"Have you met the Raiden Shogun?"
"She's still as intimidating as before, isn't she?"
Kazuha sighed, looking at the two before him with a sense of helplessness.
"The Musou no Hitotachi..."
"Is it truly beyond reach?"
Kazuha turned around, raising his head to look at the sun about to rise high in the sky, murmuring.
"Perhaps one day, we can face that overwhelming presence directly."
"That's also... my goal for returning to Inazuma."
Kazuha turned back, smiling at Qiu Bai and the Traveler.
"The Raiden Shogun imposing presence?"
"Traveler, did you feel that pressure when you entered that space?"
Paimon asked the Traveler beside her, a bit confused by what Kazuha had said.
"Yes, similar to Azhdaha."
"Zhongli, and Qiu Bai too."
The Traveler nodded at Paimon with a furrowed brow.
When Qiu Bai had used his pressure to force Signora to the ground, both she and Paimon had felt it as well.
It was the feeling of facing someone utterly impossible to defeat, creating a profound sense of helplessness.
It was hard to imagine if Qiu Bai pressure had been directed at her.
Her fate would likely have been no better than Signora, who had been forced to the ground.
"Moreover, the Raiden Shogun is much stronger than Qiu Bai."
"Sigh, I wonder if opposing the Vision Hunt Decree can succeed."
Paimon held her head, muttering with some distress.
"What are you talking about?"
"Of course the Raiden Shogun is stronger than Mr. Qiu Bai—she's one of the eight gods of the mortal realm."
Beidou smiled as she addressed the Traveler and Paimon.
"The Captain is right."
"The Raiden Shogun can unleash the Musou no Hitotachi. Surviving her blade is already incredibly fortunate."
Qiu Bai nodded at Beidou, explaining with a straight face.
"This guy, he really dares to say that..."
Paimon looked at Qiu Bai beside her, then at the Traveler, somewhat exasperated.
"But Mr. Qiu Bai, how did you recover in such a short time?"
"Where is your wound?"
Beidou looked at the energetic Qiu Bai before her with surprise.
"An art passed down from my ancestors."
"It can heal wounds. Fortunately, the Raiden Shogun didn't strike to kill."
Qiu Bai explained with a smile to Beidou.
"An ancestral art?"
"Did ancient Liyue have such incredible techniques?"
Beidou stroked her chin, murmuring.
"Anyway, if you need any help, just come find me."
"I'll lend you my strength!"
Beidou smiled at Qiu Bai and the Traveler.
The scene shifts to where Kokomi and Gorou are.
"Are you saying that the gentleman named Qiu Bai..."
"Is a divine being?"
Kokomi looked at Gorou with a furrowed brow.
"Yes, I'm certain of it!"
"Mr. Qiu Bai can restore those who have lost their legs or are disabled to their original state. This power is beyond comprehension."
Gorou nodded firmly as he looked at Kokomi.
"Those who have lost their legs, restored to their original state?"
"This... how is this possible..."
Kokomi stared at the confident Gorou in disbelief.
"It's true. If Lady Sangonomiya doesn't believe me, you can ask Kiji and the others."
"That white light that shot straight into the sky even partially restored the weather in the Musou no Hitotachi, which has been constantly thundering and raining for years."
Gorou explained to Kokomi.
"If you don't believe me, look over there, Lady Sangonomiya."
Gorou pointed toward the sky above where the god Orobashi had fallen.
There was a round hole there with sunlight shining through from above.
While around the hole, dark clouds gathered and heavy rain fell.
"This..."
Kokomi stared at the location of the hole, her eyes wide, too shocked to speak.
"It seems what Gorou said is true."
Kokomi thought to herself in astonishment as she gazed at the sunlight pouring through the hole.
If what Gorou said was true, then it appeared that this Mr. Qiu Bai truly was a divine being.
Just now, Qiu Bai had mentioned his body being pierced by the Raiden Shogun, but she hadn't seen any wound at all.
"A god?"
Kokomi turned her gaze toward the place where Orobashi had fallen, where there was an enormous snake skull, and murmured.
"I understand, Gorou. But I need to return to Sangonomiya Palace first."
"Take care."
Kokomi took a deep breath, then smiled at Gorou.
Meanwhile, Teppei, Qiu Bai, the Traveler, and Paimon stood by a beach.
"Are you ready?"
"Then let's set off."
Teppei smiled at Qiu Bai and the Traveler.
"Yes, let's go to Sangonomiya Palace."
Qiu Bai replied to Teppei.
The group then boarded a boat and sailed toward Watatsumi Island.
"By the way, Teppei."
"Why was the god Orobashi slain by the Raiden Shogun?"
Paimon asked Teppei, who stood on the deck, with curiosity.
"That huge snake skeleton looks so scary."
Paimon recalled the giant snake skeleton with some fear. It was similar to when they had faced Osial.
"Hmm... Orobashi brought our ancestors from Enkanomiya to the surface."
"That's how Watatsumi Island came to be."
Teppei pondered for a moment, stroking his chin, then explained to the confused Paimon.
"Our ancestors always regarded Him as a guardian deity, but during the Archon War, Orobashi invaded Yashiori Island."
"The Raiden Shogun personally came and slew Him with the Musou no Hitotachi, which formed the present-day Musoujin Gorge."
Teppei explained, gesturing with his hands.
"Kazuha once told me about the Musoujin Gorge."
"Although I had some mental preparation, seeing it was still shocking."
Paimon looked at Qiu Bai and the Traveler beside her, spreading her hands as she spoke.
"Yes, the Archon War was extremely brutal, and Yashiori Island was reduced to ruins in that battle."
"It's said that the Shogun also lost something precious at that time."
Teppei turned around, looking at the snake skeleton of Yashiori Island in the distance, speaking slowly.
"After Orobashi death, Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate forces have often been at odds."
"But this time, the formation of the resistance isn't about faith—it's specifically against the Vision Hunt Decree."
Teppei turned back to face Qiu Bai and the others, explaining.
"Orobashi was destroying civilization, and the Shogun stepped forward to stop Him!"
"Now the Shogun has issued the Vision Hunt Decree, depriving people of their ambitions."
"Someone must stand up to stop the Shogun as well."
Teppei placed a hand on his chest, speaking with determination.
"Hehe, Teppei is quite rational."
"However, the true reason for Orobashi's invasion of Yashiori Island..."
Qiu Bai smiled at Teppei explanation, then turned his gaze toward the islands high in the sky.
(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! 😊)