Still, this was the only option for now.
After sighing, Higurashi Kagome's grandfather looked at Manager Inoue and Yukino Yukinoshita and said quietly,
"I'm terribly sorry, but I can't help you perform the ceremony. If you don't mind, you'll have to do it yourselves."
Naturally, Yukino Yukinoshita could not possibly make things difficult for him at a time like this. She hurriedly said,
"Of course. You have more important matters to attend to. We can handle it ourselves."
The Higurashi family was clearly in no mood for pleasantries. After pointing out where the tools needed for the burial were, they left Higurashi Shrine one after another to search for clues in places Higurashi Kagome might usually have gone.
"What a kind family. Once we've buried Sapphire, I'll help them look for her too."
Yukino Yukinoshita knew very well that, in such a strange situation, even with her help, they would probably accomplish little.
Still, given her personality, she clearly would not stand by and do nothing.
If I were the one who disappeared, would my family be this anxious too?
As she held a shovel and dug a grave for the poor Sapphire, Yukino Yukinoshita could not help letting her thoughts wander in that direction.
Every now and then, she raised her head and frowned slightly at Yin Kong's back as he stood beneath the Sacred Tree, apparently studying something.
Perhaps she was overthinking it, but the girl somehow felt that this unfathomable detective had discovered a clue none of them knew about.
Otherwise, he would not be so calm right now.
But there was clearly not the slightest evidence for that suspicion.
Before long, however, her attention returned to the poor Sapphire.
After burying the kitten, the girl silently watched the small mound of earth, inevitably recalling every little moment she had spent with it.
We've punished the bad man who killed you, little one. You must be happy in the next world.
She was actually crying?
Yin Kong could not help being rather surprised when he noticed that Yukinoshita, who had gone from silently mourning before the kitten's grave to quietly shedding tears for some unknown reason, had begun to cry.
After all, the impression the girl gave him was that she was extremely aloof.
Though she liked cats, he had not expected her feelings to run so deep that she would cry over one passing away.
"Now."
As Yin Kong mused over this, Zhongli's voice immediately sounded beside his ear.
Yukino Yukinoshita, completely immersed in her memories, suddenly felt a warm, soft touch against her cheek.
"Innate Evil Demon Imp"
"Sapphire?"
Yukinoshita's eyes widened in shock. Before her floated a translucent Sapphire glowing with white light, gently patting her cheek with the soft pads of its paw.
It seemed to be tenderly comforting her.
Yet after the girl incredulously rubbed her eyes, that miraculous sight had already vanished.
Still, that illusion had been far too realistic.
The girl touched her cheek in disbelief, as if she could still feel the familiar sensation left by those little paw pads.
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at Manager Inoue in confusion and asked,
"Manager Inoue, did you see anything just now?"
"Just now?" Manager Inoue was also taken aback. He asked strangely, "Did something happen?"
Was it really an illusion?
Yukino Yukinoshita froze. If that incredible scene had truly happened, Manager Inoue, who was not far away, could not possibly have missed it.
So was it only because she had been too sad?
Yukino Yukinoshita's feelings were complicated, but when she recalled Sapphire gently comforting her just moments ago, she discovered in disbelief that her sorrow really did seem to have been softly soothed away.
As the girl carefully savored those strange and complicated emotions, Yin Kong seemed to have finished examining the Sacred Tree and walked over.
"Here's my business card. If either of you runs into any trouble in the future, feel free to contact me anytime."
"Certainly, certainly." Manager Inoue immediately accepted Yin Kong's card with great care and said enthusiastically, "If Mr. Yin Kong has time, come by my shop more often. If nothing else, I can still afford to treat you to a cup of coffee."
He had already witnessed Yin Kong's abilities with his own eyes.
Having more friends like him could only be a good thing.
And for some reason, he suddenly felt an immediate sense of familiarity and kinship with Yin Kong.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Manager Inoue and nodding to the silent girl, Yin Kong quickly left Higurashi Shrine.
[Primogem ×20, Mora ×8550, Affection EXP ×70, Fine Enhancement Ore ×7, Mystic Enhancement Ore ×3]
"As expected, Miss Yoko really is a treasure girl."
Receiving double the daily commission rewards again did not surprise Yin Kong.
After all, aside from catching the culprit this time, he had also done a little extra work.
By comparison, that morning he had merely made a serving of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall on a whim. The process had been far easier.
Fortunately, he had not come away empty-handed either.
The World Quest at Higurashi Shrine, the Spiral Abyss, and the Sacred Tree should all bring him considerable Primogems in the near future.
Yin Kong opened his palm, and a tiny, adorable translucent figure slowly emerged.
It was none other than the Sapphire Yukino Yukinoshita had seen earlier.
"It really was purified."
Yin Kong reached out and gently scratched beneath its chin, immediately making the soft, adorable little fellow let out a contented purring sound.
It was hard to imagine that only half an hour ago, it had been pitch-black all over and crazed to the point of hysteria.
"It seems Miss Yukinoshita's tears truly contained incredibly sincere feelings."
