Bonus Chapter!
---
A crisp slap echoed through the Tenshukaku.
The servants outside heard the commotion from within the room and froze, bewildered.
Was that the Shogun's voice? Did someone actually dare to undress the Shogun?!
"Shogun, is everything alright?"
One servant knocked hesitantly on the door, not daring to enter without permission. They feared seeing something they shouldn't and facing the Shogun's wrath.
"It's nothing. Leave us."
The Raiden Shogun held both hands over her chest, desperately trying to prevent her neckline from slipping.
At her feet, her deep red obi, tied with a delicate knot, lay in a crumpled heap.
They had been so engrossed in the kiss that Luo Qing had managed to untie her belt without her noticing. If not for her quick reaction to grab her clothes, she might have been completely exposed to him.
"Understood..."
The servant's voice trailed off as they retreated.
After the servant left, the Raiden Shogun turned back, glaring coldly at Luo Qing.
This man had now pulled off his tricks twice in a row. He definitely needed to be taught a lesson!
Without hesitation, she clutched her collar with one hand while summoning her blade with the other, slashing it at Luo Qing.
But, with her kimono loosened and no true intent to kill, the slash seemed more like a shy girl's awkward gesture than a lethal attack.
"I'm sorry, Shogun!"
Luo Qing dodged the strike, hastily pressing his palms together in a gesture of apology.
"I promise I won't undress you next time!"
"Next time?!"
The Shogun swung her blade at him again, but he managed to evade it once more.
"Ahem, Shogun, aren't you tired holding your clothes with one hand while swinging your sword?"
Luo Qing quickly shifted the topic. After two consecutive slashes, her kimono, now without the support of a belt, had slipped slightly.
The lavender fabric sagged, exposing her bare shoulders and back, barely covering her front. Her pale skin peeked through with each movement, creating an entrancing sight.
The Raiden Shogun glanced down at her attire, realizing just how unseemly it had become. She froze, caught between embarrassment and indecision.
As the ruler of Inazuma, she couldn't allow her servants to enter and assist her in dressing—it would be far too humiliating.
But she couldn't re-tie the belt by herself...
"Shogun, you don't know how to tie an obi?"
Luo Qing leaned forward, his voice curious.
"..."
[Frustration Value from the Raiden Shogun +1]
"You should have said so."
Seeing her embarrassed silence, Luo Qing was sure—she genuinely didn't know how to tie it!
Tying the sash of a woman's kimono was indeed a tricky task, requiring a certain level of skill if done alone. Given that her creator couldn't even cook, it was no wonder she lacked this particular skill.
"How about I help you with it, Shogun?"
Luo Qing offered, picking up the belt from the floor and waving it teasingly.
His unspoken threat was clear: refuse, and he'd walk off with her obi.
"..."
The Raiden Shogun furrowed her brow, weighing her options.
Luo Qing's hands were anything but trustworthy, and he might try something inappropriate again.
"Only the belt. You're not allowed to touch anywhere else."
She held her sword in front of him, her tone low and firm.
"Of course."
Luo Qing smiled, nodding in agreement.
But tying a belt without touching? That would be quite a challenge...
"Alright, Shogun, turn around. I'm going to tie the obi now."
"..."
"Hm..."
The Raiden Shogun hesitated for a moment before complying, still watching him warily. She reluctantly turned her back to him.
"Okay, now raise both arms."
"?"
She shot him a sharp look over her shoulder.
If she raised both arms, the kimono would fall to the floor!
"Ahem, just one arm will do."
Luo Qing corrected himself, a little embarrassed.
"Hmph..."
The Raiden Shogun huffed, turning away and raising her right hand.
With a deft motion, Luo Qing draped one end of the sash over her waist, wrapping it around and threading it back through the other side.
"Hold still, Shogun. I need to pull it tight."
"?"
She turned again, eyebrows raised.
"I mean, I need to tie the belt. What else did you think I meant?"
Luo Qing asked, feigning innocence.
The Raiden Shogun's face betrayed her confusion—wasn't he the one who had been taking liberties just moments ago?
Having spent enough time in Inazuma, Luo Qing had learned the basics of the culture. He had practiced tying obis on Teresa back in the safe house, so by now, his skill was impeccable. In just a few smooth motions, he had tied the Shogun's sash, finishing with a neat bow.
