The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

"......What's the meaning?"

Upon hearing this, Kiana turned around and looked at Luminous and Paimon with some surprise, unsure of how to respond.

"Eh! Get to know her better? Kiana, has Xin Hai taken a liking to you? Yay! From now on, we can all—glug glug glug..." Paimon's rambling came to an end because of Ying's sudden attack.

Unaware of what she had said wrong, Ying grabbed her two little feet and forcefully pulled her down. Before long, she was so agitated that her vision blurred and she fainted.

Kiana couldn't help but smile knowingly at their playful antics, and was about to tease them.

Who would have thought...

"Hehe, you guys have a really good relationship. But before we start joking around, shouldn't we discuss how to deal with this old friend?"

Shinkai's smile faded, and he stared with a rather serious gaze at Kujo Sara, who was squatting on the ground, looking utterly disheveled...

His tone revealed a chilling change from his earlier demeanor...

The Song of Flames and Lightning (Genshin Impact Inazuma Main Story): Chapter Sixty-Six - From Pink to Black

He harbored deep resentment towards his so-called "old friend," but he was reluctant to do so because the other party had not yet fallen into his hands.

That's why she tried to be as reserved as possible, using an approachable tone to subtly suggest to Kiana that she should deal with Kujo Sara as soon as possible.

"Hmph, I would never stoop to associating with you, you traitors who defy the General's will!"

Although Kiana held her hostage and she was completely unable to move, her life and death entirely in Kiana's hands, Kujo Sara was in no way inferior in her verbal skills.

Even when captured, even when she might die on the spot at any moment, she was still able to retort to the leader of the resistance with an extremely arrogant tone.

Such courage and boldness truly make one marvel at the woman's strong character.

However...

"Very good performance, Kujo Sara. You tried to use underhanded tricks one after another, but we still managed to see through them in the end. Hehehe, your performance was truly outstanding. If you have the opportunity, I really hope that as the shogun, you can show more of the heroic demeanor that a general should have."

Xin Hai uttered these words with her sweetest smile, even though her voice revealed a naive and innocent charm.

However, these words were actually a mockery of Kujo Sara's defeat, implying that as a general of the shogunate, she acted in an unseemly manner and was ultimately captured despite her cunning.

How damaging are these words to a loyal and honorable person who values ​​his reputation?

You can tell just by looking at Kujo Sara's deathly pale face and her conflicted, frustrated, and painful expression.

"I...I actually...Hmph!"

Knowing she couldn't win the argument, Kujo Sara closed her eyes in utter humiliation and spoke slowly to Kiana behind her in a trembling voice:

"Being defeated by you is because I am inferior in skill. Perhaps someone as weak as me is not worthy to protect the general. Come! End my life, and let me use this life to fulfill the general's will!"

Kujo Sara's words revealed her dissatisfaction with the defeat and her indifference to life. For a shogunate soldier as loyal as she was, serving the shogun was far more important than protecting herself.

This is why she was able to carry her weakened body all the way from Inazuma Castle to here with her men.

If she hadn't been defeated by Kiana, she might have been able to chase her all the way to the Coral Palace.

Some people find Kujo Sara's blind loyalty perplexing.

"Huh? You... how can you be so reckless?" Paimon shook his dizzy head and looked at the aloof female general with a very puzzled expression.

"Between us, it hasn't come to the point where it has to be a fight to the death."

After saying this, Ying turned her gaze to Kiana, who was holding Kujo Sara hostage.

As the one who thwarted his plot and captured him, she had absolute authority over this shogun.

"Kiana, are you ready..."

"Ying, are you asking me what to do with her? Hmm..."

Whether to kill or release her is entirely up to Kiana's own will.

However, she knew very well that how to deal with this woman next would ultimately depend on the opinions of others.

After all, if I choose to stay, I will have to stay in the Coral Palace for a period of time to resolve the issues. If I cause a rift with Xin Hai because I let people go carelessly, it will be troublesome to try to bring about a ceasefire between the two sides in the future.

Thinking of this, Kiana turned her gaze to Xinhai, whose eyes were gradually turning hostile.

Upon sensing that someone was watching him intently, Xin Hai instantly snapped back to reality, and with a slightly guilty smile, said:

"Oops! Sorry... I was just thinking about something, haha."

"As expected of the rebel army's strategist, he's always thinking of strategies. What are your thoughts on how to deal with her?"

Kiana thought about it and decided that even if she were to release the people, she should consult the resistance forces first, lest she be blamed later.

After hearing Kiana's question, Xin Hai pondered for a moment, then covered his chest and said slowly.

“I can sense her unwavering resolve as a samurai. Lady Kiana, although getting your hands stained with the blood of such a person will tarnish your cleanliness, I wish to bestow upon her the honor she deserves. If you are unwell, I can have Goro attend to you.”

