In the bustling streets of Inazuma City's Konda Village, the day was alive with the movement of people.
Boo.
Ling Feng asked, not worried. He had intentionally concealed his face and changed his clothes when he acted, so the Tenryou Commission wouldn't be able to issue an arrest warrant even if they wanted to. However, it was different for Kaedehara Kazuha and his companion. Kujou Sara had seen both their faces, and they were sure to be wanted. Especially Kazuha's friend, who would most likely be executed if caught. Kazuha himself would at most have his Vision confiscated. Of course, if Kazuha's friend truly wanted to escape, Kujou Sara wouldn't be enough to stop him. Ling Feng had already realized in the "Shogun's Decree Duel" that he intentionally exposed a weakness and lost, all for the sake of facing the Raiden Shogun's Musou no Hitotachi. But there were only two of them, and with so many people on the other side, they could be overwhelmed.
Kazuha: "What about you, Ling Feng?"
Ling Feng: "Don't worry, I've already hidden my identity. It's mainly you two."
'Friend': "Staying in Inazuma is definitely not an option. We'll be found eventually, so we need to find a way to leave."
Kazuha: "But the seas around Inazuma are currently shrouded in thunderstorms. I've heard that many ships have been sunk by heavenly lightning."
Seeing that their intention was to leave Inazuma, Ling Feng recalled the original plot where Kazuha was taken in by Beidou. He suggested, "I do have a friend at sea whose skills are enough to come and go from Inazuma. I can ask her to take you away."
"But would she agree? We're wanted criminals now." Kazuha worried.
"It's fine, you're not the kind of villainous wanted criminals who commit all sorts of evil deeds. So don't worry."
"Where do you plan to go after you leave Inazuma?"
Given Beidou's personality, she would likely help Kazuha and his companion. However, Kazuha might not end up staying on Beidou's ship as in the original story.
However, Kazuha's friend's answer surprised Ling Feng. "If it's possible, could we ask that person to shelter us for a while?"
"Why?"
"As citizens of Inazuma, I want to see Inazuma's future development. The Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree are inherently wrong. No one has the right to take away another person's wishes, not even a 'god.' Once people lose their wishes, what's the difference between them and walking corpses?"
Hearing his words, Ling Feng suddenly smiled, not in mockery, but with a different kind of amusement. He was indeed Kazuha's close friend; their thoughts were alike.
"Alright, you two stay here for the next few days. I'll try to contact my friend and ask her to come here and pick you up."
"Thank you for the trouble."
"It's no trouble. Be careful when you go out to find food these days."
"Understood."
After giving his instructions, Ling Feng didn't linger. He left the cave, applied an invisibility talisman to himself, and flew towards the Kamisato Estate.
...
Kamisato Estate.
Not long after Ling Feng returned to his guest room, there was a knock on the door. When he opened it, he found Kamisato Ayaka.
"May I come in and sit for a while?"
"Of course." Ling Feng moved aside, allowing Kamisato Ayaka to enter. They then sat on cushions, a small table between them. Ling Feng was a little puzzled, wondering what business Ayaka had coming to see him at this hour.
Before Ling Feng could ponder further, Kamisato Ayaka spoke. "Ling Feng, do you know what happened at Tenshukaku today?"
"I do."
"I heard it was because someone challenged Kujou Sara, the enforcer of the Vision Hunt Decree, to a 'Shogun's Decree Duel,' and after losing, was rescued when the Shogun was about to deliver 'Divine Punishment.'"
"Uh... Ayaka, I don't want to lie to you, but the one who rescued them was me."
"Ah?" The amount of information was a bit overwhelming for Kamisato Ayaka, and she couldn't react immediately. She then asked suspiciously, "You said you were the one who rescued them?"
"Absolutely. In fact, this is what happened..." Since Kamisato Ayaka was trustworthy, Ling Feng didn't hold back and explained the entire situation to her.
"I didn't expect it to be like this." Kamisato Ayaka was greatly surprised after hearing Ling Feng's account. Indeed, someone had already begun to resist the Vision Hunt Decree.
"Honestly, I agree with that person's thoughts. If people have no wishes, what's the difference between them and walking corpses? It's not just me; my brother, Thoma, and many ordinary citizens feel the same way."
"But that was personally decreed by the Shogun. If we want to resist the Vision Hunt Decree, we need to plan carefully, and we need an opportunity. For now, we can only take things one step at a time."
"But I really didn't expect that the one who saved them would be you, Ling Feng. You said you weren't strong, but there are probably very few people in all of Inazuma who can withstand one of the Shogun's attacks."
Ling Feng waved his hands repeatedly. "It was pure luck. I managed to endure the strike for a while, and with all my might, I managed to block it with a surprise attack."
Seeing Ling Feng act this way, Kamisato Ayaka covered her mouth and smiled. "Alright, don't be so modest."
"By the way, if you manage to contact your friend at sea, will you be leaving Inazuma too?" When Kamisato Ayaka said this, Ling Feng could clearly sense a sudden sadness in her expression. However, it was true, as Kamisato Ayaka said, he would leave once he contacted Beidou. Since the main storyline had already begun at some point, he had to leave.
"Yes." Hearing Ling Feng's answer, Kamisato Ayaka was a little disappointed but didn't show it. Ling Feng was not from Inazuma, and he had come for a reason. Now that he had a chance to leave, he would most likely not stay.
...
Early the next morning, Ling Feng flew on his sword towards the outer sea connecting Liyue and Inazuma in search of Beidou. Perhaps it was his luck, but he immediately spotted the ship, the "Alcor," sailing towards Inazuma. Seeing this, Ling Feng flew back to Ritou to wait for Beidou and her crew.
About an hour later, the Alcor arrived at the port of Ritou. Beidou was surprised when she saw Ling Feng. One of their purposes for coming this time was to find Ling Feng. She hadn't expected to meet him as soon as they arrived in Inazuma.
"Ling Feng! Long time no see. I didn't expect you to be in Ritou today; it saved us some trouble."
"What a coincidence, did you just come from Liyue?"
"Of course. Keqing personally entrusted me to find you and bring you back."
"I understand, but there's something I need to trouble you with."
"What is it? Just say it. If I can help, I will."