Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds

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The moonlit courtyard was eerily quiet.

A man and a woman stood there in an unusual, awkward posture.

And they had been like this for quite some time.

Finally, someone couldn't take it anymore.

From the shadows in the distance, a member of the Fatui assassination squad crept forward.

"Captain, what are they doing?"

He squinted, his eyes bloodshot from the long, cold night.

They had been standing in the freezing wind for hours, a group of single men from the Fatui assassination squad gathered here—

All to witness some midnight tryst between this man and woman?!

What made it worse was...

After all this time, nothing had happened.

Come on, man, do something already!

Even a dog would shake its head at this.

"Keep observing," the Fatui captain muttered, his voice calm.

Startling the targets too soon would risk unnecessary complications.

With their numbers and overwhelming advantage, he could afford patience.

"Yes, Captain!"

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On the other side—

"Mmff..."

Ren puffed out his cheeks, his mouth stuffed full of dessert by Mei.

Mei snorted coldly, pressing the remaining piece in with just enough force to make him cough.

"Cough, cough."

Ren's eyes rolled slightly.

While being hand-fed by Mei might sound like a dream come true, her method was far from gentle.

It felt more like she was venting her frustration.

This wasn't care—it was definitely premeditated revenge!

"..."

Mei frowned slightly.

She noticed Ren had stopped moving beneath her.

Her sharp gaze pinned him down.

"Swallow it," she ordered imperiously, tilting her chin.

Her tone brooked no argument.

"Mm."

Ren blinked, shaking his head faintly to signal her to ease her grip.

Most of the dessert had already gone down, but if she kept pressing—

His thoughts took an unexpected turn.

Her soft, jade-like hand was so close...

No, stop it!

Ren quickly pushed away the strange notion forming in his mind.

The memory of that boundless purple lightning was still fresh.

Staring up at Mei's frosty demeanor, he finally realized who she truly was.

Harboring impure thoughts about someone like her...

You'd have to be incredibly bold—or incredibly foolish.

"..."

Mei's amethyst eyes narrowed.

It seemed she had noticed his hesitation.

Snorting, she recalled the mocking words of a certain pink-haired fox.

As expected, if she revealed everything outright... it would all end.

The thought irritated her, and her grip on the blade tightened.

The desire to cut something—anything—grew stronger.

What was this feeling?

"Mm?"

Seeing Mei suddenly lapse into silence, Ren blinked at her, confused.

She looked even angrier now.

Who could have possibly provoked someone like her?

He couldn't help but feel a touch of schadenfreude.

At last, Mei released her grip on Ren's mouth.

Her gaze flicked over his cheek.

A single drop of crimson fell, stark against the moonlight.

Her hand stilled for a brief moment.

The cut—caused by her earlier strike—was shallow but noticeable.

The pause lasted only a second.

"Hmph."

Mei wiped her hand disdainfully on his shirt, as if brushing off dirt.

"It's just a scratch. It'll heal on its own."

That was how she'd always been—

No matter what she faced, she carried the burden alone.

Ren blinked, making no move to resist.

If he upset her now, who knew if she might actually cut him in half?

The realization of Mei's true identity left him dazed, as if caught in a dream.

But this dream felt too surreal.

The aloof shrine maiden... was the Raiden Shogun herself.

Even a novel wouldn't dare write such a twist.

Now that the veil had been lifted, how was he supposed to face her?

Unable to find an answer, Ren opted to remain lying on the ground.

When in doubt, just stay put.

Mei glanced at him, her gaze icy.

"Hmph, I knew it."

Beneath the cold moonlight, her slender figure turned away.

Gripping the blade she had once gifted to Ren, her voice was sharp and resolute:

"It's over."

"Forget everything—everything about us."

With that, she took a step forward, preparing to leave.

One step.

Two steps.

Three steps.

Behind her, there was only silence.

"..."

For some reason, Mei's irritation grew.

Fine then—she'd deal with the rats hiding nearby.

She was already furious, and now the consequences would be severe.

In the distant shadows, the Fatui captain frowned.

"What are they even doing over there?"

"Now the woman's storming off like she's ready to kill someone," another assassin whispered, shaking his head with a sneer.

"Probably just a couple fighting."

The captain nodded slowly, impressed by his subordinate's insight.

Not bad—this one might even earn a bonus after this mission.

"Captain, the man's getting up!" someone called out.

The captain's attention snapped back.

Mei's grip on the blade tightened, her gaze frosty.

This was fine.

She would leave and treat this as nothing more than a fleeting dream.

But then—

"Mei."

The sound of her name made her stop in her tracks.

She turned back, her eyes cold.

"You plan to stop me?"

Ren lifted his gaze, his expression conflicted.

He stood, finally swallowing the last bit of dessert.

For a moment, he had nearly choked.

"..."

Mei said nothing, simply staring at him.

Ren couldn't help but laugh.

Mei's cold gaze narrowed. "What's so funny?"

"Thank goodness," he said softly, smiling. "You're still Mei."

When she responded to her name, when she didn't completely turn away—

It was a relief like no other.

"Hmph. Nonsense."

Mei snorted and turned away again.

That name meant nothing.

It was all over, and she wouldn't respond again.

"Mei."

But once more, the same voice called out to her.

Just like it always had.

She stopped and shot Ren a glare, her blade lifting slightly.

The message was clear.

Yet Ren ignored the silent threat and asked softly,

"You said it was a tie, didn't you? Why are you leaving?"

Mei hesitated briefly. "You didn't win."

"You couldn't even take one of my strikes."

Ren replied without thinking, "How would I know unless I try?"

His words had barely left his mouth before his pupils shrank.

A streak of purple lightning carved a sharp trajectory through the air.

"..."

The blade stopped inches from his face, its cold aura biting.

"Try, then."

Mei appeared before him in an instant, her voice icy.

"Even if this strike doesn't change, can you handle it?"

"I can!"

Ren's temper flared, his tone stubborn.

The memory of that blade's arc was etched deeply in his mind.

No matter what, he couldn't back down.

"Ridiculous."

Mei snorted and turned away once more.

The night breeze seemed to carry a hint of warmth.

Suddenly, there was a flash of steel.

Clang—!

Her blade embedded itself in the ground at Ren's feet.

He picked it up silently.

The warmth lingering on its hilt was unmistakable—

It was the warmth of Mei's hand.

He tightened his grip on the blade, unwilling to let go.

His gaze followed her as she walked away, her cold silhouette bathed in moonlight.

Only her clear, distant voice remained:

"If you can take it."

"Then prove it to me."

"Meet me there, and I'll give you one last chance."

Ren's eyes followed her figure toward the horizon.

In the distance, towering above all, was a grand structure.

Majestic, yet steeped in solitude and timeworn sorrow.

It was—

Inazuma City's Tenshukaku.

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T/N: LMAOO SHES THE TOP FRRRRR MPREG PLZ THANKS

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