Chapter 15: Kuki Shinobu and Beidou

The cold wind howled, sakura petals danced in the air.

Arataki Itto and Teiyu stood facing each other, tension heavy in the air.

Who would have thought that two former friends would one day stand on opposing sides?

Arataki Itto gripped "Clobberin' Time" with one hand, looking at Teiyu with a cold expression.

The dense Geo energy erupted, forming clusters of yellow

crystal structures around him.

Teiyu, his fists clenched, crouched low like a predator, knees slightly bent, assuming an offensive stance, his face serious.

=====

*Whoosh*

Suddenly, the wind howled, a fierce gust stirring up the sakura petals on the ground, lifting a cloud of dust towards the two.

"Pfft... Pfft, pfft."

"Cough, cough, cough..."

The wind was so strong that it whipped up the dust, blowing it and the petals right into their faces, covering them completely.

=====

"Are you still going to keep up the act?"

"Come out, I can see you."

Teiyu, now covered in dust and petals, brushed himself off and called out to the dark corner ahead.

"..."

"How did you notice me?"

"Whoa??!!"

A cold voice suddenly whispered in Teiyu's ear, startling him.

A green figure appeared out of nowhere behind him, moving without a sound—she was even more ghost-like than Arataki Itto.

"You nearly scared me to death! Who are you? When did you sneak up behind me?" Teiyu patted his chest, calming himself down before looking at the green figure. "Huh, aren't you Yomiya?"

"Yomiya, when did you dye your hair? It's all green now?"

"Yomiya?"

"..."

"You thought I was that fireworks-selling girl from Naganohara?" The cold voice spoke again, this time from Teiyu's left ear, as the green-haired woman appeared beside him.

"Whoa!! Damn!"

"Like I said, don't just sneak up on people like that!" Teiyu exclaimed, startled once again by the silent approach of the woman. How could someone move so quietly?

The green-haired figure turned her head to glare at Teiyu, clearly displeased with his jumpy reaction.

She wore a unique face mask, with her green hair styled in curls and tied back with a large bow. Her outfit resembled a traditional ninja vest, leaving a generous amount of her pale, snow-white skin exposed.

Her waist was slender, almost fragile-looking, and her small, firm chest was tightly bound by straps, making it appear even more prominent. Of all the women Teiyu had seen, none had a waist as slim as this green-haired woman's. Even Yae Miko, with her graceful figure, couldn't compare to the slenderness of this one.

[This is even more stunning than Zhao Feiyan!]

"Wait, you're not Yomiya?" Teiyu studied her for a moment, realizing he had mistaken her for someone else.

"Hahaha, even a renowned kunoichi like you can be mistaken for someone else, huh?" Suddenly, a hearty laugh echoed, accompanied by the sound of boots hitting the ground.

A tall, black-haired woman emerged from the shadows. With her long black hair and striking, assertive appearance, she exuded an air of boldness and beauty.

Her long bangs covered her right eye, which gleamed like a red gemstone. She wore a modified qipao, its front slit open to reveal a large, round bosom that seemed ready to burst out with each step. Her toned, long legs were clad in knee-high boots adorned with Chinese knots, adding to her already imposing height.

"Hey, hey, hey, kid, have you seen enough?" The eyepatch-wearing woman teased as she waved her hand in front of Teiyu's face.

"Uh… yeah, enough," Teiyu responded absentmindedly, raising his head only to find Arataki Itto and the green-haired woman looking at him with strange expressions.

"So, Teiyu likes women like the captain, huh…?" Itto mused.

"He likes older women? But he's just a pretty boy…"

Beidou, with a smile playing on her lips, looked at the bashful young man in front of her and couldn't help but laugh.

"It's flattering to know that I can still catch the eye of a young man like you, proving my charm as a woman, hm?"

Beidou was in a good mood. She had always thought that, given her rough life on the seas, no man would ever find her appealing. Even though she had occasionally thought about relationships, most men would run away at the mere sight of her, scared off by her fierce reputation. Even those few who dared to approach were so nervous it was off-putting.

[Who would've thought this little guy would actually be entranced by me, haha~~]

Beidou's heart, which had been dry and barren for so long, seemed to stir a little, like a fish in a desert finally finding water.

