long—I'll be back before you know it."
"By then, I'll brew some dandelion wine for you and make Liyue's lotus flower crisps."
As he spoke, Ye Xi was calculating inwardly.
[Liyue is the nation of contracts, still in an era of divine rule for now.]
[Soon, Tianquan Ningguang will rise to become Liyue's true powerholder.]
"I'll leave Inazuma at dawn tomorrow from the outlying islands on my friend's ship, heading first to Qingyun Peak."
[Whether it's Ningguang or the Geo Archon, they'll both need one key item!]
[The Tower of Jade!]
[So, I'll head to Qingyun Peak first to challenge the Primo Geovishap.]
[Once I get the items, then off to Liyue.]
[As long as I present the Tower of Jade, whether to Ningguang or the Geo Archon, they'll treat me like an honored guest.]
[With Tianquan and the Geo Archon backing me, Liyue's vast lands will be mine to roam freely!]
Hearing Ye Xi's inner thoughts, Yae Miko and Raiden Ei couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
It was so meticulously planned!
They'd been worried earlier that Ye Xi might face exclusion as an outsider in a foreign land.
Now, it seemed their concerns were utterly unnecessary.
This man's capabilities far exceeded their imaginations!