"Huh?" Goro, who had been called out, scratched the back of his head, unsure whether he should refuse or feel relieved.

Judging from Shinkai's words alone, she truly wanted Kujo Sara to die...

To be merciful to the enemy is to be cruel to oneself.

Anyone with even a basic understanding of military strategy and deception should be able to grasp this principle.

"This is difficult..."

Kiana originally planned to exchange pleasantries with Xinhai before releasing him.

Now that the situation has changed, she has no choice but to find another way to break through.

What do others think?

After pondering for a moment, Shinkai, who was being questioned, asked in return, "Are you asking about... Manyo?"

"Not only that, we can also listen to Beidou and the others' opinions."

"Phew, okay."

After Xin Hai finished speaking, he asked someone to call Wan Ye and Bei Dou over. Accompanying them was Zao You, a little ninja who had been tricked into coming here in a daze and was still a bit confused.

When asked for his opinion, the little guy gave a very pertinent answer.

"Uh...I want to sleep, ugh~~~"

After saying that, she curled up into a ball and rolled under a nearby tree to sleep.

Zaoyou's abstention was not unexpected by anyone else.

After all, Kiana said she was just looking at other people's opinions, but in reality she was seeking Manyo's opinion.

Beidou was well aware of this, so after greeting Kiana and Ying, he patted his underling on the shoulder and asked, "Wanye, what do you think? I remember this guy seems to have a grudge against your friend, right?"

“Actually, it’s not like that,” Manyo stroked his chin, looking at Kujo Sara with a very complicated expression. “I’ll acknowledge her strength for defeating my friend in a duel before the Emperor, but… my friend died honorably in the dueling arena, and General Raiden’s strike was not wrong either. My dissatisfaction with her, and with them, stems from the Eye Hunting Order. Abolishing it is the goal I’m fighting for.”

Man Ye's words merely stated his attitude, without revealing his own opinion.

Despite winning praise from many, this impassioned speech did nothing to advance the decision on how to deal with Kujo Sara.

However, since he, who has the most reason to hate Kujo Sara, has expressed his opinion, it means that Kiana can now reverse the situation.

"She... let us go once. Ying, do you remember?"

"Huh? You mean... um, Kiana, are you going to?"

“Xinhai, although I am aware of the threat she poses to you... Ying and I have been helped by her before, and now may be the best time to repay her.”

After saying that, Kiana slowly released her hand, freeing Kujo Sara.

Despite finally gaining his freedom, the weakened shogun couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground.

But regardless, she's free...

However, Xin Hai strongly, extremely, and particularly disagrees with this result.

"Lady Kiana!" She hurriedly reached out and grabbed Kiana's right hand, pleading pitifully, "You can't do that, you absolutely can't do that!"

The Song of Flames and Lightning (Genshin Impact Inazuma Main Story): Chapter 67 General... Don't inhale, I haven't...

Just as Xin Hai was trying his best to win Kiana back, behind her...

"Ugh!" Goro gritted his teeth fiercely, his eyes filled with jealousy.

He was the one who arrived first. Whether he was leading the resistance or stalling for time, why is Lord Coral Palace ignoring him now?

As he thought about it, Goro's tears involuntarily streamed down his face, because it was really embarrassing for a leader of the resistance to act like this.

Even Wan Ye, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore.

"Hey, stop crying. One of your men is injured. Go check on him."

He patted Goro on the shoulder, then greeted the leader of the Hokuto clan, and began to lead Goro to exchange feelings and express condolences with his fellow rebels.

As for whether Xin Hai could persuade Kiana, he had absolutely no interest in finding out.

Thanks to Man-yo's understanding and sense of righteousness, no one disturbed them.

"Lady Kiana, please~"

With her big, watery eyes wide open, Xin Hai shook Kiana's hand like a wronged little girl. Even the incredibly oblivious Kiana realized her reluctance upon seeing this.

That innocent face, and the soft touch on her hands, made Kiana waver for once, which was rare for her.

Fortunately, she is not a person who breaks her word. Since she has already promised to release the person, why would she give up because of her desperate pleas?

"I'm sorry, I can't listen to you... I hope you can understand, Xinhai."

Kiana responded to Shinkai's plea with an awkward smile.

Despite the gentle refusal, the rebel strategist still felt disappointed.

She wiped her eyes and muttered, feeling very wronged, "Fine, since Kiana thinks this is a good idea, then I'll listen to you."

"Um...hehehe, why does it feel like I'm the one in the wrong..."

This incident in the Heart Sea made Kiana feel guilty for some reason, which was really strange.

She was clearly just dealing with her own prisoners of war...

"However, I have one condition that I hope you can meet. Is that alright?"

As Xin Hai spoke, he continued his offensive, pushing his luck to the point where he was practically begging Kiana.