On the way from Tenshukaku to the Yae Publishing House, they passed by a card shop.
Seeing the crowd outside eagerly trying their luck, Yae Miko smiled.
"Inazuma has finally caught up with the times."
That sight eased her heart.
With Inazuma moving forward and her elder sister already returned, there would be fewer things to worry about.
A light, warm sense of happiness welled up inside her.
She leaned closer to Lu Heng.
"It's all thanks to you."
"Your words sound a bit too light." Lu Heng raised a brow, amusement in his expression. "Why not show it with something more… concrete?"
Yae Miko laughed softly, took a step back, and rolled her eyes.
"Dream on~"
"Oh dear."
Lu Heng sighed dramatically. "Rejected by the wise and beautiful Guuji-sama herself. My heart is shattered, I might just go cry in the corner."
"Really?"
Yae Miko's eyes gleamed with interest as she stared straight at him. "Hard to imagine you crying. Can you act it out for me?"
"Dream on," he shot back with a smirk.
Hearing that, Yae Miko burst into laughter. "As I thought, you are quite the amusing man."
Lu Heng chuckled and glanced at the shop again.
Thanks to Kamisato Ayato's announcement, the people of Inazuma had begun trying out the cards. At first, few dared, but once they discovered the cards' real effects, more and more gathered the courage.
In a world of extraordinary power, ordinary people could only survive by clinging to the protection of order… or by gaining strength of their own.
But what about those without Visions? What could they do?
Until now, there was little hope.
The cards, however, gave them a chance to hold something like a "Vision" in their hands.
Even if most weren't as powerful as Vision holders, the abilities from the cards gave people reassurance. Especially now, with the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree only recently lifted, unease still lingered in their hearts.
It was like being adrift at sea, with no solid ground beneath their feet.
But now, with the cards, people could finally steady themselves.
"No matter how the rules of these islands change, they'll at least have the power to keep their lives stable," Lu Heng mused with satisfaction.
Passing through the crowd and down the steps, the Yae Publishing House came into view.
Though the bustling card shop made the shrine's doors seem deserted, Yae Miko didn't mind in the slightest. Times changed—if you didn't keep up, you'd be left behind.
Even before entering, Lu Heng spotted editors already hard at work inside.
"You've already set things up?"
"Of course." Yae Miko nodded. "The sooner we prepare, the better chance we have to seize the market."
"That's true." Lu Heng agreed. The Yae Publishing House was no mere local shop. Its reputation stretched across all of Teyvat.
"May you prosper greatly," he said sincerely.
"And then spend all that prosperity in your shop?" she teased.
"Naturally."
"That's what I was hoping for. Ah, if only my luck were better…"
Luck—so mysterious a thing. No matter how composed, people couldn't help but dream when drawing cards. What if I get lucky just this once?
"Your luck is already good enough," Lu Heng said.
"Oh?" Yae Miko tilted her head. "In what way?"
"In every way." He shook his head with a small smile.
She pondered, then laughed softly.
"I suppose so. Meeting you is a kind of luck too."
Lu Heng chuckled and stepped inside, idly picking up a light novel.
"'The Card Apprentice's Journey to the Championship'?" He blinked.
"That one." Yae Miko smiled. "Shota has been our signed author for a long time. And then, by chance, he happened to stumble into the whole card story…"
After hearing the background, Lu Heng sighed. "Then yes, your luck really is extraordinary. That chance encounter changed everything."
Yae Miko nodded with a wistful smile. "Sometimes I think it feels like fate itself, a turning point."
"Fate is always unpredictable. And for you, this twist was certainly a blessing."
"Indeed."
They lingered only ten minutes before leaving again. Yae Miko gave her editors some instructions, then set out with Lu Heng.
Once outside the city, gazing across the open plains of the White Fox Field, Yae Miko suddenly asked with curiosity,
"What happened between you and my sister in that other timeline? She seemed rather… taken with you."
Lu Heng smirked. "What can I say? Charisma has its price."
"I'm asking seriously!" Miko pressed, eyes bright with gossip.
"Nothing much," Lu Heng said after thinking. "Just ordinary days—visiting festivals, taking pictures, enjoying the scenery."
Yae Miko's eyes widened. "Of course. That's exactly what she loves."
"I also brought you something," Lu Heng said, flipping his palm. A photograph appeared in his hand. He handed it to her gently.
"I know seeing old friends stirs sadness. But you're clever enough to know she too may return one day, just like Ei. So consider this a little preparation. Don't cry, Miko. Such a beautiful face shouldn't be stained with tears."
Yae Miko froze, then took the photo.
In it, a white-haired, fox-eared woman in shrine maiden garb smiled warmly, holding a little pink fox in her arms.
Fox Priestess—Kitsune Saiguu.
Her fingers tightened on the photo. Her chest rose once, and she inhaled sharply, but when she spoke, her voice was steady.
"You underestimate me. I won't cry."
"Is that so?" Lu Heng grinned. "Your sister shed a few tears, though."
"Oh?" Yae Miko's lips curved. "Did you take advantage of that moment of weakness?"
"Hardly," he laughed. "I only offered a little comfort. Just as I'm doing now. Or do you feel like I'm taking advantage of you?"
"Not at all." She shook her head, then her eyes gleamed mischievously. "Because you were already in my heart long ago~"
Lu Heng blinked, then rubbed his head with a rueful smile.
