Chapter 4

Still unaware that he is being watched, Luo Li suddenly remembers something and turns his head to ask.

"Why haven't I seen Chiyo recently?"

As a bloodline of the Red Oni clan, Mikoshi Chiyo is also a member of Inazuma's high-level small group, brave and good at fighting, and qualified to carry the Electro Archon's banner.

Before Raiden Makoto can answer, Kitsune Saiguu says with feigned resentment.

"To be able to think of other women while the three of us are accompanying you, although Chiyo's appearance makes even me sigh in admiration, it's really heartbreaking to hear."

"..."

Luo Li simply ignores her. Kitsune Saiguu's personality is a completely enhanced version of Yae Miko; if he chats along with the topic, it will definitely be endless.

Raiden Makoto sighs and answers: "Recently, there have been monsters invading the outer islands, and many pirates have taken the opportunity to plunder, so I ordered her to lead the Shogunate army to go, with the Kujou, Takatsukasa, and Kaedehara clans assisting from the side."

Luo Li nods slightly; these are all small problems.

But the Kaedehara clan...

I remember that five hundred years later, the last head of the family, Kaedehara Kazuha, sold the family property and ran away to become a ronin.

"Alright, the service is over, it's time to rotate roles."

While chatting, Kitsune Saiguu claps her hands and retreats, brushing aside her silver-white hair to reveal her neck to Luo Li, who was the guest just now.

"Tsk, let you experience the senior master-level massage technique."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Watching Luo Li, who has become the one putting in the effort, become energetic and in close contact with the cunning fox woman, Raiden Makoto cannot help but laugh.

Until her peripheral vision accidentally catches Ei's cold expression with a trace of unhappiness and slightly puffed cheeks, she shows a mischievous look and leans over.

"Why did you refuse Saiguu's proposal just now? Isn't it better to be frank? You're making yourself sulk secretly."

Never expecting that her expression changes were seen by her sister, Ei is flustered for a moment, turning her head to cover it up like a child.

"I didn't."

"Giggle."

Not going to expose her sister, Makoto slowly combs the fur of the little fox in her arms, looking at her childish sister and the two bickering friends, a trace of reluctance flashing in her eyes.

If only such days could last forever, with the beautiful Inazuma and intimate friends.

Sighing, looking from the cliff, a stream of light suddenly rises in the already dim sky.

The artificial meteor explodes with a bang after rising to the high sky, dotting the pitch-black starry night with gorgeous sparks.

"A hundred scenes of the floating world, a fleeting moment."

The light reflects in her eyes, and Raiden Makoto whispers, drinking the warm sake mixed with cherry blossom petals in one gulp.

Raiden Ei next to her hears nothing, still immersed in her own world.

Only Luo Li and Kitsune Saiguu notice it, and the two look at each other tacitly, but do not express any opinion.

The air suddenly fell silent, with only the streamers of light in the sky continuing to bloom.

Perhaps it was to celebrate the success of the Divine Sword Festival that the clan researching deep-space meteors set off these fireworks.

Not until the last firework faded away did a sound finally break the long silence of the imperial bath.

"I may be leaving for a while soon; the Grand Narukami Shrine will be left to you for the time being."

Feeling the moderate pressure on her arm, Kitsune Saiguu spoke languidly.

"Leaving again? I suppose I can manage, but what is the reward afterward?"

Without asking for the reason, Luo Li began to haggle.

"Hmm, let me think."

Kitsune Saiguu seemed to be genuinely pondering, then suddenly her eyes lit up: "I have it! When I return, how about I let you choose any shrine maiden from the Grand Shrine?"

Good heavens, is this a shrine or a hostess club?

Not giving Luo Li a chance to speak, she continued on her own: "A new apprentice shrine maiden just arrived, quite clever and obedient. I believe her name is Asase Hibiki. Her looks and figure are not bad either."

Listen to that—is this something the Matriarch of the Hakushin clan should be saying?

"Fine, fine, I agree."

It had nothing to do with the shrine maiden; it was mainly because he liked helping friends enthusiastically.

Asase Hibiki—another familiar name.

