Genshin Impact: I'm just a mortal

The First Night in Inazuma

Yu Xie found himself unable to sleep well on his first night in Inazuma, perhaps because of the unfamiliar bed.

In the dead of night, the moonlight poured in, bright and gentle, casting the city into a serene tranquility.

Awakening from a light slumber, Yu Xie realized he couldn't fall back asleep. Rising from his bed, he walked to the window and gazed out into the night.

The city lay silent, shrouded in deep darkness, as though everything was asleep.

Suddenly, Yu Xie noticed a shadow on the rooftop across from him.

Focusing his gaze, he saw a small fox standing under the silver moonlight. The fox remained still, staring back at Yu Xie from a distance. It seemed torn between approaching and holding back.

Curious, Yu Xie stayed quiet, merely watching.

After a few minutes, the fox finally moved.

It leaped gracefully across rooftops, coming closer and closer until it reached the window where Yu Xie stood.

Now up close, Yu Xie could see it clearly—a small fox with pink fur and golden earrings dangling from its ears, adorned with a purple gemstone at the center.

The fox made no sound, but its eyes trembled slightly as it looked at Yu Xie.

Yu Xie blinked, momentarily surprised, then let out a small, knowing laugh.

He didn't need to guess the fox's identity. From the first glance, he already knew who it was.

Still, he hadn't expected this encounter to happen so soon.

Without his past memories, Yu Xie wasn't sure about his prior relationship with this fox spirit. Hesitant to make a mistake or say something that might upset her, he decided to feign ignorance for now.

After all, knowing her personality, she would probably tease him about it later.

Raising a brow, he said with mock confusion, "A fox? At this hour? And it's even wearing earrings. Could it be someone's pet? Well, I won't lie—it's quite cute."

Hearing this, the fox's expression shifted, as if torn between joy and annoyance. It crept closer, lowering its head slightly, as though inviting Yu Xie to pet it.

Yu Xie hesitated for a moment before reaching out his hand.

As his hand neared the fox, his fingers brushed against one of its ears.

With a sudden puff, a cloud of blue smoke erupted.

When the smoke cleared, the little fox was gone. In its place was a breathtakingly beautiful woman seated on the windowsill.

She had long pink hair cascading down her back and wore a red-and-white shrine maiden outfit. Her figure was elegant, and her charm captivating.

Yu Xie's hand was still on her head, feeling the soft silkiness of her hair.

"Back when we first met, I was asleep, and you also touched my ears," the woman said with a playful smile. Her eyes, gazing into Yu Xie's, held a complex mix of emotions—tenderness, amusement, and perhaps even a touch of reproach.

This was none other than Lady Yae Miko, the current overseer of the Grand Narukami Shrine and editor-in-chief of Yae Publishing House.

Realizing where his hand was, Yu Xie quickly pulled it back, his heart a jumble of emotions.

Though he'd had a few encounters like this with old acquaintances since losing his memories, it still felt strange each time.

"Actually," Yae Miko began, breaking the silence, "Lady Kitsune Saiguu already told me about what happened to you in Liyue."

She paused, her expression softening. "I know you don't remember the past, and perhaps my sudden visit seems presumptuous. Please forgive me... I just couldn't wait until morning."

As the shrine's overseer, Yae Miko had been aware of Yu Xie's arrival in Inazuma the moment he set foot on its shores. However, she'd been tied up with her duties at the shrine and couldn't greet him immediately.

Originally planning to meet him the following day, she found herself unable to sleep, leading to this moonlit reunion.

"Lady Yae Miko, I don't find it presumptuous," Yu Xie replied after a moment's thought, smiling awkwardly. "It's just... a little unexpected."

"You didn't used to call me 'Lady Yae Miko,'" she pouted slightly, her dissatisfaction clear.

"Then what did I call you?"

"You called me 'Miko darling,'" she teased, turning her head away.

"…" Yu Xie fell silent, stunned.

Seriously?

Did he really call her that? If so, didn't that imply their relationship had been anything but ordinary?

No, no, knowing her mischievous personality, she was probably joking.

Seeing his reaction, Yae Miko chuckled softly. "Alright, alright, I'm just teasing. You can call me Yae Miko. No need to add 'Lady' in front. But... if you'd like to call me 'Miko darling' in private, I wouldn't mind."

Yu Xie remained silent, letting out a soft sigh as he looked at her with a hint of exasperation.

Sure enough, Yae Miko was as cunning and unpredictable as a fox.

As Yu Xie stayed quiet, Yae Miko's expression softened, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.

"For someone who doesn't remember the past, this is our first meeting. Saying all this right now... you must think I'm being frivolous," she said, stepping off the windowsill.

"I don't," Yu Xie replied with a smile. "After all, the overseer of the Grand Narukami Shrine is known for her playful personality."

Hearing his response, Yae Miko let out a sigh of relief. She looked at him again and said softly:

"Yu Xie, it's been a long time."

Her tone was heavy, carrying the weight of memories and years.

"Yes," Yu Xie nodded. "It's been a long time."

A faint smile appeared on Yae Miko's face as she turned to look out the window at the Sacred Sakura atop Mt. Yougou.

"That sakura tree—I've been taking care of it. I hope... I haven't let you down."

Yu Xie followed her gaze to the Sacred Sakura. "The Sacred Sakura... does it have something to do with me?"

"It's proof that you were here in Inazuma," Yae Miko replied softly. "When you left, you planted that tree. In a short amount of time, it grew to its towering height."

Hearing this, Yu Xie was surprised.

In his memory, the Sacred Sakura was tied to Raiden Ei and Raiden Makoto. Yet now, its origins had shifted, somehow connected to him.

No wonder Shenhe had sensed traces of him in the tree earlier.

What could his past self have been thinking when planting such a tree? That was a question that might never be answered.

Still, beyond the curiosity, Yu Xie felt a deep sense of calm.

The sum of all these past events had led to this moment.

Nothing was a coincidence—everything had been building to this inevitability.

End of chapter

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