"This is…"
A look of bewilderment crossed Lin Mo's face.
A small, pink cloth pouch, resembling a sachet, lay quietly in his palm.
He recognized it instantly.
Wasn't this the "Grand Narukami Shrine Omamori" that Yae Miko had given to the Traveler in the "Genshin Impact" 2.1 storyline?
"Why are you giving me this?" Lin Mo asked, his expression puzzled.
Seeing that Lin Mo showed no sign of surprise, a hint of grievance filled Yae Miko's eyes.
"This is a gift carefully prepared for you by the beautiful and intelligent Lady Yae Miko herself."
As she spoke, she even gritted her teeth as if in frustration. "Lord Sasayuri, are you… not even a little bit surprised?"
"A shrine omamori…"
Lin Mo couldn't help but smile wryly. "Miko, something like this… isn't as practical as a hug from you."
But the moment he finished speaking,
Yae Miko's figure suddenly loomed large before him. Before he could react, she wrapped him in a soft, warm embrace.
"I just can't win against you~"
"After all… you were the one who found me on that cold stone path~"
Her soft, sweet voice murmured by his ear.
Feeling her arms encircling his waist,
Lin Mo rested his head on her shoulder.
He slowly closed his eyes, savoring the incredibly warm embrace.
After all…
accompanying everyone on a night out in Liyue Harbor had truly worn him out.
As if sensing his fatigue,
Yae Miko gently raised her slender, fair hand and softly stroked his hair.
She whispered tenderly, "Lord Sasayuri, this time… just rest for a while…"
"Mm…"
Lin Mo replied softly.
Though it was winter in Teyvat,
as if blessed by the gods, the red maple trees lining the wooden bridge remained fiery and lush.
The streetlights were dim.
People came and went across the wooden bridge.
The two embraced beneath the red maple tree,
like any ordinary couple in Liyue Harbor, sweet and warm.
After a long while,
Lin Mo slowly opened his eyes.
In Yae Miko's gentle embrace,
he had rested for ten minutes, and the fatigue in his eyes gradually faded.
Sensing that he was awake,
Yae Miko slowly loosened her arms from around his waist.
"Had enough rest?" she asked with a smile.
Seeing her so gentle and considerate,
Lin Mo couldn't help but sigh. "If only… you were always this gentle, that would be wonderful."
"You wish~"
Yae Miko lightly pinched his cheek.
At the same time, she lifted the omamori in his hand and reminded him, "Lord Sasayuri, you must take good care of the gift I gave you~"
"Mm, I'll keep it on me." Lin Mo nodded with a smile.
"And also~"
Yae Miko chuckled and added, "When you miss me, remember to take it out and look at it, or give it a kiss. I'll be able to feel it."
"And then… you'll pop out to see me?"
Lin Mo's expression turned curious.
"Hm~?"
Yae Miko looked puzzled. "Lord Sasayuri, how did you know about the surprise I had prepared for you?"
"Ahem…"
Lin Mo felt a bit awkward.
Most omamori are lucky charms representing a shrine maiden's blessing.
But Lin Mo had just realized—
Wasn't this omamori supposed to be a special item given to Lumine in the original story?
He remembered that in the original plot,
Lumine, empowered by the people's wishes, defeated the Shogun within the Plane of Euthymia.
It was through this omamori, placed on Lumine, that Yae Miko
descended into the Plane of Euthymia, meeting the Shogun she hadn't seen in so long.
He hadn't expected that, because he had come to Teyvat, while this important plot point was missing, the omamori still existed and had ended up in his hands.
"Lord Sasayuri, you still haven't answered my question…"
Yae Miko frowned, her voice tinged with complaint.
"It's nothing, just a wild guess~" Lin Mo quickly replied.
He then hung the omamori around his neck and patted his chest, vowing, "Don't worry, even when I sleep, I'll hold onto this omamori!"
"Oh~"
Yae Miko's gaze turned playful. "Just like you hold your little fox?"
He couldn't help but be led by her words.
Holding the omamori while sleeping, and then suddenly having her pop out and appear in his arms…
Thinking about it,
Lin Mo couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
A surprise like that would make any man full of expectation!
This fox… she was too good at this!
"Alright~ You sure are dreaming big~"
Yae Miko seemed to see right through his thoughts and smirked mischievously. "I won't be appearing in the middle of the night just so you can take advantage of me."
