At the departure island's pier, Beidou nodded with a smile after listening to Ling Feng's account.
"To dare draw a blade against a god, that shows courage. I, Beidou, truly wish to know such a person."
"As you said, I am willing to take them in."
"However, you might have to wait a while. I still have cargo to unload here."
"Ling Feng, you might not know this, but the fees for transport to Inazuma have increased significantly!"
"Our Crux Fleet is one of the few that can brave the stormy seas. This is the perfect opportunity to make a good profit!"
"Then I congratulate Sister Beidou on your immense earnings!"
Ling Feng cupped his hands and smiled.
"Excellent! When the time comes, I'll treat you to a drink! We won't stop until we're drunk!"
"But I don't drink."
"Hey, how can a man not know how to drink? Don't worry, it's simple. I'll teach you, and I guarantee you'll fall in love with the taste!"
Beidou clapped Ling Feng heartily on the shoulder.
Ling Feng smiled in return.
Suddenly, a familiar voice drifted over, and Ling Feng turned to see Thoma.
Thoma approached Ling Feng, hands on his hips, looking curiously at both Ling Feng and Beidou.
"What, Ling Feng, you know the Big Sister from Liyue too?"
"Thoma, when did you get to know Sister Beidou?"
Although he knew Beidou would eventually meet Thoma, he hadn't been greeted by Thoma during his last visit, implying they didn't know each other then.
And now...
Hearing Thoma's words, it seemed he knew Beidou.
"We met recently. Business partners."
"Oh, Thoma, why don't you come aboard for a drink?"
"No, no, I can't hold my liquor like you, and I still have things to attend to. Getting drunk could cause trouble."
Upon hearing about drinking, Thoma seemed to recall a terrifying experience and quickly waved his hands.
Beidou looked regretfully at him. She then turned back to Ling Feng, noticing he was empty-handed. She remembered Keqing had asked him to buy fireworks.
"By the way, Ling Feng, you're leaving soon. What about the things that person asked you to buy? Aren't you taking them?"
"Don't worry, I've packed them in a special device."
Thoma, standing nearby, heard Ling Feng mention leaving and his expression shifted slightly, looking somewhat troubled.
"Um, Ling Feng, from what you're saying, are you leaving Inazuma now?"
"Yes, that's right."
"That..."
Thoma pulled Ling Feng aside and whispered,
"Ling Feng, when you leave, could you say a word to Her Highness? Otherwise, I worry that if you just leave like this... Her Highness might be heartbroken."
"For such a long time, you are her only true friend."
Ling Feng's gaze became complex. He understood Thoma's words.
These past few days, interacting with Kamisato Ayaka, he understood that she had come to regard him as a true friend.
Anyone who has played the game knows Kamisato Ayaka's situation.
"Alright, I'll go speak with her now."
"That's wonderful. Her Highness should be at the Komore Teahouse right now."
Ling Feng nodded, indicating he understood, and turned to look at Beidou.
"Sister Beidou, could you please wait for me for a moment? I have one more thing to attend to."
"Go ahead."
Beidou understood that Ling Feng likely had something important to handle and waiting a bit was no issue.
Seeing this, Ling Feng wasted no time and ran towards the teleportation waypoint on Ritou.
Indeed, apart from the Tri-Commission, foreigners were not deprived of their Visions but were exiled to Ritou.
Now that he was leaving, there was no need to hide.
A little over ten minutes later, at the Komore Teahouse, Kamisato Ayaka was quietly sitting alone in a room, attending to family matters.
*Knock knock knock*
"Please come in."
"Ling Feng? Please, sit down."
Kamisato Ayaka, seeing it was Ling Feng, quickly tidied the items on the table and then brought out a tea set.
She poured Ling Feng a cup of tea.
"Ayaka, I've actually come to say goodbye. I've already contacted Sister Beidou and will be returning to Liyue by ship shortly."
Kamisato Ayaka was struck by lightning, but quickly composed herself and smiled.
"So soon... I thought you might stay a little longer."
"I had intended to ask you more questions about swordsmanship during this time, but I suppose it will have to wait."
Ling Feng looked at her. Although Kamisato Ayaka controlled herself well, he still detected a hint of disappointment.
Before he transmigrated, he had a close uncle who was very dear to him. When that uncle left when he was young, he cried once. How to explain it... it was a peculiar feeling.
He simply didn't want the person to leave.
As they grew older, they no longer addressed each other by seniority in private, but as brothers.
So, he understood Ayaka's feelings, comprehending her current state of mind.
He was not good at handling such situations and didn't know how to act.
"It's getting late, don't delay your journey home. I'll escort you to the waypoint."
Kamisato Ayaka broke the silence first. Ling Feng did not refuse.
The two left the Komore Teahouse together and walked along the street.
Before long, they arrived in front of the waypoint.
"I wish you a smooth journey."
Kamisato Ayaka seemed to have come to terms with it and regained her spirits, giving Ling Feng a gentle smile.
Ling Feng understood that the feeling of loss was masked by Kamisato Ayaka's smile.
After all, one couldn't send someone off with a dejected expression.
Ling Feng suddenly remembered an omamori that Yae Miko had given him and quickly retrieved it from his spatial inventory.
Ling Feng had tested it; it was just an ordinary omamori. Yae Miko had not imbued it with any power.
