Very soon, Luya had more or less finished setting up the duel facilities and shops.
After completing these tasks, Luya decided to take a walk around Liyue Harbor—to personally feel the dueling atmosphere.
...
"Have you heard!?"
"The 'Crux Duel Tournament' is about to begin!"
"I heard the winner's prize is a Vision!"
"The competition will be held at Guyun Stone Forest."
"And also…"
"Only ordinary people are allowed to participate in this tournament."
Walking down the street, Luya overheard people talking.
After thinking for a moment, Luya figured he had nothing else to do today.
He might as well go take a look.
Luya soon arrived at Guyun Stone Forest.
Guyun Stone Forest lay to the east of Liyue Harbor…
Just from the name of the event, Luya could guess that this "Crux Duel Tournament" was organized by Beidou.
Beidou was the leader of the Crux Fleet.
The Crux was an armed fleet based in Liyue Harbor.
An "armed fleet" meant a fleet equipped with formidable firepower.
All operations of the Crux were carried out with the permission of the Liyue Qixing…
Something like that.
Beidou was a captain who earned the heartfelt admiration of every sailor in the fleet—they believed that she could calm raging waves and storms.
As the saying went:
A person reflects their ship.
Although not a perfect metaphor, the Crux Fleet indeed shared Beidou's spirit.
However, there were also stories circulated quietly—out of Beidou's sight.
After new sailors returned from their first voyage, the first mate would invite them out for drinks and vividly recount an old tale…
Back when the Crux ventured into the outer seas, they had sailed into storms many times, where a single mistake could cost lives.
At that time—
Beidou stepped onto the deck, stood behind the helm herself, steering with both hands while singing a Liyue fisherman's hauling chant through wind and rain.
She sang until the storms vanished, and the horizon was painted with golden light, the sea calm and bright…
The first mate would always end the story with a nostalgic expression.
As the fleet grew larger, the first mate's stories became increasingly thrilling, and the new sailors' admiration for Beidou only grew deeper.
Beidou was highly respected in Liyue.
Though slightly beneath the Liyue Qixing in influence, no merchant in Liyue Harbor was unfamiliar with her or with the name "Crux".
Rumors about her were countless.
Most people spoke of her splitting mountains, cleaving seas—stories so exaggerated they were hard to believe.
But there were other claims:
That Beidou could raise her blade and call lightning, cleaving even terrifying sea beasts in two.
Others scoffed at such stories, thinking them nonsense.
But those who had sailed with Beidou would never treat such words as jokes.
They all said:
If a sea monster truly existed, Beidou would definitely be able to cut it in half.
This alone showed that Beidou's seafaring skill was equal to her business reputation.
Calling Beidou the "Sea Dragon King" was no exaggeration.
Merchants naturally sought profit—it was nothing surprising.
Most people would simply laugh such matters off.
Only Liyue's people—who were all merchants at heart—refused to agree.
When speaking of their own city, they always insisted it was unlike any other.
Other merchants would mock them:
"Isn't your so-called loyalty just another form of bargaining chip?"
But the people of Liyue would reply:
"Then how do you explain the Crux Fleet?"
The Crux Fleet had a strong reputation and often charged high commissions.
During one voyage, the fleet encountered a sea hurricane—and nearby, a civilian vessel was also in danger.
Seeing the smaller ship tossed by waves, Beidou ignored the risk of breaking her ship's keel and ordered her crew to drag the civilian vessel to safety.
The fleet had little food and water left, but Beidou insisted on sharing everything with the civilians and personally led them through the storm.
After several days—
The Crux finally escorted the civilian ship to a nearby harbor.
The merchants on board, grateful for their lives, became Beidou's loyal business partners.
The Liyue locals would laugh and say:
"A deed done even at the cost of one's life is no mere bargaining chip.
If loyalty were just a chip—would you dare say that to Beidou's face?"
Luya's impression of Beidou was the same…
Beidou was someone worthy of trust.
...
Just as Luya arrived at Guyun Stone Forest,
he immediately spotted the Crux Fleet's iconic flagship—the Alcor—quietly anchored nearby.
Its massive hull stood like a moving fortress.
Luya walked toward the fleet, and at a glance, he saw a woman with long black hair, bangs covering her left eye, crimson pupils, dressed in a qipao and over-the-knee heeled boots—Beidou.
Beidou also noticed Luya.
At that moment, her eyes lit up, and with a delighted smile, she laughed boldly:
"Well, well! Isn't this our new Emperor!"
"Don't tell me you've come to compete in the tournament and show off your skills?"
Luya hurriedly waved his hand:
"I'm just passing by and thought I'd take a look. I'll leave the competing to the duelists."
Luya was only here to spectate…
Competing? No thanks—after all, his cards were simply too strong.
Not suitable to bring out.
Right then—
A figure slowly approached.
The man's long white hair was tied neatly into a short braid behind him; on both sides of his head were two playful strands of ahoge, and beneath them were streaks of bright red highlighting matching the color of his eyes.
He wore a gray samurai-style outfit—well-tailored and streamlined.
The outermost half-worn haori draped loosely, with the right sleeve tied at his waist, while the long right sleeve hung behind him like a waterfall, swaying lightly with each step.
Kazuha's gaze fell directly onto Luya, a trace of contemplation flashing through his eyes.
Seeing this, Luya smiled at Kaedehara Kazuha.
Kazuha smiled softly in return and spoke gently:
"Do not mind me. I simply believe that every meeting brought by fate carries its own meaning. Perhaps… we are destined to cross paths again in the future."
...
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