Qiu Bai mouth twitched as he listened to Ayaka describing what had happened.
"Wow, Paimon almost let it slip."
"Good thing Lumine covered her mouth in time."
Qiu Bai helplessly rubbed his forehead.
"Lady Ayaka."
"Perhaps I angered little Paimon somehow, which is why she was trying to cause trouble for me."
Qiu Bai smiled and explained to Ayaka.
"Besides, look at my physique."
"I get out of breath just carrying things around. How could I possibly fight against a god?"
Qiu Bai hurriedly explained to the somewhat surprised Ayaka.
"Physically weak?"
"But according to Lumine description, Mr. Qiu Bai, your swordsmanship and physical abilities far surpass those of Vision holders."
Kamisato Ayaka looked at Qiu Bai with confusion.
"Seriously?"
"Between Paimon and Lumine, they're both exposing me, aren't they?"
Qiu Bai thought angrily to himself.
"Well..."
"I practiced swordsmanship in my early years, nothing worth mentioning."
Qiu Bai awkwardly explained to Kamisato Ayaka.
"Mr. Qiu Bai is being modest."
"I've heard about Lumine experiences. If you can defeat her, your skills must be quite remarkable."
Kamisato Ayaka smiled lightly, thinking he was just being humble.
"In the eyes of the divine Shogun."
"Living beings might just be individual lives."
"Thunder, harsh light, wild winds, sudden rain... they never arrive with consideration for mortals feelings."
Kamisato Ayaka lowered her head, mumbling with a somewhat sad expression.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, you've already seen the suffering of those whose Visions were taken away as you walked through the streets."
"Given that, would you reconsider..."
Kamisato Ayaka raised her pink pupils to look at Qiu Bai, pleading.
"Hmm..."
"Sigh..."
Qiu Bai looked at Kamisato Ayaka, pondering for a moment.
Kamisato Ayaka stood in place, expectantly watching Qiu Bai.
"I'm sorry, Ayaka..."
"I..."
Just as Qiu Bai was about to refuse, the system voice rang in his mind.
[Ding!]
[System task: Help Ayaka oppose the Vision Hunt Decree.]
Qiu Bai mouth twitched when he heard this.
"It's just another system task."
"Don't I have my own affairs to attend to?"
Qiu Bai was about to refuse the task, as he had his principles.
[Ding!]
[Complete the task, and the reward will be better than ever before!]
The system voice echoed in Qiu Bai mind.
"Alright Ayaka, I'll definitely help with this!"
"I'll go to Tenshukaku right now and find the Raiden Shogun directly!"
Qiu Bai held Ayaka small hand with a determined expression.
"Mr... Mr. Qiu Bai?"
"Really?!"
Kamisato Ayaka stared blankly at the excited Qiu Bai.
Just moments ago, judging by Qiu Bai expression, she had already prepared herself to be rejected.
After all, Qiu Bai had no obligation to help her, but why did he suddenly agree?
"Of course it's true."
"When I was walking on the streets, seeing the expressions of those who had their Visions taken away."
"And those Visions cemented into that statue, my heart was filled with complexity." (T/N: Yeah right.. You just want system reward tsk tsk tsk)
Qiu Bai turned around, his back to Kamisato Ayaka as he sighed and spoke slowly.
"For the sake of her own eternity, she actually cemented the people wishes into a cold statue."
"I knew then that I should do something about it."
Then Qiu Bai turned around, looking at Kamisato Ayaka with a smile as he explained.
It definitely wasn't because of any reward that he was helping.
"It's really true."
"Thank you so much!"
Kamisato Ayaka came to her senses and happily thanked Qiu Bai.
"But regarding Tenshukaku..."
"Mr. Qiu Bai, perhaps you shouldn't go find the Raiden Shogun."
Kamisato Ayaka looked at Qiu Bai somewhat strangely.
