The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

"How will you know if you don't try? Shall we do it?"

Seeing Paimon's serious expression, Kiana didn't become more nervous or angry; instead, she calmed down.

"You've confused me completely."

This lightning disaster is a unique calamity in the Inazuma region. What causes it, what harm does it cause, and what kind of aftereffects does it leave?

You can find out by simply asking a local expert.

So the next thing to consider isn't who should perform CPR, but rather who should be sought for help...

"Waaaaah! Huff..." Just as Kiana was trying to think of someone she could ask for help, Paimon's sobbing caught her attention.

She looked down and saw that the little guy had somehow started what he called first aid, holding Ying's little head in his arms.

Poor Ying probably never dreamed that she would be taken advantage of by that fool Paimon while she was unconscious.

Finally, after breathing into each other's mouths for a while, Paimon let go and stuck out his little tongue.

"Huff... I feel... huff... my stomach is so empty, my head is so dizzy, so dizzy..."

After muttering a few words, Paimon tilted his head back and collapsed onto Ying's belly, seemingly fainting due to lack of oxygen.

This guy actually managed to knock himself out by sending air into his body?

Kiana looked at Paimon, both amused and exasperated, unsure whether to praise her for her loyalty and compassion or laugh at her lack of tact.

But then something magical happened...

"Kiana... just now, I thought someone was there? Was it... you?"

Ying opened her eyes groggily, covering her forehead and looking completely disoriented.

Clearly, although she was almost unconscious just now, she still retained some of her memories.

Unfortunately, due to the excessive blurring of consciousness, this part of the memory contained a slight error.

"I...I just felt a tightness in my chest, so I tried to inhale deeply, but I didn't expect this?"

Still somewhat dazed, Ying touched her small mouth, her bloodshot eyes filled with disbelief.

She definitely misunderstood something...

Kiana initially wanted to explain directly, but seeing the bloodshot eyes, she temporarily abandoned that idea and instead asked:

Are you alright?

"I feel...awful. Is Paimon injured too?"

"Her? More or less, hmm... Looks like I'll have to find a local with authority to come up with a solution. I don't even know how severe the aftereffects of the lightning strike really are."

Kiana said, gesturing for Ying to hug her tightly, then picked up Paimon with one hand and flew towards Narukami Shrine on the mountain.

...

The shrine in the temple faces the entrance to the mountain.

A lifelike raccoon dog doll stands guard in front of the mountain gate, like a roly-poly toy.

In the distance, in front of the gate of the Kamisato House, a samurai is patrolling back and forth.

High mountains, green trees, and houses.

All these things come together to create a peaceful and serene scene.

However...

A blazing fireball suddenly appeared in the sky, causing the samurai and the roly-poly to look at it.

'Boom!'

With Kiana's arrival, the bricks in front of the Kamisato Residence cracked like shattered glass...

Such a horrifying sight frightened the samurai so much that he immediately drew his sword:

"Who are you! Who are you? Don't go, I want to tell you something—!"

"Get out of my way!"

Kiana gently placed Ying on the ground and then helped her up the mountain, completely ignoring the samurai.

However, the other party seemed to have lost all courage, and hurriedly put away his knife and approached.

"Lord Madarame Hakubei has ordered that if—!"

Before the words were even finished, the roly-poly toy that had been lazing around under the big tree for quite a while suddenly moved!

She suddenly turned around, revealing her true form, and then lunged forward, rolling around, instantly transforming into a spinning, tumbling little ninja.

It rolled towards both sides at a speed that even a young rock dragon could not match.

Then.

She kicked the samurai outside the Shinto shrine, knocking him unconscious to the ground...

The movements were so swift and agile that the opponent didn't even have time to cry out in pain before fainting.

"Huh? Kiana, is she someone you know?"

Paimon, who was perched on Kiana's shoulder, reached out and pointed at the little ninja who was standing there dumbfounded, his tone full of surprise and curiosity.

Kiana did not directly answer this question: "Perhaps it was one of the ninjas from Inazuma's side who came to help when they saw injustice?"

However, no sooner had he finished speaking than the little ninja suddenly came running over on his short legs.

"The final episode, Zaoyou, come on!"

The little ninja, Zaoyou, loudly announced her name, then yawned as if she was about to fall asleep.

The sudden turn of events caused both Ying and Paimon to turn and look at Kiana.

I wonder how she'll deal with this little ninja blocking her way...

Song of Flames and Lightning (Genshin Impact Inazuma Main Story): Chapter 22: Knock Out, Tie Up, or Take Away?

Hayato, a cute little ninja dressed like a tanuki, is the final ninja. Her main duty is to handle the tasks that a ninja should do.

She was a servant of the Kamisato family, just like the unconscious samurai who had collapsed on the ground.

But how could she betray her own teammate in front of a group of outsiders? What kind of behavior is that?

Using public office to settle personal scores?

Kiana, supporting Ying, asked with some doubt, "Do you have a grudge against him?"

"No..."

Zaoyou rubbed her eyes, as if she hadn't woken up yet.

After stretching comfortably, she lowered her head and muttered to herself thoughtfully.

"Although Hongda is fierce, he is a good person."

Kiana was baffled by the little ninja's answer.

Hongda? Are you referring to the samurai lying on the ground?

I didn't notice the good guy, but I did notice the fierce one.

Paimon, who was perched on her shoulder, had a deep understanding of this:

"Good people? Where are they!"

She jumped angrily off Kiana's shoulder, then flew to Yozumi's side and complained:

"I just greeted him, and he actually drew his sword and chased after me! Humph! Zaoyou, you must have been scared by him too, which is why you attacked, right?"

"Uh, um," Zaoyou stared at Kiana and Ying, explaining somewhat embarrassedly, "I don't think I saw them clearly..."

Now the truth is out.

So it turns out that when they were rolling, they couldn't see clearly and mistook friendly forces for enemy forces?

Finally realizing that the little ninja in front of her was actually an enemy, Ying, despite the ravages of the lightning, brought her face close to Kiana's ear:

"How to do?"

"Let's figure out a way to get past her," Kiana replied softly.

"So... knock them out? Tie them up? Or take them away?"

Ah, this...

Kiana was speechless for a moment.

As expected of a traveler who ventured here from Mondstadt and Liyue, they came up with the most efficient and straightforward solution so quickly.

However, I feel that implementing the latter two options would lead to endless troubles.

Let's knock her out and then continue on our way.

"Um... let me handle this. Ninja tricks are nothing special."

Kiana was brimming with confidence in dealing with this silly, cute, and lazy little ninja.

However...

Just as she was about to try her skills and subdue him on the spot.

"Hmm? On your body..." Zaoyou seemed to sense something, and with her short legs, she rushed to Ying and Kiana and raised her head. Her purple eyes seemed to contain great wisdom.

"What's wrong?" Ying asked, her eyes bloodshot and somewhat surprised.

"If you feel unwell, you can go up the mountain to find the shrine maiden..."

There are quite a few witches on the mountain, but it is currently unknown who she is referring to.

However, the fact that this little guy actually offered a reminder shows that she didn't have much hostility at all.

Thinking of this, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, little raccoon, but... I don't know how to get up the mountain. Could you show me the way?" Ying forced a smile.

Upon hearing her unreasonable request, Zaoyou pouted and shook her head.

"The eldest daughter of the Kamisato family entrusted me to guard this place. Report any suspicious people immediately, especially blonde foreigners. If you find one, find a way to detain her... and then bring her back."