Hearing a suggestive phrase like "taking a look at your big treasure" come from Yae Miko's mouth couldn't help but make one's imagination run wild.
Who could possibly resist a pink-haired fox with nine tails expressing a desire to see their "big treasure"?
"Who knows? Maybe I saw it in one of those light novels you wrote."
Miko shrugged playfully and took the first step into the Small World.
This sassy fox!
Ye Xi cursed under his breath twice before following her into the sub-space.
He walked past the steaming hot spring pools and stepped onto the wooden planks of the pavilion. At that moment, he actually felt a wave of bittersweet emotion.
Having lived here for three years, he had long since regarded this place as his home, his comfort zone. Now that he was about to leave Inazuma, it felt like leaving his hometown in a past life to go struggle for a future in the big city.
It wasn't exactly that he couldn't bear to leave, but he felt a certain sense of instability.
Before he could reach for the door, Miko had already pushed it open with practiced ease.
Ye Xi was left speechless by the sight. Since he was leaving Inazuma, it didn't really matter if the place was locked or not. For this pink fox, getting inside was as simple as eating or drinking.
It might be better to just hand this Small World over to the sassy fox and let her watch over the place for him. That wasn't a bad idea; after all, there were plenty of things in the sub-space that needed tending to.
Over the years, besides collecting equipment, he had harvested many plants.
Sweet Flowers, Mint, Naku Weeds, Amakumo Fruit, Sea Ganoderma...
He had gathered quite a lot. Every few days, he would go out to harvest them. These items were kept fresh in an underground ice cellar. If he wasn't around and some accident happened, his hoard of treasures would be ruined!
With that thought, he made his decision. He would leave the management of the Small World to Yae Miko!
After changing his shoes in the entryway, Ye Xi led Miko to the storage room. All the items he had obtained using Resin over the past three years were stored here.
He lit a candle, and the contents of the room came into view. Cabinets used for storage lined every wall.
Miko looked around the room, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "So, you plan to show me your 'big treasure' in here?"
"Quiet, Miko."
Ye Xi rubbed his temples helplessly. The atmosphere was becoming increasingly strange.
It's just a man and a woman alone in a room, yet this sassy fox insists on teasing me. Who could possibly stand this?
Holding the candle, he began searching according to the markings he had left on the cabinets. Hearing his inner thoughts, Miko couldn't help but snicker to herself.
Found it.
Ye Xi saw his own labels on a cabinet and pulled it open, exposing the items inside to the candlelight.
Miko's eyes widened.
"This is Crystal Marrow and Sango Pearls! You actually have this many?!"
Crystal Marrow was a crystal that contained the power of the Tatarigami. If added during the smelting process, it could greatly increase the strength and toughness of steel products. Moreover, these things only grew in the wild, and gathering them was fraught with danger.
As for the Sango Pearls, they were located far from Inazuma City at Sangonomiya Shrine. The waters there were turbulent and the terrain treacherous, making them a massive hassle to pick!
She never expected Ye Xi to have collected such a vast amount!
Ye Xi blinked in surprise at her reaction and smiled. "These? I just gathered them while I was bored on the mountains. If you're interested, feel free to take a few."
"But what I really want to give you is this."
Ye Xi took two crystals out of the cabinet. These were the crystals taken from the bodies of Bathysmal Vishaps Dragonheir's False Fins.
They looked like two pieces of black jade, radiating a cool, refreshing aura. Upon closer inspection, one could see a faint golden outline along the edges of the jade.
This was exactly the material Yae Miko needed for her breakthrough.
"What is this?"
Miko felt these two shimmering objects resonating with the demonic power inside her body. It was as if her inner strength was welcoming them.
She had already guessed. These were the key items Ye Xi had mentioned in his heart before—the ones that could help her break through her shackles. She had only heard of them through his inner voice; she had never seen them with her own eyes.
Ye Xi replied, "I encountered these by chance while traveling through Inazuma. They looked quite rare, so consider them a return gift for the Omamori."
Explaining the concept of 'Character Ascension Materials' would be too complicated for her anyway. With how smart this sassy fox is, she'd probably just end up asking even more questions. Best to keep her in the dark.
Hearing Ye Xi's thoughts, Miko tactfully refrained from asking more. She tucked them away, looking thoroughly satisfied.
"There's one more thing, Miko," Ye Xi took the opportunity to say. "After I leave Inazuma, I'm leaving the Small World in your care."
Miko was slightly stunned for a moment, then she laughed. "I would have done that even if you didn't ask. I've become quite addicted to the hot springs here. Besides, your barriers can't keep me out anyway."
Well...
Ye Xi felt like he had stated the obvious.
This sassy fox had it all planned out from the very beginning!
"Go ahead and pack your bags. I'm going to rest now. I'll see you off tomorrow."
Miko left the Small World with a smile, leaving Ye Xi standing there in silence.
That night, a snow-white messenger pigeon flew across the sky of Inazuma.
Flapping its wings vigorously, it flew toward a palace guarded by reefs and giant shells.
Watatsumi Island, Sangonomiya Shrine.
Before a flickering candle, a weary figure was flipping through documents. Aside from the brushes, ink, and paper on the desk, there were mountains of invoices and receipts.
"Lady Sangonomiya, we just received a letter by pigeon from Master Ye Xi!"
The figure at the desk suddenly jolted upright, the fatigue on her face replaced by excitement.
"Where is it? Let me see."
The young girl stood up and took the letter, reading it immediately. She was the leader of Watatsumi Island, Sangonomiya Kokomi.
After finishing the letter, two trails of tears suddenly rolled down Kokomi's rosy cheeks.
"Lady Sangonomiya! What's wrong?!"
The guard standing nearby was shocked. He had never expected the usually smiling Kokomi to suddenly burst into tears! This was a first.
Kokomi turned her back, took a deep breath, and said, "I'm fine. You may leave."
"This... Understood!"
The guard didn't dare disobey and exited the room.
Kokomi could no longer hold it back and began to sob softly. She looked toward the direction of Mt. Yougou and murmured to herself, "Master Xi, I will wait for your return at Sangonomiya."
Tears dripped onto the letter, blurring the ink.
[Kokomi, I need to leave Inazuma for a while. During the days I'm gone, don't put too much pressure on yourself. The Raiden Shogun won't be making any moves. Feel free to stay at home and read the books you like. Wait for my return. Ye Xi.]
Looking out at the moon through the window, Kokomi's thoughts had already drifted to a far-off place.
"What did you say? Lady Sangonomiya cried?!"
Several guards were frozen in shock.
"Yes! She started crying right after reading Master Ye Xi's letter. I've never seen anything like it!"
"It's hard to imagine the ever-calculating Lady Sangonomiya looking so heartbroken."
"Could it be that the Raiden Shogun's people have trapped Master Ye Xi?! We should lead a force to storm Tenshukaku and bring him back!"
"Exactly! Master Ye Xi is our future leader and Lady Sangonomiya's beloved. We can't let those thugs at Tenshukaku bully him!"
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