"So, it really is just me heading to Inazuma alone, huh?" On the deck of the Crux Fleet's flagship, The Alcor, Yun Fan gazed at the vast sea before him, listening to the sound of the oars cutting through the waves. In the distance, the faint outline of Liyue Harbor was still visible, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.
"Sigh, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have impulsively left Kalpas there that day," Yun Fan muttered to himself, sighing quietly. When he had returned to Liyue Harbor with Griseo and Lumine, he had deliberately left the "Mask of the Asura King" in the Abyss Order's headquarters, setting a command within it to summon Kalpas.
Yun Fan had thought to himself, "You swung a sword at my sister, so it's only fair that I have someone punch you in return, right?"
But what Yun Fan hadn't expected was that, perhaps because he hadn't released Kalpas in so long, or maybe because Kalpas had learned that Aether had dared to raise a sword against Griseo, the beloved mascot of the Elysian Realm, Kalpas had gone all out, activating his Mantis form and beating Aether to a pulp.
If Yun Fan hadn't sensed the abnormal rate of energy consumption and cut off Kalpas's supply of Honkai energy in time, he might have been visiting Aether's grave next year, burning incense and offering paper money. Lumine would definitely hate him for that, wouldn't she?
Even so, the flames from Kalpas's Mantis form, derived from the Apocalypse-class Honkai Beast "Asura," had burned down most of the Abyss Order's headquarters. Of course, the Abyss creatures had put up a fight, but the results were... negligible, to say the least.
The Abyssal energy that usually struck fear into the hearts of Teyvat's inhabitants was as weak as a newborn baby in the face of Kalpas's Honkai energy.
"Tsk, but that guy Aether is really annoying. Once he recovers from his injuries, I'll personally go and beat him up again."
Thanks to Yun Fan's intervention, the twins, who were originally destined to be at odds, had reconciled. When Lumine learned that her brother had been severely beaten, she naturally couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
So, she temporarily moved into the Abyss Order with Paimon to take care of Aether, putting her journey to Inazuma on hold.
As for letting the Abyss Order take care of Aether... Lumine didn't trust them to know how to properly care for an injured person.
Every time Yun Fan recalled the sight of Aether, wrapped in bandages like a mummy, lying in bed and being tended to by Lumine, yet still managing to give him a smug look before he left...
Yun Fan felt his fists clench.
'Decision made! Once Lumine comes to Inazuma, I'll return to Liyue and make sure Aether stays bedridden for another ten days to half a month!'
As Yun Fan was pondering how to "get back" at Aether, he suddenly felt a heavy pat on his shoulder. Although he didn't know who it was, he was certain the person meant no harm. Otherwise, his senses would have locked onto them long before they got close.
"Hahaha! Is this your first time leaving Liyue, Yun Fan? You seem a bit reluctant to go," a hearty female voice rang out beside him.
"Ah, Captain Beidou. It's not my first time leaving Liyue, but there are some people and things here that I care deeply about," Yun Fan replied with a light smile, shaking his head.
"Hahaha, a true man's ambitions lie beyond the horizon. Young people should go out and explore more. But I have to say, Yun Fan, you seem like quite the romantic," Beidou said, resting her chin on her hand as she looked Yun Fan up and down.
His tied-back silver hair, his noble and elegant demeanor, his sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, his refined features... Hiss, he really does have the potential to be a pretty boy! For a moment, even the well-traveled Captain Beidou was a bit captivated.
If Yun Fan knew what Beidou was thinking, he would probably spit out blood. I'm a man of strength and skill, how did I end up being seen as a pretty boy here?
"Ahem, Yun Fan, what brings you to Inazuma?" Beidou coughed lightly, changing the subject. At the same time, she felt a bit of regret. If only Kazuha were on the ship right now, it would be great to introduce the two of them. After all, both of them have such potential.
"Just a whim, really. I want to see what this so-called 'Eternal Nation' is like, and how the Electro Archon's pursuit of eternity holds up in the face of absolute power," Yun Fan said, clenching his fist and looking down at the crackling lightning dancing in his palm, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
He had no intention of gathering the wishes of the people like Lumine and Yae Miko, nor did he plan to use some grand speech to convince Raiden Ei to abandon her pursuit of eternity.
Forgive him, but Yun Fan wasn't the type for eloquent persuasion. He preferred to let his fists do the talking.
"Is that so?" Beidou was clearly puzzled by Yun Fan's words, but that was understandable. Who in their right mind would challenge the Electro Archon for no reason? That would be like "an old man hanging himself—tired of living."
"Since the Raiden Shogun issued the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree, Inazuma has been in chaos. Bandits and monsters run rampant everywhere. I noticed you don't have a Vision, Yun Fan, and you don't seem like a martial artist either. Once we reach Inazuma, you'll need to be careful!" Beidou said, her tone serious as she clasped her hands together.
"Thank you for the advice, Captain Beidou. I'll keep it in mind," Yun Fan replied, clasping his hands together in a respectful gesture.
"Hahaha, no need to be so formal, Yun Fan," Beidou laughed, patting Yun Fan's shoulder again. "Don't worry, I've arranged for a guide to help you in Inazuma. He's a local big shot in Ritou. With his help, you'll avoid a lot of trouble."
"A local big shot?" Yun Fan seemed to recall something, and the image of a golden-haired, red-clad young man wielding a spear came to mind. 'It must be him, right?'
——————
"Why isn't he here yet?"
At the Ritou port in Inazuma, a golden-haired man leaned lazily against a cargo box by the dock, occasionally glancing into the distance. Each time he confirmed that the ship he was waiting for hadn't arrived, he would lower his head in disappointment.
Swish, swish, swish...
The golden-haired man idly tossed a Mora coin in his hand. The coin whistled through the air as it spun, and despite the speed at which he tossed it, he always caught it with precision.
"Hmm? Finally here?" When the man looked up again, he spotted a large ship with billowing sails on the horizon. His spirits lifted, and he quickly stood up from the crate, waving his arm in the ship's direction.
"Over there, Sea Dragon! Turn the rudder 25 degrees to the east!" Beidou, standing at the bow of the ship, was the first to spot the man and called out to the helmsman.
"Aye, Captain!" Sea Dragon responded, steering The Alcor toward Thoma's location.
After some maneuvering, The Alcor successfully docked. After instructing her crew to unload the cargo, Beidou called for Yun Fan to disembark and personally led him to Thoma.