While Kamisato Ayaka was still marveling, dinner was served.
Seeing Ye Xi walk out of the kitchen, Kamisato Ayaka seemed to grasp something in an instant.
In this house, apart from Ye Xi, everyone was a girl!
And judging from the other girls' gazes and the way they acted, they were all clearly on very intimate terms with Ye Xi!
In other words, the girls living here might all share an extraordinary relationship with Ye Xi!
If that was the case, then the Raiden Shogun... could she possibly also—
Here there was Yae Miko, and Kujou Sara as well!
You could say that the entire ruling power of Inazuma was gathered right here!
More than any of this, she was even more curious about just who Ye Xi really was!
Dinner was a very harmonious affair.
To welcome the four new guests, everyone enjoyed the delicious food together.
After dinner, everyone had grown much more familiar with one another.
Kamisato Ayaka gradually came to learn everyone's identities.
She never expected that both the Yuheng Star and the Tianquan Star of the Liyue Qixing would actually be here.
What's more, there was even an Adepti secretary!
Even more astonishing to her, even Sumeru's God was here too!
That tiny, adorable little loli was actually Sumeru's Lesser Lord Kusanali!
She grew more and more shocked by the identity of every single person here.
After the meal, the girls each went about their own business.
Ye Xi had originally wanted to play with the girls too, but Nahida and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata suddenly pulled him aside.
"Ye Xi, there's something important we need to tell you."
"Hmm?"
Seeing both Gods of Wisdom looking so troubled, Ye Xi was suddenly a little puzzled.
What on earth could be enough to stump these two Gods of Wisdom?
"Let's hear it."
He brought the two of them to the study.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata got straight to the point: "Ye Xi, do you know of Sumeru's Dendro Dragonlord, Apep?"
Ye Xi suddenly understood, and then nodded.
Every region had a dragon king—Mondstadt's Dvalin, Liyue's Azhdaha—and Sumeru naturally had its Dendro Dragonlord, Apep.
Seeing Ye Xi nod, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata breathed a sigh of relief: "If you know of it, then this will be easy."
"Apep was not content with the rule of the Seven Archons, and has been putting up a stubborn resistance all this time."
"However, because of Forbidden Knowledge, it has suffered severe erosion."
"I once promised it that I would find a way to relieve its suffering."
"This matter has dragged on for a long time, and the power of Buer and myself is still nowhere near enough to solve this problem."
"So, I can only ask for your help."
The Dendro Dragonlord Apep was one of the ancient Seven Dragon Kings, a ruler of Teyvat's native world.
After The Heavenly Principles seized Teyvat, the Seven Dragon Kings had been resisting ever since.
Their homeland had been invaded by outsiders, so naturally they refused to concede.
But the Dragon King Nibelung turned to darkness, wielding Forbidden Knowledge to contend against The Heavenly Principles.
Later, Nibelung fell in battle, and Apep inherited Nibelung's mantle, attempting to wield the power of Forbidden Knowledge.
Then, The Heavenly Principles gave it no further chance.
A great nail descended, utterly turning Apep's territory into desert and severing its channels for obtaining Forbidden Knowledge.
As time passed, the Goddess of Flowers and the desert's Red King rediscovered a means of acquiring Forbidden Knowledge.
Apep struck a deal with the Red King, agreeing to let the Red King build a civilization within its territory.
The condition was that after the Red King's death, everything would belong to it.
Everything unfolded methodically, exactly as Apep had planned.
The Red King died because of Forbidden Knowledge, and Apep, as agreed, swallowed the Red King in a single gulp.
As a result, that endless Forbidden Knowledge instantly corroded its body.
This left its body riddled with wounds, suffering beyond words.
Most crucially, within this Dendro Dragonlord there was an entire world, containing a great many lives.
Once contaminated by Forbidden Knowledge, these lives would turn into The Withering, polluting the environment.
Only by healing Apep could The Withering be completely cleared away.
Thinking of this, Ye Xi nodded: "I promised you back then that I'd help heal Sumeru, so leave this matter to me."
Hearing this, both of them felt a surge of delight.
"That's wonderful—otherwise the two of us really would have been at a loss."
Nahida breathed a sigh of relief; the enormous boulder weighing on her heart had finally been set down.
Ye Xi countered, "So, don't you two have some way of showing your appreciation?"
"Eh!?"
The moment he said this, Nahida and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata exchanged a glance.
"Alright, Master Ye Xi~ please make your way to the hot spring, and I'll rub your shoulders for you!"
"Now that's more like it."
Satisfied, Ye Xi followed Nahida and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata out of the study.
...
In the hot spring.
Today's members had increased by quite a lot all at once.
Kamisato Ayaka never imagined that in the backyard of the little Western-style house there would be such a wonderful hot spring.
As it happened, after finishing her swordsmanship practice today, she hadn't had the chance for a proper soak.
Mind you, this was no bathtub—it was a genuine hot spring!
Wrapped in a bath towel, she slowly stepped into the pool.
The instant she was enveloped by the warm spring water, she couldn't help but sigh in admiration: "This is far too indulgent."
No sooner had she said this than a chorus of identical praise came from beside her.
It was Candace's first time taking such a luxurious bath.
In the desert, the value of water was more important than gold.