After all, looking at this Mr. Qiu Bai, he indeed didn't seem like someone who could fight gods as Paimon had suggested.
"It's fine. Even if I can't defeat her."
"I can call a couple of consultants from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, which should be enough." (T/N: Quite a line up really Qiu Bai + 2 God, 1 Dragon)
Qiu Bai smiled as he spoke to Ayaka.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, I'm not joking."
"The Raiden Shogun represents the pinnacle of martial prowess. Her Musou no Hitotachi can cleave mountains."
Kamisato Ayaka hurriedly explained when she saw Qiu Bai demeanor.
"Haha, I'm just kidding."
"How could I be foolish enough to confront the Raiden Shogun head-on?"
Qiu Bai smiled lightly and waved his hand.
"Phew~"
Kamisato Ayaka patted her chest and took a breath of relief.
She had genuinely thought that Qiu Bai was planning to go directly to Tenshukaku to find the Shogun.
"Thank you, Mr. Qiu Bai."
"Now we are friends."
Kamisato Ayaka extended her small hand with a smile.
"Pleased to meet you."
"Lady Ayaka."
Qiu Bai smiled and took Ayaka's hand.
"So what should I do now?"
Qiu Bai looked at Kamisato Ayaka with some confusion.
"Please go to the Narukami Grand Shrine."
"Lady Guuji is there, and I believe Lumine and Paimon are also there."
Kamisato Ayaka smiled as she spoke.
"The Narukami Grand Shrine?"
"Let me see..."
Qiu Bai slightly closed his eyes, using his divine sense to locate it.
"Hehe, found it."
"Then I'll head there first, Lady Ayaka."
Qiu Bai smiled slightly and looked at Ayaka.
"Found it?"
"But I haven't told Mr. Qiu Bai the location of the Narukami Grand Shrine yet."
Kamisato Ayaka looked at Qiu Bai with complete confusion.
Qiu Bai smiled without explaining.
He sensed a ley line power, and then instantly disappeared.
"Mr. Qiu Bai disappeared?"
"So what Thoma told me was all true."
Kamisato Ayaka eyes widened as she stared at the spot where Qiu Bai had vanished, speaking incredulously.
When Qiu Bai reappeared, he was already on the stairs at the base of the Narukami Grand Shrine.
Walking forward, he looked at the surrounding scenery.
The Narukami Grand Shrine was situated on a mountaintop.
Looking at the mist below and the afternoon scene as the sun was about to set, combined with the cherry blossom leaves, there was an indescribable beauty.
"Opposing the Vision Hunt Decree, huh?"
Qiu Bai walked with his hands behind his back, looking at the twilight scene below the mountain, murmuring with a smile.
Then he shook his head and walked up the mountain.
Just as he was about to reach his destination, he saw a group of people coming down from the mountain.
"Thanks to Lady Yae this time."
"Let the disciples inherit the wishes that were taken away..."
This group chatted as they passed by Qiu Bai, walking down the mountain.
"Hehe, looks like Lumine and the others have finished their business."
Qiu Bai smiled slightly and walked to the top of the mountain.
He saw two small pools with cherry blossoms floating on them, the setting sun reflected in the water.
On both sides were shrines, and in the middle, paper lanterns hung from red eaves. They emitted a pale yellow light, surrounded by cherry blossom trees.
Qiu Bai admired the beautiful scenery as he walked inside, where there were also some pretty shrine maidens.
They were sweeping up cherry blossoms with brooms. Dressed in red and white shrine maiden attire, they added another touch of beauty to the Narukami Grand Shrine.
"So this is the Sacred Sakura tree?"
"The ley line power I sensed earlier must be this."
Qiu Bai stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the enormous tree before him.
Above it were purplish-pink vine-like patterns, emitting a soft glow.
A beautiful purple light emanated from here, illuminating the sky above the Narukami Grand Shrine.
At the top of the Sacred Sakura tree was a large fox head.
(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! 😊)