Mikoshi Chiyo was a powerful oni warrior.
Even in a state where reason had completely deserted her, her attacks were still terrifyingly sharp.
The moment she struck, it was a killing move.
Ghostly flames spread across Gu Chen's tachi as he struggled to block.
On the surface, he seemed calm and in control—but the little Yae fox knew Gu Chen's true condition all too well.
If he didn't fight, perhaps he really could live another eighty or a hundred years, just as he'd said.
But once he engaged in combat, the power of that curse would devour his life like a ravenous demon.
Yae had known these secrets about Gu Chen for a very long time.
"Mikoshi Chiyo! Wake up!" Yae cried out anxiously.
The more she shouted, the more frenzied Mikoshi Chiyo's attacks became.
After pulling back to gain some distance, Gu Chen gasped for breath and said, "Little shrine maiden, leave—now."
"Brother!" Yae's eyes brimmed with tears.
Though she was a fox yokai, her combat strength was still limited—she was simply too young.
Compared to ordinary tanuki in the mountains, she might be impressive, but before a powerhouse of the oni race like Mikoshi Chiyo, she couldn't help at all.
Yet she didn't dare leave.
She was terrified that if she did, Gu Chen would be unable to withstand Mikoshi Chiyo's madness.
If that happened…
Yae knew she would never forgive herself.
"Brother, let's run together!" she shouted.
Gu Chen sidestepped, raised his tachi to knock aside Mikoshi Chiyo's slashing blade, and replied, "Alright!"
Yae ran ahead on her short legs, constantly glancing back with worry.
Trees collapsed throughout the forest—the commotion of the battle was immense.
Seeing frightened tanuki fleeing in all directions, Yae suddenly slowed and shouted while running, "Help!! Mikoshi Chiyo's gone mad—someone please help!!"
Hearing this, Gu Chen let out a bitter laugh, then his expression turned grave.
He knew his own condition too well.
Mikoshi Chiyo struck with brutal force; even the tiger's mouth of his hand gripping the tachi had gone numb.
The cursed power was already flooding through his body.
In the past, pain elsewhere in his body hadn't even been worth mentioning compared to his right arm.
But now, the pain throughout his entire body rivaled what his right arm had once endured.
And as for his right arm—
He could clearly feel his bones and flesh being devoured.
If he continued using this power, his right arm would be completely ruined.
More than that.
He could feel his already weakened life force draining away even faster.
Living another eighty or a hundred years?
Perhaps that was possible without this encounter.
After this, though… his days were likely numbered.
"Mikoshi Chiyo… you really are…" Gu Chen sighed softly.
Mikoshi Chiyo's eyes burned crimson, like a true demon.
Her fighting style had devolved into pure chaos—no techniques, no restraint.
And it was precisely this formless madness that exhausted Gu Chen the most.
She fought by trading injuries for injuries.
Gu Chen's strength was burning away.
Desperately trying to preserve his remaining life force, he was completely outmatched.
Anxiety crept into his heart.
Suddenly, sounds echoed through the forest.
"What's going on? What's happening?!"
A very fat tanuki came rushing over in a panic.
"Senior Gohyaku-zō, please save my brother! Mikoshi Chiyo has gone mad!" Yae cried.
"What?!" Gohyaku-zō hurried toward the disturbance.
He had personally witnessed the events of that day.
The fall of Kitsune Saiguu—and the enormous price Gu Chen had paid.
Gohyaku-zō respected that man deeply and knew his life was likely nearing its end.
And now Mikoshi Chiyo had appeared…
He arrived at the scene quickly.
"Leave her to me!" Gohyaku-zō shouted as he charged at Mikoshi Chiyo.
"Huff… huff…" Gu Chen panted. "Then… I'll leave it to you."
"I can't hold her for long—run!" Gohyaku-zō yelled.
"Alright." Gu Chen nodded.
Yae rushed back over.
Before she could support him, she saw him stagger, nearly falling.
His face was deathly pale, sweat pouring down, barely able to walk—his hand gripping the tachi was trembling.
A warrior's hand must never shake.
Yae quickly supported Gu Chen and helped him leave.
They fled all the way to the outskirts of Inazuma City.
News of Mikoshi Chiyo's rampage had already reached the Tenshukaku.
Yae's desperate cries for help had also reached Raiden Ei.
Without a moment's hesitation, Raiden Ei transformed into a streak of lightning and left the Tenshukaku.
In just a few breaths, she found Yae and Gu Chen.
At that moment—
Gu Chen was hunched over by the roadside, vomiting blood.
Yae was crying beside him, completely at a loss.
"What happened?!" Raiden Ei asked urgently as lightning struck down.
"Your Excellency, brother—brother is going to die!" Yae sobbed, as if she'd found her pillar of support.
"Don't talk nonsense!" Raiden Ei snapped coldly, then immediately turned to Gu Chen with deep concern. "How did you end up like this?"
