Honkai Impact: Grandma Pine Sparrow is still chasing me!

Chapter 260 You should still remember me, right?

Breakfast fell from the sky, so of course Qiong had no reason not to eat it—would Yae Sakura harm him?

"Then I shall respectfully comply?"

I really didn't expect that! But what would Yae Sakura treat him to? I have absolutely no idea!

For the time being, Sora, who was temporarily abandoning her thoughts on what to eat, and Yae Sakura, whose heart was pounding and face was flushed, came to the stone table under the cherry blossom tree—heaven knows why Theresa would build a stone table and benches here, when there are benches not far away.

However, now was clearly not the time to complain about their headmaster's extravagance and wasting money on trivial matters; eating was more important, and Qiong, who couldn't wait, immediately sat down.

"It's just a drink, I hope you like it."

"A drink..."

Qiong tried her best to hide her regret: Can you get full by drinking beverages?

Yae Sakura didn't notice Sora's regret. She took out a delicate little jar from behind her, and when she opened it, a smell of alcohol wafted out.

"liquor?"

Qiong frowned. He thought it was something like snacks, how could it be wine?

Putting aside whether it's suitable to drink on an empty stomach so early in the morning, he doesn't drink much alcohol anyway.

"This is sweet rice wine."

"Sweet rice wine?"

Qiong looked at the jar with some suspicion. Rice wine, the alcohol content shouldn't be high, right?

"Hmm, sweet rice wine."

Yae Sakura nodded, then took out a small cup, poured a lot of liquid, and handed it to Sora.

"I originally wanted to make cherry blossom wine, but I was too busy with work, and I couldn't buy salted cherry blossoms at the St. Freya supermarket..."

"Don't buy it even if you have it; it's probably all nitrite."

What are nitrites?

"Anyway, it's not a good thing."

Qiong looked at Yae Sakura expectantly, hoping she would bring out some snacks to go with the drinks—but there were none. After bringing out sweet rice wine, Yae Sakura sat down on another stone bench and poured herself a cup as well.

Looking at the rice wine in front of him, Qiong hesitated between drinking and not drinking: on the one hand, he didn't like alcohol, and it was common sense for him not to drink on an empty stomach in the morning... on the other hand, he couldn't refuse Yae Sakura's expectant eyes.

Well, if there are no snacks to go with the drinks, then so be it. I'll just treat it as a sugary drink with alcohol. Just a little bit shouldn't do any harm to my health, right?

Thinking of this, Qiong also picked up her wine glass and forced herself to take a sip. The sour and sweet taste spread in her mouth, but it also tasted like rice water...

Well, he still doesn't really like this kind of spoiled glutinous rice product.

As Yae Sakura watched Sora frown while drinking, a smile unconsciously crept into her eyes.

How does it taste?

"Hmm, it's alright..."

We can't be too rude; it's free rice wine after all. We have to finish this cup, even if it makes our scalp tingle!

"Teacher Yae is truly skillful."

Qiong forced a smile, and Yae Sakura's smile softened even more as she saw Qiong accept the rice wine: Qiong wasn't the first person to drink her wine. She had already given it to Theresa, Baiji, and Siegfried. Theresa drank it and said she felt nothing, adding that it wasn't as good as bitter melon juice, and immediately returned it; Baiji claimed she was too weak and sickly to handle alcohol (even rice wine) and refused her offer; as for Siegfried, he drank it all in one gulp and praised it highly, but then complained that it wasn't strong enough and asked if it could be stronger, offering various minor criticisms… Qiong was the first person to drink it and give it a decent review.

Therefore, she immediately filled Qiong's cup again.

"Not bad, right? Then drink more."

Qiong could only smile wryly and force herself to drink a few more mouthfuls.

But this isn't a solution either. Yae Sakura doesn't seem to understand that even wine made from grains isn't suitable to drink on an empty stomach. Sora has to break up this morning's drinking session, which only involves wine and no snacks.

"Yae-sensei, do you think it's appropriate for us to be drinking here so early in the morning? Um, did you need something?"

He planned to take care of himself, first going out to get a proper breakfast, and then starting Sunday... which meant either avoiding the Hyperion or facing a few people directly.

Heaven knows whether it was from drinking or something else, but Yae Sakura's long, thin fox ears drooped down and her face turned slightly red.

"Qiong, I've always wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"Yes, it was you who rescued me from that girl in Changkong City who became a Herrscher—"

"You shouldn't thank me, you should thank Uncle Yang. Even if I wasn't there, Uncle Yang and those two aunties would definitely have been able to solve the problem."

Qiong wasn't an idiot; he could sense Yae Sakura's strange behavior. Although he didn't know what Yae Sakura was up to, Qiong subconsciously tried to distance himself from her based on her strange laughter after drinking and everything that had happened before.

Yae Sakura's words were interrupted by Sora, and the emotions she had just prepared vanished, making her bite her lip in frustration.

"And what about the time after that? If it weren't for the Kallen Stigmata you gave me, I might have already been captured by Bishop Otto and taken to Schicksal headquarters. That's all thanks to you, right? Just think of it that way."

