Chapter 165: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [165]
Tenshukaku
Ei sat atop the dais, her eyes closed as she meditated.
But the deep furrow of her brows betrayed her inner turmoil.
Ever since Lumine and Yae Miko persuaded her, Ei had left the Plane of Euthymia, using the Raiden Shogun's body to personally oversee Inazuma's governance.
As for the Shogun's soul, it now resided within the consciousness space.
With the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree abolished, peace had been made with the Resistance. Inazuma seemed to be moving toward a brighter future.
But for Ei, there was still a hurdle she had yet to cross.
"His death… it pained me as well..."
Ei's voice was soft, almost a whisper, as her brow furrowed further.
"But at that time, I—"
"You told this body to eliminate all obstacles to eternity, planting within it the obsession to kill him. You made this body execute him.
"And now, you've abandoned the pursuit of eternity, choosing instead to carry the wishes of Inazuma's people forward..."
The Raiden Shogun's voice echoed in her mind.
"Then tell me—what meaning is there in this body's actions and his death?"
"I..."
Ei was momentarily at a loss for words.
Since Luo Qing's disappearance, the Raiden Shogun had unearthed the hidden affection buried beneath her obsession. Within the consciousness space, memories of her and Ei's choices came flooding back.
Created for the will of eternity, the Raiden Shogun had never experienced emotions, always acting in accordance with Ei's will to govern Inazuma and maintain its unchanging eternity.
But Luo Qing's presence had stirred something within her mechanical body—a spark of human emotion. For the first time, she felt she had something to seek beyond the will of eternity.
Ei had insisted that all obstacles to eternity be removed, and Luo Qing could not be allowed to remain.
Despite the pain it caused her, the Shogun had suppressed her feelings and erased all memories of Luo Qing, even implanting a murderous obsession toward him.
It culminated in the battle at Tenshukaku, where the Raiden Shogun pierced Luo Qing's chest, watching him vanish into starlight.
And now?
Persuaded by a Traveler and a dear friend, Ei had abandoned the pursuit of eternity, taken up the people's wishes, and even commandeered the Shogun's body.
So, what had the Shogun's actions and sacrifices amounted to?
Pointless wear and tear?
"You… are unworthy to use this body!"
Suddenly, Ei's eyes snapped open as she clutched her head, gasping for breath.
"Is it her again?"
Yae Miko's voice came from nearby as she approached with a knowing look.
"Mm..." Ei nodded.
"As I thought, even this puppet has its moments of rebellion," Yae Miko said with a light laugh, placing a comforting hand on Ei's shoulder.
"You know, maybe you should get out for a bit. It might do you some good."
"...Perhaps," Ei murmured in agreement.
---
Mondstadt
After resting briefly in the safe house, Luo Qing waited until nightfall.
He carefully shut the doors and windows before retrieving his teleportation toilet and setting it up in the lavatory.
"Please, not the Plane of Euthymia..." he muttered under his breath.
By his calculations, Ei was likely out of the Plane of Euthymia by now, wandering Inazuma like a country bumpkin.
If so, the Plane might now house the Raiden Shogun—or, ideally, no one at all.
Of course, there was also the chance that Ei had destroyed or discarded the toilet, which would redirect him to the safe house's alternate teleportation point on the rafters.
"Since I'm in Mondstadt..."
Luo Qing clasped his hands together, muttering, "Barbatos, please let me end up anywhere but the Plane of Euthymia. I'll even burn you some good booze later."
Taking a deep breath, he sat down on the toilet.
He was prepared. If he did end up in the Plane and faced Ei or the Raiden Shogun, he'd burn through all his emotion-manipulating item cards and make a quick escape.
His vision twisted and went dark.
When it cleared, a wooden rafter greeted him.
"Barbatos, drinks are on me next time," Luo Qing exhaled in relief.
He had successfully teleported to the Inazuma safe house. Below the rafters was his old room.
Just as he prepared to jump down, he heard voices in the corridor, causing him to retreat into the shadows.
"Lady Ayaka... it's not appropriate for you to do this yourself..."
"But we couldn't find any of Luo Qing's subordinates or colleagues. If I don't do this, his soul won't find peace," came Kamisato Ayaka's soft reply.
"But Luo Qing was from Snezhnaya... Fine, please go ahead. I'll wait outside."
The wooden floor creaked under the sound of Ayaka's footsteps as she entered Luo Qing's room.
