Nooo, Waaaaah

[Hey, everyone, I'm back again!]

[Please follow, send gifts, add this to your bookshelf, and leave paragraph comments, awa.]

[Follows, readers keeping up, and gifts are what give me the motivation to update, ovo.]

[This is today's first update.]

[There will be more this afternoon and tonight~]

[A special thanks here to the muffled-voiced Brother Ye Zhendong for the Great God certification. Let me kowtow to you a few times (]

At midnight, stillness enveloped the back mountain of the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Moonlight filtered through layer upon layer of cherry blossom branches, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the stone path.

Baichen clutched Ei's sleeve tightly, his figure looking especially slight in the darkness.

With every step, the Electro-Patterned Magatama hanging around his neck swayed gently, giving off a faint purple glow.

"Cold?" Ei noticed the boy trembling and pulled him a little closer.

Baichen shook his head, but couldn't help leaning closer against Ei.

It wasn't because of the early spring night breeze, but because of the woman he was about to face-Bronya Rand, the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, the one who had once left an ice-patterned mark on him.

[System notification: Bronya's affection level: 64%]

[Note: A dangerous and enchanting former master]

Ei abruptly stopped.

In a clearing in the cherry blossom grove ahead, a slender figure stood with her back to them.

Her long, ice-blue hair gleamed coldly in the moonlight, and a luxurious white fur cloak fell to her ankles.

Hearing their footsteps, she slowly turned around-

"Long time no see, my little kitten."

Bronya's lips curved in a smile that wasn't quite a smile. Her ice-blue eyes looked straight at Baichen, completely ignoring Ei beside him.

She was more beautiful than he remembered, and more dangerous.

The ice-crystal patterns at the corners of her eyes shimmered in the moonlight, and her every movement radiated an irresistible authority.

"Bronya..." Baichen's voice was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.

Ei frowned deeply.

She stepped half a pace forward, shielding the boy behind her. "I've brought him.

"Her voice was as cold as a blade. "Remember your promise. Bring him back safe and sound in three days."

Only then did Bronya turn her gaze to Ei, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes. "The Raiden Shogun escorted him personally? I'm truly flattered." She gave an elegant Snezhnayan bow. "Don't worry. I'll take good 'care' of him."

The air between the two women seemed to freeze.

Baichen could clearly feel the Electro crackling around Ei, as well as the plummeting temperature around Bronya.

He gathered his courage and gently tugged Ei's sleeve.

"I... I should go..."

Ei turned and cupped the boy's face in both hands.

The coldness in her purple eyes faded, replaced by an overwhelming reluctance to part.

She lowered her head and placed an almost reverent kiss on his lips.

"Remember your promise." Her voice was so soft that only the two of them could hear it. "Three days."

Baichen nodded firmly, his eyes already slightly red.

He rose on tiptoe and whispered something in Ei's ear, making the Raiden Shogun's expression soften instantly.

[Ei's affection level: 100% (stable)]

[Status acquired: Temporary separation]

Bronya cleared her throat impatiently. "Tender moment's over." She held out a hand to Baichen. "Come on, little one."

Baichen gave Ei one last look and slowly walked toward Bronya.

Just as he was about to touch the Tsaritsa's hand, Ei suddenly spoke.

"Wait."

She strode forward and personally straightened the boy's collar, making sure the Electro-Patterned Magatama was visible.

Then, under Bronya's amused gaze, she bent down and sucked hard on the side of Baichen's neck, leaving a bright red mark.

"My mark," Ei declared, looking straight at Bronya. "Don't touch it."

Bronya chuckled. "Childish." She pulled Baichen to her side and brushed her fingers over the fresh hickey. "But it doesn't matter..." Cryo gathered at her fingertips, instantly covering the hickey with a thin layer of frost. "There, that's better."

Ei's naginata flashed from its sheath, lightning dancing wildly along the blade.

Bronya paid it no mind. Instead, she leaned close to Baichen's ear and deliberately raised her voice.

"Tell your 'Shogun'..." Her red lips nearly touched the boy's earlobe. "In three days, I'll bring you back myself-if you still want to come back by then."

With that, she snapped her fingers. A squad of Fatui soldiers emerged from the shadows, and La Signora, who led them, bowed respectfully.

"The private train is ready, Your Majesty."

Bronya put an arm around Baichen's waist and turned toward the depths of the forest.

Ei stood where she was, her fists clenched so tightly they creaked, but she ultimately did not stop them.

She knew this was the best way to avoid war.

"Ei!" Baichen suddenly called, looking back. "Wait for me to come back!"

The boy's voice rang particularly clearly through the quiet night.

Ei didn't answer, but her slight nod was plainly visible in the moonlight.

Only when the group's figures had completely disappeared into the depths of the forest did she slowly unclench her fists. Her nails had already drawn blood from her palms.

On the way to the harbor, Baichen was sandwiched between Bronya and La Signora, every step feeling like walking on thin ice.

