After a bout of sparring, Jean was startled to discover that Alusha's strength was astonishingly formidable.
The idea that a former mercenary could trade blows with her on equal footing was simply unbelievable.
After all, she was the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius!
Even setting aside her position as Grand Master, she was still one of the very finest knights of Mondstadt!
With the strength Alusha displayed now, if she were to join the Knights, she could surely serve as a captain!
She couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
In the end, the sparring failed to determine a victor, but she was already drenched in sweat.
Feeling the dampness of her clothes, she began to plan things out in her mind—tonight she would bring over two sets of training garb, so that after training she could change into clean clothes.
Just then, the teleporter outside the courtyard lit up.
Kujou Sara hurried back, crossing the courtyard and heading straight into the house.
That morning she had received Raiden Ei's orders and made a trip back to Inazuma.
It was because Raiden Ei had sensed news of the Shogun, who seemed to have run into some trouble, that she had dispatched Kujou Sara to gather information.
Kujou Sara went directly to Raiden Ei's room, knocked on the door, and then stepped inside.
"Lord Shogun, it's news from the Dark Sea. The situation isn't looking good."
Raiden Ei merely sat in the room with her eyes closed, resting her spirit. Hearing Kujou Sara's words, she asked, "Is it a Beast Tide?"
"Yes, and its scale is enormous—there are even the shadows of several Demon Gods among them!"
"The Shogunate Navy is no match at all for the Demon Gods; even dealing with the sea beasts is a tremendous struggle—"
"Lord Shogun, I propose that we immediately mobilize the entire naval force. I will lead the troops and rush to the front lines—"
Raiden Ei pondered for a moment, then nodded. "I will hold off the Demon Gods; the navy need only block the Beast Tide."
"But…"
Kujou Sara said in a heavy voice, "The Beast Tide is enormous in scale. Relying on the current naval force alone, I fear it will be difficult to hold them back!"
"Lord Shogun, how about we ask Master Ye Xi for his opinion?"
"If it's him, he will surely be able to help us!"
In these days spent at the Serenitea Pot, she had heard the girls tell many stories about Ye Xi, and in her heart she deeply admired him.
Now, feeling that Inazuma faced a grave danger, she was certain that seeking Ye Xi's help couldn't be wrong!
The Beast Tide from the Dark Sea had, since ancient times, been a persistent trouble that Inazuma faced.
That was a place not under the jurisdiction of the Seven Archons of the mortal world, a region that not even the Celestial Throne would bother to govern.
There was not only ocean there, but also land.
Dwelling within it were the losers and deserters of the Demon God War of that era.
When the Demon God War broke out back then, many Demon Gods were unwilling to fight, and so one after another they fled their own territories, retreating into that chaotic borderland.
Ever since the war ended, the old Demon Gods there had frequently been scheming, wanting to return.
In these past few years, had Inazuma not stood at the forefront to block these Beast Tides, Liyue, Sumeru, and Mondstadt would long since have suffered calamity.
Hearing this, Raiden Ei shook her head. "Inazuma is my nation, and I am the God of Inazuma. Inazuma should naturally be guarded by me."
"I too will lend a hand and share the burden of the Beast Tide."
"This…"
Kujou Sara wanted to speak, but the words caught in her throat.
When it came down to it, she was but a young little youkai, one who had never seen any Demon Gods.
In the past, the Beast Tides from the Dark Sea had mostly consisted of ordinary sea beasts that the navy could handle.
Yet this time, Demon Gods were actually taking part—and more than one at that.
Her heart was filled with worry.
If Raiden Ei were to battle the Demon Gods while at the same time splitting her focus to help the navy deal with the sea beasts, it might very well leave those Demon Gods an opening!
And if Raiden Ei were to be wounded, then the situation would turn absolutely dire!
Yet Raiden Ei's gaze was exceedingly resolute. "Back in the Demon God War, I was able to drive them away. Now, a hundred years later, the outcome will be no different."
"Let's go. We're returning to Inazuma."
With that, Raiden Ei rose and departed.
Her retreating figure was as steadfast as ever. Having set aside that playful heart of hers, she had grown a few degrees colder.
In the corridor, Yae Miko yawned, leisurely strolling out of her room.
And just then, she bumped right into Raiden Ei.
"Ei?"
With a single glance, she sensed that something was off about her dear friend.
She could feel a dignified, solemn aura about Raiden Ei, as though she had returned to the era long ago when Ei was still a shadow warrior.
Every time Raiden Ei released this kind of aura, it meant that Inazuma had run into some trouble.
"Ei, where are you going?"
"The Dark Sea."
Raiden Ei did not conceal it.
Yae Miko furrowed her brow slightly, a trace of astonishment appearing in her eyes.
If the situation in the Dark Sea was already grave enough to require Raiden Ei to go herself, then that meant matters were far from ordinary.
0...…flowers, please...
Ordinarily, dispatching the Shogunate Navy over there was enough to scatter a Beast Tide.
At this thought, she hastily spoke up. "I'll go with you."
"No, Miko, you stay here."
Sensing Yae Miko's confusion, Raiden Ei explained, "If you come with me to the front lines too, then who will protect Inazuma?"
"Don't worry. This will be over soon."
With that, she took Kujou Sara and left through the door.
"Miko, did something happen?"
Ye Xi had just finished his morning training with Candace, and upon returning, he overheard the conversation between Raiden Ei and Yae Miko.
Yae Miko hurriedly explained the matter of the Dark Sea, then said, "Ei is very proud and headstrong. If even she has to take action this time, then I'm afraid the strength of this Beast Tide is not to be underestimated."
"Master, if Ei runs into danger, you'll help, won't you?"
"After all, Inazuma already belongs to you now."
Having grasped the full cause and effect of the matter, Ye Xi smiled and nodded. "I can, sure—but I have one condition."
"Eh? What condition?"
"The condition is…"
Ye Xi leaned in close to Yae Miko's fox ear and teased, "Let me rub your tail."
Yae Miko let out a soft sigh. "Aiyaya~ As improper as ever."
"I'm already Master's familiar, so I can only agree to such a humiliating condition~"
Though she said this, she was in truth genuinely relieved.
What worried her most of all was that some mishap might befall Raiden Ei.
With Ye Xi there to serve as her safety net, she now had nothing at all to fear.
As for the whole tail-rubbing business, she knew perfectly well that it was nothing more than one of Ye Xi's jokes.
Had Ye Xi not sincerely been willing to help, no amount of pleading on her part would have worked. It was just a little tail rub—nothing much at all.
"Then, Master, I'll head back to Inazuma first."
Ye Xi grew somewhat serious, and after bidding Yae Miko farewell, he mulled over the matter of Inazuma.
He understood the situation in the Dark Sea very well. For it to require Raiden Ei to act, there must surely be Demon Gods of old involved.
He feared neither Azhdaha nor the Dendro Dragonlord, so these Demon Gods were naturally of no consequence in his eyes.
Since Raiden Ei wanted to face them alone, he naturally wouldn't stand in her way.
By the time Raiden Ei could no longer hold out, it would still not be too late for him to step in.
____
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on (P). with 50 advanced chapters available on (P)
👻 Join the crew by searching Leanzin on (P). You know the spot! 😉