Kouyoi Reveals the Feelings in Her Heart
Somewhere deep within the tengu domain—
A stream wound through the secluded valley, its waters murmuring quietly through the rocks.
This place should have been peaceful, untouched by worldly noise.
But several bolts of crackling lightning tore across the sky, scattering feathers like snow.
The forest's birds shrieked in alarm, fleeing in all directions—
Only to be caught mid-flight as six arcs of thunder swept them down in a single net of light.
Moments later, silence returned to the valley.
Standing at the center of the clearing was the tengu girl Kouyoi, drawing another arrow with a fluid, powerful motion. She released it—
and seven arrows left her bow at once, each wrapped in searing lightning. The air itself sizzled, scorched by the force of it.
Beside Luo Li, little Asase Hibiki stared with wide, admiring eyes.
"S-so amazing…"
Hitting every target was already the mark of a master archer—
but releasing seven lightning-imbued arrows simultaneously, without even aiming?
Even across the Seven Nations, few could achieve such a feat.
Seeing Hibiki's yearning expression, Luo Li chuckled.
"Want to learn? I can teach you."
"M-me? I… can I really?"
Hibiki wasn't confident.
She couldn't even memorize all the shrine's talismans yet, and she often mixed up omikuji when serving guests. If she tried archery… would she ever get the hang of it?
"It's simple. If you want to learn, just come wake me up every morning."
Completely guiltless about exploiting a child for morning wake-up calls, Luo Li spoke with utter seriousness.
He almost joked about asking her to warm his bed—but remembering that Hibiki was far too innocent and shy, he reluctantly dropped the idea.
"O-okay! I'll do it!"
Her eyes sparkled with determination as she watched Kouyoi.
She might never reach her level, but she vowed to become excellent in her own right.
Luo Li, meanwhile, watched Kouyoi and found his thoughts drifting—
overlapping her figure with memories of a little qilin girl in Liyue whom he had once trained in archery.
"The crybaby from back then… I wonder if she ever managed to slim down."
He couldn't help smiling at the thought of that obedient little qilin who always massaged his shoulders and legs after training.
And counting the years… that day is almost here again.
His nostalgia was cut short by the sharp whistle of another arrow slicing the air.
When he lifted his gaze, Kouyoi stood proudly, looking at him with anticipation.
He clapped lightly.
"Your archery hasn't regressed. You've improved compared to before."
"The things Teacher taught me—I would never abandon them."
The tengu girl returned to his side, chin lifted proudly.
Luo Li nodded.
The proof lay in her bow—worn smooth by time, its wooden surface marked with traces of age, not neglect.
It was the very bow he had gifted her as a graduation present.
"You still use that bow I gave you?" Luo Li asked, amused.
"Of course. It was Teacher's first gift to me."
Her fingers drifted fondly over the string she had just used, and her gaze shimmered with feelings she carefully hid.
Luo Li coughed lightly, steering the conversation away.
"Your test results are satisfactory. Now—tell me. What do you want? If it's within reason, Teacher will grant it."
Kouyoi's eyes curved mischievously.
"Hm… I haven't decided yet. Let Teacher owe me first."
Luo Li felt a subtle sense of foreboding.
Who knew what scheme this girl was plotting? Still, a promise was a promise.
Satisfied, Kouyoi beamed—
To receive a personal promise from her teacher meant more than any treasure.
"Oh no… it's already so late."
Lost in the joy of seeing him again, Kouyoi finally noticed the sky. Stars were blooming across the night.
She had hoped to walk with him, talk with him, share everything she'd experienced these past years—
but time had slipped through her fingers far too quickly.
"Mother talked too long…"
She puffed her cheeks in an adorable pout.
With a light tap of his knuckles on her head, Luo Li sighed.
"I'll be living at the Grand Shrine for now. If you want to see me, you can come any time."
Kouyoi stuck out her tongue playfully and hopped back a few steps.
"Then I'll visit you tomorrow! It's late—Teacher should take Hibiki back safely!"
With a wave, she unfurled her black wings, becoming a streak of light vanishing into the sky.
Luo Li watched her disappear, then took Hibiki's hand.
"Let's head back."
Under the starlit sky, one tall figure and one tiny figure walked side by side down the ancient stairway toward the Grand Narukami Shrine.
While Luo Li wasn't looking, Hibiki stole one last glance at the shadowed forest behind them.
Today's events had been stranger and more magical than all her years in the village combined.
Knowing she too would soon step into this extraordinary world…
her heart swelled with excitement.
Back at the shrine, Hibiki returned to her small room and immediately began writing a letter to her family.
"Mother… Starting tomorrow, I will become Lord Luo Li's disciple."
"Everyone here is very kind… though the yokai aren't quite like the scary ones the elder shrine maiden warned us about."
"I'll study hard—and one day return to inherit Asase Shrine."
Finishing the last line, she pressed the letter flat, then climbed into bed.
Holding warm dreams of the future close to her heart—
the little shrine maiden drifted into a sweet, peaceful sleep.
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