The two of them walked among the villages on Watatsumi Island.
"Since that time, the relationship between Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate forces has become somewhat delicate."
Kokomi explained, looking at Qiu Bai beside her.
"The prejudice between them has grown deeper and deeper."
"Hmm..."
"After the Archon War ended, your god..."
Qiu Bai was about to say something when an elderly man interrupted him.
"Lady Sangonomiya, what brings you to visit us today?"
"You look less healthy than the last time I saw you. Please take care of yourself; you're our greatest support."
The old man said kindly to Kokomi.
"Yes, don't worry, I'm fine."
Kokomi turned to face the elderly man, nodding with a smile.
"Lady Sangonomiya, we've been fighting against the Shogunate forces for so long."
"We must persevere until the end, otherwise the god who protected us would have died in vain..."
The elderly woman beside the old man said to Sangonomiya Kokomi, her voice filled with concern.
"Enough, enough, that's all in the past..."
"It would be better to end the war soon and live peacefully."
The old man frowned at his wife.
"I know that, but at the very least we should..."
"At the very least, we should win this war."
The elderly woman sighed, looking at her husband.
"I understand."
"As long as the Vision Hunt Decree isn't abolished, we resistance fighters won't give up."
Sangonomiya Kokomi said with a smile to the elderly couple.
"Lady Sangonomiya, please be careful..."
The old man said with concern.
Kokomi smiled and nodded, then walked with Qiu Bai toward a hillside.
Looking down at the many houses below, Kokomi's feelings were complex.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, you've seen it for yourself."
"Though there are issues of faith, they have gradually faded with time."
Kokomi turned to face Qiu Bai, speaking slowly.
"But, just like that elderly woman from earlier."
"Some residents of Watatsumi Island still hold a grudge about the Shogun slaying Orobashi."
Kokomi said with furrowed brows.
"I see..."
"However, having faith in a fallen god truly brings no benefit."
Qiu Bai stroked his chin, looking at Kokomi as he spoke.
"The origin of the Sangonomiya Shrine is precisely from that god."
"But this war has nothing to do with faith."
Kokomi replied with furrowed brows.
"He had another name, didn't he?"
"Watatsumi Omikami, right?"
Qiu Bai asked slowly.
"That's right. Back then, Orobashi sheltered us and we called him Watatsumi Omikami, Lord Tokoyo Yomigami."
"The shrine maidens were responsible for handling various affairs, with the Divine Priestess leading them and governing all matters."
Kokomi nodded, not denying what he said.
"Well then, Kokomi, do you trust me?"
Qiu Bai smiled and asked.
"Of course I trust you, but why do you ask, Mr. Qiu Bai?"
Kokomi looked at him curiously.
"You already know about my identity as a god, don't you?"
Qiu Bai said with his arms folded across his chest.
"Gorou already told me."
"Though we couldn't confirm it, I didn't expect Mr. Qiu Bai to admit it himself."
Kokomi said in surprise.
She hadn't expected Qiu Bai to so openly admit his identity.
"That's right, I am the eighth god of the mortal realm."
"The God of Yin and Yang, Morciud. You could also call me the God of Balance."
Qiu Bai said with a smile.
"You... you are the Immortal Lord from Liyue?"
"I never thought I'd actually meet you in person."
Kokomi said, shocked.
So this Mr. Qiu Bai was the deity who had slain the Vortex Sea God Osial with a single strike.
"Kokomi, I should warn you first that what I'm about to say concerns your faith."
"And everything I'm about to tell you is the truth. As the representative of balance in the mortal world, I naturally would not lie."
Qiu Bai spoke slowly.
"Please, go ahead."
Kokomi frowned slightly at his expression.
"The Kingdom of Byakuya, which is now Enkanomiya."
"In a cataclysmic battle, the Kingdom of Byakuya fell into the dark abyss of the sea."
"The one who caused Byakuya to fall into the abyss didn't want anyone who remembered that battle to remain on the surface."
"The people of Byakuya searched for a way home but could never find it, until much later when 'that person' power gradually weakened."
"The god Orobashi, due to his misfortune, fell to Byakuya, which was outside 'that person' domain."
"This was undoubtedly fortunate for the people of Byakuya."
"He truly did many things for the people of Byakuya."
"But because of his contact with the people of Byakuya, he also touched upon certain taboos."
"So he had no choice but to seek a heroic death."
"One that would prevent people from questioning the secrets behind it."
"To help the people of Byakuya return to the surface, he launched an attack toward Narukami Island."
"In the end, Orobashi, who had no real intention to attack, fell under the Musou no Hitotachi of the Raiden Shogun."
"But everything he did was for your ancestors."
"It was to help your ancestors gain the protection of the Raiden Shogun."
Qiu Bai closed his eyes slightly as he recounted this story to Kokomi.
"And now, Orobashi wish has probably been fulfilled."
"However, there are indeed some errors in your faith."
Qiu Bai said calmly to the stunned Kokomi.
"Mr. Qiu Bai, are you saying..."
"That Orobashi touched upon certain taboos, which forced him to find a way to die."
"Then Orobashi found the best way to die, which was to fall under the Shogun blade."
"To make the Shogun protect our ancestors?"
Kokomi pondered with her hand on her chin, then looked up at Qiu Bai and spoke softly.
"That's right, this is the truth..."
"But having faith in a deceased god truly brings no benefit."
Qiu Bai nodded and turned around to look at the setting sun in the distance, murmuring.
In the glow of twilight, Watatsumi Island was filled with a dreamlike yellow mist, making it look incredibly beautiful.
"Thank you, Mr. Qiu Bai."
"For telling me the truth about ancient times."
Kokomi smiled and nodded as she looked at Qiu Bai silhouette.
In truth, Kokomi faith wasn't that deep.
She had started the war to oppose the Vision Hunt Decree.
Their ancestral god Orobashi wasn't wrong.
But the Shogun, who stopped Orobashi from invading Narukami Island, wasn't wrong either.
Faith was such a thing that even if she could let it go, some of the people of Watatsumi Island probably couldn't do the same.
(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! 😊)