The moon was gradually covered by dark clouds.
At the Himejima Family's shrine in the back mountains.
A married woman sat at the entrance, with a small child resting on her lap, and an oil lamp burning beside them.
The candlelight cast their shadows.
They were Himejima Shuri and her daughter, Himejima Akeno.
At this moment, it was like a warm painting.
As a gentle breeze blew.
Himejima Shuri seemed to sense something, and she looked at the moonless sky, muttering, “Has it finally come?”
She gently patted Himejima Akeno’s back.
She wanted to remember her appearance firmly.
After a while, she beckoned to the side.
A small red demon floated over, followed by many small green demons.
“I’m entrusting little Zhu Nai to you. Take her away from this place and protect her well.”
Himejima Shuri said, placing the sleeping little Zhu Nai into the red demon’s hands.
The red demon held little Zhu Nai.
His face showed immense reluctance, but he nodded firmly.
So he took little Zhu Nai and the other demons, leaving the area and running outwards.
She quietly watched the sky; a storm was brewing.
Down the mountain, a group of people led by the Grand Elder arrived at the foot of the mountain, then surrounded it completely.
The Grand Elder looked at the mountaintop with a somewhat complex expression.
Had it finally come to this?
Little Shuri, the family's honor cannot be stained. I'm sorry.
“Elder, the clansmen are ready.”
Listening to the report, the Grand Elder nodded.
He turned and said, “When we go up, use all your strength!”
“Understood!”
Why would the Grand Elder say that?
Of course, Himejima Shuri was an outstanding talent of the previous generation.
If she hadn't married the Fallen Angel cadre, Baraqiel, that heretic, she might have been the next head of the Himejima Family.
But there are no 'ifs' in life.
Himejima Shuri ultimately broke the family rules, and allowing her to live this long was already the family’s benevolence.
It definitely wasn't because they couldn't defeat Baraqiel, but because they feared instigating a war between humans and other races.
The Grand Elder waited quietly for a moment, then spoke.
“Depart!”
“Yes!”
The Grand Elder led the clansmen behind him, carrying torches, and walked up the mountain.
On the mountaintop, Himejima Shuri looked at the sky.
Then she looked in the direction Himejima Akeno had left and murmured, “Zhu Nai, run. Run to a place where the clansmen can’t find you. You must live happily.”
At this moment, a gap opened in the sky.
The full moon shone through the gap onto Himejima Shuri.
At this moment, it was like a beautiful painting.
She bathed in the moonlight, a smile on her lips, as if the moon was also preparing to bid her farewell.
She raised her finger, and an electric arc flickered at her fingertip.
Therefore, the two elements of lightning and light within Himejima Akeno came from her and her husband, respectively.
Himejima Shuri brought out a small table and began to prepare tea.
Time passed bit by bit, and lights appeared on the stairs; they had arrived.
Immediately after, at the main entrance of the shrine, dozens of clansmen led by the Grand Elder appeared before her.
Seeing the familiar faces, Himejima Shuri revealed a smile.
Upon seeing Himejima Shuri, the surrounding Himejima Family members were about to rush forward but were stopped by the Grand Elder.
Looking at the child he had personally raised, the Grand Elder couldn't bear it.
He walked over and sat facing her.
Neither of them spoke, as the elder watched the young woman slowly prepare tea.
After a while.
“Please have some tea.”
“Mm.”
The Grand Elder picked up the teacup and took a light sip.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had this.”
He sighed, then put down the teacup and looked at Shuri before him, “Shuri, do you still remember the family rules?”
“Himejima Family members are not allowed to intermarry with outsiders.”
“Since you remember, why did you knowingly violate them?”
The Grand Elder’s gaze was stern, while Himejima Shuri smiled faintly, her eyes full of tenderness and resolve.
It was as if nothing was said, yet everything was said.
So, this is love?
But to an outsider, it was merely the complementarity of a sadist and a masochist.
The Grand Elder sighed, looking at her with a serious expression.
“Shuri, you are the pride of the family, but your actions have touched the bottom line of the family rules. The family cannot stand idly by.”
Himejima Shuri nodded gently, “I understand. I am willing to bear the consequences, but please spare Zhu Nai; she is innocent.”
The Grand Elder was silent for a moment. This matter was impossible. If it were a matter of sacrificing the child to save her, there might be some hope.
“I’m sorry, if it were you, there might be a chance, but not for anything else.”
“I see.”
Himejima Shuri said, smiling helplessly.
She hoped the demon could take little Zhu Nai away quickly, so she would stall for time.
“Excuse me, old man!”
“Come on, little Shuri.”
Instantly, flames mixed with lightning shot up into the sky, and thunder roared across the heavens.
This was the true power of the Thunder Priestess.
In the sky, the intertwining of lightning and fire exploded like a brilliant fireworks display.
Startled awake by the thunder, little Zhu Nai was a bit flustered.
She found herself being carried away from the Himejima clan territory on her mother's demon's back. She looked up at the lightning and flames in the sky; although only eight years old, Zhu Nai seemed to understand something.
Tears flowed uncontrollably.
Ye Xiao stood in the sky, arms crossed, quietly watching little Zhu Nai. Behind her were several Himejima Family members, but Ye Xiao did not intervene.
After all, Rias had to be given a chance to show off.
Then he looked up again in the direction where the fireworks were blooming.
“It’s starting? I need to go.”
Ye Xiao said, sending little Zhu Nai's current location to Grayfia, instructing her to bring Rias to seamlessly pick her up and take her back.
Then he quickly rushed towards the battlefield.
Grayfia, who received the message, smiled at the two little ones in front of her.
“Little Rias, do you want a peerage? I found a very promising child.”
“Really, Sister Grayfia?”
“Of course.”
“Then let’s go!!”
After confirming, Grayfia reported to Ajuka and Sirzechs, then took Rias to the human world.
As for little Ye Xiao, he was detained by Ajuka.
In Ajuka's words, if he hadn't met his study goals for the day, how could he expect to go out and play?
Had he learned the Conqueror Formula yet?
Not yet?
Then you, my brother, will study until you master it!
The situation on the mountaintop was quite intense at this moment.
The shrine was destroyed, the ground cracked, and the mountaintop was already a ruined mess.
In the rubble, many people lay unconscious on the ground, having been electrocuted.
They could have been killed directly, yet they were spared; how merciful.
The other people who could still stand were throwing skills at Himejima Shuri.
In the sky.
Himejima Shuri’s lightning and the Grand Elder’s Vermilion Bird Spirit Fire continuously collided, exploding like beautiful fireworks.
The Vermilion Bird’s undying flames burned on her body.
Soon, she lost consciousness and fell towards the ground like a bird with broken wings.