Yet, with such a rare opportunity to be so close, Luo Qing couldn't resist prolonging the moment.
He carefully moved her deep violet hair to one side, revealing her smooth back. Her skin was soft and unblemished, almost like porcelain, with the faint markings of her Electro tattoos trailing down from her neck. Coupled with her unique fragrance, it was all too tempting.
"Mm~"
The Raiden Shogun gasped in surprise as she felt Luo Qing's hands press gently against her waist and back.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"Just measuring your waist, Shogun."
"?"
Who measured waistlines like that?
Before she could react further, Luo Qing rested his chin on her shoulder and blew softly into her ear.
A shudder ran through the Shogun's body, a sensation like a jolt of electricity spreading from her neck down her spine.
Savoring the fragrance at her neck, Luo Qing felt a sense of pure satisfaction.
It really was better from behind!
After holding her close for a while, he finally released her with a reluctant sigh.
Today, he had only intended to have a quick chat with the Shogun, but he ended up with far more than he'd anticipated. A truly unexpected gain.
"Do you have any other business? If not... then... you should leave..."
The Raiden Shogun's face was still flushed from his touch. Her body, merely a puppet, wasn't designed to handle such stimuli.
If Luo Qing stayed much longer, she feared she might lose her focus, abandoning her pursuit of eternity.
"Oh, is the Shogun trying to kick me out already?"
Luo Qing teased, settling himself casually at her desk and pulling out the war report from Tatarasuna.
The Raiden Shogun sat beside him, watching as he scanned the report, and asked,
"Why are you reading that?"
"It's nothing. I'm just curious about that Traveler."
"Oh..."
A hint of displeasure colored her voice.
"By the way,"
Luo Qing continued, "How about giving me a small official role? I could go check out the frontlines at Tatarasuna."
He figured he might as well join in on the action at Watatsumi Island. Perhaps he could earn some extra Frustration Value from the clashes between the resistance and the Shogunate's forces.
"You want to go to Tatarasuna?"
The Raiden Shogun's brows furrowed.
If Luo Qing went to the frontlines, that meant she wouldn't see him for quite some time... not that she cared... of course...
"Well, Shogun~?"
Luo Qing leaned closer, his tone teasing.
"..."
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check! Review or your frigging dead to me
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
---
After a whole night of Thoma's encouragement, Kamisato Ayaka finally pulled herself together.
She had resolved not to let Luo Qing's status as a member of the Fatui get in the way of mending their relationship.
If one invitation didn't work, she would try a second time. If the second attempt failed, she would try a third.
And if that didn't work... well, she'd just wear her tracksuit and... Ahem, in any case, as long as Luo Qing remained in Inazuma City, Ayaka was determined that her sincerity would eventually reach him.
Today, Ayaka was preparing to extend a second invitation to play the hotpot game with Luo Qing.
Back when Luo Qing had been confined in the Tenshukaku, she'd had some conversations with Teresa and the others, who had told her where Luo Qing lived.
Yesterday, she had planned to go to his safe house, but fate had brought them face-to-face halfway there.
So today, with renewed courage and determination, Ayaka followed the directions Teresa had given her to Luo Qing's safe house.
The so-called "safe house" was actually a small inn, secretly constructed by the Fatui. It was not open to the public and was reserved exclusively for Fatui personnel.
"Winter Solstice Inn... this is the place..."
Ayaka stared at the sign, taking a deep breath before pulling aside the curtain and stepping inside.
The inn's front desk was unattended, and there was no one to ask, so Ayaka made her way upstairs.
Teresa had provided the exact room number, so Ayaka knew she could find Luo Qing's room without asking anyone.
Reaching the second floor, she carefully checked the numbers on each door, searching for his room.
"207... this is it..."
Standing in front of the door, Ayaka took a deep breath and knocked.
She waited, but there was no response from the other side.
Pressing her ear to the door, she listened.
There was only silence. It seemed no one was inside.
"He's not here..."
On a whim, she tested the doorknob to see if it was locked.
To her surprise, the door swung open.
But the scene inside froze Ayaka in her tracks.
A richly dressed woman was lounging on the tatami mat, one hand propped under her head, the other holding a light novel. The table beside her was covered with milk tea and desserts.
Their eyes met, and both were stunned—Rosalyne, mid-sip, stopped drinking her milk tea.
