"You can tell me your little secret now, the one you've been hiding," Qin Yu said with a smile, relieved that the beautiful woman in his arms was unharmed.
"Lord Qin Yu, you've already noticed?"
Hu Zhai Gong's eyes widened in surprise.
Had he been pondering the many mysteries while sparring? She hadn't expected him to figure it out so quickly.
"I was just curious," Qin Yu replied.
The Mistsplitter Reforged was a treasure of Inazuma, not something one could just casually hand out. This sparring session had been premeditated.
If he followed this line of thought… Hu Zhai Gong had also subtly mentioned the past of the Asase Shrine before. And the so-called assistance… even the "coincidental" appearance of Kujou Sara. What lay behind all of this?
The beautiful fox lady was quite skilled at being mysterious and keeping him in suspense. Thinking this, Qin Yu lowered his head and leaned in slightly. At this distance, he could better appreciate Hu Zhai Gong's beauty. Her charming, exquisite features, her alluring allure. Her fair, translucent skin, her slightly disheveled hair. Her pleasant, intoxicating scent. He inexplicably recalled the white fox tail that had swept past him during their sparring. Smooth, soft, fluffy, and warm. He instinctively compared it to a pink fox tail… cough. What was he thinking!
"This secret is..."
Hu Zhai Gong seemed about to speak. Before Qin Yu could lean in to listen, a sudden change occurred.
"Lord Qin Yu, be careful!"
Kujou Sara's voice suddenly rang out.
"?"
Qin Yu raised an eyebrow and instinctively looked up.
*Crackling—*
The trees around them, already severed by sword energy, began to tilt and then crashed down with a roar. A massive shadow instantly engulfed the two of them.
"!"
Before Qin Yu could react, his sleeve was tugged.
"Lord Qin Yu, you were so forceful just now, I think I sprained my ankle," Hu Zhai Gong whispered, her expression showing a delicate vulnerability after being injured. But the suppressed smile and the slight tremble of her fox ears betrayed her true intentions. She was clearly faking it. Fox ladies were notorious for stirring up trouble and being dramatic.
"Huh?"
Qin Yu was taken aback, his lips twitching. That line sounded so familiar. Couldn't they come up with a different excuse next time!
"We need to get out of the way first!"
Qin Yu, of course, wouldn't abandon his fox. He scooped up Hu Zhai Gong and said urgently.
Honestly, why did she have to show off with swords? Now she was damaging the environment!
Just then.
"Lord Qin Yu, I will protect the safety of you and Lady Hu Zhai Gong."
Black crow feathers flashed with lightning as they appeared before Qin Yu. Kujou Sara drew her sword, ready for battle. She remembered her mission and objective upon arriving at Seirai Island. One of them was to serve as Qin Yu's personal bodyguard, never leaving his side. But before she could fulfill her duty.
"You're coming with me. Don't cause trouble."
"But Lord Qin Yu…!"
Kujou Sara opened her mouth, seemingly not understanding.
"No buts."
Qin Yu said. Don't just stubbornly confront every situation, that's not always the best approach. A temporary retreat, though shameful, could be very useful!
*Boom—*
The situation was urgent. Qin Yu grabbed Kujou Sara's hand. Before the trees could fully fall, he dashed out like an arrow, pulling the two women along. The trees crashed down, the ground caved in. For a moment, dust billowed everywhere.
"Phew… thankfully we chose to leave that spot."
Qin Yu sighed with relief, looking at the vast crater that had formed. They had almost been buried.
"Lord Qin Yu, on your head…"
"?"
Qin Yu and the two women made eye contact. But the sight before them left them both stunned.
*Poof.*
Someone giggled.
"Hu Zhai Gong, what are you laughing at?"
Qin Yu felt a weight on his head and instinctively raised his hand. Amidst a rustling of leaves, a struggling kitten appeared.
*Meow—!*
"??"
Qin Yu looked at the kitten in his hands, lost in thought. When did cats start growing on his head?
"Wow, what a cute little kitten."
Hu Zhai Gong sat on the grass, looking over with delighted surprise.
"It's probably a stray cat from somewhere. There shouldn't be many of them."
Kujou Sara knelt beside Qin Yu, her back straight, analyzing matter-of-factly. She glanced at the kitten seemingly inadvertently, then quickly looked away.
"...Do you like cats too?"
Qin Yu blinked, his gaze fixed on Sara's dignified and beautiful face. Come to think of it, the Tengu tribe lived in the mountains and forests; they should be fond of small animals, shouldn't they?
The air fell silent.
"No."
Kujou Sara replied indifferently, her expression aloof. Her duty was to train herself and protect the Electro Shogun. How could she possibly like ordinary kittens…
The next moment.
*Meow meow meow—!*
An entire litter of kittens suddenly sprang from the fallen trees. With a few thuds, they landed neatly on her, nuzzling her.
"What's going on?!"
She was caught off guard by a horde of meowing, cute, and affectionate kittens. She didn't have anything to feed them now.
"I already fed them when I first arrived… I mean…!"
Kujou Sara hastily tried to explain, but only made it worse. It turned out she had fed the local kittens after landing on the island. This was practically a confession.
"Hehe… it seems the little ones can tell who their kind and gentle friend is," Hu Zhai Gong teased Kujou Sara, whose face was becoming increasingly unnatural, as she played with a kitten.
"Protecting the mountains and forests is protecting Inazuma. It's my duty," Kujou Sara said, taking a deep breath, her tone cold. She had clearly given up resisting, letting the cats climb onto her head. Yes, one was being held on her chest. The scene was a bit unusual, but surprisingly harmonious. Perhaps yokai were naturally close to nature.
"Protecting the mountains and forests… they must be very grateful for your care."
Qin Yu smiled and picked up a kitten. He felt he had gained a bit more understanding of yokai.
"Protecting… the cats here have another haven."
"Of course, those who receive shelter also include pirate fugitives, who openly defy the Shogunate and are extremely wicked."
Kujou Sara snorted, glaring at the kittens playing around her. Thinking of something, a coldness flashed in her eyes. The most unforgivable thing was…
"..."
Qin Yu looked at the smiling, silent Hu Zhai Gong, his gaze questioning.
"Yes, the one who assisted the pirates and opposed the Shogunate was none other than the shrine maiden of Asase Shrine."
Hu Zhai Gong sighed softly and said in a low voice.
"She was also the one who unsealed the Thunderbird of Seirai Island, causing disaster to ravage the land."
"...Asase Hibiki, my student."