Seeing Beidou so utterly without restraint, Ye Xi naturally wasn't about to keep his composure unmoved.
This was no longer a question of whether it was tempting or not.
If Beidou had simply opened the door and then obediently slipped under the covers, that would have been one thing.
But instead she was still on the balcony striking poses, flaunting her figure, embracing the sunset or whatever it was.
This was already blatantly forcing a man into committing a crime.
If he still showed no reaction, wouldn't he be inviting ridicule?
And so, after locking the door, he simply went straight for her.
Beidou seemed not the least bit surprised; everything unfolded as naturally as could be.
Only—don't be fooled by the fact that people usually call Beidou the big sister of the docks, brisk and decisive in all she does.
At certain moments, she could be very much a woman after all.
It wasn't until the sun had gradually sunk behind the mountains that Ye Xi was defeated by hunger.
Just then, a knocking came from outside the door.
"Master Ye Xi, I'm all ready. When are we setting off!"
The one who had come was Kujou Sara. She had already brought her luggage, ready to follow Ye Xi home.
Inside the room, Ye Xi had only just stopped.
He and Beidou changed back into their clothes, and only then did he open the door.
There stood Kujou Sara, already dressed in casual clothes, waiting at the doorway.
Seeing Ye Xi and Beidou, Kujou Sara asked with some puzzlement, "Master Ye Xi, what were the two of you doing in there, that it took so long to open the door?"
"Oh, nothing. Just discussing some matters about the fleet."
Watching Ye Xi lie without so much as a flicker of expression, Beidou couldn't help but feel a touch of admiration.
Yet Kujou Sara still wore a suspicious look: "Captain Beidou, why is your face so red?"
"Eh?"
Beidou touched her own cheek and said with a smile, "It's probably because I just had a little drink, and maybe drank a bit too much."
"General Kujou, would you like a cup as well? It tastes quite good."
"Uh... I'll pass for now."
Though Kujou Sara was rather fond of a drink herself, she still had serious matters to attend to right now.
For instance—if they were sailing back to Liyue Harbor, where would she stay?
At this thought, she asked, "Master, if we're taking a ship back to Liyue Harbor, how should I make my arrangements?"
"Who said we were going back to Liyue Harbor?"
"Eh?"
Kujou Sara's face was a picture of confusion.
They'd clearly agreed to spend two days in the Adepti's blessed grotto-heaven. If they weren't going to Liyue, then how would they reach the Adepti's grotto abode?
Ye Xi spoke up to explain, "Come in and take a look. This door right here is the very door that leads to the blessed grotto-heaven."
As he spoke, he stepped aside and led Kujou Sara into the bedroom.
The moment she stepped through, Kujou Sara caught a whiff of a strange scent.
She was a great Tengu youkai, and a Tengu's nose was naturally extremely keen.
But before she could grow suspicious, she was captivated by the door before her eyes.
The great door yawned wide open, and inside it was a pool of water that seemed to stand upright, rippling in layer upon layer of waves.
Such a sight gave one a rather uncanny feeling.
"This is a portal. It connects directly to my Serenitea Pot."
Hearing Ye Xi's introduction, Kujou Sara was filled with wonder, and she cautiously stepped through the portal.
Inside was a long corridor, with other doors lining its sides.
They were labeled [Jade Chamber] and [Serenitea Pot].
She stepped through the door for the Serenitea Pot, and at once the view before her opened up grandly.
Apart from the vast expanse of grassland, not far off there stood an exquisite little Western-style house.
She simply couldn't believe that through a single door, one could behold such a vast world.
At this moment, Ye Xi followed in as well.
"Welcome as a guest to the Serenitea Pot. Go on in and have a look—I'll arrange a room for you."
Kujou Sara nodded and, hugging her luggage, walked into the courtyard.
Coming in from the entryway, the sound of an anime drifted out from inside.
She looked toward the source of the sound, and in an instant her whole body froze.
She simply couldn't believe her own eyes!
"Y-Your Excellency the Shogun——!?"
For there was Raiden Ei, sitting on the sofa, cradling Klee and watching the television with rapt attention!
Keqing and Klee had already finished today's tasks and come back early.
Today's road-clearing work had gone very smoothly as well.
With a little expert like Klee on hand, several of the roads had already met the standards to begin construction.
Quite a few of the workers had already started paving.
After they returned to the Serenitea Pot and saw Raiden Ei, they too had been quite astonished.
The instant she heard Dunyarzad say that Raiden Ei was the God of Inazuma, Keqing had been utterly stunned.