"Actually, I was only thinking about the Stigmata at the time..."

Mentioning Kallen's Stigmata instantly brought back Yae Sakura's previously suppressed emotions to their peak.

"Teacher, I have a... friend, um, friend. Although I'm reluctant to admit it, I actually agree with her assessment in my heart: I am actually a timid, cowardly, and hesitant person."

Qiong didn't understand the connection between Yae Sakura's words and this sentence. Anyway, when he put down his wine glass, he saw that Yae Sakura wasn't holding a wine glass either, and both of her hands were resting on the cherry blossom tree that hadn't bloomed yet.

"Yae-sensei?"

"Call me Sakura... for today. Would you like to hear a story from me?"

How could he refuse?

"A long, long time ago, there was a village called Yae Village. The people there were protected by the Yae family, who had the blood of a shrine maiden. However, everyone in that village was backward and ignorant. In order to pray for rain, they sacrificed a weak and sickly little girl from the Yae family. To prevent her from escaping, they even severed her Achilles tendons... Sorry, I've gone off-topic."

Qiong looked at Yae Sakura with suspicion and uncertainty. What was going on? Had she drunk fake rice wine and gotten drunk?

Or is it that the Hiyomaru who we haven't been able to defeat yet has finally made his move?

Perhaps to avoid worrying Sora, Yae Sakura took a deep breath and smiled again.

"You might find it hard to believe, but years later, the older sister of the little girl who was sacrificed became the priestess of that generation. She took on the responsibility of protecting the village, slaying monsters day after day to safeguard it. Until one day, she met a beautiful, white-haired girl who was seriously injured... After the girl recovered, the priestess realized that she seemed to have fallen in love with her... When exactly did that happen?"

Yae Sakura picked up her wine glass again and downed another cup.

"Perhaps it started when she was about to sacrifice an innocent little girl according to custom, just like the former head of the Yae family who sacrificed his own sister, but was interrupted by a reckless girl? No, maybe even earlier, from when she used her innate superhuman strength to knock down a monster that was threatening the villagers' lives with a single punch... No, it should be love at first sight, right?"

Qiong didn't speak, but silently took a sip of rice wine.

All love at first sight is lust at first sight, especially since the person you fell in love with at first sight already has a fiancé...

"You should have heard what happened next from the bishop: the witch was bewitched by the demon in the box carried by the white-haired girl and went on a killing spree of villagers. She was then sealed away by the white-haired girl and the demon, who arrived later. The beautiful white-haired girl was extremely weak at this time and was captured and executed by those who had previously severely injured her..."

Yae Sakura became more and more excited as she spoke, and even accidentally spilled rice wine on the ground.

"Originally, we had agreed that next spring, when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, we would sit together under the cherry blossom tree to admire the blossoms, drink cherry blossom wine, and eat cherry blossom rice balls... But because of my mistake, she died!"

My condolences...

Qiong felt she should say something, but didn't know how, so she just said those two words.

However, after he spoke, Yae Sakura suddenly looked at him with a chilling gaze and even reached out to touch his face.

"There's no need to grieve too much. Isn't she right beside me now? Like I said, some people describe me as a cowardly, weak, and hesitant person, and that's true. But now, I've finally found my way back to the past..."

As Qiong dodged Yae's hand, several thoughts immediately flashed through her mind: Is Yae Sakura using Theresa and Kiana as substitutes for Kallen?

Just say it, why are you touching his face!

"Qiong, you are Kallen!"

Qiong: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

How did he become Karen?!

"Yae-sensei, I'm a man!"

Qiong threw down her wine glass and leaped up, shoving away Yae Sakura's hand, but Yae Sakura wasn't annoyed.

"Call me Sakura today, okay?"

I guess the answer is no.

As Yae Sakura took a step closer, Sora took a step back, maintaining a distance of at least three steps.

"Qiong, do you know? You and Kallen are the same people who bring countless joys to everyone. When things happen, you get hot-blooded and act without thinking about the consequences. And you both have white hair... Could you show your white hair one more time? Please!"

"Sorry, I refuse! Besides, I'm a man, not Karen!"

"Because Karen was reincarnated and underwent gender reassignment!"

Yae Sakura panicked and rushed forward to grab Sora's wrist.

"You, like Karen, possess the virtue of helping others—"

"There are so many good people in the world! Kiana is also a kind and helpful person, so why isn't she Kallen reincarnated?"

Qiong is currently considering whether to inform Theresa or Old Yang—Baiji would also be fine. Has she fallen ill from being consumed by longing for him for hundreds of years?

He needs treatment! (Just like when he asked Yae Sakura to read something, and Yae Sakura thought he had mental problems and told Theresa.)

"Because she doesn't have the Kallen Stigmata! Only you have it on your neck!"

Based on such an argument? Qiong was amused and exasperated by Yae Sakura. He seriously suspected that Yae Sakura's memories from five hundred years ago had become so blurred that she had forgotten what Kallen looked like; otherwise, how could she possibly mistake him for Kallen?

"Yae Sakura-sensei, I told you, I'm not Kallen! Your logic doesn't hold water. Kallen Kaslana has been gone for a long time!"

