After hearing Beidou reveal Ye Xi's identity, everyone present was struck dumb on the spot.
"An—an Adeptus!?"
This answer was simply unbelievable!
"Captain Beidou, the Adepti you speak of—do you mean the Adepti of Liyue!?"
Hiiragi Chisato could hardly believe it!
The legendary Adepti of Liyue had actually appeared in Inazuma, right before her very eyes!
This was an Adeptus, after all!
No wonder he carried such an air about him—so he was one of the Adepti!
That explained everything!
Beidou nodded and said, "He lives in an abode of blessed grottoes that only the Adepti possess, he's on good terms with the host of Adepti, and the Adepti even gave him a disciple to be his wife."
"On top of that, this ship was created with but a single thought of his."
This string of words left the several of them utterly dumbfounded.
A cruiser this enormous—to build just one, wouldn't it take at least a decade or more?!
Yet Beidou said it had been created with a single thought.
How could that be possible?
Unless—what Beidou said was true, and Ye Xi truly was one of the Adepti!
At this moment, Thoma could hardly wait to return to the Kamisato Estate and report this momentous matter to Kamisato Ayato!
"Then, Captain Beidou, could you help introduce me to Master Ye Xi?"
Hearing Hiiragi Chisato's words, Beidou said with a smile, "Of course. When he returns, I'll mention this matter to him!"
"Then many thanks to you, Captain Beidou!"
In her heart, Hiiragi Chisato was suddenly filled with anticipation for the meeting to come!
.....
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Ye Xi, following Yae Miko and Kujou Sara, took a small boat directly to Inazuma City.
Passing through the streets, they went straight to the Tenshukaku.
"Lady Miko! Lady Kujou!"
The Okuzumeshuu standing guard at the entrance bowed in greeting one after another.
"Sara, you wait outside. Ye Xi and I will go in to have an audience with the Shogun."
"Uh... all right."
Kujou Sara had originally wanted to follow them in, but on second thought, Ye Xi was a guest invited by the Raiden Shogun—how could she, a subordinate, listen in on their conversation?
So she stayed outside.
Ye Xi and Yae Miko entered the pavilion.
The Plane of Euthymia.
"Hmm-hmm-hmm~"
Across this quiet, secluded plaza came the humming of some unknown melody.
The moment Ye Xi and Yae Miko stepped in, they saw Raiden Ei sprawled out on the carpet, idly reading a light novel.
As she hummed, she nibbled on the various snacks and sweets arranged beside her.
She looked utterly at ease.
"My-my~ Master has really gone and seen something he shouldn't have!"
Yae Miko muttered softly under her breath, then put on a deliberate cough.
"Ahem, ahem..."
She had meant to give Raiden Ei a warning, but Raiden Ei didn't even turn her head, simply asking, "Miko? How did the trip to Liyue go this time?"
As she spoke, she turned another page of the novel, reading with great relish—she even curled up her little feet and rubbed them together in the air.
In this state, forget the dignity of the Raiden Shogun—she looked exactly like a lazy, slovenly shut-in.
Yae Miko let out a helpless sigh and spoke up to remind her, "Ei, I've brought Master Ye Xi here."
"Greeting a guest like this—isn't that rather lacking in manners?"
"Uh... eh——!?"
Raiden Ei flipped over and bolted upright in an instant.
She saw that Ye Xi was indeed standing right beside Yae Miko!
And what's more, there was a faint, inexplicable smile on his face!
This made her so embarrassed she wished she could find a crack in the ground to hide in!
"Ahem, ahem, ahem..."
At lightning speed, she shoved the light novel aside, then tidied up the snacks and sweets on the table.
Then, with a perfectly solemn air, she said, "Welcome to my place as my guest, Ye Xi."
"Miko, why didn't you tell me sooner that Ye Xi would be coming? I... I haven't prepared a thing!"
Though she was a God, having such a lazy, sloppy state of hers be seen still left her unable to save face.
How utterly humiliating!
Yae Miko covered her little mouth and laughed lightly. "Ei, Master Ye Xi has already seen it all anyway, so what's the point of all this covering up?"
"You!"
Upon Raiden Ei's solemn, unsmiling face appeared a faint, almost imperceptible blush.
"All right, all right."
Ye Xi smiled warmly. "Her Excellency the Shogun, I don't mind any of this. I only came over this time to say hello. Have you been well lately?"
"Ah... not very well..."
Raiden Ei sighed. "The cake you gave me before was eaten up long ago!"
