Lu Bu, the Thunder General, is my adoptive father in Genshin Impact.

Kujo didn't speak, but nodded seriously.

Watching Xiao Yi's figure disappear into the distant night, Kujo Sara was filled with admiration.

Although he was not a warrior, and even the sword at his waist looked like a piece of junk picked up from the ground, he could still speak principles that made even a warrior like himself feel ashamed. Remarkable!

On the other side, Xiao Yi walked alone in the desolate wilderness.

"Why be so heartless, Miss Kujo?" he muttered. "What's wrong with letting me sleep here for one night?"

The rattling of the wooden wheels crushing the stones was particularly loud, and a magnificent carriage sped toward him.

The carriage stopped not far in front of Xiao Yi. With the help of the lantern on the carriage, Xiao Yi noticed that the driver had a familiar and friendly face.

Thomas smiled and said, "I knew she wouldn't let anyone stay overnight, so I came to pick you up."

"Thoma, my Superman!" Xiao Yi exclaimed in delight.

Xiao Yi nimbly jumped into the carriage and asked curiously, "Where are you taking me to stay? It's not to Kamisato Yashiki, is it?"

Thomas said mysteriously, "Let's put rest aside for now. The night is still long. Why don't we go to the city and have some fun?"

Xiao Yi asked in confusion, "Where are we going to find some fun?"

Thomas replied without hesitation: "A place that suits your tastes."

Xiao Yi was even more bewildered.

Hobbies? When did I ever tell him about my hobbies? Wait a minute!

A few days ago, when we first met: My name is Xiao Yi, I'm not a respectable person, I'm a good...

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but give a thumbs up, full of anticipation.

Chapter 10 The Three Great Ghost Stories of Inazuma

The carriage bumped along the road, and even though the wilderness was pitch black at night, Thomas was still able to drive the vehicle smoothly.

"This afternoon, Kujo seemed to mistake you for someone else, and even shot an arrow at you directly," Thomas asked bluntly. "She doesn't seem like the type to be so careless, so I'm curious, could you really be Miyamoto Tsubasa?"

Having learned from his previous experience that "a word from a wise man is worth more than a single conversation," he decided that in the future, if he had any doubts, he would ask the person directly instead of beating around the bush.

However, Xiao Yi remained silent, and the scene instantly became cold and quiet.

"It's okay if you don't want to answer..." Thomas quickly smoothed things over.

Xiao Yi sighed helplessly and said nonchalantly, "If you think it is, then it is. I don't want to deny it. Just don't let Kujo Sara know."

Since everyone thought his surname was Miyamoto, Xiao Yi could only say, "Ah, yes, yes, yes." Anyway, Thomas and the magistrate wouldn't spread it around, so it wouldn't do any harm for the time being.

Besides, he remembered that Shinkai had said that "Miyamoto Tsubasa's identity is very clean," so there was no reason for the company magistrate to hate him for it.

Furthermore, being appropriately honest can reduce Thomas's suspicions about him, so why not?

“Wow!” Thomas exclaimed.

"Don't you find it disgusting, Mr. Housekeeper?" Xiao Yi shrugged. "There's a notorious thief sitting in your carriage."

"Disgusting? Of course not," Thomas replied decisively. "I'd rather drive for you than your brother who's a slam winner—oh, sorry, I shouldn't have said that in front of you."

Xiao Yi felt a sense of unease stemming from a cognitive disconnect.

In his own memory, Miyajiro was capable and kind, but in other people's descriptions, he was a wicked and domineering man who destroyed the peace of Inazuma.

There must be some kind of misunderstanding. In order to solve the mystery, Xiao Yi decided to directly ask Thomas.

"What kind of image do the Miyamoto brothers have in the eyes of your company's magistrate and the people of Inatsuma?"

The blond youth hesitated for a few seconds before replying, "According to the investigation report released by the Heavenly Territory Enforcer, your brother has a penchant for murder and arson, using innocent civilians as test subjects. Contrary to his image as a warrior, he is also a genius at making bombs, making him even more terrifying."

Of the above descriptions, only the bomb-making matches Xiao Yi's impression: Gong Jibenlang usually likes to tinker with various explosives and can even transform scrap into dangerous items.

Of course, this was also Miyamoto Jiro's only hobby. As for murder and arson, Xiao Yi had never seen them.

