Genshin Impact: This light novel author doesn't cross the line.

“Anzai, why were you so obsessed with swordsmanship back then! I don’t like practicing swordsmanship at all. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even pick up a sword.”

Junya and Nanako couldn't believe what their master was saying. Their master had always loved kendo so much, practicing diligently day after day without ever stopping.

"Tumen, all these years have passed, and I've always wanted to apologize to you. I shouldn't have imposed my desire to be the best in the world on you. You've carried my wish all these years, and it's been too hard for you."

Chapter 41 Bearing the Wish for the Beloved

"Tumen, most of the people you defeated back then didn't blame you, including me. They placed their hopes on you, hoping you could go further."

At this moment, Tumen had regained consciousness. Looking at the aged face of the person in front of him, he couldn't help but recall their first wonderful encounter, when they were both in their prime.

If only time could stand still there.

He gently shook his head. "Now I only hope to live a peaceful life. Being the best in the world is no longer relevant to me. I carried the burden of my dreams for the one I loved, but the one I loved has left me."

Anxi gazed into his slightly weary eyes, her heart filled with sorrow. She gave a bitter laugh, "Heh, what 'still waters and clear mirror'? That's absurd. How can one remain calm and composed when facing the one they love?"

Tumen was startled by the voice. "Senior brother, do you mean I am the one you love?"

"Back then, I had already secretly developed feelings for you and was no longer able to maintain my composure. So I deliberately lost that battle with you, hoping that you, with your superior talent, could lead the Mirror of Still Water style to go further."

Tumen could no longer suppress his emotions and hugged Anxi tightly. In their old age, they no longer cared about worldly opinions.

Seeing this scene, Ueno Chiki got goosebumps all over his body; as a straight man, he simply couldn't accept it.

Yingmei and Paimon, on the other hand, watched with great interest.

After a moment of tenderness, Tsuchimon said to Junya and Nanako, "I am no longer suitable to stay in Meikyō Shisui-ryū. My senior brother and I will create a new school called Dansui-ryū, which means that emotions are like water, and that you can cut water with a sword but the water will flow on."

Nanako placed her hand on her chest and said firmly, "Master, ever since you rescued me from the pirates when I was young, I have always regarded you as my father. Whether it is the Mirror Still Water Stream or the Ansui Stream, no matter where you go, I will follow you."

Junya looked at Nanako and made up his mind, "Junior sister, actually I don't want to stay in Meikyō Shisui-ryū anymore, because I like you, and I can no longer suppress my feelings."

Nanako's pretty face instantly turned bright red, and she punched Junya hard in the chest with her fist, "There are so many people here!"

Upon seeing this, everyone couldn't help but smile kindly.

"Thank you, Lord Bazhong!"

After thanking Yae no Miko, the group of Meikyo Shisui-ryu turned and left.

"The three of you, please come to my room!"

Yae no Miko's voice was clear and melodious, but Ueno Chiki had a bad feeling.

The three followed her toward a quiet and elegant house.

Upon entering the room, she revealed her true colors as a fox, instantly teleporting behind Yingmei and then pinching Yingmei's cute face hard with both hands.

"Little one, I heard you want to rub my ears and tail, but those are the two places I least want others to rub."

"My lord, I was wrong, please forgive me." Yingmei shamelessly begged for mercy.

"Hehe, but I just want to tease you, because you're so cute!"

Yae no Miko's hands didn't stop moving; she was going to teach Yingmei a lesson, because her ears and tail weren't so easy to rub.

"Lord Yae no Miko, the traveler is quite naive. Please be magnanimous and let her go!" He felt a little sorry for Yingmei, who was being ravaged by Lord Yae no Miko.

"Are you feeling sorry for your little girlfriend?" Yae no Miko teased.

Ueno Chiki quickly explained, "Yasu no Naka de, you're joking. We're just good friends."

"Tch, you're not being honest! But for your sake, I'll let this little guy go today." Yae no Miko released her hands.

However, to her surprise, Yingmei, whose little face was pinched red, said, "Lord Bazhong, don't worry about him. Just ravage me as much as you want. Don't pity me just because I'm a delicate flower. Let the storm rage on!"

This traveler has really stumped Yae no Miko; he's utterly despicable.

Chiki Ueno and Paimon slapped their foreheads, wondering how they could have such an unreliable and shameless partner, yet they both liked him quite a bit.

"Let's get down to business. Ueno Chiki, have you had any intelligence from your side lately?" Yae Miko asked with a serious expression.

"Based on the intelligence we have gathered, the Fools are planning to join forces with the resistance forces on Umijima Island to create a major upheaval in Inazuma Castle."

Yae no Miko was not surprised by the news; the deep-sea flounder had already leaked the information to her.

"Ueno Chiki, you're really something, you even managed to find out information like this."

Then, Yae no Miko walked up to Ying Mei and said, "Little one, it's a bit early for us to meet, but the timing of your arrival on this island is just right. Strive to live up to my expectations!"

Yingmei patted her chest and said confidently, "Don't worry, Master Yachong. For you, I will definitely work hard."

"If you can really do it, I'll consider giving you a little reward." Her words made Yingmei's heart itch with anticipation.

"Lord Yajiro, I risked my life to infiltrate the Fools and gather valuable information for Inazuma. Shouldn't I get paid?"

Ever since Yingmei and Paimon, those two gluttons, came to Ueno Chiki's house, Ueno Chiki's financial situation has been in dire straits. He has no choice but to shamelessly ask Yae Miko for his salary.

