WebNovels

Chapter 40 - A Fox’s Vengeance and a Thunderous Reckoning

The Teyvat Second Creation broadcast room had closed, its virtual glow fading into the night, leaving behind a trail of laughter and chaos.

Arataki Itto's delusional pursuit of wealth had been the centerpiece, but Yae Miko's unintended humiliation stole the show.

The chat's final moments lingered in the minds of Teyvat's denizens, their reactions a mix of amusement and sympathy.

Rosaria: "No way—does this guy genuinely believe the video's scams aren't real?" she typed, incredulous.

Ningguang: "We're talking 20 million Mora—even I wouldn't spend that lightly," she remarked.

"And for common folk to face such a sum, it's an obvious trap," she added, her tone sharp.

Beidou: "Tch, there she goes again, flaunting her wealth like it's nothing," she grumbled.

Xander: "What do you mean 'spend lightly'—I'd love to be your kept man, Ningguang!" he teased.

Beidou: "@Xander, you shameless brat—when you're back from Mondstadt, I'll teach you a lesson!" she vowed.

Paimon: "It was a scam all along—I knew earning that much Mora couldn't be that easy!" she exclaimed.

Ying: "Even Paimon saw through it, yet Arataki Itto still believes it's real—unbelievable," she sighed.

Venti: "To think there's someone in Teyvat dumber than Paimon—now that's a feat!" he chuckled.

Paimon: "Hey, that's too much, bard—Paimon's really mad now!" she huffed, stomping her tiny foot.

Kamisato Ayaka: "It's less about stupidity and more about naivety," she offered gently.

"He doesn't believe the world is full of deceit—an enviable mindset, in a way," she added.

Arataki Itto: "Listen to you all—I'll prove I'm right, just you wait!" he declared.

"Once I'm out of Tenryou custody, I'll find that child-seeking Yae Fox myself!" he boasted.

Yae Miko: "@Kujou Sara, this is a grave smear on Narukami Shrine's Guuji—shouldn't this warrant a century in prison?" she demanded.

Kujou Sara: "A hundred years is excessive, but a few months could be arranged," she replied coolly.

Arataki Itto: "You're all just taking revenge—Shinobu, save me, Shinobu, help your boss!" he pleaded.

Kuki Shinobu: "I'm on my way, boss—hold on," she responded, her tone resigned.

Amber: "Is she his nanny or something?" she wondered aloud.

The broadcast room's five-minute timer expired, and the virtual space dissolved into nothingness.

The night's entertainment had ended, leaving Teyvat's residents to process the hilarity and fallout.

Itto had been the intended protagonist of the second creation, his foolishness the main attraction.

Yet Yae Miko, the pink-haired fox of Narukami Shrine, emerged as the true victim of the spoof.

Her image—crafted over centuries as a being of wisdom and elegance—had been shattered in moments.

The video painted her as a desperate fraudster, offering 20 million Mora for a child.

The blow to her pride was catastrophic, her mentality not just shaken but utterly obliterated.

In Inazuma, atop the sacred grounds of Narukami Shrine, the air crackled with tension.

The shrine maidens, clad in their red and white robes, trembled as they went about their duties.

They could hear the furious outbursts of their Guuji, Yae Miko, echoing from her quarters.

The sound of crashing objects and muffled screams sent shivers down their spines.

They exchanged nervous glances, their hands clutching brooms and talismans tighter.

On normal days, Lady Yae delighted in teasing them, her playful jabs a part of shrine life.

But now, with her mood soured by the broadcast, they feared her wrath would turn on them.

They whispered among themselves, their voices barely audible over the rustling leaves.

"Lady Yae is in a terrible state—I heard her shatter a tea set," one maiden murmured.

"She's always teased us, but this… this might be worse," another replied, her eyes wide.

The shrine's grounds, usually serene with the scent of sakura and incense, felt oppressive.

The grand torii gate at the entrance cast long shadows in the moonlight, a silent sentinel.

Sacred foxes, Yae Miko's kin, darted through the underbrush, sensing their mistress's distress.

The air hummed with latent Electro energy, a reflection of the Guuji's turbulent emotions.

Inside her quarters, Yae Miko paced furiously, her pink tail swishing with agitation.

Her elegant kimono, adorned with patterns of lightning and foxes, rustled with each step.

Her ears twitched, catching every sound, as if the world itself mocked her plight.

"I'm beyond furious—how dare they!" she growled, her voice a low, dangerous snarl.

"My image, my reputation—ruined in a single night!" she cried, her hands clenched into fists.

She kicked a low table, sending scrolls and a teapot crashing to the tatami floor.

The shards of porcelain scattered, glinting in the lantern light like fallen stars.

