Ye Feng was someone who respected the opinions of others, at times.
Since Kiana said she didn't want to, he wouldn't force her.
He stood up, changing his hold on Kiana from supporting her thighs to a princess carry.
Ye Feng turned to Elysia and said, "It seems my judgment was off. Kitty-Kiana doesn't seem to want to go to the bathroom. Let's go. Let's find Mei."
Ye Feng strode out with Kitty-Kiana in his arms. Elysia glanced around the restroom—it was clean, tidy, and odorless, not looking like it had been used by anyone.
The clear winter sun shone in through a high window, dust motes glittering in the pillar of light.
This restroom actually possessed a certain ethereal charm, reminiscent of a mountain landscape.
Elysia walked out the door. It was only then that the corner of her eye caught a blue icon. She realized she had just been in the men's restroom…
Elysia's face flushed red. She lowered her head and hurried away, following silently behind Ye Feng without a word.
She muttered to herself, 'Honestly, when I'm with Mister Ye Feng, I really can't let my guard down for a single second.'
"Elysia."
"Hmm?"
"Speaking of Herrschers, the Herrscher of the Void is a Herrscher too. Why are you only so interested in Mei?"
In Ye Feng's arms, Kitty-Kiana's ears immediately perked up.
"The Herrscher of the Void… Sirin, to be precise. I want to understand the 'more primitive' form of Herrschers in this era. Besides, I've met Kiana, too. We only exchanged a brief greeting, but she seemed to be avoiding me?"
Ye Feng chuckled. "Elysia's intuition is quite accurate."
Kiana had just finished watching the events of the Elysian Realm and met Elysia the very next day. Her mind was filled with Mei's desperate, hoarse cry of "Answer me, Elysia!"
The fact that Kiana didn't knock Elysia out from behind was already a sign of great restraint.
---o---
The Kendo Dojo.
A massive cherry blossom tree was planted in the central courtyard, its canopy like a great pavilion, obscuring nearly half the sky.
In contrast to the legendary Saigyou Ayakashi, which never bloomed, the cherry blossoms here were in full bloom year-round.
Even in the dead of winter, the petals fell like a flurry of snow.
Pink blossoms danced in the wind, flying towards the blue sky, and the courtyard ground was covered in a fresh layer of fallen petals.
Mei had tied her long, purple hair into a ponytail and was practicing in her kendo uniform.
She wasn't simply repeating muscle movements but was mobilizing the Imaginary internal energy within her, striving to reach a state of "oneness with Heaven (the Honkai)."
It was a state where she could command the Honkai energy as if it were her own limbs, changing its properties at will, completing a full cycle of Honkai with every breath.
Therefore, as the young lady from the Far East gripped her tachi, her every move was accompanied by crackling purple lightning.
Her hair flew wildly, and her aura was fierce and awe-inspiring, as if she were the personification of lightning itself.
Mei tightened her grip on the hilt and slashed upwards at the sky.
Instantly, the wind surged and the clouds roiled; the very color of the heavens and earth changed.
The courtyard dimmed, as if thunderclouds had blotted out the sky.
All the dancing petals seemed to freeze, suspended in mid-air.
In the dim world, only a single, brilliant blade of purple lightning flashed by at extreme speed. Only afterwards did the crackling and booming of thunder follow.
At the same time, the previously motionless petals, as if receiving some command, began to fall like raindrops.
The purple-haired girl had already sheathed her sword and was standing quietly in the rain of petals, looking up at the sky.
Above her, a purple "scar" from the blade still lingered, its edges sparking with arcs of electricity, stretching to the far ends of the horizon.
That single slash seemed to have cleaved the world in two.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
It was, of course, the sound of applause.
Ye Feng stood under the cherry blossom tree and said, "Mei, you've gotten stronger again. At this rate, you'll catch up to Yomi sooner or later."
Hearing his voice, Mei turned around.
A purple light like lightning still swirled in her irises, and she radiated an imposing aura, as cold and majestic as a queen.
But the moment she saw Ye Feng, a smile that could melt ice and snow blossomed on her face.
"Feng-kun."
That trace of gentleness was more refreshing to the soul than the spring that follows a harsh winter.
When Elysia saw the instantaneous change in the girl's demeanor, the last bit of hope in her heart finally died—these two really were each other's first love.
Although she knew Ye Feng wouldn't lie to her, she truly hadn't wanted to believe it.
"Hi, hello there! A new day begins with a wonderful encounter~♪"
Elysia gave a little wave, acting completely familiar. "I'm Elysia. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mei."
"Hello."
This was Mei's first time seeing Elysia "in the flesh."
The girl straightened her back slightly, responding with grace, elegance, and politeness.
"I've heard Feng-kun mention you before. I've also been looking forward to meeting you."
It was just a simple pleasantry.
Since coming here, Mei had rarely listened to Ye Feng "tell stories."
She spent more of her time honing her sword skills and doing loving things with Ye Feng.
However, Mei was born into a noble family, and her training in social etiquette, at the very least, was perfect.
Although after spending some time with Kiana, she seemed to have forgotten all of it, some things were ingrained in her very bones.
A truly outstanding woman could make anyone feel as pleasant as a spring breeze, yet at the same time, she would unconsciously maintain a certain distance.
Elysia, however, had no sense of distance. She walked right up and took Mei's hand.
"Wow, really? I'm so happy. Does that mean we're friends now?"
"Meow~~!"
Seeing Elysia holding Mei's hand, Kiana felt a pang in her stomach.
That scoundrel Ye Feng is one thing, but who do you think you are, Elysia!
But at this moment, Kiana was too "weak" to move.
The pet collar was still active, washing over Kiana's entire body again and again.
Kiana finally understood why Ye Feng had wanted to carry her to the restroom.
He was actually doing it for her own good.
After all, Ye Feng had never said that he was making her… do that.
Although the posture for helping her relieve herself was very misleading.
But the key was that what came out wasn't necessarily just urine; there were other things, too.
Just like now, Kiana was on the verge of her limit.
The slightest movement could lead to a major problem.
She could only watch helplessly as Elysia and Mei interacted, her cheeks puffed out in a pout.
In this short time, Elysia seemed to have truly befriended Mei. What would happen in the future?
Finally, Mei's attention fell upon Kitty-Kiana.
"Hmm? What a cute little kitty."
Soft, snow-white fur and clear pupils as blue as the sky.
It exuded a spiritual and adorable aura.
At the same time, Mei had a fleeting vision of seeing an old friend.
"Her name is Kitty-Kiana."
"Kitty-Kiana?"
Mei stared intently. Kitty-Kiana subconsciously turned her head away, not daring to meet her gaze.
"That's right. Do you want to hold her?"
Kiana was shocked. "Eh? No, you can't, not like this, not right now… Eeee—"
However, before she could finish her sentence, Ye Feng passed her over. "Here, you have to hold her like this."
The little white cat's back was to Mei, and Ye Feng, who was facing the cat, also moved aside in advance.
Mei's hands supported the kitty under its front legs and lifted it up. Before she could get a firm hold, in the bright space filled with fluttering flowers, a beautiful and powerful arc was drawn through the air.
"—Ah, so heavy. Hmm? Is this… did it pee?"