The荒海, Chiyo clashed with Kage, her blade cutting through space, leaving behind fragments and flashes of dazzling purple lightning.
"Clang!"
Kage seized an opening, deflecting Chiyo's sword and pressing her own blade to Chiyo's shoulder.
The outcome was decided.
Chiyo sighed softly, sheathed her weapon, and raised her hands in a surprise attack.
"Alright, still can't beat Kage."
As Chiyo launched her surprise attack, the blade at her shoulder dissolved into specks of light.
Kage frowned, puzzled.
"Chiyo, your martial arts haven't improved in a long time. Have you been slacking off because there are no worthy opponents?"
"Certainly not."
Chiyo placed her hands behind her back and walked with light steps towards the woods at the foot of the mountain, away from Kage.
Kage followed, her curiosity piqued.
"Then why?"
Chiyo turned around, walking backward slowly, and smiled.
"It's because I've found the person of my heart this lifetime. I plan to spend a few years with them, and if it works out, we'll get married and have children. My family has been urging me too."
"The person of your heart? Congratulations then."
"By the way, Kage, haven't you found a man you like?"
"No."
"Eh? What about Ling? I saw you two getting along quite well, and Ling is a rare good man. Although he's not exceptionally handsome, he's capable both in scholarship and martial arts, can hold his own in high society, and can even cook. I'm a little tempted myself."
"Ling? He's my adjutant."
Kage replied innocently.
"Hey, but from the way you two act, I thought you two were..."
"Ah, it's a pity. If you had said so earlier, I would have definitely snatched Ling away. No need to spend years getting to know each other. My family wouldn't have said anything either. We would have gotten married directly!"
Chiyo's eyes widened. She felt like she had missed out on a fortune!
"Actually, Chiyo, I'm not very clear about the person of one's heart or marriage."
Kage said earnestly.
Having dedicated herself to the pursuit of martial arts, she lacked knowledge in some common sense areas.
"The person of one's heart..."
"The person of one's heart is a man who makes your heart flutter, and whom you feel uncomfortable seeing interact intimately with other women."
Just as Chiyo was about to explain, Kitsune Palace appeared from nowhere, interrupting her. She said with a smile,
"If you say so, I think I sometimes feel that way when I see Makoto and Sagiri interacting intimately with Ling. Could Ling be the person of my heart?"
Kage pondered this.
"Hey, Kitsune Palace, when did you get here? While what you said is correct, why does it feel strange?"
Chiyo mused.
Kitsune Palace smiled at them, her tails twitching.
One, Kage, understood nothing except fighting.
The other, Chiyo, was only slightly better off than Kage.
Ling, you dare to lock me out? Hehehe...
"That's right, Kage, Ling is the person of your heart. Let me tell you..."
Kitsune Palace patted Kage's shoulder with certainty, a wicked smile playing on her lips as she whispered something into Kage's ear.
Chiyo tilted her head, looking at Kitsune Palace curiously. The sly fox was using some special art to prevent her from hearing.
Seeing Kitsune Palace's increasingly sinister smile,
Chiyo felt that this scoundrel was definitely corrupting Kage. Just as she was about to intervene, Kage's face suddenly turned red, and she said indignantly,
"What! I treated him as a confidant and friend, and Ling actually wants to!!!"
"But... if he really asks me... Hmm, what should I do?"
Kage, who had been furious moments ago, suddenly became shy.
After Kitsune Palace's whispered conversation, Kage had already concluded that Ling was the person of her heart.
Since he was the person of her heart, according to what Kitsune Palace had just said, she definitely had to...
Seeing this, Kitsune Palace's lips curved slightly. She thought to herself,
"She's taken the bait."
"Let me tell you, Kage, to avoid being snatched by other women, leave a mark on Ling first."
"Men are the most fickle. They're unreliable, flirt around, and sow their wild oats."
"So, even if Ling has other female companions in the future, you'll still be in an advantageous position."
Ling Feng: You're slandering me! What I do is... e
Chiyo replied.
Ling Feng: ...
Meanwhile, Sagiri was also packing. With Ling Feng leaving this time, Sagiri naturally had to accompany him.
Seeing Chiyo and Sasayuri so passionate, Ling Feng didn't bother with them anymore and looked at Kitsune Palace.
"Kitsune Palace, I'll leave Yae in your care."
Yae, who would become Yae Miko in the future, Ling Feng didn't plan to take her with him. She belonged to this era. They would meet again in the future.
However, after they met, he would definitely get revenge for her teasing him back then.
Suddenly, a pink-haired fox hugged Ling Feng's leg, whining pitifully.
