The next morning, the Kamisato family and Yae Miko prepared to return to Inazuma.
To Jiang Yan's surprise, Yae Miko was leaving as well.
He had assumed she would stay in Liyue for a few more days.
At Liyue Harbor, in front of the ship bound for Inazuma, Jiang Yan stood there to see them off.
"Yae, you're not staying a little longer?" Jiang Yan asked.
"Mmm~ If I stayed a few more days, would you agree to the request I made before?"
Yae Miko smiled at him.
The request she mentioned was, of course, getting Jiang Yan to write another novel.
She still hadn't given up on that idea.
"Tch, then forget it."
Jiang Yan's expression remained blank.
"You should just leave."
"Wuu… how heartless…"
Yae Miko wiped at nonexistent tears from the corner of her eyes, putting on a pitiful act.
Jiang Yan didn't react at all.
He folded his arms and almost wanted to laugh.
The fox shrine maiden's acting skills still needed improvement.
"Sigh, what a cruel man…"
Seeing that her performance had no effect, Yae Miko could only sigh helplessly.
"Alright, we'll talk about it another time."
"Maybe one day inspiration will strike and I'll write something."
Jiang Yan smiled, finally deciding not to tease her any longer.
He still preferred the little pink fox from back then—much easier to pet.
Though she wasn't as scheming as in the original story, she was still far too mischievous.
And honestly, Jiang Yan found that somewhat regrettable.
"Mmm~ Then I'll be eagerly waiting for good news from the Tianquan."
Yae Miko's smile brightened instantly.
Even her pink fox ears twitched slightly.
"If you do write something, you absolutely must send it to me!"
"Haha, of course, of course."
Jiang Yan replied with a smile.
Anyway, he had no intention of writing anytime soon.
If inspiration came someday, then he'd consider it.
"Then I'm off~"
Yae Miko stretched lazily, her graceful curves fully displayed.
"Mm. Safe travels."
Jiang Yan watched as she boarded the ship.
But shortly after Yae Miko went aboard, a tiny figure suddenly ran back down.
Then she threw herself into Jiang Yan's arms.
"What's wrong, little one?" Jiang Yan asked softly as he looked at Kamisato Ayaka.
"You didn't say goodbye to me, Jiang Yan-gege."
Her voice carried a trace of grievance, as though he had bullied her.
"How could I?"
"I had just finished talking to your Guuji-sama. I was about to go find you on the ship."
Jiang Yan gently rubbed Ayaka's little head and smiled.
"Really?"
Ayaka looked up, eyes sparkling.
"Of course."
Jiang Yan nodded with a smile.
Comforting children was something he was extremely good at.
After chatting with Ayaka for a while, Ayato poked his head out from the ship.
"Ayaka, we're leaving!"
"Hurry back up!"
Ayato shouted loudly.
"Then I'm going now, Jiang Yan-gege."
Ayaka nodded toward Ayato, then turned back to Jiang Yan.
"Mm, go on."
Jiang Yan waved to her.
"Have a safe trip."
Under Jiang Yan's gaze, the massive black ship unfurled its sails and slowly headed toward Inazuma.
"Inazuma…"
Jiang Yan let out a soft sigh before turning and walking back toward the streets of Liyue.
Aboard the ship heading toward Inazuma.
"Lady Guuji, the wind outside is strong. Please return to the cabin to rest."
"My wife has already prepared a room for you."
On deck, Kamisato Ayaka's father spoke respectfully to Yae Miko.
"My thanks to Lady Kamisato. There's no need to trouble yourselves so much."
"After all, I'm the one who imposed by coming along."
Yae Miko smiled politely.
"It's only proper."
Kamisato's father replied calmly, neither servile nor arrogant.
"Kamisato Clan Head, what kind of person do you think Liyue's Tianquan is?"
Yae Miko gazed at the endless sea and asked softly.
Kamisato's father pondered for a moment before answering.
"From the brief day of contact we had, Tianquan's etiquette, conduct, and humble temperament are all beyond reproach."
"He treats children like Ayaka with gentleness, and the people of Liyue clearly hold him in great affection."
"In short, from what I've seen, this legendary Tianquan—who has existed alongside the nation for millennia—is indeed someone worthy of admiration."
Gentle and humble.
If the gods from the Archon War era—or the Abyss Lords—heard that description, they would probably laugh themselves to death.
Gentle and humble?
Heh.
When that guy summoned a giant Buddha avatar and beat them senseless, no one remembered him being gentle.
When he smashed them apart with a single punch, nobody thought he looked humble either.
The reason Jiang Yan's reputation among Liyue's people rivaled Rex Lapis wasn't merely because he had governed for thousands of years.
It was because he had fought his way there.
There was even a saying in Liyue:
No matter what disaster befalls the land, as long as the Immortal Lord and the Geo Lord remain, Liyue will never fall.
"So that's how you see him…"
Yae Miko murmured.
She leaned against the ship railing, resting her chin in her hand.
"Yes. That kind of person."
"And yet when it comes to matters of the heart, he shrinks back like a turtle hiding in its shell."
"Honestly, it's infuriating to watch."
Kamisato's father lowered his head.
He knew this was not a subject he should comment on.
After all, this involved Tianquan's private affairs.
It wasn't his place to speak.
"Lady Guuji, I'll take my leave now. Please remember to return to the cabin later."
Kamisato's father said respectfully.
"Mm, I understand."
Yae Miko smiled and nodded.
She watched him leave, then turned back toward the endless ocean.
"Still…"
A sly smile slowly appeared on her face.
"This trip wasn't without gains."
"At the very least, I've already learned the thoughts of the most important person involved."
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