"Oh dear, but I don't have any Mora either." Yae no Miko spread her hands, looking like she had no money.

Upon hearing this, Ueno Chiki inwardly scoffed. She didn't have Mora? How could the mastermind behind Yaedo, the controller of Narukami, not have Mora? It was obvious that she just didn't want to give it to him.

"Ueno Chiki, if you have time, try to write a novel. The two novels you wrote before were quite good."

Yingmei asked with some confusion, "Qianshu, I remember you only have one novel, 'Young Dali Duck,' do you have another one?"

Chiki Ueno quickly fabricated a lie, saying, "There's another one that wasn't written well and wasn't published."

Yae no Miko admired his embarrassed look and smiled slightly. "If you're really short of money, just go to the magistrate's office. Your fiancée, Ayaka Kamisato, is there. Just ask her for it."

"Master Yachō, you're joking. That marriage agreement was made by the previous head of the Kamiri family, and things have changed since then, so it's invalid."

When Yingmei heard Ueno Chiki talk about his engagement with Kamisato Ayaka, her tense mood immediately relaxed.

Chapter 42 Flowing Water

When Ueno Chiki, Kei-mei, and Paimon walked out of Narukami Taisha, night had already fallen, the moon was bright, and the stars were sparse.

A gentle night breeze brought a sense of coolness and tranquility.

"Yazo-sama is really something. It's so late, why didn't he let us stay at the shrine for the night?" Yingmei complained somewhat discontentedly.

Ueno Chiki, standing to the side, offered a helpless explanation: "This is a rule established by Narukami Taisha hundreds of years ago, prohibiting outsiders from entering."

Paimon flew up to him, looking very confused. "But why would Narukami Taisha set up such an unreasonable rule?"

Ueno Chiki sighed softly and began to explain the reasons behind it.

"Several hundred years ago, there was a shrine maiden named Asarai Hibiki at Narukami Shrine. She and Kombu-maru, the apprentice of the great tengu and a friend of the current priest, Kosai-gu, fell in love."

However, Kombu Maru was already married, so they could only meet secretly at night.

Kombumaru often stayed overnight at Narukami Shrine, and Asayori Hibiki was particularly loud, which had a very bad influence on Narukami Shrine.

However, the Fox Palace did not pursue the matter but chose to let them go.

Later, Kombumaru died in the war against the Dark Beast.

However, years later, Asahi Hibiki raised the banner of rebellion against Raiden-sō. This was a great disgrace to the thousand-year-old Narukami Taisha Shrine!

Yaehiro believed that if Asaya Hibiki and Kombu Maru's nighttime visits had been prohibited at that time, everything would have been different.

Therefore, this rule was established.

After hearing this, Yingmei sighed, "What a pity, I really wanted to hear how loud Asase Hibiki's scream is?"

Ueno Chiki:......

"Traveler, don't you have the Dust Song Pot? If it's alright, may I stay at your place for the night?" Ueno Chiki really didn't want to walk home anymore; the journey was too far, and if she walked back now, she probably wouldn't get home until almost midnight.

"No way!" Yingmei refused outright.

Her house was littered with clothes, some of which were her unwashed underwear, still carrying her scent.

If Ueno Chiki saw this, how would I ever face him again?

Paimon didn't want to go back to Chengehu either. "Qianshu, hang in there. Just treat it as a training exercise."

“Yeah, Qianshu, you don’t want to be called ‘Little Dog,’ right? Besides, it’s not that far from here to your house,” Yingmei added.

Ueno Chiki was speechless. This distance was nothing to you two who were always running around on the world map.

But for an ordinary person like him, it was extremely difficult.

However, he can only go back now, because he doesn't want to be a greyhound forever.

.........

When they got home, it was already past midnight.

The long walk left Chiki Ueno exhausted, feeling as if she was about to collapse.

His eyes were so heavy he could barely open them, and waves of hunger throbbed in his stomach.

However, he still mustered his spirits, dragged his heavy steps to the field to pick some vegetables, and started boiling water to prepare a pot of noodles.

Yingmei felt heartbroken and guilty when she saw his miserable state.

But as the aroma of noodles filled the air, all these distracting thoughts vanished.

Knowing that Yingmei ate a lot, Ueno Chiki simply used a bowl bigger than Yingmei's face to hold the noodles, poured in some seasonings, and served it to her.

"Be careful!"

Yingmei, undeterred by the heat, eagerly took the noodles, their rich aroma making her swallow hard. She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat heartily.

The noodles have a delicate and soft texture, with a subtle sweetness and fragrance. They pass over her taste buds, giving her a refined and wonderful taste experience.

The feeling of hunger gradually disappeared, replaced by a sense of satisfaction and happiness.

"That was amazing! It was so delicious!" Yingmei exclaimed after finishing the rest of her drink in one go.

Paimon and Chiki Ueno ignored her and instead ate their noodles with their heads down.

She noticed that Paimon's bowl still had a lot of noodles left, and her eyes widened in disbelief.

Perhaps sensing Yingmei's eager gaze, Paimon sped up and quickly finished the noodles.

Yingmei wanted to get some soup, but Paimon didn't give her a chance. After pausing for a moment, he drank all the soup in one go.

She could only turn her gaze to Kaeno Chiki, staring longingly at the large bowl in his hand.

Ueno Chiki wanted to pretend he couldn't see it, but Yingmei's fiery gaze was a bit too much for him.