Her golden eyes burned with a mix of rage and despair, her composure utterly lost.

She had never anticipated such a humiliating blow, and so abruptly delivered.

A single advertisement in the spoof had dismantled her carefully curated persona.

Even knowing it was fiction, the damage was done—Teyvat would never forget this jest.

She could already imagine the whispers in Inazuma City, the snickers behind her back.

The Guuji of Narukami Shrine, reduced to a laughingstock in the eyes of the continent.

Her powerlessness gnawed at her, a bitter pill she had no choice but to swallow.

Even the Seven Archons, and Faruzan herself, could do nothing against the broadcast room.

If the gods and the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles were helpless, what chance did she have?

She slumped onto a cushion, her tail curling around her as she buried her face in her hands.

The weight of her humiliation pressed down, a storm she couldn't outrun.

But amidst her despair, a flicker of spite ignited, a dark hope taking root.

She lifted her head, her eyes narrowing as a cunning smile played on her lips.

"If I must suffer, then so should she," she murmured, her voice dripping with malice.

She thought of Ei, the Raiden Shogun, her old friend and the ruler of Inazuma.

Yingbao, as Yae affectionately called her, had yet to face the second creation's wrath.

What if the broadcast room turned its gaze on the Electro Archon next?

The thought of Ei enduring a similar humiliation brought a twisted comfort to Yae's heart.

It wasn't mere pettiness—well, perhaps a little—but Yae saw a deeper purpose.

Ei's pursuit of eternity had hardened her, her heart stubborn and unyielding.

She had locked herself in the Plane of Euthymia, detached from Inazuma's struggles.

A second creation video might shatter that childish obsession, forcing her to face reality.

If Ei's image were tarnished, she might finally step out of her self-imposed isolation.

Inazuma could heal, its people freed from the shackles of the Vision Hunt Decree.

Yae wouldn't have to worry constantly, her duties as Guuji lightened by a more present god.

The idea fueled her, a spark of hope amidst the ashes of her pride.

But Ei, too, harbored her own fears, her thoughts a mirror to Yae's scheming.

In the Plane of Euthymia, a realm of endless violet skies and crackling lightning, Ei meditated.

Her puppet, the Raiden Shogun, stood guard over Inazuma, a perfect vessel of her will.

But Ei's true self, the goddess within, felt a tremor of unease ripple through her.

The second creation broadcast had already targeted Yae Miko, a demon god's kin.

If it could strike one of her closest allies, what was to stop it from targeting the Seven?

Ei's grip on her naginata tightened, the weapon's Electro energy humming in response.

She absolutely refused to be subjected to the broadcast's whims.

Her image as the Almighty Shogun, the unyielding god of eternity, was sacred.

If that image were damaged, how would Inazuma's people perceive her?

The thought of her authority crumbling sent a chill through her divine essence.

Eternity was her creed, her purpose—any crack in that foundation would be disastrous.

She couldn't allow the broadcast to mock her, to reduce her to a jest like Yae.

Her people needed a god of unwavering strength, not a figure of ridicule.

But the Raiden Shogun, her puppet, felt no such fear, her mind a blank slate.

She stood in Tenshukaku, her violet eyes cold and unfeeling, a blade at her side.

The Shogun was a tool, a construct designed to enforce Ei's vision of eternity.

She cared not for reputation or humiliation—only the pursuit of her creator's will.

Anything that stood in the way of eternity would be cut down, without hesitation.

Back at Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko rose from her cushion, her resolve hardening.

She stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against her flushed cheeks.

The shrine maidens scattered at her approach, their fear palpable as she strode past.

She climbed the steps to the sacred tree, its ancient branches glowing with Electro energy.

The Grand Narukami Shrine's centerpiece loomed, a symbol of her divine connection to Ei.

She placed a hand on the tree's bark, feeling the pulse of Inazuma's ley lines beneath.

"I'll ensure you face the same humiliation, Yingbao," she whispered, her voice a vow.

Her golden eyes glinted with determination, a fox's cunning returning to her gaze.

She would find a way to nudge the broadcast room's attention toward the Raiden Shogun.

Perhaps a subtle suggestion in the next chat, a seed planted among the viewers.

If Ei were to be spoofed, Yae's own shame would feel less isolating.

More importantly, it might awaken Ei to the needs of her people, a greater good.

The night stretched on, Narukami Shrine bathed in the glow of the sacred tree.

Yae Miko stood beneath its branches, her mind racing with plans and possibilities.

The Shadowfang Blade, far away with Xander, seemed to hum in approval of the brewing storm.

Inazuma's future hung in the balance, a dance of gods and foxes set to unfold.

***

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