After picking the violet-fruit, the two began their journey back to Higi Village.
Along the way, Teppei didn't forget to extend an invitation to Yuuko:
"Say, Mr. Qian, why don't you consider joining the resistance? Your skills seem pretty good, and we welcome capable people like you."
I'm actually your Supreme General... Yuuko gave a wry smile and shook his head:
"No thanks. I'm just taking refuge in the village for a short time, and I plan to leave soon. I won't be joining the resistance."
"Is that so? What a shame." Teppei sighed regretfully.
Afterward, the two continued back to the village.
After returning to Higi Village with the violet-fruit.
The two unexpectedly saw the Village Chief Washizu at the entrance of the village.
As well as a stranger whose clothing clearly indicated they were not from the village.
The Village Chief was anxiously negotiating with the stranger.
Seeing the appearance of the stranger, Yuuko first froze, then, after a moment of thought, handed the violet-fruit he was holding to Teppei:
"Sorry, Teppei, could you help me carry these violet-fruit back to the village first? I have something I need to discuss with the Village Chief."
"Uh... Mr. Qian, wait!"
Teppei looked at the pile of violet-fruit in his hands, stacked as high as a mountain. He tried to call out to Yuuko, but found that Yuuko had already walked away.
Left with no choice, Teppei could only carry the violet-fruit back to the village by himself... On the other side, Yuuko walked up next to Village Chief Washizu.
He then looked at the stranger talking to Washizu—the cold woman wearing a tengu mask.
Naturally, Yuuko couldn't fail to recognize that person.
After all... he had previously exchanged (or rather, been beaten in) blows with her at Nazuchi Beach.
But what surprised Yuuko was that this person had actually come to Yashiori Island, and even to a small village like Higi Village... This woman was none other than General Kujou Sara of the Tenryou Commission.
Just as Yuuko was about to speak, Kujou Sara fixed her gaze on him:
"You... look familiar... I remember now, you seem to be a writer for Yae Publishing House."
"Hmph! You were previously planning to publish *Reincarnated Raiden Shogun, Having Yuri with Yae Miko*—a book disrespectful to Her Excellency, the General!"
As she spoke, Kujou Sara glared fiercely at Yuuko.
This made Yuuko feel very awkward. Just as he was about to speak, Kujou Sara sighed instead:
"Never mind. I am a traitor now, and I have no right to criticize you."
"Huh?" Hearing this, Yuuko was stunned again.
Kujou Sara said she was a traitor.
Did this mean... Kujou Sara, the person most loyal to the Raiden Shogun in all of Inazuma, had left the Tenryou Commission?
Just as Yuuko was about to ask something, Village Chief Washizu asked curiously:
"Say, Yuuko, do you know this person?"
Yuuko thought for a moment and then smiled: "Know her? Of course I know her. This is a General of the Shogunate Army."
These words instantly made Village Chief Washizu tremble, and he looked at Kujou Sara in horror.
A member of the Shogunate Army appearing on Yashiori Island, and even coming to the entrance of Higi Village.
This was certainly not good news.
Village Chief Washizu was genuinely afraid that the village would suffer retaliatory strikes from the Shogunate Army.
Now hearing that the person before him was a General of the Shogunate Army, he was instantly terrified!
Village Chief Washizu had thought it strange before—why did this cold woman look so familiar?
Upon closer inspection, wasn't this the General who usually led the Shogunate Army!
Now, Village Chief Washizu was completely paralyzed with fear and somewhat at a loss.
Then... Yuuko spoke up to explain:
"However, she should no longer be a member of the Shogunate Army, and she shouldn't do anything harmful to the village by coming here."
Village Chief Washizu was startled, and then rolled his eyes at Yuuko:
"Couldn't you have mentioned that right away..."
Yuuko chuckled: "So, what did she come here to talk to you about?"
Before Washizu could answer, Kujou Sara spoke first:
"I wish to reside in this village for a period of time, to understand the people on Yashiori Island and Watatsumi Island, and... to learn about the resistance."
Washizu immediately shook his head:
"Absolutely not! Our village is too small; we cannot accommodate someone of your status."
It was actually normal for Washizu to be unwilling to accept Kujou Sara.
After all, the more people from Inazuma they accepted, the greater the risk Higi Village faced.
If the resistance were defeated later on.
Higi Village would be the first to suffer retaliation from the Shogunate Army.
Not to mention someone like Kujou Sara, who was formerly with the Shogunate Army.
"I guarantee that I will not implicate your village. If anything happens, I will bear the consequences alone, leave quietly, and leave no trace," said Kujou Sara.
However, Washizu still shook his head: "No."
At this moment, Yuuko interjected from the side:
"Village Chief, please consider it. After all, she traveled a long way, and this is an act of desperation."
Washizu looked hesitant and sighed:
"I want to, but if we take in too many Inazuman people, the village's food supplies won't be sufficient..."
In fact, Kujou Sara was not the only Inazuman who had come to Higi Village recently.
Almost every day, several people fleeing Inazuma would arrive, requesting sanctuary in Higi Village.
Village Chief Washizu did not refuse everyone.
Washizu accepted everyone who came with elders and children, and arranged housing for them.
But because more and more people were settling in the village, supplies were becoming increasingly scarce.
Seeing the Village Chief's hesitation, Yuuko pulled him aside and whispered:
"Village Chief, just let her stay. One extra person won't consume too much food."
"Besides, she is a very capable person. I can vouch for that. We can arrange for her to go hunting later."
Village Chief Washizu still looked hesitant: "But..."
Clang, clang!
Yuuko pulled a pouch from his chest and shook it, making the sound of metal colliding.
Village Chief Washizu's expression subtly changed. He quietly took the pouch and tucked it into his clothes.
He then cleared his throat, turned, and walked toward Kujou Sara:
"Ahem, seeing how pitiful your situation is, traveling all the way to our village, I can't bear to leave you exposed to the elements. How about this: there's a house on the south side of the village. You can use it after cleaning it up a bit."
Kujou Sara remained silent for a while, then bowed slightly to both Yuuko and Village Chief Washizu: "Thank you."
Just like that, Higi Village welcomed a new member, and a very special one at that.
After the Village Chief left, Yuuko curiously asked Kujou Sara:
"Tell me, General Kujou, what happened in Inazuma? Have you really left the Tenryou Commission?"
Kujou Sara looked at Yuuko in surprise: "I didn't expect a writer like you to be so concerned about these matters."
"Haha, I am an Inazuman resident, after all."
"Never mind. Since you just helped me, I shouldn't offer nothing in return."
A look of remembrance appeared on Kujou Sara's face. A figure wearing a yellow fox mask surfaced in her mind, and she said softly:
"As for me... because of someone, I finally looked inward and dared to confront the errors of the Vision Hunt Decree."
"Also because of that person, I decided to try and correct Her Excellency, the General's mistaken beliefs."
"However, my strength was insufficient, and I couldn't achieve this. So, I went to request assistance from the Family Head."
"But it was then that I discovered the Kujou Clan... had become corrupt."
"The Family Head... somewhere along the way, stopped being a loyal and righteous person and became someone consumed only by selfish desires..."
Saying this, Kujou Sara let out a soft sigh.
"Therefore, I left the Tenryou Commission."
"I... want to use external forces to cleanse the corruption within the clan and make Her Excellency, the General realize her mistake."