In the past few days, Kitsune Saiguu had concluded her journey in Liyue and returned to Inazuma.

Rosalyne, unaware that Yu Xie would also be heading to Inazuma, had already set out on her journey.

After bidding farewell to everyone, Yu Xie boarded a ship bound for Inazuma. Despite exerting some effort the previous night, he felt no major discomfort.

During their goodbyes, the group's expressions carried a trace of worry—a peculiar type of concern that was difficult to describe.

Still, with Shenhe accompanying him, there shouldn't be any significant issues, right?

And so, Yu Xie and Shenhe's ship set sail.

At the dock, the group watched the ship gradually disappear into the distance, their gazes filled with complexity.

"Xianyun, do you think Yu Xie will meet more old acquaintances in Inazuma?" Gechen couldn't help but ask Xianyun in a low voice.

Xianyun looked radiant today, as if nourished by spring rain.

Adjusting her red-framed glasses, she softly replied, "That's likely inevitable. But at this point, I don't intend to keep Yu Xie bound to only me."

"Xianyun, could it be that you…" Gechen seemed surprised.

"Aren't you thinking the same?" Xianyun countered. "We've both experienced the pain of waiting deeply and are among the few who truly understand each other."

"I…" Gechen blushed slightly, falling silent for a moment. "I understand now."

......

On the ship, the sea breeze swept across the deck.

Yu Xie leaned against the railing at the edge of the deck, gazing at the endless expanse of the ocean.

Shenhe emerged from the cabin holding some snacks and walked up beside Yu Xie.

"Would you like some?" she offered the snacks to him.

Yu Xie returned to his senses, smiled at her, and took a piece of the snack to eat.

Shenhe tasted one herself as well.

The sea breeze rustled Shenhe's hair.

Her silver hair and the hem of her attire danced in the wind, accentuating her ethereal demeanor, like an immortal untouched by the mortal world.

"Yu Xie, how long until we reach Inazuma?" Shenhe asked.

"It'll take a while, but there's no rush," Yu Xie replied.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Mm." Shenhe nodded obediently. "By the way, our main purpose for this trip is to save someone, right?"

"That's one way to put it, but you can also enjoy yourself and experience the culture and customs that are different from Liyue," Yu Xie said with a smile.

"Different from Liyue…" Shenhe softly repeated the words.

Shenhe didn't have many thoughts about it. As long as she was with Yu Xie, it didn't matter whether they went to Inazuma, Sumeru, or anywhere else.

The two spent time on the deck enjoying the sea breeze, letting time pass until sunset.

The golden sunset bathed the sea, creating sparkling waves.

Like a quiet kitten, Shenhe stayed by Yu Xie's side without saying or doing much.

Yet her quiet companionship warmed Yu Xie's heart.

Journeys always feel less lonely with company.

After several days, a towering mountain peak came into view in the direction of Inazuma—it was Yashiori Island's highest peak, Mt. Yougou.

A few days after spotting the peak, the ship finally arrived at the port of Ritou in Inazuma.

Stepping onto solid ground again felt oddly refreshing.

The distinctive architecture of Inazuma came into view, vastly different from that of Liyue.

Shenhe curiously observed the streets. Yu Xie glanced at her, feeling a sense of relief.

"Yu Xie, I've been meaning to ask. Is that massive tree on the mountain a sakura tree?" Shenhe pointed to the Sacred Sakura atop Mt. Yougou.

Since sakura trees weren't found in Liyue, it was something novel to Shenhe.

Even though it wasn't the season for cherry blossoms, the towering Sacred Sakura bloomed with pink flowers, its petals drifting in the breeze and scattering throughout the streets.

"Yes," Yu Xie nodded. "That's the Sacred Sakura."

"The Sacred Sakura…" Shenhe gazed at the tree, her eyes revealing little emotion, perhaps due to the red ropes that bound her.

But Yu Xie still caught a faint glimmer of emotion in her gaze.

Such a magnificent tree would stir anyone's heart upon their first encounter.

"Yu Xie, for some reason, I can sense a faint trace of your aura from that tree," Shenhe said.

"What?" Yu Xie wondered if he had misheard her.

How could the Sacred Sakura bear his aura? Could it be linked to something he did during a past visit to Inazuma? It wasn't impossible.

"Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Yu Xie asked again.

Shenhe stopped walking, and at that moment, a pink sakura petal drifted down. She caught it in her palm.

"I'm certain. I didn't sense it wrong," she said firmly.

"It might have something to do with my past in Inazuma," Yu Xie mused.

"…" Shenhe paused briefly before speaking again with a hint of concern, "Yu Xie, don't push yourself too hard trying to recover those memories. It's okay if you don't remember."

Shenhe wasn't particularly good at comforting others, but she spoke from her heart.

Yu Xie was slightly taken aback before smiling at her. "Let's go. We should find an inn on Narukami Island."

By the time they found an inn on Narukami Island, it was almost nightfall.

The twilight hues in the sky gave the world a dreamlike quality.

The sunsets of Inazuma and Liyue seemed vastly different, each beautiful in its own way, yet both stirred the soul.

They booked two rooms, separated by a single wall, making it convenient to look out for each other.

During the voyage, Yu Xie had already gathered an understanding of Inazuma's current situation.

There was no Vision Hunt Decree, nor a Sakoku Decree, but there was war—conflict between Watatsumi Island and the Inazuma Shogunate.

Watatsumi's god, Orobashi, had led an eastern expedition but ultimately fell to the Shogun's "Musou no Hitotachi." Orobashi's death ignited the war between Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate.

When Yu Xie learned of this, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.

Clearly, some stories had quietly changed, while others followed their destined trajectory.

The god who deeply loved the people of Watatsumi Island, Orobashi, could not escape death.

Standing by the window in his room, Yu Xie gazed out at the city of Inazuma, contemplating what lay ahead.

Without the Vision Hunt or Sakoku Decrees, Rosalyne's fate might differ from the original tale.

Still, Yu Xie couldn't shake an ominous premonition—he couldn't simply let things take their course.