"Hmph, I'll have to let that woman know that I, Beidou, still have what it takes to be desired by men!"

---

"Alright, alright, let me explain the situation," Itto, who had been standing by in a daze, quickly stepped in to clear things up. He pointed to the green-haired woman, "This is Kuki Shinobu, our gang's second-in-command and strategist." Then, he gestured to the black-haired woman, "And this is Captain Beidou."

"…"

Teiyu frowned slightly. Although he had sensed someone in the shadows, he hadn't realized there were two people there.

"How did you notice me?" Kuki Shinobu asked, still a bit puzzled.

"I have a friend who's a ninja and very skilled at hiding. I picked up a few observation tricks from her."

"…"

"Who is she?"

"Uh… her work is rather special, so I can't say."

"Hahaha, Teiyu, how did you figure out we were putting on an act?" Itto, who had been bursting with curiosity, finally asked.

He had thought his acting was pretty good and might have fooled Teiyu, giving him a bit of fun, but Teiyu had seen through it from the start and played along.

"…"

"Well, because your acting was terrible, Itto."

Teiyu shot Itto a disapproving look. This guy really did spend all day messing around!

"Ah, I see…" Itto was deflated. He had spent days practicing in front of a mirror, only to be undone by his own poor performance.

"Not entirely. At first, I didn't suspect anything." Teiyu smiled at Itto. "But when you mentioned selling arms, I knew for sure you were acting."

"Oh? Do tell," Beidou, who had her arms crossed, asked with interest.

"First, this isn't wartime. Who would be selling arms? Even if someone was selling, who would be buying? The armory is under the Tenryou Commission's control, and they serve the Raiden Shogun. I doubt anyone would dare to challenge her authority.

"Second, sea voyages require basic knowledge and preparation, especially regarding long-term provisions. On the sea, to avoid scurvy, a large supply of vegetables and dry food is needed. Bean products are the most common for their storage properties. But as an oni, Itto can't eat beans. I doubt Captain Beidou would inconvenience her entire crew just to accommodate you.

"Third, and most importantly, you've been under surveillance by Miss Kujou Sara. There's no way you'd have the time to smuggle arms."

After laying out his points, Teiyu dropped the bombshell, leaving Itto stunned.

"What?? We've been under surveillance by Kujou Sara? How didn't I know?"

Itto was shaken. "That damn tengu, Sara! She's been tailing me? No wonder she always shows up when I'm causing trouble, like some overprotective hen and I'm her chick! I was right to call her a tengu and a turtle!"

---

*Clap clap clap* Beidou, still with her arms crossed, started clapping. "Well done, kid. Your reasoning is impressive."

"So, interested in becoming my first mate on the Alcor?"

Beidou smiled at Teiyu, clearly amused and impressed, and extended her offer.

"Uh… sorry, Captain Beidou, I don't plan on becoming a sailor right now."

While he was pleased by the offer, Teiyu politely declined. Although he was fond of Beidou and intrigued by the idea of sailing to the Seven Nations, he had other things to attend to first. "If the opportunity arises in the future, I'll consider it."

"No worries, the Alcor will always be open to you. If you ever feel like it, just come find me."

Beidou, though a bit disappointed, wasn't surprised. After all, everyone has their own goals, and the world doesn't revolve around her. Besides, Teiyu had said he wasn't interested *right now*, which didn't mean he never would be.

She could tell that Teiyu had a strong interest in the sea. "Hmph, no one else can have what I've set my sights on."

Beidou's crimson eyes glinted like stars in the night sky. She had always been the type to chase her goals until she achieved them, taking what others had and more.

---

"So, why did you all go through the trouble of putting on a show?" Teiyu asked, still a bit puzzled.

"If you had something to say, why not just say it? This isn't some comedy show on Hanamizaka."

"Oh, that was Shinobu's idea. She's sharp and didn't trust Itto to handle things on his own, so she wanted to test you first," Beidou explained, pointing at Kuki Shinobu.

"I see, so did I pass the test?"

