Hearing that Shao Yun was willing to listen to her, Yae Miko reached out and gently patted the high stool beside her, motioning for him to sit.
Shao Yun took a seat and couldn't help but recall the day they were about to visit the Raiden Shogun. Back then, the two of them also wanted to sit side by side like this.
Then Lumine got cut down by the Archon. Let's hope nothing like that happens this time.
Yae Miko softly stroked the adorable shopkeeper Taromaru, who was squatting on the counter. A trace of melancholy flickered in her eyes as she murmured, "It's been a long time since I've felt this kind of loneliness..."
Shao Yun pressed his lips together and asked softly, "So what did you call me here for?"
Yae Miko slowly withdrew her hand from Taromaru's fur and sighed, "Mister Shao Yun, you never change—always the type to cut right to the point."
She then began recounting the events of the past few days to Shao Yun.
"A few days ago, I personally traveled to Watatsumi Island and reached an important agreement with the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi, Sangonomiya Kokomi. Given the alarming explosion at Tatarasuna and the massive leak of divine energy, both sides resolved to join forces to face the threat of the Archon's power."
"Also, the Kamisato Clan has temporarily represented the Shogunate and signed a 'ceasefire agreement' with Watatsumi Island. Once the many aftereffects of this war are properly dealt with, we'll begin working on a 'peace treaty' to symbolize lasting tranquility."
Shao Yun listened calmly, nodded in agreement, and said, "So, does that mean Inazuma is peaceful now?"
Yae Miko blinked gently and replied, "Mm, you could say that. But all of this… sigh, forget it, let's not get into that."
She had wanted to say that it was all too surreal—Inazuma's civil strife ended with Baal's death... A conclusion she could hardly bear.
Shao Yun immediately followed up, "Then what are your plans for Inazuma's future?"
Yae Miko gently extended her hand, seemingly conjuring out of nowhere a delicate pink sakura petal glowing with purple light.
She gazed at the petal, as if seeing within it endless possibilities and responsibilities, and said slowly, "We'll take it one step at a time."
Shao Yun stared intently at the glowing petal in her hand, exclaiming, "A sakura petal radiating Electro energy... Is it from the Sacred Sakura?"
Yae Miko gave a slight nod and elaborated further.
"Strictly speaking, this is the authority of the Electro Archon. It appeared suddenly the day after you killed Ei and has floated quietly by my side ever since."
"Looks like the duty of protecting Inazuma now rests on my shoulders."
At this point, a hint of sorrow flickered in Yae Miko's eyes.
Shao Yun looked closely at the symbol of the Archon's power—the authority of the Electro Archon—also known by another formidable name: the Ancient Dragon Authority.
"With this in hand, plus the Electro Archon's Gnosis, you could become the third Raiden Shogun."
"But be careful! The Fatui have always had their eyes on the Gnosis. If you're going to sell it, at least make sure it's for a good price."
Then again, with Yae Miko's cunning nature, she'd no doubt ensure it fetches a good price.
What Shao Yun didn't know yet was that the Electro Archon's Gnosis was no longer in Yae Miko's hands. It had long since been "sold" to the Wanderer.
If Shao Yun were to discover the deal Yae Miko made with the Wanderer, it's hard to imagine how he would react.
At the mention of "Gnosis," Yae Miko's eyes widened slightly. She quickly put away the sakura petal in her hand and abruptly changed the subject.
"By the way, did Ei say anything to you before she died? I thought she deliberately entrusted the authority to me as her final message, but you never mentioned anything..."
Shao Yun shook his head and replied, "No, if she had any last words for you, I would've relayed them without hesitation."
Shao Yun spoke with calm indifference, "Since the authority of the Electro Archon has already chosen you, let's hope you do a better job than Baal did."
Yae Miko gave a slight nod in response, but said nothing.
At that moment, she was rapidly trying to figure out how to change the topic smoothly.
After all, if Shao Yun brought up the issue of the Mikage Furnace explosion, things would get very difficult.
Just as Yae Miko was racking her brain, Shao Yun unexpectedly changed the topic himself and asked:
"Mm, by the way, what are your plans for Baal's funeral?"
