Chapter 179

"What are you thinking about? Is this really something worth worrying about?"

Even Raiden Makoto, who knew her sister well, couldn't help but laugh at this situation.

Seriously, was this the time to be concerned about such things?

Ei pondered for a moment before asking, "Sister and I are twin Archons, so we should be of similar age. Why does Jiang Ning call you 'Miss' but addresses me directly by name?"

Looking at the troubled Ei, both Yoimiya and Kamisato Ayaka found their Shogun to be rather... adorably silly?

Jiang Ning rolled his eyes and said, "What do you think? Makoto-nee has the aura, but you? You're just a blockhead."

Ei frowned, "I won't allow you to speak of me like that."

Jiang Ning replied, "But isn't it the truth?"

Raiden Makoto couldn't help but laugh, "It really is..."

"Even you, sister..." Ei looked like she'd taken a heavy blow.

The Raiden Shogun went even further, poking at Ei's sore spot:

"This vessel's inner self was indeed somewhat foolish, otherwise the path of Eternity wouldn't have gone astray."

The Raiden Shogun, who had been corrected by Jiang Ning, Guuji Yae, and Raiden Makoto, now realized just how foolish the previous Ei had been.

Staying unchanged - how could that be called Eternity? When others progress rapidly while you remain stagnant, that's regression.

By then, when others come to challenge you, what will become of your Eternity? It would be even more fleeting than the transient.

Ei became angry. My sister speaks of me this way, my future husband speaks of me this way, and now you dare to speak of me like this too?

You're getting too bold.

"Let's duel, Shogun." Unable to win the argument, Ei resorted to wanting to fight.

"Very well." The Raiden Shogun's gaze turned dangerous.

"Ahem."

Raiden Makoto cleared her throat loudly, and both sisters immediately shrank back, not daring to make a sound.

"We've strayed from the topic... Here, this is Musou Isshin. Keep it with you for now. It will be useful while traveling through Inazuma."

Jiang Ning accepted it with a grin: "Thank you, Makoto."

"Then we'll be going now."

Jiang Ning once again took Yoimiya and Kamisato Ayaka with him as they left.

As they were leaving, they ran into Havria, who was returning from shopping. Seeing the three eagerly heading out, she became curious.

"Where are they going?"

Havria asked after entering the Tenshukaku.

"They're going to cut down some people," Raiden Makoto said with a smile.

"...Huh?" Havria was stunned.

...

"Is this the family? Let me see... the Matsushita clan?"

Arriving at a mansion, Jiang Ning looked at the luxurious residence with curiosity.

"Ayaka, if I remember correctly, even the Kamisato clan doesn't have such luxury, right?"

Jiang Ning asked.

Kamisato Ayaka sighed: "Yes. To be precise, although the Kamisato clan holds the position of Yashiro Commissioner, after that turmoil, our family's wealth isn't actually abundant. With the Sakoku Decree these past years, the Kamisato clan has been selling assets to support the people's livelihood..."

"It hasn't been easy... Inazuma is fortunate to have you, but also suffers from having only you."

Jiang Ning sighed.

Yoimiya muttered: "Such a luxurious mansion must contain great wealth... if only it could be used to help the disaster victims."

Jiang Ning's mind stirred with an idea.

Inazuma currently needed people, and it wasn't possible to eliminate all the families that had committed crimes.

That would probably leave only a handful of clans in all of Inazuma.

So, Yoimiya's words reminded him of something.

Jiang Ning said to Kamisato Ayaka: "Ayaka, how about this - there are still some families who committed crimes but haven't been punished for the sake of stability, right? I have an idea."

"Publish all their crimes - those who committed murder should pay with their lives, those who committed treason... well, the traitors are already gone. As for the remaining crimes..."

"For the rest, set clear prices, let them pay for their crimes with their family wealth. If it's not enough, they go to prison. Give them a week's deadline, no extensions."

"This will temporarily stabilize Inazuma's economic deficit while also serving as punishment. After this cleanup, future crimes will be handled according to Inazuma's regular laws."

"This should be done just once. If it's repeated too often, it would harm the nation's foundation."

Kamisato Ayaka thought carefully for a moment, then her eyes lit up: "This is indeed a good solution."

