Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [289] [30 PS]

Some battles are planned, others are unexpected—but a true Champion embraces them all. Consider this bonus chapter one of those surprises.

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Facing the death-defying strike barreling toward her, Kujou Sara, an archer by trade, did not retreat. Gritting her teeth, she stood her ground and began charging her attack.

If you carry the resolve of death.

If your heart beats for Inazuma.

Then I will honor you with the respect of an Inazuman—and the respect of a warrior!

Majestic and everlasting—Raimei Eternal!

At the heart of the domain, two surges of lightning clashed in a dazzling explosion that forced everyone present to shield their eyes.

Brighter than the lightning itself was the indomitable resolve hidden within their techniques.

At the edge of the battlefield, Gu Sanqiu and Kazuha raised their arms to block the aftermath of the clash. The lightning domain collapsed inward, vanishing into nothingness, leaving behind scorched ground and deep scars carved by blade and lightning—proof of the fierce battle.

"Buyu!" Kazuha's expression tightened, and he moved to rush toward his fallen friend.

"Don't."

Gu Sanqiu pressed a firm hand on Kazuha's shoulder.

"Going now means admitting he's lost."

Kazuha froze, realization dawning on him.

"That strike, that wish—so strong, so pure."

Even the distant onlookers from the Shogunate's high ranks couldn't help but feel admiration for the nameless samurai.

From their perspective, the Draft Decree was not wrong. But from his perspective, the policy was a grave mistake.

There was no absolute right or wrong—only opposing stances.

Even the samurai tasked with guarding the Shogun's lands couldn't resist lightly tapping their chests in solemn respect. Not just for Kujou Sara but for the warrior who dared to challenge a god's gaze.

Respect.

The two figures lying on the battlefield commanded everyone's attention. They had seen countless duels, but rarely one this brutal.

Who had won?

"I… I can still fight!"

Buyu Raimei's voice broke the silence. The samurai, his body charred and his wounds reopened, used his blade to push himself shakily to his feet.

"Lady Kujou!"

The surrounding soldiers cried out, desperate to see their indomitable general rise again.

"To take a blow like that… and the guy even aimed for a vital spot. Wonder if he shifted the angle at the last moment."

Gu Sanqiu shook his head. From his vantage point, it was hard to gauge the details, but it seemed unlikely Kujou Sara could get back up.

"The Shogun's honor is sacred! Kujou Sara of the Tenryou Commission stands ready to sacrifice everything for her!"

Before Gu Sanqiu could finish his thought, Kujou Sara rose as well, her eyes glowing with raw Electro energy.

Great. Looks like I jinxed it myself.

Gu Sanqiu mentally smacked himself. Maybe if he'd believed harder that Kujou Sara wouldn't rise and cheered for her failure, she might have stayed down.

Then again, she'd probably have been so enraged she'd launch into round two of the duel herself.

"Heh… so you're still standing," Buyu Raimei rasped, forcing a pained smile.

"Come on, round two!"

"Apologies, but this battle is already over."

Kujou Sara's eyes flared as the lightning around her surged. "From the start, you were standing exactly where I wanted you to be!"

"Thunderflash—Explode!"

Lightning erupted beneath Buyu Raimei's feet, but instead of fear, his smile widened.

"Yeah, I know what's under me."

"My love for thunder, my understanding of it, won't lose to you!"

"You think I didn't prepare for this?"

Lightning surged beneath Kujou Sara's feet as well.

"Thunderblade!"

Boom!

Two towering pillars of lightning consumed them both, leaving the onlookers stunned. Each wondered what they would have done in the face of such overwhelming force.

For most, their willpower would have shattered at the first exchange, leaving them to lie helplessly and await death.

Achieving this level of combat required unmatched resolve and skill.

"Is this… mutual destruction?"

Gu Sanqiu frowned. What happens in a duel where both fall? Do they just execute both of them?

Surely not.

The two combatants were utterly spent, unable to rise after taking such devastating blows at close range. Not even a Vision-wielding warrior could endure that unscathed.

The soldiers exchanged glances with Gu Sanqiu and Kazuha, tacitly agreeing not to approach their fallen comrades. Any interference could be seen as conceding defeat for their side.

"What now? Are we just leaving Buyu to lie there?"

"Given the situation, we have no choice," Gu Sanqiu muttered. "Until the one above declares the duel's outcome, we can't act."

"A spectacular battle."

The Raiden Shogun's voice echoed from the Tenshukaku.

Gu Sanqiu mentally smacked himself again. Am I cursed today or what?

Or was this fate forcefully pulling the story back on track?

Alarmed by the thought, Gu Sanqiu's inner power flared to life, preparing for whatever came next.

"The result is a draw. Take Kujou Sara to rest."

"Yes!"

The soldiers cheered, with a few pushing their way through to carefully carry Kujou Sara to safety.

"You trespassed in the Tenshukaku, disrupted Inazuma's order, and spoke with insolence in my presence."

"Your crimes warrant execution."

Kazuha had just helped Buyu Raimei to his feet, and Gu Sanqiu was pressing a healing pill into his mouth when the sentence was pronounced.

"Execution?"

Gu Sanqiu's expression darkened. So the story's just going to hammer us down now?

Raiden Shogun raised her hands, lightning gathering in the ominous Thousand-Armed Statue of the Thousand Eyes and Hundred Hands.

"For your crimes, punishment shall be delivered!"

The Shogun raised her right hand, drawing a blade forged of gleaming violet crystal.

The air roared with thunder as overwhelming Electro energy coalesced. Lightning dragons and serpents spiraled around the Shogun, amplifying her divine aura.

"A strike imbued with all the resolve of the nation…"

Gu Sanqiu turned to Kazuha, a wry smile on his lips.

"Hurry up and wake him. His long-awaited Musou Isshin is about to be unleashed."

"What about you?"

Kazuha knew Gu Sanqiu intended to hold the line while he revived Buyu Raimei.

But how could anyone block that?

"Stay calm and don't act recklessly," Gu Sanqiu replied.

The oppressive lightning and divine might bore down on him, leaving Kazuha struggling to find words of encouragement.

"Don't worry. I won't."

"Not like I'm going to run up and sniff Musou Isshin to see what it smells like," Gu Sanqiu muttered.

He unsheathed his blade, channeling his power into the weapon. With sheer will, he wrested a fragment of the Shogun's lightning, bending it to his own use.

He stood firm, ready to face the Musou no Hitotachi head-on.

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T/N: Raimei means thunder or thunderclap btw :3c

A true Champion knows that every battle, every choice, and every unexpected twist shapes the path to mastery. Consider this bonus chapter a rare encounter—one that wouldn't be possible without the right support.

That's why you should support WiseTL at [patreon.com/WiseTL]—where every pledge helps bring more high-quality translations to life, staying true to the original while flowing naturally in English. After all, excellence is in the details.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more to prepare for. But you? You should take this opportunity—you never know what rare finds await.

—Cynthia