Looking at Yae Miko, Lin Mo's eyes were filled with questions.
But now was not the time to ask them.
After all, Mikoshi Chiyo was still on Tsurumi Island, enduring her wounds and the corrosion of pitch-black Abyssal power.
Since all preparations were now complete, the priority was obvious—head to Inazuma first.
Lin Mo looked around at everyone and smiled.
"I'm planning to move the gathering into the Serenitea Pot, and then take everyone on a vacation to Inazuma.
I can give you all a ride on the way."
As he spoke, he turned to Lumine and Paimon with a grin.
"Lumine, Paimon—since you're going to Inazuma anyway, how about letting Miko—"
"Sure, sure!"
Paimon immediately agreed, bouncing with excitement.
But Lumine helplessly pulled her back to her side.
"Paimon, Beidou finally agreed to take us."
"Huh? Beidou? You already made plans?"
Only then did Lin Mo realize the issue.
"Yes."
Lumine nodded.
Paimon sighed and explained, "When we went to see Ningguang earlier to look for you, we ran into Captain Beidou paying a fine. She said she could take us to Inazuma tonight."
"What?!"
Paimon kicked her little feet in midair, sulking.
"I wanted Yae Miko to take us! Paimon really wants to stay with the big fox lady!"
"Well… there'll be other chances. It wouldn't be nice to stand someone up," Lin Mo said with a wry smile.
"I guess that's the only way…"
Paimon drooped, her little face full of regret.
Lin Mo secretly felt relieved.
Good thing Lumine had reminded her. Otherwise, she really would have missed an important part of the story.
Without Beidou taking them to Inazuma, they wouldn't meet Thoma.
Without Thoma, that iconic scene—Raiden Shogun drawing the sword from her chest beneath the Statue of the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God—would never happen.
Although the story had already changed a great deal by now, Lin Mo still wanted to avoid altering its core as much as possible.
This world had already undergone massive chain reactions because of his arrival.
For example, Dvalin had suffered even greater pain in Mondstadt.
Or this recent resurrection of a god, which had allowed Osial to be corrupted by Abyssal power.
If the plot spiraled further out of control…
Who knew what unimaginable disasters might happen next?
Would they really be able to resolve things as smoothly as this time?
"Qiqi, if they're not going, will you come with me?" Lin Mo asked with a smile.
"Inazuma…"
Qiqi looked up, her face blank.
Lin Mo coaxed her gently.
"Inazuma's made up of islands. They have the freshest coconut milk there."
"Coconut milk…"
Qiqi immediately grabbed onto Lin Mo's pant leg.
"Qiqi… got her sense of taste back. Qiqi wants to try… what coconut milk tastes like…"
"Alright, then we'll set off shortly," Lin Mo agreed, then added with a grin,
"There's also a very pretty big sister in Inazuma. She's especially popular with little finches. When we get there, we can attract a whole flock to keep you company."
"…Ah."
Qiqi grabbed his other pant leg too, as if that were the only way to express her excitement.
The "pretty big sister" he meant was, of course, Ei.
Not just Ei—apparently even the Raiden Shogun had this quality.
Lin Mo guessed it had something to do with Ei's protection over Inazuma, giving most creatures an inexplicable sense of affinity toward her.
Back when they'd chatted beneath the Sacred Sakura, even little finches had flown all the way up Mt. Yougou just to perch on her fingertips and nuzzle her affectionately.
"Rostam… I probably can't go…"
Rosalyne's voice came from the side.
Her beautiful eyes held a trace of regret. Clearly, she wanted to stay by Lin Mo's side like the others.
"It's not a problem," Lin Mo said casually.
"I'm sure we'll meet again in Inazuma soon."
"How do you know Her Majesty's plan—"
A flicker of surprise crossed Rosalyne's eyes.
But the next moment, she warily glanced at Yae Miko nearby.
After all, she would soon head to Inazuma and use the Fatui's arrangements there to seize Ei's Gnosis.
Lin Mo noticed her guarded look and couldn't help thinking of something crucial.
The Gnosis…
Wasn't it in this fox's hands?
As the thought crossed his mind, Lin Mo turned his gaze toward Yae Miko.
At that very moment, he caught a hint of amusement in the exchanged looks between Yae Miko and Rosalyne.
Miko already knew of the Fatui's plot to collect the Gnoses of the other six Archons.
The way she looked at Rosalyne seemed to say:
Rosalyne—what method will you use to take the Gnosis from my hands?
There was unmistakable provocation in those eyes.
The way things were developing gave Lin Mo a headache.
In this lifetime, Inazuma's storyline had already been severely disrupted.
Yae Miko had somehow managed to meet Ei—who had sealed herself within the Plane of Euthymia—far earlier than in the original course of events.
Although the Vision Hunt Decree and Inazuma's pursuit of "Eternity" were still ongoing…
It was clear that Miko had not yet followed the original path of having Lumine persuade Ei to abolish the decree.
At this point, fate was bound to continue forward along its altered trajectory.
A deep sense of unease welled up in Lin Mo's heart.
The more he thought about it, the worse his headache became.
Forget it. I'll take things one step at a time.
"Miko, Qiqi, let's go," Lin Mo said.
Qiqi obediently let him take her small hand.
"Alright~"
Yae Miko smiled gently.
As she walked up beside Lin Mo, she didn't forget to cast a triumphant glance at Rosalyne.
Fearing those two might start clashing again, Lin Mo quickly turned back toward Lumine, Paimon, and Rosalyne, smiling as he said,
"Everyone, take care."
With that, he left the office, calling Zhongli along as they departed the Northland Bank.
Soon, Yae Miko transformed into her kitsune form.
Stepping on lightning and auspicious clouds, she streaked across Liyue's night sky, carrying Lin Mo, Qiqi, and Zhongli toward Mt. Aozang.
Taking advantage of the moment, Lin Mo asked, "Miko, about Kitsune Saiguu—"
As if she already knew what he wanted to ask, before Lin Mo could finish speaking, a sealed letter appeared before him.
At the same time, Yae Miko's voice rode the roaring wind into his ears:
"This is a letter Kitsune Saiguu left behind at the Grand Narukami Shrine before her passing."
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T/N:
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