"You've come all this long way to Inazuma—you wouldn't not have prepared something, would you?"
Since she'd already been seen through by Ye Xi, Raiden Ei simply laid her cards on the table.
To keep covering up at this point would only be more embarrassing.
Besides, Ye Xi wasn't an outsider; he wouldn't go telling others about this side of her.
So she might as well reveal her truest self!
What's more, this way she could openly and aboveboard ask Ye Xi for something delicious!
Seeing the hope brimming in Raiden Ei's beautiful eyes, Ye Xi couldn't help but nod with a smile. "I've prepared it, I've prepared it! Coming to see you, of course I couldn't show up empty-handed!"
As he spoke, he reached out casually and took from his portable space a super-sized, three-tiered fruit cake.
"Oh——!"
Raiden Ei's eyes went wide. She hurriedly got up and leaned in close, exclaiming, "This looks really wonderful!"
"Quick, let me have a taste!"
She couldn't wait to take the cake and pulled out a spoon.
After opening the outer wrapping, she scooped up a spoonful and placed it into her rosy little mouth.
"Mmm~"
"It's that familiar taste!"
Seeing the look of pure enjoyment on Raiden Ei's face, Yae Miko couldn't help but burst out laughing.
She hurriedly and secretly pulled out her Kamera and took several close-up shots of Raiden Ei.
Once she had the photos, Yae Miko laughed smugly. "Now Her Excellency the Shogun's sweet little private photos have a fresh stockpile again."
Ye Xi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
These two girls—one was the dignified Raiden Shogun, a God, and the other was a kin of God, a great youkai.
And yet, at home, the two of them were up to all sorts of nonsense!
Just as he was thinking this, Raiden Ei, enjoying the delicious cake, spoke up.
"Ye Xi, how long do you plan to stay in Inazuma this time?!"
"How about this—why don't you move to Inazuma to live from now on!"
"I'll prepare the finest courtyard for you and send people to look after your daily needs! How about it?"
The moment she tasted the delicious cake, Raiden Ei couldn't help but start dreaming about her future life.
In order to be able to eat cake all the time, she had to keep Ye Xi by her side!
Otherwise, once she finished it, she'd have nothing to do but endure the cravings!
Hearing this, Ye Xi was just about to open his mouth to answer when Yae Miko cut him off.
"Master Ye Xi, wait while I have a word with Ei!"
As she spoke, she hurriedly leaned in close to Raiden Ei's ear.
Ye Xi found it quite strange. "What is there to say that has to be kept from me?"
"Eh~?"
Yae Miko was momentarily startled, then said with a sweet, narrow-eyed smile, "It's just girls' secret little talk~!"
"If you're interested, Master, I can certainly share."
"Like how a girl should wash her little panties, or what to do when it feels all sticky down there, that sort of thing."
"Ahem, ahem, ahem..."
Ye Xi hurriedly made a 'stop, stop, stop' gesture and waved his hand. "You two go ahead and talk. Don't tell me—I'll step away."
He certainly didn't want to be taken for a pervert!
Hearing this, Raiden Ei beside her turned as red as an apple.
"Miko, you! What nonsense are you spouting!"
"Aiya~ I'm just teasing him to make him happy! Listen to me..."
Yae Miko pulled Raiden Ei aside, then whispered into her ear, "Don't you want to eat delicious treats every single day?"
"Mm..."
Although she really didn't want to admit it in front of Yae Miko—after all, once Yae Miko got hold of some leverage, she'd tease her relentlessly.
Earlier, this rascal of a fox had crazily fed her Tricolor Dango and made her stay up late reading light novels.
As a result, she'd suddenly gained a whole lot of weight, and only recently, after great effort, had she managed to get her figure back.
But compared to being teased by Yae Miko, the temptation of the cake before her was clearly far greater!
She wanted to hear what scheme this rascal fox had to offer.
Thinking of this, she countered, "Do you have some way? Miko."
"Mm... I do have a way, but the price is rather steep~"
"Quit keeping me in suspense, or else...."
Raiden Ei made a gesture of drawing a blade across her chest, her little face full of seriousness.
Faced with the God's threat, Yae Miko hurriedly said, "I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"
"Actually, the method is very simple!"
"All you have to do is become his concubine!"
Raiden Ei: ???
Hearing Yae Miko's words, Raiden Ei's face darkened.
This fox—what nonsense was she spouting!
