Just last night… Lumine had a dream. She dreamt that her brother stood opposite her, manipulating the power of the Abyss, and he said something like “We will reunite one day.” Before that, you need to complete your journey.
She woke up with a start, drenched in sweat…
Paimon flew in from outside the door and saw Lumine sweating profusely.
“Paimon: Are… are you alright? Lumine, did you not sleep well last night? Do you want to go to Bubu Pharmacy?”
Lumine told Paimon about the dream.
“Paimon: Why would you have such a dream? Hmm, don’t worry, they say dreams are the opposite of reality. How could your brother be with the Abyss?”
“Lumine: I still can’t accept it…”
“Paimon: Cheer up, Lumine.”
“I believe in you, and I believe in him.”
“If that’s really the case, then we can’t stop, can we?”
“Lumine: Yes, you’re right, thank you, Paimon.”
“Paimon: Hehe, I’ll be a good guide.”
“So, the next stop is Inazuma. I heard Zhongli say that Inazuma is currently in a state of isolation and is impossible to enter.”
Just then, Qixuan-jie walked over.
“Are you all ready?”
“Paimon: Of course, but how are we going to get there?”
“Qixuan-jie: Actually, I could fly you there, but I feel like you’d throw up on me, so I asked Ningguang to call for Beidou to take us on his ship.”
“Paimon: Wow, is that the captain of the Crux Fleet?”
“Qixuan-jie: That’s right. He happens to have a batch of goods to send to Inazuma, so he can take us along. I’ve also had Ningguang prepare the certification documents for Inazuma.”
“Paimon: Eh? What’s that?”
“Qixuan-jie: Outsiders need a similar identity certification, otherwise it’s easy to be wanted by the Inazuma Shogunate Army.”
“Lumine: I don’t want to be Wanted.”
“Paimon: Then let’s go!”
On the Alcor…
“Beidou: The thunderstorms in Inazuma have been getting stronger recently. Pay close attention to the maintenance of the Alcor.”
“Crew Member: Yes, Captain!”
Then he continued talking with Kazuha…
Just then, Lumine and the others walked over…
“Beidou: Hmm? You are… I remember you. You’re the Traveler who fought against the Fatui and Osial, Lumine, right?”
“As for this one next to you…” He looked at Qixuan-jie. “Ningguang told me about him. Don’t worry, I’ll safely deliver you to Inazuma.”
“Qixuan-jie: As expected of Tianquan. Everything is arranged.”
“Lumine: Is my reputation that widespread?”
“Paimon: Wow, that was easy, hehe.”
“Beidou: Hahaha, I heard it from Ningguang. ‘A Traveler saved Liyue, with extraordinary insight and exceptional skill.’”
“He’s a very picky person, so for him to give such a high evaluation is quite rare. At that time, I was wondering what kind of brilliant talent he was, and I wanted to personally get to know him.”
“Lumine: Actually, in the end, it wasn’t me…”
“Beidou: What does it matter? An outsider willing to risk his life to help Liyue, that kindness, we all remember it.”
“And this little thing next to you is quite cute.”
“Paimon: Not a little thing, it’s Paimon!”
“Paimon… Hmm, indeed an interesting creature. From the three of you, I can not only feel the aura of wind and earth, but also a hint of… hmm… the scent of the stars?”
“Paimon: Huh? What’s what? That’s the strangest comment I’ve ever heard…”
“Qixuan-jie: Very perceptive.”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: Nothing, I just believe that fated encounters must have their meaning.”
“Lumine: Is this one also a Bard?”
“Beidou: Somewhat similar, but in Inazuma, the term should be different.”
“This is Kaedehara Kazuha. For some reason, he’s temporarily staying on my ship. Every now and then, a few lines of prose will come out of his mouth.”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: With a ship and sea breeze, if I don’t recite a few poems, wouldn’t I be unromantic?”
“Beidou: Haha, that also makes sense. How about I give you a chance to perform at the opening of the Crux Clash?”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: That depends on my mood. Poems made for a specific purpose often lack ‘spirit’.”
“Beidou: It’s a rare opportunity, and a great hero will be participating. Don’t refuse so quickly.”
“Paimon: Eh? What is the Crux Clash? And the great hero you mentioned is…”
“Qixuan-jie: Of course it’s Lumine.”
“Beidou: Haha, that’s right. As for the Crux Clash, it’s a martial arts tournament I’m hosting, and many people who want to show off their skills will participate.”