"Alright, alright, aren't you just worried about not having fried tofu to eat in the future?"
"Don't worry, I've specifically left behind my self-created fried tofu recipe and taught it to a few chefs. You won't go hungry."
Hearing Ling Feng's words, Yae's expression immediately changed. She calmly walked to Makoto's side and waved at him.
Ling Feng: ...
As expected... after testing her, her true colors were revealed.
"Don't hold me back, I'm going to kick her to death!"
Ling Feng feigned anger, and Kitsune Palace and Makoto cooperated by holding him back.
Half an hour passed. Everything that needed to be packed was packed, and everything that needed to be brought was brought.
"Everyone, thank you for taking care of me during this time. This parting might be long. We'll meet again in the future."
Ling Feng said with a radiant spirit.
For him, a thousand years was but a blink of an eye, but for Makoto and the others, it was a long period.
"Sagiri, Ling, have a safe journey."
Chiyo smiled.
"It's a pity you won't see Chiyo and me get married."
Sasayuri chuckled.
"Get lost! I regret not being able to attend Chiyo's wedding, but you? You're a single dog."
"Damn it! Aren't you the same!"
"Hahaha."
They looked at each other and laughed.
To avoid hurting Sasayuri's feelings, Ling Feng didn't mention that although he didn't have a girlfriend in name, he actually had quite a few.
Sasayuri: Are you being polite?
"Ling, do you want me to accompany you? Sagiri is still young and can't do any exciting things, but I can. We can do interesting things behind their backs."
Kitsune Palace's tails swayed, and she intentionally struck a seductive pose, winking at Ling Feng.
"No, thank you. I don't need it."
"Ugh, Ling, you're so heartless. Speaking seriously, have a safe journey. But after you leave, no one will be able to control me anymore, heeheehee..."
*Thud.*
A hand landed on Kitsune Palace's shoulder.
Kitsune Palace stiffened, slowly turning around to face Kage's gentle smile.
"Kitsune Palace, if Ling leaves, I'll be here. I'll keep an eye on you. After all, I am the administrator of the Shogunate."
"Kage, I was just joking. Don't take it seriously."
Kitsune Palace quickly waved her hands in explanation.
However, Kage's gaze was no longer on Ling Feng but on him, her eyes filled with reluctance as she softly said,
"Until we meet again."
After everyone else had said their goodbyes, it was Makoto's turn.
"Ling..."
Makoto stepped forward, approaching Ling Feng. Then, in front of everyone, she kissed him.
Feeling the soft sensation on his lips, Ling Feng couldn't believe it. His eyes widened.
He hadn't expected Makoto to kiss him so openly in front of everyone.
These two sisters truly were from the same family, weren't they?
Even their "surprise attack" methods were so consistent.
Sagiri: !!! (Internally) I was the first one! Damn it, wuwuwuwu.
˚‧º·(˚˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅)‧º·˚
Chiyo/Kitsune Palace: Wow————
‼(•'╻'•)꒳ᵒ꒳ᵎᵎᵎ
Sasayuri: Abba abba (The clown is me.)
Kage: ...
Yae: (Curious gaze)
After a long while, Makoto's face flushed. She placed her hands behind her back, shyly lowered her head, and took a few small steps back.
Looking boldly and deeply into Ling Feng's eyes, she gently opened her cherry-red lips and said softly,
"Ling, this is my first kiss. You have to take responsibility."
Ling Feng's expression became solemn. He nodded seriously and said,
"Yes, don't worry, I will take responsibility."
"Don't forget our promise."
"I will never forget it."
"Then... I wish you a safe journey."
Makoto smiled sweetly, and Ling Feng's heart fluttered as if bathed in a spring breeze.
"Mm."
Then, Sagiri transformed into mist and flew into Ling Feng's sword-keeping gourd.
Looking at Makoto and the others, Ling Feng said in his heart,
"Let's go, System. We're going to rescue people."
"The six people, not one can be missing!"
【Ding! Transmitting to the destination of the 'Interdimensional Rescue' special mission.】
【Special Mission】: Interdimensional Rescue
【Mission Difficulty】: Difficult (High)
【Mission Duration】: Within two days (Please prepare for transmission within five days.)
【Mission Description】: Please rescue Yuedai Chiyo, Kitsune Palace, and Makoto, and save Inazuma, during the era of disaster in Inazuma a thousand years from now.
(PS: I've adjusted the time. According to the original work, it would be fifteen hundred years later.)
【Mission Reward】: Sixty thousand Wish Power, one Unknown Character Partner Card.
This was also the reason for Ling Feng's departure. He was returning to the future, but not *that* future.