"The identity of the current Divine Priestess... is indeed a tricky issue..."
Ei nodded thoughtfully beside him.
This clan represented an ancient nation that wielded the power of the leylines.
What the Heavenly Principles had promised Orobashi back then was merely to allow his people to continue living on this land.
If the people of Watatsumi Island were to truly submit to Inazuma's rule...
Wouldn't that inevitably incur the displeasure of the Heavenly Principles?
After all, in the eyes of the Heavenly Principles,
the descendants of Watatsumi Island's people were like unwelcome stains from beyond this world—how could they be allowed to taint the world under her dominion?
"It's fine. Getting along this way isn't bad either,"
Lin Mo said with a smile. "It's not like the old days of resource scarcity anymore. If the people of Watatsumi Island face difficulties, Inazuma will lend a hand."
"Mmm, indeed."
Ei nodded, turning to Kokomi with a serious expression. "Since you live on this land of Inazuma, whether you formally submit to its rule or not, in my eyes, the people of Watatsumi Island are also part of Inazuma."
"Your Excellency..."
Kokomi clenched her fists gently.
In Kokomi's eyes, Ei was also a gentle deity.
After all, she had watched the resistance army form, develop, and consolidate,
yet never personally descended upon Watatsumi Island to forcefully suppress the rebellion.
That was a testament to her gentleness and mercy.
Watching the harmonious scene of the two exchanging glances,
Lin Mo couldn't help but smile and pat both their shoulders. "Alright~ Since you two have reached an understanding, how about a hug? You should get along well from now on~"
"Ah... this... this wouldn't be proper..."
Kokomi would never dare to be so presumptuous with a deity.
Ei also turned her head and said flatly, "I am not accustomed to physical contact with strangers."
"What Ei means is, she only likes Sasayuri's loving hugs~"
Chiyo chimed in teasingly.
Amid the lighthearted laughter,
the crisis facing Watatsumi Island, stemming from Enkanomiya, was finally settled.
And it wasn't just Watatsumi Island.
With the help of Vision holders, the occupation of various islands across Inazuma was quickly reversed.
Although the deep-sea dragonheir clan wasn't completely wiped out,
with the deaths of their two leaders
and more than half their numbers lost,
they had fled Inazuma's waters after their defeat, disappearing to who-knows-where in the vast ocean.
The group gathered once more on Narukami Island, meeting under the torii gate in Kankin Ward.
"Ahh~ That was a satisfying fight!"
Tartaglia clearly had enjoyed himself immensely.
For him, battling such a large number of deep-sea dragonheirs was far more thrilling than fighting in the Abyss.
Seeing Childe,
or rather, Tartaglia,
Lin Mo was reminded that the young man had mentioned coming to Liyue bearing the Tsaritsa's apologies and exorbitant compensation.
This made Lin Mo think of what Ningguang was likely doing right now.
She should be... rebuilding the Jade Chamber?
Thinking this, Lin Mo asked curiously, "By the way, when you left Liyue, how was the Jade Chamber reconstruction progressing?"
"The main structure of the Jade Chamber is basically complete~"
Tartaglia replied with a smile. "Before I departed, I heard they only needed three more materials to ensure the Jade Chamber could take to the skies once more."
"Oh? Which three?"
Lin Mo inquired.
At that moment, Beidou walked over with a grin. "The three materials Ningguang currently needs are 'Mingxia Floating Stone,' 'Thousand-Core Mechanism,' and 'Adeptal Talisman.'"
"Those don't sound easy to find..."
Lin Mo couldn't help but frown. "Aside from the Adeptal Talisman, the other two are quite rare even in Liyue..."
"No need to worry about that."
Beidou laughed. "Ningguang has posted a bounty. The merchants of Liyue are scrambling over each other to find those materials for her."
"Moreover, just as I was setting out, I happened to see Cloud Retainer arriving in Liyue with a disciple."
"Apparently, that disciple is discussing with Yun Jin from the opera troupe about joining the hunt for the bounty as well."
"Disciple... Yun Jin..."
Lin Mo fell into thought.
They must be talking about Shenhe and Yun Jin, right?
During the cycles of his hundred lifetimes, he had often caught glimpses of Yun Jin's operas when passing by the theater.
But as for that girl Shenhe...
He hadn't seen her since he left her near Cloud Retainer's abode.
Thinking about it now,
Lin Mo missed that poor little girl quite a bit.
Especially remembering when he first found her.
Shenhe was covered in blood,
yet her eyes still held that unyielding strength. The memory alone made his heart ache.
He wondered... if she was happy now...
Living with an adeptus like Cloud Retainer, who wasn't exactly skilled at conversation... she probably... wasn't all that happy.
