"Guuji Yae, you seem to be in an exceptionally good mood today. Did something fortunate happen?"
Kano Nana, a shrine maiden on duty at Grand Narukami Shrine, couldn't help but feel surprised seeing Guuji Yae pacing in the courtyard with a joyful smile.
While Guuji Yae usually wore a pleasant expression, it often felt polite and perfunctory, a little… insincere. Of course, she wouldn't dare voice such an observation to the Guuji.
But today, Guuji Yae seemed like a different person, a touch inexplicably nervous, her smile radiating a genuine warmth.
It was as if she were anticipating something.
But what could possibly bring such anticipation to Guuji Yae?
"Ah, Nana, the moonlight tonight is so clear and bright; it would be a waste not to do something. Come, let us stroll under the moon. No refusal allowed!"
More so than her diligent subordinates or her adoring juniors, Yae Miko found herself most interested in this shrine maiden named Kano Nana.
Nana, Yae Miko's fellow enthusiast of novels, was constantly vexed by the task of looking after Sayu.
Often, Yae Miko, lying in her room, would catch a glimpse of Sayu flitting past the window. Before long, the hurried and angry footsteps of Kano Nana would follow.
This dynamic, like lightning and thunder, greatly amused Yae Miko, who would occasionally deliberately point Nana in the wrong direction to prolong the lively spectacle.
With this amusing shrine maiden, Yae Miko took her hand and strolled through the courtyard strewn with falling blossoms, together to bask in the beautiful moonlight.
"Guuji Yae, is there something else you need me to handle?"
Accompanying Guuji Yae on her stroll through the courtyard, Kano Nana understood her intentions without needing them to be spoken.
When Guuji Yae found something interesting, or craved a sweet treat she couldn't procure through her official capacity, she would take Nana for a walk like this and casually mention it.
With frequent occurrences, Kano Nana knew when Guuji Yae had something for her to deal with, even before she spoke.
"Ahaha, little Nana is truly sharp as ice and wise as jade. I do indeed have something I wish to entrust to you!"
Yae Miko found it effortless to converse with intelligent people.
"Guuji Yae, please instruct me!"
Kano Nana suspected it was either Guuji Yae's sweet tooth acting up again, or she had devised some new amusement.
Though a little helpless, as a devoted admirer of Guuji Yae, she found it exceedingly difficult to refuse her requests.
"Hmm… I would like to ask you to go to Inazuma City tomorrow and inquire about a traveler named Feng Yi. If possible, invite him to Grand Narukami Shrine. And mind you, do so while evading the Shogunate's gaze!"
Yae Miko said after a moment's thought. She couldn't let that old hag Ei discover she was keeping such a treasure to herself.
"Eh? Who is this traveler named Feng Yi?"
Kano Nana was intensely curious. What was this person's identity that warranted such caution and meticulous planning from Guuji Yae?
"Ah, he is the most important person in my life. I have waited for him for many years!"
Yae Miko smiled faintly, not wishing to reveal too much to outsiders.
Her first meeting with Feng Yi was over six hundred years ago. Back then, she was just a young fox cub who hadn't yet taken human form, and she loved to snuggle and roll around in Feng Yi's embrace.
She would never forget Feng Yi's radiant figure back then, sipping tea with the God of Wine, and casually obliterating remnants of Archons with a flick of his finger.
But soon after, Feng Yi departed, leaving only the words, "No need to worry, if fate allows, we shall meet again!"
And she waited, for a full six hundred years…
Fortunately, she had waited!
She was eager to reunite with Feng Yi, to once again lie in his arms as before, and recount the heartaches of the past six hundred years.
"The most important person?!"
Kano Nana was utterly shocked. She suddenly felt her mind struggling to keep up.
She couldn't comprehend it. This traveler named Feng Yi had only just arrived in Inazuma and hadn't even met Guuji Yae yet, so why did Guuji Yae say she had been waiting for him for years?
Wasn't that a contradiction?
Perhaps her comprehension was insufficient, Kano Nana truly couldn't figure it out.
However, seeing Guuji Yae's wistful expression, Kano Nana dared not disturb her and decided to quietly file away the question for later.
…
Meanwhile, Feng Yi had found the residence provided by Keqing.
It was a courtyard estate spanning several hundred square meters.
Although he had marveled at the wealth of the Keqing family more than once, experiencing it firsthand still elicited fresh admiration.
Feng Yi learned from the old butler who managed the estate that it had originally belonged to a prominent noble family of Inazuma. Later, the family fell into decline, and their descendants were forced to sell their property to settle debts.
Such cycles of rise and fall were not uncommon in Inazuma; the old butler had seen many such instances over the years.
Having received instructions from his former employers, the old butler had already prepared the household furnishings, awaiting Feng Yi's arrival.
Under the old butler's guidance, Feng Yi settled into the master bedroom. However, alone in a strange land, he longed for his friends and his beloved. Gazing at the clear moonlight outside the window, he found himself unable to sleep for a long time.
…
Kamisato Estate.
At this moment, Thoma was kneeling respectfully to the side, reporting the day's events to the white-haired young lady seated at the head of the table.
"Thoma, based on your brief interactions today, what kind of person is this mysterious Mr. Feng Yi?"
Kamisato Ayaka, idly playing with a folding fan as she considered Thoma's report, suddenly asked.
"Although I haven't spent much time with Mr. Feng Yi, I can sense that he is a very capable individual. At the very least, his observational skills are incredibly keen, his demeanor is polite, and he is gentle in his interactions. Rather than a traveler, he gives me the impression of a noble young master traveling the world!"
Thoma said after a moment of contemplation.
With limited time spent together, the information he could gather was restricted. But for now, Feng Yi's impression on him was exceptionally good.
"Hearing you say that, it seems quite an extraordinary individual has arrived in Inazuma!"
Kamisato Ayaka chuckled lightly behind her fan, hearing Thoma's praise for Feng Yi.
From her correspondence with Ningguang, the Tianquan of Liyue, Ayaka could sense Ningguang's admiration and favor towards this young man.
It was from that time that Ayaka became intensely curious about this mysterious youth.
And now, Thoma was also full of praise for him.
After careful consideration, Kamisato Ayaka made a bold decision!