Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [276] [50 PS]

"Take care on your way back; the slopes of Yashiori Mountain are steep. Please be cautious."

Steep?

If I jump down right now, would you believe me?

Gu Sanqiu thanked the shrine attendant who had been answering his questions. It was likely because there weren't many visitors at the moment—normally, staff at "major attractions" like this wouldn't bother engaging so much.

Or, for the conspiracy theorists, maybe this person was deliberately waiting for him.

"Doing what you believe is right—is this their way of telling me to go head-to-head with eternity?"

Gu Sanqiu stroked his chin thoughtfully. "And what's with this 'heart aligned with thunder' nonsense? Am I supposed to shout 'Long live the Shogun!' while causing a scene in front of her dueling stage?"

No matter how he thought about it, something felt off.

"Maybe another interpretation of 'heart aligned with thunder' is just them telling me to hurry up?"

Ugh. Everything he'd encountered on this trip had been bizarre. Leaving aside the moment when Hayashi was suddenly frightened, he'd half-expected to be taken to some secret location in Narukami Shrine to meet the famed Guuji Yae.

"Still, perhaps it's better this way. If there were any deeper connections, it might actually make things harder to manage."

Gu Sanqiu tilted his head. Wait a minute, why am I thinking I'm so important? Does that fox really believe I can pull this off?

He knew better than anyone that challenging eternity this directly would almost certainly provoke a personal response from the Shogun. Even if his intentions were discovered, would she really think he had a solid plan?

I don't even have that much confidence in myself, okay!

Descending Yashiori Mountain, Gu Sanqiu went out of his way to find Hayashi, but the guy just told him to leave some extra treats next time and then unceremoniously shooed him off. He even "helpfully" suggested asking the clan for directions if he got lost.

"What the hell? I thought we were friends! Why are you acting like you're getting rid of a plague spirit?"

Grumbling, Gu Sanqiu left the Chinju Forest, puzzled by Hayashi's sudden shift in attitude.

Was it because he'd gone to the shrine? Did he smell like foxes now?

No way. Could this guy really detect scents like that even after turning into a statue?

Whoosh!

Gu Sanqiu's face changed. He ducked swiftly, drawing his blade in one smooth motion.

Slash!

Bright arcs of steel exploded around him, severing the arrows that had silently been shot his way.

The sound of footsteps came from all directions. In less than thirty seconds, he was surrounded by warriors clad in black combat attire, their faces obscured save for their eyes.

Not just warriors—some carried grimoires and orbs, their presence radiating elemental energy.

Vision wielders.

"Heh. Actual mages, huh?"

Gu Sanqiu sneered at the group encircling him, dark crimson flames starting to flicker along his blade.

"So that's why things have been so quiet. Turns out you've been waiting here for me."

"A test, huh? Fine. Bring it on!"

Letting out a low roar, Gu Sanqiu stepped forward with his left foot. His longsword slashed diagonally, its arc blazing with violent flames that surged toward the enemies in front of him.

"Attack!"

From behind, the warriors charged recklessly, their weapons aimed directly at his back. At the same time, the mages began chanting, casting elemental spells.

Fireballs, wind blades, and lightning chains wove together, forming a massive arm that descended toward Gu Sanqiu from above.

Using combo techniques like this—trying hard not to look suspicious, huh?

Gu Sanqiu resisted the urge to mock them further. If you're going to show off coordinated attacks, don't dress in black like you're trying to stay anonymous.

Just your timing and location scream you've got someone pulling strings behind you.

"Come on, then!"

Dark crimson flames surged behind Gu Sanqiu, condensing into the fiery figure of an armored warrior wielding a massive axe. With a powerful swing, the flaming figure cleaved the descending arm.

"Break!"

Gu Sanqiu's shout echoed as the axe strike compressed the flames into a concentrated explosion, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Boom!

An elemental blast erupted above him, its chaotic ripples spreading indiscriminately. Even those rushing at Gu Sanqiu from the side had to halt.

"Kill!"

Using the turbulence to his advantage, Gu Sanqiu exploited the gaps in the enemy's formation.

"Without a true master among you, flaws in your combined tactics are inevitable!"

His blade burned fiercely, its edge sharp and unyielding. The mages were forced to divert their efforts from controlling the elemental chaos to shielding their comrades, giving Gu Sanqiu the opening to break through the encirclement.

A frontal breakthrough!

"Good. Now it's my turn."

Gu Sanqiu tore off his tattered outer robe, revealing that while his sides were unscathed, his back was riddled with small cuts.

These guys had endured the first wave of elemental turbulence and even the fiery shadow's second strike to land a blow on him. Their determination made him suspect they were trained death soldiers.

But their tactics didn't quite fit the death-soldier mold.

If they'd forced an elemental explosion earlier, he might have had to secretly rely on defensive techniques to survive.

Still, it didn't matter. His approach was the same: outlast their gambits with his own madness.

"When it comes to insanity, my clan's never lost to anyone."

He'd been surrounded and injured because of the initial ambush, but now the situation had changed. Without a more powerful individual to turn the tide, the remaining enemies would be taken down one by one.

"Even if you regroup, it won't help!"

A test?

Fine!

Bring it on!

With newfound clarity, Gu Sanqiu wielded his longsword in sweeping arcs, its movements as ferocious as a primordial beast.

But to the enemy, his technique wasn't so straightforward.

What appeared to be a light, casual slash turned out to carry devastating force, shattering their weapons. Meanwhile, his heavier strikes moved with deceptive grace, bypassing defenses to incapacitate his opponents.

"That… that's the art of weighted strikes!"

One of them, recognizing the technique, gasped. A skill this difficult to master, executed with such proficiency—it was astonishing.

Gu Sanqiu's blend of light and heavy attacks created constant uncertainty for his enemies, their hesitation opening them up to his decisive strikes.

Before long, the battlefield was strewn with fallen warriors. Gu Sanqiu planted his sword in the ground, the fiery shadow of his armored ally fading away.

It had been the shadow's bell-ringing attacks that neutralized the mages' spells and protected him from interference. Though the cost in mental energy was high, it had been worth it.

"Impressive. To hone yin-yang techniques to such a level—it's rare to see," a voice remarked from the shadows.

Gu Sanqiu turned toward the figure. "Are you my next opponent?"

"Not at all. My skills are only suited for fleeing and hiding."

"I'm here to deliver a gift."