Her eyes were red and puffy, her face streaked with tears—evidence of a recent cry.
"Luo Qing..."
She murmured his name, then began rummaging through his belongings, carefully collecting his personal items.
From his perch, Luo Qing quickly realized what she was doing.
She intended to create a cenotaph for him.
He had planned to wait until Ayaka left before revealing himself, but she didn't leave.
Instead, she lay down on his futon, clutching his pillow tightly.
"Luo Qing..."
Her soft sobs filled the room.
"..."
"Ah..." Luo Qing sighed, shaking his head.
Ei and the Raiden Shogun's reactions to his survival were still unknown. For all he knew, they'd come at him with swords the moment they found out.
Luo Qing had intended to sneak his subordinates out of Inazuma and return only after becoming stronger.
But Ayaka's quiet crying tugged at his heart.
After a long pause, he finally jumped down.
"Alright, that's enough crying."
"Luo... Luo Qing... w-wha...?!"
Ayaka's eyes flew open as she saw him standing before her, completely unscathed. Overcome with joy, she opened her mouth to shout, but Luo Qing quickly covered it with his hand.
"Shh..."
He made a silencing gesture, and Ayaka hurriedly nodded.
Once she calmed down, Luo Qing let go.
"Luo Qing... you're alive..." she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.
"Of course. Your mentor isn't that easy to kill," Luo Qing joked.
Before he could say more, Ayaka threw her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest.
"You're alive... you're really alive..."
"Yeah, I'm alive."
Luo Qing gently patted her head, his gaze softening with warmth.
---
T/N: 0/10 needed more drama he should have stayed 'dead' longer, fic ruined never translating this every again (transforms into a werewolf and growling before running away)
so... turns out the weapon master can die. webnovel blocked it again for copyright stuff, so i'm not reposting it. don't wanna risk losing my other translations too.
but don't worry, the weapon master's alive and well on patreon. thinking about setting up a scribble hub for stories like this—because some battles can't be won on webnovel.
thanks for sticking with me. you're the real MVPs.
If you notice anything that feels off, just let me know—I don't mind fixing things up.
Oh, and don't forget to sit up, grab some water, and take it easy while you're here. No rush, right?
If you're into this, consider checking out [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Your support helps me keep going, and I'm grateful for every bit of it.
Chapter 166: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [166]
Luo Qing spoke softly, glancing down at the girl in his arms. Nearly ten minutes had passed, and Kamisato Ayaka still showed no sign of letting go.
The embrace was way too tight...
"Ah... I'm sorry!"
Ayaka quickly sprang back, lowering her head as a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
She had never been this close to a boy before—let alone for so long.
It was starting to get... a bit sweaty.
"It's fine," Luo Qing said with a slight shake of his head before continuing.
"Ayaka, can I ask you to keep this a secret?"
"Huh?" Ayaka blinked in confusion.
"The fact that I'm still alive. Don't tell anyone—let this stay just between the two of us, okay?"
"Why...?"
Ayaka tilted her head, clearly puzzled.
From Gorou and the others, she had learned about Luo Qing's role on the Tatarasuna front lines.
By single-handedly holding back the Raiden Shogun, Luo Qing had bought valuable time for Lumine and the Resistance. He was a hero—a savior. Surely, he deserved the gratitude and admiration of the people.
Besides, with the Shogun having repealed the Vision Hunt and Sakoku Decrees, there was no reason for her to remain hostile toward him.
"Are you afraid of the Shogun?" Ayaka asked hesitantly.
"More or less," Luo Qing replied with a nod. Then, holding out his pinky, he added gently, "Please, Ayaka? Let's make this our little secret, just the two of us."
"Uh..."
Ayaka stared at his extended hand, hesitating briefly before linking her pinky with his.
It had been years since she last made a childish pinky promise like this, but... if it was with Luo Qing, she didn't really mind.
Their pinkies intertwined, they shook once before pressing their thumbs together lightly.
For some reason, the simple gesture filled Ayaka's heart with joy.
"Alright, Ayaka, I'll see you next time," Luo Qing said with a soft smile, ruffling her hair as he rose to his feet. He glanced out the window, ready to track down his four subordinates.
Watching his retreating back, Ayaka suddenly felt a wave of unease. She blurted out in a panic, "Luo Qing... are you leaving Inazuma?"
If the Shogun still harbored hostility toward him, fleeing Inazuma might be his only safe option.