"Well said, go on!"

"Hiyokumaru, shut up!"

Yae Sakura's breathing quickened, and she gripped Sora's wrist even tighter.

"My logic is flawed... If it's flawed, it's flawed! But what about you? How can you prove you're not Karen?"

"Is Yae Sakura about to go crazy?" Sora shook her head helplessly.

"Then let me ask you, is Theresa Kiana Kallen?"

"Of course not! They are merely Karen's descendants! But you, from soul to body, are undoubtedly Karen!"

"Why can't this be explained?"

After a moment's thought, Qiong attempted to launch a soul-searching interrogation into Yae Sakura.

"Yae Sakura-sensei, if—I mean, if—I borrowed some of Kiana's blood and used it to clone a 'Kiana' who looked exactly like her, would she be the Kiana we know?"

"There's actually such a method?"

Yae Sakura stared wide-eyed at Sora—oh no, Yae Sakura didn't understand cloning technology.

"Just pretend she is, okay? I'm just asking you, isn't she 'Kiana'? Note that she doesn't have Kiana's memories, and our Kiana is right next to her."

"That's definitely not it!"

"Although she doesn't have Kiana's memories, she has Kallen's stigmata on her body. Is she Kallen reincarnated?"

"No! She doesn't have any of Karen's qualities!"

Yae Sakura's answer was resolute.

"If I transplant Kallen's stigmata onto Uncle Siegfried and implant Kallen's memories into his mind, would Uncle Siegfried be Kallen reincarnated?"

"How could that be!"

"Tell me, in this situation, does this uncle have Kallen's Stigmata? Does he have Kallen's memories? Is he someone who is willing to help others and does things without considering the consequences?"

"Yes... but Mr. Siegfried is not Karen reincarnated, you are!"

After a brief moment of thought, Yae Sakura still rejected the idea—that's good, in case she really did accept it, after Siegfried's possible future stigma transplant, someone would probably want to compete for Kiana's stepmother (although he probably won't have Kallen's stigma transplanted to him). Anyway, this is the final blow.

"If neither of those are true, then if I find Kallen's remains, risk the grave offense of disrespect to obtain her body tissue and clone a complete Kallen, then implant her with holy marks and input Kallen's memories, wouldn't she be Kallen? Kaslana reincarnated?!"

"Is that so...?"

"Hey, hey, hey, you're hesitating!"

"So I'm still Kallen reincarnated? There are two Kallens in the world at the same time? Is it enough for your Kallen to just have the body? If it's Kallen's body and Bishop Otto's memories, then she is Kallen?"

"Qiong, why are you asking me this kind of question!"

Yae Sakura's mind went blank for a moment, and she was so anxious that she almost cried. If a student passed by, it would probably spread a rumor that Sora was bullying the female teacher.

But if she admits it, wouldn't that mean Sora isn't Kallen's reincarnation? It's just that she couldn't hold onto her feelings for Kallen anymore, and that she transferred her affections to Sora but didn't dare to face it, so she could only deceive herself with the idea that "Sora is Kallen's reincarnation"?

"Teacher, you pinched my hand too hard."

"Feel sorry."

Yae Sakura instinctively let go, and by the time she realized what was happening, Sora had already run onto the garden path.

"That's it for now, Yae-sensei. If there's food next time and it's not just to see 'Kallen,' I'd still be happy to come—maybe I could bring the headmistress and the others along? Bye-bye!"

"Qiong, I..."

Yae Sakura wanted to say something more, but Sora burst forth with a speed even faster than when she left Fu Hua, and disappeared at the end of the road in an instant.

Yae Sakura suddenly turned around to pack her things, ignoring the incessant barking of the dog, Higokumaru. All she could see were the sweet rice wine (cherry blossom brew) without salted cherry blossoms and the cherry blossom tree without cherry blossoms.

"Karen, are we really never going to see each other again?"

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"Boss, two steamed buns and a fried dough stick, please!"

It has to be steamed buns. Can rice wine be eaten for breakfast?

While munching on a steamed bun, Qiong enjoyed the most peaceful moment of the day: perhaps only at this moment could he eat without any distractions.

The taste is good, I'll have two more buns!

"Boss, I'll have two steamed buns and a fried dough stick, too!"

A soft, gentle voice rang in her ears, and Qiong's heart skipped a beat upon hearing it.

Looking back, he saw a girl with silver hair flowing down her back, looking at him gently with blue and pink eyes that were the complete opposite of March 7th's.

Her gray-green dress and silver hair fluttered in the wind. Most people would probably think she was really beautiful when they saw such a beautiful and pure girl... especially the gentle smile on her face, which was simply a gift from heaven. But that's for ordinary people. Can Qiong be an ordinary person?

Upon seeing Sora, the girl suppressed some radical thoughts and quickly walked over to Sora's side to sit down, waiting for the owner to provide her with the exact same breakfast as Sora.

"Long time no see... Qiong, you should still remember me, right?"

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The road to debt repayment is long and arduous, fraught with difficulties (TNO's journey is long and arduous, but it's underway!).