Duel Before the Throne, Your Opponent Is Barbatos

"I, I..."

Kujou Takayuki was immediately covered in sweat.

He felt his hands and feet were ice cold and he could barely move.

Why would the Shogun come here?

Was I tricked?

Looking at Venti standing next to Kage, Kujou Takayuki immediately realized that he had been completely tricked.

This drunkard seemed to be trying to cheat Bai Ye out of money, but in reality, he was plotting against me, making me not only fail to succeed in my scheme against Bai Ye, but also exposing my own crimes.

What's most infuriating is that while he was cheating himself, he still kept asking for more money.

Aren't you afraid I'll give up because the price is too high?

Kujou Takayuki could only lament that this drunkard was the most cunning of all, demanding the maximum amount of money he could afford.

However, even after things have come to this point, Kujou Takayuki still wants to turn things around.

Although he said so much, at least he didn't reveal his rebellious intentions towards Raiden Shogun.

In fact, he didn't.

Perhaps this would still give us a chance to explain?

Kujou Takayuki thought to himself.

He pondered for a moment, then immediately knelt down on one knee in front of the shadow.

"The Shogun, this is all the result of collusion between the bard by your side and the Bai Ye behind me. They want to interfere with Inazuma's power, which is why they have been plotting against your subordinates since they came to Inazuma."

Kujou Takayuki accuses Bai Ye and Venti of their 'crimes'.

Hearing him say that, Venti opened her mouth, her mocking expression growing even stronger.

Hearing Kujou Takayuki say this, Kage's anger intensified.

Neither Bai Ye nor Venti could possibly have any intention of seizing power from Inazuma. Bai Ye's identity meant he couldn't be confined by Inazuma; his true destination was Celestia, the underground Khaenri'ah, and the Abyss below.

As for Venti, if he had even a hint of wanting to rule, Mondstadt wouldn't be such a free city now.

Kage looked at Kujou Takayuki coldly and said:

Have you finished speaking?

She was furious that Kujou Takayuki had kept it from her, that he was pursuing eternity and wanted Inazuma to survive more calamities.

Ying knew clearly that Inazuma was different from other countries. Mondstadt could allow the Anemo Archon to remain powerless for thousands of years, while Liyue only needed the Rex Lapis to direct major developments each year. Even without him, the Millelith and the Liyue Qixing could protect Liyue just as well.

As for Inazuma, Ying felt that if anything happened to him, Inazuma's power would be difficult to maintain.

So she sought eternity, entrusting herself to the Sanctum of Euthymia and never leaving.

It now appears that some people are using their eternity to achieve their own interests.

This is something that the film cannot accept.

Moreover, before coming over, Venti showed her the evidence of Kujou Takayuki's crimes.

Those were the suicide squads sent out by Kujou Takayuki.

They recounted how they planned to assassinate Zhongli. Beside them, Venti told the shadow Zhongli that he was Morax.

Is Kujou Takayuki's assassination of Morax intended to expose Inazuma to Liyue's attack?

With Bai Ye, Heavenly Principles must be on Liyue's side.

Seeing the shadow's gaze turn cold, Kujou Takayuki instinctively sensed that something was wrong, though he didn't know what was wrong.

Are these two people really more credible than the ministers who have served her for decades?

No, I need to find a solution.

In his final, desperate struggle, Kujou Takayuki wanted to test how much standing he still held in front of the Shogun.

He looked at Bai Ye and Venti, and said to Shadow, "The Shogun, in order to prove my innocence, I request to have Duel Before the Throne."

"You want to have Duel Before the Throne?"

Shadow asked Kujou Takayuki.

"Yes, I request to use my sword to prove my innocence."

Hearing this, Bai Ye perked up.

Duel Before the Throne? I'd love to!

If I can't beat the Kage, can't I beat you, Kujou Takayuki?

I can easily knock you down and turn you into a hedgehog without using any Gods powers.

"Fight! This old bastard, die!"

"Hagintos said loudly."

In fact, she is the oldest person in the theater.

She is Zhongli's best friend, and her actual age is older than Ying and Venti.

Kage wanted to see Bai Ye's opinion.

Just as she was about to turn her gaze away, she remembered that she couldn't look Bai Ye in the eye, so she quickly looked away as well.