Lin Mo shook his head.
Rather than just missing her,
why not go to Liyue and see her in person?
So he looked up at the group and said with a smile, "The Lantern Rite is approaching. Everyone, why not come with me to Liyue? I'd like to see the Jade Chamber soar into the sky again before our victory banquet and the Lantern Rite."
"Hmm... A major Liyue festival... It should be quite lively..."
Ei did not refuse.
Since emerging from the Plane of Euthymia,
she had no desire to return to those days of sealing her heart away.
What she wished for now was to stay by Lin Mo's side and accompany him to see the world.
And it wasn't just Ei.
The others nodded almost instinctively.
Even Kokomi didn't feel the immediate need to return to Watatsumi Island to oversee affairs.
With the threat of the deep-sea dragonheirs gone, she preferred to stay by Lin Mo's side and become part of his circle.
.
Once the decision was made,
the group boarded Beidou's "Alcor." With the aid of the fierce winds summoned by Lin Mo, the ship swiftly sailed toward Liyue.
...
...
Later.
The group finally arrived at Liyue Harbor.
They sought out Ningguang at Yujing Terrace without delay.
The moment Ningguang saw the illustrious delegation led by deities returning from Inazuma,
she immediately instructed her secretaries without another word: "Baiwen, Baishi, our guests from Mondstadt and Inazuma must be weary from their journey. Please arrange guest rooms for them at Yuehai Pavilion for rest. Ensure they are well taken care of."
"Yes!"
"Everyone, please follow me~"
Baiwen and Baishi nodded in unison, quickly leading the group toward Yuehai Pavilion.
However...
Lin Mo, walking at the very back, seemed somewhat distracted.
Yae Miko, observing Lin Mo's wandering gaze, sidled up to him and asked with interest, "What's on your mind, Sasayuri-sama?"
"Ah... Nothing much, just looking around." Lin Mo naturally wouldn't say he was searching for Shenhe and Yun Jin.
"Oh~ Is that so?"
Seeing Lin Mo's insincere denial,
the interest in Yae Miko's eyes only deepened. She cooed considerately, "Sasayuri-sama, I'm craving some fried tofu~ Won't you take your little fox to try Liyue's version of Inazuma's fried tofu? Please~"
Lin Mo was taken aback for a moment.
Seeing the meaningful look on Yae Miko's face,
he knew this woman had surely seen through him!
On the surface, she was asking him to take her for fried tofu.
In reality, she was giving him a chance to slip away from the group and see what was really preoccupying him.
This fox was far too perceptive.
"Ahem, well, if that's the case, let's go." Lin Mo nodded with feigned seriousness.
He quietly slipped away from the rear of the group, heading into Liyue Harbor with Yae Miko.
As the two walked together along the streets of Liyue,
Yae Miko finally couldn't contain her curiosity. "Sasayuri-sama, will you tell me what's on your mind now?"
"Tsk, what could possibly be on my mind?"
Lin Mo waved a hand dismissively. "I just heard an old acquaintance came to Liyue Harbor, so I wanted to..." His words were abruptly cut short.
Yae Miko, seeing Lin Mo's fixed stare, followed his line of sight.
At a street corner not far away,
Beidou, Yun Jin, and Shenhe were gathered together.
Judging by their occasional nods, they seemed to be discussing something.
Yae Miko keenly noticed that
Lin Mo's gaze wasn't so much fixed on all three of them,
but rather lingered on the white-haired girl on the far right, who had a cool, aloof demeanor and remained silent.
"What a striking white-haired girl~"
Yae Miko pretended to marvel. "Sasayuri-sama, what is that young lady's name?"
"She... is called Shenhe."
Lin Mo answered without thinking.
"Ohhh! So her name is Shenhe~!"
Yae Miko suddenly adopted a teasing, singsong tone. "Sasayuri-sama, since you like Shenhe, you should take a good, long look~"
"But let me say this first~"
"Once Sasayuri-sama has had his fill of looking at Shenhe, you can't go casting those same eyes that have gazed upon another woman in my direction, okay~"
Lin Mo: ???
Lin Mo was momentarily stunned.
Why did that sentence sound so strangely familiar?
It reminded him irresistibly of the character event wish banners in the game *Genshin Impact*.
Shenhe was the limited character in version 2.4.
Yae Miko was the limited character in version 2.5.
Thinking about it this way,
Yae Miko's earlier remark sounded almost like she was saying:
"Sasayuri-sama~ Shenhe is beautiful, right?"
"When the time comes, if you don't have a guaranteed pity, I won't be coming to see you~"
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T/N:
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