Yae Miko, supported by Inagi Hotomi, turned and walked away, returning to the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual to continue her efforts to save Inazuma.
Just then, Kamisato Ayaka arrived hurriedly, holding a letter in her hand, her expression flustered—clearly something urgent had brought her here.
As she arrived, she nearly collided with Yae Miko, who was just about to leave.
Ayaka's gaze was immediately drawn to Yae Miko's eyes—red and swollen like peaches, yet still tragically beautiful.
"Guuji-sama… what happened to you?"
Faced with Ayaka's concerned question, Yae Miko merely looked at her deeply, saying nothing.
Perhaps she had already shed too many tears earlier—now she could no longer cry out loud. Only that heavy gloom lingered in her heart, casting a shadow over her entire being and leaving her visibly drained.
In the end, Yae Miko silently walked away, with Inagi Hotomi still supporting her.
Ayaka watched her retreating figure, a thoughtful look in her eyes.
She then shifted her gaze toward Shao Yun, who remained seated calmly beside Tenshukaku.
After a brief moment of observation and thought, Ayaka seemed to grasp what had transpired.
She approached Shao Yun, standing before him, first glancing up at Tenshukaku, then lowering her eyes to meet Shao Yun's as he sat.
In a gentle voice, she asked, "Mr. Shao Yun, have I… arrived too late?"
There was a trace of regret and helplessness in her tone.
Shao Yun curled his lips into a half-smile and responded with a rhetorical question.
"Oh? If by 'too late' you mean saving the Raiden Shogun—then yes, you're too late."
Ayaka's elegant brows furrowed slightly. She bit her lip softly, then slowly handed the letter in her hand to him.
"This is something General Kujou entrusted to Thoma. Please take a look…"
…
A few hours earlier, at the Komore Teahouse.
After the massive explosion at Tatarasuna, all of Inazuma City had plunged into fear and unrest.
Even so, Thoma remained quietly at the teahouse's front counter, uncertain of what to do.
Suddenly, the clear sound of wind chimes rang out, breaking the stillness.
Startled, Thoma turned around sharply—his eyes landing on none other than Kujou Sara, who had just stormed into the shop.
The dashing general of the Tenryou Commission stood with a bloody severed head in her left hand and a mysterious bundle in her right.
Thoma was aghast.
Even now? She's still enforcing the Vision Hunt Decree? That's way too much…
"General Kujou! This is the Komore Teahouse—it's territory granted to the Yashiro Commission by the Shogun!"
But Kujou Sara wasn't there to cause trouble as Thoma feared.
Instead, she spoke solemnly.
"I am well aware this place belongs to the Yashiro Commission. That is precisely why I came personally."
Hearing the word "personally," Thoma froze for a moment.
Then he stared in disbelief at the still-bleeding head in her hand and stammered, "G-General Kujou, that head in your hand… is that a… real human head?"
Without expression, Kujou Sara held out the bundle in her right hand and said coldly,
"Pay no mind to what's in my left hand. Inside this parcel is concrete evidence of collusion between the Kanjou Commission and Tenryou Commission with the Fatui to destabilize Inazuma."
"There is also a letter written by me. Please deliver it to the Shirasagi Himegimi or Lord Kamisato Ayato."
Thoma accepted the bundle with both hands, nodding solemnly and promising to fulfill her request.
Still, his gaze kept drifting to the bloody head in her grip. Eventually, he couldn't help but ask again, "Understood, but General Kujou, about your left hand…"
Before he could finish, she cut him off.
Without hesitation, Kujou Sara lifted the dripping head and sneered coldly.
"This thing? Hmph! Merely the head of that traitor, Kujou Takayuki."
Thoma was thunderstruck, frozen in place with a face full of disbelief.
It took him a long moment to come back to his senses, after which he stammered in horror.
"T-That's… Kujou Takayuki's head?! General Sara, why would you… do such a thing?"
Kujou Sara explained her reasoning.
"I intend to offer Kujou Takayuki's head to appease Shao Yun's wrath."
"There's no doubt—the Fatui, and the parasites who've corrupted Inazuma's institutions, are responsible for all of this."
"If I bring him this head, the entire crisis may be resolved."
Thoma's heart tightened. He quickly tried to dissuade her.
"General Kujou, please… don't be rash. For something this critical, shouldn't you speak directly with the clan head first?"
He hoped she'd pick up on the subtext and delay her departure—anything to keep her from rushing into danger.
Unfortunately, Kujou Sara didn't understand his intention. She simply pointed to the bundle Thoma held.
