Ei stared blankly at this familiar figure.
It gradually overlapped with the shadow in her memories.
"Kitsune Saiguu..."
Ei quickened her pace and walked forward, approaching behind that figure.
With a trembling hand she reached toward the woman shoulder in front of her.
Unable to believe it, she tapped her shoulder.
"What's wrong, Ei?"
"Tapping me like this—are you trying to give me a surprise?"
Kitsune Saiguu turned her head slightly, with a smile on her lips, holding an oil-paper umbrella in her arms, eyes gently closed, speaking with a laugh.
Ei looked at the familiar face, her pupils dilating.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
The pedestrians on the road continued to look at them both and discuss, while the voices within Inazuma City remained bustling.
Cherry blossoms blown down from the sakura trees drifted between the two of them.
But in Ei mind, the surrounding sounds had already disappeared.
She just stared blankly at Kitsune Saiguu in front of her.
One hand still resting on Kitsune Saiguu shoulder, looking at the smile hanging on the white fox maiden's lips.
...
After a long while, Qiu Bai figure also appeared in Inazuma City.
He wore white robes, the breeze blowing through his garments, looking like a scholar—young and handsome.
At this moment, he was walking slowly forward, observing the scenery around him.
The people of Inazuma around him were discussing something with shocked expressions.
"Did you, did you see it just now?!"
"Lady Kitsune Saiguu, who passed away long ago, actually appeared on the streets of Inazuma!"
A woman in kimono looked at the Inazuma samurai in front of her and said with a shocked expression.
"Of course I saw it—even the Shogun came out!"
"I heard they're now in the pavilion atop Tenshukaku, reminiscing about old times."
The Inazuma samurai, holding a spear, looked at the kimono-clad woman in front of him and said with a shocked expression.
"I didn't see wrong just now..."
"It was Lady Kitsune Saiguu. My ancestors even received help from her."
A mother, holding her child hand, looked at her husband in front of her and said in surprise.
"That was Lady Kitsune Saiguu..."
"In that era of Inazuma, Lady Kitsune Saiguu helped far more than just our family."
Upon hearing this, the husband smiled and shook his head, then turned around and raised his head to look at the highest pavilion atop Tenshukaku.
"Daddy, who is Kitsune Saiguu?"
"Is she the Shogun good friend?"
Upon hearing this, the little girl raised her head, holding a dango skewer in her hand, and asked with an adorable expression.
"Hehe..."
"The Shogun and Lady Kitsune Saiguu are certainly very good friends."
Upon hearing this, the man turned around, picked up the little girl, and said with a smile on his face.
"Just like Sasha and me?"
"We often play hide-and-seek together—we're very good friends!"
The little girl, holding her dango skewer, looked at her father with innocent and adorable eyes and said happily.
"Hahaha, of course."
The father lifted the little girl up toward the sky, laughing with indulgence.
This action made the little girl laugh continuously.
In the Komore Teahouse.
"Lady Kitsune Saiguu?"
"The Shogun has been alone for a long time. With Lady Kitsune Saiguu return, the Shogun must be very happy."
Kamisato Ayaka sat in the Komore Teahouse, looked at Thoma in front of her, and said with a smile.
"Indeed."
"I heard that on the Shogun way back to Tenshukaku, she had a smile on her face."
Thoma looked at Kamisato Ayaka in front of him and said with a smile.
"This is a good opportunity. The Shogun understanding of eternity."
"I imagine it will become even more wonderful."
Kamisato Ayato, holding something resembling bubble tea, walked out from the back room and said with a smile.
"Brother Ayato, come play cards, and Thoma too."
"This time I definitely won't lose again."
Arataki Itto Geo Vision had returned to his chest.
Now he was doubly happy.
"I forgot to tell you all—I, Arataki Itto, have made another brother!"
"The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor consultant, Qiu Bai!"
Arataki Itto looked at Kamisato Ayato in front of him and said with great laughter.
"Qiu Bai?"
"My sister has mentioned him to me before. He's quite an extraordinary person."
Kamisato Ayato turned around, looked at Arataki Itto in front of him, and said with a smile.
"My brother is no ordinary person!"
"Next time I'll definitely introduce him to Brother Ayato. Let's play cards, play cards!"
Upon hearing this, Arataki Itto laughed heartily and waved his hand, then pulled Thoma and Ayato into a room.
"Arataki Itto is Mr. Qiu Bai brother!"
Kamisato Ayaka looked at the people in the room and said in shock.
"Mr. Qiu Bai..."
"He sold out Sayu and made Sayu unable to sleep well..."
Sayu emerged from in front of Kamisato Ayaka, her cute face showing complaint.
Outside Inazuma City, Qiu Bai looked at the people of Inazuma around him, all wearing expressions of joy.
It was completely different from the oppressive atmosphere of the past.
Even the pedestrians on the roads had become more numerous.
"Hehe..."
Qiu Bai chuckled twice, walking through the streets of Inazuma with his hands behind his back.
He walked to a giant cherry blossom tree and stopped.
"Ten million cherry branches, illuminating like a snowy sky."
Qiu Bai looked at the cherry blossom tree in front of him, with a smile on his lips, and said in admiration.
"Qiu Bai!"
"So you're here taking a stroll. We're back!"
A familiar voice rang out. Qiu Bai turned around slightly and saw Lumine and Paimon walking over.
"Mm... it's Traveler and little Paimon."
"How did it go? Is the matter resolved?"
Qiu Bai crossed his arms over his chest, looked at Lumine and Paimon, and asked with a gentle laugh.
"It's resolved, very smoothly."
"Here's the Shogun letter, returning it to you, Qiu Bai."
Lumine raised her head to look at Qiu Bai in front of her, smiled and nodded.
Then she handed the Shogun letter in her hand to Qiu Bai.
"Mm."
"Here's one million Mora. Keep it safe, Traveler."
Qiu Bai looked at the Shogun letter in his hand and nodded.
Then he conjured one million Mora, put it in a bag, and placed it in front of Lumine.
"By the way, Qiu Bai."
"Just now on the way here, we kept hearing that Lady Kitsune Saiguu, who passed away long ago, actually appeared in Inazuma City."
Paimon looked at Qiu Bai in front of her and spoke.
"Moreover, that Lady Kitsune Saiguu even went to Tenshukaku with Ei to reunite."
"How could someone who passed away appear again? You didn't do this, did you?"
Paimon looked at Qiu Bai in front of her, spread her little hands, and asked with a suspicious expression.
"Oh?"
"Such a thing happened..."
Qiu Bai lowered his head, stroking his chin with a completely serious expression and murmuring.
"I too have only heard rumors about it."
"I didn't expect that Lady Kitsune Saiguu would actually appear in Inazuma City."
Qiu Bai raised his head, looked at Lumine and Paimon in front of him, and said with a gentle laugh.
"Hm?"
Paimon flew up to Qiu Bai face, almost touching his face.
She stroked her chin like this, examining Qiu Bai in front of her with a suspicious expression.
"Traveler!"
"This is bad... Paimon can barely tell whether this guy is lying or not anymore."
After observing Qiu Bai expression, Paimon flew in front of Lumine, covering her forehead with one small hand and saying with a headache.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Now you can read 30 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)