“Firstly, there are two important rules for participation: the name must be well-known, at least not someone who can’t fight at all and just wants to join the fun.”
“Of course, you don’t have to worry about this; no one’s name is more famous than yours.”
“Qixuan-jie: It seems our Lumine is very popular~”
“Lumine: Hmm…”
“Beidou: Haha, as for the second rule, participants cannot possess a Vision, otherwise the strength gap would be too great.”
“Lumine: Although I don’t have a Vision, but…”
“Beidou: Haha, I know you’re confident in your strength, but don’t underestimate the hidden talents of Liyue, you know.”
“A great hero like you who saved Liyue, participating in my martial arts tournament, will definitely become a big topic and should attract even stronger people.”
“Paimon: But, we’re really not here to participate in a martial arts tournament.”
“Qixuan-jie: Why not listen to Beidou? He’s going to send us to Inazuma anyway, so it’s all the same whether it’s sooner or later.”
“Beidou: Haha, for this martial arts tournament, I’ve prepared a particularly valuable prize: an unowned Vision!”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: Actually, this Vision was provided by me. If the winner of the tournament can reawaken this Vision, then it will belong to him.”
“Paimon: There’s actually such a thing?!”
“Lumine: Why doesn’t it have an owner?”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: After the Vision holder passes away, the Vision will also lose its light, but the outer shell will not disappear.”
“What such a shell can be used for is still undecided, but I think that since the empty shell remains in the world, perhaps it has a purpose of inheritance.”
“Beidou: Yes, in my opinion, a Vision is a banner, representing the gods’ approval, so what can make it shine must be the strongest of the strong.”
“Therefore, in order to make the Vision shine again, and also for the strong, I held this Crux Clash.”
“Lumine: I don’t need such a thing.”
“Paimon: Hmm, but there’s nothing we can do now, so how about we just participate?”
“Lumine: Sigh, alright.”
“Beidou: Haha, then let’s go sign up. The tournament venue is at Guyun Stone Forest. I’ll go there with Kazuha later.”
“Qixuan-jie: Then let’s go first.”
At the tournament venue…
The atmosphere was incredibly lively, with all sorts of contestants more or less excited, and many food stalls were set up nearby.
Lumine and the others immediately went to ask many contestants. There were those from the “Spirit Mountain Sect,” those from “Freestyle Fighting,” and also… uh, those who got in through the back door?
After signing up, the competition quickly began.
Of course, the registration process was quite agonizing… That’s what Paimon said. Lumine didn’t know, but anyway, many people wanted her autograph.
The first few rounds were easily won, and then they entered the semifinals.
Lumine also easily won after showing off a few waves of his footwork.
“Paimon: I heard that the finalist focuses on speed.”
“Qixuan-jie: Is it fast defeat?”
“Paimon: Obviously not!”
“Lumine: It’s finally going to end…”
During the finals…
“Beidou: What’s going on? Why isn’t the other contestant here yet?”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: I feel something is wrong. We should go check the box where the Vision is stored.”
After checking… sure enough, the Vision was gone.
“Paimon: Was it stolen? In broad daylight, who could do such a thing?”
“Beidou: And I don’t even know when it was taken. Hmph, I didn’t expect someone to dare to take advantage of me, Beidou, when I’m excited.”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: The Vision was the prize I promised. It’s my responsibility for not looking after it. I will be responsible for finding it back.”
Just then, Qixuan-jie walked over.
“There’s a lot of food over there. What’s wrong with you guys?”
“Paimon: Qixuan-jie, the Vision was stolen.”
Oh? Simple. Wait for me a moment. He immediately enveloped Liyue with his Consciousness.
After a while…
A group of Treasure Hoarders flew over, brandishing their weapons, and then were thrown straight down.
“Qixuan-jie: Here, they’re all here.”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: This… this is truly convenient.”
“Feifei: Damn it… What’s going on?” He then looked around…
“Paimon: You’re the one who stole the Vision, right? You’re still holding it in your hand.”
“Feifei: Hmph… I’m the last contestant. What’s wrong with me taking the prize in advance?”
“Lumine: Can you beat me then?”
“Feifei: Then let’s have a match!”
“Beidou: Good, since the contestant is here, let’s begin!”
Subsequently, as expected, Feifei really flew out.
“Feifei: …I lost. Here’s the Vision for you.” After saying that, he ran away…
“Paimon: Hmph hmph.”
