Yae Miko glided closer, whispering into Qin Yu's ear.
"A little bird without wings will be eaten," she murmured, her alluring eyes glinting with amusement. She waited, anticipating Qin Yu's emotional unraveling.
But she was disappointed.
Qin Yu looked up, his voice calm. "I trust her." If Kazuha were truly suffering unbearable injustice, he would make certain some people paid. "Besides, isn't Kazuha easier for you to control, Guuji?" he continued. "I believe you'll protect her at the critical moment."
Though his words were cold, they were the truth. It was Yae Miko who had stepped in to protect the Kamisato clan when they were in decline, deepening the connection between the Kamisato family and the Grand Narukami Shrine. Later, during the Fatui's infiltration and the ensuing instability in Inazuma, the Yashiro Commission was one of the few forces that remained loyal. In the original storyline, they successfully thwarted the Fatui's conspiracy. After all, Yae Miko and Ayato Kamisato together had eight hundred schemes. Of course, the Traveler's appearance was also crucial.
"..."
This calm deduction surprised Yae Miko. She raised an eyebrow and sighed softly. There was no fault to be found in his response. It also meant there was no fun to be had in toying with him.
...A strange sense of dissatisfaction washed over her.
Qin Yu lowered his head, his words carefully chosen. He had to be extremely cautious when dealing with this fox woman, lest he be sold and still be happy about it, which would be too foolish.
Yae Miko remained silent for a moment, then smiled approvingly. "Indeed, I haven't misjudged you."
"However..." As she spoke, she suddenly reached out, intending to cup Qin Yu's chin. "Unlovable children don't get showered with sisterly affection, you know?" Her seductive voice was like an intimate whisper near his ear. Qin Yu's eyes widened, a hint of infatuation flashing through them. The scent of incense wafted towards him, carrying an endless tenderness. He thought that if he could receive such gentleness, even death would be worthwhile.
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Qin Yu suddenly startled, his mind clearing instantly. What was this wretched woman doing! He hastily took a step back, clasped his hands, and said, "Guuji-sama, please stop teasing me."
Yae Miko clicked her tongue, clearly displeased. If Qin Yu had looked up at that moment, he would have seen the faint blush receding from her eyes. This was the unique charm tactic of the White-Furred Fox clan. She had intended to tease Qin Yu a little, but she hadn't expected this little guy to be able to break free. Again and again... couldn't he just be obedient and let himself be toyed with?
"Little one, are you wary of me?"
"I am just an ordinary person and do not understand," Qin Yu replied, unwilling to say more. This was a life-threatening question. He'd play dumb.
Yae Miko smiled playfully. "A fine ordinary person." Perhaps this little guy could...
[Ding, Emotional Points from Yae Miko +1.]
"Forget it, the playful chat ends here." Her lazy voice turned cold, carrying an air of authority. After all, she was the esteemed Grand Shrine Maiden under divine authority. Even the three commissions were like younger siblings before her.
Qin Yu clasped his hands again. "Thank you for your consideration, Guuji-sama." He breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. He had managed to muddle through this situation. If he had revealed any weakness, this woman would have held it over him indefinitely. Then, no one would save him if he became the fox lady's little plush toy. As for the system notification, he would take it with a grain of salt. Points from Yae Miko weren't necessarily a good thing. Joy? Approval? Most likely, she was plotting how to mess with him.
Yae Miko handed a letter to Qin Yu. "Information from Yashiori Island." Qin Yu took it with both hands, his gaze questioning. This was classified, wasn't it? Did he have the right to see it? Yae Miko stared at him with a smile, saying nothing. Qin Yu lowered his eyes and sighed softly. She was making him make his final choice. If he opened it, he would belong to Yae Miko from then on. If he didn't... he had come this far, would he dare not open it? Was he that brave? Since he couldn't resist the fox lady, he could only enjoy it silently. Moreover, preventing the Vision Hunt Decree from being issued would be a great thing. It would prevent war and the displacement of the people. On this point, he and Yae Miko were aligned.
"Then Guuji-sama, I will read it." Yae Miko's gaze was approving. "Mm-hmm." Finally, the little guy had become sensible.
With her permission, Qin Yu silently opened the letter. The next moment, his gaze froze.
"This, this is...!" Qin Yu looked up at Yae Miko in shock. She was enjoying his expression with amusement. So, this little guy had moments when he couldn't keep his composure.
"What's wrong, little one? So flustered," Yae Miko chuckled, covering her mouth and feigning ignorance. Qin Yu gasped.
"The divine seal on Yashiori Island has been broken?!"
Yae Miko nodded regretfully. "That's right." Yashiori Island was the ancient battlefield where the Raiden Shogun had slain the great serpent. After the god's death, its resentment lingered. The Raiden Shogun had placed a seal to prevent the resentment from spreading. But now... Damn it, this unfortunate thing had happened!
Qin Yu's heart raced as he forced himself to calm down. The event had occurred, and he needed to devise a plan to deal with it. He couldn't let a worse outcome repeat itself!