Chapter 12

The long, melodious tune drifted with the wind, reaching far into the distance.

Even the chattering birds quieted down, perching on nearby branches to enjoy the soothing melody.

It was hard to imagine that such a beautiful tune could come from an ordinary leaf.

Though the young man didn't say it outright, Bai Luo could see the resistance in his eyes.

Especially after noticing the Fatui insignia.

Holding the white cat, the young man walked far behind the other two, seemingly unwilling to join their conversation.

"You're from out of town, aren't you?"

The older of the two youths was much calmer. He walked alongside Bai Luo, casually asking questions.

Though he appeared friendly, the fact that he had handed the cat to his companion showed that he was far more cautious than he let on.

Without the cat, drawing his sword would be much easier.

"Oh? What gave it away?"

The physical differences between Liyue natives and Inazumans weren't particularly striking. If there was any distinction...

Perhaps Liyue people were a bit taller?

"In Inazuma, no one would dare to display their Vision so prominently."

Glancing at the Delusion on Bai Luo's waist, the young man smiled.

Bai Luo's behavior was as if he wanted everyone to know he had a Vision, which was a big no-no in Inazuma.

Even he and his friend had been targeted by the Nobushi just for accidentally using a hint of elemental energy.

The effects of the Vision Hunt Decree were no joke.

"If they want it, they can have it. It doesn't matter to me."

Bai Luo wasn't a Vision holder to begin with, so he didn't have much attachment to the concept.

He just wasn't sure if the Tsaritsa would be upset if his Delusion was taken.

This thing wasn't just a symbol of status—it also represented honor.

Especially the Delusion he carried, which was different from the ones circulating outside.

It was personally bestowed by the Tsaritsa and handed to him by Pierro, the First Harbinger.

"You're quite carefree. But you're right—a Vision isn't the source of power; it's proof of power. It symbolizes a mortal's desire to keep moving forward. For us samurai, our confidence has always come from the blade in our hands."

Hearing Bai Luo's words, the young man actually sounded a bit envious.

This wasn't an act.

Bai Luo's indifferent attitude toward Visions was something he admired.

Unfortunately, if a Vision was taken, so too was the wish it represented.

He didn't want his wish to be taken away.

Because a wish represented hope, and this land of the Electro Archon needed hope more than ever.

If hope were lost, then so-called eternity would be nothing but an endless hell.

"Outsider, have you heard of the Musou no Hitotachi?"

Perhaps reminded of something, the young man hugged his sword and looked in a certain direction.

His words, however, made Bai Luo's expression darken.

Not only had he heard of it, but his "big and white" senior, La Signora, would meet her end under that very blade.

Though, given the current trajectory, it seemed he might be the one to face it next.

"Of course. And I've been thinking about how to survive it."

"Oh?"

Bai Luo's response surprised the young man.

The Musou no Hitotachi was the pinnacle of the Raiden Shogun's martial prowess, the ultimate symbol of her power.

It was said to be seen only during divine punishment.

He had thought that, aside from himself, no one else would entertain such thoughts.

Yet the first kindred spirit he met turned out to be a Fatui agent, someone who might have indirectly contributed to the Vision Hunt Decree.

"Sooner or later, I'll have to face it."

"Yes, sooner or later."

The same words, but with entirely different meanings.

One couldn't avoid it; the other didn't want to.

"Can I ask you something?"

Seeing the young man gradually warming up to him, Bai Luo inquired.

"Go ahead."

"What's your name?"

This was one of the reasons Bai Luo had decided to travel with them.

The writers at miHoYo had done many terrible things, killing off characters without even giving them names.

Even if he couldn't save this person, he at least wanted to know their name.

"Any other question would be fine, but this one..."

Hearing Bai Luo's question, the young man's face showed a hint of discomfort.

This was a special era. Revealing one's true name to a stranger was akin to inviting trouble.

And the young man was neither skilled nor willing to lie.

So...

"If you don't want to say, that's fine. I won't push."

Bai Luo was well aware that his identity in this world was far from favorable.

Just being a Fatui agent was enough to make people wary.

And he was a Harbinger, no less.

Think about that poor Cryo Cicin Mage picking berries.

He wondered if one day he'd be hit by a "Coconut Sheep Impact" from Ganyu just for stepping into Liyue with his left foot first.

His nonchalant attitude helped ease the young man's hostility.

Their conversation became a bit more relaxed after that.

But all journeys must come to an end, especially for those who had met by chance.

At a fork in the road, they had to part ways.

"If you ever run into trouble, come to Ritou. I'll probably be staying there for a while."

Looking at the two youths, who carried a maturity beyond their years, Bai Luo offered.

He genuinely wanted to help them.

As a Fatui Harbinger, as long as the Raiden Shogun hadn't issued a warrant for their arrest, he could easily protect them.

"Life is like a mountain path, full of ups and downs. Though hardships abound, there are still moments when one can touch the clouds. Thank you for your kindness, but let's meet again if fate allows."

Taking the white cat back from his friend, perhaps moved by Bai Luo's sincerity, the young man finally let go of his last bit of wariness.

But his name remained a mystery.

"Fate, huh?"

Watching the two youths, now wearing their straw hats again, disappear into the mountains, Bai Luo shrugged slightly.

Whether fate would bring them together again, he didn't know.

But if he wanted to find them, it wouldn't be hard.

He had already marked them during their journey.

As long as they were within a certain range, Bai Luo could easily sense their presence.

Fortunately, this marking ability didn't have a usage limit. Otherwise, given how often he used it, he'd run out of marks in no time.

Only after the two had completely vanished from his perception did Bai Luo head down his own path.

Ritou, before the Sakoku Decree, had been a tourist hotspot in Inazuma.

As the gateway to Inazuma, it was essentially the face of the nation.

The red maples and blue tiles intertwined to create a unique landscape.

But compared to the scenery, the people here were far from relaxed.

Not only were the foreign merchants stranded here, but even the locals who had lived here for generations wore constant frowns.

The Sakoku Decree had cut off all their sources of income, which had relied heavily on foreign tourists.

Some families had even taken up fishing again, returning to a life they thought they had left behind.

Even so, the arrogant soldiers of the Tenryou Commission showed no mercy.

Even though they were locals, they couldn't escape exploitation.

Like now, at the checkpoint between Ritou and Narukami Island, a foreign-looking man with golden hair was being stopped.

Though he was a foreigner, he wore typical Inazuman attire, and the most striking feature was the Pyro Vision hanging at his side.

As the young man had said earlier, few in Inazuma dared to flaunt their Visions so openly.

Aside from people like Bai Luo, who didn't care, there were those with considerable power.

So, which category did this man belong to?