Honkai Impact

The shrine was built at the highest point in the village, just as the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon.

Their family has lived here for generations, and the father is the current head priest of the Yae Shrine. If nothing unexpected happens, Yae Sakura will become a shrine maiden in a few years to fill the vacancy in the shrine.

When his father grows old, perhaps he will succeed him as the head of the Yae Shrine and continue to protect the village.

The morning breeze was a bit chilly, so Yaeji found some water to drink. These past few years have seen frequent droughts, and the villagers' harvests have been dwindling. If this continues, let alone water for crops and livestock, even people won't be able to afford to drink water.

The village patrol team has stopped patrolling these past few days. A few days ago, Yaeji could faintly hear arguments coming from inside the council chamber.

It's a question about sacrificial rites.

It's unclear when it started, but whenever such a disaster struck the village, people would offer sacrifices to the local deity, hoping for rain. This method usually worked; often, rain would fall a few days after the sacrifice.

However, Yae Kiyoshi was very disgusted by this.

Because the offerings required for the ritual had to be pure young girls!

Since the previous priestess died in battle, these kinds of rituals have been performed by his father—the village's shrine priest. Things were fine a few years ago when the weather was good, but now…

He will never forget the scene from that sacrificial ceremony a few years ago.

Yaeji shook his head vigorously, sweat beading on his damp hair. He slapped his forehead hard with his small hands. Why was he thinking about such nonsense?

Frustrated, Yae Ji grabbed a wooden training sword from the side and brandished it, as if trying to vent the inexplicable frustration rising in her heart and recklessly squandering her physical strength.

Side slash with knife! Backhand sweep!

Yae Ji naturally began to use the [Falling Cherry Blossom Slash] that his mother had taught him.

One section!

Second stage!

Three sections!

Four sections!

Five dan!

Just as he was sheathing his sword and preparing to use the Body Flicker Technique, Yae Ji froze.

He lost control and the wooden sword in his hand fell to the ground along with Yaeji.

The first four stages of the [Cherry Blossom Slash] are not particularly difficult. The main challenge begins from the fifth stage, which requires utilizing the power generated by the body's rotation. If one tries to imitate it intentionally, the movements will appear extremely stiff, and not everyone can replicate it. Even his father only managed the fifth stage of the [Cherry Blossom Slash] so-so, and its power was not as great as the first four stages.

But he just unintentionally and smoothly executed the fifth stage! He even almost used the sixth stage's Body Flicker!

Yae Ji stared blankly at the wooden training knife in her hand.

Get into position.

Side slash with the sword! Backhand sweep! Spin around the waist and slash again! Backhand upward flick! Using the momentum to spin the waist, the whole body rotates in the air, all the power is concentrated on the long sword! Immediately afterward, turn around to gather power, and flash away!

He transformed into a blur and "teleported" forward seven or eight meters, with a faint glint of cherry-colored blade light visible in the distance!

"Try this!"

Yae Ki turned her head and saw that her father had thrown a sharpened katana at her.

"Snapped!"

The little hand gripped the hilt firmly. The katana was much longer than a regular samurai sword, let alone for a child like Yaeji.

With a slight concentration, Yae Ji unleashed the sixth stage of the [Falling Cherry Blossom Slash] with effortless grace.

The final flash of light from the blade severed a stone pillar beside the shrine!

"Father."

The middle-aged man, who was deep in thought, looked at Yae Ji, and the image of his deceased wife seemed to appear in the son in front of him.

"Sigh," the middle-aged man suddenly sighed, "It's a pity you're not a girl."

"Huh?" Yae Ji was slightly taken aback, not understanding her father's meaning for a moment.

Ignoring Yae Ji, the middle-aged man continued, "Legend has it that those who fully unleash the [Falling Cherry Blossom Slash] using the power of swords can unleash unexpected power and easily slay monsters."

Thinking of the man-eating bear demon she had seen yesterday, Yae Ji felt a chill run down her spine. Her head drooped, and her expression shifted from excitement to dejection.

“Father, I have not comprehended any incredible power, nor do I have the confidence to slay the monster.”

A large hand covered Yaeji's small head and vigorously rubbed it, making a mess of her beautiful pink hair.

“You’re still young. One day you’ll become a shaman even stronger than your mother, and a swordsman even stronger than your mother. Keep this sword. When you have free time, you can go to the room where the spirit sword is enshrined and try to comprehend it.”

Yae Ji struggled to lift her head under her father's large hand, her bangs pressed down and covering her eyes, but a bright light of expectation burst forth in her eerie eyes.

"Really? Can I touch the spirit sword?"

"If Cherry Blossom Blizzard allows it, you might be able to use it."

Chapter Four: The Best Knife in the Village

There are many side halls next to the main shrine. Although they are called "halls", they are not that big. For a relatively poor village, the fact that they were able to spend enough manpower and resources to build a rather large shrine is enough to show their respect for the gods.

The main hall, facing the shrine gate, is where the gods are enshrined, and the large open space in front of the main hall is also the site for holding rituals.

The deity enshrined in Yae Village is a "fox god." As for what the god actually looks like, Yae Ji doesn't know yet and can only make some guesses based on the fox masks left in the shrine.

