Chapter 108: Preservation of Consciousness

**Flight. This is undoubtedly one of Li Mo's greatest weaknesses.** Among the skills Li Mo has mastered, flight is not one of them. When he leaped down from the torii gate, it was with the help of Hanachirusato's power, and at that time, he also felt the Sacred Sakura Tree aiding him.

But... how to return?

Li Mo hadn't really thought about this problem before.

However, faced with this situation, he wasn't entirely powerless.

The familiar buzzing sound of electricity appeared in his mind. It was the same familiar voice, and just as Yae Miko leisurely walked up to him, a screen popped up.

"Scenario: Genshin Impact..."

"Mission: Assist Hanachirusato... *buzz*... Complete..."

"Mission complete. Return... *buzz*... If proceeding with settlement, receive... experience and additional rewards."

"Yes/No."

This was the second time Li Mo had seen the return screen. The last time he returned, it had taken several years of effort. He had gone from a young boy to a mature adult. But this time, it was so quick—less than half a month had passed, and the mission was already over.

"What are you thinking about?" Yae Miko asked as she took the mask from Li Mo's hand.

"Nothing much."

"Hmm? I've noticed you tend to zone out in front of me. Are you looking down on me, big sister?" Yae Miko feigned surprise.

Unfortunately, her acting was too exaggerated.

Or perhaps, she was deliberately overacting.

"Yes, yes, big sister. I was wrong. Can we please get to the point? Did it work? Lady Yae?"

Li Mo changed his tone, indicating that he no longer wanted to joke around but to get straight to the point.

—Was Kitsune Saiguu's existence preserved?

"Well... you're so cruel, young man. When you need something, it's 'big sister,' but when you don't, it's 'Lady Yae.' Fine, I'll take a look. Hmm, it seems the spell was successfully cast."

Yae Miko smiled. "It looks like it worked. My dear little brother, your goal seems to have been achieved. How do you feel about it?"

The spell had succeeded.

Li Mo recalled the plan he had made with Yae Miko earlier. They had known that Hanachirusato would need to possess him temporarily. Thus, a "bridge" for transferring power would be established between them. The spell was cast through this "bridge." If Hanachirusato's power could travel through the bridge to Li Mo, then it stood to reason that the process could work in reverse.

"How do I feel? I'd say the mask was worth its destruction. At least I'll have something to show my master when I see him," Li Mo said.

The medium for Yae Miko's spell was Li Mo's already damaged disaster-warding mask.

Yae Miko said, "Little brother, the first step is complete. But the second step still needs to be taken. Are you ready?"

Li Mo asked, "So, what was preserved was only her consciousness, not her soul?"

Yae Miko shook her head. "Oh, if we could preserve her soul, then all we'd need is a body to revive her. That would be too easy. The filth is not so simple. Being able to preserve Hanachirusato's consciousness already exceeds my expectations."

She tossed the mask to Li Mo, who easily caught it—the last remnant of Hanachirusato in this world, a fox mask.

"Hanachirusato's consciousness is now stored within the mask. But her consciousness is fragile, Li Mo. Are you ready?"

Yae Miko looked at this traveler from another world.

The world of Teyvat was no stranger to travelers from other worlds. Just a couple of years ago, Yae Miko had met the witch Alice, who had been active in Teyvat for thousands of years and had recently given birth to a daughter.

But Li Mo's existence was special.

"Lady Yae, what do I need to do?"

"Wear the mask. Hanachirusato's consciousness will temporarily reside within you, preventing it from dissipating. That way, you can slowly search for a way to revive her.

By the way, young man, your constitution... you should avoid letting others examine your body too closely in the future," Yae Miko said.

Li Mo was special. His body and soul were in a state of both separation and connection. To others, it felt as if he were a reanimated corpse. But upon closer inspection, it didn't seem like that at all. Thus, one could easily sense the peculiarity of his soul.

His soul was highly accommodating, like an ocean. As for its specific uses, that depended on Yae Miko's speculation—her theories were based on the notes left by Kitsune Saiguu, the great onmyoji from five hundred years ago, who had delved deeply into such matters.

"I understand, Lady Yae."

As Yae Miko instructed, Li Mo put on the mask.

Then, he felt something enter his body. It was a sixth sense kind of feeling, not a physical object.

Wait...

The foreign presence was pushed out.

Li Mo looked at Yae Miko in confusion, only to find her deep in thought.

"Has it formed a consciousness space?" Yae Miko murmured.

She could sense that Hanachirusato's consciousness was still within the mask and had formed a consciousness space—indeed, the gap between consciousness and soul was still too great. Her speculation had a flaw.

No matter.

Yae Miko began inspecting the mask, using various spells to observe it. Finally, she said, "The consciousness is stable for now, with no signs of dissipation. But the next steps are beyond my help."

"I understand."

"Then, come with me to the Grand Narukami Shrine."

"Huh? Why?"

The shrine maiden smiled without answering.

Yae Miko led Li Mo away from the hollow. After resealing it, she brought him to the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Along the way, they greeted the shrine maidens. For some reason, Li Mo felt a greater sense of familiarity when greeting them.

Yae Miko took Li Mo to a room with a bed, a desk, and a small area—it looked like a guest room.

The Grand Narukami Shrine, located at the peak of Mt. Yougou, had many guest rooms. Visitors often had to stay overnight due to the time, hence the need for such rooms.

However, in this particular room, there were many books piled on the desk.

"Those are the books left behind by Kitsune Saiguu."

"I thought they were gone?" Li Mo asked, surprised.

Yae Miko said, "Oh, the shrine's library is vast. Did you think I couldn't dig them out from some corner? Little one, don't you agree?"

"You've changed how you address me several times now, Lady Yae!" Li Mo said.

The manuscripts of Kitsune Saiguu—this must be the surprise Yae Miko had mentioned.

If there was anything worth learning in Inazuma, aside from the various schools in Inazuma City, it was Kitsune Saiguu's onmyodo. It was a complete cultivation system.

"At first, I thought you were an immature young man. Then, I found you as cute as a little brother. Finally, I realized you're just a whimsical child. Isn't that right, little one?"

Li Mo replied, "Yes, yes, you're right."

"By the way, little one, could you help me organize these books into a catalog? Please?"

"Got it."