Chapter 120 – 120: A Night Talk with Beidou

The Jade Chamber, in a sense, could already be considered an isolated island.

It had artificial rock formations, lotus ponds, and even small fish swaying within the water. If not for the inaccessibility of this place, it would likely also be filled with the noisy croaking of frogs.

If there really were frogs, someone would surely be delighted. Perhaps they would even ask Qiqi to bring along a well-seasoned pot and indulge in a feast.

The internal affairs of the Jade Chamber were usually managed by the three secretaries of the Tianquan Star—Baiwen, Baishi, and Baixiao. Apart from them, only a few carefully selected female attendants were allowed inside.

But today, there was another person in the Jade Chamber.

A frail and sickly-looking individual.

“So, that weapon doesn’t actually possess any special power?”

Ningguang stood at the desk, gazing at the meticulously crafted balance scale on the table, deep in thought as she inquired.

“Yes. To confirm this, I even deliberately pretended to trip near him and made contact with his sword, yet it did not trigger any elemental resonance. It appears to be just an ordinary weapon forged from mundane iron.”

The man standing beside Ningguang was the same frail-looking figure from the dock.

However, while his exterior still appeared weak, his eyes were now filled with sharpness and vitality—far from the fragile impression he gave before.

To uncover Bai Luo’s background, Ningguang had gone to great lengths. She specifically borrowed this spy from a trusted source—so trusted, in fact, that even Beidou was unaware of his existence.

This was to prevent any slip-ups on Beidou’s end.

When it came to fighting, that woman was certainly formidable. But in other aspects… well, just recalling her advice to “drink more hot water” said enough.

“You’ve done well. The next steps can be left to Beidou. For now, it’s best if you disappear for a while. Conveniently, your superior, Yelan, is in Sumeru—deliver her a letter for me.”

Ningguang was a cautious person and fully understood the risks involved in the spy’s mission.

Even though Battousai had always presented himself as harmless, to prevent any unforeseen complications, she decided to send the spy away.

“Yes, ma’am!”

The spy bowed before quietly exiting Jade Chamber.

Ningguang, meanwhile, stepped outside accompanied by Baiwen, Baishi, and Baixiao.

At night, Liyue was ablaze with lights.

Between the interwoven pavilions and towers, people were enjoying themselves—watching opera, snacking on melons, or chasing their children around with feather dusters.

It was a bit mundane, perhaps, but wasn’t this exactly the kind of ordinary happiness people sought?

The purpose of the Liyue Qixing was to protect these countless lights, ensuring that the flames of life continued to burn without end.

Yet beyond the Liyue Harbor, illuminated by its glow, the sea was far from tranquil.

Aboard the Alcor, the grand three-day feast had technically ended. However, under the suggestion of the first mate, Juza, a new round of celebrations had begun in honor of the newly arrived Himura Kenshin.

This burly, bearded man was as straightforward as his appearance suggested.

If not for Beidou having other business with Bai Luo, Juza would probably have dragged him off to drink himself under the table.

If that happened, Bai Luo might have to reenact the old trick of “leaking wine from his stomach” again.

Inside the cabin, the lively sounds of the sailors’ revelry on the deck could still be heard.

In reality, the continent of Teyvat did have wood materials capable of soundproofing, but they were not suitable for shipbuilding.

It wasn’t that they were prone to seawater corrosion—rather, their soundproofing could be a disadvantage in times of battle, potentially leading to missed signals and tactical errors.

Thus, only certain high-end passenger ships used such wood in their guest quarters, allowing VIPs to conduct their private affairs in peace.

“I’ve already heard from Kazuha. So, little brother Himura, you’re in a hurry to return to Inazuma?”

Beidou was as straightforward as ever. Unlike other leaders who would beat around the bush, she got straight to the point.

Perhaps because she deemed this matter important, she hadn’t even brought a jug of wine with her—a rare occurrence indeed.

Even when discussing business, Captain Beidou enjoyed taking a sip of wine.

“That’s right. There’s an urgent matter in Inazuma that I must attend to as soon as possible. So, Captain Beidou, I’d appreciate your help. As for the ship fare… I’ll try my best to gather enough funds.”

Alright, to be honest, he was just afraid of getting beaten up. His reasoning wasn’t nearly as dignified as he made it sound.

“Kazuha already told me about you. Since you once saved him from the Raiden Shogun, that makes you a benefactor of the Alcor. You don’t need to worry about the ship fare—I’ll waive it entirely. But as for the departure time… I can’t guarantee anything.”

The identity of Battousai was no trivial matter. Without Ningguang’s approval, Beidou wouldn’t dare send him off so easily.

Hmm? A henpecked husband? What do you mean, henpecked? This is called mutual respect between friends!

Besides, Ningguang was an incredibly generous client.

What’s wrong with giving a valued client some face?

Got a problem with that?

If so, feel free to discuss it face-to-face aboard the Alcor! Beidou was more than capable of “convincing” people with reason.

“If you can depart within two days, that would be ideal. If not, three days at most. Please try not to exceed that time frame, or I’ll have to find another ship.”

Hearing Beidou’s response, Bai Luo’s expression turned anxious—he genuinely seemed to have an urgent matter to attend to.

Though… it wasn’t entirely an act.

He really was in a hurry.

Feeling that his words might have been a bit impolite, Bai Luo quickly added, “Apologies, Captain Beidou. It’s just that this is truly an urgent family matter—I really can’t afford any delays.”

“No need to apologize. I’ll do my best to negotiate with the higher-ups. After all, the Crux primarily transports goods, and unless the cargo owners agree, we can’t make decisions on our own.”

After a brief moment of thought, Beidou gave her answer.

But in truth, this was just a stalling tactic.

She needed to report this to Ningguang as soon as possible so that a decision could be made quickly.

Otherwise, if Battousai ended up boarding someone else’s ship, who knew what complications might arise?

As the saying went, some powers were only reassuring when kept within one’s own grasp. If he left Liyue on another ship and something unexpected happened, it would be too late for regrets.

So even if they couldn’t keep this guy in Liyue, they at least had to personally ensure he reached Inazuma.

“Then I’ll be counting on you, Captain Beidou!”

Bai Luo bowed slightly, speaking with great sincerity.

“No need to be so formal!”

Beidou replied casually, instinctively reaching for the wine flask at her waist—only to realize, a second too late, that she had left it outside.

Feigning nonchalance, she withdrew her hand and continued, “That reminds me… why do you always wear that mask? Is there something you don’t want people to see? Forgive my bluntness, but with so many brothers aboard, I have to ensure their safety. I’d appreciate an explanation, Himura.”

“Oh, this?”

Bai Luo reached up and tapped his mask.

“I actually have two scars on my face that aren’t exactly pleasant to look at. To avoid scaring people, I wear this cat mask to cover them. And ever since I wounded the Raiden Shogun, I’ve been even more reluctant to reveal my true face. I hope you understand, Captain Beidou.”

“But if you really want to see, I don’t mind showing you.”

As he spoke, his fingers hooked onto the mask’s edges.

Through the gaps, the faint outline of a cross-shaped scar could already be seen.

. . . . .

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