Ever since witnessing that ritual as a child, Yae Ji's profound respect for the gods has gradually diminished.

He always had a bold idea in his mind.

According to records, heavy rains would fall after each ritual to alleviate the drought in Yae Village. The villagers gave the fox god countless titles, but the most common one was "rain god".

How could a territory that worships a rain god experience frequent droughts? In Yaeji's opinion, the 'fox god' they worship is probably not a 'fire god'.

Of course, he only kept this disrespectful thought to himself, not even telling his two closest sisters. If this were to come from the mouth of Yae no Kami's child, what difference would it make from a massive earthquake?

Yaeji put a period to the little drama in her mind, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door of a side hall.

The fragrance of cherry blossoms, like the sunlight eagerly rushing into the hall, filled Yaeji's nostrils.

The fragrance is very subtle, yet it evokes a sense of comfort and pleasure.

Apart from a platform and a specially made wooden frame on the platform displaying knives, there was only one exquisitely crafted long knife in this side hall.

The originally simple side hall was elevated once again under the influence of the sword's artistic conception. As long as someone enters the hall, their eyes will be drawn to the long sword, and no amount of decorations around it will help.

At first, Yae Kiyoshi didn't believe it, but now, all that remained in his world was that sword.

The sword is a sacred sword enshrined in the shrine, and it has a beautiful name, like cherry blossoms—'Sakura Fubuki'.

Yae Ji didn't know when Sakura Fubuki appeared at the shrine, but Sakura Fubuki was definitely older than him; perhaps his deceased grandparents knew its origins.

However, none of this matters. Legend has it that a certain shrine maiden of the Yae family gleaned the secret from 'Cherry Blossom Blizzard'. As a result, any member of the Yae clan who can unleash all six stages of the [Falling Cherry Blossom Slash] is qualified to enter the territory of 'Cherry Blossom Blizzard'.

The eightfold sky cleared, and he held his breath.

The name 'Cherry Blossom Blizzard' is not made up; this spirit sword has too many cherry blossom elements. The slightly curved blade is the color of cherry blossoms, and the transition at the tip, perhaps due to the lighting, has a touch of cherry blossom white that blends in perfectly.

The material used to make the handle doesn't seem to be wood; it's unclear what it is. The knife is divided into three sections, composed of white, black, and gray colors, with what appears to be a cherry blossom emblem made of gray and white at the front.

The back of the tsuba, or rather the hilt, is composed of a patch of snow-white fur, which looks more and more like fox fur to Yaeji.

Could it be the Fox God?

The guard protrudes slightly, extending a distance forward from the back of the blade, giving it a sharpness comparable to the blade itself, adding a fierce edge to the already stunning 'Cherry Blossom Blizzard'.

The entire sword has too many connections with 'cherry blossoms', and the master craftsman who forged the Spirit Blade must have been captivated by cherry blossoms.

The image of his younger sister, Yae Sakura, flashed through Yae Ji's mind. In his opinion, this sword was a perfect match for her!

To be honest, his swordsmanship as the older brother wasn't as good as Yae Sakura's, if it weren't for...

Yae frowned, and a picture resembling a blue panel immediately flashed in her mind.

Branch of 【Sakura Slash】

[Wild Flowers Bloom and Split]

【Chaotic Blade】

[Dispersion]

Skill points?

And there's also a shrine maiden who defies the gods!

Defying God!

Yaeji's delicate face turned slightly pale. Although he had thoughts of disrespecting the gods, the consequences of disobeying or rebelling against the gods were far greater than those of disrespecting them.

Yae Ji glanced fearfully at Sakura Fubuki, whose cherry-colored blade was emitting a faint glow. Recalling the various events in his previous dream, he could easily imagine a grand drama unfolding in his mind.

The [Falling Cherry Blossom Slash] technique was learned from the Cherry Blossom Blizzard. After using skill points to unlock the three branches of [Falling Cherry Blossom Slash], the words 'Rebellious Goddess' will light up.

The fox god would never use human knives!

Could it be that 'Cherry Blossom Blizzard' was once the weapon used by the Rebellious God Priestess?

'No! This must be the monster from the evil long box affecting me!'

Yaeji seemed to be under a spell.

The scent of cherry blossoms drew him in, and the words 'Rebellious Goddess' kept appearing in his mind. Yae Ji first bowed to the spirit sword Cherry Blossom, then steeled himself and walked to the spirit sword's side.

The subtle scent of cherry blossoms is just right, and the wooden frame displaying the cherry blossom blizzard is enveloped in this atmosphere year-round, making it appear even more mysterious.

Yae Ji's heart raced, and all thoughts of gods vanished from her mind as her cherry-white fingertips lightly touched the blade.

Slightly cool.

Whether it was Yaeji's imagination or not, the spirit sword in front of him seemed to tremble slightly like him, and a call from the depths of his bloodline made his hand slowly grasp the hilt of the unknown material.

"Eek!"

Having spent countless years on the wooden frame, Sakura Fubuki let out a sword cry, and the illusion of falling cherry blossoms appeared faintly around her.

'Fancy and overly elaborate.'

Yaeji's expression was strange. He could swear to the most revered fox god that this was definitely not what he truly thought!

"But the falling cherry blossoms and all that is really flashy," Yae Ji murmured.