Upon hearing the words "Flying Flowers and Plucked Leaves,"
Mu Yang frowned slightly.
Hmm? Has someone in Inazuma used this move before?
Clap clap clap—
A round of applause came from the entrance of the training ground.
Mu Yang turned to look.
It was a beautiful girl with pink hair.
Her outfit was adorned with various flowing ribbons, colorful and flashy.
She was none other than Sangonomiya Kokomi.
The "Divine Priestess" of Watatsumi Island—the supreme leader of Watatsumi Island.
One could say that Watatsumi Island's ability to hold its own against the Shogunate's forces with its soldiers and outdated equipment was inseparable from Kokomi's strategic brilliance.
Thus, everyone present held her in high esteem.
The moment Kokomi appeared, all the soldiers, including Gorou, straightened their posture and saluted her.
"Lady Sangonomiya!"
Kokomi gestured for them to be at ease.
She then walked up to Mu Yang and praised,
"That was a brilliant strike."
"Gorou wrote to me saying a highly skilled warrior had arrived at the camp, so I came immediately. It seems he wasn't exaggerating in the slightest."
Mu Yang smiled faintly. "You flatter me. It's just a trivial trick, hardly worth mentioning."
"It pales in comparison to Lady Sangonomiya's ability to strategize and secure victory from a thousand miles away."
Kokomi's appearance did surprise Mu Yang somewhat.
It seemed her military studies hadn't been in vain—she knew to personally recruit talent.
A classic "three visits to the thatched cottage" scenario.
Though, why am I the "Crouching Dragon" here?
Aren't you the one with the "Sleeping Dragon" constellation?
"Mr. Mu Yang is too modest. Might I invite you to step inside the tent for a chat?"
"There are some matters I'd like to discuss with you."
Mu Yang gestured politely. "After you."
Internally, he grumbled: Are you even from Inazuma?
Why do you sound so formal and old-fashioned, like those stuffy scholars? Did all the military books you read come from them?
Hmm—now that I think about it, that might actually be possible.
Mu Yang followed Kokomi as they left.
Behind them, Gorou lined up the new recruits and began their training...
———
Inside the general's tent.
Kokomi dismissed everyone else, leaving only her and Mu Yang inside.
Mu Yang thought: This is way too trusting.
Is it really necessary to go this far to show sincerity?
You're not worried I might attack you?
Kokomi brought over two cups of water.
"My apologies. Given the current circumstances, I can't offer tea as hospitality."
Mu Yang spoke first. "Lady Sangonomiya, feel free to speak plainly."
"However, let me state upfront—I won't be joining Watatsumi Island or fighting alongside you."
Kokomi smiled. "Was Gorou's behavior too obvious?"
"From the wording of his letter, I could already sense how highly he regards you."
"If his enthusiasm has caused you any discomfort, I apologize on his behalf."
Mu Yang waved his hand, indicating it wasn't that serious.
Kokomi continued, "Since your ambitions lie elsewhere, I won't force you to stay."
"This conversation is simply to make a new friend. What do you think?"
The more Mu Yang listened, the more awkward he felt.
Why doesn't it feel strange when people from Liyue talk like this, but when you do it, it's just... off?
Won't your energy drain like crazy like this?
How many military books will you need to read in private to recover from this...
Mu Yang said, "Since this is a conversation between friends, let's relax a bit. Just call me Mu Yang."
"Alright, then you may call me Kokomi."
Mu Yang sensed that Kokomi wasn't as tense as before.
Earlier, she seemed like she was about to snap from overexertion.
Mu Yang could understand her, though.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so friendly toward her.
As the inheritor of the will of the serpent god Orobashi, Kokomi had shouldered the burden of all Watatsumi Island at a young age.
Every move she made was watched—not just by the people of Watatsumi Island, but by the Shogunate's forces as well.
Her earlier demeanor was likely her playing the role of the "perfect leader."
Kokomi steered the conversation forward, her phrasing much more natural now.
"Mu Yang, did you come to Inazuma to 'challenge the sword'?"
?
Is this still part of your strategy?
This is straight-up mind-reading territory now.
I nominate you to be the Dendro Archon in Sumeru.
Mu Yang hadn't told anyone why he'd come to Inazuma.
He'd been waiting for the right moment to bring it up.
Gorou had tried to pry it out of him but failed.
Yet now, Kokomi had seen right through him?
However, Mu Yang's composure was unshakable. Not a flicker of emotion showed on his face.
He countered, "Why do you ask?"
"Because of that move earlier—'Flying Flowers and Plucked Leaves.'"
That soldier had also mentioned the name of the technique.
If it were just the soldier saying it, it wouldn't mean much.
After all, Inazuma has shuriken and other throwing weapons too.
But once it was connected to "challenging the sword," Mu Yang couldn't stay calm anymore.
He hadn't called out the move's name earlier.
But if he had to name it, it would most likely be "Flying Flowers and Plucked Leaves."
Add to that the classic act of "challenging the sword"... Could that have been me?
Did I really come all the way to Inazuma during those 500 years after waking up?
Couldn't escape it after all...
What was I thinking, traveling so far for this? Ugh—
Mu Yang decided to probe further.
If things sounded bad, he'd just play the amnesia card.
Surprised, Kokomi? I've got a universal escape plan too!
"What's the connection?" Mu Yang asked.
Kokomi explained, "Many years ago, a swordsman from Liyue arrived in Inazuma by boat."
"He claimed to have spent his life pursuing the pinnacle of swordsmanship, reaching a realm where all things could become his blade."
"No one in all of Inazuma could match him. In the end, he set his sights on Tenshukaku."
"He sought to challenge the supreme authority—the Shogun, one of The Seven."
Hearing this, Mu Yang sighed inwardly.
No need to doubt it now.
"No one knows the outcome of that battle."
"Some say he perished under the Shogun's 'Musou no Hitotachi.'"
"Others say his female companion rescued him. In any case, no one ever saw him again."
"And 'Flying Flowers and Plucked Leaves' was his signature technique."
Mu Yang braced himself. "Was that man also named Mu Yang?"
He was ready to feign amnesia.
But Kokomi shook her head. "No. His name was A-Fei. He was known in the martial world as the 'Flying Swordsman.'"
Mu Yang's face was full of question marks. Huh???