The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

Kiana did as she was told and stopped, scratching her head somewhat embarrassedly.

"I'm sorry, I saw you were a little excited."

"Well..."

Yae no Miko closed her eyes in a bit of helplessness, unsure whether to complain or just laugh it off.

Would someone do a wall slam on someone the moment they meet them?

Besides, why would she come to me?

"What brings you here? Are you requesting an exorcism? If so..."

Yae no Miko didn't want to have much to say about Kiana.

The feeling of being controlled she had just experienced still makes her a little uneasy, even now.

I still need to find a way to get her away...

"It's nothing, I just wanted to confirm if that person was you. Turns out it really was you, that's great!"

Kiana touched her head and smiled happily.

His smile was so innocent...

Yae no Miko felt that this girl was just there to mess with her.

"Are you trying to force me to tell you why I'm observing you? Heh, you don't need to—!"

She hadn't finished speaking.

"Kiana! Kiana!"

Paimon's voice suddenly came from afar.

Upon hearing this, Kiana immediately shouted in agreement, then turned her head to leave.

Before they had taken more than a few steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back to grab her hand.

"We'll meet again!"

"No need to see you again, you..."

Yae no Miko tried to pull her hand back, but unexpectedly failed.

Feeling the other person's burning heat, she increasingly felt like she was being toyed with.

"We'll definitely meet again!"

"Really, you don't need to..."

Unfortunately, this was not the case for Kiana, who had already seen the script.

Yae no Miko's denial is utterly ridiculous.

She smiled confidently, then turned and left.

Watching the girl calmly walk away, her steps carrying an unusual confidence.

Yae no Miko touched the back of her hand, unsure how to describe her feelings at that moment...

Kiana's disappearance once again intrigued both Luminous and Paimon.

However, after obtaining the important item, the two did not continue to ask questions, but returned to the abandoned temple to start solving the mystery.

After a series of tedious puzzle-solving steps, the three finally obtained the necessary items for purification and learned about the stories surrounding the Divine Cherry Blossom Great Exorcism.

After obtaining the key item, the next step is to find the site of the prayer.

This isn't too difficult, since with Kiana's guidance, Luminous and Paimon wouldn't get lost even if they were blindfolded.

After successfully reaching the iron gate and obtaining the key to open it, the group quickly began to solve the mystery.

Having gained experience from her first attempt, Ying now has some expertise in purification techniques.

This time, she carefully adjusted the sequence and began her prayer after a brief review.

As the light coalesced into a line, the phantom warrior appeared...

"Ying, let's go!"

"Ah."

This time, Kiana did not choose to continue watching from afar, but instead took action with restraint, fighting alongside Luminous against the Phantom Warrior.

Even with the two of them working together to fight the enemy, this phantom warrior couldn't last as long as the previous one before being defeated.

"You... have the upper hand."

And just as the monster fell, a familiar voice quietly rang out.

"Thank you both for your hard work."

Hearing the sound, the three turned around and saw Hana Sanri appear behind them once again.

"Alas!"

Paimon stared at the witch with astonishment.

Song of Flames and Lightning (Genshin Impact Inazuma Main Story): Chapter Twelve, Let's Sit in the Pot?

"Why are you here again..." Ying said with some displeasure, hands on her hips, clearly annoyed by Hana Sanri's unpredictable appearances.

After all, it's quite suspicious that a client keeps showing up on the route she has to take for the mission every few days; it gives the impression that she's being followed.

Hana-san was naturally aware of Hotaru's thoughts, so she quickly apologized: "I'm so sorry. Some things are just habits, I guess."

Before she could finish speaking, Paimon angrily interrupted her.

"Wait a minute! Why are you following us again? Aren't you going to say hello?"

Paimon's interruptions are always so sudden, even catching people off guard.

Faced with her questioning, Hana Sanri was speechless again.

At this moment, Ying, who was standing to the side, sighed helplessly and then said:

"Don't say that..."

Kiana nodded slowly, expressing her complete agreement.

"She must be having some difficulties."

Seeing this, Paimon realized his mistake and began to apologize.

However, Hana Sanri did not concern himself with these minor details of the character roots.

"Don't worry about it. The successful removal of this barrier has advanced the Great Purification process a bit further, and I really thank you both."

Upon hearing this, Paimon tentatively raised his own question:

"Speaking of which, what exactly is the Divine Cherry Blossom Great Purification? Is it the same as the purification you had us do before?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ying took out the Great Exorcism Manual she had obtained from the abandoned shrine.

As soon as the book was published, Paimon complained: "I understand it, but it also feels like I don't really understand it. I feel like I can't understand it at all."

So you mean you didn't understand?

The three looked at each other, and then Kiana and Ying fixed their gazes on Hana Sanri.

"...So that means they can't understand it? It's clearly written in standard written language, are people nowadays unable to understand it anymore...?"

"People these days? Hey, how old are you anyway?!"

"Hundreds or thousands, maybe even longer?" Kiana suddenly interjected.

"This...how could that be! Such a question is incredibly rude."

After being overwhelmed by the trio's combined moves, Hana Sanri's tone became quite unsettling.

Seeing her so flustered, Ying and Paimon exchanged bewildered glances.

"She doesn't seem to be denying it?"

"He's probably angry with Paimon."

"Huh? Why me?" Paimon covered his mouth, looking at Kiana with a wronged expression.

The two stared at each other for a while, then looked at Hana Sanri at the same time.

"...In short, the Divine Sakura Great Purification is a ritual of evolution. The Rai-Sakura of Narukami Island can absorb the impurities from the earth. But over time..."

As Hana Sanri gradually explained the reason for the so-called Great Purification and the details of the purification ritual, Ying and Paimon became increasingly clear about the Great Purification.

Finally, Hana Sanri lamented that the filthy incarnation had now transformed into a vicious fallen warrior.

Paimon seized the opportunity to ask what would happen if the Thunder Cherry withered without the Great and Small Exorcisms.

As if stirred by memories of the past, Hana Sanri slowly looked up.

"I remember... no, according to records, several hundred years ago, Lei Ying almost withered away. At that time, demons ravaged the land. Even the sea turned black. Shen Ying tried very hard to absorb the evil energy, and in the end, she almost completely withered and died."

This bizarre and dramatic past was so captivating that neither Ying nor Paimon noticed the subtle flaw that Hana Sanri inadvertently revealed.

Kiana saw through it all but didn't say anything, simply listening quietly to their conversation.

Having said almost everything, Hana Sanri suddenly announced that she had prepared some dishes and hoped everyone would enjoy them.

Paimon, who seemed never to get hungry, was naturally overjoyed to have something to eat.

Then, Hana Sanri took out the 'tree root'...

Looking at the dishes that looked delicious and appealing, Ying and Paimon were overjoyed.

Kiana, do you want some?

Ying's invitation seemed so friendly.

However...

Kiana didn't open her mouth immediately when the food was brought to her lips.

"root..."

Just as she was considering whether she should decline Ying's invitation.