The drifting wind and rain fell upon the deserted mountain road as a figure in a pure black kimono climbed the stone steps beneath a red paper umbrella.
Rainwater dripped from the umbrella's edge. The umbrella lifted slightly, and a handsome face was reflected in the droplets' surface.
Ding, ding, ding—!
A crisp phone ringtone rang out.
The figure paused slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he still took a phone from his robes and held it to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Hello?! Brother Amemiya!"
"Xiao Youli? What is it?"
"I went to that cliff again today! Guess what I found!!"
Hearing the excitement in Yurina's voice, Amamiya Haruki froze, thinking of a possibility as a flicker of hope passed through his eyes.
"He came back?!"
"No, I found an old man!"
"..."
"This old man drifted here with the ocean currents too. And when I found him, his time was frozen, exactly like Brother Qi Ye back then!" Yurina grew more excited as she spoke. "I think he might have come from the same place as Brother Qi Ye!"
An old man from the same place as Lin Qiye?
Wouldn't that be Great Xia?
Amamiya Haruki raised an eyebrow.
"Can he understand us?"
"Apparently not. After he woke up, he just sat silently in the corner. No matter how I spoke to him, he ignored me."
"...I understand. Once I'm done with what I'm doing, I'll go to the Kazari Family's place to take a look."
"Brother Amemiya, haven't you found the last Magatsu Blade yet?"
"Not yet."
"Alright, then I'll wait for you at the Kazari Family's place."
"Mm."
Amamiya Haruki hung up and continued along the mountain path for a long while. After searching the entire mountain, he sighed helplessly.
"Was Shota's prophecy wrong again today...?"
He shook