Chapter 39: Aftermath
The matter of the Shogun's injury was not publicized by the Tri-Commission, because such an incident was hardly a good thing for them.
Not only could it not be announced, all the soldiers present at the scene were also given strict orders—under no circumstances were they to speak carelessly about it.
However, the name Battousai, as well as what happened after the duel before the throne, ultimately still spread throughout all of Inazuma.
It wasn't that the Shogunate soldiers were courting death.
This matter had nothing to do with them at all, it came from Watatsumi Island.
Raiden Shogun being set back was something the Resistance was more than happy to see. So after receiving the news from Kaedehara Kazuha, they began spreading it aggressively.
At one point, it even overshadowed the popularity of Bai Luo's light novels.
If it had been Kujou Sara who was injured instead, it absolutely would not have caused this level of sensation.
Youkai, no matter how powerful, are not invincible. There are plenty of folk tales about humans defeating Youkai; even some weaker bake-danuki are no match for ordinary woodcutters.
But gods are different.
The people of Inazuma grow up listening to stories of Raiden Shogun.
Folk metallurgy, swordsmanship, agriculture, fishing—even lighting fires and cooking meals—are all said to have been passed down from Raiden Shogun.
Well… the last one is hard to say. That part about cooking was either her sister, Raiden Makoto, or simply a case of the people exaggerating the legend.
Raiden Shogun knowing how to cook was about as laughable as Morax having mora.
In any case, Raiden Shogun held an extraordinary status in the hearts of the people of Inazuma.
It had to be said that Watatsumi Island had played a brilliant move. After these rumors spread, the Shogunate's morale was dealt a heavy blow, and they suffered defeat after defeat on the battlefield.
At the same time, the Shogunate came to hate Kaedehara Kazuha with a passion. If it weren't for him, their forces would never have suffered such severe losses.
After Battousai, who had wounded the Shogun, vanished without a trace, the only person with any concrete information left was Kaedehara Kazuha. He became the target of all accusations and was subjected to constant persecution.
It wasn't until Kazuha voluntarily left the Resistance that things finally improved.
And after leaving the Resistance, Kaedehara Kazuha completely disappeared from Inazuma.
Some said that during the naval battle at Nazuchi Beach, he was sunk by Shogunate soldiers and drowned in the sea.
Others claimed he had already been captured and imprisoned at Kujou Encampment.
There were even rumors that he had defected to the Fatui, becoming their lackey, and had been sent back to Snezhnaya.
Even within the Resistance itself, many people had no idea where he had gone.
. . .
Endless thunderstorms raged, as if they were about to tear the entire world apart, while massive waves churned across the sea.
What was astonishing was that these tempests existed only in the waters surrounding Inazuma and did not affect other regions. They were like a barrier, both protecting Inazuma and imprisoning it.
This scene, like divine punishment, reminded Beidou of a neighboring nation's history: Decarabian, the High Tower King who once enclosed an entire country within walls of wind.
Was this aloof Shogun any different from that tyrant?
"Boss! Something's ahead!"
As Beidou was lost in thought, a lookout suddenly called out to her.
"What is it?"
Hanging her wine gourd at her waist, Beidou asked.
Their journey to Inazuma hadn't been through legitimate means. In a sense, it was smuggling. If they were discovered by Inazuman soldiers, even being sunk on the spot would be understandable.
But as far as she knew, ever since Inazuma was sealed off by the storms, the Shogunate's naval forces had become largely useless, only being deployed occasionally against Watatsumi Island.
"It looks like… a person."
The lookout studied the situation at sea and spoke uncertainly.
They were smuggling in under cover of night, and visibility was poor. If not for the faint glow emanating from the other party's Vision, he wouldn't even be sure what it was.
"A person?"
Beidou sensed it carefully. Sure enough, she detected traces of Anemo energy not far away. The aura was extremely weak, as though it were about to dissipate at any moment.
At the same time, she also sensed a trace of Electro energy.
"Sea Drake! Lower a boat, we're going to save someone!"
"Yes!"
As the ship's helmsman, Sea Drake was deeply trusted by Beidou. After handing the helm over to his deputy, he lit a torch, lowered a small boat, and together with Beidou and two crew members, rowed toward the target.
Under the light of the torch, Beidou could clearly see the situation on the sea.
Judging from the scattered fragments of broken planks, a shipwreck had occurred here—or somewhere nearby—and the person in the water was likely a survivor of that disaster.
Beidou knew better than anyone how dangerous the seas of Teyvat were. As the leader of the Crux, she could be said to be the person in all of Liyue who understood the ocean best.
Terrifying sea beasts, bizarre fish, even dying remnants of ancient gods…
To survive under such circumstances, this person was no ordinary individual.
"Boss, take a look at this."
Holding up his torch, Sea Drake swiftly fished a piece of cloth out of the water. After unfolding it, his expression grew serious.
Beidou took the cloth and examined it closely. Upon it was a strange emblem.
And it was one Beidou knew well, because the very purpose of their voyage was the faction to which this emblem belonged—Watatsumi Island.
How could wreckage from a Watatsumi ship have drifted all the way here?
"Do we still save him?"
Sea Drake asked uncertainly.
If it were just an ordinary passerby or fisherman, rescuing them would be no issue. But once the Shogunate and the Resistance were involved, the situation became rather delicate.
After all, their current identity represented Liyue.
And Watatsumi Island had yet to give them an official reply. If they rashly carried out a rescue, then…
"Save him."
Without the slightest hesitation, Beidou gave the order.
This had nothing to do with good or evil, nor with factions. Having spent her life at sea, she knew all too well how desperate a person would be in such a situation.
They… might be the only hope this castaway had.
Under Beidou's direction, the small boat slowly approached the area where the Anemo aura lingered.
However, the person in the water was in terrible condition. He had almost completely lost consciousness, clinging to a plank by sheer instinct as he drifted on the waves.
The appearance of the torch on the sea's surface finally allowed him to relax, and as his strength gave out, his body slowly sank into the water.
If Beidou hadn't reached out and grabbed him in time, he would have choked to death on seawater at the very last moment.
"This doesn't look like a Watatsumi soldier, does it?"
Negotiations with Watatsumi Island were being handled entirely by Beidou, and Sea Drake hadn't gone ashore. Still, while on the ship, he had taken note of Watatsumi's attire, and this distinctive-looking youth clearly didn't match it.
"Mm, indeed he isn't."
Carefully placing the boy into the small boat and thoughtfully covering him with a blanket, Beidou had already recognized the young man's true identity.
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Note:
Sea Drake: https://genshin-impact.fandom.com/wiki/Sea_Drake