Chapter 95

The storyteller on the stage continued his tale.

He recounted the legendary exploits of Beidou, the leader of the The Crux, who used her greatsword to slay the abyssal leviathan known as Haishan.

Note - "leviathan" in this context highlights Haishan's immense size and mythical presence.

Xia Zhi sipped his tea, listening to the tale of this maritime adventure with growing interest.

In both Liyue and Inazuma, a phrase had been passed down for generations:

"Fins transform the abyssal sea, the tail touches the distant mountains."

Fishermen learned this line from the shore and sang it over and over again.

The song spread far and wide, becoming a beloved fisherman's tune.

Whenever the sea fog rolled in, and the fishermen's small boats vanished into the white mist, the haunting melody would drift faintly through the air:

"Fins transform the abyssal sea, the tail touches the distant mountains…"

The eerie imagery described in the song referred to the enormous silhouette of the abyssal leviathan that fishermen occasionally glimpsed at sea.

"Those who make their living on the sea are destined to encounter Haishan at some point. Beidou had dreamed of facing it since she was nine, hoping to sever its head with a single stroke."

"She challenged Haishan many times, failing each time. But today was different. Beidou, carrying her finest greatsword and accompanied by her most seaworthy crew, sailed straight for Haishan."

"The battle was swift and thunderous. The fight raged for four full days. The fleet used cannons, harpoons, bows, and ropes to pin Haishan in place. Beidou clashed directly with the four-legged leviathan, fighting for hours, yet no victor emerged by nightfall."

"Nighttime was when Haishan was most dangerous. The crew remained vigilant, fearing an attack, not daring to sleep. Beidou stood at the prow, listening to the wind."

"One strike. Just one. She stood motionless in the biting wind, waiting."

"No one knew how long had passed, but at the precise moment the sun rose, Beidou, weakened by hunger and thirst, detected the faint sound of waves breaking in the water."

"With one swing, she cleaved through the clouds and moonlight, severing the leviathan's head entirely!"

Xia Zhi mused to himself: this giant fish called Haishan must have been a deep-sea species.

But for it to be so easily slain by mere mortals, it probably wasn't as powerful as it seemed.

Perhaps its sheer size made it appear menacing, akin to a giant whale in his previous world—immensely strong but lacking any particularly bizarre abilities, leading to its eventual downfall.

Then again, who could say for sure?

After all, the fisherman's song about Haishan had been passed down for generations.

Maybe the legendary fish that appeared in the song and the one Beidou slew were not the same.

If the lyrics of the fisherman's tune weren't exaggerated, the true Haishan could have been as massive as the mythical Kun. Forget the crux fleet—even Liyue Harbor might not have been large enough for it to roll around in.

"Amidst the deafening thunderstorm, a purple lightning bolt descended from the heavens, forming before the blood-soaked Beidou."

"The Vision of the dragon-slayer Beidou came down from the skies, radiating a purple glow as brilliant as lightning—a gem that even dragon blood could not rival!"

"This divine jewel was meant only for the conqueror of mountains and seas!"

The storyteller's voice grew increasingly passionate, and the tea house audience became equally animated.

"Good! Bravo!"

The crowd, thoroughly entertained, began tossing their tips toward the stage.

The sound of Mora hitting the floor was endless and crisp.

Noticing Zhu Zi's curious gaze toward the stage, Xia Zhi encouraged her to join in and throw some Mora as well.

Zhu Zi immediately refused, muttering under her breath, "No way, the tea here is already overpriced... Boss, we should head back. It's almost two o'clock."

"Alright, let's go."

Xia Zhi chuckled, standing up.

Shenhe quietly finished her cup of tea. She frowned slightly—it was clear the flavor of this tea didn't suit someone accustomed to celestial brews. Still, she drank it all, seemingly unwilling to waste the Mora spent on it.

It wasn't really a waste, though. At least Xia Zhi now knew of another Vision holder living in Liyue.

