Chapter 249: Miyuki
Grand Narukami Shrine stood proudly atop Mt. Yougou, guarding the one and only Sacred Sakura. It was the greatest shrine in all of Inazuma, a source of comfort and solace for the people in these unsettled times.
But climbing Mt. Yougou was no easy feat.
Even wielders of Visions or battle-hardened samurai could only make the trek with sheer physical grit. For the frail and weak of body, however, the ascent was nothing short of a nightmare.
The mountain trails were treacherous, riddled with twists and steep climbs. Some places had no path at all—only tangled vines and exposed roots that one had to cling to in order to move forward.
Fortunately, Mt. Yougou was blessed with Thunder Sakura Boughs. If one was favored by the Electro element, they could ride these bursts of lightning straight up the mountain, bypassing the perilous climb and reaching the shrine beneath the vast canopy of the Sacred Sakura.
That was precisely why Bai Luo chose to descend beside Ayato—he was already at the point where stairs appeared.
After all, he hadn't fallen out with Yae Miko just yet. And since this was her territory, it was best to follow the rules, at least for now.
Once they passed through a torii gate, the path grew noticeably gentler. Even the moss-covered stone steps were a welcome change compared to the rugged trails below.
Along the way, many crimson foxes could be seen lounging beneath the gates. They weren't afraid of people in the slightest—some even padded up to beg for food.
Like the little fox now, blocking Bai Luo's path.
It had clearly set its sights on the Sunsetia in his hand.
"Shoo, shoo. This isn't for you. It's for your master, the Guuji herself."
Normally, he wouldn't mind teaching a fox a harsh lesson about human cruelty. But compared to feeding this fluffy little creature, he was much more interested in watching Yae Miko eat it.
After all, if she didn't eat his Sunsetia, how could she be considered his friend? Only by eating it would she become someone who had shared a bond of life and death with him.
Yet the fox seemed determined to stick to him. It flopped onto the path, as if declaring: Unless you hand it over, you're not going anywhere.
"Please, sir, don't be rough with them. These little ones are under the protection of Lady Guuji and Narukami."
No one minded when the fox clung to him. But the moment Bai Luo tried to gently move it aside, a shrine maiden with long black hair suddenly appeared from nowhere.
"Hm?"
Bai Luo blinked in surprise at the sight of her.
A few days ago, when he and Yae Miko were out trying to persuade… or rather, recruit Arataki Itto, hadn't she disguised herself as a shrine maiden? This girl looked exactly like that one.
If he remembered right, she was Shinobu's elder sister—Miyuki?
"All you need to do is give it the fruit. It's very well-behaved," Miyuki said, clearly unaware of just how dangerous that Sunsetia really was.
"This is a gift for your Lady Guuji. I can't give it to some little fox."
Perhaps because of her relation to Shinobu, Bai Luo chose not to argue too much. Instead, he dropped Yae Miko's name directly. Surely that would make the shrine maiden back down.
But Miyuki only smiled softly.
"Even Lady Guuji wouldn't mind if these little ones ate it. In fact… once she receives your gift, she might feed it to them herself. So, wouldn't it be better to just give it to them directly?"
What she said wasn't wrong.
Perhaps it was out of kinship, but even if foxes no longer possessed the same spiritual grace as before, Yae Miko's blessing upon them hadn't lessened.
The truth was, the bloodline of Hakushin had grown thin. And so it fell upon those who remained to protect and preserve it.
"Well then, speaking of kinship… you and Shinobu—what's your relationship? You two look rather alike."
Bai Luo smoothly tucked away the Sunsetia, shifting the topic without a ripple in his expression.
Of course, he could've cloaked himself and slipped past both maiden and fox without a word. But the timing of their appearance felt just a little too convenient. Maybe there was something more to it. So, he chose to play along.
"Hm? You know Shinobu?"
At his words, Miyuki's eyes lit up with sudden interest.
While she's surprised at the fact that he knew Shinobu. What surprised her more was that he noticed how much they resembled each other.
For years, people had only ever asked if they were blood sisters. This was the first time anyone had ever asked why they looked so alike.
How rare indeed.
And yet, in truth, they didn't look alike at all. Shinobu's hair was a vivid green, while hers was long and jet-black. Their styles, their personalities, even their manner of speech—none of it matched.
No wonder people questioned their relationship.
"…You could say we've got some ties," Bai Luo replied casually.
True, Shinobu hadn't eaten his Sunsetia. But she had, in fact, taken a solid whack from his staff once. That counted as something—a kind of bond, in its own way.
No problem there.
"That child, ever since she came back from Liyue, she's been avoiding home. I know she doesn't want to hear our family's nagging. Though our words may sound harsh, in truth… sigh. If you happen to meet her again, please tell her to come home and visit when she has the time."
The fox still pawing at her side was now completely ignored. The moment Shinobu came up, Miyuki seemed to forget entirely why she'd even spoken to Bai Luo in the first place.
She never truly worried about Shinobu's life outside. After all, her younger sister had been acknowledged by the gods themselves, and had even lived alone in Liyue for quite some time.
In some ways… Shinobu was far more adaptable to society than Miyuki herself, her elder sister.
After all, what did Miyuki have besides her duties as a shrine maiden? No other craft, no other skill.
"Don't worry. She's with that gang or whatever it's called. She's doing just fine," Bai Luo said offhandedly.
"Gang? A gang? But Shinobu went to Liyue to study law. There's no way she'd…"
The casual slip of his tongue struck her like thunder.
She had already overheard rumors before, whispers from shrine visitors claiming Shinobu had fallen in with some unsavory crowd. Miyuki hadn't believed them. She thought they were nothing but malicious gossip—though, deep inside, she'd never quite dismissed the unease.
But a gang? That was the first time she had heard such a thing.
And coming from someone who actually seemed to know Shinobu, it was far harder to deny.
"Ah—what gang? I didn't say anything. You misheard. Anyway, farewell!"
What title suited him best?
Master of deception. Shadow King. An actor.
Yes—"actor" fit perfectly.
With his knack for turning on his heel and selling the part, Bai Luo had inherited the talent of a true stage performer. Right now, he looked exactly like someone who had just let slip a dangerous secret about a friend—and bolted up the mountain to avoid responsibility.
By the time Miyuki realized something was amiss, Bai Luo was already past the torii gates, walking into the sacred grounds of Grand Narukami Shrine.
He strolled along the approach, raising his eyes to meet the gaze of Yae Miko, who seemed to have been waiting for him all along.
A smile tugged at his lips. He wasn't the least bit surprised—he had predicted this scene from the start.
Extending his hand, offering up the Sunsetia, he asked with a grin:
"How was my performance?"
Yae Miko glanced down at the still-flustered Miyuki below, then back at Bai Luo before her. Her lips curled upward, as if humoring his little act.
Turning away, she left him with only a single line:
"Still needs some improvement."
. . . . .
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