Ayaka quickly bowed her head, apologizing.
"I'm sorry to disturb you... May I ask, does Mr. Luo Qing live here?"
"Luo Qing?"
Rosalyne frowned. What's the Kamisato heiress doing here, looking for Luo Qing?
"He left this morning. You missed him."
"H-He left?!"
Ayaka was shocked.
Why hadn't Luo Qing mentioned anything to her yesterday?!
"Could you please tell me where Mr. Luo Qing went...?"
Ayaka's face was crestfallen.
Last night, Thoma had assured her that if she showed enough sincerity, she'd win Luo Qing over.
But now he was gone—no amount of sincerity could change that.
"How should I know?"
Rosalyne's tone grew impatient.
She was right at the climax of her light novel, and Ayaka's sudden arrival had broken her concentration.
From the look on Ayaka's face, Rosalyne guessed she was another girl caught in Luo Qing's web.
Feeling mischievous, she decided to scare Ayaka a bit.
"He's not from Inazuma, is he? It's not unusual for him to leave. For all you know, he might have gone back to Snezhnaya to avoid you and isn't planning to return."
"Not... coming back?"
Ayaka's face paled.
She'd momentarily forgotten that Luo Qing was from Snezhnaya.
That was his real home—he could leave for it at any time.
After all, Snezhnaya and Inazuma were on opposite ends of Teyvat, a journey that would take months to complete.
And if Luo Qing left, he might never return to Inazuma...
Was yesterday their final encounter?
A wave of regret washed over Ayaka. Why hadn't she tried harder to make him stay?
"Do you need something else? If not, don't interrupt my reading."
Rosalyne's voice was cold, yet seeing Ayaka's dazed expression only reinforced her suspicions.
So it was true—this Kamisato girl had a thing for Luo Qing!
"I apologize... for the intrusion."
Ayaka nodded politely, then gently shut the door behind her as she left the inn.
As she walked away, Rosalyne's words echoed in her mind: "For all you know, he might have gone back to Snezhnaya to avoid you."
It seems that Mr. Luo Qing is truly upset... Even his friends are making excuses for him...
I just want to see Mr. Luo Qing again...
...
Meanwhile, at the port outside Inazuma City—
It seemed that sweet words whispered in a lover's ear were the hardest to resist.
After much persuasion, playful teasing, and gentle cajoling, Luo Qing had finally convinced the Raiden Shogun to grant his request. She had bestowed upon him the title of Great General of the Vanguard, granting him unrestricted access to Tatarasuna.
Moreover, she had sent one of her most trusted subordinates, Kujou Sara, to accompany him.
Officially, it was to aid Luo Qing in liaising with the Shogunate forces on the frontlines, but in reality, it was to keep a close eye on him and make sure he didn't cause too much trouble.
As for Sara, when she learned she was to accompany Luo Qing to Tatarasuna, her emotions were a mess.
But the order had come directly from the Shogun herself. She had no choice but to obey and become Luo Qing's assistant.
Remembering their last collaboration during the Tenryou Commission's training exercises, Sara felt a surge of complicated emotions.
Luo Qing was unlike any normal person—his shamelessness was beyond measure.
She couldn't understand what the Shogun saw in him.
Now, Sara stood at the harbor, staring at the horizon with a troubled expression, unsure when she would return from this journey.
"Sara, why do you look like you've swallowed something bitter the moment we set off?"
Luo Qing, walking over with Teresa, put on a serious tone.
"When we travel, we should be in high spirits. A cheerful attitude makes the journey so much more enjoyable~"
"..."
[Frustration Value from Kujou Sara +1]
Sara gave Luo Qing a glance, choosing to ignore him and returned her gaze to the sea.
"Isn't it boring to just stare at the ocean? How about we talk about something fun? Like the Shogun's daily hobbies—how about it?"
The trip to Tatarasuna would be long, and he was eager to have some fun.
"The Shogun's hobbies..."
A flash of excitement crossed Sara's face, quickly replaced by a calm demeanor as she pretended to be indifferent.
"Mr. Luo Qing, I'm listening."
"Oh, the Shogun's hobbies are quite a secret. I'll need a trade if I'm going to share them~"
"...Trade? What do you want?"
"How about joining Teresa and me for some plaza dancing?"
"?"
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check! Review or your frigging dead to me
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
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