After thinking for a moment, she nodded slightly.

"I agree. However, I will choose the opponent for this Duel Before the Throne."

After Ying finished speaking, she pointed her finger at Venti.

"Kujou Takayuki, he is your opponent in the Duel Before the Throne. I will believe whoever wins between the two of you."

Ah!!!!

Venti had been watching the show just moments before, was now dumbfounded.

Why am I being made to participate in the Duel Before the Throne?!

I am just a poor bard.

Weak, pitiful, and an exceptionally heavy drinker.

Beelzebul, you tricked me!

"Sigh, I was really looking forward to seeing you, Little Bai Ye, show off your skills. But it turns out we have to watch this drunkard make a scene."

Hagintos felt a deep sense of disappointment.

"It's a pity that if these Kujou Takayuki were to fight me, at least I could leave behind a hedgehog-like corpse. If Venti really went for the kill, I'm afraid even their ashes would be blown into the sea."

The Bai Ye is also a regret.

Upon hearing this assignment from the shadowy figure, Kujou Takayuki was overjoyed.

He really had no idea what to do with Bai Ye. This guy was too mysterious, and he wasn't sure if he had any unusual methods.

Facing this drunken bard, Kujou Takayuki was not only absolutely certain of victory, but he could also say that he had the game in the bag.

"It seems that the Shogun still believes in me. However, he is restricted by the other gods and cannot take action against Bai Ye. Well then, let's kill this drunkard first so that I can vent my anger."

Seeing Venti's 'panic' expression, Kujou Takayuki felt even happier.

You tricked me, today is your death day.

"Your subject is willing to engage in Duel Before the Throne before the Venti to settle our differences."

"I, I am willing."

Venti nodded helplessly.

This guy, this woman really doesn't want me to Inazuma off.

Pretending to lose to get through this duel is something Venti would normally do. However, given the current situation, he definitely wouldn't do it.

Seeing Venti's expression, Kujou Takayuki felt that Kujo had a better chance of winning.

I think I can actually get through this smoothly.

He went outside the house.

There were originally ninjas lying in wait under the orders of Kujou Takayuki. However, when Kagura and Venti arrived, they were stunned by the overwhelming power emanating from the two.

"Come on, I'm ready for a duel."

Looking at the empty space, Kujou Takayuki drew his katana from his waist.

As the head of the Tenryou Commission, his swordsmanship was exceptional, on par with the grandmasters who taught him. Even those who possessed the Genshin Eye could not easily defeat him.

At this moment, he clenched his fists, looking at the bard who had been 'terrified', intending to cleave Venti in two the instant he was about to strike.

"Um, Bai Ye about you take my place, Ye?"

Venti wanted to make one last desperate attempt.

However, Bai Ye was also a bit of a comedian. Seeing that the duel was about to begin, he actually stepped aside.

He also took out several snacks.

"The Shogun, would you like some? These are all from Inazuma's restaurant."

He then handed it to the shadow.

"Mmm." Shadow took the food that Bai Ye handed her.

She was actually quite curious.

When the two exchanged food, their hands involuntarily touched.

Ying quickly put the scepter away.

Although his facial expression remained calm, his heart was in turmoil.

When their palms touched, she, the Thor, actually felt an electric shock.

It's really too strange.

Seeing that Kage and Bai Ye had expressions of watching a show, Venti had no choice but to turn her gaze to Kujou Takayuki.

"What a misfortune!"

"You are indeed unfortunate."

Kujou Takayuki spoke, he charged forward with his sword in the next second.

End the battle as soon as possible.

He thought to himself.

Then, he found himself frozen halfway through his run.

There is absolutely no room for maneuver.

At first, he thought the bard had used some kind of powerful evil magic. However, upon closer inspection, he realized that wasn't the case.

It's the wind.

The winds from all directions firmly controlled me.

The winds blowing from all directions showed no sign of canceling each other out; instead, they precisely restricted my body.

Despite her considerable strength, she was completely immobilized. It would have been impossible to do this without precise control of even a wisp of wind.

This proves that this person has reached the pinnacle of mastery over the Anemo Element.

What kind of monster am I fighting?!

It was only then that Kujou Takayuki realized what Venti's cry of misfortune before the duel had actually meant.

He was Kujou Takayuki himself, whose rival was Kujo Takayuki, who wrote the novel.

