As the sun gradually rose from the east, Kseniya also left.
In truth, their conversation hadn't lasted very long—just over two hours at most.
But with the shrine maidens' heavy workload, she couldn't afford to linger and had to leave for now.
After Kseniya left, Bai Luo had no intention of sleeping. Once he finished washing up, he put on his mask, pushed open the door, and stepped out of the room.
"Good morning, Mr. Battousai."
The soldiers and sailors who had woken up from their drunken stupor greeted Bai Luo as they saw him, and he responded to each with a smile.
Due to Sangonomiya's influence, Bourou Village had high humidity, with a moderately sized waterfall nearby.
Bai Luo lingered by the waterfall for a moment before quietly leaving.
Only, the soldiers washing up downstream suddenly noticed the water tasted a bit off.
An old man by the roadside plucked at his shamisen, humming an Inazuman tune.
But Bai Luo still preferred Liyue's musical style.
Like that of Yun Jin, for example.
Compared to Inazuma City, Watatsumi Island lacked some of the hustle and bustle but made up for it with warmth and humanity.
There was none of that inexplicable oppressive feeling here—everyone wore smiles on their faces.
Perhaps only upon seeing such smiles would Ei, secluded in the Plane of Euthymia, realize what her people truly wished for.
Yet, even if these smiles could move the hearts of gods, they wouldn't shake the position of that place.
Raising his head, Bai Luo gazed at the blue sky—Celestia stood out starkly under the sunlight.
No matter where you were in Teyvat, as long as you could see the sky, you would undoubtedly see Celestia.
Hah... what a beautiful sky.
After sighing to himself, Bai Luo finally returned to his room.
"Mr. Battousai, you're back?"
When Bai Luo returned, someone was already inside with a broom, cleaning his room.
Moreover, the furniture damaged by Kseniya the previous night had been replaced with new pieces.
Thankfully, Bai Luo had already destroyed those documents beforehand—otherwise...
"No need to replace the bed. I find it quite comfortable to sleep on."
Seeing the young man about to swap out his bed, Bai Luo quickly spoke up to stop him.
Even though he appeared to be from Inazuma on the surface, he actually preferred beds over things like tatami mats.
"Understood."
The young man awkwardly let go, then picked up the broom and continued sweeping.
But as he cleaned, he seemed distracted, occasionally stealing glances at Bai Luo.
Before long, he finally mustered up the courage to tentatively ask:
"Mr. Battousai... do you know how to use a sword?"
"..."
Bai Luo froze for a moment, giving the boy a puzzled look.
What? I don't know how to use a sword? Then how did I get the title "Battousai"? Did it fall from the sky?
"Indeed, I'm actually more skilled with a dagger."
The boy stared blankly for a second upon hearing Bai Luo's words, but soon realized why the other's tone had been so strange.
Asking such a question made him seem like a complete idiot.
"I-I'm sorry, I just..."
The boy clenched the broom tightly, his face flushing red as he struggled to respond.
He was just nervous standing so close to his idol.
"It's fine. If you have something to say, go ahead. I'm not some rigid old man—I won't hold it against you."
Bai Luo shook his head with a light laugh.
He already had an idea of why the boy was here.
Before coming, Kazuha had mentioned that many in the resistance army wanted to learn from him—perhaps this boy was one of them.
But the question still caught him off guard.
"You... really don't have a Vision?"
As he asked this, the boy braced himself to be kicked out.
Because, in a way, his question was poking at a sore spot for some people.
For many warriors, a Vision was a symbol of strength.
Aside from those who didn't care much about their Visions, most treated theirs as their most prized possession.
Asking about a Vision was essentially testing their limits.
"Well... actually, I do."
After a moment of contemplation, Bai Luo smiled again.
He reached into his sleeve, rummaged around for a bit, then pulled out an Anemo Vision and tossed it to the boy.
"R-Really?"
Hearing that Bai Luo had a Vision, the boy's face actually showed a hint of disappointment.
But upon seeing the Vision, he seemed to realize something.
With Bai Luo's permission, he picked up the Anemo Vision.
It's fake!
The moment he touched it, the boy reached his conclusion.
Recently, many Vision bearers had joined the resistance, and among them were those who liked to show off their Visions.
So he'd had the chance to touch a few up close.
An Anemo Vision gave off a light, ethereal feeling.
Being near it was like being wrapped in a gentle breeze—you could even hear the wind whispering.
But while this Anemo Vision emitted the glow of a real one, it lacked that elemental energy. Instead, it felt more like... a glass marble.
So he immediately formed his own judgment.
This was a fake Vision.
"Whether you have a Vision or not doesn't really matter. What matters is why you want it, why you need it, and what it can bring you."
Visions—sometimes it's hard to tell whether they're good or bad.
Perhaps they aren't the so-called "elemental organs" of legend, but shackles that limit people's elemental power.
"I don't know... I just want to help everyone, to contribute in some way, instead of sweeping floors in the logistics department every day. If I had a Vision too..."
The boy knew all too well that Visions weren't something you could just wish for.
If it were that easy, Vision bearers wouldn't be so highly revered.
"Kid, power doesn't come only from a Vision. You know Captain Beidou, who came with me, right? Even before she got her Vision, she once slayed a legendary sea monster called Haishan."
The boy's yearning for power—and for a Vision—reminded Bai Luo of someone.
But... before the story even began, he shouldn't have been this fixated on strength yet, right?
Could it be that Bai Luo's presence had stirred something in him?
Makes sense. Someone like him, without a Vision but desperate to contribute to the resistance, wouldn't pass up a chance to seek help from Bai Luo.
No matter how slim the odds, he'd never give up.
Just like how, in the future, he'd obtain that absolutely forbidden Delusion.
Even knowing it would drag him step by step into the abyss, he'd use it again and again.
Until he was utterly consumed.
"What's your name?"
"Lord Battousai, my name is Teppei."
"Teppei, huh? That's a good name for a sword."
Bai Luo stood up—but didn't pick up his reverse-blade sword.
"Teppei, let me ask you—do you want a Dendro Vision?"
"Dendro?"
Huh? Didn't you just say my name suits a sword?