Yet another God!
To take up residence in the Serenitea Pot meant becoming [family]!
Two Dendro Archons was already extraordinary enough, and now the household had even gained an Electro Archon, Her Lordship!
She admired Ye Xi more and more.
Keqing felt awe toward Raiden Ei, but Klee understood none of these things.
The moment little Klee saw that Raiden Ei also liked watching cartoons, she quickly hit it off with her.
Raiden Ei, too, was very fond of this adorable little girl.
And so, that was how the present scene came to be.
Kujou Sara was utterly dumbfounded.
The Raiden Shogun—the one she most worshipped, most revered, most yearned for—was, at this very moment, in Ye Xi's home, cradling a little girl and watching some unknown cartoon!
This was enough to make her entire understanding of the world come crashing down on the spot!
"Hm? Sara? Why are you here?"
Raiden Ei was slightly taken aback. She set Klee aside, rose, and walked over.
"Y-Your Excellency the Shogun...."
Kujou Sara was a little incoherent.
Seeing this, Ye Xi offered an explanation.
He told Raiden Ei everything that had happened that afternoon.
"...So that's how it is."
"You lost a contest of aerial flying speed?"
Raiden Ei looked thoughtful.
Kujou Sara bowed her head and said solemnly, "My apologies, Your Excellency the Shogun. I've brought shame upon Inazuma!"
"Oh?"
Raiden Ei said in all seriousness, "You needn't blame yourself. This has nothing to do with your speed."
In her eyes, Kujou Sara was nothing more than a minor youkai of Inazuma.
Ye Xi, on the other hand, was a candidate to one day ascend the throne—one could say he stood above the Seven Archons.
How could a minor youkai possibly be mentioned in the same breath as a God?
A contest like that held no suspense whatsoever.
Kujou Sara breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness she hadn't been scolded by Her Excellency the Shogun.
Still, she was very curious.
"Why is it that Your Excellency the Shogun is actually here!"
"Uh..."
For a moment, Raiden Ei didn't quite know how to explain.
Say what you will, she was a God after all.
To have come for the sake of eating delicious desserts and the like...
It was at this very moment that a voice suddenly came from the kitchen.
"Your Excellency the Shogun, your fruit-and-cream cake is ready——!"
The instant these words were out, Raiden Ei's eyes lit up at once, practically drooling!
What did the identity of the Raiden Shogun matter? Could it possibly be more important than having delicious desserts!?
Casting aside all concern for her image as a God, she dashed straight toward the kitchen.
Kujou Sara's vision went black.
She now understood why Raiden Ei was here....
Having seen so many of the photographs obtained from Yae Miko, she already knew that Raiden Ei had no resistance whatsoever to desserts.
....
Coming here had to be for the sake of desserts!
This...
Was this still the Raiden Shogun, Her Excellency, of her imagination!?
Kujou Sara didn't deliberate for long. Instead, she turned to Ye Xi beside her and asked, "Master Ye Xi, do you have a camera here!"
"Uh..."
Ye Xi had assumed that, upon seeing Raiden Ei like this, Kujou Sara might be greatly disappointed.
He never expected she'd actually want a camera!?
He took a camera out from his portable space.
Kujou Sara dashed straight into the kitchen in a flash.
"Your Excellency the Shogun looks far too adorable eating cake!"
"Her Excellency the Shogun's smile—I absolutely must collect it!"
"Another one, another one!"
"From now on I won't have to trade for photos from Guuji Yae!"
Before long, Kujou Sara walked out with a thoroughly satisfied look on her face.
She carefully tucked the photos she'd just taken into the pocket over her chest, looking as though she treasured them immensely.
Suddenly, she asked with the utmost seriousness, "Master Ye Xi, may I take up permanent residence here!?"
"I want to live here for the rest of my life!"
Ye Xi: ....
Good grief.
She'd only just stepped through the door, hadn't even picked out a place to stay, and already she wanted to live here for the rest of her life!?
Kujou Sara was thrilled.
It was simply wonderful here!
Not only could she see Raiden Ei anytime she wished, she could even watch Raiden Ei eating cake live and in person!
And she could snap photos as she pleased!
After all, ordinarily she didn't even get many chances to see the Raiden Shogun.
Let alone to watch the Raiden Shogun eat!
To her, the Shogun's cook, this place was nothing short of paradise!
Ye Xi heaved a sigh and nodded. "There's plenty of room here—no shortage of space for you. Stay as long as you like."
Kujou Sara was instantly overjoyed.
.....
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