The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

With that, Yae no Miko bowed deeply and expressed her gratitude to Kiana with a perfectly executed dogeza (a traditional Japanese prostration).

"Thank you so much, as well as Ying and Lord Paimon. Naruto Shrine will forever regard you as our greatest benefactors, and even if a thousand years pass in the blink of an eye, this gratitude will never change..."

Is it perfect?

Kiana felt somewhat melancholy in the face of Yae no Miko's gratitude.

The end of the Great Purification of Divine Cherry Blossoms was undoubtedly a timely and much-needed relief for Inazuma, as the accumulated filth was finally about to erupt.

Even a divine throne could be overthrown as a result...

This merit truly deserves the personal gratitude of the shrine maiden of Narujin Shrine.

Unfortunately, this great exorcism... cannot be called perfect...

Kiana felt that gratitude and recognition should be reserved for every worthy person, because if good deeds are not treated with the respect they deserve, it is an insult to those lovely people.

In this rescue operation, there was someone who could perhaps not even be called human, yet he vanished...

Her story can only be remembered by herself, a traveler.

The great exorcism she guided was a respectable act that would benefit generations to come.

Even now, Kiana cannot imagine what kind of feelings Hanahara had when presiding over this ceremony that was destined to be imperfect.

Sadness? Fear? Helplessness? Excitement?

Perhaps because she was a condensation of filth and the inheritor of the memories of the Fox Palace, she didn't have many opportunities to express her emotions.

Or perhaps she has already accepted all of this?

"Ye..."

"Ok?"

Have you ever heard of someone named Hana Sanri?

In Kiana's narration, this being, who might not be able to inherit the name of humanity, is revealed to the Divine Child for the first time...

Having been born as early as the time when Shin created the shogunate, she should naturally know exactly what kind of person the shrine maiden Hanahara respected was.

When the story ended, the cynical fox finally revealed a serious expression.

"Ah, if it were her, she would definitely do that..."

"The Fox Abstinence Palace?"

"I was referring to that unknown shrine maiden. After all, even just a fragment of Lord Kitsune-sai-no-miya's memory is enough to earn my respect. I will record her story, so it can circulate alongside Lord Kitsune-sai-no-miya's at Naru-shrine. This is my way of expressing my gratitude..."

Yae no Miko clutched her chest and expressed her decision with utmost sincerity.

Judging from her actions, she was genuinely grateful to herself for helping her complete the purification ritual...

"Hmm, in that case... perhaps this great purification ritual, which was destined to be imperfect, will be a little less cruel..."

The two looked at each other silently, then smiled at each other as if they had reached some kind of tacit understanding.

All the previous unpleasantness seemed to vanish with the hearty laughter, replaced by a friendship akin to that of comrades-in-arms...

"Kiana..."

"Ye..."

The two slowly approached, grasping each other's arms, their eyes gleaming with a different kind of emotion...

This scene was extremely strange to Paimon, who was quietly listening to the conversation between the two.

"Huh? What's wrong? Why are you two..."

Just as she was about to go over and ask, she suddenly heard a loud 'thump!' from the inner room.

Immediately following was a series of hurried footsteps, and before either side could catch their breath, the door to the inner room was suddenly pulled open.

"Huff...huff...Kiana!"

Dressed in plain clothes, Ying leaned against the wall, panting heavily. Her clothes were disheveled, and she stared at Kiana and Yae no Miko with a dazed look in her eyes. The expression on her face went through a series of changes, from surprise to calm and then to shock.

"fluorescent!"

After a long separation, Kiana has finally reunited with her travel companions.

She released Yae no Miko, then opened her arms and slowly moved forward, embracing Ying who rushed towards her.

"Hehe, I've finally found you."

Kiana gently stroked Ying's back and whispered softly in her ear.

Ying, who had just woken up and was still feeling cold all over, felt an unprecedented warmth upon being touched...