“Beidou: Since the champion has been decided, then…”
Lumine, however, shook his head and said, “I don’t need this Vision, so please return it to Kaedehara Kazuha.”
“Beidou: Is that so? Alright then.”
Subsequently, the match ended with Lumine’s victory.
Early the next morning, everyone boarded the ship early.
Paimon saw Kazuha still fiddling with the Vision and asked, “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask, does this Vision have any special meaning?”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: Hmm… then I have to mention an old friend…”
“He was once my close friend. That day, he asked me if I had ever heard of the Musou no Hitotachi.”
“I said, of course. That slash can only be seen when divine punishment descends. That slash is the ultimate of Raiden Shogun’s martial arts, the symbol of the strongest.”
“But he said, ‘That slash, may not be unattainable.’”
“‘There will always be mortal beings who dare to face the thunder’s might.’”
“Later, the Vision Hunt Decree arrived unexpectedly. The wishes of the people gradually became bricks and tiles for building eternity. While I was helplessly drifting around, I heard that he challenged the enforcer of the Vision Hunt Decree to a 御前決鬥.”
“The 御前決鬥 is solemn and cruel. The loser will face divine punishment, and the winner can win a turning point. Perhaps he thought he was the most suitable person to stand up.”
“Facing the Musou no Hitotachi was his lifelong wish, but when I arrived at Tenshukaku, the duel had already ended. I only heard the sound of his broken blade falling to the ground after the divine punishment.”
“That must have been the light he wanted to witness. In that final moment, what kind of expression was on his face? I didn’t have time to guess. I just stepped forward and snatched that dimly lit Vision.”
“Then I fled. I only knew that I couldn’t let his fervent wish be built into a cold statue.”
“Perhaps everything I’m doing now will ultimately be meaningless.”
“But the life of a wandering samurai, besides the meaning of the journey and the flowers, birds, and moon along the way, also has the ‘Dao’ in his heart.”
“Paimon: Hmm… sorry.”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: Hehe, it’s just acting on a whim.”
“Qixuan-jie: Hmm, really, it seems I must properly educate this country bumpkin.”
“Paimon: Eh? Qixuan-jie, what are you saying? Who’s the country bumpkin?”
“Qixuan-jie: Of course it’s Raiden Shogun, otherwise is it Lumine?”
“Kaedehara Kazuha: Uh… haha, your friend here is really… bold in his statements.”
“Lumine: …I have a bad feeling. What should I do if I suddenly regret it?”
“Qixuan-jie: Alright, alright, I was just teasing you. Hurry up, it’s time to go back.”
“Beidou: Yo? You’re back? How was the chat?”
“Paimon: Hehe, it was alright.”
“Lumine: So, are we departing now?”
“Beidou: That’s right, actually, we were just waiting for you. Alright, sailors! Are you ready?”
The crew members shouted: “Ready, Captain!”
At this moment, Paimon was still a bit nervous.
“Paimon: Lumine, this is my first time on a ship. We won’t encounter any special circumstances, will we?”
“Beidou: There are some special circumstances, because Inazuma has constant thunderstorms and strong winds, so ordinary ships won’t choose to go to Inazuma. But my Alcor is different; we can travel back and forth through the thunderstorms.”
“Paimon: Ah… that sounds dangerous.”
“Lumine: It’s okay, Paimon. I’ll protect you.”
At this moment, Qixuan-jie stood at the highest point of the ship.
“Paimon, a sailor who gets seasick is not a good sailor, and calm seas don’t produce excellent sailors. Come on!”
Saying that, he pulled Paimon to sit at the highest point with him.
“Paimon: Waaaah! Qixuan-jie, I was wrong, please let me down!”
“Lumine: …………”
“Beidou: Haha, then get ready, sailors! Hoist the sails and set sail!”
At Beidou’s command, the sails were raised, and then the Alcor slowly moved forward against the sea.
Along the way, they experienced strong winds, thunderstorms, and huge waves, which made Lumine dizzy, while Paimon threw up several times and even fell off because he couldn’t hold on steady.
Fortunately, Qixuan-jie was quick, and Paimon only drank some seawater; otherwise, Lumine would have to fish him out of the sea again.
Finally, they arrived at the Inazuma dock safely, though with a scare. Paimon declared that he never wanted to do it a second time; he didn’t get any of the “no danger” part, only the “scare.”
“Lumine: Inazuma, I’m effing here!”