Chapter 269: Yae Miko's Arrival
Sensing the Shogun's Army soldiers nearby who occasionally glanced at him with strange looks, the expression on Zhongli's face, which had remained unchanged for a thousand years, became a bit uncomfortable. Su Bai, who was dragging Arataki Itto along to explain the situation to the soldiers, now wished he could give Itto a good whack.
Damn it, this guy really dared to say anything that came to his mind.
"So it was just a misunderstanding. Listen, you little thug, do not waste our time."
"Mr. Su Bai, since it is all a misunderstanding, we will be on our way. You all continue."
After scolding Itto, the Shogun's Army soldiers smiled, greeted Su Bai, and went to patrol other areas. Itto rolled his eyes at the soldiers, then put his arm around Su Bai's shoulder and asked mysteriously.
"Hey, my good brother, does Liyue have some secret recipe to make people stronger? Tell me about it. I really do not want to get pinned to the ground and beaten up by that little girl again."
"I do not know if Liyue has a secret recipe for increasing strength, but we do have a secret recipe for boosting brainpower. I think you might need that."
Su Bai complained weakly. It was only because Zhongli, this adeptus, had a good temper. If it were any of the three adepti from Jueyun Karst, Itto would be lucky if he did not get a layer of skin peeled off today.
Meanwhile, our Shirasagi Himegimi was also far from calm. Watching the mysterious Su Bai and Itto, Ayaka almost crushed the fan in her hand.
My brother, and even Su Bai? I really don't know why this guy, who interrupted my confession, became friends.
As she thought this, Ayaka's gaze toward Itto became a bit fierce.
"Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean by that? I am very smart, you know."
"Um, Zhongli, right? I am sorry. I misunderstood you earlier. I thought you were like that disgusting guy I met in the prison."
"And you two kids over there, I really did not know you were not Zhongli's children. I am truly sorry."
Feeling a chill down his back, Itto turned around but found nothing unusual, assuming Zhongli was still angry. Itto was not the type to be shy or evasive, so since it was his fault, he directly apologized to Zhongli and also said sorry to Hu Tao and Zhongtuo.
"Zhongli... I feel like I have seen that name somewhere. Oh, right, since you guys have phones, which one of you is Zhongtuo?"
"Hmm? Why are you calling me, you guy? Do you want another beating?"
Seeing the little loli wave her fist, Itto widened his eyes in disbelief. Seeing Itto's reaction, Azhdaha was a bit puzzled, but she did not want to discuss anything with a brainless guy like Itto, so she spoke directly.
"What? You do not believe me? I am Zhongtuo, and my name does not change whether I stand or sit."
Seeing that Azhdaha was not joking, Itto swallowed hard. He had previously wanted to arm-wrestle the guy named Zhongtuo to see who was stronger. Now? Whoever wanted to go could go. He did not want to be crushed by this little girl named Zhongtuo again.
"Boss, what kind of trouble did you cause this time!"
Kuki Shinobu, who had finally arrived, saw Itto and immediately delivered a flying kick. Caught off guard, Itto was sent flying by Shinobu.
"Hey, hey, hey, Shinobu, why did you kick me? I did not do anything."
"Hmph, Director Hu already posted photos of you causing trouble in the group chat. Hurry up and apologize!"
"How can a boss listen to his underling... Ouch, I was wrong, I was wrong, do not pull my ears!"
With his fragile ears pulled by Kuki Shinobu, Itto wailed in pain. Su Bai, standing nearby, got a headache from Itto's noise pollution. To avoid having nightmares tonight, Su Bai persuaded her.
"Shinobu, Itto has already realized his mistake and apologized. You can just educate him when you get back. It is not a big deal."
"Since you said so, Su Bai, I will let it go this time."
Seeing Su Bai offer a way out, Shinobu him let go. Her boss still needed some face in public; she would educate him properly later. After dealing with her boss, Shinobu finally looked at Hu Tao and spoke with an apologetic tone.
"I am truly sorry, Director Hu. My boss is just ignorant. As for our cooperation..."
"You must be Kuki Shinobu. Our cooperation can proceed as usual. Your boss is actually quite a nice guy."
Hu Tao's words allowed Kuki Shinobu to put her hanging heart down. The cooperation between the Arataki Gang and the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor involved a large sum of Mora. If her boss had ruined it, Shinobu felt she could kick him to death. Not understanding the situation, Itto scratched his head and corrected the mistake in Hu Tao's words.
"Hey, I am telling you, little brat, I am not a human. I am an Oni."
"Oh? An Oni? Are the Oni in Inazuma this brave, to appear openly in front of this Director?"
Seeing Hu Tao about to take out her ghost-repelling tools to cast a spell on Itto, Su Bai quickly stopped her action. Under Hu Tao's puzzled gaze, Su Bai explained the difference between the Oni race and actual ghosts.
After Su Bai's explanation, Hu Tao looked Itto up and down. Seeing Itto looking at her with a puzzled expression, Hu Tao nodded thoughtfully.
"I see, the Oni race are those living creatures that can breathe, right? Then there is no way to send them to the afterlife."
Well, after explaining for so long, this was the only point Hu Tao noticed. But as long as she realized Itto was a living person, no, a living Oni, that was good enough. Otherwise, Su Bai was worried Hu Tao would bury Itto in the middle of the night. After all, Qiqi had been chased and buried by Hu Tao quite a few times.
"Oh my, it seems I arrived a step too late. It is a bit of a pity I missed this good show."
A voice full of charm came from behind the group. Kuki Shinobu's pupils contracted upon hearing this familiar voice. It had taken her quite a while to rush from the Grand Narukami Shrine to the festival. She did not expect this Guuji Yae to arrive so quickly. It seemed the strength of this Guuji Yae, who did nothing all day, was not to be underestimated.
"Oh my, oh my, little Shinobu, do not look at me like that. Could it be that little Shinobu wants to return to the Grand Narukami Shrine to be a shrine maiden? That is not entirely impossible, you know~"
"Hey, hey, hey, defeated opponent, how dare you have designs on Shinobu? Let me tell you, do not even think about forcing Shinobu."
Hearing Itto defend Kuki Shinobu so fiercely, Yae Miko was not annoyed. However, she had already decided in her heart that the next time she had the chance, she would definitely challenge this noisy little Oni to a Fried Tofu eating contest. Given this little guy's temperament, he definitely would not refuse.
"Mr. Zhongli, it has been a long time. You have been in Inazuma for so long and have not come to sit with me. This truly makes me sad."
"Guuji Yae, I am completely helpless regarding the matter you want me to help with. Unless she can figure it out herself, persuasion from others is completely meaningless."
"That is true. Sigh, my poor old friend."