Hearing Beidou call out to Qiu Bai, Lumine and Paimon quickly turned around.
"Qiu... Qiu Bai?!"
"What are you doing here?"
Paimon exclaimed, looking at Qiu Bai with astonishment.
"Haha, just wandering around."
Qiu Bai explained with a smile.
"Thought I'd clear my mind a bit."
"Hello, Captain."
he said, turning to Beidou with curiosity.
"I'm surprised you know who I am."
"Of course I know you. Ningguang even suggested you might be an adeptus."
Beidou replied, eyeing the young man with some skepticism.
"She told me to treat you with special consideration if we ever met."
According to Ningguang, this Qiu Bai fellow was likely an adeptus.
"He's actually—"
Paimon was about to expose Qiu Bai when he quickly covered her mouth with his hand.
"You flatter me, Lady Beidou, I'm merely a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, nothing more."
Qiu Bai said, one hand still muffling Paimon while smiling at Beidou.
"Qiu Bai!"
Paimon freed herself from his grasp and glared at him with her hands on her hips, clearly annoyed.
"Ningguang is quite particular about people. For her to give you such high praise is quite rare."
Beidou said, arms crossed confidently across her chest.
"I've been wondering what kind of extraordinary talent you must be, and wanted to meet you myself."
"Besides, the seas have been much safer since the Immortal Lord dealt with Osial."
Beidou continued, spreading her hands as she explained.
"Everyone can sail without as many worries now."
"And judging by your attire, and the little creature beside you, I figured you must be the ones Ningguang mentioned."
Beidou smiled, glancing at Lumine and Paimon.
"Not a little creature! I'm Paimon!"
Paimon stomped her foot in protest.
"Paimon... hmm, truly an interesting being."
Just then, a young man stepped forward.
His white hair was tied in a short ponytail at the back of his head, with two strands sticking up slightly. Near these strands was a streak of red dye matching the color of his eyes. He wore a gray samurai garment with the outer layer of his furisode kimono only half-worn. The right half of his outer garment was secured at his waist, with the right furisode sleeve hanging behind him.
Around his neck were two scarves—one black and one red—with his Vision pinned to them. A maple leaf was fastened at his waist, and maple leaf patterns adorned his scarves, furisode, and dark red hakama. Below, he wore red leg coverings and black leg guards.
"From these three, I can sense not only the essence of wind and earth, but also a hint of... hmm, the stars?"
the young man said, examining Lumine and Paimon with a hand on his chin,
"And this gentleman..."
He continued, turning to Qiu Bai with surprise.
"Is truly mysterious. I cannot discern any elemental essence from him."
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
Paimon spread her hands in confusion.
"That's the strangest assessment I've ever heard."
"It's nothing, I simply believe that chance encounters are destined to have meaning."
the young man explained with a smile.
"Is he a bard too?"
Lumine asked Beidou curiously.
"Or perhaps your personal poet?"
The young man's appearance and manner of speaking certainly resembled that of a poet.
"How could you think I'd have interest in such refined pastimes?"
Beidou chuckled, hands on her hips.
"This is Kaedehara Kazuha. Due to certain circumstances, he's temporarily staying aboard my ship, he occasionally spouts poetic phrases."
Beidou explained, smiling toward the young man beside her.
"With a ship and sea breeze at one's disposal, it would be unappreciative not to compose a verse or two."
Kazuha said, standing beside Beidou with his arms crossed.
"Haha, that's fair."
Beidou laughed.
"How about I give you a chance to perform at the opening of the South Cross Fighting Tournament?"
"That would depend on my mood."
Kazuha replied, waving his hand dismissively.
"Poetry created for a specific occasion often lacks true inspiration."
"It's a rare opportunity and with great heroes participating, don't be so quick to refuse."
Beidou said with slight exasperation.
"Wait, what's the South Cross Fighting Tournament?"
Paimon asked, looking confused.
"And which heroes are you referring to...?"
"Eh? I thought you were here to register."
Beidou said, puzzled.
"You haven't heard of it?"
"The South Cross Fighting Tournament is a martial arts competition I'm organizing."
Beidou explained, spreading her hands.
"Many fighters looking to showcase their skills will participate."
"There are two important rules for participants. First, you need to have some reputation—at least not be someone who can't fight and just wants to join the excitement."
Beidou paused, glancing at Lumine and Paimon.
"Of course, you don't need to worry about that. No one has a bigger reputation than you right now. The second rule is that Visions cannot be used, otherwise the power disparity would be too great."
"Although I don't have a Vision..."
Lumine began, about to explain that she could wield two elements.
"Haha, you're confident in your abilities but don't underestimate the hidden talents of Liyue."
Beidou interrupted with a smile, misinterpreting Lumine's concern as overconfidence.
"Having a hero like you participate in my tournament would create quite a buzz."
Beidou continued enthusiastically.
"It would surely attract even stronger competitors."
"But we really didn't come to join the tournament!"
Paimon protested.
"Don't be so quick to refuse. I've prepared a special prize for this competition."
Beidou said mysteriously.
"It's... a masterless Vision."
Hearing this, Qiu Bai's mouth twitched slightly.
A Vision would be completely useless to Lumine.
"Actually, I provided it."
Kazuha interjected, gesturing toward Lumine.
"If the tournament winner can awaken this Vision, it will become theirs."
"I didn't know such things existed!"
Paimon exclaimed in surprise. This was the first time she'd heard about Visions having a masterless state.
"Why doesn't it have an owner?"
Lumine asked Kazuha curiously.
"When a Vision bearer passes away, the Vision loses its light."
Kazuha explained thoughtfully, hand on his chin.
"But the shell doesn't disappear. What purpose these empty shells serve remains inconclusive, but I believe that since they remain in this world, perhaps they're meant to be passed on to others."
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)