From that day on, Lin Mo took on an additional responsibility: guiding Kamisato Ayaka in her studies of classical poetry.
"Mr. Lin Mo, I've noticed something," Ayaka said thoughtfully. "The ancient poems of Inazuma don't seem to have the same depth of imagery as the verses you compose on the spot. Are people from Liyue born poets?"
She couldn't remember exactly when it had started, but at some point her way of addressing him had quietly changed into "Mr. Lin Mo."
Just that single word—Mr.—already carried a very different weight.
"Imagery?" Lin Mo asked, a little puzzled. "Which poems are you referring to?"
"For example—'The torrent plunges three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way fell from the heavens.'"
Ayaka spoke with clear admiration.
"That line vividly captures the grandeur of the waterfall at Mt. Hulao. It reflects your boundless love for your homeland's magnificent landscapes, and your deep emotions for king and country alike. Whether in imagery or in sentiment, it far surpasses Inazuma's traditional poetry."
Mt. Hulao's waterfall?
Lin Mo froze for a moment.
Indeed…
Mt. Hulao did boast the most spectacular waterfall in all of Teyvat.
But back then, he'd only recited that line on a whim.
He never expected Ayaka to read that much into it.
Listening to her praise, Lin Mo coughed lightly.
"Ahem… it's really nothing. I was just feeling sentimental while living far from home."
His face grew a little warm.
"Exactly—far from home!"
Ayaka's eyes lit up.
"And the line you murmured the other day…"
"'A wanderer in a distant land—each festival deepens the longing for home.'"
"That verse let me feel your loneliness, drifting alone in a foreign land, Mr. Lin Mo."
She paused, then asked gently, "You must be missing your family, right? It's almost the Lantern Rite in Liyue. Would you like to take some time off to return home?"
"Ah—no, no!"
Lin Mo quickly waved his hands.
"I think that at a time like this, when the Kamisato Clan faces troubles both within and without, it's better for me to stay by your side."
"Mr. Lin Mo…"
A hint of emotion flashed through Ayaka's eyes.
"So this is what that line means—'True bonds are forged through understanding'?"
"Yes, yes, exactly!" Lin Mo agreed hastily.
"So I really don't need any leave."
"You're very thoughtful," Ayaka said softly. "I'll work hard and won't let your expectations go to waste."
…
Lin Mo couldn't help feeling that lately, Ayaka had become a little too absorbed in classical poetry.
No matter what happened, she could always connect it to some verse he'd taught her.
But…
That wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
At least her progress in poetry was remarkable.
After all, his mission in this lifetime was no easy one.
Mission: Help the Kamisato Clan of Inazuma overcome their internal and external crises.
The first step was to turn Kamisato Ayaka into someone who could truly stand on her own within the family.
Externally, there was Kamisato Ayato.
Internally, Ayaka herself had to rise.
Ayato needed no worrying—he was already reliable.
But Ayaka had to earn the recognition of Inazuma's noble clans in every aspect: poetry, music, calligraphy, painting, and even swordsmanship.
At present, she might be a little obsessive, but in terms of poetry alone, she no longer lagged behind any scion of Inazuma's great houses.
However… poetry was only the beginning.
The real headaches soon followed.
Painting.
Calligraphy.
Tea ceremony.
Each of these demanded enormous effort from Lin Mo.
One day, Ayaka came to him with a puzzled look.
"Mr. Lin Mo, why is mastery of painting and calligraphy so important to gain recognition from the other noble clans of the Shogunate? I don't quite understand."
"Well…" Lin Mo said with a troubled sigh, "these are essential qualities of a prestigious house. The difference between noble families and merchant families lies in artistic cultivation."
"If you want their approval, you must prove that your artistic refinement far surpasses that of wealthy merchants—people with money but no cultural depth."
"But… painting is so difficult…"
Ayaka's eyes dimmed.
What she produced was truly hard to look at—
People didn't look like people, and spirits didn't look like spirits.
Lin Mo glanced down at the painting in her hands.
Indeed… she couldn't even draw a proper portrait.
"Don't be discouraged," Lin Mo said with a smile.
"Painting isn't actually that hard. The essence of art lies not in form, but in meaning—just like poetry. Atmosphere is king."
"Atmosphere?"
Ayaka pondered.
"So… it doesn't have to look realistic, as long as people can feel the mood of the painting?"
"That's right."
Lin Mo nodded.
"Coincidentally, I'm quite skilled in painting."
As he spoke, he took the board and brush from her hands and began demonstrating.
At first, Ayaka watched with confusion.
Blue paint was splashed directly onto the canvas without any apparent order.
A tree like blazing fire.
A village and mountains beneath the dark night.
Above them, a vast sky—like a colossal tapestry hanging over the world.
The stars swirled like a living vortex, embedded in the heavens.
At first glance, Ayaka thought—
What is this?
A child's doodle?
But on second look…
She felt it.
Loneliness.
Smallness.
Romance.
The vastness and mystery of the cosmos.
Those seemingly chaotic lines drew her in, making her want to step into the painted world and experience the boundless night sky herself.
"This painting…"
Ayaka asked softly,
"What is it called?"
"Let's call it Starry Night," Lin Mo said with a faint smile.
"I painted this to tell you something."
"The purpose of painting isn't to replicate reality—after all, that's something a Kamera can already do."
"So while technique matters, it doesn't have to be perfect."
"True art is a work with atmosphere—something that stirs the heart and resonates with the soul."
"I… understand now…"
At that moment, Ayaka could no longer look at the canvas.
In her eyes, there was only Lin Mo's gentle, guiding smile.
When she looked at him, her gaze was filled with pure, unreserved admiration.
With Lin Mo's guidance, Ayaka's artistic skill improved by leaps and bounds.
The floating-world style of Inazuma merged with the post-impressionist techniques inspired by Van Gogh.
Bold colors.
Powerful visual impact.
Emotionally charged works.
Soon, a wave of art swept across Inazuma.
Elders and children alike picked up brushes, painting the visions they held in their hearts.
Lin Mo thought the mission was finally nearing completion.
Poetry, music, calligraphy, painting—
Ayaka's accomplishments already surpassed those of the noble clans she needed to impress.
But…
The mission still wasn't over.
One day, Ayaka came to Lin Mo once again.
And this time, she revealed what the final step of the mission truly was.
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T/N:
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