Seeing that Raiden Ei was about to blow up, Yae Miko hurriedly explained, "Don't be hasty! Listen while I break it down for you~"
Then she told Raiden Ei everything she had seen and heard in Liyue.
Including how Ye Xi had subdued Azhdaha, and how Rex Lapis had completely handed Liyue over to Ye Xi to govern, and so on.
There was also how Ye Xi had taken two Dendro Archons as his wives, befriended the Adepti of Liyue, and could easily travel between Sumeru and Liyue using the Serenitea Pot.
Hearing all this, Raiden Ei's serious little face was gradually overcome with shock by one piece of news after another.
Subduing Azhdaha!
Although she had always been in Inazuma, she knew a great deal about Azhdaha.
She had once heard Rex Lapis speak of it during a gathering of the Seven Archons—the elemental Dragon Lord was tremendously powerful, and even the Seven Archons found it extremely difficult to deal with.
Even a fellow that Rex Lapis found troublesome had actually been subdued by Ye Xi!
This showed that Ye Xi's power was tremendously strong, already surpassing that of any of the Seven Archons!
Earlier in Sumeru, during the gathering of the Four Gods, she had already learned of Ye Xi's future identity.
The throne in the heavens—the future Heavenly Principles!
It was just that, at the time, everyone had tacitly refrained from saying it outright, because everyone wanted to see just how strong Ye Xi's power was.
Now, Ye Xi had displayed his formidable strength, and even Rex Lapis had handed over Liyue.
This proved that Rex Lapis had already acknowledged Ye Xi's power.
If that was the case... then Yae Miko's proposal wasn't entirely out of the question.
On top of that, that miraculous portal was also incredibly impressive, very convenient for future travels.
And if she really agreed to it, Ye Xi doted so much on his wives that he would surely arrange quite a few cruisers for Inazuma.
Those colossal ships made entirely of steel—just hearing about them was already terrifying!
By then, wouldn't Inazuma's national strength develop in a straight upward climb?
And that wasn't even the most crucial part!
The most crucial part was that she had just heard Yae Miko say Ye Xi had invented a kind of Drowsy Black Tea that could help you lose weight!
Thinking of how this rascal fox had hoodwinked her earlier and made her gain weight, she felt quite indignant.
With this weight-loss tea, she could not only eat sweets every day alongside Ye Xi, but also not have to fear getting fat!
This was simply a method that gave the best of both worlds!
Thinking of this, she found Yae Miko's proposal more and more agreeable.
It was just that....
"...I am one of the Seven Archons of the Mortal World, the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma. How could I marry someone?"
Hearing Raiden Ei say this, Yae Miko spread her hands. "Even the two Gods of Wisdom of Sumeru have fallen for him. What is there for you, a mere Raiden Shogun, to be so reserved about?"
"Do you have any idea how great a change Ye Xi could bring to Inazuma?"
"Isn't that far better than you governing Inazuma yourself?"
"Uh...."
Raiden Ei couldn't help but nod.
Honestly speaking, governing a nation was simply far too hard for her!
If she could toss this chore to Ye Xi while still ensuring Inazuma flourished, wouldn't that be perfect!?
What's more, as long as Ye Xi was regarded as the future Heavenly Principles, then her becoming Ye Xi's concubine would actually count as marrying above her station!
Once she had thought all this through, Raiden Ei stole a glance at Ye Xi and asked in a low voice, "So what should I do?"
Hearing that Raiden Ei was moved, Yae Miko was instantly thrilled inside.
Wonderful!
If Raiden Ei really did become Ye Xi's concubine, then her having sold out Inazuma would be off the hook!
So she hurriedly offered her scheme. "You are the God of Inazuma; you certainly can't make such a decision so hastily."
"So I suggest you first discuss it with Ye Xi and go be a guest in his Serenitea Pot."
"Stay there for a while, and slowly nurture your feelings for each other."
"When the right moment comes, everything will fall into place naturally."
Raiden Ei couldn't help but reveal a look of admiration.
Indeed.
If she were made to go right up and express her feelings, she absolutely couldn't do it—far too embarrassing!
But if they moved in together and lived under the same roof—
Setting aside whether or not she'd become Ye Xi's concubine, at the very least she could scrounge some sweets to eat!
"All right, let's do it that way!"
The two little beauties finished their secret little talk.
Seeing the two girls walk back, Ye Xi asked, "Well? Are you both done talking?"
"Mm."
Raiden Ei nodded lightly, then got straight to the point and asked, "Ye Xi, may I come live at your home?"
Ye Xi: ???
...
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