After finishing his sentence, Shao Yun strode out, determined to take down Kujou Encampment with his men.
Just as he reached the doorway, he suddenly paused, turned around to face everyone, and offered a considerate reminder. "Everyone, now's the time to shift your focus toward preparing for the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri Ritual and resolving the sacred soilification issue. Don't worry—I'll give it my all. Wait for good news from me!"
With that, Shao Yun walked out of the room without looking back.
After his departure, Kokomi stood silently, gazing at each person in the room before saying softly, "As Shao Yun said, let's focus our attention on the preparations for the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri Ritual."
At that moment, Gorou looked curiously at the pouch Kokomi was still holding tightly in her left hand and couldn't help but ask, "Lady Kokomi, what's inside the pouch in your left hand?"
Kokomi smiled faintly, gently loosened the drawstring, and took out a neatly folded piece of paper.
As she slowly unfolded it, a flicker of resolve passed through her eyes. She said calmly, "It's a contingency plan. If Shao Yun had hesitated, I was going to ask Captain Beidou to take Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon away from Watatsumi Island."
...
On the other side, just as Shao Yun stepped outside the Sangonomiya Shrine, he saw Lumine and Paimon walking toward him.
A sense of unease immediately crept into his chest.
Sure enough, the moment Paimon saw him, she flew over excitedly and asked eagerly, "Shao Yun! What did Kokomi want to talk to us about?"
Shao Yun's eyes shifted slightly as he quickly calculated how to handle the situation.
"Kokomi wanted to talk to me about Watatsumi Island's food shortage. She asked if I had any ideas."
That much was true—no lie there.
Paimon tilted her head, thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "Let me guess! You suggested robbing some Nobushi or Sea Oni?"
Shao Yun couldn't help but admire Paimon's sharp thinking—she had guessed he would propose raiding someone. Unfortunately, she guessed the wrong target.
He chuckled softly, patted Paimon's head, and smoothly changed the subject. "Haha, close. Anyway, Kokomi said she has some things to ask of you two—don't keep her waiting."
With Shao Yun's reminder, the two hurriedly bid him farewell and rushed into the Sangonomiya Shrine.
Watching Lumine and Paimon disappear inside, Shao Yun finally let out a breath of relief. Whew, managed to dodge that one.
Turning his head, he saw Teppei still enthusiastically chatting with the villagers of Bourou Village. He walked over and gently patted Teppei on the shoulder.
"Teppei, let's go."
Teppei turned around, puzzled. "Mr. Shao Yun, where are we going?"
Shao Yun took out the command token Kokomi had given him and smiled. "I'm taking you… to make a name for yourself!"
...
After leaving Watatsumi Island, Shao Yun, with Teppei's help, swiftly sailed to the Resistance camp at Yashiori Island.
Using Kokomi's command token and commission, he requisitioned two hundred soldiers from the camp.
He ordered them to eat their fill first, then assemble outside the camp.
It was high noon. Though the sun was bright, the atmosphere was unusually tense.
The soldiers, well-fed at last, were full of spirit and determination.
Mounted on Boadicea, Shao Yun raised his machete high. His voice boomed like thunder across the front gate of the camp.
"Warriors of Watatsumi Island! Last time at Nazuchi Beach, we defeated the Shogunate. I told you then—that was the trumpet call of our counterattack. That was Nazuchi. This time—it's Kujou Encampment. Next time—it'll be Narukami Island!"
His words surged with passion—like a serpent whispering temptations of forbidden fruit, stirring the hearts of the soldiers.
The Resistance fighters were fired up. They raised their weapons and roared the words: "Victory!"
Shao Yun raised his blade and pointed toward the east, toward Tatarasuna. "Let's stain the sea red—with Shogunate blood!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, a cheer erupted. In that moment, their resolve and courage reached their peak.
Then, Shao Yun led the unit toward Tatarasuna like an unstoppable torrent, ready to crush anything in its path.
Two hundred men against Kujou Encampment—it sounded like suicide. But somehow, when Shao Yun said it, everyone believed.
...
Late at night, Tatarasuna lay in silence. But Kujou Encampment blazed with light.
This key Shogunate stronghold stood on a small island northeast of Tatarasuna, linked only by a shallow sandbar.
Built into the mountainside, Kujou Encampment was naturally fortified—easy to defend, hard to assault.
At this moment, the encampment was on high alert. Shogunate forces were massing.
From high-ranking troops to ordinary Tenryou Commission officers, the bulk of Narukami Island's forces had gathered here.
Supplies from Narukami Island were piled high, stacked along the shoreline, waiting to be moved into the warehouses by Shogunate soldiers.
Inside a command tent, Kujou Sara and Kujou Masahito sat with solemn expressions, carefully reviewing the logistics manifests from Narukami Island.
They knew how critical these supplies were to the war effort. There was no room for error.
Kujou Sara checked every item meticulously, confirming quantities and quality without overlooking a single detail.
