Chương 12: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [12]
After the Lunch Banquet
Following the luncheon, Ningguang had Luo Qing and his companion escorted back to the Northland Bank. She remained seated at her desk, replaying Luo Qing's odd responses in her mind.
She had asked, "Mr. Luo Qing, do you have any hobbies? I hear the people of Snezhnaya are quite fond of drinking."
Luo Qing's answer had been, "Indeed! I usually mix red, white, and yellow wine with some Sprite and chug it down."
She had followed with, "Are you finding Liyue to your liking? Anything that feels out of place?"
And he'd responded, "Not at all! It feels just like home. Woohoo, let's go!"
Lastly, she'd inquired, "As the head of the Northland Bank, I assume you have quite a bit of insight into investment?"
To which Luo Qing had replied, "Absolutely. Investing is a serious matter — I always go for the shiniest, greenest ones. The greener, the better."
...
What kind of nonsense is this?
For a moment, Ningguang wondered if Luo Qing was simply mad. But then again, she reasoned, there had to be a method to his madness... or at least a purpose behind his words.
She couldn't afford to let her guard down.
Feeling a bit on edge, Ningguang remembered the disc Luo Qing had gifted her. He had said it was a carefully prepared present, though she couldn't be sure if he was being sincere.
"Baixiao, fetch the phonograph," Ningguang instructed.
"Lady Ningguang, why the sudden interest in music?" Baixiao asked, pausing her work to retrieve the phonograph from a display cabinet.
"Let's find out what he so thoughtfully prepared," Ningguang said, pressing her fingers to her temple and closing her eyes.
Baixiao carefully set the phonograph on a side table, opened the case that Luo Qing had given them, wiped the disc, and slid it into the machine. Then, she gently pressed play.
Suddenly, a loud and rugged male voice echoed through the Jade Chamber:
"The vast horizon is my love, the flowers bloom at the foot of the green hills, what rhythm is the most swinging one..."
"..."
"..."
"This is what he considers a thoughtful gift?! Lady Ningguang, he's clearly mocking you! These Fatui are all the same!" Baixiao fumed, reaching out to stop the phonograph.
"Wait, let's see what else is on it," Ningguang said, her brows furrowed as she endured Luo Qing's slightly off-key singing filling the room.
The song ended, and the phonograph's needle automatically clicked off.
"Interesting," Ningguang muttered, opening her eyes. Her expression was both stern and slightly irritated.
Conclusion: The disc was pure nonsense.
Given the usual arrogance of the Fatui, she'd thought Luo Qing might have hidden some secret information or message within the recording.
How could the Tsaritsa appoint someone like him as a Harbinger?
She had clearly overestimated him.
Meanwhile
As Luo Qing descended from the Jade Chamber's floating platform, his system notifications began to ping.
[Frustration Value from Baixiao +1+1+1+1+1...]
[Frustration Value from Ningguang +1+1+1+1+1...]
"Master Luo Qing, why are you smiling all of a sudden?" Natalia asked, noticing his amused expression.
"Oh, nothing, just thought of something funny," Luo Qing replied.
Dusk, South Wharf of Liyue
A massive three-masted ship with a dragon's head prow was docked, undergoing preparations for its next voyage.
Unlike the usual merchant vessels or pleasure boats, this ship was equipped with giant crossbows, marking it as something far more formidable.
At the bow, a tall woman with black hair and red eyes leaned on her war blade. Unlike most women, she wore an eyepatch over her left eye, which only added to her commanding aura.
"Keep it up, everyone! We set sail as soon as the sun sets," Beidou ordered, overseeing her crew as they loaded supplies.
A sailor named Hailong approached respectfully. "Captain, there's someone at the dock asking to hitch a ride to Guyun Stone Forest. He's offering to pay with Mora. What do you think?"
"Guyun Stone Forest?" Beidou said, raising an eyebrow.
The Stone Forest was the resting place of the sealed Vortex God, a dangerous area swarming with monsters drawn to the lingering godly aura. Ordinary people faced great peril by venturing there.
"Bring him up. I'll hear what he has to say," Beidou replied.
The Crux Fleet frequently docked at Guyun for resupply, as part of their routine patrols before heading to Inazuma. If someone was willing to pay for the trip, why not earn a bit of extra Mora?
Receiving Beidou's approval, Hailong headed down to the dock.
"Captain said yes, you can board," he called.
"Great, thanks!" Luo Qing said with a smile, slipping a small pouch of Mora into Hailong's hands before following him onboard.
His blonde hair and blue eyes made him stand out against the sea of black-haired Liyueans.
