Lumine said, "Hey, shouldn't we be asking the questions now? Who are you? Sneaking around like that, you don't look like a good person."
The fleeing old man gave a bitter smile. "Don't look like a good person? Hmph, when Touma and I were learning swordsmanship together, you two probably didn't even exist yet."
"Though I no longer wish to bring up the past, if we're being precise, Touma should still call me 'senior brother'."
Paimon had a sudden realization. "Senior brother? Could you be...?"
The old man put his hands on his hips. "That's right. I am Seian."
[Ningguang: The one Touma kept repeating the name of.]
[Keqing: It seems he is the key to this matter...]
[Furina: Is this senior brother exceptionally powerful, having traumatized Touman by defeating him?]
[Tartaglia: If I were defeated by someone, I'd train hard and challenge them again later.]
[Lumine: Speaking of which, on the path to becoming the world's greatest, you must defeat many people, right?]
[Tartaglia: Of course! The opponents I've defeated are countless. You might not know this, but the ranking of the Fatui Harbingers is based on strength. I'd like to sit in the First Harbinger's seat someday too.]
[La Signora: Give it a rest, Tartaglia. You were utterly defeated in Liyue.]
[Tartaglia: Failure isn't terrifying. What's terrifying is losing the courage to fight.]
[Keqing: So this Touma... has he actually lost his courage to fight?]
[Ningguang: I'm afraid the truth is just that.]
Lumine asked, "Why were you running away?"
Seian answered painfully, "Because I don't want to see Touma again, or anyone related to him. Back then, we studied the Still-Water Sword style together under the same master. I entered the school five years before him and was seen by everyone as the steady, reliable senior brother."
"The Still-Water Sword style pursues a mind free of distractions, so most disciples were indifferent to fame and fortune. I was no exception. But Touma was different. The first thing he asked our master with a smile was, 'How can I become the world's greatest?'"
"Our master scolded him then, saying swordsmanship wasn't for chasing empty fame. To desire the title of 'greatest' after just a few days of training showed a impetous mind that would never master the sword."
"I thought so too back then. But later, Touma's swordsmanship improved at an astonishing rate, even catching up to me. That's when I realized Touma had actually already achieved a mind free of distractions long ago. His heart held only the desire to become the world's greatest. What he pursued was the pinnacle of swordsmanship. No matter how many setbacks he faced, he could always pick himself back up."
Paimon rested her chin on her hand. "He sounds like an amazing person. But why don't you want to see him again?"
Seian: "Because before he arrived, I was certain I would inherit the Still-Water Sword style. After all, among all our master's disciples, I had the best talent, trained the longest, and carried everyone's expectations."
"But his arrival changed everything. I lost to him in a duel, losing all face and status, fleeing from the school in disgrace. Later, I heard he went to challenge our master. Our master was already old and spent his last breath in that match. Since then, I never wanted anything to do with him again. But if I'm honest with myself, I still recognize his swordsmanship and his heart's pursuit of the sword's path. So when I heard he'd gone mad, my first reaction was that it was fake. How could he possibly go mad? He was the one who embodied the Still-Water principle to its extreme."
[Ningguang: It sounds like this Senior Brother Seian wasn't truly indifferent to fame and fortune either.]
[Keqing: Exactly. Someone who is truly indifferent wouldn't act like that, wouldn't think they'd lost all face and status after a single defeat. They would simply acknowledge it gracefully.]
[Lumine: Before Touma arrived, Seian was the most outstanding disciple. Everything should have been his. So of course he appeared indifferent to fame. But when he lost it all, it's natural he'd struggle to accept it.]
[Tartaglia: He should learn from me. I love battle. Battle is an enjoyment.]
[Paimon: Tartaglia sounds kind of... perverted.]
[Furina: Exactly! A brainless battle maniac.]
[Paimon: In terms of brains, Tartaglia definitely can't argue that point.]
[Ningguang: Hmm. Manipulated by his own ally, running around in circles.]
[Tartaglia: Hey, hey, hey! Why is everyone ganging up to mock me?]
[Paimon: In the video, you wanted to destroy all of Liyue. Of course people won't like you.]
[Keqing: Anywhere, if Tartaglia appears before me, I will draw my sword immediately.]
[Furina: I won't draw my sword. I'll represent Fontaine in condemning him.]
[Paimon: Could it be you can't win in a fight?]