The evidence of these families' crimes was all archived by the Shuumatsuban, which the Kamisato clan had trained specifically for covert operations.

Jiang Ning said: "Now... let's see how many heads from this family I can cut."

Arriving at the main gate, Jiang Ning initially wanted to say, "Ayaka, go kick down the door."

But thinking that such an unrefined action wouldn't suit such an elegant lady, and since he wasn't exactly a good person himself, he decided to do it himself.

At the gate, the guards didn't recognize Jiang Ning and Yoimiya, but they knew Kamisato Ayaka.

The family head had said that if people from the Yashiro Commission came, they should be kept waiting, since they had taken their family's position as Kanjou Commissioner.

Just as they were about to speak, they saw Jiang Ning bypass them, approach the door, and kick the several-meter-high gate to pieces, his attitude incredibly arrogant.

"What are you doing?!"

The guard was shocked and angry.

Then he turned to Kamisato Ayaka: "Lady Kamisato, are you here to cause trouble?"

The next second, he felt dizzy and found himself on the ground with a foot pressing down on him.

"Who gave you permission to speak to us like that? Cause trouble? I'm here specifically to cause trouble!"

Jiang Ning's fierce demeanor left Kamisato Ayaka somewhat stunned.

Although she knew they were here to demand accountability, she hadn't expected such an aggressive approach. And instinctively, Kamisato Ayaka felt this wasn't very god-like behavior.

This looked more like... a delinquent? Are all gods this unrestrained?

Yoimiya, however, looked extremely excited. Yeah, let's break in!

As expected of a sunny girl, her playful nature showed itself in this situation.

"Who dares to cause trouble at the Matsushita residence!"

Hearing the commotion at the gate, many guards and soldiers from the Matsushita clan rushed out to surround them.

Kamisato Ayaka remained calm, showing no signs of panic.

Because beside her stood gods from both Liyue and Inazuma.

Even Yoimiya, who hadn't seen such a large confrontation before, instinctively moved closer to Jiang Ning.

"The Matsushita clan is quite bold, daring to express dissatisfaction with the Shogun's appointed Acting Kanjou Commissioner? Even daring to create obstacles?"

Jiang Ning said with a playful smile.

"Who are you?"

Like the moon surrounded by stars, in the middle stood a portly middle-aged man who appeared to be the Matsushita clan head.

Jiang Ning was speechless - seriously, the Matsushita clan seemed to truly lack any intelligence.

With so many changes in Inazuma's divine hierarchy, at the very least, they should recognize Kitsune's return, the Shogun's future husband, Liyue's next Geo Archon, and the accompanying Salt God Havria.

Moreover, Raiden Makoto had deliberately spread word of their appearances.

Precisely to prevent any ignorant fools from offending the gods and getting cut down.

Kamisato Ayaka was also confused - were they truly unaware or just pretending? At the very least, all the families under the Yashiro Commission had been repeatedly warned that these few individuals absolutely must not be offended.

One could only say that long years of privileged life and peaceful days had bred many fat-headed fools.

"Not speaking? Are you afraid? Let me tell you, it's too late, and as for Lady Kamisato, please stay at our Matsushita residence for a while. Once I report to the Shogun, your crimes will surely be punished!"

The Matsushita clan head's smug smile was unconcealed, as if he had Kamisato Ayaka completely under his control.

It seemed he could already envision the days when the Matsushita clan would grow stronger and more prosperous, becoming the Kanjou Commissioner.

The surrounding guards approached with ill intent, and Jiang Ning sighed: "Not fun anymore, I'm done playing..."

He had originally planned to make a strong entrance, then create trouble, and at the crucial moment, someone would recognize his identity, leading to everyone being terrified and begging for forgiveness on their knees.

But now, well, nobody recognized who he was.

The next moment, a burst of cold air exploded forth, accompanied by violent lightning.

The surrounding guards were instantly blown away in all directions, scattered across walls, trees, and rooftops, their fate unknown.

However, Jiang Ning still showed restraint, leaving a few of the Matsushita clan members alive.

"Do you recognize this?"

Jiang Ning drew out Musou Isshin, lightning surrounding him like the Thunder God himself had descended.

