All her life, Raiden Ei had lived in fear.
This was highly counterintuitive.
How could Teyvat's most majestic and terrifying incarnation of lightning, the supreme ruler of the Inazuma Shogunate, the silent seeker who wielded the thunder of authority in her lonely pursuit of Eternity—feel fear?
And for it to be a constant state?
Five hundred years ago, during the cataclysm of Khaenri'ah, Ei lost her sister.
Afterward, a viscous darkness swept across the land, and Ei's dearest friends departed from her life one by one.
Now, only she remained, a solitary figure in the cold Tenshukaku, her own reflection her only company.
Oh, and there was a fox, too.
But the pain brought by "change" had made her fearful, turning her obsessive.
She dreaded the world's impermanence, feared it was all just a grand dream.
From this, she concluded that exceptions and changes were threats. That was why she had promised the people of Inazuma an unchanging "Eternity."
Raiden Ei had fashioned her body into a puppet to handle the daily affairs of Inazuma, while her soul and consciousness meditated on the laws of "Eternity" within the "Plane of Euthymia."
Today, as always, Raiden Ei sat cross-legged in the somber void. Below her was a circular dais inscribed with the triple tomoe of Electro, surrounded by fallen torii gates shrouded in mist.
The hazy sky mirrored the state of Ei's heart.
After five hundred years of seclusion, Raiden Ei's eyes suddenly snapped open. Purple lightning swirled in her irises, casting two piercing beams of light.
What had she just seen?
It was a fleeting image.
"...The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles?"
Raiden Ei was certain it was no illusion.
"That being" had cast her gaze down, and across the vast expanse of time and space, their eyes had met.
"Why at a time like this..."
Levitating in the air, Raiden Ei lowered one leg and slowly stood, her gaze fixed on the void.
Could it be... that war was about to begin again?
Raiden Ei clenched her fists.
However, something felt different.
Could it be that even she was not immune to the erosion of time, making her seem somewhat... vacant?
---o---
Meanwhile, Ye Feng arrived at a quiet village in the snowfields.
The Herrscher of the Void and Cecilia were soaking in a hot spring nestled in a mountain forest blanketed by snow.
The snow-capped peaks were majestic, the mountain spring gurgling softly.
The ice and snow glittered as white steam rose from the water. Fair skin, tender and white, was faintly visible through the氤氲 vapor, adding a touch of spring's allure to the winter scene.
"Ah Quan, long time no see."
The arrival of the uninvited guest sent ripples across the surface of the pool.
A flash of panic flickered in the Herrscher of the Void's golden eyes, but she quickly regained her composure and shot a disgusted look toward the shore.
A man—a lean, well-built man—had a white bath towel wrapped around his waist. The lines of his muscles were smooth and well-defined.
"I hope to never see you again," she said coldly.
Cecilia, on the other hand, showed no reaction to Ye Feng's arrival.
After all, she wasn't even an NPC, but a simulated virtual person, programmed only to react to the Herrscher of the Void.
"How heartless."
Ye Feng smiled. "As the saying goes, a single night as husband and wife means a hundred days of kindness. We've been at it for more than a single night, haven't we?"
"Cut the crap. If you have something to say, say it."
And what's with the change in address?
"Oh, your getup reminds me of a Spirit of the Spring. How about I call you Ah Quan from now on?"
"..."
"Are you two bathing here? How about I help you wash the stigmas on your backs while I'm at it?"
The Herrscher of the Void instinctively covered her chest, her feet curling together under the water.
"What do you want?"
Ye Feng blinked. "The Stigma is on your back, so why are you covering your chest? Ah Quan, you've become depraved."
The Herrscher of the Void gritted her teeth. You have the nerve to say that?
"I feel like you're getting more and more lethargic, Ah Quan. You don't have the bearing of a Herrscher at all. I came this time to help you get your dignity back."
"Help me? Just say what you want me to do."
"Sigh."
Ye Feng looked at the compliant Herrscher of the Void. "The once high and mighty queen, how have you turned into a salted fish who just 'enjoys it since you can't fight back'?"
The Herrscher of the Void glared at Ye Feng. "You're so troublesome. You don't like it when I obey, and you don't like it when I resist."
"Perhaps this is the inherent contradiction of the Chinese people? It's like 'to hit is to be affectionate, to scold is to love.' These extreme actions of hitting and scolding actually contain deep emotions."
"I don't want to hear your nonsense, and I'm not a simple-minded idiot like Kiana who can be so easily brainwashed by you."
"Alright, first, change into these clothes."
Ye Feng tossed a set of clothes to the Herrscher of the Void.
Without hesitation, she climbed out of the hot spring, her beautiful, tender skin glistening as if washed with creamy jade.
The Herrscher of the Void picked up the clothes and couldn't help but frown. "What kind of clothes are these?"
"The clothes of the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. What do you think? Don't they suit you perfectly?"
"No, I mean the design..."
At first glance, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles' outfit seemed unremarkable. But upon closer inspection, one would realize it was like a skin-tight latex suit, clinging to her body like a second skin. It had the appearance of a leotard, but the texture of full-body pantyhose.
However, the cape extending from her back did a good job of concealing the "sexiness," adding a touch of divinity.
But this also meant there was only one opening.
It was incredibly troublesome to put on.
"Tch, whatever..."
The Herrscher of the Void used her authority to directly "transfer" her body into the clothes.
The limp garment instantly "inflated," as if infused with life.
Her long, snow-white hair flowed freely, and her golden eyes reflected a divine light.
"What next?"
"Brace yourself on that rock over there and stick your ass out."
"Hah, I knew it would be something like this."
The Herrscher of the Void spoke with a look of disgust, but she still did as Ye Feng said.
However, after waiting for a long time, Ye Feng made no further move.
She couldn't help but turn her head back, her confused eyes seeming to ask, "Why aren't you coming in yet?"
"Lust injures the body. The ancient teachings are clear, Ah Quan."
"?"
Lust? Who?
Ye Feng continued his recitation: "Once a lustful thought arises, the fire in the heart is hard to quell. The harm of lewdness is hidden within the body, not a matter of a single day. A Herrscher should distance herself from lust, maintain righteous thoughts, and cultivate a noble spirit. On this point, you should learn from Kiana. Little Bug is working so hard right now. I hope she can defeat the demon of lust in her heart."
Ah Quan: Wha- buh- huh?
She didn't get it. She didn't understand at all!
Why was he making it sound like she was the one eagerly waiting for him?
Was he kidding?
She was having a hard time too, you know.
"...You bastard, do you have any right to say that?"
Ye Feng stood there completely unabashed, his forearm held high and proud. His chiseled face was filled with righteousness.
"Why wouldn't I have the right?"
"...!!"
As if overwhelmed by Ye Feng's imposing aura, the Herrscher of the Void held her breath.
A crystalline droplet of water slid down her pillar-like, fair jade leg.
The Herrscher of the Void gritted her teeth and said, "What are you going to do? Hurry it up!"