"Sure—so long as Lord Tianquan doesn't mind."
Kitsune Saiguu (Foxy Priestess) smiled softly.
"Just call me Jiang Yan. We're not in a formal setting—no need for titles."
Jiang Yan patted the little white creature sprawled across his shoulders—Little White, who had been "playing dead" ever since absorbing the treasure chest's treasure aura.
"Get up. Time to work."
"Four o'clock direction."
Little White didn't even lift its head, looking lazy as ever.
"You lazy furball."
Jiang Yan clicked his tongue in amusement, then turned to Kitsune Saiguu:
"Shall we go?"
She nodded, eyeing the little white ferret draped across his neck with curiosity.
"This is also… a youkai?"
"What youkai!? I, your Lord Mink, am a Treasure-Devouring Marten! A divine beast!"
Little White instantly exploded, fur puffing out at the insult.
"Two-two-zero," Jiang Yan tapped Little White's head lightly, signaling it to behave. He smiled and said to Kitsune Saiguu:
"Ah, same as you all—it's my retainer."
Little White was his pet. Calling it a retainer wasn't wrong, considering the master-servant contract.
"I see…"
Kitsune Saiguu giggled behind her hand.
The little snow-white marten was indeed quite cute.
"Alright, time's wasting. Let's go!"
Jiang Yan patted her shoulder and soared into the sky toward the direction Little White indicated.
After settling Ioroi somewhere safe, Kitsune Saiguu followed close behind.
They spent the whole day wandering Narukami Island together.
After a day of interaction, Kitsune Saiguu suddenly felt that this Tianquan from Liyue wasn't nearly as awful as she'd imagined.
After all, ever since Jiang Yan arrived in Inazuma, he'd behaved like a demon—
Beating Raiden Ei so badly she shut herself in, and trying to control Inazuma's entire economy through Mora.
No wonder Kitsune Saiguu and Chiyo had such a poor impression of him.
Not exactly "poor," perhaps—
More like the instinctive fear the weak have toward the strong.
But now?
Jiang Yan in daily life radiated a…
Well…
A comedic aura?
Especially when he cleared out monsters, dug up a buried treasure chest, and realized it was only a Precious Chest.
That expression—like an old man on the subway staring at his phone—made Kitsune Saiguu laugh again and again.
By the end of the day, she had seen a completely different side of Jiang Yan.
The two were now thoroughly familiar with each other.
Their conversations grew casual.
As dusk arrived, Jiang Yan stretched after opening yet another Precious Chest with a deadpan face.
"Mmm—let's stop here for today."
"Any more, and it'd be rude!"
His tone was dripping with resentment.
A whole day—
Except for that one Luxurious Chest in the morning,
everything else had been Precious or Common.
Absurd!
Absolutely outrageous!
After tallying his haul, Jiang Yan almost turned red from anger.
Damn it, could they at least give him two luxurious ones!?
After a full day of grinding, Master Jiang's grand reward was…
one Luxurious Chest.
Behind him, Kitsune Saiguu chuckled at his expression.
"Stopping for today?"
Jiang Yan nodded. After opening chests all day, he needed rest.
A person couldn't stay busy nonstop.
"Let's go back to Inazuma City."
He turned to her with a bitter smile.
Kitsune Saiguu nodded, though she couldn't explain why—
seeing Jiang Yan like this made her want to laugh.
They returned to the city, chatting loosely all the way.
Before parting, Jiang Yan asked:
"Kitsune Saiguu, want to open treasure chests with me again tomorrow?"
She thought for a moment, almost nodding—then suddenly remembered something.
She looked at him apologetically.
"Sorry, I have something to take care of tomorrow. I probably can't."
"Alright then."
Jiang Yan shrugged; since she had business, he wouldn't push it.
"Mhm, sorry. I really enjoyed spending time with you today."
"People say Lord Tianquan of Liyue is cold and heartless.
After today… the rumors seem false."
Thinking about Jiang Yan's expression when opening Precious Chests, she giggled again.
"Who spread those rumors!? I'll sue them for slander!"
Jiang Yan laughed loudly, waving goodbye.
"Well then—see you tomorrow?"
"Mhm. See you."
Kitsune Saiguu waved back and left.
Watching her silhouette fade, Jiang Yan rubbed his chin.
"So tonight… where should I eat?"
Tenshukaku
Kitsune Saiguu walked in, holding Yae Miko in her arms.
Inside, Raiden Makoto was reading, and Raiden Ei was polishing her naginata.
"You're back?"
Makoto set down her book and looked up.
"So? Did that Tianquan from Liyue notice you were tailing him?"
Kitsune Saiguu nodded.
"His perception is very sharp. He probably knew from the beginning."
Makoto sighed. She expected as much.
"He didn't give you trouble, did he?"
Then she noticed something odd—
Kitsune Saiguu looked… happy?
"Mhm. When I revealed myself, he invited me to be his guide."
"How to say it… My impression of him changed a lot.
He's actually pleasant to be around."
Kitsune Saiguu sat down with a laugh.
Makoto paused mid-pour while making tea.
Even Ei stopped wiping her blade to stare.
"Oh? Your impression changed a lot?"
Makoto recalled Jiang Yan's overbearing behavior.
"Mhm. How to say it… he's pretty funny."
Perhaps remembering Jiang Yan's defeated look when opening another Precious Chest, Kitsune Saiguu smiled unconsciously.
Funny?
Makoto and Ei both had giant question marks floating over their heads.
They simply could not connect the word funny
with that domineering figure.
Curious, Makoto asked:
"What exactly did you two do today?"
Even Ei silently leaned closer, ears pricked.
Seeing the sisters' overly curious faces, Kitsune Saiguu frowned slightly.
Why did something… feel off?
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