"This- this is the Shogun's sword... you, you dare to steal the Shogun's belongings? What crime should that be?"

The Matsushita clan head was furious.

Jiang Ning fell silent, then gave a self-mocking laugh: "My fault, talking to someone like you is simply wasting breath and lowering my own intelligence..."

He glanced at Kamisato Ayaka, who immediately said: "How dare you! Before you stands the Shogun's betrothed, the future god of both Inazuma and Liyue, yet you dare to speak so disrespectfully?"

This introduction, though truthful, somehow makes me feel like I'm living off others? Strange.

"..."

The Matsushita clan head was too frightened to speak, while the surrounding Matsushita clan members all knelt down, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Yoimiya curiously watched these people, feeling that... having such powerful backing felt really good.

Yoimiya seemed to have opened an peculiar door of understanding.

Jiang Ning said: "I don't want to waste words with you anymore. You know what you've done, and I'm here to kill, not to reason with you."

After speaking, Jiang Ning quietly said to Kamisato Ayaka and Yoimiya: "Step back a bit."

Both women obediently retreated, and Jiang Ning then channeled his divine power. He had initially planned to use Musou Isshin, but then thought that it was Makoto's sword.

Moreover, Musou Isshin was legendarily never unsealed and had never seen blood.

So, he put away Musou Isshin and silently drew out Ei's naginata instead.

Perfect chance to try out the lightning authority he'd gotten from Makoto-nee and Ei.

"Musou no Hitotachi!"

As Jiang Ning swung his blade, thick lightning bolts descended from the sky. The thunderous roar and brilliant white light turned the entire sky pale, visible even from Inazuma City.

Many Inazuma citizens quietly began to pray - the Thunder God was angry, may the Thunder God's anger be appeased.

"Oh, it's begun... Not bad at all, being able to use such powerful lightning in such a short time. Ei, you need to work harder."

At the Tenshukaku, witnessing this scene, Raiden Makoto teased her sister.

Ei also showed a hint of fighting spirit: "Mm, I know."

Back here, the Matsushita clan... well, there was no more Matsushita clan.

Everything was scorched ground, the entire residence blackened.

Fortunately, Jiang Ning had held back - all the wealth in the house would need to be confiscated, and it would be a waste if it were destroyed.

Jiang Ning stretched: "That felt good... Why are you looking at me like that?"

Jiang Ning noticed Kamisato Ayaka staring at him blankly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"Actually, I'm not usually this fierce..."

Kamisato Ayaka shook her head and said quietly: "This was the Matsushita clan's own doing, they have no one else to blame."

Yoimiya, however, rubbed her chin, revealing a subtle smile.

She felt like she had figured out something extraordinary.

Kamisato Ayaka lowered her head and said: "I have some follow-up matters to handle, and news of the Matsushita clan's fate needs to be spread to warn others. Please excuse Ayaka's rudeness, I must take my leave."

With that, Kamisato Ayaka hurriedly left.

"Hey, Ayaka..." Jiang Ning reached out blankly, feeling somewhat confused.

He had come to help Ayaka get revenge, so... was she angry?

"Do you know what's going on?"

Jiang Ning asked Yoimiya.

Yoimiya smiled and said: "I don't know~ Maybe you should ask Ayaka."

Hehe, handsome, powerful, and then without hesitation stepping in to help a young lady when she's most tired and under the most pressure.

And with such thunderous momentum too.

Perhaps the White Heron Princess has developed mundane feelings.

Of course, Yoimiya wouldn't say these things. She wasn't certain yet, and besides, if she said anything, she felt like it would make things less interesting.

Of course, after asking Ayaka, if help was needed, she would definitely do her duty as a friend!

"Alright, alright, since we're done here, let's go. Oh right, want to come watch fireworks with me?"

Yoimiya's eyes seemed to reflect the clouds in the sky.

Jiang Ning said: "Sure, but let me return these things to Miss Makoto and the others first..."

"Okay! Then I'll wait for you at the beach behind Inazuma City."

Yoimiya said cheerfully.

Through their brief time together, Yoimiya had grown quite close to Jiang Ning.

Especially after learning that both the Shogun and Jiang Ning quite enjoyed fireworks, she felt even more connected to them.

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