The Lost People of Teyvat

Chapter 273 Young Men and Women
"Boss, two servings of animal bone ramen."

"Okay, please wait a moment, it will be ready soon."

Shimura Kanbei looked at the guest who entered Shimuraya, his gaze lingering on the white floating little creature for two seconds. He seemed stunned for a moment, but did not say anything. He just nodded happily and greeted him.

During this period, Inazuma Castle has been arresting people. Busy shogunate troops and dignitaries with miserable and pale expressions can be seen in the streets and alleys. This has broadened the horizons of many Inazuma people.

The officials in the past were arrested in groups and thrown into jail like lambs. Not only them, but even their fathers’ fathers had never seen such a scene.

But you know what, the more people this guy caught, the calmer and more stable Inazuma became, as if the thick layer of dark clouds in the sky had been completely wiped away and the sun had finally appeared.

If it were not so, how could Shimuraya be operating so smoothly some time ago? Not to mention seeing such a strange-looking stranger.

Shimura Kanbei sighed in his heart, but his hands kept moving. The dough stretched under the rolling pin, and with the sound of the kitchen knife hitting the chopping board, the long and wide dough turned into thick strips. He pinched the ends, stretched, pulled, and swung them, and with a "bang" on the chopping board, the thick strips became much thinner.

Repeat this process several times until the ramen is formed.

“Wow—that’s amazing!”

Paimon looked at Shimura Kanbei's smooth technique and praised him from the bottom of his heart.

Shimura Kanbei didn't show any expression on his face, but he couldn't help feeling happy in his heart. He cheered up and put all his effort into making the two bowls of animal bone ramen, showing off his skills steadily and calmly.

The little mascot got exclamations from the audience.

Ying smiled silently at the side, noticing that after Paimon praised and watched attentively, the smile in Shimura Kanbei's eyes was no longer gentle.

Sincere praise always makes people feel happy, especially when the praise comes from the mouth of an extremely cute little guy. With the double blessing, no one can resist the joy that grows in their hearts.

Especially the elderly.

Ying glanced at Shimura Kanbei's white hair and wrinkles, and was sighing with emotion when he suddenly thought of something and his expression became a little subtle.

But judging from the age, it seems... Ying promptly threw this dangerous idea out of her mind, and repeated "forever seventeen years old" in her heart several times.

But come to think of it, Tian Feng seems to be as young as himself.

Well, that's good.

Ying's eyes curved, then she sensed something and looked towards the door of Shimuraya.

A pink figure pushed the door open and walked in.

"Oh, I finally found you."

Yae Kamiko raised her eyebrows and smiled, raised her hand to greet Ying, walked to the open kitchen, and waited for Shimura Kanbei to finish his work before knocking on the counter: "One serving of fox udon, thank you."

"Master Palace Administrator, you are too polite. Wait a moment, it will be ready soon."

Shimura Kanbei wiped his palms on his apron and bowed slightly, not too stiff. It was also a blessing for Shimuraya that it was not the first time that the chief priest visited his shop. Once, he was followed by a tall and noisy man who seemed to be a ghost.

"Fox Udon?"

Ying glanced at the menu posted on Shimura-ya, but didn't find Kitsune Udon's name. She turned her gaze to Yae Shinko and asked thoughtfully, "Privilege?"

"..."

Yae Shinko was stunned for a moment, then nodded with a smile and admitted it openly: "Yes, it is a privilege, and it is an exclusive privilege for the maidens of Narukami Taisha. How about joining Narukami Taisha?"

What a beautiful and iconic beauty. She will be even more beautiful in her modified shrine maiden costume, right? I think I should take a look... Miss Fox smiled and glanced at Ying: "Everything will be treated well~"

"I'd love to, but I'm worried that you, Shenzi, will regret it."

"How is that possible? Lord Yae-gongshi always keeps his word."

"Even if I bring a travel companion?"

"You mean little Paimon? Of course."

"..."

"…You mean little Paimon, right?"

The Yae God's Son's smile faltered slightly, and he smiled without saying anything.

"Alright, alright, if you don't want to join, then don't join. Really, using Him to scare people is too much~"

Yae Shenzi pretended to be aggrieved and secretly glanced at Ying. Seeing that she had no reaction, he quickly stopped talking, as if the topic had never come up: "Ying, why didn't you go to the castle tower?"

At the Narugami Taisha Shrine, they agreed that after Ying and Chen Tianfeng were ready, they would meet at the castle tower to start the next plan.

"Paimon is hungry."

Ying gave an impeccable reason.