[Furina: Such unrefined behavior as combat is simply not for me, okay? Fighting and such can be left to Neuvillette.]
[Wriothesley: I can handle it too. My fists haven't been swung in a long time.]
[Lumine: Tartaglia has become public enemy number one, the Teyvat-wide pariah.]
"So I wanted to sneak over and see if he'd really gone mad. But I never expected he'd still call my name. I thought he'd forgotten me long ago. Anyway, I have no intention of harming him. I just wanted to confirm things."
"Alright, you can go back now. I've said my piece. The exorcism ritual is probably over too."
Paimon rested her chin on her hand. "Hmm... It seems he didn't want to sabotage the exorcism. We misunderstood him. But I'm not sure if we should bring him back. Let's go check on how the ritual went first."
Returning to the swordsman's thatched hut, they heard the shrine maiden talking to Nanaeko. The result was equally shocking. Touma wasn't possessed. He had gone mad on his own.
The shrine maiden from the Grand Narukami Shrine said, "I'm sorry. With my abilities, I truly cannot detect any possession on Mr. Touma. However, the spirits and evils in this world are strange and varied. There are many I've never encountered, so I cannot jump to conclusions."
"Moreover, the situation isn't hopeless. I just received word that Lady Guuji seems interested in meeting your master."
Junya was astonished. "Lady Guuji? The Lady Guuji I'm thinking of?"
Nanaeko was also very excited. "The head shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine... That's wonderful! Master will definitely be alright now."
The shrine maiden nodded. "Correct. Lady Guuji is profoundly knowledgeable, having personally eradicated countless calamities and evils. Whether your master is truly possessed, I cannot determine, but Lady Guuji can give a definitive answer."
[Yae Miko: Finally, my turn in the plot. Happy to see everyone.]
[Paimon: Lady Yae is so passionate! And why are you called 'Miko'? Are you the child of the Electro Archon?]
[Yae Miko: Hehe~ An interesting question. Why don't you explain why you're called Paimon first? But, while I'm not Ei's child, she did hold me when I was little. I grew up in her arms.]
[Paimon: You grew up being held by the Raiden Shogun?! So you're very close to her?]
[Yae Miko: Of course. I introduced myself before—I am a familiar of the Electro Archon. I know all of Ei's little secrets.]
[Paimon: Then... do you also know why the Raiden Shogun pursues Eternity?]
[Yae Miko: Ah... that's a story even I am unwilling to bring up. At least not now.]
[Nahida: It should be related to the Cataclysm of Khaenri'ah. The previous Electro Archon fell there.]
[Zhongli: I remember that event. The abyssal monsters were immensely powerful. Even the Seven Archons had to respond with their full strength. Besides that, many monsters left Khaenri'ah, wreaking havoc across Teyvat. The Millelith sacrificed greatly to protect Liyue.]
[Lumine: It was a terrifying disaster. That war... is that the reason for Ei's pursuit of Eternity?]
[Yae Miko: To protect Inazuma, Ei watched her friends depart one by one. She couldn't accept the loss, wanted to preserve what was beautiful, and thus chose Eternity. My elders also... Better not dwell on it. Let's watch the video happily.]
Junya placed a hand on his chest, speaking earnestly. "Excuse me, shrine maiden. What preparations do we need to make to meet Lady Guuji?"
The shrine maiden shook her head. "None. The only requirement is to arrive at the Grand Narukami Shrine on time. Lady Guuji dislikes meaningless waiting. I'll take my leave now. We'll meet again at the shrine. I wish Mr. Touma a speedy recovery to his former state."
The next day, Lumine and Paimon also arrived early at the Grand Narukami Shrine. Their timing was perfect, seeing Lady Guuji emerge from a room.
Lady Guuji was tall. Beneath her playful short pink hair was a pair of pointed ears, and her long legs reflected a dazzling white light.
[Paimon: Lady Yae is so beautiful! Even more beautiful than Furina!]
[Furina: Paimon! I thought I was the most beautiful girl in your heart!]
[Paimon: You are the second most beautiful girl in my heart.]
[Lumine: Paimon, you traitor. You switched sides so fast.]
[Zhongli: Generally speaking, Lady Yae's beauty is indeed superior.]
[Yae Miko: Even though I'm already hundreds of years old, being praised still brings a bit of joy to my heart.]
[Paimon: Lady Yae, why are your ears pointed?]
