Receiving Luo Li's approval, the tiny fox nearly lifted its tail straight into the sky. Yulezhai, on the other hand, had already figured things out
this fellow clansman was here purely to cause trouble. He couldn't take offense at a child who hadn't even matured yet.
With no words left, he saluted Luo Li and quietly slipped away to mingle with a different group of yokai. Seeing this, little Yae truly believed she had achieved a glorious victory.
She leaned toward Luo Li eagerly. "How was my performance just now?" "For your age… it was acceptable." The reluctant praise fell far short of her expectations.
The tiny fox huffed several times and nudged his cheek with her forehead in protest. Feeling that he truly couldn't lie any further, Luo Li resorted to vague encouragement such as you have great potential.
Of course, this wasn't entirely false the future Yae Miko would indeed become a towering great yokai, esteemed and powerful beyond ordinary measure. A miko's "Bright Stage" could already let one perceive worldly affairs and gaze across distant lands almost akin to clairvoyance.
But Yae Miko's realm, in the future, would far surpass even that. Finally appeased, the little fox regained her spirits.
Defeating Yulezhai had ignited her fighting spirit, but one victory wasn't enough.
To firmly establish her fame in the yokai community, she needed more examples.
More people to crush.
More debates to win. Once Luo Li gave permission, she cheerfully leapt into the crowd of yokai,
tail swaying as she plotted her next "victim." Luo Li extended a thread of spiritual sense to keep an eye on her, just in case.
Elsewhere
Seeing how most yokai were now fully immersed in conversation completely forgetting that Luo Li was seated right above them
Mitsuyo finally started feeling restless. She whispered something to Asase Hibiki, who was no longer nervous,
and the two quietly inched closer to Luo Li. Luo Li had already noticed their sneaky movements. He turned his head immediately. "What are you two doing here?"
Mitsuyo responded mischievously: Well, I wanted to let little Hibiki see the world.
But teacher, you disappeared for so long without a word
not even a single message. The latter part of her sentence carried a faint trace of grievance. Luo Li himself hadn't planned to stay in Mondstadt that long
but after unexpectedly meeting the Rosalyne of five hundred years ago,
he found himself strangely interested. "I was delayed by something important.
And more importantly, I believed you could take good care of Hibiki while I was away.
That's why I didn't contact you." The simple-minded Mitsuyo was instantly fooled,
her face lighting up with joy at being trusted by her teacher. And Luo Li wasn't lying he had relied on her to watch over Hibiki.
Otherwise he wouldn't have left the newly accepted little shrine maiden behind for two whole months. He beckoned Hibiki closer. Compared to two months ago, the little shrine maiden had gained a bit of weight,
looked far less timid, and seemed to have received plenty of physical training under Mitsuyo. Hibiki, how far have you gotten with archery and spellcraft?." Hibiki answered honestly, "I've begun studying astrology and barrier construction." That progress was acceptable. Luo Li patted her head in approval. The little miko closed her eyes, savoring the affection.The more she understood about Luo Li, the deeper her admiration and affection grew.
After all, she'd been raised for months by a senior miko who admired Luo Li obsessively. Being influenced was inevitable. And Hibiki was still very young paired with the fact that she followed around a big sister everyone believed to be amazing her "indoctrination" progressed at astonishing speed.
Meanwhile :At some point, one of the yokai brought up Luo Li while bragging.
Soon, the discussions grew louder. Eventually, pushed forward by the crowd,
Yulezhai stepped forth again to respectfully ask Luo Li about secrets from the ancient era. The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons was originally an event where yokai reminisced about past glory,
lamenting the thinning of their bloodlines and recalling old legends. In simpler words: a group of people gathering to brag about their ancestors and share bizarre stories. But who among them had seen more than Luo Li?. With enough excitement built up,
some bold yokai even dared to ask His Highness for clarification on ancient mysteries. Luo Li held a rather good impression of Yulezhai
though in the future he would be an elderly yokai,
right now he was still a youth, both in appearance and temperament. He also knew the grim fate awaiting many yokai here
all destined to perish in the Abyss Calamity while protecting the people of Inazuma. With that in mind, how could he refuse such a small request? As he began recounting ancient tales and matters involving the Archon War,
the yokai—who had been loudly boasting moments ago
quieted into absolute silence, forming a circle around him. A few hundred years from now…
how many of these yokai would still exist? He couldn't say. Even with all his preparations, Inazuma could not possibly remain unscathed. Khaenri'ah was not like the fallen Findaenyr, destroyed by a Heavenly Nail.
Its alchemy was dazzling, its puppetry and technological prowess unmatched
and with the Abyss bolstering them,
they dared even to defy Sky Island itself. As the night deepened,
Luo Li finished one or two ancient tales,
and the banquet reached its peak. Yokai soared into the sky,
their shadows blotting out the moon. Little Yae watched them with envy
her spiritual power still too weak to fly on her own. "When I take human form, I'll be able to fly too!" Determined, the tiny fox resolved to train diligently from now on.
She would no longer slack off when Lady Saiguu instructed her in Hakushin clan arts. But resolve was one thing in reality, she could only slink back onto Luo Li's shoulder, listless with frustration. Especially when she watched the yokai who had admired her earlier fly away joyfully,
while she remained grounded like a helpless kitten. What's wrong? Having just finished testing Hibiki's spellcraft theory,
Luo Li noticed the droopy-eared fox and rubbed her head and tail. "I want to leave" Her pitiful expression made one want to tease her even more. After all
if he didn't take advantage of this period to squish and cuddle her freely,
once she grew up he'd never get another chance. Turning the future flirtatious, sharp-tongued fox the one who would taunt him with: 'Oh? Want to see my tail? Dream on. into this soft, helpless creature again? Almost impossible.
◇ 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/PixelAero