In Guinaifen's livestream:
Players were also very curious about the relationship between Yae Miko and Mu Yang.
Guinaifen analyzed:
"Mu Yang came to Inazuma to challenge the Raiden Shogun—that much is clear."
"And Yae Miko is the Raiden Shogun's familiar and close friend, similar in status to Dvalin."
"If Mu Yang wants to meet the Shogun, going through Yae is the most straightforward approach."
[Wow, thanks for stating the obvious. That added nothing.]
[Did she really say anything? If say!]
[The real question is—why would Yae help some ordinary guy from Liyue?]
Guinaifen sighed.
"Come on, Yae is the Shogun's familiar. There's no way she wouldn't see through Mu Yang's disguise."
"My guess is they've met in Liyue before, and she knows who he really is."
"The Shogun's familiar, the Guuji of Grand Narukami Shrine—wouldn't she have visited Liyue at some point?"
[Wow, the moment Mu Yang comes up, the host becomes a completely different person.]
[Fits my impression of Little Gui's double standards.]
[Is it double standards? More like devotion.]
[Host, stop analyzing. The cutscene's over—just go ask them directly.]
At this point, the characters on-screen exchanged a few pleasantries before the cutscene ended.
Mu Yang and Kamisato Ayaka stood on opposite sides of the shrine, while Yae Miko remained beneath the Sacred Sakura.
Quest Objective: Speak to all three (0/3)
As a self-proclaimed top-tier Mu Yang fan, Guinaifen naturally headed straight for him first.
——————
Lumine approached Mu Yang.
"With so many people earlier, I didn't get a chance to ask—are you really here to challenge the Raiden Shogun?"
Mu Yang nodded. "Yes. She's someone who has honed martial arts to their peak. I want to test myself against the 'Musou no Hitotachi.'"
Paimon looked nervous. "But... if you lose, wouldn't you...?"
She recalled the story Kaedehara Kazuha had told them about his friend.
Seeing her expression, Mu Yang understood her concern and reassured her.
"Paimon, you're thinking of a 'Duel Before the Throne.' That's the fastest—and most dangerous—way to meet the Shogun. I just want a sparring match. There's no need to take that risk."
Paimon exhaled in relief. "You scared me..."
[Almost lost her wallet and snack supply in one go.]
[She wasn't worried about you—just worried about losing her gourmet privileges.]
[Paimon's image is set in stone at this point, huh?]
Lumine spoke up. "So that's why you've been challenging all of Inazuma's top swordsmen one by one?"
Mu Yang confirmed. "Yes. I need to prove I'm worthy of challenging her."
After a pause, Lumine finally asked the question on her mind.
"That Guuji... she seems to be helping you. Are you two... close?"
Mu Yang explained everything to Lumine—though he admitted it was all based on Yae's words.
He himself had no memory of it.
"I did owe her for helping with the 'Swordsman Slayer' incident."
"So I stayed at the shrine to help out while waiting for the Shogun's response."
Hearing this, Lumine relaxed slightly.
It seemed Mu Yang only saw Yae as an ordinary friend.
Glancing toward Yae beneath the Sacred Sakura, Lumine noticed the fox was watching her with clear amusement—as if waiting to speak.
After exchanging more travel stories with Mu Yang, Lumine prepared to approach Yae for information about the Shogun.
Before she left, Mu Yang warned her:
"Keep your guard up. She's far more cunning than she appears."
Lumine nodded. "Got it."
——————
Lumine walked up to the Sacred Sakura.
Yae's expression was unreadable. "Finished your little chat?"
"My, my~ No need to be so wary. You'll hurt my feelings~"
Lumine cut straight to the point. "You investigated us, didn't you?"
Now that she knew Mu Yang hadn't shared information about her, the only explanation was Yae's own intelligence network.
It seemed she'd been thoroughly vetted by all four of Inazuma's major factions before even setting foot on the islands.
Yae chuckled. "It was the omikuji's doing: 'A wind from foreign lands shall breathe new life upon these seas.'"
"Our meeting came sooner than expected... but your arrival here was perfectly timed."
Lumine hadn't anticipated such an answer.
Divination, huh? Fitting for the Guuji.
When Lumine asked about Mu Yang and their relationship, Yae—ever the trickster—seized the opportunity.
"Oh? Our relationship? Now that's a long story..."
She spun a fabricated tale, pausing right as Lumine grew invested.
Then, with a mischievous smirk:
"To be continued~"
[??? EVIL WOMAN!]
[Stop blue-balling us!]
[I was almost there! Keep going!]
[What the hell is wrong with you, upstairs?]
Lumine: ???
Paimon: ???
Paimon stomped the air in frustration. "You can't just leave it like that! Who knows when 'next time' will be?!"
Yae smiled. "Don't want to wait? Then visit Yae Publishing House."
"The bestseller 'Ruthless Sword' has everything you're looking for~"
Seeing the fox's triumphant grin, Paimon grumbled:
"Lumine, I think she's scamming us. I bet she owns that publishing house—it even has her name on it!"
Yae didn't deny it.
She did own Yae Publishing House.
And she knew Lumine would take the bait—that was the fun part.
"Anything else you'd like to ask?" Yae said.
Lumine pressed: "About Visions and ambitions—if losing a Vision is this devastating, doesn't the Shogun care?"
"My, my~ You're bold to ask so directly."
Yae covered her mouth with her sleeve, amused. "But a god's will is beyond my understanding."
Paimon deadpanned: "You just don't want to tell us."
Yae turned the question back on Lumine: "Has your view of the Vision Hunt Decree changed?"
Lumine gave a diplomatic non-answer, heeding Mu Yang's warning.
She didn't know Yae's stance on the decree—or her relationship with Ayaka.
Open rebellion wasn't something to discuss lightly.
Surprisingly, Yae seemed pleased by the evasive response.
Before parting, she told Lumine:
"I know you wish to meet Ei. But now is not the time."
Lumine sighed. "Talking to you people is exhausting. Can you at least give me a date?"
"Of course not~ Keep working hard. Don't disappoint me~"
With another cryptic remark, Yae walked off to attend to other matters.
Returning to Ayaka, Lumine found her bidding farewell to an elderly woman.
The woman seemed overjoyed, as if some great promise had been made.
Ayaka noticed them. "Ah, you're done talking?"
Lumine asked, "Did something happen?"
"Oh, it's nothing major..."