Three days later, he would definitely be there.
Bai Luo did say that, but he never specified that the one who had to show up was him. As a fellow Fatui Harbinger, Bai Luo felt it was his duty to help Childe out and speed up his search for Morax.
Even if Childe tried to use this as an excuse to cause trouble for him later, Bai Luo could always brush it off with some nonsense like, "I just wanted to help you find Barbatos faster."
As for the Geo Archon...
Introducing him to a new "wallet" would probably earn him some leniency, right? If not, he could always compensate with a few extra crates of sunsettias.
The Geo Archon wasn't the petty type.
Now, Bai Luo had to consider his escape—no, his return to Inazuma was a legitimate work trip, a 996 grind. How could it be called running away?
As for the method of escape, he had already figured it out.
Neither the Geo Archon nor Childe could be relied upon. If they found out the truth, even if they didn't kill him, they'd definitely find a way to give him a beating.
So, he turned his attention to someone else.
...
At Heyu Teahouse, although Master Yun wasn't present today, the place was still bustling with activity.
Not everyone was a fan of Master Yun. Some people enjoyed the storyteller's tales, even if they were old stories of battles between immortals and demons. It was still better than lazily sunbathing at the harbor.
"Last time, we spoke of how the villagers, to protect themselves, were forced to offer the twin herons as a sacrifice to ensure peace..."
The storyteller took a sip of tea, clearing his throat before continuing the tale he had heard in the mountains.
The original story wasn't particularly complex, but after his embellishments, it had become a thrilling narrative. It was said that Master Yun's father, the renowned composer, had considered adapting it into an opera.
And it would be tailor-made for Master Yun.
The audience in the teahouse listened with rapt attention, clapping and cheering at the exciting parts. Some even picked up their chopsticks and mimicked the actions of the brave heroine fighting against evil spirits.
Occasionally, a guest would accidentally knock over a fruit plate while gesturing, making the nearby servers swallow their saliva. The boss wouldn't let them touch those things.
But not everyone was fully engrossed. A ronin dressed in Inazuman-style clothing, though paying some attention to the story, seemed more lost in thought.
Some scenes involving the twin herons reminded him of his friend.
Though they had met by chance, their bond had grown as strong as brothers. If only he had sensed the resolve in his friend's words that day, perhaps he would have stood with him in front of Tenshukaku.
"Battousai..."
He opened his hand, revealing a dull Vision lying in his palm.
After his friend's death, the emotions he had invested in that friendship seemed to have transferred to Battousai.
He didn't know why he felt this way, but perhaps it was because Battousai, like his friend, was willing to face the insurmountable lightning.
Clink.
He wasn't sure why he felt this way. Perhaps... it was because Battousai, like his friend, was willing to face the insurmountable lightning head-on.
Clack. A uniquely designed katana was placed on the table in front of him. Kaedehara Kazuha was startled, looking up to see a smiling mouth and a cat mask covering the upper half of the face.
"Battousai!"
Kazuha's excitement was palpable the moment he saw the red robe. Confirming it was indeed him, Kazuha couldn't contain himself and stood up abruptly.
Why was Kazuha here? He had heard from the Adventurers' Guild that the red-robed ronin from Inazuma had been spotted here, so he came to try his luck.
He hadn't expected to finally find Battousai after days of searching.
"Shh!"
Putting a finger to his lips, Bai Luo quickly led Kazuha out of the tea house. His actions had already drawn the ire of the other patrons. After all, no one likes a noisy distraction while enjoying a story.
"You... why are you in Liyue?"
Kazuha initially used the informal "you," but quickly switched to a more respectful tone. In Inazuma, strength commanded respect, and Bai Luo, who had managed to wound the Raiden Shogun as a mere mortal, had become an idol to many warriors.
"The Shogunate's forces were closing in, so I secretly boarded a Fatui ship to Mondstadt. But things weren't peaceful there either, so I made my way to Liyue."
His explanation made perfect sense.
"I see. No wonder there's been no news of you. We thought..."
Kazuha breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone had assumed Battousai had perished under the Shogun's blade, but it turned out he had escaped.
No one would scorn him for running. After all, he had faced the Raiden Shogun herself.
If anyone dared to criticize him, they were welcome to challenge the Shogun at Tenshukaku and wound her in front of the Tri-Commission. Only then could they earn the right to scorn Battousai—and perhaps become a new idol in the process.
But only if they could pull it off.
"Let's not dwell on that. I've heard you've been working with the Crux Fleet. Is that true?"
"Yes. The captain of the Crux Fleet has done me a great favor. To repay her, and with no home to return to, I joined her crew as a sailor."
Kazuha saw no reason to hide this. It wasn't something to be ashamed of.
He had a feeling he knew where Battousai was going with this.
"I have urgent business back in Inazuma. I've heard only the Crux Fleet can navigate the thunderstorm. Could you introduce me to them?"
This was Bai Luo's escape route.
When he had saved Kazuha back then, it wasn't just out of a sense of duty to the young man. He had also hoped to use Kazuha's connection to the Crux Fleet to hitch a ride to Liyue.
Who would have thought he'd now use it to return to Inazuma?
"Of course. Captain Beidou would be delighted to meet a warrior like you."
Kazuha didn't suspect a thing and agreed without hesitation. Besides, when Beidou had granted him leave, she had specifically asked him to bring Battousai to meet her if he ever found him.
"Then please lead the way."
"You're too kind. I'm Kaedehara Kazuha. You can call me Kazuha."
In Inazuma, unless you were close, it was customary to address someone by their surname rather than their given name.
For Kazuha to offer his given name meant he trusted Bai Luo deeply.
Even though this was their first proper introduction.
"Kaedehara Kazuha... a fine name. It reminds me of a certain noble family."
"You flatter me. It's just a small, fallen clan. Nothing worth mentioning."
Kazuha smiled wryly, not hiding his family's past glory. But that glory was long gone, and he had to focus on living his life now.
And his current life wasn't so bad.
"Well said. I am a wanderer, a ronin who roams the world. My name is Himura Kenshin."