The sun rose in the east, illuminating the sakura blossoms swaying in the breeze at the Grand Narukami Shrine. Feng Yi slowly woke up from the floor, carefully withdrawing his arm from beneath Yae Miko’s head.
Last night, the little fox’s vocal skills were exceptional, giving Feng Yi a taste of something new.
“Hmm? You’re awake already? After such a strenuous night, why didn’t you sleep in longer?”
Yae Miko was startled by the slight movement and smiled at Feng Yi.
She had consumed quite a bit of protein last night.
“No, I have matters to attend to today. Once Sayu returns, I must leave!”
Feng Yi shook his head. He needed to conserve his strength and wait for the little fox’s menstrual period to pass before engaging in another battle.
Speaking of Sayu, Sayu arrived.
Outside the door, Sayu’s panting voice suddenly echoed.
“Guuji-sama, I, I’ve returned from my reconnaissance mission!”
Sayu knocked on the door, eager to deliver her mission report and then have a long, satisfying sleep.
Feng Yi opened the door and took the hand-drawn map Sayu handed him. Though the lines were rough, the layout of the Shogunate prison was vaguely discernible.
Sayu had drawn a large circle around one of the rooms, presumably where Master Masakatsu was imprisoned.
There were also many small black dots on the map, which Sayu explained were Shogunate soldiers on guard.
“Thank you, Sayu. Come to my milk tea shop another day, and I’ll treat you to milk tea and a feast!”
Feng Yi tucked the hand-drawn map into his懷 and patted Sayu’s head.
“Waaah~ Don’t pat my head, I won’t grow tall!”
Sayu dodged, covering her head, and said with a pout.
Why did everyone like to pat her head?
She’d need to sleep for several more hours to make up for it.
After receiving Yae Guuji-sama’s promise, Sayu happily ran off to find a suitable place to sleep.
“Miko, I’m leaving now. I’ll have a good talk with Ei when I have time!”
Feng Yi stepped forward, shared a gentle embrace with Yae Miko, and then headed down the mountain.
Yae Miko watched Feng Yi’s departing figure and then looked at the Great Sacred Tree, sighing in resignation.
If it weren’t for the recent issues with the Great Sacred Tree, she would have gladly accompanied Feng Yi.
Meanwhile, Feng Yi, having ascertained Master Masakatsu’s confinement location, descended the mountain, had a simple breakfast at a food stall, and then proceeded to the Naganohara Fireworks shop.
Knock knock~
“Yoimiya, Old Man Ryunosuke, are you awake?”
Feng Yi knocked on the closed door.
A moment later, Yoimiya, wearing a loose-fitting sleep shirt and rubbing her groggy eyes, opened the door.
“Feng Yi, good morning!”
“Yoimiya, I’ve found out where Master Masakatsu is being held.”
Feng Yi was pleased that Yoimiya was awake so early.
“Really?! Come in quickly!”
The lingering sleepiness in Yoimiya vanished instantly. She peeked around, and seeing no Shogunate soldiers patrolling nearby, she quickly pulled Feng Yi into the room and shut the door tightly.
They sat down by the coffee table in the living room, and Feng Yi took out Sayu’s map and spread it on the table.
“If the detention location hasn’t changed, this should be where Master Masakatsu is being held…”
Feng Yi pointed to the conspicuous circle on the map.
“Then what do these small black dots mean?”
“Guard soldiers.”
“And what does this big X mean?”
“That’s a heavily guarded area of the Shogunate prison, holding extremely wicked criminals…”
Feng Yi explained away Yoimiya’s confusion, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to Yoimiya’s impressive chest.
Without the restraint of bandages, the white slimes seemed to have grown even larger.
This kind of semi-revealed temptation was truly captivating.
“Ah?! Um, I’ll go change my clothes first, Feng Yi, please wait for me!”
Yoimiya sensed the scrutinizing gaze. When she followed Feng Yi’s line of sight downwards, her face instantly flushed red.
She scrambled to her feet and stumbled towards the bedroom.
“Good morning, Mr. Feng Yi. Would you like some morning tea?”
Before long, Ryunosuke arrived with a pot of brewed morning tea and poured a bowl for Feng Yi.
“Thank you, Old Man Ryunosuke.”
Although Feng Yi had already eaten breakfast, he accepted the offer without refusal.
After Yoimiya returned, dressed, and they finished their morning tea together, Feng Yi and Yoimiya rose, preparing to head to the Shogunate prison to rescue the prisoner.
“Yoimiya, Mr. Feng Yi, be careful. If things don’t go as planned, don’t force it. Escape quickly and find another way!”
Before they left, Ryunosuke stood at the door and admonished them.
“Old Man Ryunosuke, please rest assured. I will take good care of Yoimiya and bring her back completely unharmed!”
Feng Yi smiled, and then he and Yoimiya put on their hoods and quietly left from the back.
Barging into the prison openly as they might in a game was too dangerous and would have endless repercussions; it was not a wise course of action.
Both he and Yoimiya were wearing common night-clothes available on the market, emphasizing stealth.
“Good luck, apart from knocking out a few guards, we haven’t really attracted their attention!”
Inside the Shogunate prison, Yoimiya and Feng Yi hid in a corner of the corridor, saying with great relief.
“Feng Yi, let’s split up. I’ll create chaos on the west side to attract the guards’ attention, and you can use that opportunity to go to the east and rescue Master Masakatsu…”
Yoimiya had prepared many fireworks for this operation, specifically to draw the guards’ attention.
“Okay, Yoimiya, take this gold paper with you. If you encounter danger, put it in your mouth and eat it. It will protect you from harm!”
Feng Yi thought for a moment, then tore off a piece of gold paper and handed it to Yoimiya. It was better to be safe than sorry; in a moment of crisis, it might just save Yoimiya’s life.
“This paper is quite pretty. Since it’s a gift from you, I’ll gladly accept it!”
Yoimiya beamed, her smile incredibly bright.
Although she didn’t believe the paper would be as powerful as Feng Yi claimed, Yoimiya was happy to accept it as a blessing.
It was like how people in Inazuma give good omamori or charms as talismans to important people.
Yoimiya guessed that giving gold paper might be a custom from Feng Yi’s hometown.
For such a precious gift imbued with sentiment, Yoimiya naturally treasured it.
After Yoimiya left, Feng Yi also quietly moved in the other direction.
The Shogunate prison was less like a building and more like a tower. The central staircase was spirally arranged, appearing to extend infinitely into the depths of the earth from top to bottom.
Feng Yi stopped at a corner. On the other side of the wall were patrolling soldiers, and he waited for Yoimiya’s signal.
Soon, a deafening explosion sounded, and thick black smoke from burning wood was clearly visible on the west side of the tower.
Indeed, fireworks and bombs were separated by just a thought!
“What’s going on? Is someone causing trouble over there?”
“Leave one person to patrol, the rest of you hurry over to check it out!”