Having witnessed Liyue's Rite of Parting, Shao Yun was merely asking out of formality. He had no intention of causing a scene—one must show basic respect for the deceased.
Hearing this, Yae Miko snapped out of her thoughts and answered promptly, "I plan to use the Shogun's puppet body and hold a grand funeral ceremony."
She sighed helplessly.
"But the exact date hasn't been set yet. Right now, Narukami Island is dealing with roaming Oceanid specters and a large number of displaced refugees—there's just too much going on…"
"The funeral will have to be delayed for now."
Upon hearing about the funeral, Shao Yun's mind drifted back to Kujou Sara. He hadn't been especially close to her, but for some reason, he felt the need to bid her farewell.
"Oh, right. What about Kujou Sara... Did she have a funeral?"
Yae Miko nodded gently and replied, "To be precise, her funeral is currently underway. I had Inagi Hotomi take care of her body, and her coffin is now displayed in the Tenryou Commission headquarters. They say she'll be buried tomorrow."
As soon as she said that, Yae Miko blinked, a look of surprise flashing across her face as she asked, "Wait, why are you asking? Don't tell me you're planning to—"
Shao Yun shot her a glare. Do I look like someone who'd make a scene at a funeral?
"Kujou Sara was a loyal person. She could've stood aside back then, but she chose to uphold her faith in the Archon and willingly became a martyr. I admire that. So, I want to send her off properly."
With that, Shao Yun slowly stood from the high stool and added, "Anything else? If not, I'm leaving. I'm going to pay respects to the Shogunate General."
Seeing this, Yae Miko hastily reached out and tugged at the hem of Shao Yun's coat, a hint of urgency in her voice. "Yes, just one last question. It's been weighing on my heart for a long time."
Shao Yun glanced down at her hand gripping his coat. Yae Miko quickly retracted it.
"Alright, ask away," Shao Yun said, remaining where he was.
Yae Miko stared at him, as if trying to peer into the depths of his soul, and asked softly:
"Raiden Makoto told you that you could use the Sacred Sakura's seed to return to the past and prevent Lumine from being injured by Ei, right? Then why didn't you accept?"
At her words, Shao Yun's body trembled violently, his face frozen in shock.
"You... How do you know about that?!"
Unfazed by his reaction, Yae Miko explained slowly, "Actually, the Sacred Sakura told me everything."
"More precisely, a few days ago when I was performing the Grand Cleansing Ritual, I accidentally glimpsed a memory from the ley lines. It clearly showed a scene of you talking with Raiden Makoto."
She furrowed her brow slightly, her eyes filled with deep doubt as she pressed further, "Can you explain why you resolutely refused a chance to change the past?"
Realization dawned on Shao Yun—it was the ley lines.
He recalled the events from the second chapter of the Electro Archon questline, where the "Bloodhound" had damaged the Sacred Sakura's roots, causing many past memories to leak.
Perhaps the explosion at Tatarasuna had further damaged the roots, and his conversation with Raiden Makoto had been captured by the Sacred Sakura's seed—and now it had surfaced.
With that thought, Shao Yun fell into deep contemplation...
He didn't answer Yae Miko's question right away. Instead, he countered with one of his own.
"Let me ask you—do you really believe that going back to the past would change everything?"
"Let's imagine, for instance, that everything went according to plan—you lead us to meet the Raiden Shogun. When she sees Lumine using elemental power without a Vision, with Baal's obsession with eternity, do you think she would calmly sit down and talk with us?"
Yae Miko was at a loss for words, her expression one of awkward resignation.
She had been convinced. As a devotee of the Archon, she knew full well how deeply Ei clung to her ideals of eternity...
Seeing this, Shao Yun shrugged lightly and continued, "See? Even you, deep down, know that Baal would never change so easily."
"So even if I go back in time using the Sacred Sakura's seed, what's the point? In the end, I'd still have to fight the Archon. And in the end, Ei would still die!"
With that, Shao Yun turned and left, pushing open the door of the Teahouse.
Ding—the wind chimes on the wooden door sang as it closed behind him.
Yae Miko sat alone in silence at the counter, softly muttering to herself.
"Sigh... You're right..."