Mystic Code Deployment: Bonus Chapters ✨
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Several days had passed.After Kamisato Ayaka's heartfelt confession that night, Luo Qing had assumed she would avoid him from then on.
To his surprise, when they met the next day, Ayaka greeted him with her usual smile, inviting him to the Komore Teahouse as though nothing had changed.
However, with the teahouse reopening for business, the intimacy of that night was not repeated. At most, Luo Qing managed to steal a quick kiss or two during fleeting moments.
Soon, the custom clothes Luo Qing had ordered were ready, and it was time for him to head to Ritou to reunite with Natalia and the others for their return to Snezhnaya.
Ayaka had long known about Luo Qing's departure, and when the day finally came, she showed no overt emotion. She simply smiled and made plans to meet again in the future.
Snezhnaya was in the far north, while Inazuma lay to the south—opposite ends of Teyvat. A round trip would take nearly half a year.
In Ayaka's mind, it would be a long time before she saw Luo Qing again.
She also had no idea what purpose the odd black, toilet-shaped object Luo Qing had left in her room might serve.
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At Ritou.
To save time, Luo Qing didn't travel at a leisurely pace.
Instead, he scooped up Makoto and activated Time Zero, sprinting full speed toward the port.
A journey that would normally take days was completed in a single day.
Before parting ways with Natalia and the others, Luo Qing had already instructed them to prepare a ship. When he arrived, they could set sail for Snezhnaya immediately.
After meeting up with them at Ritou, Luo Qing planned to stay only one day before departure.
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That day, Natalia and the others were packing up on the deck, chatting idly with Rosalyne as they waited for the captain to weigh anchor.
This was a merchant ship bound for Snezhnaya, carrying not only them but several Snezhnayan merchants as well.
"Unbelievable," Natalia sighed as she glanced toward the bow. Luo Qing was deep in conversation with a hooded and masked young woman.
"Our lord disappears for a few days, and when he returns, he's got another girl trailing after him."
"Luo Qing-sama is truly a lover of all things beautiful," Natalia teased. "Wherever he goes, he attracts pretty women like bees to honey."
"Keep your voice down," Igor cautioned, shooting her a wary look. "You know how much he hates being talked about behind his back."
"Hmph, calling him a lover isn't an insult—it's a compliment!" Natalia retorted. She glanced back at Luo Qing and the masked woman chatting animatedly, clearly too preoccupied to notice them.
"Is he... has he always been like this?" Rosalyne asked hesitantly. If Luo Qing really was a womanizer, it would complicate things for her.
"Not exactly," Natalia shrugged. "Luo Qing-sama has his standards."
She gestured toward Theresa, who was leaning against the railing, staring daggers at the hooded woman.
"See? Some people can't even make it to his radar, no matter how hard they try."
Rosalyne followed Natalia's gaze, noting Theresa's sullen expression and clenched fists.
"..."
Rosalyne fell silent, realizing she might have underestimated the dynamics within Luo Qing's group.
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"Why hasn't the captain set sail yet? What's the holdup?" Igor grumbled impatiently.
He was eager to return to Snezhnaya. After all, Theresa had promised to introduce him to a beautiful Firefly mage—someone as lovely as her!
"I heard that ships heading to Snezhnaya are being inspected by the Kanjou Commission," Natalia replied offhandedly. "We're probably waiting for the inspection."
As she spoke, a group of Kanjou Commission guards boarded the ship.
The leader glanced briefly at Luo Qing before beginning their inspection.
After completing the routine check, the guards disembarked.
"Looks like we're good to go," Natalia said, stretching lazily. "Finally, we're heading back to Snezhnaya. I wonder how many military merits this trip will earn us..."
"Something feels off," Igor muttered.
He noticed one of the guards at the pier speaking to a Kanjou Commission official. Their eyes darted toward Luo Qing several times before one of them hurriedly ran off in the direction of the commission's headquarters.
"Luo Qing-sama seems to have caught someone's attention."
"Caught someone's attention?" Natalia waved dismissively. "With his strength, anyone bothering him is just asking to get dragged into a public dance-off. Unless it's the Raiden Shogun herself, who else could—"
Before she could finish, a clap of thunder echoed overhead.
A streak of deep purple lightning shot up from the direction of the Kanjou Commission headquarters and streaked toward the ship.
"Ah, this..."
A sinking feeling settled in Natalia's gut.
The lightning landed on the deck, dispersing to reveal the Raiden Shogun herself.
Her appearance was so distinct and awe-inspiring that everyone present—whether crew member, merchant, or bystander on the pier—turned their attention to the deck.
Even Makoto, hidden beneath her hood and mask, froze in shock.
"You're... still alive," Ei murmured, her voice calm and unreadable as she stared at Luo Qing.
She had been waiting on Ritou for days, determined to see him one last time before he left.
"..."
Luo Qing stiffened, instinctively taking a half-step back. Feigning ignorance, he replied, "I think you've mistaken me for someone else, General. Do we know each other?"
"..."
Ei fell silent, her gaze sweeping over the onlookers. She spoke in a low voice.
"I'm sorry for what happened before."
"General, I don't understand what you mean. We don't know each other, so why apologize?" Luo Qing maintained his act, carefully avoiding any confirmation of familiarity.
He knew Ei had overridden the usual control over their connection, and he couldn't predict what she might do. He wouldn't admit anything unless absolutely necessary.
"..."
Ei glanced briefly at the masked woman standing nearby, her expression unreadable. Something about her seemed oddly familiar, though she couldn't place it.
After a moment's hesitation, Ei returned her focus to Luo Qing.
"No matter who you claim to be, you must accept my apology... and..."
She faltered slightly, her eyes showing a flash of resolve.
"She wants to see you."
With that, Ei's demeanor shifted, growing colder and more distant. She had relinquished control of her body to the Raiden Shogun as compensation, allowing her other self to meet Luo Qing in person.
"..."
"General?" Luo Qing started to speak, only to be cut off.
The Raiden Shogun, now in control, looked at him with uncharacteristic warmth. A soft smile graced her lips as she strode forward, cupping his face with both hands.
Before Luo Qing could react, she leaned in and kissed him.
Gasps erupted from the onlookers.
Was this a dream?!
The legendary Raiden Shogun—kissing a man?!
What was going on?!
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