Beidou likely carried a treasure chest—though even a low-tier Black Iron Chest would be far more valuable than the tea worth a mere 100 Mora.

As they left the Heyu Tea House, Xia Zhi pondered over the conclusion of the story.

Beidou's Vision descended from the heavens, shining with a purple brilliance like lightning... Based on this phenomenon, it must have been an Electro Vision.

"When faced with uncontrollable circumstances, people often lament their powerlessness. Yet at the steepest turns in life, when mortal desires reach their peak, the gods will cast their gaze downward. That is the essence of the Vision."

Beidou's acquisition of her Vision matched the rumors about how they were granted.

Zhu Zi's experience had some similarities to Beidou's—both had held onto a childhood wish and worked tirelessly to fulfill it. Why, then, were their outcomes so different?

Turning to Zhu Zi, Xia Zhi suddenly asked, "Zhu Zi, there's something I want to ask you."

Zhu Zi looked at him curiously. "Yes, boss? What is it?"

"When you sailed from Inazuma to Liyue, did anything dangerous happen?"

"Let me think… Not really. I just drifted in one direction for a long time. I was almost out of food and water by the time I finally reached Liyue Harbor."

"Smooth sailing the whole way?"

"Yes, smooth sail—well, not entirely. I remember encountering a terrifying thunderstorm just as I left Inazuma, but it disappeared suddenly. After that, everything was fine, and I safely left Inazuma's waters."

"That's pretty lucky."

"Rather than luck, I believe it was Lord Narukami's divine protection." Zhu Zi's face lit up with devout sincerity.

"It must have been Lord Narukami who made that storm vanish. In Inazuma, only Lord Narukami could do such a thing."

"True. Altering the weather so effortlessly is something only a god could do—perhaps an adeptus might manage it."

"Shenhe, can you achieve something like that with your arts?"

"No, I specialize in Cryo arts. At most, I could temporarily freeze a small tsunami if I exerted myself."

"Wow! That's still amazing, Shenhe!"

"What about your master? Could they do it?"

"I'm not sure. I rarely saw my master take action outside of teaching me arts."

"I see."

Xia Zhi nodded, feeling like he had identified the issue with Zhu Zi.

"When faced with uncontrollable circumstances, people often lament their powerlessness."

Zhu Zi's journey across the sea had been too smooth. Without any real struggles, it was like a bland, uneventful play—something that failed to capture a god's interest.

As they approached the shop, Xia Zhi noticed a queue forming at the entrance. 

Among the crowd, a small figure caught his attention—Yaoyao. 

Beside her stood a kind-looking elderly woman with snow-white hair, glasses, and a slightly hunched posture. Hanging above her was a platinum-colored progress bar:

Progress: [0%].

"Big brother! Sister Shenhe! Sister Zhu Zi!"

Yaoyao spotted the three from afar and waved excitedly with her small hands.

"Yaoyao's here to play with you again," Xia Zhi chuckled.

Yaoyao was simply too adorable; her mere presence brightened his mood. If only he could raise her as his own daughter.

After exchanging greetings, Xia Zhi learned that the kind but intimidating platinum elder was Yaoyao's master, Xiangling's grandmaster, and a friend of Shenhe's.

She was Cloud Retainer's friend, the adeptus Madame Ping, known as Streetward Rambler.

Shenhe approached respectfully and bowed deeply. "Greetings, Grandmaster."

Madame Ping smiled warmly. "So you've finally come down from the mountain. That's good."

Shenhe lowered her head, murmuring softly, "Yes."

Watching the scene, Xia Zhi felt a sense of warmth.

He suddenly recalled that despite Madame Ping's elderly appearance, as an adeptus, this form was likely just a guise.

What did her true form look like?

Could she be like Cloud Retainer, a celestial crane?

If she was indeed a crane, then his Radiant Wings passive effect (increased favorability with avian species and faster rapport-building) might come in handy. Progressing her bar could prove easier than expected.

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