"Little Sara, why did you stop?"
Feng Yi shuffled back, looking at Kujou Sara with confusion.
"Shh, we're here. Above us is Tenshukaku..."
Kujou Sara turned her head and whispered.
The secret passage was dimly lit, so no one noticed her cheeks, red like ripe apples.
The impact of that moment, for Kujou Sara, felt like a door to a new world, filling her with both shame and a peculiar sensation.
But now was not the time to dwell on such thoughts. Kujou Sara quietly opened the lid above her head, poked her head out, and surveyed the surroundings. Seeing no one, she quickly pulled Feng Yi out.
They were behind a rock garden in Tenshukaku. Feng Yi looked ahead and saw that Tenshukaku, previously destroyed in battle, now had a basic framework rebuilt.
"Where is the Raiden Shogun?"
Feng Yi noticed the Raiden Shogun was no longer in her original meditation spot and quietly asked Kujou Sara beside him.
"The General is meditating in the side hall over there. Heavily guarded, not even a fly can get in..."
Kujou Sara pointed to a palace not far from Tenshukaku, where the General was temporarily resting.
"Is that so? I see. Little Sara, will you wait for me here? Or enter the Serenitea Pot?"
If a fly couldn't get in, Feng Yi had his own ways of entering.
"The Serenitea Pot!"
Kujou Sara preferred the environment there.
"Then come in."
With that, Feng Yi opened the lid of the Serenitea Pot.
After bringing Kujou Sara into the pot, he cast a spell, transforming himself into the appearance of Kujou Takayuki.
Clearing his throat twice and adjusting his voice, he strode towards the side hall where the Raiden Shogun was.
Openly, without any concealment.
"Lord Takayuki!"
The Shogunate soldiers guarding the side hall immediately saluted with their spears upon seeing Lord Kujou Takayuki.
"Cough, cough, make way. I have something to report to the General."
"As you command!"
The Shogunate soldiers on guard were puzzled why Lord Kujou Takayuki would report work so late at night, but as subordinates, it was not their place to inquire. They simply had to do their jobs diligently.
Feng Yi nodded and entered after the Shogunate soldiers cleared the way.
Creak~
He closed the hall door with a swing. Luo En, aided by the dim firelight inside the hall, vaguely saw a figure not far away, meditating on the highest seat.
That imposing aura was unmistakably the Raiden Shogun.
Feng Yi strode forward, about to wake the meditating Raiden Shogun.
To his surprise, the Raiden Shogun woke up first, her eyes snapping open. She stared calmly at Feng Yi.
"You are not Kujou Takayuki. Reveal your true form!"
The Raiden Shogun said calmly, her tone extremely confident.
"Heh heh heh, as expected, I was discovered..."
Feng Yi waved his hand, reverting to his original appearance. He realized his transformation technique could fool ordinary people, but with strong individuals, it was easily seen through.
"It's you, Feng Yi, isn't it? I was just looking for you. Last time I let you win by half a move, this time I will surely win back!"
The Raiden Shogun rose from her meditative posture, strode to Feng Yi, and looked at him with fighting spirit.
"Wait, I'm not here to spar with you this time. Your soul hasn't recovered to its peak state. If I win now, it would be an unfair victory. Let's wait until your soul has healed... I need to see A'ying. Please go and call her."
Feng Yi strode forward, placing his hand on the Raiden Shogun's right hand as she was about to draw her sword, and said softly.
Last time, winning against the Raiden Shogun was pure luck. In a real fight, his combat skills would be utterly outmatched by hers.
"Is this what those samurai call fairness? While I don't believe I'll lose to you in my current state, but... I accept your proposal. When my soul heals, that will be the day of our rematch!"
The Raiden Shogun nodded. She recognized Feng Yi's conviction in combat. To give her all with the best possible condition was respect for herself, for her opponent, and for the battle.
The Raiden Shogun's cold gaze flickered and suddenly softened considerably.
Feng Yi knew that A'ying's soul was now in control of the body.
He suddenly realized that his right hand, which he had used to stop the Raiden Shogun from drawing her sword, was still on her chest. But A'ying wouldn't know.
Feng Yi subtly withdrew his right hand, contemplating how to explain his actions to A'ying.
However, Ei seemed unbothered. Instead, she stepped forward, took Feng Yi's hand, and interlaced their fingers.
"Feng Yi, you're here. Please sit, I'll make you some tea..."
"How can I let you do that? Let me do it!"
Feng Yi quickly snatched the teapot from A'ying's hand. He gave himself full marks for this self-rescue, not one to be arrogant.
As far as Feng Yi knew, besides being completely clueless about cooking and always producing strange dark cuisine, A'ying was not much better at making tea.
A can of ordinary tea leaves, an ordinary set of tea ware, and some ordinary spring water.
In A'ying's hands, they could be transformed through magical methods into a potent poison capable of killing gods.
In Feng Yi's fragmented memories, there was an instance of A'ying attempting to make tea. Back then, they were still alive.
Watching A'ying make tea for the first time, seeing the purple, bubbling concoction in the teapot, it was truly hard to believe that this was something that could be brewed from tea leaves.
At that moment, it was less like making tea and more like an evil witch brewing some terrifying potion.
A greedy little rat demon, accidentally tasting the tea A'ying made, promptly kicked the bucket.
From then on, no one dared to let A'ying make tea.
A'ying seemed to recall the events of years past and lowered her head a little sheepishly.
She genuinely wanted to entertain Feng Yi because she was happy to see him, and she hadn't thought much of it at the time.
She truly didn't intend to poison Feng Yi.
Feng Yi keenly observed A'ying's emotional shift and realized he had to do something. He pulled A'ying closer, cupped her delicate face, and kissed her cherry lips fiercely.
What could be more powerful than actions?
"Don't overthink things. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Play to your strengths and make up for your shortcomings. Just be yourself!"
Feng Yi pinched A'ying's little face, smiling as he comforted her.
"Mhm, mhm."
A'ying's mood greatly improved with Feng Yi's distraction.
"A'ying, do you remember the 'Black Ship Story' I told you last time? Did you learn anything from it?"
The tea was brewed, and Feng Yi poured a cup for A'ying, asking opportunistically.
"I have indeed gained some enlightenment."
"Tell me about it."
"The country in the story was invaded because it was too weak. In other words, as long as I am strong enough, I can protect Inazuma's eternity forever..."
Feng Yi: ???