It was deep into the night, and Raiden Ei was looking at him with eyes full of lingering affection. Any thought Su Han had of leaving vanished instantly.
The world can wait until tomorrow.
As he pulled the goddess into his embrace, Ei whispered softly, "I felt you thinking about my sister just now..."
"I was."
"It's alright," she murmured, leaning her head against his chest. "She owes you her life. I think she would accept you... and truly, I don't mind."
To Ei, as long as Makoto could truly return, nothing else mattered. The pain of losing her twin five hundred years ago was a void she never wanted to revisit.
Su Han smiled, stroking her hair. "I actually obtained a treasure today that will be incredibly useful for her. How are you going to reward me for that?"
"A treasure? What kind?" Ei looked up at him with dazed, curious eyes.
With a flick of his wrist, a fantastical flower appeared in his palm. It had nine blooming petals, radiating a profound, cleansing energy that made even Ei's spiritual body hum with vitality just by being near it.
"What is this?" Ei sat up abruptly, forgetting for a moment where she was sitting.
"Ouch... watch it!"
"Oh! I forgot... I'm so sorry!" Ei stammered, her face flushing as she realized her clumsiness. To make up for it, she spent the rest of the night being uncharacteristically attentive, letting Su Han enjoy a rare moment of being completely pampered.
[The Sanctuary of the Sacred Sakura]
The next morning, Su Han traveled to the Grand Narukami Shrine. As he approached the Sacred Sakura tree, the shrine maiden Kano Nana hurried forward to greet him.
"It's fine, I'm just here for a visit," Su Han dismissed her gently. "Go back to your duties."
He placed his hand against the bark, closed his eyes, and projected his consciousness into the interior space of the tree.
When he had last visited, the space felt slightly withered and fragile. But now, it had undergone a total transformation. Raiden Makoto was lying on a soft bed, kicking her legs back and forth while engrossed in a book.
"You're back?" she chirped, looking up with a mischievous grin. "Hehe... did you miss me?"
Su Han stared at the surrounding piles of snacks, movie reels, and manga. "You've... really embraced the shut-in lifestyle, haven't you?" It was a den of leisure; all it lacked were a few figurines.
Makoto rolled her eyes. "Someone told me to 'rest and recover,' remember? Now that I'm actually relaxing, you're complaining? Miko sent all this over. At first, I thought they were just silly distractions, but... they're surprisingly addictive."
Su Han glanced at the titles. They were all the "Transmigrated as an Empress" or "Peerless Sword God" stories he had transcribed from his memory. No wonder she's hooked.
"I brought something for you," Su Han said, bringing out the Biluo Azure Lotus.
The moment the cyan flower appeared, Makoto's eyes went wide. She could feel a physical pull toward it—a desperate craving from the very core of her soul.
"This... where did you get this?"
"From another world. You won't find this in Teyvat. Get inside. I was going to refine it into a pill, but since you're recovering well, I think direct nourishment is better."
"Yes! Don't turn it into a pill, that would waste its natural essence!"
Makoto drifted into the center of the lotus. Instantly, a clear, ghostly light washed over her. She let out a long, satisfied sigh, her spiritual form visibly stabilizing. Watching her enjoy the treatment, Su Han felt like he was raising a high-maintenance pet. What happened to the 'Refined Big Sister' persona? She's turning into a total slacker.
[The Shadow of the Past]
"Hey... what are you thinking about?" Makoto asked, tapping him on the head with a translucent hand. "Judging by that look, it's nothing good."
"Just that you've changed," Su Han admitted.
"Cough... I was the Raiden Shogun back then. I had to be dignified to lead the people. But here, with just you, I can finally let go of that weight."
They talked for over an hour. Eventually, the conversation turned to the cataclysm of five hundred years ago.
"How were you killed? Was it the power of the Abyss?"
"Yes," Makoto sighed. "The seven of us were summoned to Khaenri'ah. That nation had fallen into madness. Beyond the black beasts, there were endless machines with power rivaling the gods. They could self-repair, and my combat strength... well, you know. I'm far weaker than Ei. Even with the other Archons, I was struck by a corruption I couldn't purge. My only regret was not having Ei by my side, but she was protecting Inazuma. By the time she reached me, it was too late."
Su Han nodded. "Once you're fully revived, you'll have to train seriously. You can't be without the power to protect yourself."
"Fine, fine. I'll train. But for now... let me be a salted fish a little longer, okay?" Makoto gave him a puppy-dog look.
Su Han laughed. "One week. In one week, you should be strong enough to manifest outside this tree and give Ei the surprise of her life."
[The Integration of the Realm]
Returning to the Jade Chamber, Su Han took out the Secret Realm Blueprint.
He began the massive task of structural reorganization. The Jade Chamber remained the highest peak, the residence of the core members. Then, he used the blueprint to "anchor" the floating islands and the ruins of Kunlun and Emei into a unified, hidden space.
North: The Kunlun ruins (now the residence of Xiao and Bosacius).South: The Emei ruins (the new home for the three Adepti: Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and Moon Carver).East: The Weather Island, expanded to cultivate rare sea-life and spiritual herbs.
He transplanted the Solar Flowers and Moonlight Maples across the peaks, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that drew energy directly from the void. The patchwork of floating rocks was now a seamless, divine sanctuary hidden within the clouds.
With the Secret Realm complete, the Jade Chamber had evolved into a true "Holy Land" of cultivation.
Just as he finished, Ningguang sent a message. The Point Mall had refreshed, and a massive stack of administrative tasks regarding the distribution of new treasures had piled up. Su Han sighed and headed to the meeting room—the Sovereign's work was never truly done.
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