The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

Faced with the duo's questioning, Hana Sanri remained calm and composed.

"Please enjoy your meal. You two don't need to worry about me... Just leave a little bit at the end."

"How can that be?" Paimon, unusually, didn't indulge in his own enjoyment but instead flew over with great enthusiasm. "Good things should be shared, so quickly take off your mask and eat with us!"

"Lord Paimon, I never expected you to consider me a true friend? This is truly..."

Feeling apprehensive at being treated so well, Hana Sanri's tone became fearful.

Paimon, who had never been treated with such importance before, scratched the back of his head in confusion and looked at Ying:

Am I right?

“What you said is not wrong, but... I don’t know what she came up with as the title ‘Lady Paimon’.”

Ying picked up her chopsticks, lifted her bowl, took a piece of braised pork, and chewed it. After comfortably swallowing the dish, she reluctantly picked up the cream strawberry cake placed in the middle of the picnic blanket and ate it.

After she had devoured almost half of the sweet cake, she suddenly realized that eating it all by herself seemed inappropriate. So she swallowed the food in her mouth and slowly said to Hana Sanri:

"No need to be so polite, just do what you like. Right, Kiana?"

"Ying, here on your mouth."

Kiana tapped her cheek, pointing out that there was cream on her lips.

"Huh? Oh..."

After being reminded, Ying reached out and wiped her mouth, but she didn't wipe it clean. Instead, she made her originally pretty face look like a mess.

Seeing this, Kiana had no choice but to reach out and cup her little face in her hands.

"How could you be so careless?"

"I can clean it myself... um, be gentle..."

"What if I'm too gentle and it's not clean enough? Just bear with it, hmm... okay."

Kiana snapped her fingers, burning away the remaining cream on her hands, and then looked at Hana Sanri, who was still kneeling motionless on the picnic blanket.

"The food in Liyue doesn't suit your taste?"

"No, thank you for your kindness."

"Then why don't we start? Our time... is running out, Hana Sanri, do you think this is okay?"

Kiana felt a pang of regret as she looked at Hana Sanri, who remained unmoved.

After the purification ritual, Ying and I still have plenty of time to savor the pleasures of the food.

But she just...

Seeing this, Ying and Paimon both looked puzzled, seemingly not understanding why she would specifically invite Hana Sanri to dine.

And it's understandable that people would think that way.

Even at the final stage of the Great Purification Ritual, they still didn't understand the true relationship between Hana-sanri and Koko-sai-gumi...

Naturally, he wouldn't understand the profound significance of this journey for someone who was about to disappear.

Under the watchful eyes of the three, Hana Sanri slowly raised her head and said wistfully.

"The food of Liyue... I can vaguely recall the taste, but I've never tried it. Lady Kiana, thank you for giving me this opportunity..."

Hearing this, Kiana realized that Hanahara had finally stopped being stubborn, and nodded with some relief. Then she turned around and focused on finishing her food.

After working so hard for so long, she was hungry.

Next, it's time to enjoy the food and replenish your energy.

Once Kiana enters this state, she becomes extremely focused and completely ignores Ying and the others.

Seeing how happily she was eating, Ying and Paimon exchanged a smile:

"I didn't expect Kiana to be so persistent. If it weren't for her, we might never have had the chance to see the true face of the Masked Shrine Maiden."

"Yes, Kiana is indeed very powerful."

After they finished speaking, they stared intently at Hana Sanri, eager to know what kind of face was hidden beneath her mask...

However, to their surprise, what should have been a rather lavish dinner suddenly became much less than half complete.

Who stole the food?!

Could it be...?

As if she had thought of something, Ying immediately grabbed Paimon's foot and pulled him up forcefully.

"Paimon! I've only eaten this much, and you've already eaten so much!"

"Ugh... Ugh," Paimon, caught off guard, was thrown headfirst and tossed around by Ying like a garbage can for a long time before finally breaking free. He angrily hid in the void next to him, stomping his feet and complaining, "No way! No matter how powerful I am, I can't possibly eat this much in an instant!"

"Then who is responsible for all these dishes?!"

Just as Ying was about to argue loudly...

'belch!'

The soft hiccup drew the attention of the two people arguing.

Looking in the direction from which the sound came, they were astonished to find that Hana Sanri, whose hands should have been neatly placed on her knees, was now gently covering her abdomen.