Thomas continued, "You are the complete opposite of your brother. You actively sheltered war refugees and cleared out bandits around remote villages. Although you occasionally plundered the shogunate's resources, it was all for the purpose of helping the poor..."

Xiao Yi raised his hand to his forehead and fell silent.

It seems that someone attributed all of Miyamoto Jiro's good deeds to Xiao Yi, and then somehow found a bunch of bad things to pin on Miyamoto Jiro's head.

Thomas, who was half focused on driving, naturally didn't notice Xiao Yi's reaction.

"What I've said so far is information officially recognized by the shogunate. What I'm about to say is just some random talk I overheard at an izakaya. If you don't want to hear it, I can stop here."

"It's okay, let's continue." Xiao Yi didn't care.

He wanted to hear just how outrageous the rumors could be.

Thomas pondered for a moment, then spoke eloquently: "Rumor has it that you have been hunting down your brother, wanting to personally eliminate this scourge that is your own flesh and blood. I heard that Miyamoto Jiro was arrested and imprisoned by the Coral Palace. You don't want him to die at the hands of outsiders, so you infiltrated the Coral Palace intending to rescue him first and then get rid of him."

"Then you met the love of your life, the living goddess priestess of Umijima Island, Coral Palace Heart Sea. Two innocent hearts collided, forming an inseparable bond. For her, you were willing to give up your obsessions and serve Umijima Island wholeheartedly—which is also the reason why the Miyamoto brothers have recently disappeared in the eyes of outsiders..."

"Stop, stop!" Xiao Yi couldn't take it anymore. At this moment, his face seemed to be wearing a mask of pain. "Even novels wouldn't dare to make this up."

"So it was wrong after all? It seems rumors are unreliable!" Thomas exclaimed. "Although I am curious as to why the wandering thief Miyamoto Tsubasa joined the Coral Palace, that is your personal privacy, and I cannot ask too many questions."

"I'll tell you slowly when it's convenient for me," Xiao Yi said with a wry smile. "The truth is quite different from the rumors."

“Speaking of rumors and strange tales, these are a specialty of Inazuma City. Like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, a whole bunch of them sprout up every few months.” Thomas steered the conversation in a lighter direction. “For example, recently, three great strange tales have appeared in the city.”

"The Three Great Strange Tales?" Xiao Yi, who had been staying on Haiqi Island for a long time, had never heard of them. "Tell me in detail."

Thomas tied the reins to his left hand, raised his right hand and extended three fingers, gesturing, "First, it is you Miyamoto brothers. Since you are not interested in rumors, let's skip that for now."

He folded his ring finger, making a gesture that looked like he was making a "V" sign.

"Secondly, 'Sui'. We mortals call the resentment left by ancient demons and gods 'Sui Shen' (祟神), which is an extremely harmful and unclean thing. The so-called Sui is actually a person, a person shrouded in darkness, who is said to be able to control the evil power of Sui Shen at will."

"When this thing appears, it's accompanied by extremely heavy breathing, and it seems to suck the life out of living people. It's very strange..."

Xiao Yi had heard enough of these boring stories before he transmigrated; he was sick of them.

The principle is simple: fabricate a mysterious and eerie existence, preferably one that is close to real life, so that the audience will scare themselves and then spread the word to those around them.

Ultimately, the misinformation spread and became increasingly terrifying, eventually leading to the formation of various subcultures, such as TV series, movies, animations, and even books...

"That's such a cliché urban legend, it's so unbelievable!" Xiao Yi thought to himself.

“I’m not really interested in demons and monsters,” he said. “What about the third ghost story?”

“The third one has nothing to do with ghosts or monsters; it’s a legend about a mysterious organization.” Thomas broke off his middle finger, leaving only his index finger. “After the war, many soldiers were so deeply mired in fighting and killing that they banded together for warmth, hoping to reignite the flames of war.”

"This one is quite interesting," Xiao Yi commented.

“But I find this even less believable than the second ghost story.” Thomas lowered his arm and gripped the reins with both hands. “The organization is called ‘War Maniac,’ and there are even rumors that the War Maniacs are planning to assassinate our White Heron Princess and frame the Coral Palace to start a war…”

"Then aren't you nervous at all?" Xiao Yi teased. "Hurry up and turn around and go to Kamisato Yashiki to save the young lady."