Gu Chen opened his mouth, but it felt as though countless fish bones were lodged in his throat—he couldn't speak.
As she questioned him, Raiden Ei examined his condition.
She discovered that his body was practically hollowed out.
Life force was as vital as a person's internal organs.
And now, Gu Chen's "organs" seemed to have been scooped out by some monster, leaving only an empty shell.
Raiden Ei frowned deeply, worry written all over her face.
She immediately lifted Gu Chen and returned to the Tenshukaku in a flash of lightning.
She carefully laid him down.
She tried to help him catch his breath, fed him water—
Raiden Ei, who had never cared for anyone before, was completely flustered, sweat beading on her forehead.
"Let me—let me do it!" Yae panted, having run all the way back from the outskirts.
"Alright." Raiden Ei nodded, then asked, "Who did this?"
"Mikoshi Chiyo," Yae replied.
"Mikoshi Chiyo…" Raiden Ei's gaze turned icy, complex emotions flickering in her eyes.
Last time, out of respect for old bonds, she had spared her.
This time…
She had reduced Gu Chen to this state.
"I will make her pay…!"
Raiden Ei stood up at once.
She had reached her limit.
"Your Excellency…" Yae shrank back, frightened by Raiden Ei's coldness.
"Take good care of him. I'll be back."
Without another word, Raiden Ei vanished in a flash of lightning.
The sky over all of Inazuma filled with thunder, black clouds rolling—her divine wrath made manifest.
She soon found Mikoshi Chiyo.
At that moment, Mikoshi Chiyo was still attacking Gohyaku-zō in a frenzy.
Gohyaku-zō was drenched in sweat.
Only when he sensed Raiden Ei's arrival did he finally relax.
But the next instant, his heart leapt into his throat.
The forest erupted in blinding light.
He saw a streak of lightning, dense beyond comprehension, cleave through the sky—like a blow that awakened the entire world.
Gohyaku-zō's pupils shrank.
Musou no Hitotachi.
The Raiden Shogun's ultimate technique.
Under that single strike, Mikoshi Chiyo was reduced to ashes—nothing left behind, not even bones.
"Gulp…" Gohyaku-zō swallowed. "Your Excellency… wasn't that a bit too ruthless…?"
"Ruthless?" Raiden Ei replied coldly. "I know she was no longer herself, her reason long gone. In memory of the past, I granted her a swift end."
[Nilou]: If it weren't for old bonds, I feel Lady Ei wouldn't have killed Mikoshi Chiyo so cleanly—she might've made her beg for death instead. (Nilou · pondering)
[Collei]: Judging by Lady Ei's state, that's very possible. She was truly anxious and furious—especially seeing Mr. Gu Chen so weak, like one foot already in the grave… That Musou no Hitotachi proves it. With her strength, she didn't need that move at all.
[Arataki Itto]: Man… my oni senior had it rough. (Paimon · shocked)
[Kuki Shinobu]: There was no helping it. Wandering in the mountains and just happened to run into Mr. Gu Chen… (facepalm)
[Raiden Ei]: (complex emotions)
[Paimon]: Am I the only one who noticed how adorable the little shrine maiden caring about Boss Gu is? (Paimon · shocked)
[Raiden Ei]: She is indeed cute—quite different from the Guuji I remember.
[Yae Miko]: That's because she's had her brother-in-law guiding her since she was little~ (Hu Tao · cute)
[Kujou Sara]: Unfamiliar.
[Kamisato Ayaka]: Unfamiliar.
[Raiden Ei]: You make me feel sick.
[Yae Miko]: @[Gu Chen] Brother-in-law~ look at her! (Sucrose · aggrieved)
[Kaeya]: Alright, alright—this is eye-opening.
[Venti]: No wonder they say foxes are good at playing people—experience speaks, huh? (smirk)
[Gu Chen]: All my wings, behave yourselves. Watch the video first. (Zhongli · dragon king crooked grin)
[Yae Miko]: (Kamisato Ayaka · shy)
[Kaeya]: Okay, now you're even more outrageous. (smirk)
[Venti]: (smirk)
Tenshukaku.
The immense pain wracking Gu Chen made his entire body tremble uncontrollably.
Yae didn't know what to do anymore.
Raiden Ei entered the room, her heart aching at the sight of him. "How did it come to this…?"
"After last time, brother has been very weak," Yae said through tears.
Raiden Ei froze, her steps faltering. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Hh… hh…" Gu Chen tried to speak, but no words came.
"Alright, don't talk. I'm not angry with you."
Her expression softened, anxious and helpless. "Just rest. I'll find a way to cure you."
She then led Yae outside.
"You hid this from me too?" Raiden Ei's face darkened terrifyingly.