"Thank you for the meal. I'm very full and happy."

"Eh!!!"

The two exclaimed in unison, completely unprepared for the dignified and virtuous shrine maiden to act so swiftly.

How long has it been? She's already finished eating?

The crucial point is that the mask on his face hasn't been taken off yet!

"I really don't know what to say... Let's hurry up, Ying."

"why?"

"Because Kiana seems to have almost finished eating all the food..." Paimon stretched out his hand, pointing at the white-haired figure who was enjoying her meal, and began to savor the little food left.

With Paimon's reminder, Ying quickly realized the danger and hurriedly began to devour the remaining food.

After a whirlwind of eating, everyone lingered, clutching their bellies and savoring the delicious food they had just devoured.

"I'm so full... Ying, Kiana, shall we take a nap?" Paimon suggested enthusiastically, but Ying grabbed his nose.

"I want to sleep right after eating, ugh~~~ You're not a pig."

After scolding Paimon, Ying yawned and then released the lazy little guy. She then pleaded with Kiana, who had finished resting:

"After the filth is forced out, please help me, okay? I have a feeling that... it might be a very difficult fight later."

"Don't be afraid, I've got your back, Ying." Kiana held her slender shoulders, promising with a smile, "No matter how dangerous the filth of this tree root is, I will fight alongside you!"

What a reliable partner she is; you could completely entrust your back to her.

Ying couldn't help but open her arms and hug Kiana's waist, feeling the intense yet gentle warmth, and sincerely expressed her gratitude:

"Thanks..."

"Hehehe," Kiana gently reached out and stroked Ying's fair and soft back, teasingly saying in a calm tone, "Ying really loves to act cute."

Upon hearing this, Ying instantly realized that her actions had been a bit too proactive, and withdrew her hand as if she had been electrocuted.

She cupped her slightly flushed face, turned away shyly, and jogged off to begin her prayer before the purification.

Paimon, his best travel companion, noticed this and approached with great concern:

"Ying, what's wrong? Why is your face so red? Haven't you recovered yet? Should we call Kiana over... um!"

He was glared at before he could finish speaking, and Paimon turned away helplessly and disappeared into the air.

Without her interference, Ying's wildly beating heartbeat gradually returned to normal, and she began to adjust the sequence with ease.

After everything was adjusted, the prayer began immediately.

Amidst the shimmering light, prayers...

Failed.

Seeing this, Ying walked somewhat dejectedly to the guide pattern to examine it.

Just as she was about to try and decipher the pattern...

"Did you make a mistake in the adjustment? Do you need my help, Ying?"

Kiana's voice appeared beside my ear, and the unconscious breath she exhaled brushed against my ear, giving me an electric shock-like feeling.

Ling Ying's heart, which had just returned to calm, suddenly became restless again...

"No...no need, I can do it myself..." she stammered, covering her ear.

Just then, Hana Sanri slowly stood up from the picnic blanket and then slowly walked over to the two of them.

Looking at the intricate pattern, she thoughtfully suggested, "Destined one, this pattern... I think I understand it. Now, may I offer my humble assistance?"

Song of Flames and Lightning (Genshin Impact Inazuma Main Story): Chapter 33 Before the final purification, is there anything you want to ask?

Upon hearing this, both Ying and Kiana turned to look at the priestess wearing a fox mask:

"You've already deciphered this pattern?"

"That's right, next..."

Hana didn't waste any more words, but gently urged Hotaru to continue adjusting the sequence, while she carefully reminded her from behind.

As expected of a shrine maiden who inherited the memories of the Fox Maiden, shouldn't she?

With her guidance, Ying was able to adjust the sequences much faster; it was as if she had just gone through the motions, and the tedious prayers were successfully completed.

As the filth was slowly forced out from the tree roots and condensed into fallen warriors.

Ying quickly shielded Hana Sanri behind her and expressed her gratitude: "Thank you, leave the rest to me."

"How could you forget me, Ying! But I didn't expect there to be so much filth this time?"

Logically speaking, there shouldn't be too many fallen warriors forced out from the tree roots, maybe only two at most.

However, this time the filth produced an unusually large number of Fallen Warriors, actually managing to condense into a full five tall and imposing Fallen Warriors!