To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, he'd decided against bringing Igor and Sergei along. Instead, he left them behind to keep Natalia company — and to play cards.
"By the way, brother, what's the name of this ship?" Luo Qing asked casually, glancing up at the imposing vessel. Even from a distance, the massive dragon-headed warship had looked familiar.
"You don't know?" Hailong asked, surprised. In Liyue, where maritime trade was paramount, the name of the Alcor was well-known, especially in the harbor.
"I live near Qingce Village and rarely visit the harbor," Luo Qing explained offhandedly, relying on his Liyuean heritage to make his story believable.
"Your accent doesn't sound like Qingce Village..." Hailong said, still suspicious.
"..."
"Suka Blyat."
"Huh? What did you just say?" Hailong asked, confused.
"Oh, nothing, I just said you're a good-looking guy," Luo Qing said quickly, clapping Hailong's shoulder to change the subject.
"Well, you're in luck then. You've boarded the Alcor, flagship of the Crux Fleet," Hailong said proudly. "I can guarantee you, there's no other ship in Liyue that dares venture into Guyun like we do."
"Oh? Why's that?" Luo Qing asked, pretending to be intrigued.
"There's no secret to it — we're the only ones brave enough to go!" Hailong said, puffing out his chest.
"Those waters are crawling with sea creatures. Any ordinary ship wouldn't stand a chance against a larger beast. See those crossbows?" He pointed to the massive bolt launchers lining the Alcor's deck. "One shot from those, and even the biggest sea monster would think twice!"
"And what about Osial? Isn't it said that he's sealed somewhere in those waters?" Luo Qing asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Osial?" Hailong burst into laughter. "You must be from the stone age, kid! Lord Morax sealed that thing ages ago. For all we know, it's probably dead by now."
"Besides, what's taking you to Guyun?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Luo Qing paused for a moment before answering.
"I'm going to pay my respects."
---
T/N: HE'S A BLONDE???? I thought he was a generic xianxia character...
Chương 13: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [13]
Off the Coast of Liyue
As twilight settled over the horizon, the Alcor sailed like a prowling dragon toward Guyun Stone Forest.
To the southeast of Liyue Harbor lay Guyun Stone Forest, the prison of the Vortex God, Osial. Ordinary ships, whether heading to Sumeru or Inazuma, would give the area a wide berth, not daring to draw too close.
But Beidou and her Crux Fleet had never feared the so-called prison of a sealed god. They were even known to hold martial arts tournaments on the very stones of Guyun.
As a hitchhiker on this journey, Luo Qing's freedom of movement was limited. For the duration of the voyage — several hours in total — he was restricted to the ship's forward deck, with strict orders not to wander elsewhere.
At the aft deck, the Alcor's master, Beidou, was overseeing the ship's navigation. She seemed busy, uninterested in giving Luo Qing any attention.
Clearly, only the Traveler had the privilege of being treated like a VIP here.
Feeling bored, Luo Qing turned to the bow of the ship, where the dragon's head carving loomed into view. Sitting comfortably atop the dragon's head was a young man in a crimson sailor's outfit. Two Vision stones dangled from his waist: one glowed with a faint green light, while the other was dull and lifeless.
He seemed out of place among the bustling sailors, a calm presence amidst the chaos. Holding a green leaf in his hands, he blew a wistful tune — a melody from his homeland.
"The cherry blossoms in your homeland are in bloom, aren't they, Kaedehara-san?" Luo Qing said casually as he leapt onto the dragon's head, sitting down beside Kaedehara Kazuha as if they were old friends.
The trip would take several hours, and Luo Qing needed someone to chat with.
"You know me?" Kazuha asked, lowering the leaf and looking curiously at Luo Qing.
"Yes, I've heard your story — a wandering swordsman exiled from his homeland," Luo Qing replied easily, pulling out a small flask from his coat. Being a Snezhnayan, he had adopted the habit of carrying alcohol wherever he went.
"Care for a drink?"
"Thank you," Kazuha replied. He glanced at the bottle, then at Luo Qing, and took a sip.
This was the Crux Fleet's territory. Kazuha doubted that Luo Qing would try anything suspicious here. It was Luo Qing's casual familiarity that piqued his curiosity.
"Snezhnayan firewater... Not something you often find in Liyue," Kazuha remarked, eyeing the intricate engravings on the flask.
He had sailed with the Crux Fleet for a while, tasting drinks from across Teyvat, including the strong spirits from Snezhnaya.
"So, are you from Liyue?" Kazuha asked.
"Luo Qing, from Qingce Village. I rarely visit the harbor," Luo Qing replied.
"Then how did you come to know about me?" Kazuha asked, still puzzled.
