Birds rose into the sky.
Fish dove back into the sea.
The Thunder God returned to Inazuma.
Yet the liveliness of Yaoguang Shoal did not fade in the slightest.
Huoliya hummed softly as she prepared dinner.
Fanan stood beside her, casually washing ingredients.
Beryl had already returned to the small Sky-World first.
Yingda, however, stayed tightly by Taro's side, vigilance written all over her face as her gaze drifted again and again toward the Shogun floating cross-legged in midair.
To be honest—
This woman… this puppet… her pressure was overwhelming.
Her aura was sharp and cold, far surpassing Fanan's.
Her combat power was on the level of a full Archon—sharing the authority of the Thunder Goddess, wielding the radiance of pure lightning.
Fortunately, she was a puppet.
Even though she had independent thought, she clearly did not understand human emotions very well.
And her role… seemed to be a "tool"?
Still—
That figure… those long legs… even more impressive than Huoliya's…
A puppet body and a god's body truly weren't that different.
If Taro wanted to transform her back into a full divine vessel, it would take him minutes at most.
Who knew—maybe the moment they looked away, she'd seduce Taro away on the spot.
"Do you harbor hostility toward this body?"
"This body and you should be meeting for the first time."
The Shogun, feeling Yingda's strange stare, slowly opened her eyes.
Her gaze moved to Yingda—a little surprised.
According to human social customs…
This yaksha from Liyue, Yingda, should be Taro's… partner?
Mm. One of them.
She was his partner; the Shogun herself was only his guardian.
Naturally, she ought to be the subordinate.
So why was this woman giving her faint, confusing hostility?
"You're overthinking it~"
"It's not hostility."
Yingda took a deep breath, eyes sharp.
"You really don't understand human emotions at all? Desire? Attraction?"
"Or are you pretending to be clueless?"
Her eyes were far too alive—no way she was just a doll.
Taro also said she had her own will.
If she had will, then she would have desire.
If she had desire, then she would have emotions—seven sentiments and six desires.
There was no way Yingda believed the Shogun had none.
"Desire? Emotions?"
"This body has no thoughts, no— …wait. No. Your words are logical."
The Shogun turned her head aside, tone calm as always.
But halfway through speaking, she froze.
"No-thought, no-desire, eternal stillness"…
That was the principle established by her former self.
But now—she no longer belonged to her former self.
The principle had been rewritten.
Taro's final directive was for her to become a true living being, a true person.
As Yingda said—
A person should have desire… emotions… life.
Yet she was still clinging to "no thought, no desire"—contradicting Taro's teachings.
Completely contradicting the master's law.
Terrible…
The one breaking the law—
Was herself?
Unacceptable.
Immediately, the Shogun closed her eyes again and began an internal systems check.
For over five hundred years, she had walked the path of no-thought, no-desire.
Today, she unconsciously slipped back onto the old road.
But that road was no longer what her master required.
Her operating logic still had issues.
It needed correction.
"Oh no…"
"She really didn't understand before."
"…Did I just awaken her to it?"
"This is bad."
Watching the Shogun shut her eyes again, Yingda's heart sank.
"Well done, Yingda."
"I'll add something to your dinner tonight."
Taro lifted a brow, amusement flickering across his face.
The Shogun's mindset was too withdrawn.
For five centuries, she sat alone in Tenshukaku, never going out.
Only Kujou Sara could approach her.
Her solitude was extreme.
To change that, the first step was to break the comfort zone the Shogun clung to for centuries.
Force her to step out, look around, reflect on herself.
A simple chat wouldn't fix centuries of stagnation.
But Yingda—
Yingda had just opened the perfect first crack.
"Taro…"
Yingda dragged out her voice pitifully.
"Alright, alright~"
Taro rubbed her head.
"The Shogun is different from you."
"And besides—do you think your Taro is the type to abandon someone just because he saw someone new?"
"You should have more confidence in yourself."
Whether Yingda, Fanan, or Huoliya—
To him, each was unique.
Cheerful and lively.
Gentle and resolute.
Kind and intelligent.
Each with her own charm.
There was a huge difference between sincere affection and shameless womanizing.
One was genuine.
The other was empty desire.
There was a saying:
Love at first sight always starts with attraction.
Some put that attraction into their heart, sincerely.
Some only follow their flesh.
Taro did not deny it—
He was not immune to attraction.
But he would never give promises he could not keep.
And if he could not treat everyone equally, he would not string them along.
When facing someone's feelings—
Either reject them from the beginning,
Or accept them wholeheartedly.
Keeping a "fish pond"?
That was scum behavior.
"Hehe~"
Yingda giggled, leaning her head onto Taro's shoulder and hugging his arm.
"So, when is Taro planning to… bring me into his room?"
"Master must've been moved by my beauty, right?"
"You little brat…"
Taro gave her a glance and laughed.
"Slow down. No rush."
The Shogun had her own will.
There were countless ways he could behave irresponsibly—
But he wasn't some starving beast.
Was he lacking romantic partners?
Why act desperate?
"I knew it."
Yingda puffed her cheeks.
"Taro must be the type to accept anyone who comes."
"You slander me."
Taro pinched her cheeks.
"I have high standards."
"Accept anyone? What am I, a stray dog?"
"A dog?"
Yingda blinked.
"Why a dog?"
"A teddy dog."
"Pff—!"
Yingda covered her mouth, almost bursting into laughter.
"No one talks about themselves like that!"
"This won't do."
This brat was getting too bold.
Tonight she would be punished.
Cream puffs—she was absolutely eating them.
Until she couldn't move.
Yingda shivered subconsciously.
Her whole body felt weak.
The last time she felt this way was—
Oh no.
Taro's mad.
"Um… T-Taro…"
Yingda slowly turned her head.
And instantly her expression collapsed.
o(╥﹏╥)o
She was doomed.
Sister, help me… I'm going to die…
Fanan, while cleaning vegetables, froze for a moment.
She turned instinctively toward the coastline.
…She could've sworn she just heard her little sister's distress call?
"Something wrong?"
Huoliya raised a brow, spatula in hand.
"…Nothing."
Fanan shook her head firmly.
"Probably my imagination."
"…Hmm."
(End of Chapter)
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