It's too late now.

So, the Shogun never considered that he would win the Duel Before the Throne.

Kujou Takayuki finally realized that Kage had absolutely no intention of forgiving him.

The two sides' combat capabilities are simply not on the same level.

Venti is definitely not just an ordinary bard. With his abilities, he probably holds a very high position in Mondstadt, and his bard persona is merely a disguise.

At that moment, he realized that his body was involuntarily starting to move erratically.

On the other side, Venti was still constantly moving around with her Anemo Element.

While he was doing the activity, he also instructed Bai Ye:

"Bai Ye, watch the power of my Anemo Element manipulation? This manipulation of Anemo Element will allow us to better control the enemy..."

Having finally managed to unleash his full power, he naturally wanted to do more. And as his Anemo little boy, Venti should give Bai Ye good lesson.

Seeing Kujou Takayuki being posed in various ways by Venti because of his teaching, Kage ultimately couldn't bear it.

She gently swung her knife, and a wound appeared on Kujou Takayuki's throat.

Then he lost his phone.

Seeing that he was already a corpse, Venti let him go.

The surrounding Anemo Element force dissipated, and Venti walked to Shadow's side.

"Next, I will order people to investigate the Tenryou Commission. Let's see how many more of these parasites like the Kujou Takayuki Exemplars are in the Tenryou Commission."

Shadow said to Bai Ye and Venti.

She lost a lot of face this time.

However, she didn't hold a grudge against Bai Ye and Venti; instead, she was grateful to them for helping her find the termites in eternity.

However, Ying was determined to investigate thoroughly the matter, as he was following the Tenryou Commission.

One's own orders must not be misinterpreted during execution.

"It's already very late, and I need to investigate for a while. Let's postpone the discussion about the method for making the doll."

"Um."

Bai Ye nodded.

Yingjian then left.

The reason she left was, of course, to deal with the lingering issues left behind by Kujou Takayuki.

At that time,

She also wanted to calm down from the feeling of her hands touching Bai Ye's earlier.

The fact that the mighty Thor was experiencing an electric shock was truly bizarre to Shadow.

She should calm down a bit more.

Taking one last look at Bai Ye, Ying hoped that their next meeting wouldn't evoke such a shock in her.

Watching Ying leave, Bai Ye and Venti shrugged, revealing happy expressions.

Then, Venti suddenly clutched her stomach and said to Bai Ye:

"Ouch, Bai Ye, I think I just got hurt. It won't heal without a good drink."

Then, just as he was expecting Bai Ye when he was happy, Bai Ye suddenly clutched her chest and squatted down on the ground.

"I can't take it anymore. The aftershocks of your battle just now affected me, and I also suffered internal injuries."

Venti: "..."

Bai Ye blinked.

Just kidding, it's incredibly difficult to scam someone out of their own money.

The changes made by the Inazuma Tenryou Commission during this period caught all the Inazuma people, including Kamisato Ayato, off guard.

Why was Tianling, who was just Kujou Takayuki of Tenryou Commission, suddenly brought to justice?

The Kujou Clan committed a crime!?

At this time, with the arrival of Kujou Takayuki, all the evidence of the Kujou Clan's crimes came to light.

Shadow also didn't have time to teach Bai Ye anymore.

So, taking advantage of this time, he decided to fulfill another promise he had made.

The promise between Hana Sanri and Hanasato.

While the cherry blossoms were still in bloom, Bai Ye, Hu Tao, Shenhe, and Ayaka Kamisato Ayaka set off together from Konda Village Inazuma City Castle.

On the way, Hu Tao asked Bai Ye curiously, "Bai Ye, is what you said true? Are we really going to purify Inazuma's love? You encountered a mysterious shrine maiden when you passed by here?"

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep that night..."

Bai Ye recounted the whole story of what happened that day to Hu Tao and the others.

"I've read about the Great Sakura Cleansing in ancient texts, but I don't really know how to do it. This time, I'll take a look."

After thinking for a moment, Kamisato Ayaka spoke to Bai Ye.

"Yes, this time we'll personally perform the Great Sakura Cleansing."

Even now, I still think that Bai Ye 'Hanasato request is the same as Hanasato's request for the Traveler in the game – it's all about the Great Sakura Cleansing.