"I—I did it because brother told me not to…" Yae lowered her head, both wronged and desperate. "I searched through all the shrine's books. There's no way to save him…"
Raiden Ei paced back and forth, irritable. "Summon all the physicians in the land! As long as they can save him, they can ask for anything!"
"Even the shrine's books have no solution. Them…" Yae shook her head.
"Go anyway!" Raiden Ei snapped. "What if—what if there's one?"
Yae shrank her neck, but found her words reasonable.
Among the people, there were always eccentrics and miracle-workers.
What if it worked?
She immediately wrote down Gu Chen's symptoms and spread the notice across the land in the name of the Raiden Shogun.
Such bizarre symptoms frightened ordinary physicians away.
Raiden Ei knew this well.
She was merely clinging to a sliver of hope.
Days passed.
Watching Gu Chen grow weaker by the day drove Raiden Ei nearly mad with anxiety.
She had no time left for Inazuma's affairs.
Yae took on heavy responsibilities, even sending people to Liyue in search of a cure.
Inazuma's doctors were helpless.
Even when adepti from Liyue came and examined Gu Chen, they could only sigh and say that even the Geo Archon himself would be powerless.
To Raiden Ei, it was a bolt from the blue.
She couldn't accept it.
Her violet eyes turned red as she clutched Gu Chen's hand. "Don't die… please don't die…"
After a long silence, Gu Chen softly said, "I want to go back to the shrine."
His voice was weak; Raiden Ei had to lean in to hear it clearly.
She lifted him into her arms.
So light.
As if the person she held was nothing but an empty shell.
Her heart twisted violently.
She forced herself not to cry, carefully carrying Gu Chen to the Grand Narukami Shrine.
She laid him inside one of the shrine's rooms.
Cherry blossoms bloomed throughout the courtyard.
Yae rushed over as soon as she heard the news.
She had a terrible feeling—if her brother suddenly wanted to return to the shrine, it might mean…
Tears welled in her eyes, her heart in chaos.
"Little shrine maiden, stop crying—you won't be cute anymore," Gu Chen said with a strained smile.
"Brother…" Yae wiped her tears.
"Cough, cough…" Gu Chen coughed twice, a brief flush coloring his pale face.
Raiden Ei's heart leapt—then sank in terror.
"Brother?" Yae's small hands trembled.
She'd heard of this.
Humans called it a final flicker of life.
Gu Chen slowly sat up, trying to get out of bed. Raiden Ei hurried to support him.
He rubbed his eyes in confusion. "Let's go."
They helped him into the kitchen.
Looking around, Gu Chen said, "This should be the last time I use this place, right?"
Both Raiden Ei and Yae fell silent.
Gu Chen got busy.
Raiden Ei gripped the edge of the stove so tightly her knuckles turned white.
She clearly saw him mistake salt for sugar.
His eyesight was failing.
Yae wanted to speak up, but when Raiden Ei shot her a glance, she swallowed her words and quietly helped instead.
Before long—
"Mm~ fresh sakura mochi and aburaage. They should taste pretty good. Want to try?" Gu Chen smiled.
Raiden Ei picked up a piece of sakura mochi—normally irresistible—and stuffed it into her mouth, tears streaming down her face. "So sweet…"
"Mm-hmm…" Yae nodded along while eating the oddly flavored aburaage, wiping her tears.
"See?" Gu Chen laughed. "Looks like my skills haven't declined."
He picked up a piece of sakura mochi himself. Raiden Ei tried to stop him, but it was too late.
"Huh? Why is it so salty?"
He frowned, then realized. "Did I mix up the sugar and salt? I shouldn't have…"
"I'll make another batch," he said.
"This one has a unique flavor," Raiden Ei quickly replied. "You should go rest first."
Gu Chen hesitated, then sighed regretfully. "Alright."
They helped him back, watching the ground carefully, afraid he might fall.
Back in the room.
Gu Chen sat on the bed, his breathing slowing. "Suddenly… I'm so tired."
"Brother…" Yae hesitated.
"Who… who's talking?" Gu Chen asked in confusion.
Raiden Ei said nothing.
His hearing was failing too.
"Let's not talk anymore. I'm tired… so sleepy… let me rest for a bit."
He groped his way down onto the bed.
Raiden Ei knelt beside him, holding one of his hands.
Yae knelt nearby, sobbing softly.
Gu Chen's breathing grew lighter, slower.
Gradually—
There was no sound at all.
"Don't die…"
Raiden Ei shook her head frantically.
"Gu Chen!"
"I won't allow you to die!"
Tears brimmed in her eyes as she shouted, voice trembling with fury and despair. "I am the Shogun! I order you—don't die! Obey!"
"Wake up! Wake up!!"
"Please… please wake up. Open your eyes and look at me one more time—please!"
She clutched Gu Chen's hand, her whole body shaking.
But how could an empty shell, already devoid of breath, answer her plea?
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/SwipeSage