"You really have no fear of demon gods at all, do you?"
Raiden Makoto closed her eyes and shook her head, a helpless smile tugging at her lips.
She had no intention of rising to Lin Mo's teasing.
He wasn't surprised. The wise and gentle Raiden Makoto had only been so warm at the very start to put him at ease. Flirting now, after the pleasantries were over? Not a chance.
Lin Mo let the playful tone drop and asked seriously, "So, beautiful demon god sister—what did you come to me for?"
Makoto's smile turned soft and coaxing. "This beautiful demon god sister would like her handsome tengu brother to lend a hand~"
Lin Mo thumped his chest. "Anything in my power, for a sister this lovely? Consider it done."
"Good boy." A flicker of bitterness crossed her eyes. "Here's the thing…"
Her gaze drifted to the distant sea.
Even from high on Mount Yougou, the far horizon was choked with perpetual thunderclouds. Lightning crawled across the sky; the ocean churned like it was boiling. The wars never stopped.
"In this age," Makoto said quietly, "demon gods slaughter each other every day for scraps of land. My sister and I… we hate fighting. We never threw ourselves into the carnage like the others. But being a demon god is a threat in itself. Teyvat right now is a dark forest—strike first or be struck. Even if you stay quiet, others will come for you, afraid you'll come for them later."
She turned back to him, smile returning. "So Ei and I decided to find somewhere far from all that. A place to live in peace. Narukami Island, with no god of its own… it's perfect."
As she spoke, the sword at her waist flared with violet lightning. A second figure materialized beside her—identical in face and form, but cold-eyed and silent, staring at Lin Mo like he was an insect.
Makoto's voice stayed warm. "This is my little sister, Ei. She doesn't talk much."
The newcomer—Ei—gave a single, curt nod.
Makoto tilted her head. "So, handsome tengu brother, can you speak for Narukami Island and give two weary demon gods a home?"
Lin Mo's brows drew together. "Narukami isn't the sanctuary you imagine. You've felt it yourself, haven't you? That presence far out at sea—Orobashi on Watatsumi Island."
"Exactly why I'm negotiating instead of conquering." Makoto's tone was calm, almost gentle, but carried absolute confidence. "Right now your island has no chance against the Serpent God. The moment it heals, Narukami falls. But if two demon gods stood here instead…" She let the silence finish the sentence.
Lin Mo exhaled through his nose. It was an offer impossible to refuse.
He smiled wryly. "You know perfectly well the three clans run this place. You came to me because I get along with the Kitsune and the Oni—and, what, because I'm easy on the eyes?"
Makoto laughed, low and teasing. "That too. Talking to you puts me in a good mood."
"I'll bring it to them," Lin Mo said, turning serious again. "But I can't promise they'll agree."
Makoto blinked, genuinely confused. "Why would they refuse? Orobashi threatens all three clans' survival."
"Because of faith." Lin Mo met her gaze. "If the people start worshipping you two instead of the Hakushin Clan, then what's the difference between your arrival and Orobashi's invasion? We'd just be choosing which demon god gets to rule us."
Makoto's expression softened into something almost tender. "We have no interest in stealing faith, little brother. Let the people keep praying to the Hakushin. Ei and I only want a quiet corner of the world. In return, we'll protect this island with everything we have."
Lin Mo felt the corner of his mouth lift. "In that case… I'd say I've got about a ninety percent chance of convincing them."
Makoto's eyes curved like crescent moons. "Then big sister will wait right here for good news."
"Wait for me." Lin Mo spread his black tengu wings and leapt from the cliff, soaring down toward the city.
The negotiations went smoother than anyone expected.
Kitsune Saiguu and Chiyo listened to his report, exchanged a single glance, and agreed—almost too quickly. Two demon gods offering protection for mere shelter? The math was brutal and obvious.
Still, caution lingered.
For the first two months the thunder sisters were treated like polite guests rather than family. No one quite trusted promises made by gods.
It was Lin Mo who found them a modest house on the outskirts of the city, who smoothed over every awkward introduction, who insisted—again and again—that Makoto and Ei truly wanted only peace.
The turning point came in the third month.
The thunderclouds on the horizon suddenly parted. From the depths of Watatsumi, an enormous serpentine shadow rose, scales glinting like shattered amethyst, countless coral-armored believers chanting behind it.
Orobashi had healed.
And it was coming for Narukami Island.
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T/N:
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