"The one who unsealed the Thunderbird... was your student?"
Qin Yu's brow furrowed slightly, and he instinctively looked at Kitsune Saigu.
"Yes, my favorite student."
The latter pursed her cherry lips, as if reminiscing about something.
The shrine maiden of Asase Shrine was named Asase Hibiki.
Kitsune Saigu remembered it clearly.
The first time that pure and clumsy girl visited Narukami Shrine, her eyes were full of admiration as she observed.
"Little Hibiki, you've traveled so far to seek knowledge, do you have a wish?"
Under the cherry blossom tree, while lazily basking in the sun, Kitsune Saigu noticed the somewhat flustered girl and asked with a smile.
She was a child with a pure heart.
"Lady Kitsune Saigu, I want to..."
At that time, Asase Hibiki was just a naive country bumpkin who knew nothing.
She raised her face, her eyes as clear as a cloudless sky.
"I want to learn powerful magic from you, to protect what I cherish!"
...
"If it weren't for her, Seirai Island would never have..."
Kujou Sara's brows were laced with coldness.
Asase Hibiki's sinful actions were naturally not tolerated by the Shogunate.
Having believed in the Electro Archon since childhood, she was upright and could not tolerate any wrongdoing.
The Archon's demeanor was noble, and her martial skills were unmatched in the world.
"The gods are absolutely correct."
This was Kujou Sara's creed.
But before she could finish speaking, she was stopped by Qin Yu.
"Say less."
...
Kitsune Saigu sighed softly, ripples appearing in her eyes.
Revisiting old places inevitably stirred emotions.
Only after experiencing coldness and despair could one understand the preciousness of warmth under the sun.
The encroaching darkness and corruption of Inazuma had brought too much pain to Inazuma and her god.
Makoto, Kagehisa, and Kitsune Saigu.
They had all withered one after another.
Thanks to Lord Qin Yu, she and Makoto were saved.
It was a pity, however.
Kagehisa was consumed by the dark will and subsequently disappeared...
Without a trace to mark her, even with Qin Yu's control over the Irminsul, he could not find her.
Although there were still regrets, they should have gradually been let go.
But when she discovered that Asase Shrine had fallen into its current dilapidated state.
And even the student she had deliberately sent away to protect before the war had embarked on a path of no return...
"..."
A dark flicker crossed Kitsune Saigu's gaze.
Certain unpleasant memories were reawakened.
Perhaps this was "erosion."
Suddenly, her long eyelashes trembled.
A warm, large hand gently grasped hers and patted it soothingly.
"Ahem."
A cough was heard.
The two women froze simultaneously and instinctively looked at Qin Yu.
"The past has already happened."
"At least now, Seirai Island has recovered its vitality, and the threat of the Thunderbird has been resolved."
Qin Yu looked towards the center of Seirai Island and murmured.
What mattered was the present.
And the future.
He then turned to the two women and smiled faintly.
"Don't worry, I'm here to protect everyone."
This promise would not be forgotten.
He would give the girls around him a warm and secure home.
Yes, the teahouse was still too small.
It was fine to rest directly after playing.
"With Lord Qin Yu's assistance, the Archon will surely feel comforted."
Kujou Sara praised from the bottom of her heart.
Free-spirited and powerful, Lord Qin Yu was her role model.
"Ahem... The Archon, she... is indeed quite pleased."
Qin Yu's words held a double meaning.
Being by the Archon's side was not an easy task.
The effort and hard work behind the scenes, one wouldn't understand.
"As expected of you."
Kitsune Saigu tilted her head, her hair draping across her charming and beautiful face, revealing a faint smile.
Suddenly, she winked at Qin Yu, playfully saying:
"Speaking of which, Sara's martial arts guidance hasn't ended yet."
"Guidance?"
Qin Yu looked at Kujou Sara, who sat with a proper posture, quiet and serene, his gaze shifting.
He couldn't help but be drawn to the cat rolling back and forth on her chest.
This black cat was well-fed, so plump and round.
"I've gained a lot from observing the two of you spar earlier."
Kujou Sara also bowed respectfully at the appropriate time, her tone reverent.
But...
She frowned.
The feeling of being stuck at a bottleneck, a sense of limitation, had not been resolved.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Qin Yu."
Kitsune Saigu's alluring lips curved slightly, and she smiled.
She looked like she was enjoying the show.
"A bottleneck, I understand."
Qin Yu pondered for a moment and gestured for Kujou Sara to stand.
This was a rare opportunity, and he wanted to spar with the Tengu who had awakened her bloodline.
...
After some exertion.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Kujou Sara was repelled by the burst of energy, breathing heavily.
Behind her, black raven wings unfurled, and lightning surged.
She stopped herself, gritting her teeth, and prepared to charge again, launching an offensive.
"Alright, let's stop here."
Qin Yu spoke.
A martial arts spar should end when appropriate.
"But Lord Qin Yu, I haven't yet..."
"You are bound by your moves. No matter how many more times you swing your sword, it will be in vain."
Qin Yu's words caused Kujou Sara's body to stiffen, and she froze in place.
She fell silent for a moment, then finally lowered her sword.
"Bound...?"
She looked up directly at Qin Yu, her expression one of confusion.
Ever since receiving guidance from the Archon, she had been honing herself with the goal of becoming stronger.
The trajectory of her swordsmanship was now indistinguishable from the Archon's.
How could she possibly be bound?
"It no longer suits you, Sara."
"You need to find your own path."
Qin Yu said softly.
"No... This is the martial art personally taught by the Archon. It cannot be wrong."
Kujou Sara's beautiful eyes narrowed, and her sword was raised again.
The gods are absolutely correct.
Especially the Archon.
"In this world, there is no absolute right or wrong."
Qin Yu looked at Kujou Sara, who had raised her sword again and was about to charge, and sighed helplessly.
As the general of the Shogunate army, her loyalty was commendable.
But she was perhaps too stubborn.
Was this the persistence of a one-track mind?
"Let's rest for a while first."
Qin Yu waved his hand and put away his weapon.
Looking at Kujou Sara, he knew she wouldn't listen to advice for now.
He would have to find an opportunity to let her realize slowly.
If she wanted to break through, she needed a change in mindset.
"Yes, Lord Qin Yu."
"Let's go, we're going to pet cats."
"Lord Qin Yu, I...!"
"No refusals."
...
Within Asase Shrine.
Meow, meow, meow—
Kujou Sara sat on a tree stump by a small pond, surrounded by a large group of cats.
The imposing beauty, having put down her sword, now exuded a sense of tranquility.
"Don't rush, there's enough for everyone."
"Meow, meow, meow."
…
Qin Yu leaned against a tree in the distance, silently appreciating the harmonious scene.
"Lord Qin Yu, you've waited."
Kitsune Saigu emerged from the shrine and walked towards Qin Yu with elegant and charming steps.
"How was it? Did you meet the person you wanted to see?"
Qin Yu looked at Kitsune Saigu, who clearly had a brighter smile, and asked softly.
"Well..."
Kitsune Saigu tilted her head back, the corners of her lips curving upwards.
As the breeze blew, her smile remained as breathtaking as ever.
"Lord Qin Yu, could you do me a favor?"
"Of course, please tell me."
As soon as he finished speaking.
"I want to know..."
Kitsune Saigu suddenly stood on her tiptoes and leaned close to Qin Yu's ear.
"the story of Asase Hibiki, as recorded by the ley lines here."