Bonus Chapter!
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Half a month had passed.The month-long training had finally come to an end, and Luo Qing's days of accumulating Frustration Value had concluded.
Thanks to his special guidance for the male trainees, he hadn't fallen behind in his progress.
As of today, he had gathered enough pulls—eighty in total—just enough to draw the item he had been eyeing: the Resurrection Item.
A few days ago, he had received a letter from Liyue, knowing that Lumine had arrived in Inazuma. Based on the timeline, she would likely arrive at any moment.
Unless absolutely necessary, Luo Qing didn't want to reveal himself to Lumine too soon.
Today was the last day of training, and as a final test of Luo Qing's teaching over the past month, Raiden Shogun had ordered a final exam. She would personally reward and appoint those who had successfully mastered the Thunder Breathing technique.
Thus, Luo Qing planned to step back and remain behind the scenes after today, limiting his contact with Kamisato Ayaka.
At dawn, Luo Qing had gathered all the trainees at the training ground.
A bolt of lightning flashed, and Raiden Shogun appeared before the trainees.
"Shogun, shall we begin now?"
Luo Qing respectfully asked the Shogun.
Although he usually acted relaxed and casual in her presence, in front of so many people, he knew he had to show the proper decorum.
"Hmm..."
Raiden Shogun glanced at the crowd below, her eyes flashing with a hint of confusion.
Wasn't this supposed to be a final exam? Why were they all dressed so oddly?
Luo Qing waved his hand grandly and shouted to Teresa, who was standing beside the phonograph, "Music!"
Teresa nodded seriously and pressed the play button.
The next moment, a bizarre tune echoed through the training grounds of the Tenryou Commission.
[+1 Frustration Value from Raiden Shogun]
[+1 Frustration Value from Ei]
Watching the trainees below as they began dancing to the rhythm, Raiden Shogun frowned and looked toward Luo Qing.
Her gaze seemed to ask: This is the result of your month-long training?
"Don't be impatient, this is just the opening ceremony,"
Luo Qing said casually, his attention still focused on Kamisato Ayaka within the crowd.
Since Kamisato Ayato's visit, the quiet time he had shared with Ayaka in the Komore Tea Room had disappeared entirely.
In recent weeks, there had been no private interactions between them, not even during daytime training sessions. Ayaka was careful around him, and the joyful moments they once shared were no longer.
Luo Qing understood that Ayaka was once again caught in a dilemma. So, he wasn't in a hurry. He was willing to wait for her to make her own choice.
After a while, the trainees finally finished their dance. They changed into their kendo uniforms and stood in neat rows at the training grounds again.
Luo Qing stepped to the front and called out to the crowd, "Alright, the exam officially begins now. I will call your names, and you will take the stage in order. First up, Kujo Kaiko!"
"Present!"
A young boy stepped out of the crowd, his face filled with nervousness as he walked onto the stage.
"Alright, begin your demonstration!"
"Yes!"
At Luo Qing's command, Kujo Kaiko gripped his long sword tightly, assuming the stance of a sword draw. He focused on the training dummy ahead of him, then slowly closed his eyes, concentrating.
In the next moment, his sword left its sheath, accompanied by a faint crackling sound as a deep cut appeared on the dummy.
This was today's exam content.
The better they could perform the First Form of Thunder Breathing: Thunderclap and Flash, the better their exam results would be.
As one of the most advanced techniques of the Thunder Breathing Style, it wasn't something that could be easily learned.
The fact that Kujo Kaiko had managed to produce a thunderous sound when drawing his sword made him one of the top trainees.
"Next, Komaru Zaitsu!"
...
Meanwhile.
Thanks to Beidou's help, Lumine and Paimon had finally escaped from Ritou. After several days of travel, they arrived in Inazuma.
Following Thoma's directions, they made their way to the Komore Tea Room. After handing over their invitation to the hostess, Sayo, they were granted entry.
The two glanced around the counter, finding no one except for a Shiba Inu with a headband tied around its head.
"Uh... where's Thoma?"
"I'm right here."
A voice came from behind the counter.
"Huh? Who said that? Was it you?"
Paimon stared at the Shiba Inu on the counter, scratching her head in confusion.
"It's me, Thoma."
Paimon was shocked. "Wait, it was really you talking?!"
"Come on, Paimon. Thoma's just messing with you,"
Lumine shook her head, thinking how can Paimon be this clueless sometimes?
"Heh, you always see right through me, Lumine."
Thoma chuckled as he stepped out from behind the counter.
"Lumine, Paimon, you've finally arrived. Those tests from earlier were just a necessary formality. They were to determine whether I could let you meet my lady, and whether we could become allies."
"So, can we meet the White Heron Princess now?"
"Of course. But before that, there's somewhere else I'd like to take you."
"Somewhere else? What place?"
"It's something everyone on Narukami Island cannot ignore—the giant statue under construction, the Statue of the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God."
...
A while later, the group made their way through the commercial street of Hanamizaka, arriving in front of the imposing statue of the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God.
"Whoa... such a solemn statue. I thought it would be like Mondstadt's Statue of the Anemo Archon... What are those things embedded in it?"
"Visions."
Paimon was shocked. "Visions! So all the confiscated Visions are embedded in that statue?!"
Thoma smiled faintly. "My lady's prediction was spot on. It seems you've already learned about the Vision Hunt Decree..."
Lumine asked curiously, "Why did the Shogun issue the Vision Hunt Decree?"
"Just as Mondstadt is the City of Freedom, and Liyue is the City of Contracts, Inazuma is the Nation of Eternity..."
Thoma then explained in detail the concept of Eternity and Raiden Shogun's will to the two of them.
"By the way, the Shogun is holding a swordsmanship exam at the Tenryou Commission today. The Kamisato Clan has participants in the exam as well. I can take you to catch a glimpse of her~"
Thoma suggested casually.
This wasn't just a random idea of his—it was Ayaka's instruction.
By letting the traveler witness Raiden Shogun's will for herself, she would understand just how cold the Vision Hunt Decree truly was.
Of course, Thoma wasn't going to mention that Ayaka was also participating.
Their meeting would come later, not now.
This exam allowed family members to observe, and Thoma had already hidden his Vision, so there was no need to worry about being discovered.
After explaining their intentions to the guards at the Tenryou Commission, the group was allowed inside.
As family members, they were only allowed to watch from the sidelines.
From behind a thick crowd, Lumine and the others looked toward the stage.
Suddenly, Lumine noticed one of the figures on the stage.
That person... looked familiar...
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