"Well..." Luo Qing hesitated, then pulled out a pair of dark sunglasses from his pocket and put them on. He adjusted them dramatically, speaking with sudden seriousness.
"Because I'm a fortune teller."
"A fortune teller...?"
"Want me to tell your fortune? Name your query," Luo Qing offered enthusiastically.
"..."
Kazuha was momentarily taken aback, wondering if Luo Qing had just insulted him or genuinely offered to tell his fortune.
[Frustration Value from Kaedehara Kazuha +1]
"Then... how about you tell me where my journey will lead?" Kazuha asked, gazing out toward the distant shore.
"Tell me where this wandering leaf will finally rest."
"Alright!" Luo Qing exclaimed. He pulled out a tortoiseshell and three copper coins, placing the coins inside. He shook them in front of Kazuha, muttering under his breath:
"Big Duck Duck is the best... Big Duck Duck is the best... Big Duck Duck is the best..."
"Alright, let's see what your fate holds!"
The coins clattered onto the dragon's head with a soft thud. Just as Luo Qing was about to interpret the results, a wave suddenly crashed against the bow. One of the coins slipped off and plummeted into the sea.
"..."
"..."
"Perhaps we should just leave it at that. Thank you for your efforts," Kazuha suggested, inwardly wondering what Luo Qing had been mumbling earlier.
"No worries! I can read it with two coins just as well!" Luo Qing declared confidently, waving away Kazuha's concerns. He pretended to study the remaining coins.
After all, he already had the story's script in his head. The fortune-telling was just a cover.
"Kaedehara-san, do you long to return home?"
"My homeland... it doesn't welcome me anymore," Kazuha said softly, staring out at the deep purple thunderclouds that loomed far over the Inazuman seas.
He didn't understand what the Shogun sought through eternity, sealing the nation and forging a statue inlaid with countless Visions, spreading dread across Inazuma.
"Don't worry," Luo Qing said, patting Kazuha on the shoulder. "The Shogun's will is bound to change soon, and the cherry blossoms of your homeland will bloom for you once more."
"A Shogun who chases eternity... will even she change her mind?" Kazuha wondered aloud, lost in thought. He glanced back at Luo Qing, then asked:
"Mr. Luo Qing, where do you think our lives are ultimately heading?"
"Hm," Luo Qing pondered for a moment. "If I had my way, I'd aim for the warm embrace of young, long-legged beauties."
"..."
[Frustration Value from Kaedehara Kazuha +1]
"Mr. Luo Qing, I was referring to our purpose in life, our ultimate goal. What is the reason we exist?"
"Oh, that's easy," Luo Qing replied. "To snuggle up close with young ladies and enjoy life's finest thighs."
"..."
[Frustration Value from Kaedehara Kazuha +1]
"You certainly are a free spirit, Mr. Luo Qing," Kazuha said with a gentle smile, turning his gaze back to the distant shore.
Yet in his heart, he couldn't help but think how much he wished he could be as carefree as this man.
Not long after, the Alcor arrived at Guyun Stone Forest.
The entire Crux Fleet had anchored there, preparing for their journey to Inazuma at dawn. Even Beidou's bold sailors were reluctant to venture too close to the heart of Guyun, instead docking along the southern edges. They watched as Luo Qing disembarked.
The sailors had no idea what Luo Qing meant by "paying respects." They assumed he had ancestors buried here and, after offering some quick farewells, returned to their duties.
Before parting, Kazuha gave Luo Qing a bottle of fine sake from Inazuma — a token of gratitude for the "fortune-telling."
Luo Qing made his way deeper into the stone forest, navigating by the memories of the story in his mind.
The sea breeze whistled through the rocky spires, filling the air with a haunting melody. Fortunately, the moonlight and starlit sky were bright enough for him to see the sandy ground beneath his feet, preventing him from stumbling into the waves below.
Dotted across the stone spires were small, flickering campfires. Luo Qing knew better than to assume they were welcoming flames.
A closer inspection revealed that those campfires were surrounded by small, dark figures with strange masks: hilichurls.
Though technically classified as "monsters," hilichurls exhibited some level of intelligence, and rudimentary communication with them was possible. However, their violent tendencies and physical strength kept most ordinary people at a safe distance.
Several paths to the inner parts of Guyun were blocked by hilichurl camps. If Luo Qing wanted to reach the heart of the Stone Forest without swimming, he'd have to fight his way through.
"Perfect. Time to test my new weapon."
With a thought, Luo Qing summoned the Millelith Spear from his inventory. The heavy weapon materialized beside him, striking the ground with a deep, resonant thud.
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