Chapter 143

It's probably not easy to deal with.

But after all, a man is still a man.

Yaoyao studied the Lei Dianying before her.

Long, pale legs, proud arrogance, plus a breathtaking face and a rare tear mole.

"Pity her mind isn't very sharp," Yaoyao sighed self-pityingly.

"Yaoyao, what are you talking about?" Lei Dianying asked, puzzled.

Yaoyao smiled: "Nothing. Everything takes time; don't rush."

【The Evil Eye manufacturing factory.】

【As the war neared its end, Su Bai sat quietly in his seat, gently tapping his fingers.】

【The sound of high heels approaching came from nearby.】

【Closer and closer.】

【"Your posture today is so stiff and proper—it's not like you at all."】

【Su Bai didn't look up, and his casual remark made the arriving lady freeze in place.】

【She snorted: "What does my usual walking look like?"】

【"Wiggling around," Su Bai picked up the teacup beside him and sipped a few sips.】

【"Hehe..." The lady gave a perfunctory laugh, then added: "I'm not concerned anymore about what you and the Scattering Soldier discussed regarding the significance of the Evil Eye data."】

【"But I want to tell you—you've gone too far."】

【Today, the lady's subordinates reported to her on the battle between the Shikinami Resistance and the Yashiro Shogunate forces.】

【The vast majority of the Resistance fighters underwent rapid aging within just a few days.】

【Death was constant.】

【But the Shogunate forces didn't gain any advantage either.】

【During just these few days of the Resistance's aging, the Shogunate forces suffered heavy blows from the Resistance.】

【Even Kujou Sara, the General of the Shogunate forces under the Tenryou Commission, was killed in a major battle two days ago by the Resistance fighters, who fought like they were drugged.】

【The Tenryou Commission suspects the Fatui are playing both sides—cooperating with them while maintaining close ties with Shikinami.】

Kujou Sara: "Huh? I died in this war too?"

Sanzang Xin Hai: "My heart! How brutal was this battle? Both our Resistance and your Shogunate forces must have suffered severe losses."

Wu Lang: "Lady Xin Hai, why do I feel like our Resistance is about to be wiped out?"

Toma: "If all the Resistance fighters used Evil Eyes, they really would be wiped out."

Kamisato Ayaka: "Even the Lady is afraid? After so many deaths, the Yashiro elite can't possibly ignore this."

Diluc: "When the Tenryou Commission and the Kandahar Commission chose to cooperate with the Fatui, they should've anticipated the consequences."

Paimon: "I remember Kujou Takayuki, head of the Tenryou Commission, thought the Fatui were nothing before Lei Dianying—that no matter how things turned out, as long as Lei Dianying showed up, the Fatui's plans were just nonsense, incapable of stirring up trouble."

Jean: "But he underestimated Mr. Su Bai's abilities. And secondly, the main reason the Fatui cooperated with them was to intensify internal conflict in Yashiro through the Eye Hunting Edict, to collect Evil Eye data—once collected, Mr. Su Bai and his people could just walk away."

Azhar: "Hmph! Is this what Yashiro's Commission leaders are like? Utterly foolish."

El Hesen: "You're not much better than them—fifty steps laughing at a hundred."

Cyno: "Azhar is worse than them—he created a false god to replace the Lesser Lord Kusanali of Sumeru; his actions are an outright betrayal of Sumeru."

Nahida: "I'm tired. Execute Azhar."

Azhar: "Wait! You absolutely mustn't be influenced by your past lives!"

【"Knight!"】

【"You've gone too far."】

【"Over eighty percent of the Shikinami Resistance fighters are dead; the Shogunate forces have suffered countless casualties too."】

【"If Lei Dianying finds out we Fatui were behind all this, I fear even His Majesty the Ice Emperor won't forgive us—not just the Divine Core."】

【"After all, so many lives lost—Yashiro can't possibly ignore this. This will definitely affect peace between our nation and Yashiro."】

【"If anything goes wrong, it could easily lead to war between the two nations."】

【"War?" Su Bai put down his teacup and smiled slyly: "On what grounds would Yashiro dare wage war against Natlan?"】

【"Because their Lei Dianying devotes herself to eternal cultivation?"】

【"She agreed to the Eye Hunting Edict just because she claims human desires are enemies of eternity."】

【"Or because of the remaining strength of Yashiro's current Shogunate army?"】

【"Even if the Shogunate army and the Shikinami Resistance now made peace and combined their forces, could they match Natlan's military strength?"】

【"You, who usually strut around so arrogantly, are now terrified like this."】

【Su Bai couldn't help laughing: "I advise you to calm down and return to your usual proud, wiggling walk."】

【The Lady: "....."】

【"Fine. I'll do as you say."】

【"Even if Yashiro dares not oppose Natlan, how can we persuade Lei Dianying to give us the Divine Core after what we've done?"】

【"Are you really going to fight Lei Dianying?"】

【In response to the Lady's question.】

【Su Bai replied vaguely: "I already told you to take a few days off—I'll notify you when I have news and we'll go together."】

【"I'm saying the same thing again."】

【His words ended.】

【Su Bai frowned slightly.】

【Suddenly, multiple experimental reports from his clones flooded his mind.】

It seems all the Evil Eye data collection missions have been completed.

But one person's data is still missing...

"Hmm..." Su Bai let out a faint sigh of relief.

So far, events have unfolded exactly as he predicted.

"Alright, I have something else to attend to. Stay calm—I'll soon take you to claim the Thunder God's Divine Heart."

"Moreover, I will faithfully report your contributions to my lord, the Ice Emperor."

"It's not about contributions—I..." The woman tried to say more, but Su Bai had already vanished.

The woman froze.

Ran away?

Fine, fine, fine...

Turning Inazuma into this mess—even my lord, the Ice Emperor, won't know how to explain it to General Raiden.

Should we go to her and demand the Divine Heart?

It'd be strange if she gave us a good look—she'd be lucky not to draw her blade.

Somewhere in a remote corner of Inazuma's coastline.

Su Bai walked in.

Beneath the eaves, an elderly man with white hair sat weakly on the ground.

"Still alive?"

The sudden noise startled Tetsuhei.

His gaze swept the surroundings.

"Cough... cough... cough..."

"Is anyone here?" Tetsuhei tried to stand, but lacked the strength.

Su Bai regarded Tetsuhei, whose eyes had lost focus.

"Can't you see anymore?"

"Is... is it Captain...?"

"Yes, it's me," Su Bai replied softly.

"Captain!" Tetsuhei suddenly stirred with excitement.

His voice then sank: "Forgive me... I feel I'm about to die."

"But recently, in a naval battle against the Shogunate forces, I defeated several Shogunate samurai alone and saved my comrades."

"I... I haven't brought shame to the Captain, have I...?"