In a place like Aaru Village, water resources were still extremely precious.
Having enough to drink was already good enough; bathing was a luxury, let alone soaking!
At this very moment, it was simply pure enjoyment!
"How about it, Candace! Feels great, doesn't it!"
Dehya didn't even drape a towel over herself, soaking into the hot spring stark naked without the slightest reservation.
Even though they were both girls, Kamisato Ayaka still felt herself blush a little.
Candace nodded hurriedly: "To have my whole body wrapped in warmth—not sand, but spring water—it's simply something I've dreamed of!"
"I never imagined I could enjoy a feeling like this right in the village!"
"But this isn't in the village!"
Dehya said with a smile: "This is inside Master's Serenitea Pot."
"Oh right, I almost forgot."
"Still, this is no different from being in the village—I can come straight here the moment I get home."
"This kind of portal really is convenient."
Hearing their remarks, Kamisato Ayaka suddenly thought of something and asked Yae Miko beside her: "Lady Miko, if Master Ye Xi's Serenitea Pot connects to everywhere, then wouldn't we be able to travel to all sorts of places very easily too?"
"My my, is the brilliantly clever White Heron Princess only now realizing that?"
"Eh?"
Kamisato Ayaka flushed in embarrassment, but she still felt amazed: "So Master Ye Xi is such an incredible person!"
Suddenly, she recalled how that afternoon Ye Xi had stroked Yae Miko's tail.
Thinking it over carefully, since Ye Xi was so formidable, no wonder this great youkai of Inazuma would strive so hard to please him!
What's more, even the Raiden Shogun herself was here!
If even Her Excellency the Shogun was so close to Ye Xi, then what was so strange about Yae Miko's behavior?
At this moment, Kujou Sara walked in as well.
Seeing so many people in the hot spring, she went off to one side to wash up with a straight, humorless face.
As it happened, Collei had only just come in not long before, and thinking to build up her courage, she took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Kujou Sara: "Sara, how about we scrub each other's backs?"
"Uh? Sure."
Kujou Sara nodded, then fell silent again.
Collei was quiet for a moment, then asked again: "Sara, why do you always look so serious? Is something on your mind?"
"Serious? Me?"
"Yeah!"
Kujou Sara rubbed her cheeks and explained: "I'm a soldier—maybe after so long, my expression has just grown a bit stiff."
"I see..."
Collei suddenly understood, and couldn't help but remark: "It feels like Sara is even more like a general than Her Excellency the Shogun."
The Raiden Shogun, as Inazuma's God and most exalted being, was still playing happily with Klee in the living room.
Whereas Kujou Sara, as the General of the Tenryou Commission, was so crisp and martial.
It gave the mistaken impression that Kujou Sara was the more impressive of the two.
Hearing this, Kujou Sara immediately shook her head: "How could that be!"
"Her Excellency the Shogun's grace is one in ten thousand!"
"If I could possess even one ten-thousandth of Her Excellency the Shogun's bearing, I'd probably die without regret!"
"Collei, the reason you'd have such a thought must be that you haven't observed Her Excellency the Shogun closely enough!"
"Why don't you come to my room in a bit? I've collected over thirty special limited-edition [Statues of the Almighty Mikoshi Narukami Ogosho]!"
"As long as you observe them properly, you're sure to grasp Her Excellency the Shogun's myriad poses and charm!"
"Eh——!?"
Collei's little face was filled with shock as she listened.
For several minutes straight, she didn't even get a chance to cut in!
'Wh-why does Sara get so worked up the moment the Raiden Shogun is mentioned!'
Just as Kujou Sara was rambling on without pause.
Raiden Ei had just finished watching her anime and came over to enjoy the hot spring.
Seeing Raiden Ei approach, Collei realized that Kujou Sara hadn't noticed at all.
So she wanted to give a warning, cutting in: "Um, Sara..."
"Hmm? What is it? Why are you mumbling and hesitating?"
Kujou Sara was a little puzzled: "Are you worried about our relationship?"
"Even though we only just met, we're already friends! Come and take a look to your heart's content—no need to be polite with me!"
"I'm also very experienced in maintaining the [Statues of the Almighty Mikoshi Narukami Ogosho]."
"If the Yae Publishing House releases them again next time, I'll buy one for you too, and I can pass on my maintenance know-how!"
"Only by gazing at these [Statues of the Almighty Mikoshi Narukami Ogosho] every day can one profoundly appreciate Her Excellency the Shogun's charm!"
Just then, Raiden Ei's inquiring voice came from beside her: "May I come along to take a look too?"
"Of course... Eh!?"
"Y-Your Excellency the Shogun——!"
Kujou Sara jumped in fright, and her face instantly turned red.
"I... I, this...."
Seeing Kujou Sara stammering and hemming, Raiden Ei asked in puzzlement: "Can't you let me take a look?"
"I can... I mean, of course! Uh..."
"Yes! Your subordinate obeys!"
Kujou Sara abruptly stood up, looking as taut as if she'd just received a military order.
Raiden Ei sighed: "Sara, this isn't the Tenshukaku—there's no need to be so tense."
"Yes!"
Seeing the two of them like this, Collei couldn't help but laugh out loud.
These two were really quite amusing.
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