"Quick, tell me everything. What kind of jar shop is this?"
Xingqiu's face lit up with genuine interest.
What kind of jar cost 100,000 Mora?
Even the most exquisite ceramic vases at Liyue's famous Scent of Spring only cost tens of thousands at most.
And now Chongyun wanted to borrow 900,000 Mora for jars?
And it could cure his condition?
Xingqiu knew Chongyun's body better than anyone. He often teased Chongyun about it, only to be chased around when the exorcist got overheated.
But as his best friend, Xingqiu would also mobilize the entire Feiyun Commerce Guild to help him.
Anything related to Cryo energy or cooling, Xingqiu would find it and give it to Chongyun to try and suppress his Pure Yang Spirit.
"It's a magical shop. I heard about it from others, so I went to see for myself," Chongyun explained eagerly. "Each jar costs 100,000 Mora, with a limit of ten per week. Inside, you can find all sorts of miraculous things."
"I heard Lady Ningguang, one of the Qixing, pulled a pill that grants eternal youth. And there are other incredible items too..."
...
Chongyun relayed everything he knew. Xingqiu raised an eyebrow.
A shop like that exists? And I've never heard of it?
It sounded fascinating.
"Is Young Master Chongyun talking about that magical jar shop?"
A waitress at Wanwen Bookhouse chimed in timidly. "I heard not just Lady Ningguang, but even Lady Keqing went there. Lots of people have been going lately."
"Interesting."
Xingqiu grinned. "Very interesting. I've never encountered something so intriguing."
"Let's go. I'm coming with you."
He chuckled. "I want to experience the magic of this shop myself."
He wanted to feel the thrill of opening jars.
And he wanted to meet the shopkeeper. Anyone selling miracles like this couldn't be ordinary.
"You brat, why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Xingqiu punched Chongyun's arm playfully. "You should have dragged me along the first time."
"I saw you were engrossed in your book and didn't want to disturb you," Chongyun said sheepishly. "I know how much you love reading. Since we're back in Liyue, I figured you'd want to enjoy your hobby."
"Haha, let's go."
Xingqiu handed his book to the waitress. "I want to see just how magical this shop is."
"Okay."
Seeing Xingqiu drape an arm over his shoulder and lead the way, Chongyun beamed.
"I'm so envious..."
The waitress watched them leave, sighing as she stared at Chongyun's back.
Being friends with Young Master Xingqiu must be nice.
She had heard of the shop too, but 100,000 Mora was a fortune to her. She couldn't afford it.
...
While Xingqiu and Chongyun rushed excitedly toward the jar shop...
Inazuma Sea. Nazuchi Beach.
Beidou, Huixing, and Furong disembarked from the battleship. Before they could even tie up the captured pirates, they saw Kujou Sara approaching.
Sensing the familiar power of Electro, Beidou narrowed her eyes.
A Vision holder.
"Step back."
Beidou ordered her crew.
Huixing and Furong nodded and retreated. Seeing Sara's hostile demeanor, they knew this wasn't a fight for subordinates.
As they backed away, they sized her up.
This woman looks tough.
"My name is Kujou Sara. General of the Tenryou Commission. It matters not if you remember my name; know only that I will forever defend Inazuma and enact the Shogun's will. Against gods or demons, I will eliminate all threats."
Sara stopped, her golden eyes locking onto Beidou coldly. "You are not a resident of Inazuma. Where do you come from? What is your purpose? Do you not know that Inazuma is under the Raiden Shogun's lockdown? Your presence here is a provocation."
She examined Beidou—long dark hair, bangs covering one eye, crimson iris, and a high-slit qipao with thigh-high boots.
Just from the clothing, Sara knew Beidou wasn't local.
Inazuman fashion was distinct. Beidou's style was Liyue through and through.
Moreover, Sara sensed a powerful Electro aura from Beidou, rivaling her own.
If an Inazuman held such power, Sara would have known about them.
Conclusion: A foreigner.
And to be here, she must have crossed the storm barrier with that steel ship.
"Hello. I am Beidou of the Crux Fleet, from Liyue Harbor."
Facing Sara's coldness, Beidou laughed heartily. "I come to Inazuma with no ill intent. I'm just here to catch some Fatui-backed pirates. My mission requires me to destroy ten pirate ships and capture ten pirates."
She wasn't here to start trouble. If explaining things could de-escalate the situation, she was happy to do so.
"The Crux Fleet?!"
Sara's eyes narrowed further.
She had heard the name. The Uncrowned Dragon of the Ocean.
She knew of Beidou by reputation, though they had never met since Sara rarely left Inazuma.
Seeing her now, the bold aura made sense.
But she didn't believe the second part for a second.
What kind of mission requires crossing a god's storm barrier just to destroy some pirates?
"Captain Beidou, I know of your fame, but I do not believe your story," Sara said icily.
"The pirates in our waters are Inazuma's problem. Even if we issued a bounty, it would be for locals, not outsiders."
"You say you took a mission... from Liyue Harbor? Since when do commissions cross national borders?"
"Even if you accepted a pirate-hunting commission in Liyue, it would be for Liyue's waters, not ours."
"Inazuma is under strict lockdown. The Shogun herself set the storm barrier. Anyone breaking through is challenging her authority."
"What is your true purpose? To personally captain a warship into our territory..."
As she spoke, Sara glanced at the Steam Battleship in the distance, hiding her shock.
Since when did Liyue have ships like that?
She had seen Liyue merchant vessels before. They were wood.
If Liyue had steel ships, the world would know.
The lockdown had lasted less than a year. How could Liyue advance so quickly?
A steel ship that floats? And fires missiles capable of obliterating a third of Nazuchi Beach?
Even Inazuma's heaviest cannons couldn't do that.
Was the technology gap really this wide?
The thought terrified her.
If Liyue possessed a fleet of these, Inazuma's isolation might be a mistake. They wouldn't stand a chance in an invasion.
Just the fact that it crossed the storm unscathed was alarming.
I must report this to the Shogun.
"My purpose really is just to catch pirates."
Beidou scratched her head helplessly. "If you don't believe me, there's not much I can do. I just need to destroy ten ships and grab ten guys, then I'll leave. I won't cause any serious damage to Inazuma. Please understand."
"Then come with me. Meet the Shogun and explain your intentions," Sara said, her hand resting on her bow. "If the Shogun permits it, you may continue. Then you can leave."
Beidou: "..."
Go meet the Raiden Shogun with Kujou Sara?
By the time they traveled to Narukami Island and navigated the bureaucracy, she could have finished her mission ten times over.
"Sorry, no time for that," Beidou laughed. "Give me half a day. I'll be gone. You can even follow us with your ship and watch me catch the pirates. Once I hit ten, I leave."
Are you kidding? Going with Sara?
Who knows if she'd ever get off Narukami Island?
"If you refuse, I will interpret your actions as an invasion," Sara said, electricity crackling around her. "And I will treat you as an enemy."
Bzzt!
Violet arcs of lightning sparked from Sara's body. She was ready to fight.
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