The Great Tengu Speaks of the Shadow Looming Over Inazuma's Future**
At this point in history, the yokai who once dominated Inazuma had faded from their former glory—
Yet the era of humankind was only just beginning.
If nothing unexpected happened, humans would soon flourish and rise to prominence.
But fate had other plans.
The calamity that would later sweep across the entire continent would crush this budding era before it could bloom—burying precious knowledge, history, and bloodlines beneath its ruin. Inazuma wouldn't recover for centuries.
"Something on your mind?" asked Lingzenbo, noticing Luo Li's distant expression.
"Nothing. Just recalling a few old memories."
He breathed in the refreshing fragrance of the tea, took a sip of the brew the Great Tengu had prepared herself, and sighed appreciatively.
"When it comes to tea, Inazuma has only two or three people capable of matching you."
Longevity came with refinement—cultured arts grew with age.
Just like the blind elder Kosan, who had brewed tea for the Raiden Shogun for forty years; sightless, yet flawless in duty.
When did I start enjoying tea this much?
Right—after spending far too much time with Morax.
To listen to music, one must seek a famed performer.
To drink tea, one must seek the sweetest spring water.
To admire birds, one must choose the songbirds with the most elegant plumage.
A connoisseur follows the way of connoisseurs.
Lingzenbo gave him a helpless look.
"Coming from you, it feels like mockery."
After all, the "two or three people" he referred to… included himself.
"What mockery? If it tasted bad, I'd have already poured it out."
Even the Great Tengu's patience faltered—she shot him a sidelong glare.
"Enough nonsense. You didn't come all this way just to chat. Speak your purpose."
Her voice carried the subtle edge of someone urging a troublesome guest to leave.
Of all the people in Inazuma, the ones she least wanted to deal with were—
first, Saiguu;
second, Luo Li.
Luo Li's expression grew serious.
"Has that fox—who sees through everything and knows the world's secrets—not told you about the shadow looming over Inazuma?"
He hadn't come merely to visit.
If he didn't understand what those two women were planning, he couldn't prepare countermeasures.
And if something went wrong, even regret wouldn't be enough to fix it.
After all, in all of Inazuma, only Raiden Makoto and Saiguu had sensed something was coming—
the coming cataclysm, the destruction of Khaenri'ah, the tide of disaster that would engulf Teyvat.
Lingzenbo fell silent at the mention.
After a long moment, she let out a sigh.
"So you saw through it after all."
Like Narukami herself who had crossed the sea, Luo Li, too, was shrouded in mystery.
No one could see through him.
No one knew his origins.
Instinct told Lingzenbo—
trying to deceive him was pointless.
"What does that fox want you to do?"
"She plans to use the Grand Shrine's sacred relics to link the four corners of Narukami, bind the ley lines, and weave a barrier strong enough to protect the entire island. As for the rest…"
Once the topic opened, Lingzenbo no longer held back.
She shared everything she knew—including her suspicions.
Luo Li remained mostly silent, only nodding occasionally.
Combined with everything he knew from the "future" of his previous life, he pieced together Saiguu's intentions—
and the measures she was quietly putting into place.
Tea cooled and reheated.
Sunrise turned to noon, and noon tinted the sky with the colors of dusk.
Only then did their conversation end.
"That's enough for today. I'll take my leave."
He came abruptly and left just as swiftly.
His purpose was achieved—staying longer served no point.
But just before stepping out, he paused.
Lingzenbo raised a brow.
"Another question?"
"No. Just a reminder." Luo Li replied casually. "That boy outside has decent talent. Might be worth teaching him."
Then he walked off without looking back.
Lingzenbo froze—then muttered irritably:
"If you want to teach him, do it yourself. Why tell me?"
"I'm not interested in teaching men."
"…"
Watching Luo Li disappear into the distance, Lingzenbo rubbed her forehead and sighed.
Time passed.
At last, moved by his words—or perhaps by the persistence she had been quietly observing—
she stepped outside.
The boy remained kneeling, back straight, jaw clenched, stubborn fire burning in his eyes.
His face had gone pale, body trembling slightly.
If she didn't speak, he would likely kneel until his body failed completely.
That kind of resolve was rare.
"What's the point? Mortals chasing the path of the extraordinary… rarely meets a good end."
Her words were honest.
In the future, Inazuma would be drenched in blood and chaos.
For an ordinary, powerless human—
ignorance might truly be a blessing.
The boy stayed silent, letting determination speak for him.
"…Enough. Rise. I will take you as a disciple."
She had already decided to accept him.
With Luo Li's comment, the matter was settled.
"But listen well. The techniques we tengu can teach humans are few—and extremely difficult. If you fear hardship, leave now."
Before she even finished, the boy bent forward and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Great Tengu-sama!"
"…"
So be it.
If his will was this strong, Lingzenbo wouldn't dissuade him.
Perhaps—
this boy might one day become a small spark carried from the tengu bloodline into the human world.
Meanwhile, Luo Li did not return to the Grand Shrine immediately.
He first searched for Hibiki—
and soon found her with Kouyoi by a waterfall at the edge of the tengu settlement, chatting in hushed, friendly tones.
They had met barely an hour ago, yet seemed strangely close already.
Whatever Kouyoi had done, Hibiki now trusted her far more—no longer timid, no longer shrinking back.
The moment Kouyoi spotted Luo Li, she brightened and glided down from a tree branch with Hibiki in tow.
"Teacher! You finished talking with Mother?"
"Mm. Let's go. As promised—today, the rest of my time belongs to you."
"Really?!"
Kouyoi's delight was immediate and radiant.
She had expected nothing more than standing quietly at his side—
but now it sounded like she could decide what they would do.
Luo Li nodded.
"But before that, let's test your archery. If you've regressed at all…"
"How could I? I haven't neglected a single day of the archery and arts you taught me!"
Confidence surged through her.
She immediately turned and headed toward the training grounds.
"If I perform well… will Teacher grant me one wish?"
Hearing that, Kouyoi straightened her back, energy overflowing.
She would give her very best—
because she needed that wish.
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