"Haha..."
"That's a fictional character, one that doesn't exist in reality."
Qiu Bai looked at Ei, who had a completely serious expression on her face, and couldn't help but laugh as he spoke.
"Fictional..."
Ei touched her chin, looking puzzled.
"They're characters that only exist in novels."
"They don't exist in reality."
Qiu Bai looked at the confused Ei in front of him and began to explain.
"So, what does Ei think about Yae Publishing House's light novels?"
Qiu Bai looked at Ei before him and asked.
"From the stories, I can feel the traces that time has left on Inazuma."
"When I decided to seclude myself in the Plane of Euthymia, there was no such thing as Yae Publishing House back then, let alone stories like these."
Ei looked at Qiu Bai in front of her and spoke slowly.
"The Shogun, following my will, did everything possible to create an eternal nation. This nation was supposed to remain unchanged."
"But now, whether it's food or stories, everything has become very different..."
Ei looked at the cherry blossom tree in front of her and said with some emotion.
"Mm... People, within the flow of time, instinctively pursue change."
"Ei, complete stillness is impossible."
Qiu Bai looked at Ei in front of him, shook his head, and sighed.
"I don't agree with what you're saying."
"If we were still in the Plane of Euthymia, I would definitely answer this way."
Ei looked at Qiu Bai in front of her, her face carrying a smile as she spoke.
"But the facts are right before my eyes, and I cannot refute the current situation."
"Moreover, you also said that the Heavenly Principles are slumbering, and you can eliminate erosion. I will gradually approach the eternity you pursue."
Ei walked up to Qiu Bai, raised her head, and with a gentle and lovely smile on her face, said with a laugh.
"Haha... How wonderful. I understand your true intentions."
"The eternity you want to pursue is certainly not about preventing mortals from becoming better and better."
Qiu Bai looked at the adorable Ei in front of him and said with a smile.
"The Vision Hunt Decree, the Statue of the Omnipresent God—these were all meant to catalyze eternity."
"But if you, Ei, were truly drawing closer and closer to eternity, how could these things have happened?"
Qiu Bai walked to the cherry blossom tree in front of him, crossing his arms over his chest and speaking steadily.
"You could be said to have achieved it—remaining eternally unchanged yourself."
"But your people, the Tri-Commission, they cannot do it. They don't have eternal lifespans."
Qiu Bai raised his head, looking at the falling cherry blossom petals, and spoke.
"Their next generation, and the generation after that."
"From the initial reverence and loyalty that never deceived."
Qiu Bai turned around and walked up to Ei.
"To now having two of the three commissions colluding with foreign enemies and deceiving their lord."
"Can Inazuma, in its unstable political situation, continue to carry out your will?"
Qiu Bai looked at Ei in front of him and slowly asked.
"Mm..."
Upon hearing this, Ei fell silent for a while, then turned her gaze to each person on the street.
The buildings here had long since become different from what they were hundreds of years ago.
"Qiu Bai, thank you."
"For telling me all of this. This trip out has brought me many gains."
Ei turned around, looked at Qiu Bai in front of her, and nodded with a smile.
"You are someone important in my heart."
"Your words, I will take them all to heart."
Ei placed one hand over her heart.
Gently closing her eyes, with a smile on her lips, she murmured.
"Haha... You don't need to be polite."
"The reasoning is actually quite simple. I just brought you out for a walk."
Qiu Bai crossed his arms over his chest, looked at the adorable Ei in front of him, and said with a soft laugh.
"For me, this outing has considerable commemorative value."
"I've seen much and thought about much, and with someone important by my side—no amount of reminiscing would be too much."
Ei opened her eyes, looked at Qiu Bai in front of her, and shook her head as she spoke.
"Mm..."
"If you'd like, the next time I come to Inazuma, I can still accompany you on walks."
Qiu Bai lowered his arms, looked at Ei in front of him, and said with a gentle laugh.
"Since that's the case, let's take a picture."
"To commemorate this."
Qiu Bai looked at Ei in front of him and spoke.
"Take a picture... Why do I keep encountering words I've never heard before?"
Upon hearing this, Ei tilted her head in confusion, scratched her head in puzzlement, and said with bewilderment.
"Ei, hold onto me. I'll take you to see the sunrise."
"Inazuma has many beautiful sceneries."
Qiu Bai looked at Ei in front of him and said with a smile.
"Alright."
Upon hearing this, Ei nodded, then grabbed onto Qiu Bai sleeve.
In an instant, they disappeared.
When they appeared again, they were already at that sea of flowers.
Countless petals mixed with floral fragrance blew across Ei and Qiu Bai faces in the gentle breeze.
"This place is..."
"The sea of flowers that Makoto and I left behind?"
Ei stepped forward, looked at the stone monument in front of her and the surrounding sea of flowers, and said in surprise.
"That fox has taken quite good care of it."
"Although we've both lost our memories, there's still a feeling of nostalgia..."
Ei turned around, looked at Qiu Bai in his white robes in front of her.
With his handsome features and somewhat slender figure, she said with a smile on her face.
"Yes..."
"This sea of flowers is truly beautiful..."
Qiu Bai turned to look at this sea of flowers, appearing deep blue in the moonlight.
Countless fireflies lay dormant here, seemingly stirred by Ei and Qiu Bai arrival.
They rose slowly like tiny lanterns.
"Please excuse me for a moment, Ei."
"Wait here for me for a while."
A hint of a smile flashed across Qiu Bai lips.
Then Qiu Bai disappeared in an instant.
When he returned again, two hours had already passed.
"You're back?"
On the peak above the sea of flowers, there were two swings here.
At this moment, Ei was sitting on one of the swings.
The swing ropes were woven from the stems of flowers, strand by strand.
Flower petals were still wrapped around the vines, creating an incredibly beautiful sight.
Ei looked at Qiu Bai in front of her and asked with a smile.
"Yes..."
"I'm back."
Qiu Bai looked at Ei in front of him, swaying on the swing made of flower petals—it was truly a beautiful picture.
"Do you remember Kitsune Saiguu, Ei?"
Qiu Bai turned around, looked at the sun about to rise, and murmured.
"I... know..."
"She was a dear friend of mine who perished five hundred years ago."
Upon hearing this, Ei lowered her head and said sadly.
"Mm..."
"Alright, don't be sad. Come watch the sunrise."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Bai fell silent for a while, then turned to look at the saddened Ei and comforted her.
Upon hearing this, Ei walked to Qiu Bai side.
The two stood on the mountain peak, watching the slowly rising sun.
The sunlight slanted across the sea surface, reflecting the azure blue ocean.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Now you can read 30 chapters ahead on my P@treon [[email protected]/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)