Teiyu wasn't upset after hearing Beidou's explanation. After all, he and Kuki Shinobu hadn't met before, and she had every reason to be cautious, given her position as the gang's second-in-command.

"Captain Beidou is right; this was my idea," Kuki Shinobu admitted without hesitation. "It might have seemed excessive, but you passed my test. I, Kuki Shinobu, apologize for any disrespect."

She then knelt, knees together, back straight, and hands placed on her thighs, performing a traditional Inazuma apology—*dogeza*.

"No, no… please stand up," Teiyu quickly helped her to her feet.

As someone from a more modern world, he still found it hard to accept such elaborate old-fashioned rituals.

All this bowing and scraping was too much of a hassle!

"You're older than me, so I'll just call you Shinobu-senpai."

"Sure," Kuki Shinobu agreed with a nod, appreciating the young man's consideration.

"Wow, Shinobu, I didn't expect you to warm up to him so quickly! How interesting. You were a bit hesitant about him taking over the gang, weren't you?" Beidou teased, clearly enjoying the situation.

"Ah, Captain Beidou…" Kuki Shinobu, embarrassed by Beidou's playful jab in front of Teiyu, turned away, her face under the mask flushing red like a sunset.

"Uh…"

Arataki Itto, once again, was left stunned by Teiyu's charm. To think that even the cool-headed Kuki Shinobu would act so shyly!

"Wow, is this

the power of a pretty boy?"

"Still, while your deduction was mostly accurate, there's one thing you got wrong," Kuki Shinobu said, recovering quickly from the playful ribbing.

"Oh? What's that?" Teiyu, feeling a bit embarrassed, rubbed his nose. He had been on a roll with his deductions, channeling his inner detective. It would be a shame if he got something wrong now.

"Well, Itto's plan to team up with Captain Beidou for a sea trade is real. We're planning to ship special Inazuman products."

"Inazuman products?" Teiyu was curious. "What kind of products from Inazuma are worth shipping overseas?"

Inazuma had some unique goods, but he couldn't imagine anything valuable enough for Beidou to make a special trip from Liyue.

"Only something that can *make a fortune*!"

Beidou laughed heartily. "If it wasn't profitable, I wouldn't have come all the way from Liyue! The sea routes are pretty tightly controlled these days."

"Exactly," Kuki Shinobu agreed. "Captain Beidou and I plan to export Thunderstruck Filletfish and Sakura Bloom."

"Sakura Bloom? I've heard of that, but what's Thunderstruck Filletfish?" Teiyu asked, still puzzled.

---

Teiyu was familiar with Sakura Bloom, a rare material from Inazuma that typically appeared as a faint purple mist. When exposed to Electro energy, the petals would materialize. They were common around Narukami Island.

"Hah, you've never heard of it, have you?" Beidou said smugly. "An old retired sailor friend told me about it."

Thunderstruck Filletfish is a rare butterflyfish found only in Inazuma, thriving in waters rich with Electro energy. Such conditions are rare, and only Inazuma's Tatarasuna has them.

However, that area is dangerous, filled with strange lightning bursts and radiation hazards, making it extremely perilous.

Besides, the fish only comes out at night, making it even harder to catch. The harsh conditions make it rare and expensive.

"Thunderstruck Filletfish has a unique flavor, and when paired with the aromatic Sakura Bloom, it gives a tingling, electric sensation on the tongue, which is quite popular among those with particular tastes."

As she spoke, Beidou couldn't help but lick her lips, recalling the taste. She loved bold flavors, especially when Thunderstruck Filletfish was paired with Jueyun Chili for a stir-fry.

That taste… haha!!! It made her miss Xiangling's cooking!

"What kind of weird taste is that, enjoying a tingling sensation?" Teiyu silently wondered.

"Scarcity drives up value. Thunderstruck Filletfish and Sakura Bloom offer a unique flavor that's exclusive to Inazuma, making it highly sought after in Liyue. Given how difficult it is to catch, a single live Thunderstruck Filletfish has been sold on the black market for a million Mora!"

Beidou casually strolled over to Teiyu, leaning down due to the height difference and resting her "heavy burdens" on his shoulders.

"A million Mora!!??"

——

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