"So that's how the relief rations ca to be..."
Paimon finally understood.
However, she still had so doubts.
"Why did Kurosawa insist on buying the sa quantity of food? If prices rose, couldn't he just buy less?"
Miss Aoi shook her head slightly and explained to Paimon:
"Think about it, dear custor—before receiving the relief rations, the people would have carefully calculated how long the food would last them."
"They budget ticulously, counting every grain day and night... only to find the amount they receive is less than expected."
"Mr. Kurosawa believed this would disappoint them."
"To spare their feelings, he chose to take on debt just to maintain the sa quantity."
Miss Aoi spread her hands, admitting she also found Kurosawa's actions a bit hard to comprehend.
But that was simply how he was.
[Give them an inch, they'll take a mile?]
[This is insane, this third story is just too frustrating.]
[He raised a bunch of ungrateful wolves.]
[I think it would've been better to explain things clearly from the start.]
Paimon grew even more confused.
"But this food was bought by Kurosawa himself..."
"Instead of thanking him, they kept blaming him..."
Miss Aoi crossed her arms and continued explaining:
"People's attitudes often depend on their circumstances. When it cos to survival, most won't spare much thought for others."
Lumine spoke up, "He should have been upfront about the source of the 'relief rations.' That would've at least reduced so of the trouble."
Miss Aoi nodded. "I agree. The origin should have been disclosed from the beginning."
Mu Yang, who had been silent until now, interjected:
"The trouble wouldn't disappear. This was a thankless task from the start."
Tracing this issue to its roots—it wasn't Kurosawa's fault.
Nor was it the Vision Hunt Decree's fault.
The problem lay with Inazuma itself.
The people living at the foot of Inazuma City actually had to rely on relief rations to survive.
And the life-saving food had been embezzled by the Tenryou Commission officials.
Yet in the end, the one being blad was Kurosawa—the very man who acted out of kindness.
Who could endure such injustice?
Miss Aoi admitted she knew this was a thankless endeavor.
As for why Kurosawa spent his own money to provide relief, and why he refused to take credit...
She didn't know the full story.
"If you're truly curious, why not ask Mr. Kurosawa directly?"
Lumine explained the situation—Kurosawa had lost his Vision and now rembered nothing.
"Oh... Now that you ntion it, his Vision was confiscated not long ago..."
Miss Aoi's expression darkened.
"That complicates things. If Mr. Kurosawa can't repay his debts, he'll likely have to sell that treasured sword of his."
Lumine caught the keyword—sword.
She recalled how, whether surrounded by angry citizens or speaking with her earlier, Kurosawa's hand had never left the blade at his waist.
"Can you tell us more about that sword?" Lumine asked.
Miss Aoi said she had once asked about its origins.
It was a gift from Kurosawa's father.
He cherished it deeply, always keeping it close.
When Miss Aoi tried to make an offer, Kurosawa flatly refused—no price would ever make him sell it.
[Oh no, here cos miHoYo's blade...]
[That sword must symbolize his identity as a samurai.]
[I feel like that sword is the reason behind all his actions.]
Miss Aoi suggested, "You could ask Mr. Kurosawa about the sword."
"Perhaps the answer you seek lies with it."
"Thank you for the information, Miss Aoi."
The shopkeeper smiled warmly. "You're welco."
Paimon was surprised by her generosity.
"Hehe, Miss Aoi is so nice! I thought you'd charge us for the intel."
"Oh? I almost forgot about that."
Lumine placed her hands on her hips. "Paimon?"
Paimon scratched her head sheepishly. "Ehehe..."
"How much Mora?" Mu Yang asked, ready to pay.
Miss Aoi studied him anew—she hadn't expected him to be so straightforward.
He didn't seem difficult to deal with. Had she misjudged him earlier?
But the pressure he exuded while standing behind the girls... that couldn't have been fake.
Since he was being cooperative, Miss Aoi decided to make a small request.
"Young man, you're the Liyue swordsman who's been challenging Inazuma's fad martial artists lately, aren't you?"
Mu Yang nodded, though inwardly puzzled—wasn't this supposed to be a simple 2000 Mora transaction? What was she getting at?
Miss Aoi couldn't hide her excitent.
Truthfully, she was a devoted fan of Ruthless Sword.
As an information broker, she knew Mu Yang had once used Fei's signature technique—Flying Flowers and Plucked Leaves.
And she wanted to see it in person.
The request caught Mu Yang off guard.
Sotis, when he encountered Kairagi on the road and couldn't be bothered to draw his sword, he'd use this move to deal with them.
He never expected it would lead to this.
Miss Aoi placed a small wooden samurai figurine on the counter.
Then, from a collector's edition of Ruthless Sword, she carefully took out an exquisitely preserved leaf.
"Please."
Mu Yang took the leaf and stepped back ten ters.
By now, Miss Aoi, Lumine, and Paimon had moved aside.
Even Lumine and Paimon had never seen this technique—both were eager.
Mu Yang steadied his breath, focused—then flicked his right hand!
Whoosh—
The leaf struck the wooden samurai.
Miss Aoi rushed over to inspect it.
The leaf had embedded itself into the figurine's neck—just like in the novels!
Too perfect!
——————
"Ahhh~~"
Guinaifen clutched her chest dramatically.
In a sweet, breathy voice, she cooed, "That strike... pierced my little heart~"
[Here we go, the strear's flooding the chat again.]
[Damn, he doesn't even need a sword now?]
[All things can be a blade—Mu Yang's truly reached new heights.]
[No wonder he's here to challenge the Raiden Shogun.]
[Next step: No technique surpasses formlessness?] Updates are released by N0v3l.Fiɾe
"Folks, are you looking forward to Mu Yang vs. the Raiden Shogun?" Guinaifen asked.
[Hell yeah, the cutscene's gonna be epic!]
[What if it's not a cutscene?]
[Then I'll just say: Even better!]
[Like with Osial—buffing Lumine, right?]
——————
Miss Aoi held the wooden samurai, utterly enchanted.
Now she could brag about this at the book club!
Though her motto was Everything has a price...
This was priceless!
For a mont, she almost understood Kurosawa.
Mu Yang walked back. "This settles it, then?"
Miss Aoi nodded repeatedly—she was more than satisfied.
Mu Yang had held back, ensuring only the tip of the leaf pierced the wood.
Had he not controlled his strength, the figurine would've shattered—possibly even damaging the antiques on the shelves...
The trio bid Miss Aoi farewell and set off to find Kurosawa.
On the way, Lumine and Paimon were still buzzing with excitent.
"That move was so cool, Mu Yang! Just like the legendary heroes in the stories!"
"Mm. Your swordsmanship has reached another level."
Mu Yang turned to Lumine. "Once Kurosawa's matter is resolved, I'll teach you."
Lumine smiled. "Deal."
"Deal."
User Comments
0 comments from readers