After some time, the two left Inazuma City and arrived at Byakko Plain.
Under the night sky, foxes ran freely across the grass, while countless fireflies flickered like drifting stars.
Yae Miko stopped.
She turned to face Qiu Nian.
Even now—
She wasn't sure if something had gone wrong.
How could this gentle, refined young man…
Be the one from three thousand five hundred years ago…
—
"Miss Yae."
"We've walked quite a while."
"What is it you wanted to say?"
Qiu Nian asked calmly.
"…Haa…"
"Should I call you that…"
"Or should I call you Mr. Qiu Nian?"
Yae Miko took a deep breath before speaking.
Qiu Nian paused.
He had misunderstood at first—
But when she clarified—
He understood.
"…If you mean the one who slaughtered countless gods in Inazuma three thousand five hundred years ago…"
"…Then yes. That was me."
His expression grew slightly complicated.
In Mondstadt—
He had one title.
In Liyue—
Another.
In Inazuma—
Something far worse.
Compared to those—
Liyue's name for him was almost flattering.
—
"It really is you?!"
Yae Miko's fox ears shot upright.
She stepped back instantly—
Her gaze filled with vigilance.
Hidden beneath her sleeve—
She gripped a pink omamori tightly.
—
Seeing this—
Qiu Nian's expression became even more complex.
…Was his reputation really that bad?
—
But—
It was also his first time seeing this side of her.
The ever-playful fox—
Afraid.
—
…Interesting.
—
He touched his chin.
A certain mischievous thought arose.
—
He decided—
To tease her.
—
Yae Miko took another step back.
Her grip tightened.
If anything went wrong—
She would immediately retreat into Ei's Plane of Euthymia.
—
Qiu Nian smiled.
Then—
Tapped lightly with his finger.
—
The pink omamori—
Vanished from her sleeve—
And appeared in his hand.
—
Yae Miko's face instantly turned pale.
—
He stepped forward.
—
Lightning erupted.
A fox of pure electro energy descended—
Striking down like thunder!
A blinding flash.
—
And then—
Nothing.
—
Qiu Nian stood there—
Unharmed.
Residual lightning crackled faintly around him.
—
Yae Miko's despair deepened.
—
"…What a pity."
"If you had used this the moment you recognized me…"
"You might have escaped."
"But now…"
He played with the omamori, smiling faintly.
—
"What do you want?"
She frowned, lightning gathering once more.
—
"Hehe…"
"What do I want?"
"What do you think?"
He covered his face slightly—
Laughing in a chilling tone.
—
"If you know what I did three thousand five hundred years ago…"
"Then you should know my methods."
"The Electro Archon… Baal—Beelzebul…"
"If she were to see her familiar…"
"Dead."
"And in such a miserable state…"
"What kind of expression would she make?"
—
He spread his arms—
Laughing wildly.
—
"She won't let you go!"
Yae Miko's power surged.
She was ready—
To risk everything.
—
"Beelzebul?"
"Don't worry."
"I'll reunite her with her familiar soon enough."
"That… is why I came to Inazuma."
"After all…"
"Hehe…"
"The Geo Archon, Morax—"
"Died the same way."
—
"What?!"
"You killed Morax?!"
Her eyes widened in shock.
Her mind—
Went blank.
—
"Yes…"
"That fight took quite some effort…"
"He was as strong as ever…"
"A pity he failed to kill me back then…"
"He must regret it…"
"How unfortunate…"
"How unfortunate…"
"Hahaha—!"
—
His laughter echoed madly.
Even he was impressed—
By his own acting.
—
"…Ganyu!"
"What did you do to Ganyu?!"
Yae Miko suddenly shouted.
—
"Ganyu…"
"Oh… the qilin, wasn't she…"
"…Hmm."
He shook his head slowly.
—
Tears welled in her eyes.
Memories flooded in—
Ganyu.
Saiguu.
Makoto.
Ei.
—
Her power surged even further.
She was truly prepared—
To fight to the death.
—
Then—
He appeared before her instantly.
—
With a flick of his finger—
Infused with white and crimson energy—
He tapped her forehead.
—
Bonk.
—
Everything stopped.
Her thoughts.
Her power.
The lightning.
—
She stood there—
Stunned.
Tears still lingering at the corners of her eyes.
—
Then—
His gentle voice followed.
—
By the time she came back to her senses—
The omamori—
Was already back in her hand.
—
"…You…"
She stared at him blankly.
Confusion filled her eyes.
—
"…Sorry."
"I may have gone a bit too far."
"Calm down first."
Qiu Nian looked slightly awkward as he apologized.
—
Still—
There was one thing he wanted to know.
—
How…
Had she discovered his identity?
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