[Location: Teyvat – Grand Narukami Shrine]
Not everyone in the Teyvat alliance had received their Zanpakuto yet. Key figures like Eula, Kaeya, and Diluc were noticeably absent.
Business was simply too good.
The Multiverse Festival in Inazuma had generated astronomical profits, burying the Mondstadt tycoons under mountains of logistics and shipping manifests. With trade routes stretched thin and Mora pouring in faster than it could be redistributed, they had no choice but to delay their awakening.
They would have to wait for their power-up.
However, there was one little ninja who was present.
Sayu.
The resident sleepyhead of the Shuumatsuban sat cross-legged on the grass, holding her new Asauchi loosely in her hands. Su Han had barely finished explaining the basics when a cloud of smoke suddenly puffed into existence.
Poof.
Four identical Sayus appeared at once.
They looked solid. They moved independently. And most importantly—they all looked just as sleepy.
"Mujina Dream Swarm," Sayu mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "If I get hit… the clone takes the damage and disappears instead."
She paused, processing that thought.
"…That means I can sleep while they work. Goodnight."
She curled up on the spot and fell asleep almost instantly, soft snores rising from the grass. The four clones quietly took up positions around her, standing guard.
It was, arguably, the ultimate survival ability.
And the ultimate tool for laziness.
The Leader's Reward
While the others experimented with their new abilities, Su Han retreated to the privacy of his study and checked his personal rewards.
[Mission Complete: Rescue Kuchiki Rukia]
[Leader Bonus: Perfect Version – Sode no Shirayuki]
A snow-white katana materialized in his hand.
Unlike a standard Zanpakuto, this blade carried a faint, sentient presence. Cold air rippled outward, yet it lacked the deadly chill the original weapon was known for. The system had removed its fatal flaw—no risk of freezing its wielder—and awakened the sword spirit completely.
"Sode no Shirayuki…" Su Han murmured, his thumb brushing across the hilt. "The most beautiful blade in the Soul Society."
It was not a weapon meant for brute force.
It was elegant. Precise.
And he already knew who it belonged to.
His secretary—Baiwen.
Recently, the inter-dimensional wars had kept him constantly moving. While he crossed worlds, Baiwen remained behind, quietly managing his growing empire. She wasn't a fighter, and leaving her without protection had been weighing on him.
Giving her an autonomous guardian felt like the right way to make amends.
Su Han stepped onto his flying sword and headed toward the guest quarters.
Guest Study
The room was quiet, broken only by the steady scratching of a fountain pen.
Baiwen sat behind a wall of ledgers, eyes scanning columns of numbers with unwavering focus. The festival's success was a double-edged sword—too much Mora, introduced too quickly, could destabilize Inazuma's economy if mishandled.
"Accessory revenue is up three hundred percent…" she muttered. "We'll need to divert the meat shipments to Watatsumi…"
She was so absorbed in her work that she didn't hear the door open.
Didn't notice the presence behind her—
Until a pair of warm arms wrapped around her waist.
"Eeek!"
Her pen clattered to the desk. Panic flared for a split second before a familiar scent reached her senses.
All the tension drained from her body at once.
"…Master."
She turned, eyes already misting.
"You're working too hard," Su Han said quietly, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Didn't I tell you not to burn yourself out for Ningguang? You're my secretary."
Baiwen lowered her head, cheeks flushing. "I—I managed your assets too. The ranch is profitable. Everything's stable…"
Her voice softened.
"I just wanted to be useful."
So I wouldn't think about how much I miss you.
She didn't say it aloud.
"I know," Su Han replied. He turned her toward him and gently wiped away a tear. "I'm sorry I've been leaving you behind so much."
She looked up.
"From now on, unless it's a suicide mission, you're coming with me," he continued. "Deal?"
"…Really?" Hope flickered in her eyes.
"Really."
Baiwen buried her face in his chest and held on tightly. The ledgers slipped to the floor, forgotten.
After a while, Su Han spoke again.
"I brought you something."
He held out the snow-white katana.
"This is Sode no Shirayuki. Since you're not a frontline fighter, she'll act as your teacher and guardian."
Flash.
Ice gathered in the air, forming the figure of a woman clad in a white kimono. Her pale violet hair flowed down her back, and her ice-blue eyes were calm and clear.
Baiwen gasped. "She's… the sword?"
The spirit bowed gracefully. "I am Sode no Shirayuki. Please take care of me."
"N-No, please teach me!" Baiwen bowed hurriedly in return. "I'm not very strong… I only just learned Haki…"
"We will learn together," the spirit said gently. "Master Su Han has entrusted your safety to me."
Watching them, Su Han smiled.
His rear guard was finally secure.
Tenshukaku – Entrance
Su Han had barely landed when a familiar figure rushed toward him.
"There you are!"
Beidou shoved her system panel in his face, grinning broadly. "Look! I hit Level 3!"
"Already?" Su Han blinked.
"Don't act surprised," she said. "You promised to help me choose. I can self-select now—and I found a good one."
She pointed at the mission title.
The King's Ruins.
"The objective is to kill five Knights and Hammer King Borodin," Beidou said. "Each Knight resets if I don't finish them in fifteen minutes. What's the trick?"
Su Han's expression grew serious. "That dungeon's from the Arad Continent—Dungeon & Fighter."
"So?" she asked. "Hard?"
"Annoying," he corrected. "You can't brute-force it."
He raised a finger. "Wind Knight—he turns invisible. Use Observation Haki."
"Got it."
"Guardian Knight—watch his color. Blue means physical works. Red means physical reflects. Hit him wrong and you'll blow yourself up."
"…That's dirty."
"Ice Knight tracks you. Fire Knight explodes. Light Knight blinds—close your eyes when he raises his sword."
"And Borodin?"
Su Han chuckled. "Slow, hits like a truck. When he shouts 'Kneel before me!', jump. If you stay grounded, you're done."
Beidou grinned, hoisting her claymore onto her shoulder. "Sounds manageable."
She stepped into the portal without hesitation.
Su Han watched her vanish, then turned his gaze toward the upper levels of Tenshukaku.
"I have the points," he murmured. "And the soul energy."
Two names surfaced in his mind.
Bosacius.
Hanachirusato.
"It's time for you to return."
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