Night had fallen. Lanterns shimmered to life across Liyue Harbor, casting a warm glow that lit up the city like a sleepless dreamscape.
High above, on the Jade Chamber, laughter and lively chatter filled the air. The gathering was abuzz with joy.
"Hehe, Shajin, you're such a pal—you actually remembered to invite me!"
Hu Tao plopped down excitedly beside Shajin, hands propping up her chin, her eyes gleaming.
Zhongli sat quietly behind them, his expression complicated.
Sigh…
He let out a heavy sigh.
It was the feeling of watching his precious cabbage about to be stolen away by a pig.
Rosalyne sat elegantly next to Shajin, a faint smile on her lips. Her gaze, however, was sharp with challenge as she looked across at Lumine.
"Hmph!"
Lumine puffed out her cheeks indignantly and shot Rosalyne a glare.
"Did you hear? Miss Yun is performing tonight!"
"Hah, to tell you the truth, that's exactly why I'm here! I never miss one of his shows."
"They say tonight's piece is The Divine Damsel of Devastation, written by his own father. I've been too excited to sleep for days!"
"Hey, look! There he is—Yun Jin's taking the stage!"
Shajin leaned his chin against his hand, watching the figure on stage.
As if transported back… to three years ago.
"Alas!
Two loving souls by death cruelly parted
In madness and grief, a dark path started
Calamity was drawn, rituals subverted
But by her cold steel was death averted
Mortal ties broken, with the adepti she went
Their abiding place filling paternal bonds rent
To her red strings of binding they sent
And they dwelt long together, content
The crane returned to a home without luster
The cobwebs overgrown, the grave-shrouds a-fluster
But one bond upon her
This world could not muster…"
Yun Jin opened her eyes.
"Thus does the Divine Damsel's tale
—Duly end
But today a new tale I have to append
Which I shall now tell – if you shall attend"
"From the world she seems apart
But there are those who know her heart
With crimson spear and flashing brand
To still the raging tides they stand
The crane once returned
And once, she was spurned
She turned, and left alone
Now, she might be found
With friends all around
To whom she is bound — a home"
Everyone was spellbound.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Clap, clap, clap…
Shajin smiled and began clapping first, breaking the trance.
"Bravo!"
"Magnificent!"
"Truly splendid!"
…..
The next morning, at Liyue Harbor
"So, Lumine, you're really going to join Beidou's tournament?"
"Mm-hmm!"
The girl's confident smile was full of fighting spirit.
"This is a rare chance—I'm definitely going to give it my all!"
"Alright then…"
Shajin shrugged helplessly.
"Not that it's necessary, but… good luck out there~"
"Hehe, thanks~"
With that, Shajin reached into his robe and pulled out the Serenitea Pot, giving it a gentle toss.
A low, deep roar echoed out.
A massive whale slowly emerged from the waves. Its body shimmered with dark blue scales that glittered under the morning sun.
It was Shajin's pet—Baqiu.
Compared to before, Baqiu was even larger now, its strength mostly restored. Yet in Shajin's presence, it remained docile and obedient, happily serving as their mount.
Shajin, Rosalyne, and Tartaglia leapt gracefully onto the whale's head.
Paimon waved her arms with all her might from the shore.
"Safe travels~! Take care out there!"
Shajin waved back at them with a smile.
"See you soon, Lumine, Paimon. When you come to Inazuma, I'll treat you to all the local specialties."
With a light tap from his foot, Baqiu let out a long, melodic cry and began moving swiftly.
Waves surged in its wake as it gained speed, vanishing beyond the distant horizon in a flash.
…..
They passed through the storm barrier around Inazuma effortlessly.
Before a hidden factory on Yashiori Island, the three stood silently, facing the guards who blocked their way.
"Halt. Without direct orders from Lord Scaramouche, no one enters."
Shajin tilted his head slightly.
La Signora let out a derisive snort—a laugh as sharp as a blade slicing through the silence.
"Inazuma's been shut in for so long, you don't even recognize your own superiors?"
Many Fatui stationed in Inazuma hadn't been to Snezhnaya in over a decade.
It was forgivable not to recognize The Gambler or Childe.
But to not recognize a veteran Harbinger like her? Ridiculous.
With a flick of her hand, she tossed out her insignia.
Carved upon it: a fire moth with wings outspread.
"T-That's…"
"You're La Signora! Please forgive us!"
The guard immediately dropped to his knees without hesitation.
She frowned slightly but said nothing more, simply giving a cold snort as she strode forward.
"Heh… In Liyue too long, have you gone soft, Signora?"
The kneeling Fatui's body began to tremble, as though he were a building on the verge of collapse.
Shajin narrowed his eyes.
Signora crossed her arms, smirking.
"Still as filthy-mouthed as ever, Scaramouche~"
Scaramouche adjusted the kasa hat on his head.
"Hmph. A subordinate who dares defy their superior—"
He slowly approached the trembling guard.
Then, with clear disgust, he pressed his foot against the guard's head and stomped down.
The man's skull slammed into the ground, blood immediately spilling from his forehead.
Tartaglia stepped forward, eyes narrowed.
"Hey! Scaramouche! That's going too far, don't you think?"
Scaramouche sneered at him.
"Hah, Tartaglia. The Eleventh Harbinger dares lecture me?"
Then he raised his foot high.
From the force alone, it was clear he meant to crush the guard's head completely.
The other nearby Fatui glanced over, visibly disturbed—but they'd grown used to it. They simply turned away and continued their patrols, forcing themselves to focus.
Just as his foot was about to strike—
It froze in midair.
"Huh?"
Not just Scaramouche—even Signora and Tartaglia were stunned.
"To think a mere puppet has developed self-awareness. Beelzebul really slipped up. Would've been easier to just program her like the current Raiden Shogun, no?"
"But in the end, a puppet is still a puppet. A few strings are all it takes to control you~"
Scaramouche clenched his teeth, glaring at Shajin who stood before him once more, humiliating him.
He struggled fiercely—but couldn't break free.
"Adventurine! Let go of me!"
Shajin stepped forward, towering above him.
He leaned down slightly.
"And what if I say…"
"No?"
"What can you do about it?"
_
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