Even someone as stoic as Raiden Ei couldn't help blushing when she sensed Yae Miko's teasing gaze.
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Raiden Ei snapped in embarrassment.
"Just stating facts~"
Yae Miko said with a bright smile. "Her Excellency the Shogun isn't just strong in combat—her physical capital is impressive too~ If brother-in-law likes my sister, then he'll definitely like your type as well~"
Raiden Ei froze for a moment, then turned her head away and said flatly, "I'm going back to work!"
Yae Miko burst out laughing.
She noticed Raiden Ei's earlobes tinged red—clearly, this little blockhead was still shy when such topics came up.
Was it because she'd read too many light novels, or because she'd been influenced by the video?
The dense Shogun seemed to be… starting to awaken a bit.
Yae Miko was actually quite happy to see this outcome. At least in the days to come, Raiden Ei wouldn't be so rigid anymore—and that would make teasing her even more enjoyable.
After all, Lady Guuji's fox-life pleasures consisted of reading light novels and poking fun at others.
Teasing Raiden Ei was a particularly reliable source of good moods.
[Shikanoin Heizou]: This episode really exceeds expectations. By relationship logic, Lady Ei is the Cult Leader's sister-in-law, right? (LOL)
[Venti]: Does that even count as a problem for the Cult Leader? (Hu Tao · mischievous grin)
[Kaeya]: Just a sister-in-law. Didn't the Cult Leader even say Cloud Retainer wasn't impossible? That's practically half a mother-in-law! (LOL)
[Gu Chen]: Damn it, I step away from the group for a bit and you guys slander me like this? (annoyed)
[Azhdaha]: No need to explain—we all understand! (LOL)
[Osial]: Only one thing to say: those who get it, get it. Those who don't, don't need an explanation. The waters here are too deep—only a man like the Cult Leader can handle it. (LOL)
[Cloud Retainer]: I can't stay in this group anymore!
What kind of ridiculous group was this?!
The group's imagination was so wild it left even Cloud Retainer shaken.
[Paimon]: This episode is pretty interesting. Raiden Ei is still alive now, so her reward will probably be memories—but everyone knows her current state is split between a puppet body and Ei's consciousness… Doesn't that mean she gets two directly?! (Hu Tao · mischievous grin)
[Gu Chen]: What? There's such a good deal?! (Zhongli · smug dragon grin)
[Zhongli]: That's outrageous…
[Sustainer of Heavenly Principles]: Can't understand it. Deeply shocked. (Paimon · stunned)
[Dvalin]: Damn, you shouldn't have said that. Now that you did, I suddenly feel like— (Venti · shocked)
[Kamisato Ayaka]: Suddenly the topic turned very… adult. (Ayaka · shy)
[Gu Chen]: My suggestion is we stop right here, before the group gets shut down. (LOL)
[Kaeya]: A thousand words can be summed up in one sentence: envy the Cult Leader!
[Venti]: A thousand words can be summed up in one sentence: envy the Cult Leader!
[Osial]: Envious!
[Beisht]: ?
[Osial has retracted a message]
[Osial]: Haha, my hand slipped and I hit copy by accident. I'm not envious at all. (Fischl · pretending calm)
[Beisht]: You'd better not be.
[Azhdaha]: Yo, didn't expect this—bro, are you henpecked? (LOL)
[Kaeya]: Osial, you're a god. Having multiple wives is totally normal. What are you afraid of? (LOL)
[Osial]: You wouldn't understand… I'm just more of a pure-love type. (nod)
[Gu Chen]: What a fine "pure love." (Hu Tao · mischievous grin)
[Venti]: Everyone here's a brother—we won't laugh at you. It's fine. (LOL)
[Osial]: Hmph, you're all teasing me… You people haven't found your true love, so it's normal you don't understand. (Paimon · hmph)
[Nilou]: I didn't expect such a fierce god like Osial to have this side to him. (thinking)
[Osial]: Of course. Life itself is complex—humans have emotions and desires, and gods naturally do too.
[Collei]: Hehe, I'm even more excited for the video now. I wonder how Mr. Gu Chen and Miss Ei's story unfolds. (dreamy)
[Yae Miko]: With Ei's personality, being gentle is difficult. Once the stiff Shogun sets her sights on brother-in-law, she'll probably just knock him out and drag him back to Tenshukaku. (Yae Miko · mischievous grin)
[Gu Chen]: That intense? Now I'm looking forward to it! (LOL)
[Kamisato Ayaka]: (Ayaka · confused)
[Nilou]: Such a bandit-style Shogun. (Paimon · shocked)
[Collei]: I can't imagine that at all! (Paimon · shocked)
[Raiden Ei]: I'm not, I didn't, impossible! (Ei · shutting down)
[Yae Miko]: The video's starting—let's wait and see. (Yae Miko · mischievous grin)
The cover gradually faded, signaling the official start of the video.