"There's no need to say more. Everything's explained clearly in my letter. Now, I must go intercept Shao Yun!"
With those words, she strode toward the door, severed head in hand.
Thoma shouted after her.
"Please, wait!"
Kujou Sara stopped and turned, cold and unyielding.
"What is it now?"
Thoma licked his dry lips and spoke the worst-case truth.
"You're heading straight into danger! If Shao Yun's anger hasn't subsided, the consequences will be unthinkable. He might kill you!"
But Kujou Sara merely smiled faintly.
She had long accepted death. Her voice was soft but firm.
"If that's the case, then to die before the Shogun does—would be both my duty and my greatest honor."
With that, she resolutely pushed open the teahouse door.
As the wind chimes rang again, she walked off without hesitation to meet what fate had in store.
…
Back in the present, Shao Yun quietly studied the letter Kujou Sara had left behind.
The writing was clear, documenting in brief the unspeakable dealings between the Hiiragi and Kujou clans.
Ayaka stood to the side, hands gently folded, and said softly, "This is General Kujou's own letter. It clearly outlines the Fatui's manipulation."
"The Fatui conspired with both the Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions, deceived the Shogun, and brought about the Sakoku and Vision Hunt Decrees—wreaking havoc upon Inazuma."
Shao Yun put the letter down and stared coldly at the visibly tense Ayaka.
"So, what are you saying? That your exalted Raiden Shogun is innocent?"
"Are you hoping I'll feel guilty enough to believe she did nothing wrong?"
Ayaka lowered her head in silence.
In truth, she did hope for that—at least in part.
Now exposed, she felt deeply awkward.
Shao Yun understood. Her silence confirmed his suspicion.
He returned the letter to her and, swallowing his anger, rubbed his brow and gritted his teeth.
"I've said it more times than I can count. I killed the Shogun for one reason only—because she hurt Lumine. That's it!"
If he hadn't avenged Lumine, how could he face her brother, Aether?
If praying to the Archons could strike Raiden Shogun down with a bolt of lightning, Shao Yun would've smashed his head in himself just to make it happen.
With those words, he sat back on the doorstep, staring directly at Ayaka.
"If there's nothing else, then leave. I'm still waiting for Lumine to return."
Ayaka gripped the letter tightly, visibly anxious.
She gathered her courage and asked, "Mr. Shao Yun… about Her Excellency's remains…"
While Inazuma didn't have the elaborate funeral rites of Liyue, a proper mourning ceremony still felt necessary for the death of the Raiden Shogun.
Shao Yun recalled the final moments in the Plane of Euthymia. Her body had vanished like lightning—radiant, then gone.
"The Raiden Shogun left no corpse behind. Her body vanished in an instant, like fireworks set off by Yoimiya—dazzling, yet fleeting."
After chasing eternity all her life, Baal's body ended like fireworks—utterly gone in a flash. A poetic irony.
"But the ashes of the Fatui Harbinger, The Fair Lady, are still in Tenshukaku. Pick out a few big pieces and send them back to Snezhnaya."
At least unlike in the original story where only a mask was left, this time she got a few bones—better than Baal.
Ayaka sighed softly upon hearing this and replied gently, "Understood. Then, I'll take my leave."
She turned to go.
With no body, they could only build a symbolic grave. As for The Fair Lady… no rush.
Shao Yun watched her departing figure and voiced a lingering question.
"Do you hate me for killing the Raiden Shogun?"
Ayaka stopped slowly. Then, turning her head slightly, she met Shao Yun's eyes and nodded faintly.
"To say I bear no hatred would be a lie. Even if the Shogun made grave mistakes, I, as a subject of Inazuma, have no right to judge her…"
Shao Yun nodded quietly. Very Inazuman of her.
"If you ever wish to avenge her, I welcome the challenge."
"But remember—if any of you dare turn your blades toward Lumine…"
Before he could finish, Ayaka suddenly cut him off.
Quoting Kamisato Ayato, she replied:
"Not everyone is qualified to flip the table."
With that, she turned and walked away, her figure gradually fading into the distance.
Shao Yun took a deep breath, remembering that fateful night—the moment when Venti wanted to steal the Holy Lyre with Lumine.
He remembered clearly the words he spoke to her then.
"You, me, and Paimon—the bond between the three of us… to me, it's as real as it gets. For that bond, I'd kill. I'd die."
Looking back now, Shao Yun couldn't help but sigh with emotion. What was once a promise… had now become action.
He muttered softly, "I did it. I really did it."
Now, all that remained was to see how Lumine would react when she returned.