Luo Li couldn't help but sigh. These figures, only briefly mentioned in the long history of the *Genshin* game, were now flesh-and-blood lives.

For over two thousand years, he had witnessed the tragedies, lives, and deaths of countless characters from his past life's plot.

Whether it was the mistress of the Amos' Bow who was torn apart by the Lord of the Tower, the tragic, unfinished romance between the Spear Witch—mistress of the Moonpiercer—and Parsifal, or the wandering Troupe of the Land who all perished in their uprising.

Of course, there were also epic hymns of gladiator slaves overthrowing the old nobility to ascend to godhood.

These were all branded into Luo Li's experiences.

When interested, he would reach out to help; when it was none of his business, he would coldly act as a spectator of history.

"Heh, saying you're not interested, yet your body is honest," Kitsune Saiguu's alluring peach-blossom eyes lifted in a faint, mocking smile.

Women's faces change faster than turning a page; Luo Li had long realized this, so he remained unperturbed.

He was thinking about something else.

If he remembered correctly, according to the timeline, it was not long before the future destruction of Khaenri'ah.

Kitsune Saiguu would leave three times; this was already the second.

When she left for the third time, she would never return.

This was the most important turning point in the near future: the destruction of Khaenri'ah, the great disaster where the Abyss swept across the seven nations.

Raiden Makoto would die in battle, Kitsune Saiguu would depart, and countless Inazuman citizens would perish.

The Shogunate general Takamine the Mistsplitter would die, and Mikoshi Chiyo would be corrupted and flee after being heavily wounded by Ei.

Afterward, Ei would shut herself away, and Inazuma would enter the era of the Sakoku Decree.

"What a nuisance."

Thinking about the possibility of having to face the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, Luo Li considered what measures to take in the future.

To his knowledge, the humans and gods currently in Teyvat were all outsiders; the First Throne of the Era of the Divine Crown had once fought a great war against the Second Throne.

The *Before Sun and Moon* in Enkanomiya indicated that the victor was likely the First Throne.

But based on the details of various side quests and his experiences across the continent, Luo Li suspected that the actual victor was the Second Throne.

Otherwise, why would the only one secretly responding to the primordial people of Enkanomiya be Istaroth, the God of Moments and one of the four shades of the Primordial One? The aforementioned Heavenly Principles and the other three shades were unable to respond—not that they didn't want to; they might have already perished.

At the same time, the underground people who knew of the ancient past were not allowed to return to the surface, and the silver-white tree cultivated by the frozen kingdom of Sal Vindagnyr to reach the ley lines was also erased by the Nail of Cold Sky.

The ley lines recorded everything; clearly, those on Celestia did not want people after the Era of the Divine Crown to come into contact with the truth from before the ancient times.

The destruction of Khaenri'ah was clearly shrouded in conspiracy.

Luo Li had a bold idea: perhaps the Abyss was the power of the defeated First Throne.

Of course, it could also be the complete opposite.

Unfortunately, before he transmigrated, he didn't have enough information; now, he could only rely on guesswork.

"Forget it, thinking so much is useless. I must prepare contingency plans for the disaster in advance."

Luo Li looked at Kitsune Saiguu and Raiden Makoto; it would be too great a pity if such beautiful people were to perish.

After struggling for hundreds of years to get this close, to the point where only a thin layer of paper remained to be pierced, who could bear it if everything were to reset to zero?

By the time he had roughly thought out a few lines of reasoning, he suddenly realized that he was the only one left in the pool.

"Where did everyone go?"

At this moment, a delicate-looking maid who had been standing at the entrance of the imperial bath hurried over.

"Lord Luo Li, the Shogun and her party have already departed early. She told me not to disturb you. Additionally, Lady Saiguu asked me to pass on a message: please head to the Grand Narukami Shrine first thing tomorrow morning."

"They left quite quickly."

He muttered to himself.

Since everyone was gone, Luo Li naturally had no intention of lingering, and with a splash, he stepped out of the pool.

"Understood, come over and help me dress."

The delicate maid whispered her compliance, holding a towel and a *yukata*, and approached with a blushing face, not daring to look at that handsome, demonic face.