The opening shot revealed Inazuma's Narukami Island.
Viewed from high above, human settlements could already be seen on the island. Clearly, Narukami Island had gone through the cleansing of the Narukami sisters and now sheltered many mortals.
The camera shifted to the raging sea.
Floating on the ocean's surface was a young man in white robes, his right arm stained a terrifying black.
It was Gu Chen.
His face was deathly pale, as though he had just suffered a severe illness. Soaked in seawater, he looked as if he had only moments left to live.
[Kaeya]: Wait, this isn't a cool entrance at all. Why's Brother Gu just lying on the sea? (LOL)
[Venti]: Nice, nice—this is already episode six, and we finally get a disastrous entrance! (LOL)
[Osial]: The Cult Leader soaking in the sea like this looks like he's about to die… And what's with that pitch-black arm? Another forbidden-knowledge plotline? (Nahida · curious)
[Buer]: This doesn't seem like forbidden knowledge… It feels strange, but not especially evil, and it lacks that mind-twisting sensation. (Nahida · thinking)
[Furina]: This sickly-looking handsome guy is actually kind of attractive.
[Gu Chen]: Fall for your bro immediately. (Kaeya · rose-in-mouth greeting · heart thief)
[Kaeya]: 6
[Furina]: (laughing)
[Nilou]: Even though Mr. Gu Chen's entrance is so miserable this time, this wounded-beauty look really makes me love him even more! (Xiangling · starry eyes)
[Collei]: Me too! Me too!!
[Tighnari]: Alright, alright—I get it. Two hardcore Cult Leader fans. (Qiqi · faint)
Driven by the surging waves, the unconscious Gu Chen was gradually carried toward shore.
The waves didn't flow in a single direction.
Hundreds of meters from land, Gu Chen bobbed up and down with the sea.
[Paimon]: Is there really no one nearby? No one to save Boss Gu? He looks like he's about to die any moment. (shocked)
[Baizhu]: From a professional standpoint, if a wave flips him over even once, Mr. Gu Chen would likely drown from inhaling seawater. (concerned)
[Azhdaha]: No one's come to save him yet—can we end this episode early with applause? (Venti · tossing flowers)
[Raiden Ei]: No!! (Amber · save me)
[Yae Miko]: Oh? Are you really looking forward to this episode? (Yae Miko · mischievous grin)
[Kaeya]: Aha, Raiden Ei—you really do have designs on your brother-in-law! (LOL)
[Shikanoin Heizou]: The Cult Leader is great and extremely charismatic. Falling for him is perfectly normal. Conclusion: it's the video's fault. Case closed!
[Venti]: Detective!
[Furina]: Wow, who would've thought—Raiden Ei is that kind of person! (laughing)
[Raiden Ei]: What are you talking about? I don't understand. (Ei · take my blade)
[Zhongli]: By common rational standards, the Cult Leader's charm is indeed exceptional.
[Gu Chen]: Indeed. (nod)
After an unknown amount of time, a woman in a white kimono appeared on the shore.
Holding an umbrella, she gazed out at the sea. When she spotted what looked like a "corpse" floating on the water, she was taken aback.
[Nilou]: Oh? It's Lady Makoto—does that mean she's the one who saves Mr. Gu Chen this time?
[Venti]: This is called being saved by your wife from a past life~ (LOL)
[Raiden Makoto]: Oh? I'm in this episode too? (curious)
[Yae Miko]: Let Big Sis experience the pain of having her man stolen by her little sister. (mischievous grin)
[Lumine]: Just imagining it feels surreal!
[Kaeya]: You really know how to be malicious. So, how does Lady Makoto feel right now?
[Charlotte]: Mr. Kaeya, you'd make an excellent journalist—your questions are far too sharp! (LOL)
[Raiden Makoto]: Umm… my feelings are complicated! But the me in the video doesn't really have anything to do with the current me, and I don't think it's that big a deal. (shrugs)
[Furina]: I can already smell the resentment between the lines!
[Kaeya]: Case cracked in advance—Lady Makoto is definitely unhappy, but since Lady Ei is her sister, she can only endure it! (LOL)
[Nilou]: Don't be so absurd! (facepalm)
[Raiden Ei]: Is that really what you think, Sister? (Qiqi · secretly observing)
[Yae Miko]: Ei is heartbroken and decides that if her sister won't let her in, she'll remain single forever. (deeply moved)
[Gu Chen]: You're even more absurd! (facepalm)
[Raiden Makoto]: …
[Raiden Ei]: …
[Buer]: The silence between the sisters is deafening. (Paimon · shocked)
Raiden Makoto sensed that Gu Chen was not yet dead.