Yae Miko blinked, recalling how the little mascot ate all the time at Narukami Taisha Shrine, and a hint of sympathy flashed in her purple eyes: "Your food expenses must be very high, it's really hard work."

"……well enough."

Ying twitched the corners of her mouth and sighed.

From Mondstadt to Liyue, they had taken on countless commissions and earned a lot of money, but even so, it was just enough to support Paimon and they couldn't save much Mora.

Paimon has an amazing trait, he can accurately control the food and drink expenses according to the number of Mora in their hands. Sometimes it's 300,000 Mora a month, sometimes it's sleeping in the wild, without spending a penny, and they can still follow her happily and energetically.

"My two guests, the animal bone ramen is ready~"

Shimura Kanbei was holding the tray, still smiling cheerfully: "And, Lord Palace Master, here is your fox udon. Please enjoy it."

"Thank you."

"Haha, you are so polite, please enjoy your meal."

Shimura Kanbei put down the tray and consciously distanced himself from the three people, making sure he couldn't hear their whispered conversation. Not listening, not looking, not asking, this is the only way for an ordinary person like him to live safely and long.

"Is this Fox Udon?"

"That's right, haha, it's actually udon with fried tofu. How about it, fried tofu and udon, doesn't it look delicious?"

"It's really good."

Ying looked at him seriously for a few seconds and nodded, without any perfunctory intention.

The smile in Yae Shenzi's eyes became even brighter. He picked up the chopsticks and picked up a piece of fried tofu. He said casually: "Come with me to the Mulou Teahouse later to discuss the next plan."

"Mulou Teahouse?" Ying was a little confused: "Where is that?"

"The high-end teahouse in Inazuma Castle only receives [guests worthy of hospitality]. Ha, the business method is quite fancy."

Yae Kamiko smiled, then changed her tone and said, "But in fact, it is the [safe house] of the community magistrate Kamisato's family. If there are things that are inconvenient for others to know, the Kamisato brothers and sisters will discuss them in the Mulou Teahouse."

"..." Ying paused and said uncertainly: "This kind of safe house shouldn't be known to others, right?"

Miss Fox smiled playfully and winked at Ying: "Of course, it took me a lot of effort to find out."

……

Kamisato Prefecture,
Kamisato Ayaka looked at the tightly closed gate and sighed softly in her heart.

Ever since she and her brother finished writing the report document for the Kamisato family, she has been staying in this side courtyard and has never stepped out of the courtyard.

Fortunately, her brother would summarize what happened to Inazuma every day and have someone send it to her. Although her life became a little lonely, she was not behind in terms of various information and had plenty of time to think.

The decisive battle between the shogunate army and the resistance army on Yagyu Island, the blockade of Umijima by thunderstorms, the thunderbolt that fell on Kujo Prefecture, the shogunate army's seizure of Hiiragi Prefecture, and the officials and wealthy businessmen who were mercilessly taken away and thrown into prison... I heard that the prison of Tenryo Bugyo was almost full. Finally, the Eye Hunting Order was also abolished.

When the General finally cast his gaze upon Inazuma, all the darkness and filth in the country had nowhere to hide and were all annihilated by the thunder, leaving not even ashes.

Kamisato Ayaka bit her lip, knowing full well what would happen next once the Inazuma Dark Cleansing was complete.

It is a settlement of Haigi Island.

Umigi Island's overthrow of the Narukami branch and raising of the banner of Umigi Daimikami were both intolerable betrayals for Inazuma and the Shogun, and they naturally would not let it go easily.

"Squeak-"

The wooden door opened and closed.

Kamisato Ayato looked at her sister who was sitting in the yard thinking, looked at her sparkling eyes, and thought for a while: "The hinge is a little rusty, let Thomas change it when he has time."

"It's okay. I quite like the sound of this."

Kamisato Ayaka shook her head with a smile in her eyes: "Why is my brother here?"

"Some of the affairs of the Society's Executive Office have been taken over by the Palace Administrator. I have a rare moment of leisure, so I came to take a look."

Kamisato Ayato explained, closed the door with a creaking sound, turned around, and frowned slightly: "Ayahua, you didn't deliberately pour water on the hinges, did you?"

"...Brother, I'm not a child." Kamisato Ayaka smiled helplessly.

"Yes, my sister has grown up."

Kamisato Ayato smiled, sat across the table from Kamisato Ayaka, glanced at the chessboard on the table, and raised his eyebrows slightly: "Want to play a game?"

"Okay."

Kamisato Ayaka readily agreed.

The brother and sister worked together to put the chess pieces back in place.

"Come to think of it, it seems like we haven't played chess together like this for a long time."