Kujou Masahito assisted beside her. In times like these, the smallest oversight could determine the outcome of the war.
As he glanced at the reinforcement numbers, Masahito's eyes widened in shock. "Sara! Did Father really redeploy this many troops? He's basically pulled everyone off Narukami Island except for the local defense forces!"
Sara gently placed down the manifest, looked up at her brother, and replied coolly, "The Shogun was attacked. The political situation is unstable."
"And a week ago, three thousand Shogunate troops were annihilated. The situation is dire. Father believes a decisive strike is needed—to crush the rebellion on Watatsumi Island and restore peace to Inazuma."
Masahito frowned and rubbed his chin, murmuring, "Even with our forces concentrated here, I worry about the safety of the rear."
"Kokomi, the Resistance leader, is a clever strategist. If she realizes we've left the rear unguarded, might she launch a surprise attack?"
Sara closed her eyes, massaged her temples, then reopened them with steely determination. "You don't need to worry about that. Father has already made thorough preparations."
Recalling what their father told her before she left for Kujou Encampment, she added to her brother.
"Before I departed, Father made it clear—Watatsumi Island must be eliminated. The Shogun herself told him: the eternal enemy must be destroyed completely."
At the mention of the Raiden Shogun, Masahito quickly asked, "By the way, Sara—how is the Shogun doing now?"
Sara answered, visibly moved, "Father said she's recovering. We don't need to worry."
"And based on reports from the few survivors who escaped a week ago, we've confirmed it: the man who attempted to assassinate the Shogun—Shao Yun—has joined the Watatsumi Resistance. Sending this many troops is absolutely necessary."
Just then, a Shogunate soldier entered the tent. "Lady Sara, Lord Masahito—Narukami Island sent more supplies. The warehouse is full. What should we do?"
Masahito set aside the document and said, "Understood. I'll handle it."
He turned to Sara. "I'll take care of the excess stock. You go ahead."
Sara nodded expressionlessly. "Got it."
Once Masahito left, and she confirmed the room was empty, Kujou Sara suddenly slammed her fist onto the table.
THUD! The solid wooden table cracked down the middle, splitting in two. Documents and manifests scattered across the floor.
Clenching her jaw, her face twisted with rage, Sara snarled, "Shao Yun! You dared to attack the Shogun—I will kill you and offer your head to her myself!"
She gripped her fists, eyes burning with fury as she stared toward the door, silently vowing to avenge the Shogun with her own hands.
Twice she had encountered Shao Yun—and let him slip away. Not this time.
This time, she was prepared—and she would end him.
...
Elsewhere—on the western and southern batteries of Kujou Encampment—stood two massive cannons: the Kamuijima Cannons.
Originally deployed against the Resistance, the cannons had been abandoned after an incident happened at the Mikage Furnace.
But after Lumine and Paimon completed the Tatara Tales, the issue was finally resolved.
Under normal circumstances, these cannons should have been reclaimed by the Shogunate.
But for unknown reasons, they remained idle.
Regardless, Shao Yun had easily led the Resistance to seize both batteries.
Now with these two cannons, Shao Yun felt it would be much easier to crush the Shogunate stationed at Kujou Encampment.
Standing atop the southern battery, telescope in hand, Shao Yun observed the movement inside the encampment.
Nearby, Teppei and several Resistance members were fiddling with one of the Kamuijima Cannons. But they couldn't figure out how to operate it.
Wiping sweat from his brow, Teppei walked over to Shao Yun, who was still focused on the telescope, and said, "General Shao Yun… I think the cannon's broken."
Due to Kokomi's appointment, everyone in the Resistance now respectfully addressed Shao Yun as General.
Shao Yun was startled by the news and frowned in confusion. The cannon's broken? Then how had Lumine used it to destroy the barrier over Tatarasuna?
"You're sure?"
Teppei scratched his head, puzzled. "We've tried everything. But it really won't start."
Shao Yun furrowed his brows and said after a moment, "Try using an Electrogranum. That should activate it."
Teppei blinked in confusion. "General… what's an Electrogranum?"
Just as Shao Yun was about to explain, a system prompt appeared:
[You cannot see the Electrogranum]
Shao Yun cursed inwardly. Damn it! This again? At a time like this, and you're playing favorites?! Just let me use the damn cannon and blow up those Shogunate soldiers! Don't make me charge in myself!
Another system message popped up:
[Unable to assist.]
Shao Yun nearly coughed up blood. What kind of broken code are you—helping on one hand and sabotaging with the other?
You're doing that thing again—just like back in Mondstadt! Fine. Even without the cannon, I'll take Kujou Encampment myself!
In his heart, he cursed the system a hundred times—but it didn't respond.
At last, he shouted in his mind, If you won't help, fine! I'll go fight myself! I've got snake oil, chewing tobacco, and I've taken down Fort Wallace—what's Kujou Encampment to me?!