She immediately crossed the sea to reach him.
Seeing his pitch-black right arm, she frowned slightly. After a moment's thought, she still dragged him onto shore.
After checking his condition, Raiden Makoto murmured in confusion, "What a strange human…"
Gu Chen gave her an extremely eerie feeling.
Clearly human, yet carrying a bizarre power within him.
This power didn't seem cultivated, but rather like some kind of curse.
A curse that granted him strange strength—and turned his right arm black.
Raiden Makoto had never heard of such a method. Even among the gods, few—if any—could achieve something like this.
At least, none came to mind.
"I'll take him back to the Grand Shrine."
After careful consideration, Raiden Makoto decided to observe him for a while longer.
The power was simply too strange to ignore.
Before long, she brought Gu Chen to the Narukami Shrine.
Wearing shrine maiden robes, with white fox ears twitching atop her head and a fluffy tail behind her, Kitsune Saiguu approached with a smile. Upon seeing Gu Chen, she exclaimed in surprise, "Is this… a human?"
"Yes. A human—but a strange one," Raiden Makoto nodded.
"Why bring him here?"
Kitsune Saiguu stepped forward to examine the unconscious Gu Chen.
"I can't quite understand him, so I wanted to see if you could," Raiden Makoto replied.
Kitsune Saiguu said nothing. After observing carefully, she poked Gu Chen's blackened right arm and said, "Very strange. Feels like a curse."
"Yes—but a curse that grants power is unheard of," Raiden Makoto nodded slightly.
They had reached the same conclusion.
Even the well-informed Lady of the Hakushin could not decipher what was happening to Gu Chen.
"The seawater hasn't even dried yet. Did you fish him out of the ocean?" Kitsune Saiguu asked.
"Yes. When I found him, he was floating near the shore… no idea what he went through," Raiden Makoto replied.
"How do we wake him up?" Kitsune Saiguu asked.
Raiden Makoto thought for a moment, then raised her hand. Lightning crackled at her fingertips.
"…Are you sure?" Kitsune Saiguu's expression turned odd.
"It'll be fine. With how strange his power is, it should be even more fine," Raiden Makoto nodded.
The crackling arcs of lightning struck Gu Chen.
Crackling and popping—his body twitched.
"He seems to be reacting," Kitsune Saiguu observed.
Hearing that, Raiden Makoto released even more lightning.
After a few breaths, Gu Chen suddenly rolled over, spat out several mouthfuls of seawater, and gasped for air.
"You're awake?" Kitsune Saiguu waved a hand before his eyes. "Are you still conscious?"
"?"
Gu Chen stared at her blankly.
"Huh? He doesn't understand Teyvat Common?" Kitsune Saiguu said in surprise.
Raiden Makoto tried speaking in some archaic, obscure words.
"He doesn't understand the divine tongue either," she shook her head.
"That's truly strange…"
"He wouldn't happen to be someone from outside this world, would he?"
Kitsune Saiguu laughed.
"That's not impossible," Raiden Makoto considered before nodding.
"So that really is possible? Then no wonder he can't understand us."
Gu Chen looked utterly confused as he watched the two of them converse.
He couldn't understand them, and they couldn't understand him.
The atmosphere became awkward.
"I'll leave the task of teaching him to speak to you," Raiden Makoto said to Kitsune Saiguu.
Kitsune Saiguu twitched her lips helplessly. "You're the one who rescued him—why am I responsible?"
"I don't have much free time. Leaving him with you puts me at ease," Raiden Makoto said apologetically.
Thinking it over, Kitsune Saiguu sighed. "Alright then. Let him stay at the Narukami Shrine for now. Better than letting him wander around and cause trouble."
Realizing he couldn't understand them anyway, Gu Chen simply sat there.
His face was pale, and he looked extremely weak.
[Paimon]: This is the first time I've ever seen Boss Gu this frail… What did he go through? (shocked)
[Baizhu]: Looks a bit like… overexertion. (concerned)
[Kaeya]: Bro, take care of your body! (Baizhu · concerned)
[Gu Chen]: This is pure slander. (Nahida · pointing)
[Zhongli]: It does resemble an ordinary mortal who nearly drowned and barely survived.
[Gu Chen]: See? Zhongli gets it!
[Zhongli]: That said… Baizhu's theory isn't entirely impossible either. (LOL)
Alright, alright.
So your mentality's gotten younger and now you're all just here to mess around, huh?!
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