The Tsaritsa's hand remained on his waist. Her grip wasn't tight, but he couldn't break free.

The Electro-Patterned Magatama grew slightly warm against his chest, as if reminding him of his connection to Ei.

"Nervous?" Bronya suddenly asked, her icy fingertips brushing his cheek. "Don't worry, I won't eat you... at least, not now."

Baichen shrank back and said nothing.

Bronya seemed amused by his reaction and chuckled softly.

"What, have a few months in Inazuma made you forget who your master is?

"She gripped the boy's chin, forcing him to look at her. "Do you need me to help you remember?"

Memories surged in like a tide-the frozen plains of Snezhnaya, the Tsaritsa's bedchamber, those nights enveloped in Cryo... Baichen began to tremble involuntarily, and the ice-patterned mark on his neck throbbed faintly.

"Lady Bronya..." he pleaded softly. "Don't..."

The Tsaritsa's eyes darkened, and she suddenly let go. "Never mind." She turned to La Signora. "Is the ship ready?"

"Everything is ready," La Signora replied respectfully. "As you ordered, the most comfortable room has been prepared."

A magnificent Snezhnayan warship was docked at the harbor. Its hull was snow-white, and a huge ice-crystal pattern was carved into its prow.

Bronya took Baichen's hand and led him onto the deck. The sailors saluted in unison, their eyes full of curiosity, though they didn't dare look directly at them.

The ship's interior was even more luxurious than he had imagined.

A thick snow fox fur carpet covered the master bedroom floor, and ice-silk curtains hung from the four-poster bed.

Most striking of all was a huge water mirror on the wall. It currently showed the coastline of Narukami Island and a purple figure on the shore.

Ei was still standing there.

Baichen's heart clenched. He wanted to move closer to the water mirror for a better look, but Bronya caught hold of him.

"Don't be impatient," she said meaningfully. "You'll have three days to watch at your leisure."

At her command, the warship slowly pulled away from the harbor.

The image in the water mirror receded farther and farther, until it became a tiny purple dot and vanished into the night.

Baichen's eyes grew wet, but he fought hard to keep his tears from falling.

"How touching," Bronya said sarcastically. "It seems my little kitten really has been tamed."

She snapped her fingers, and a maid immediately brought over a silver tray bearing two cups of steaming-cold liquid.

"Drink it." She handed one of the cups to Baichen. "It'll make you feel better."

The liquid in the cup was a strange ice-blue, with tiny ice crystals floating on its surface.

Baichen hesitated, but under Bronya's piercing gaze, he eventually began to sip it.

The moment the liquid went down his throat, a chill spread from his stomach throughout his body. Strangely, it wasn't unpleasant. Instead, it gave him a light, floating feeling of comfort.

"What... is this..." His voice began to drift.

"A little gift." Bronya took the empty cup and brushed her fingers over his increasingly unfocused eyes. "Sleep. By the time you wake up, we'll be home."

Sleepiness swept over him like a tide.

Baichen's last awareness was the sensation of Bronya picking him up and the cold kiss she placed on his forehead...

[Status acquired: Snezhnayan special sedative]

[Effect: Forced sleep + dream guidance]

When Baichen woke again, he found himself in completely unfamiliar surroundings.

A huge ice-crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. The surrounding walls were all translucent ice-blue, and he could faintly see snowflakes falling outside.

He was lying on a large bed covered in thick fur, wearing nothing but a white silk nightgown.

"Awake?"

Bronya's voice came from the other end of the room.

The Tsaritsa had changed into casual clothes, her long ice-blue hair loosely pinned up, and was holding a heavy book.

Seeing Baichen wake, she closed the book and walked slowly to the bedside.

"Where is this..."

"My private palace." Bronya sat down beside the bed, her fingers playing with the Electro-Patterned Magatama around the boy's neck. "Much more comfortable than that Tenshukaku, isn't it?"

Baichen instinctively shielded the magatama, and the Tsaritsa's gaze turned cold at the gesture.

She suddenly leaned forward, pinning the boy beneath her.

"Three days." She whispered in Baichen's ear, her cold breath spilling across his face with her words. "I'll make you remember who your real master is."

As she drew closer, the temperature in the room dropped sharply.

Ice crystals spread across the walls, forming exquisite patterns.

Baichen's breathing grew rapid, and the magatama on his chest emitted a faint purple glow, resisting the encroaching chill.

"Look, it's still protecting you." Bronya chuckled, forming an icicle at her fingertip and lightly running it across the tie of his nightgown. "But... I can break through this level of defense whenever I want."

(It got banned, waaaaah)

Please click that button the color of poop, everyone, waaaaah. Please send the free little gifts too, thank you all, qwq. If there are big gifts, even better!

If the author wakes up one morning and sees the numbers are a complete mess, they might burst into tears and be too sad to update, qwq.