Chapter 100: The Second Young Master (or Miss?) of Feiyun Commerce Guild
Recently, Liyue's art world has been swept up in a storm, the source of which is surprisingly a simple sheet of draft paper.
It is said that this draft originated at Wangshu Inn, though the creator remains a mystery. However, its artistic brilliance has surpassed the comprehension of current Liyue artists, reaching a legendary realm where it simultaneously resembles both "calligraphy and painting."
If you say it looks like calligraphy, its flowing brushstrokes resemble the endless reeds of Dihua Marsh, seamlessly blending grass with water in a stunning display.
If you say it looks like a painting, the lines subtly reveal certain simple words, with a wild and freehanded style that exudes a touch of casual elegance.
The draft also has a beautiful name: "Reed Sketches."
The original artwork is now housed in the Wanwen Bookhouse, with only a few replicas in circulation, cherished by top-tier artists.
As the second young master (or "miss" as some mockingly suggest) of Liyue Harbor's Feiyun Commerce Guild, he pulled every string imaginable to acquire one of the replicas.
But unlike others who see it as a unique piece of art, it holds a very different meaning for him.
Because he can understand it.
The "Reed Sketches," as it turns out, is actually the manuscript of a wuxia novel called "The Legend of the Condor Heroes!"
Initially, he approached the book with a critical mindset, as the person who wrote it... well, their handwriting was commendable—quite commendable, in fact! But that was about it.
Everything else about it was a mess. It was almost laughably bad.
At least, that's what he thought at first.
But as he read further, he found himself drawn deeply into the story, so much so that he devoured it in one sitting and went back to reread it several times.
The book's portrayal of the concept of "chivalry" surpassed anything found in current Liyue literature. Though the author's writing style was somewhat immature, it couldn't overshadow the overwhelming sense of heroism that leapt from the pages.
A real man should be like this.
A true hero fights for the nation and its people.
These lines and phrases stirred his blood, making him restless and unable to sleep. He wanted nothing more than to grab his sword and serve his country.
But as he reached the door, he hesitated and turned back.
Serve what? With gods and adepti watching over everything, what could a mere rich young master like him accomplish?
This was Teyvat. This was Liyue, a land of peace and prosperity.
Still, his admiration for the book and its author remained undiminished. He even spent a fortune in his quest to find the writer.
Yet, for once, his seemingly infallible financial power failed him. Despite raising the bounty again and again, all he found were frauds eager for fame. None could name the work's true title or origin, let alone match its artistry. These impostors often ended up beaten by his men and sent to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
This fruitless search left him frustrated for quite some time. At his elder brother's suggestion, he decided to go out for a walk to clear his mind.
Wandering around, he eventually found himself near Wanmin Restaurant.
The sight of the restaurant's sign made Xingqiu's face pale, and he turned to leave immediately.
It wasn't that he and Xiangling were on bad terms. They had grown up together and were on fairly good terms. The problem was Xiangling's habit of using him as a guinea pig for her experimental dishes.
It had been fine at first, until he once tried her Mint and Qingxin Salad. The result? Three days stuck in the bathroom.
Since then, whenever Xiangling approached him, he'd push his close friend Chongyun forward as a substitute.
But today, Chongyun wasn't around. Better to avoid trouble altogether.
"Ahhh!"
Xiangling's startled scream, followed by the sound of bowls and chopsticks clattering to the ground, abruptly caught Xingqiu's attention.
What is chivalry?
The meaning of "chivalry" varies from person to person.
A free spirit acts as a hero, one who distinguishes good and evil acts as a hero, and one who embodies integrity also acts as a hero...
To Xingqiu, however, heroism is simpler than that: doing good deeds and being a good person.
Something was clearly going on at Wanmin Restaurant, and to ignore it would betray his sense of justice. Without hesitation, he turned back and stepped into the restaurant.
Inside, Guoba was hiding behind Xiangling, who was nervously trying to mediate between two groups to prevent a fight.
One group, judging by their attire, was clearly members of the Fatui from Snezhnaya. While they had been keeping a low profile in Liyue lately, their underhanded dealings in secret were a constant source of irritation.
As the second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, Xingqiu was more aware than most of the shady activities carried out by the Fatui. In his mind, their level of dislike was second only to carrots.
The other party was a foreigner, likely from Inazuma, judging by their clothing.
Inazuma was said to be in a state of isolation, so encountering someone from there was highly unusual. The only Inazuman he'd met recently was the young man serving under Captain Beidou. He wondered if this individual was somehow connected to him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, isn't it rather unsporting to gang up on someone like this?"
Stepping beside Xiangling and giving her a reassuring glance, Xingqiu straightened his posture and spoke boldly. He had long wanted to use such dashing words.
"And who are you supposed to be? Little girls shouldn't meddle in the affairs of the Fatui! If you're worried about damages, we'll compensate!"
The leader of the Fatui sneered, pulling out a pouch of Mora and slamming it down in front of Xingqiu.
"I am Xingqiu, merely a humble scholar adrift in a sea of books."
Xingqiu didn't even glance at the pouch.
While the Feiyun Commerce Guild's wealth might not rival that of the Northland Bank, a mere bag of Mora was far from enough to sway him. In fact, he was already irritated by the Fatui's tone and their mocking reference to him as a "little girl."
"I don't care what books or seas you're from. Get lost before we have to get rough!"
The Fatui were growing more impatient, and it was clear they were on the verge of violence. Behind Xingqiu, a one-handed sword began to materialize, and his expression turned serious.
"Miss Scholar, I appreciate your willingness to help, but this is my issue to resolve alone."
"..."
Looking at the Inazuman wearing a cat-faced mask, Xingqiu felt an urge to clarify two things: first, "sea of books" wasn't his real name, and second, he was most definitely not a girl.
Before he could respond, the Inazuman had already drawn his weapon.
It was an unusual reverse-blade sword. Its gleaming blade sent a chill through the air. Even Xingqiu, who had seen many fine weapons, couldn't help but silently admire the craftsmanship.
"Form up! Capture that scoundrel who is using Lord Childe's name to freeload everywhere!"
The Fatui leader shouted with a mix of resentment, grief, and frustration, showing no fear of the blade.
Xingqiu froze for a moment.
What did they mean by "freeloading in the Lord Childe's name"?
He glanced at Xiangling, whose expression was equally complicated.
"Just now, both the Fatui and the Inazuman were eating here," Xiangling explained awkwardly. "The Inazuman told the server to put the bill on 'the Childe's tab,' and the Fatui flipped the table. Apparently, this Inazuman has been going around Inazuma racking up debts and charging them all to the Childe."
"..."
After a few seconds of stunned silence, Xingqiu came to a painful realization.
It seemed he had helped the wrong person.
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