"Heh, a sacrificial playstyle. Truly absurd."
Gu Sanqiu glanced at the "samurai" who were fanning the flames. Without exception, they all seemed to be in excellent condition—far too well off to have experienced the hardships of true wandering samurai, where meals were uncertain and survival tenuous. Their private militia origins were glaringly obvious.
"This can't go on! We cannot let this recruitment order proceed!"
"If they succeed this time, they'll only escalate further. Even the Vision Hunt Decree might grow more oppressive."
"Right now, some of Inazuma's soldiers and citizens still retain their Visions. But who knows what will happen after this?"
His friend gritted his teeth and turned to Kazuha.
"We're going!"
"To Tenshukaku!"
"Now?"
Kazuha looked surprised. "What do you plan to do?"
"Face the supreme ruler directly and plead for her to show mercy to Inazuma's people," his friend declared resolutely. "And if that doesn't work, we'll force the issue!"
"Let's go. Together."
Gu Sanqiu spoke calmly. "Heading to Tenshukaku now might also delay the proceedings here. Any time we can buy is worth it."
"You're coming too?"
Kazuha glanced at him. "What's your plan?"
"My plan?" Gu Sanqiu smirked. "A duel before her throne."
"At this point, there's no other way to deliver our message to her directly."
"Right now, the true upper echelons of the Tri-Commission are all in Inazuma City. They're waiting—for this event's outcome."
"Or perhaps, for another feast to carve up the spoils of power."
"Fine," his friend declared with a burst of bravado. "The three of us will break through together!"
"Let's do it."
Gu Sanqiu's hand brushed the hilt of his blade. "Tenshukaku... I've been waiting for this day for a long time."
"By the way," Gu Sanqiu turned to his friend, "we've known each other for a while now. What's your name, anyway?"
He chuckled lightly. "I can't keep calling you 'friend.' You're a pivotal character in this story—surely you deserve a proper name."
"My name?" His friend blinked. "Ah, right. I never introduced myself. That's a bit careless of me."
Kazuha shook his head. "His name is… unique. Or rather, he only has a surname. His given name hasn't been decided yet."
What?
Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean? Did your ancestors have dealings with some wandering hermits in Liyue or something?"
He had seen this sort of thing before—having only a surname without a given name—though it was a rare tradition tied to certain family customs.
"Uh, not exactly. It's more like a family tradition," his friend laughed. "My given name is up to me to decide. I just found it troublesome and haven't bothered yet."
"My surname is Buyu. As for the rest... it's already decided."
"Raimei. Buyu Raimei."
"Spring thunder roars, bringing life to all things. The heavens' radiance shelters the people of Inazuma."
Buyu Raimei gripped his sword tightly.
"But no one should rely solely on the Shogun—not even an old farmer in the fields or a dock worker at the harbor. Everyone should wield their own thunderous light!"
"With a clap of thunder, we'll awaken them all—awaken all of Inazuma!"
"Let's go!"
With Buyu Raimei at the lead, the trio strode toward Tenshukaku. Along the way, private militia soldiers, samurai, and even official staff from the Tenryou Commission instinctively stepped back into the shadows.
The killing intent emanating from the man at the front was palpable, even laced with a hint of deathly resolve. The two flanking him were no less intimidating. The combination was enough to spark fear in anyone who encountered them.
"Afraid?"
Buyu Raimei smirked. "Good. That's not fear of our strength—it's fear of the will we carry."
"An old era colliding with the new. Tradition clashing with reform!"
Gu Sanqiu chuckled. "Unchanging eternity? Perhaps it's time for a change."
"But there's something I must ask. Your surname, Buyu... it's risky, don't you think?"
With a grin, Gu Sanqiu teased, "How about changing it to 'Buyu Raijin'? What do you think?"
"Cough, cough!"
The overwhelming momentum instantly deflated. Even Kazuha coughed twice and gave Gu Sanqiu an exasperated look.
Are you trying to get him killed sooner?
Gu Sanqiu's words brought the danger of the name into sharp focus. Even Raimei's current surname and title, paired with the "Buyu" prefix, were already audacious. Changing it to "Raijin" would be outright suicidal.
"Absolutely not!"
Buyu Raimei gave an awkward laugh. "I swear, there's no ulterior motive behind my chosen name. It's just as I explained earlier."
---
"Halt!"
At the gates of Tenshukaku, the guards noticed the trio's unabashed battle-ready demeanor. Instinctively, they raised their weapons, pointing them at the intruders.
"This is the Shogun's residence! Unrelated individuals must leave immediately!"
"We're not unrelated."
Gu Sanqiu unsheathed a blade that appeared to have been a gift from a fox.
"We wish to see the Shogun."
Cook for me, Shogun.
Of course, he didn't dare say that out loud.
"Leave now! The Shogun is not someone you can meet on a whim!"
The guards were fanatically loyal to the Shogun. The casual tone in Gu Sanqiu's voice seemed to ignite their fury. Weapons glinted as they lunged for his chest.
"Ride the winds!"
Kazuha swung his blade, summoning a small vortex of wind that swept the frenzied guard aside.
"A Vision bearer!"
"Everyone, subdue them!"
"Looks like there's no choice."
Buyu Raimei nodded. "Indeed, there's no other way. By conventional means, we'd never get to see the Shogun."
"Then let's fight."
Buyu Raimei closed his eyes.
If no one realized the true nature of this recruitment order, what would happen next?
Scattered blades, rivers of blood, and the anguished cries of both soul and flesh...
"I came here to change all of that!"
Buyu Raimei opened his eyes, purple lightning surging around him like a tempest. It was as if celestial warriors of thunder had descended.
"Samurai, Vision bearer—Buyu Raimei, at your service!"
Kazuha smiled faintly.
If this was his friend's decision, he would support it unconditionally.
He had never left a dear friend to face a formidable enemy alone.
"Wandering samurai, Vision bearer—Kaedehara Kazuha, at your service!"
"Flowing freely!"
With another sweep of his blade, small wind vortices appeared, disrupting the guards' formation.
"Well, everyone's announced their names. How could I miss such a theatrical moment?"
Gu Sanqiu grinned. Activating his Delusion, an armored crimson figure with a radiant halo behind its head appeared.
"Wandering samurai, heir to Onmyodo—Ryukai Genzawa, at your service!"
---
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