[Yae Miko: That's because I'm a little fox. Little foxes... love to eat things that fly.]
[Diluc: Fowl meat is indeed an excellent food. There are many pigeons outside Mondstadt's gates, quite suitable for tasting.]
[Venti: You mean those pigeons outside Mondstadt? Aren't those Timmie's?]
[Diluc: Those are Timmie's pigeons? Every time I pass by, I hunt a few. Timmie has never stopped me. Wait... if I ate his pigeons, why didn't he stop me? Does he not want me to know those pigeons are his? Is he a Fatui agent infiltrating Mondstadt?]
[Ningguang: Pigeons are a rather effective long-distance communication method. That possibility cannot be ruled out.]
[Paimon: I bet Timmie never imagined he'd be exposed like this. If Timmie gets caught, then you won't be able to eat pigeons anymore, Diluc! Why don't you send someone over every day to turn all the pigeons into fowl? You could sell it for quite a bit of Mora.]
[Furina: I'll mourn for Timmie for one second.]
Even inside the shrine, Touma remained shrouded in fear, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy.
"Don't come any closer... stay away from me."
"I don't practice swordsmanship anymore. Please, let me go."
The shrine maiden from yesterday explained, "As you can see, Lady Guuji, Mr. Touma has been in this state the whole time. He seems to see the people he defeated in the past now surrounding him, cursing at him, causing him immense pain."
Nanaeko asked with concern, "Lady Guuji, my master is possessed by an evil spirit, right? He was never like this before. No matter what happened, he always smiled."
Yae Miko observed for a moment, then said, "I'm sorry to say, there is no evil spirit upon your master."
Nanaeko couldn't accept it. "How can that be? Master, he...?"
Miko: "That's right. He became like this on his own. Unable to withstand immense pressure, his heart collapsed, his mind damaged, and then he became mad."
"Like a person drowning, flailing desperately but still sinking into the cold, dark depths of the sea. As for the reason, I believe it's the loss of his Vision. To have one's Vision taken is to have one's ambition taken."
Junya didn't understand. "Ambition? But shouldn't someone who loses their ambition just become an ordinary person? Why would they become like this?"
Miko explained unhurriedly, "Your school is called the Still-Water Sword style, correct? It's a good name. But in this world, where does true 'still water that clearly reflects' exist? Someone who claims indifference to fame and fortune angrily leaves after being defeated by a junior brother. An aged master swordsman still feels discontent, wanting to have one more match with the disciple he taught."
[Ningguang: Speaking of which, 'Still-Water' and 'Swordsmanship' are inherently contradictory concepts.]
[Paimon: Completely opposite?]
[Keqing: The way of the sword should be about forging ahead with determination, cutting through thorns. The heart must desire something for the blade to be sharp. My sword is to protect Liyue.]
[Lumine: I remember Ningguang saying Keqing is also a great swordsman.]
[Ningguang: Keqing's sword is swift as lightning, which matches her temperament.]
[Zhongli: Generally speaking, if the heart is placid as still water, indifferent to fame and fortune, without pursuit, then the way of the sword can never reach perfection. 'Still Water that Reflects Clearly' is an illusion; imitating it is the reality.]
[Furina: So that's why Touma could surpass his senior brother and master so quickly. He wasn't imitating 'Still-Water'; he was pursuing the title of 'World's Greatest'.]
[Zhongli: Precisely.]
"Then, what about the person who seems to have a mind free of distractions? When he personally defeats his own master and senior brother, is he truly undisturbed inside?"
Nanaeko: "Lady Guuji, you mean..."
Miko: "The path of the sword is ever-changing. For a mortal to claim the title of 'World's Greatest' in swordsmanship—how easy is that?"
"He needed to grasp the sword with both hands, continuously shattering the dreams of others. Among those were people closest and dearest to him. Only with the ambition to become the world's greatest, with that persistence in his heart, could he temporarily cast aside the pain and move forward. When that ambition vanished, he began to doubt himself, struggling in fear, becoming what you see now."
"Hehe. Just like that unreliable friend of mine."
[Paimon: This 'unreliable friend'... wouldn't happen to be Raiden Ei, would it?]
[Yae Miko: Who else could it be? Locking herself away in the Plane of Euthymia, she does not care about worldly affairs. What else can I do? Ah, forget it. Let's not talk about this.]