"I'm not planning to leave just yet. Why do you ask?" Luo Qing replied, his expression curious.
"I..."
Ayaka lowered her head, unsure how to articulate her fear that he might disappear without a word.
"Don't worry," Luo Qing said reassuringly, his voice warm as he gently patted her head.
"If I ever leave Inazuma, I'll make sure to tell you first, okay?"
"Okay..."
Ayaka's cheeks flushed as she leaned into his hand, letting him ruffle her hair.
"Alright, Ayaka. See you next time."
"Mm, see you next time," Ayaka replied with a sweet smile.
In the next instant, Luo Qing's figure vanished from the room.
After he left, Ayaka's somber expression lightened considerably, and she even found herself smiling foolishly at times.
She glanced at the collection of Luo Qing's belongings she had gathered earlier.
Originally, she had planned to build a cenotaph for him, but now that Luo Qing was alive and well—and had sworn her to secrecy—she wasn't sure what to do anymore.
Do I still build it...?
---
Elsewhere in Inazuma City
Luo Qing walked through the streets with his hood pulled low, concealing his face.
It had been several days since his staged death, and the damage from the battle at Tenshukaku had already been repaired.
Without the Vision Hunt and Sakoku Decrees, the people of Inazuma seemed noticeably more relaxed, as though a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders.
Luo Qing's subordinates, along with Rosalyne, had been hiding in the wilderness for quite some time. To reward them, he planned to buy some food and treats.
He wasn't too worried about being recognized—few people in Inazuma knew him by face. As long as he avoided familiar faces, he should be fine.
While waiting at a street vendor for his order, Luo Qing suddenly felt a familiar presence behind him.
Turning his head, he spotted Ei and Lumine strolling through the streets together, looking leisurely as they browsed the stalls.
Why are they here... Luo Qing lowered his hood further, pretending nothing was amiss. Then, with a flick of his thoughts, he activated the Simulated Mask to alter his aura and avoid detection by the Raiden Shogun.
"Hurry up, Master. I'm in a rush," Luo Qing urged the vendor in a low voice, keeping an eye on Lumine and Ei's movements.
"Almost done!" the vendor replied cheerfully, though he couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Isn't this person a man? Why does their voice sound like a woman's...?
Moments later, the vendor handed over the order. Luo Qing grabbed it, left a pouch of Mora, and quickly slipped away.
He had just left when Lumine and Ei approached the stall.
"Hey, miss, you forgot your change—oh, Shogun-sama!"
The vendor waved the Mora pouch after Luo Qing, only to pause and bow respectfully when he noticed Ei.
"What would you like, Shogun-sama?" the vendor asked, his tone deferential.
"Tri-colored dango will suffice," Ei replied softly, though her gaze lingered in the direction Luo Qing had gone.
"What happened just now?"
"Well, Shogun-sama, the previous customer left in a hurry without waiting for their change. Must have been something urgent," the vendor explained.
"Hmm..."
Lumine followed Ei's gaze, her eyes narrowing as she observed the hurried figure in the crowd. The person carried a bag of dango and moved quickly, as though indeed pressed for time.
"That person seems to be in a real rush," Paimon remarked, crossing her arms. "They even left behind all that Mora. You could buy tons of dango with that!"
"..."
Lumine started to turn away but paused, her eyes drawn to the person's wrist.
The figure's hand, holding the dango bag, was adorned with a blue-and-red woven string—eerily similar to the one she had seen Ganyu and Shenhe wear.
"That's..."
Lumine's brows furrowed as a sense of unease crept over her.
"Excuse me, Shogun-sama, I need to leave for a moment," she said hurriedly.
"Paimon, let's go!"
"Huh?! But we haven't even eaten yet!" Paimon protested, confused. She glanced apologetically at Ei before flying after Lumine.
"Slow down! I can't keep up! And seriously, can't this wait until after dessert?!"
"That red string..." Lumine muttered under her breath, her gaze locked on the retreating figure.
"Could that person be..."
Before she could finish, the figure suddenly vanished into the crowd, leaving her stunned.
---
T/N: BRO HAS NO POINTS IN STEALTH
If you notice anything that feels off, just let me know—I don't mind fixing things up.
Oh, and don't forget to sit up, grab some water, and take it easy while you're here. No rush, right?
If you're into this, consider checking out [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Your support helps me keep going, and I'm grateful for every bit of it.
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