Plane of Euthymia.
The domain of Time Zero dissipated, and the two of them stood facing each other.
The faint ache on her forehead brought a flash of surprise to Ei’s eyes. Her left hand instinctively touched the spot Luo Qing had flicked, as if she still hadn’t fully grasped what had just happened.
Luo Qing looked at her disbelieving expression, arms crossed.
“Alright, I hit you first, Miss Ei, so that means I win.”
“You…”
Ei’s mind replayed those few seconds, remembering the strange impulse that had surged within her. She didn’t have to guess—it was definitely Luo Qing’s doing.
“Just now… did you tamper with my mind?”
Luo Qing feigned innocence. “Me? Absolutely not, Miss Ei, you mustn’t wrongly accuse someone.”
“Hmph, then why did I react like that?”
“How should I know? Maybe your will just isn’t as steadfast as you think it is?”
“…”
Ei was at a loss for words.
Just as Luo Qing had anticipated, the thirty points of affection meant she could no longer bring herself to cut him down. Even though she was certain that the unfamiliar emotions in her heart had something to do with him.
“Now that the duel’s over, Miss Ei, will you let me go?” Luo Qing rapped his knuckles against a nearby torii pillar. “I’ve got work tomorrow, you know.”
“…”
“Hmph, what do you think?”
Ei scoffed and turned away, floating back to her previous meditative position, eyes closed once more.
Since she couldn’t bring herself to kill him, she decided to keep him trapped in the Plane of Euthymia. If he dared to make a move against her, then she would have the perfect justification to finish him off with her blade.
“What? Miss Ei, what are you doing?!”
Luo Qing moved in front of her, puzzled by her behavior as she hovered with her eyes shut.
“Miss Ei, if you’re planning to sleep, could you at least let me out first? I’d like to get some rest too…”
“Don’t play the mysterious sage now, Miss Ei!”
“Miss Ei…? Miss Ei…?”
Luo Qing paced around Ei, trying to get a response, but she remained silent, a picture of serene meditation.
“So you’re going to play the cold and distant type, huh…”
By this point, Luo Qing understood exactly what was happening.
This woman was intentionally trapping him in the Plane of Euthymia—her motives were anything but innocent!
“Well, you can’t blame me then…”
With anyone else, they might have believed that this god ruling over Inazuma had transcended worldly desires, devoted solely to her ideal of eternity.
But unfortunately, the person facing Ei was none other than Teyvat’s most audacious transmigrator—Luo Qing!
With a decisive motion, he rolled up his sleeves, sat down directly in front of Ei, and leaned forward.
In his most soothing and gentle voice, he said, “Miss Ei, you’ve been secluding yourself here for a long time, haven’t you? Have you ever thought about going out and seeing the world?”
Ei kept her eyes closed, her expression unchanging. She ignored him.
“You should know that the world outside has undergone tremendous changes. I bet there are many things out there that would catch your interest, Miss Ei. Why not open the door, and we can go explore together?”
Still no response from Ei.
“In that case, how about I tell you a story?” Luo Qing thought for a moment and began to weave a tale.
“There was once a noble family called the Suzuki Clan, one of the most prestigious families under the Shogunate. The head of the family held a high position among the officials, respected and influential—the undisputed number one family in Inazuma.
“The eldest daughter of the Suzuki family, Suzunaga, showed extraordinary talent from a young age. Growing up in a privileged environment, she mastered etiquette, studied governance, and was hailed as a once-in-a-millennium genius before she even reached adulthood.
“Her gentle, elegant demeanor earned the admiration of countless young men, and suitors flocked to the Suzuki estate, each vying for her hand in marriage.
“Everyone believed that the young lady of the Suzuki family would one day marry a young man of equal status and prestige.
“But little did they know that beneath her gentle and refined exterior, Lady Suzunaga possessed a heart full of courage and a longing for adventure.
“Her lifelong dream was to roam like a wandering swordsman or an adventurer, exploring the beautiful landscapes of Teyvat, rather than being confined to the high towers and expectations of others…
“One day, while accompanying her father on a routine inspection, Suzunaga found herself ambushed by hostile factions. Chased into the wilderness, it seemed as though death was imminent, and worse, she feared humiliation at the hands of the enemy before her demise.
“Just as she thought all was lost, a flash of a blade caught her eye.
“When she looked up, there was a young man standing before her—a wanderer as swift as the wind.
“With a few swift movements, he dispatched the enemies before him. He turned to her and smiled gently.
“‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘You’re safe now.’
“The traces of hardship on his face made him appear far more mature than his years.
“In that moment, the young Lady Suzunaga saw nothing but this ragged swordsman before her.
“Soon, her father’s reinforcements arrived, and they brought the young man back to their estate.
“At Suzunaga’s insistence, the young man became her personal guard, always by her side.
“A youthful romance blossomed, and it wasn’t long before they fell in love, sharing many happy days together.
“But happiness is fleeting. Their secret relationship was soon discovered by her father.
“As the head of Inazuma’s most prestigious family, he could never allow his daughter to be with a nameless vagabond.
“It wasn’t long before he arranged a marriage for his daughter, promising her to the son of another noble family from the Shogunate…”
At this point, Luo Qing paused, crossing his arms and observing Ei’s subtle expressions.
He noticed that her closed eyelids quivered slightly.
She waited, but when Luo Qing didn’t continue, she hesitated, then slowly opened her eyes.
“Why did you stop?”
“Oh? Is Miss Ei curious about what happens next?” Luo Qing’s lips curled into a knowing smile, his arms still crossed.
He knew Ei wouldn’t be able to resist.
“This is from a new novel by the Yae Publishing House, The Shogun’s Daughter Who Fell in Love with a Wandering Swordsman. If you want to know what happens next, Miss Ei, you’ll have to go outside and read it for yourself~”
“Hmph. Fine, don’t tell me then.”
Ei scoffed, closing her eyes once more, pretending to meditate.
But it wasn’t long before she heard Luo Qing, his voice adopting the eager tone of a gossiping auntie:
“Oh, I wonder if the lady will run away with the wandering swordsman, or will she accept her father’s arrangements and marry that unknown nobleman?”
“Ah, I really want to know what happens next! It’s so painful not to know!”
“…”
【+1 Frustration Value from Ei】
“Tsk, I’ve heard that there’s a new dessert called Dango Milk that’s all the rage at Hanamizaka. It’s sweet, creamy, and just one sip can make you happy for the whole day.
“Imagine sipping on Dango Milk in the middle of the day, while listening to the rest of the story…
“Ahh~ Now wouldn’t that be delightful?”
“…”
【+1 Frustration Value from Ei】
Ei swallowed slightly, her brows furrowing as she opened her eyes.
“Are you doing this on purpose?”
“No, Miss Ei, I’m doing this deliberately.”
“…”
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