"Within three days, someone will be here. The Fatui always honor their word."
Bai Luo did say that, but he never specified that the person who must show up would be him. As a fellow member of the Fatui, Bai Luo felt it was his duty to lend Childe a hand and help him locate Morax as soon as possible.
Even if Childe later used this as an excuse to cause trouble for him, Bai Luo could always brush it off with some nonsense like, "I was just trying to help you find Morax quicker."
As for the Geo Archon—
Well, introducing him to a new "wallet" should be enough to smooth things over. If worse came to worst, Bai Luo figured he could offer the Archon a few extra crates of Sunsettias as compensation.
Surely the Geo Archon wasn't such a petty person.
Now, Bai Luo was already thinking about his escape plan—or rather, his legitimate return to Inazuma for work and the grueling 996 schedule. Calling it "running away" wouldn't be fair, would it?
As for how to escape, he already had a plan.
Counting on the Geo Archon or Childe was out of the question. If those two learned the truth, they wouldn't kill him, but they'd definitely find a way to beat him senseless.
So, Bai Luo turned his attention to another person.
<+>
At Heyu Tea House, even though Mr. Yun wasn't there today, the place was still bustling with activity. Not everyone was a fan of Yun's performances; some just enjoyed listening to the storyteller's tales. Even the clichéd tales of battles between gods and demons were better than lazily sunbathing at the harbor.
"—Last time, we left off with the villagers, desperate to protect themselves, offering up the Heron Crane Twins for peace—"
The storyteller sipped his tea, theatrically clearing his throat before continuing the tale he'd heard in the countryside. Though the original story wasn't particularly eventful, his dramatic embellishments made it captivating. Rumor had it that Mr. Yun's father, a famous composer, was considering adapting the story into an opera tailored specifically for Yun.
The tea house patrons were engrossed, clapping and cheering at the exciting parts. Some even picked up the chopsticks on their tables, mimicking the heroine bravely confronting the demons.
Occasionally, an overenthusiastic patron would knock over a fruit platter, making the nearby waitstaff salivate in frustration—the boss wouldn't let them eat any leftovers.
Not everyone was fully absorbed in the story, though. A wandering samurai dressed in Inazuman-style attire seemed distracted. He listened to the storyteller but appeared more consumed by his own melancholy.
The mention of the Heron Crane Twins brought memories of an old friend to mind. Though they had met by chance, their bond had grown as strong as family. If only he had sensed the resoluteness in his friend's words that day, perhaps he could have stood with him in front of Tenshukaku.
"Battousai..."
He extended his hand, revealing a Vision, its light long extinguished.
Since his friend's death, the emotions he had once poured into him seemed to have shifted onto Battousai. He didn't know why. Perhaps it was because Battousai, like his friend, had the courage to face the insurmountable thunderstorm.
With a "thud," a distinctive katana was placed on the table before him. Kaedehara Kazuha froze for a moment, then looked up to see a faintly smiling mouth beneath a cat-shaped mask.
"Battousai!"
Kazuha couldn't contain his excitement upon seeing the red-clad figure. He stood abruptly, the tension in his heart dissolving in an instant.
Kazuha had come here after hearing from the Adventurers' Guild that a red-clad wandering swordsman from Inazuma had been spotted nearby. Though his chances were slim, he couldn't help but hope.
After days of searching, Battousai had finally appeared.
"Shh," Bai Luo gestured for silence and pulled Kazuha away from the tea house. The commotion had begun to draw disapproving stares from the crowd, who hated interruptions as much as they did during a movie.
"Why–why are you in Liyue?" Kazuha asked, quickly correcting his address out of respect. In Inazuma, strength commanded reverence, and Bai Luo, as a mortal who had injured the Raiden Shogun, was an idol among many warriors.
"The Shogunate pursued me relentlessly. I snuck onto a Fatui ship and ended up in Mondstadt. But things weren't peaceful there either, so I made my way to Liyue."
This explanation wasn't far from the truth.
"That makes sense. No wonder there's been no word of you. We thought..." Kazuha let out a sigh of relief. Everyone had assumed Bai Luo had perished at the hands of the Raiden Shogun, but it turned out he had escaped.
No one would look down on him for running. After all, his opponent was the Raiden Shogun. If anyone wanted to criticize him, they'd first have to challenge the Shogun, wound her in front of the Tri-Commission, and survive. Only then could they qualify to disparage Battousai—and he'd still be their idol.
"So, putting that aside, I heard you've been working with the Crux. Is that true?" Bai Luo asked.
"Yes, the captain saved my life. To repay her kindness and because I had nowhere else to go, I joined as a sailor," Kazuha replied openly.
Bai Luo nodded, sensing an opportunity.
"I have urgent business in Inazuma and heard that only the Crux can navigate the thunderstorms safely. Could you introduce me?"
This was Bai Luo's escape plan. Initially, saving Kazuha had been part of a broader strategy to connect with the Crux and explore Liyue. Now, it would help him return to Inazuma.
"Of course. The captain would be delighted to meet someone as renowned as you." Kazuha didn't hesitate. Beidou had even mentioned that if he ever found Battousai, he should bring him to meet her.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Kaedehara."
"Please, just call me Kazuha."
In Inazuma, names were only used casually among close acquaintances. For Kazuha to offer his first name showed his deep trust in Bai Luo, even though this was their first proper introduction.
"Kaedehara Kazuha, huh? A fine name. It reminds me of a noble family."
"You flatter me. It's just the name of a now-diminished clan," Kazuha replied with a bitter smile. Still, the clan's former glory didn't matter much to him.
"Well said. I am but a wandering swordsman. Himura Kenshin is my name."
. . . . .
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