With that, she walked off alone toward the streets of Liyue.
As she walked, she lightly waved her slender hand.
"Alright~ Everyone's waiting for me~"
"I wouldn't want them to know I've been sneaking off to meet you~"
Watching Yae Miko's retreating figure from afar,
Lin Mo took the omamori from his chest, held it in his hand, and gently kissed it.
Yae Miko's departing steps slowly came to a halt.
But she turned her head back, casting a playful glance at Lin Mo.
It was obvious.
She had felt his gentle kiss on the omamori.
"So she really can feel it…" Lin Mo felt a bit of a headache.
Although…
the omamori could let Yae Miko constantly feel his longing for her,
and it was also a little gift that could accompany him in her place,
from a certain perspective,
wasn't this a little tool for Yae Miko to keep tabs on him?
"Ah, forget it, I won't think about it…"
Lin Mo shook his head helplessly.
After all, he had already promised to carry the omamori with him.
Even if he knew it was Yae Miko's surveillance device, he had to accept it.
After carefully putting the omamori away,
his gaze turned toward the night market.
From this angle, he could vaguely see the group having a great time at the stalls.
Ningguang was being generous,
covering all their expenses for the night market.
But not everyone was browsing the stalls.
Zhongli, for instance, was drinking tea with several adepti at a tea house on a nearby street corner.
The three crane-form adepti, along with Xiao and Zhongli—it was quite a peculiar combination. Luckily, they were on the second-floor terrace.
If they had been on the first floor, it would have probably caused quite a stir, right?
Just then,
Lin Mo suddenly noticed something was off.
Where were Lumine and Paimon?
As this question crossed his mind, he instinctively looked toward the night market.
He scanned the area from a distance.
He was certain he hadn't seen them there.
What was going on?
On such a grand occasion as the Lantern Rite, where had that little one, Paimon, taken Lumine?
Driven by curiosity,
Lin Mo closed his eyes.
He felt the wind.
The wind carried news of Lumine and Paimon to his ears.
"…'Towards the Stars and the Abyss.'"
"Lumine, it's wonderful that you could come to the Adventurers' Guild on such an important day."
"Because the Guild has received a crucial commission. After careful consideration, we believe…"
…
"This Traveler is the most suitable choice, right?"
Paimon seemed to know what Katheryne was about to say and quickly cut in.
"Indeed, that is the case."
Katheryne smiled gently and continued, "Then I won't stand on ceremony. Are you two available right now?"
The news brought by the wind made Lin Mo frown.
What did the Adventurers' Guild mean by this?
Why would they seek out Lumine and Paimon on such an important day?
Lin Mo chose to keep listening.
"Well, that depends on how much the reward is~"
Paimon replied matter-of-factly.
"Mm, let me briefly explain first."
"The client for this commission is the Yashiro Commission of Inazuma."
"It's said that a large number of Rifthounds are attacking the roots of the Sacred Sakura on Mt. Yougou."
"Rifthounds!?"
Paimon asked in surprise.
"How did they get to Narukami Island?"
"Are there so many that even the Yashiro Commission can't handle them?"
"What about the Raiden Shogun? Isn't she stationed in Inazuma City?"
…
"Yes, where these monsters come from is still unclear."
"But this time, they've gathered in large numbers, on a terrifying scale, with a clear target, and they're extremely aggressive."
Katheryne explained patiently. "Since Inazuma has lifted the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree, many of Inazuma's main combat forces have come to Liyue for the Lantern Rite. The Yashiro Commission alone can't handle it for now, hence this commission."
"What about the Shogun stationed in Inazuma City?" Paimon couldn't help but ask again.
"The Raiden Shogun…"
"We're not sure if she's aware of this."
"However, according to information from the Yashiro Commission, she has not participated in this operation to defend the Sacred Sakura."
Hearing this, Lin Mo's confusion deepened.
Hadn't the Sacred Sakura just undergone the Sacred Sakura Cleansing a few days ago?
Why were monsters disturbing its roots again?
And the Raiden Shogun, who was responsible for guarding Narukami Island, was actually doing nothing.
All this news reeked of strangeness.
Even though it was the Lantern Rite,
Lin Mo, still puzzled, followed the night breeze and headed toward the Adventurers' Guild.
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T/N:
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