"Alright, come in. There are no outsiders here now."
Inside Yae Publishing House, Yae Miko pulled open the sliding door to the guest room, then spoke to Yun Xu, who was following behind her.
Yun Xu quickened his steps, walked past Yae Miko's feet, and entered the guest room.
The guest room had a square low table, and instead of chairs, there were several soft cushions placed on the tatami mats that covered the room.
Although Yun Xu didn't know much about Inazuman culture, he could tell at a glance that the soft cushions were for sitting, so he trotted over to one.
"My, aren't you a good little one? Alright, can you tell your big sister now?"
Yae Miko closed the guest room door, then walked to the spot opposite Yun Xu and said.
Yun Xu hesitated at her words, then propped himself up on his hind legs, leaning on the low table, and looked at Yae Miko, who was kneeling opposite him, smiling.
She didn't look like a bad person; more like a reliable Youko elder…?
"Yes… Oh, wait a moment."
While Yun Xu was hesitating, Yae Miko thought of something, told Yun Xu to wait, then stood up and walked to the side.
After a while, she returned, carrying a pot of hot tea and some snacks.
"Please, make yourself at home with your big sister."
Yae Miko smiled, placing a teacup in front of Yun Xu.
The teacups used in Inazuma were thick, cylindrical cups, quite different from those in Liyue.
"Actually, I'm not an Inazuman fox…"
Yun Xu sniffed the aroma of the tea in front of him, and after a moment of hesitation, he began to explain to Yae Miko.
"What does that matter? All foxes under heaven are one family. In your big sister's eyes, you are all adorable juniors."
Yae Miko said, covering her mouth with the back of her hand and chuckling softly.
"Alright, thank you, great Youko."
Yun Xu nodded his head, then confidently transformed. Soon, a white-haired fox-eared youth appeared opposite Yae Miko.
However, Yun Xu was not used to Inazuma's kneeling posture, so he instinctively sat in front of the low table in the cross-legged meditation posture he used for cultivation.
He hadn't dared to transform before, mainly because Inazuma was already closed off, and he didn't want to be repatriated.
"You should call me 'big sister'."
"Also, are you from Liyue?"
Yae Miko emphasized the proper address Yun Xu should use, and after looking at Yun Xu's attire, she came to a conclusion.
"Mm-hmm, I've always lived in the mountains of Liyue."
Yun Xu nodded his head. Although he didn't go into detail, he answered truthfully.
"Liyue, huh… sigh, that reminds me of my younger brother…"
Yae Miko suddenly sighed with a troubled expression.
"Younger brother?"
Yun Xu tilted his head curiously at her words.
"Yes, but that was many years ago."
"Although he wasn't my biological younger brother, he was also a member of the Hakushin Bloodline."
Yae Miko calmed herself down, nodding slightly.
"What is the Hakushin Bloodline?"
Yun Xu continued to ask curiously.
He didn't know much about Youko common knowledge, as he had never met any other Youko.
Like his martial uncles, they were all elemental spirits, pure elemental lifeforms, and he was the first in his lineage, so there was naturally no concept of a bloodline for him.
At most, only half-Adepti like Ganyu and Yanfei involved the concept of a bloodline.
"The Hakushin Bloodline is the noblest bloodline of Inazuman fox-kind. Their noble white hair is one of their characteristics."
"Your big sister is also a descendant of the Hakushin Bloodline, but your big sister is a bit special."
Yae Miko explained to the curious Yun Xu.
"Ah, but let's not talk about what happened back then."
"You seem to have just arrived in Inazuma. If you don't mind, you can come and visit your big sister's shrine."
After explaining to Yun Xu, Yae Miko feigned another sigh, then suggested to Yun Xu.
"What is a shrine?"
Yun Xu had never learned about Inazuman culture, so he naturally didn't understand these Inazuman terms at all.
"It's a place to worship the Almighty Narukami Ogosho, also known as the Raiden Shogun by the common folk. It's pretty similar to Liyue's Yiyan Hall."
Yae Miko patiently and meticulously explained to Yun Xu.
Only then did Yun Xu nod his head.
He had already learned along the way that the Raiden Shogun was the title of Inazuma's Electro Archon.
As a God of a nation, perhaps she might have information about the Thunder Dragon?
Thinking of this, Yun Xu nodded his head.
After finishing his tea, Yun Xu followed Yae Miko out of Yae Publishing House and walked towards the outskirts of Inazuma City.
Under Yae Miko's guidance, Yun Xu borrowed the power of the Electrograna by the roadside and flew towards Mt. Yougou from a distance.
While in the air, Yun Xu couldn't help but be drawn to the sight in front of Mt. Yougou. There were many huge rocks suspended in the air due to an unknown force, and at the foot of the mountain, even the ground had turned purple. There also seemed to be a massive chasm sealed by a dense Electro element energy.
'A seal, huh… Is there something terrible down there… Could it be the Thunder Dragon?'
Yun Xu guessed with some curiosity.
"What are you looking at? Be careful not to crash."
Just then, Yae Miko flew past Yun Xu, reminding him softly.
Yun Xu snapped back to attention, and upon closer inspection, realized he had already flown to the mountaintop.
Led by Yae Miko, Yun Xu descended from the air, landing inside the Grand Narukami Shrine on the mountaintop.
At the innermost part of the Grand Narukami Shrine was a giant fox-shaped sakura tree, and Yun Xu was led by Yae Miko to land in front of it.
There were many busy shrine maidens in the shrine. They glanced at the scene, but noticing it was Yae Miko, they continued their work.
"The Grand Narukami Shrine has worshipped the Raiden Shogun for generations, and the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine has always been held by the Hakushin Bloodline…"
"Speaking of which, the previous Guuji was very much like you; her eyes were also golden."
Looking at the fox-shaped sakura tree in front of her, Yae Miko sighed again, then turned to observe Yun Xu.
"Ah… Ah? Really?"
Yun Xu scratched his head, somewhat disbelieving.
"Yes. Would you like to hear a story about her?"
Yae Miko's lips curved slightly, then she asked Yun Xu.
"Yes."
Yun Xu nodded truthfully.
"Is that so? Then sit down, and your big sister will tell you…"
Then Yae Miko led Yun Xu into the shrine building, sat down, and began to tell some interesting stories about the previous Guuji.
"Well, actually, she was a great Youko who lived from the God War era until five hundred years ago. At that time, she also adopted a little fox of the same Hakushin Bloodline."
"Unfortunately, Inazuma was in turmoil then, and for safety, she sent that little fox to a friend in Liyue."
"But since then, there has been no news."
"Before she left, she even urged me not to give up looking for that little fox."
"…"
Listening to Yae Miko's narration, Yun Xu felt something was off… Wait…?! Could she be talking about me?!
Could she really be my big sister?
"Oh dear, after all that talk, you must be hungry, right? Your big sister will take you to eat. We fox-kind generally like fried tofu, and your big sister would like you to try some too."
Noticing Yun Xu's reaction, the curve of Yae Miko's lips became more pronounced, but she wasn't in a hurry to have Yun Xu confirm. Instead, she suddenly diverted Yun Xu's attention…