"Yes, ever since I defeated my brother, he rarely plays chess with me anymore."

"I'm busy with work, not that I can't get off."

"Brother, I haven't said anything yet."

"Haha, I was impatient."

Kamisato Ayato thought for a few seconds before taking the next step: "Are you used to being here these days?"

"I wasn't used to it at first, but I got used to it slowly. Living alone is much quieter and more conducive to thinking." Kamisato Ayaka replied. She moved the chess piece and looked at Kamisato Ayato: "Brother, how are you doing recently?"

"Fortunately, the purge of Inazuma's top brass didn't have much impact on the Kamisato family."

Kamisato Ayato frowned slightly, looked at the chessboard, and thought about what to do next.

"Brother just said that the chief priest has taken over some of the affairs of the society." Kamisato Ayaka lowered her eyes slightly.

"Uh-oh, it's not what you think."

Kamisato Ayato moved his chess piece and temporarily defended: "Not only the magistrate of the shrine, but also the power of the Inazuma Third Magistrate, the chief priest has taken over. The Inazuma purge is about to end, and the next thing to deal with is the matter of Umijima, which is quite important. I guess the chief priest intends to take full charge of this matter."

"Brother, do you know how the chief priest intends to deal with Haigi Island?"

Kamisato Ayaka restrained her offensive on the chessboard and prepared for the next attack.

"I don't know, and I don't want to know. Since the Lord of the Palace is in charge, the Kamisato family just needs to follow his orders." Kamisato Ayato saw her intention, but there was no way to break the situation without getting hurt. After a little thought, he decided to attack instead of defend and interrupt her momentum first: "If my guess is correct, the Lord of the Palace will let you see her soon."

"see me?"

Kamisato Ayaka paused slightly.

"Yes, although I don't know what exactly I want you to do, I think you should use your original communication channel with Haigi Island to pass some news to Haigi Island."

Kamisato Ayato spoke in a normal tone, and after waiting for a few seconds, he saw that Kamisato Ayaka did not move, so he looked up at her and said, "What are you going to do next, Ayaka?"

Kamisato Ayaka came to her senses, looked at the chessboard, and realized that in the current situation, if she thought about retreating and escaping, temporarily avoiding the attack and waiting for the coming attack, she would lose the initiative and could only watch her advantage being eroded bit by bit until it became irreversible.

Her eyelashes trembled, and she no longer hesitated, and responded with attack: "As my brother said, what the Kamisato family needs to do now is to fully cooperate with Lord Palace Master."

The Kamisato family had no right to think about the matter of Umigi Island.

To describe it in the coldest terms, before the Shogun's gaze fell on him, Inazuma Sanbugyo could regard himself as a chess player, and when the god's gaze fell, Sanbugyo was and could only be a chess piece in His hand.

Three chess pieces that are more familiar and easier to use.

Chess pieces do not need and cannot have the ability to think independently.

The general had been too gentle to the three commissioners in the past, which caused them to have many inappropriate thoughts - including her.

Whether she is the eldest daughter of the Kamisato family, the magistrate of the society, or the Shirasagi Princess of Inazuma, she is not without the qualifications to be willful now.

"As long as you understand."

Kamisato Ayato smiled, glanced at the chessboard, and shook his head: "Ayaka's chess skills are getting stronger."

"Brother, are you not going to come down?"

"No, if I continue, I'll lose. I might as well stop here. Hmm...how about calling it a draw? Or counting it as a half loss?"

"What's the point of this?"

Kamisato Ayaka laughed, then sat up straight with a serious look in her eyes: "Once the game starts, there is no reason to stop halfway, and my brother finally has some free time, Ayaka doesn't want to miss this opportunity."

"You're too competitive, Linghua."

Kamisato Ayato sighed with a smile, raising his eyebrows: "But I do have free time, but you, Ayahua, don't."

"Ok?"

Kamisato Ayaka was puzzled.

"Get ready, Linghua, the palace master is waiting for you."

Kamisato Ayato stood up, thought for a moment, took out his video camera and took a picture of the chessboard: "Let me study it and continue when I have time."

"If you can't figure out a winning strategy, you can choose to start over. You don't have to worry about whether you have time or not."

Kamisato Ayaka glanced at him, easily seeing through his thoughts, and then couldn't help but smile and looked away: "Has the Palace Master arrived at the mansion?"

"No, she's waiting for you somewhere else."

"Huh? Where?"

"Mu leak tea room."

"..."

Kamisato Ayaka was slightly stunned, and it took her a long time to come back to her senses. She nodded gently: "...Ah, I understand."

(End of this chapter)