Thomas laughed heartily, "Haha, who would be nervous because of alarmist rumors? Miss Kamisato herself has heard the news, and she even found it quite interesting."

Xiao Yi suddenly heard the sound of rushing water. It seemed that the carriage was crossing a shallow area. Because the ground was wet and slippery, Tuoma began to concentrate on driving the vehicle.

"Where are we going?" Xiao Yi asked.

He had not forgotten his promise to Thomas to take him out for fun, and to find fun that suited Thomas's tastes.

“It’s a bit troublesome to go into Inazuma Castle in the middle of the night, let’s go to the outlying island,” Thomas replied.

As long as there's a place to stay overnight, Xiao Yi isn't picky about the location.

He stopped bothering Thomas while he was driving, ceased the conversation, and slumped in his seat, allowing his tired body to slowly regain its energy.

Chapter 11 Assassination Attack on Kamisato

A port town on Narukami Island, a remote island.

The transshipment of goods by local merchants, the operation of various shops, and the voyages of the shogunate's fishing boats all depended on this historically significant safe harbor.

The combined effect of these advantages has made the remote island the most prosperous economic region on Narukami Island, outside of Inazuma Castle.

Thomas led Xiao Yi on a journey through the city, eventually arriving at a place resembling a red-light district. The surrounding area was brightly lit and vibrant, and even late at night, the street's energy remained undiminished.

They approached a mysterious large wooden house. Even though the doors and windows were closed, they could still sense the bustling activity inside. The closed doors only added to the mystery.

"Is this the place that suits my taste?" Xiao Yi asked expectantly.

He couldn't wait to rush into the magic house in front of him.

Thomas nodded firmly.

Xiao Yi suddenly flung open the door, and a stunning scene came into view.

The house was brightly lit and filled with a strong smell of alcohol. Dozens of wooden tables were set up in the spacious hall, where burly men gathered together, chatting and drinking sake or spirits while enjoying side dishes such as pickled radishes and fennel beans.

Xiao Yi stood motionless, as if carved from stone.

"Is this what you meant by catering to my interests?" he asked again, puzzled.

Without hesitation, Thomas said, "That's right. I clearly remember you saying when we first met that you love drinking so much that you drink it like water. This is the best izakaya in Inazuma, Mr. Miyamoto. Please don't be shy and drink to your heart's content."

Xiao Yi sighed: So that's all you remember?

In a sense, Thomas did put in some effort. He wasn't a drinker, but he came here to please Xiao Yi and silently endured the pervasive smell of alcohol.

Officially, Thomas felt that maintaining good relations with the spies on Umijima Island would not harm the Society's leadership; personally, Thomas admired Miyamoto Tsubasa's character and wanted to befriend him.

Therefore, he deliberately stayed up late at night and took Xiao Yi out to kill time.

As for Xiao Yi, he didn't actually like alcohol. He only drank heavily to survive. But now that Thomas had gone this far, he couldn't just tell the truth directly. So he went along with it and walked into the lively izakaya.

Knowing that Thomas was a teetotaler, he exclaimed in surprise, "I didn't see you drinking during the time we were on the ship, so I thought you didn't like to drink. I didn't expect you to be so familiar with this kind of place!"

Thomas spread his hands and smiled as he replied, "Besides being a housekeeper, my job occasionally involves dealing with minor troubles for the company magistrate. Izakayas are places where I can get a lot of information, so they're places I have to go for work. To be honest, even so, my alcohol tolerance is still particularly low."

Compared to other cramped izakayas, this building is more like a Mondstadt pub, with many tables and a spacious, bright layout.

Xiao Yi didn't dislike this layout, but other questions arose in his mind: "Shouldn't the best izakaya in Inatsume be in Inatsume Castle? Why is it on an outlying island?"

Thomas said with a hint of helplessness, "If only izakayas were just for drinking. Inazuma Castle has very strict regulations, so these kinds of shops can't be opened at all. But the islands are under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner for the Administration of Relocation, so most shops can operate as long as they pay enough money."

In other words, there is a hidden secret within the tavern... Xiao Yi thought to himself.

The two approached the bar, and Thomas greeted the bartender.

"Long time no see, how's business lately?"