"Indeed. Otherwise, they would not have been enough to soothe the hatred in this little one's heart." Zhongli first affirmed Yin Kong's guess, then quickly added, "But I believe the Traveler deserves the greatest credit for the successful purification."
Yin Kong was a little confused.
Yet Zhongli did not explain immediately. Instead, he changed the subject.
"Traveler, after observing things these past few days, I have confirmed something."
Yin Kong asked,
"What might that be?"
Zhongli explained,
"Those creatures only you can see should all be monsters born from shadows or extremely negative emotions.
"And precisely because of that, they are fundamentally different from ordinary living beings. They cannot perceive any positive emotions or feelings. Within their hearts, aside from an instinctive craving for human flesh and blood, there is only slaughter, hatred, madness, and other negative emotions."
Born unable to perceive positive emotions?
Yin Kong froze. Did that not mean that whenever he fought those demons in the future, he could shout,
"Innate Evil Demon Imp, I will personally—"
But then he looked at the innocent, bewildered Sapphire in his hand and asked doubtfully,
"Then what about this—"
"Which is why I said it is your accomplishment, Traveler." Zhongli's tone carried undisguised amazement. "I once said that your acknowledgment has an incredible effect. Now it appears that it not only pulls these demons into reality and grants them a foundation for existence, but also repairs their inherent racial flaw, giving them the capacity for complete emotions."
In other words, so long as a demon was acknowledged by Yin Kong, it could understand and feel what love was.
Otherwise, even if Yukinoshita had cried the Sacred Tree down, there would have been no possibility of purifying the hatred in Sapphire's heart.
After hearing Zhongli's explanation, Yin Kong finally understood.
No wonder the Geo Archon had suddenly spoken up when the police took Takashi Matsubara away, telling him to secretly restrain Sapphire's Vengeful Spirit and deliberately acknowledge its existence.
Although purification had made this little fellow's already low level even worse, leaving it at only level four,
if he could find a way to cultivate it, or a method to purify powerful demons, would that not give him many more helpers?
Speaking of powerful demons, Yin Kong suddenly remembered something.
If he remembered correctly, the Chameleon Witch that had escaped through self-destruction had also received his personal acknowledgment.
"Wouldn't that mean it has complete emotions too?"
Zhongli confirmed,
"I believe so."
Unfortunately, ever since it escaped, it had remained hidden on the other side of the planet.
Otherwise, it would clearly have been the most suitable subject for testing.
"Traveler, you're back."
When Yin Kong returned to Cunning Rabbit House, he found Kuki Shinobu, Aoyama Nanami, and Miss Yoko chatting happily together.
"Yes, I'm back."
After giving Kuki Shinobu a slight nod, he finally looked at Aoyama Nanami with eager anticipation.
Noticing Yin Kong's undisguised, burning gaze, Aoyama Nanami stood frozen in place for several seconds.
Only when Kuki Shinobu gave a light cough and pointed to her own clothes did the girl finally react. She hurried behind the counter, cleared her throat, and said,
"Towards the Stars and the Abyss, welcome to the Adventurer's Guild."
Yin Kong said excitedly,
"Catherine, I've completed all my commissions for today."
"Thank you for completing today's commissions. Here are your rewards."
As he looked at the daily commission rewards finally in his hands, Yin Kong felt so moved that tears nearly welled in his eyes.
"Thank you—"
[Brave Jade Fragment ×1, Primogem ×20, Mora ×18175, Affection EXP ×100]
When he saw the Brave Jade Fragment, Yin Kong could not help letting out a sigh of relief.
Character ascension required not only regional specialties such as Cor Lapis and Naku Weed, but also Elemental crystals of different grades based on the Elemental attribute of one's Genshin Eye.
For regional specialties alone, Zhongli could still find substitutes. But pure Elemental crystals—
In Teyvat, aside from daily commissions, powerful Elemental monsters and domains could also drop a certain number of Elemental crystals.
But in a world where Elemental Power did not even exist, even if Yin Kong successfully destroyed those powerful demons, it would be difficult for him to obtain Teyvat's Elemental crystals, would it not?
Even Zhongli, the Geo Archon himself, would find it difficult to conjure those ascension materials out of thin air under such circumstances.
"You did well, very well! Miss Aoyama, you can get off work now."
Seeing the delighted smile Yin Kong could barely suppress, Aoyama Nanami could not help feeling puzzled.
Did those three lines of hers really possess such great magic?
Of course, among everyone present, Miss Yoko was probably the most surprised.
Because in the idol's impression, Yin Kong had not been this excited since facing the Chameleon Witch last time.
Everyone froze and looked together at Aoyama Nanami.
More precisely, at the girl's stomach.
Aoyama Nanami's face reddened slightly, but feeling the emptiness in her belly, she still suppressed her embarrassment and said,
"Boss, could I... could I get an advance on one day's wages?"
Based on her past experience, even if she only drank water, she should have been able to hold on until tomorrow.
But she had cleaned the office that afternoon and accidentally used up extra energy. If she did not eat soon—
Before you continue