He had forgotten—Yae Miko's tricks could rival even Focalors. If Focalors' cunning was still budding, Yae Miko's had been honed for five centuries.
"Sigh. I can't win against women like you, full of schemes. A single sentence and my heart wavers—you'll have to take responsibility."
"My, my~" Yae Miko widened her eyes in mock surprise. "To think the great, generous Lu Heng could be so easily swayed…"
Lu Heng laughed, shaking his head. "But it does sound nice. Say it again?"
"Dream on~" she huffed, twisting her waist with a playful sway as she strode ahead. "Come on, keep up."
By a boulder in the open field, she leaned back with arms crossed, gazing across the plains. Her voice grew softer.
"You call me a woman with eight hundred schemes, but right now, I won't lie. I… don't know how to put what I feel into words."
"Moved by seeing an old friend's face? Relieved at the thought she might return?"
She shook her head slowly. "Both, but more than that—it feels like a weight lifted from my soul. I don't know if you understand."
"Maybe I do." He sat beside her, offering calm reassurance. "All of you—Kaedehara, Ei, you—you each carry stories, scars. But right now… things feel good, don't they?"
"Yes," she agreed softly.
Then she shifted closer, smiling.
"Do you know why, even though you're surrounded by women, I still want to be with you?"
"Why?" Lu Heng blinked. He had never really thought about it.
"Because…" Yae Miko's smile deepened. "You make people feel safe. With you, it feels like nothing can trouble us. It makes me want to lean on you."
"But you don't strike me as someone who likes relying on others," he countered.
"True." Her eyes glittered slyly. "But relying on family is allowed, isn't it? Or… do you not want to be my family?"
Lu Heng inhaled sharply. "At this rate, you'll reel me in like a hooked fish."
"Oh? You wouldn't mind being caught, would you?"
"I usually do the catching," he teased. "So now that I'm the one on the hook… how do you plan to play with me, Guuji-sama?"
She lifted her hand, and a charm appeared.
"Remember in Liyue, I promised to make protective charms for everyone? This one is different. Can you see what's special about it?"
Lu Heng studied the charm, turning it over in his hands. It was finely made, far more exquisite than usual.
"You put great care into this," he said, slipping it away without hesitation. "Since you say it's unique, I'll take it as a token."
"Hey! You stole my line," Yae Miko pouted, poking his shoulder.
"My intuition told me so," he shrugged. "And now… your request to lean on me has officially been approved. Shouldn't Guuji-sama show some appreciation?"
"Application? Approval? You make my feelings sound so bureaucratic. No appreciation!" she huffed.
"Ah, what a blunder." He slapped his thigh.
"Could you not slap your thigh for emphasis?" she shot him a glare.
"Sorry—slipped," he said solemnly.
"Slip again, and the fox will bite," she threatened sweetly.
"Then I surrender."
"Good~" Yae Miko rose, her tone more serious now. "You've only just stepped a little into my heart. Don't go imagining anything wicked yet. It's time to head back."
"You make it sound like I'm dangerous. If I'd wanted to do something, you wouldn't have escaped this morning," he teased.
She chuckled. "And this morning I almost doubted my own charm~"
"Don't overthink it. You're more than enough as you are." He tapped her lightly on the head.
"Ow." She rubbed her crown, whispering, "At least no one's around to see that. Guuji-sama must maintain her dignity."
"Come on." He walked ahead with a smile.
As they passed the card shop again, Lu Heng noticed a tall, familiar figure.
"Shinobu, are these cards really that fun?" Arataki Itto's eager voice carried.
"Don't worry, boss," Kuki Shinobu sighed, massaging her temples. "They're fun. Definitely."
With the few coins in his pocket, she wasn't hopeful.
"Fun is all that matters!" Itto said brightly. Then, looking back, his eyes widened.
"Fox-ear lady!"
Seeing Yae Miko, he grinned wide.
"Ah, it's you." Yae Miko chuckled at the sight of him. This rambunctious oni was amusing—he had once gone so far as to eat food that made him sick, just to win a silly contest against her.
"Good afternoon, Guuji-sama," Shinobu greeted politely, ever the composed one compared to her childish leader.
"Oh?" Yae Miko tilted her head. "You're Akira's sister, aren't you? I heard you're an interesting girl. I'd been meaning to ask for an introduction, and now fate brings us together."
"Meeting you is truly an honor," Shinobu replied seriously, though her heart skipped uneasily. The very thought of being a shrine maiden bored her to death. If even Guuji-sama herself needed side work to pass the time, then it was truly unbearable.
But luckily, Yae Miko added with a mischievous smile, "Don't worry. I already have someone else on my mind. You're safe."
Shinobu breathed a discreet sigh of relief, while beside her, Itto was already chatting with Lu Heng.
"Big bro! How did you do it?!" Itto asked, eyes burning with excitement. "I can only ever give the Shogun a headache. But you—you defeated her! Incredible!"
Lu Heng paused a moment, then replied calmly, "It was thanks to the power of the cards."
"The power of the cards?" Itto scratched his head.
"With enough cards, you gain enough strength. With the right deck, even the Shogun could fall before you."
"Ohhh!" Itto's eyes lit up. He clenched a fist, suddenly fired up.
"So if I just get enough powerful cards, then when they collect our Visions again, mine will definitely be placed right at the top, in the most glorious spot, right?!"
Lu Heng: "..."
Shinobu: "..."
--------
T/N:
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!
Access 50 chapters in advance on my Patreon : [email protected]/furinaimpact