Chapter 39

The incident of the Raiden Shogun being injured was not publicly disclosed by the Tri-Commission, as it was not something they wanted to spread. After all, it wasn't good news for them either.

Not only was it kept under wraps, but all the soldiers present were also given strict orders not to speak a word about it.

However, the name "Battousai" and the events that followed the duel before the throne eventually spread throughout Inazuma.

It wasn't that the Shogunate soldiers were being reckless.

In fact, it had nothing to do with them. The rumors originated from Watatsumi Island.

The Raiden Shogun's setback was something the resistance was more than happy to publicize. After receiving the news from Kaedehara Kazuha, they began spreading it far and wide.

It even overshadowed the popularity of Bai Luo's light novel for a time.

If it had been Kujou Sara who was injured, it definitely wouldn't have caused such a stir.

Youkai were indeed powerful, but they weren't invincible. There were many legends of humans defeating youkai, and even some weaker tanuki were no match for ordinary woodcutters.

But gods were different.

The people of Inazuma grew up hearing stories about the Raiden Shogun.

The smithing techniques, swordsmanship, agriculture, fishing, and even cooking methods in the region were all said to have been passed down from the Raiden Shogun.

Well... the last one about cooking might be a stretch. It was either her sister, Makoto, or the people exaggerating her stories.

The idea of the Raiden Shogun cooking was as laughable as Morax having Mora.

In any case, the Raiden Shogun held a special place in the hearts of the Inazuman people.

It must be said that Watatsumi Island played a clever hand. After these rumors spread, the morale of the Shogunate forces took a significant hit, and they suffered several defeats in battle.

If it hadn't been for the Raiden Shogun personally stepping forward, confiscating a criminal's Vision at the Statue of the Omnipresent God, and displaying her extraordinary power, the Shogunate's morale might have taken a long time to recover.

At the same time, the Shogunate harbored deep resentment toward Kaedehara Kazuha. If it weren't for him, the Shogunate wouldn't have suffered so many losses in battle.

After the Battousai, who had injured the Shogun, disappeared, Kaedehara Kazuha, the only one with any connection to the incident, became the target of the Shogunate's wrath and was relentlessly pursued.

It wasn't until Kaedehara Kazuha voluntarily left the resistance that things began to improve.

After leaving the resistance, Kaedehara Kazuha completely vanished from Inazuma.

Some said he had been sunk by Shogunate soldiers during a naval battle at Nazuchi Beach and drowned in the sea.

Others claimed he had been captured by Shogunate soldiers and imprisoned at Fort Fujitou.

There were even rumors that he had joined the Fatui, becoming one of their lackeys, and had been sent back to Snezhnaya.

Even within the resistance, many had no idea where he had gone.

...

Endless thunderstorms seemed to tear the world apart, and the sea was filled with towering waves.

What was astonishing was that these storms only existed in the waters surrounding Inazuma and did not spread to other areas. It was like a barrier, both protecting and confining Inazuma.

This scene, reminiscent of divine punishment, reminded Beidou of the history of a neighboring nation, where the Tyrant of the Tower, Decarabian, had surrounded his entire kingdom with walls of wind.

How was this lofty Shogun any different from that tyrant?

"Captain! There's something ahead!"

As Beidou was lost in thought, the lookout on the mast suddenly called out to her.

"What is it?"

Hanging her wine gourd at her waist, Beidou asked.

They hadn't entered Inazuma through official channels. In a sense, they were smuggling themselves in. If they were discovered by Inazuman soldiers, they could be sunk without a word.

But as far as she knew, since Inazuma had been locked down by the thunderstorm, the naval forces of Inazuma had become largely useless, only being deployed during conflicts with Watatsumi Island.

"It looks like... a person."

The lookout squinted at the sea, unsure.

They were sneaking in under the cover of night, so visibility was poor. If it weren't for the faint glow of a Vision on the person, he wouldn't have been sure what it was.

"A person?"

Beidou focused for a moment and indeed sensed traces of Anemo energy not far away. The aura was faint, as if it was about to dissipate.

At the same time, she also sensed a hint of Electro energy.

"Haolong! Lower the boat and go rescue them!"

"Yes!"

As the helmsman of the ship, Haolong had Beidou's full trust.

After handing over the helm to his deputy, Haolong lit a torch, lowered a small boat, and rowed toward the target with Beidou and two other crew members.

Under the light of the torch, Beidou could see the situation on the sea.

From the broken pieces of wood floating around, it seemed there had been a shipwreck nearby, and the person in the water was likely the sole survivor.

Beidou knew better than anyone how dangerous the seas of Teyvat could be. As the captain of the Crux Fleet, she was arguably the person in Liyue who understood the sea the most.

Terrifying sea monsters, strange fish, and even the remnants of ancient gods...

For someone to survive in such conditions, they must be extraordinary.

"Captain, look at this."

Haolong, holding the torch, quickly fished a piece of cloth out of the water. After unfolding it, his expression turned serious.

Beidou took the cloth and examined it closely. It bore a strange emblem.

And this emblem was familiar to Beidou because the purpose of their journey was related to the faction it represented—Watatsumi Island.

Why would wreckage from a Watatsumi Island ship be floating here?

"Should we still rescue them?"

Haolong asked uncertainly.

If it were just an ordinary traveler or fisherman, rescuing them would be no issue. But since it involved the Shogunate and the resistance, the situation became more delicate.

After all, their presence here represented Liyue.

And Watatsumi Island had yet to formally respond to their negotiations. Acting rashly could lead to complications...

"Rescue them, of course."

Without hesitation, Beidou gave the order.

This wasn't about good or evil, or about factions. As someone who had spent years on the sea, Beidou knew how desperate someone in this situation would feel.

They... might be the only hope for the person in the water.

Under Beidou's direction, the small boat slowly approached the source of the Anemo energy.

However, the person in the water was in dire straits. They had almost completely lost consciousness and were only floating thanks to a piece of driftwood they were clutching.

The appearance of the torchlight finally made them relax, and their body, exhausted, began to sink into the water.

If Beidou hadn't reached out and grabbed them in time, they might have drowned in the final moments.

"This doesn't look like a Watatsumi Island soldier, does it?"

Haolong hadn't gone ashore during the negotiations with Watatsumi Island, which Beidou had handled entirely.

But while on the ship, he had noticed that the attire of the Watatsumi soldiers was quite different from this distinctive-looking young man.

"No, definitely not."

Beidou carefully placed the young man in the boat and covered him with a blanket.

She had already recognized the young man's true identity.