She nodded, then muttered to herself:

"Yes, I... had a very, very long dream."

"What dream?"

"In my dream..." Ying blinked, a little shy.

At that very moment.

"Cough cough!"

The neglected Yae no Miko crossed her arms and watched the two quietly embracing each other with a sweet, ultimate smile...

Even without a word, one could feel an aggressive and intimidating aura emanating from them...

The Song of Flames and Lightning (Genshin Impact Inazuma Main Story): Chapter 85 Even if you want me, you can have me~

It was only at this moment that Ying finally noticed the high priestess of Narukami Shrine.

She released Kiana, then looked at her with a puzzled expression, her words revealing confusion and wariness.

"Why...am I here? Where's that guy? I remember...but I can't quite remember..."

Ying covered her forehead and shook her head involuntarily, seemingly feeling helpless about the loss of her memory.

Seeing this, Kiana couldn't help but reach out and gently hold her shoulder, comforting her, "It's okay, if you can't remember, you can't remember."

"But..."

Seeing an opportunity, Yae no Miko gracefully approached and gently placed her hand on Ying's other shoulder, speaking in a clear and magnetic voice, feigning concern:

"Can you hear me? Open, take a deep breath, one-two-one, one-two-one, yes, very good, continue..."

With her encouragement, Ying's agitated heart gradually calmed down, and her panic about memory loss completely subsided.

After feeling a bit better, she also became more rational.

"Why am I here? Where are the stragglers? Yae no Miko, what... what did you do to him?"

"Hehehe, nothing much, just a little trick, and that Fatui Enforcer ran away with his tail between his legs."

Yae no Miko spoke these words with ease, as if the extremely powerful Fatui Executors in the eyes of outsiders were nothing more than little brats who could be easily bullied in her hands.

However, while her words seemed to say something, they actually said nothing at all.

The key issue remains credibility.

Even the usually oblivious Paimon couldn't help but lean in and question the fox's answer:

"Yae, are you really that amazing? I can't sense it at all..."

"That's not actually what I'm concerned about..." Ying was a sensible person after all; she knew the key issue wasn't how strong Yae no Miko was, but rather...

Where did that wretched straggler go?

Yae no Miko, who should have known about this issue, simply shook her head repeatedly.

"I'm sorry, I may not be able to tell you the truth."

"why?"

"Because I need your help with something next."

"help?"

Upon hearing the word "help," Ying and Paimon immediately seemed to have their DNA activated, keenly sensing...

The air of mission.

As Yae no Miko slowly recounted her story, the two women finally understood what kind of help Yae no Miko was seeking.

"Repeale the Eye Hunting Order and change the Shadow's mind?"

"Yes, can you help me? The wind-chasing traveler, the great hero who saved Mondstadt, the chivalrous warrior who defeated the vortex demon, and the destined one to join hands with his companions to purify the sacred cherry blossoms."

"Great purification? You know about Great purification?"

Ying's eyes widened; she hadn't expected that Yae no Miko knew about this.

"Um...actually..."

Yae no Miko briefly recounted what she knew about the Great Exorcism, and then shared her thoughts and reminiscences of Hana Sanri.

After hearing her explanation, Ying's worries gradually disappeared.

"That might work..."

She turned to look at Kiana, and then gazed at Yae no Miko.

"Abolishing the Eye Hunting Order was a promise I made to Kamiri, and it's certainly a good thing that you're helping me now, but..."

"but?"

Yae no Miko gently tapped her chin, looking at the mysterious Ying with puzzlement, wondering what had made her suddenly become so coy.

Was it out of fear? Or perhaps overly excited?

Just as she was pondering this in her heart, Paimon, who was standing next to her, cleverly revealed the truth.

"What about the reward? Yae no Miko, what benefits will we get afterward?"

"Paimon!"

Paimon's honesty ultimately made Sparkle a little embarrassed.

She was still thinking about how to ask for it in a way that wouldn't seem like she was greedy for money.