However, at this moment, it might serve its purpose.
"Ayaka, please wait for me for a moment."
Saying this, without waiting for Kamisato Ayaka's reply, Ling Feng dashed into a small alley.
Kamisato Ayaka watched the direction Ling Feng disappeared in confusion.
After a short while, Ling Feng ran back, seemingly clutching something in his hand.
"Ayaka, here. I've left three powers within this omamori. If you encounter a situation like the one in the]'s Forest again, it will protect you thrice."
Ling Feng smiled and placed the omamori into Kamisato Ayaka's palm.
"Thank you. I will carry it with me always."
Kamisato Ayaka gripped the omamori and smiled radiantly. This was different from before; it was a heartfelt smile.
Fortunately, there were no pedestrians around at this moment. If they were to see the two like this,
It would surely be on the news tomorrow.
"Goodbye."
Ling Feng placed his palm on the waypoint. With a flash of light, he vanished.
What had just happened was a common protective method in the cultivation world, storing power within an item.
Elders would generally leave such life-saving methods for their juniors.
He had imbued the omamori with his three strongest attacks. As long as the enemy's strength did not exceed the Nascent Soul mid-stage, they could be killed.
While such a method was effective, it came at a significant cost, requiring vital blood.
In modern terms, vital blood was akin to a hard drive, storing information.
Vital blood was difficult to recover and scarce. At the peak of his Golden Core stage, he only had six drops. If all six were used, his energy would be severely depleted.
With three drops, it wasn't a major issue, only requiring a long time to recover.
Of course, with spiritual fruits or heavenly treasures rich in energy, recovery could be much faster.
The last time he had the Blood-Refining Blade recognize him as its master, he had used vital blood, which resulted in him falling unconscious for a period.
For friends, Ling Feng was generally not stingy. Three drops of vital blood were a trivial matter.
Upon returning to Ritou, Beidou had just finished her preparations and was ready to depart.
"Set sail!"
On the Alcor, Beidou stood at the bow, exclaiming with imposing might.
Soon, the Alcor sailed away from Ritou, then took a detour, accelerating towards the wilderness.
Around three in the afternoon, the Alcor reached the wilderness. Under Ling Feng's guidance, it slowly docked.
Beidou instructed the crew to wait on the ship while she and Ling Feng disembarked.
Kaedehara Kazuha and his 'friend' Kaede Haru, who had been hiding after sensing the approach of a strange ship, saw Ling Feng and emerged excitedly from their hiding cave.
(PS: I've named Kazuha's close friend Kaede Haru, as constantly referring to him as 'friend' felt awkward. ('-wก))
"Ling Feng! Is this Sister Beidou?"
Kaede Haru looked at the imposing Beidou beside Ling Feng with surprise.
He had expected a man and was surprised to find it was a woman.
If it was a woman, then this Beidou must be extraordinary.
"Hahaha, young man, you've got good eyes."
"Although Ling Feng may have introduced me, I'll introduce myself properly. I am Beidou, captain of the Crux Fleet."
Beidou said with a hand on her hip, laughing.
"My name is Kaedehara Kazuha. I hope for your guidance."
"Kaede Haru, unlike Kazuha, with 'Haru' meaning spring."
Kazuha and Kaede Haru introduced themselves.
"Your names sound quite fitting together. Come, come, this place isn't meant for lingering. Let's chat on board."
"Thank you."
The four quickly returned to the Alcor, which then set sail towards Liyue.
Ling Feng and the other three sat at the bow, drinking and chatting.
As Ling Feng had expected, Beidou's personality clicked well with Kazuha and Kaede Haru. They were all straightforward individuals.
They spoke their minds openly and honestly.
Of course, they would be teased for speaking too much.
(́ಢ.౪ಢ‵)
...
A few days later, the Alcor safely docked at the Liyue harbor.
As soon as they docked, Ling Feng spotted Keqing standing at the port, seemingly waiting.
He was unexpectedly touched by how much Keqing cared for him.
"Keqing!"
"How many times have I told you, call me Your Excellency Keqing in public!"
"Yes, Your Excellency Keqing, understood, Your Excellency Keqing."
"..."
"Hahaha... just kidding, hey, hey, don't draw your sword."
Seeing Keqing calmly take out the Lion's Roar, Ling Feng's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly retreated a few steps, coaxing her.
Keqing was, of course, joking. Her expression remained neutral as she sheathed her sword and looked at Ling Feng, asking,
"Where are the things?"
"Don't worry, I've brought it all."
"Then let's go."
"Go where?"
"Don't be ridiculous! To work! You've been slacking off for days, and your salary is almost deducted entirely."
"What the hell, you're cheating! Didn't you say going to Inazuma was for work?!"
"Yes, but I said it would be for seven days. Now, more than half a month has passed. If we calculate it, you still need to work 138 hours if you want to be paid in full."
"138 hours? You're trying to kill me! I'm not Ganyu!"
"You have more time to say this than to hurry back to work!"
"I object! I protest!"
"Protest invalid."
Following this, Ling Feng was ruthlessly dragged back to work by Keqing.
On the Alcor, Kazuha and Kaede Haru watched Ling Feng being dragged away, swallowing hard.
⊙w⊙wΑp.kanshu伍.net
Is this truly the Ling Feng who withstood a blow from the Electro Archon?
Is my vision malfunctioning?