Recaps

The chapter recounted the Great Serpent’s discovery of Teyvat’s history in “Before Sun and Moon,” including the origins of Enkanomiya and its artificial sun. It ended with Aberaku imprisoned and dying after the ruling elite accused him of trying to seize power.

• The chapter explained that the Heavenly Principles arrived in Teyvat, defeated the Dragon Sovereigns, and created humans and the Four Shades.
• The Second Throne’s war with the Heavenly Principles shattered the world, sending humans to the bottom of the sea, where they and the Bathysmal Vishaps struggled for survival.
• The Ruler of Time answered the humans’ prayers, and Aberaku later built the Dainichi Mikoshi, bringing light and prosperity to Enkanomiya, which became known as Byakuyakoku.
• Byakuyakoku’s elites established child Sunchildren as rulers and manipulated them for their own benefit.
• Aberaku resisted the Sunchildren’s rule, so the elites accused him of trying to usurp the throne and imprisoned him until he died inside the Dainichi Mikoshi.

Xiu Yuan reached Yashiori Island and prepared to intercept the great serpent, determined to prevent the coming war and protect Inazuma. Meanwhile, Zebu and Chiyo discovered Kitsune Saiguu’s weakness and repeatedly grabbed her by the scruff until she escaped as a fox.

• Xiu Yuan landed on Yashiori Island at sunrise and resolved to protect it from becoming a battlefield.
• Xiu Yuan traveled to the island’s western edge, where he planned to wait for and slay the great serpent.
• Xiu Yuan ate roasted fish, drank tea, and practiced the Tranquility Mantra while waiting.
• Zebu and Chiyo wondered why Xiu Yuan had gone to Yashiori Island, and Kitsune Saiguu denied having upset him.
• Chiyo grabbed Kitsune Saiguu by the scruff and found that it temporarily left her unable to move.
• Zebu repeatedly pinched Kitsune Saiguu by the scruff until she transformed into a white fox and fled.

After Kitsune Saiguu ran off angry, Zebu tried to make fried tofu as an apology gift with Chiyo’s help. Chiyo’s cooking lesson quickly went wrong when Zebu crushed the ginger and split the countertop.

• Zebu apologized to Kitsune Saiguu, who stuck out her tongue and ran off.
• Zebu asked Chiyo how to make amends, and Chiyo suggested making fried tofu herself as an apology gift.
• Chiyo brought ingredients and began teaching Zebu how to cook.
• Zebu ignored Chiyo’s advice about stabilizing the ginger and crushed it into mush while breaking the countertop in two.

Zebu and Chiyo spent the day struggling to cook fried tofu, and Zebu finally made an edible dish on her tenth attempt. Confident that Kitsune Saiguu would forgive her, Zebu dragged an exhausted Chiyo to the Grand Narukami Shrine to deliver it.

• Chiyo taught Zebu how to slice ginger, but Zebu struggled with the knife and broke the table while trying to cook.
• Zebu ruined several batches by adding too much salt and then too much water.
• After ten attempts and several trips by Chiyo to buy more ingredients, Zebu made fried tofu that Chiyo judged pretty good.
• Zebu celebrated her cooking success and hurried Chiyo toward the Grand Narukami Shrine to give the dish to Kitsune Saiguu.

Zebu and Chiyo got Kitsune Saiguu to try the fried tofu Zebu had made, and Kitsune Saiguu discovered it was delicious. Meanwhile, Xiu Yuan trained on Yashiori Island as Watatsumi Island’s plans to invade the east began to unfold.

• Zebu and Chiyo brought Kitsune Saiguu fried tofu, but Kitsune Saiguu panicked, fearing Zebu’s cooking.
• Chiyo assured Kitsune Saiguu that the tofu was safe and admitted she had taught Zebu to make it.
• Chiyo caught Kitsune Saiguu when she transformed into a fox and tried to flee, and Zebu fed her a piece of tofu.
• Kitsune Saiguu enjoyed the tofu, learned Zebu had made it, and looked forward to showing Sasayuri Zebu’s cooking.
• Xiu Yuan sneezed while doing one-handed push-ups on Yashiori Island as the Great Serpent’s invasion plan began to take shape on Watatsumi Island.

On Inazuma’s founding celebration, Xiu Yuan confronted Orobashi as the Great Serpent attacked Yashiori Island with Watatsumi’s fleet. Xiu Yuan wounded Orobashi and tried to stop the ships, but Orobashi’s tail sent him crashing into a mountainside.

• Baal returned from Celestia with a Gnosis, and Inazuma held its founding ceremony three days later.
• Orobashi led Watatsumi Island’s soldiers toward Yashiori Island, while Xiu Yuan noticed the approaching fleet and prepared to meet him.
• Orobashi ordered his ships to sail east, but Xiu Yuan cut two ships in half with a lightning-charged blade attack.
• Xiu Yuan struck Orobashi three times and drew blood, prompting the Great Serpent to attack him relentlessly.
• Orobashi swept Xiu Yuan aside with his tail, hurling him through trees and into a mountainside.

Xiu Yuan used lightning to paralyze the Great Serpent and struck a fatal blow, but the wounded Demon God’s final thrashing devastated both of them and crushed several Watatsumi Island soldiers. As the Great Serpent died, Xiu Yuan promised to protect Watatsumi Island and carry out his remaining wishes.

• Xiu Yuan discovered that he could accelerate his body and used the ability to evade the Great Serpent’s attacks while Watatsumi Island’s forces landed on Yashiori Island.
• Xiu Yuan deliberately baited the Great Serpent into attacking, then used a bolt of purple lightning to paralyze it and struck with his Resounding thunder technique.
• The Great Serpent regained movement just before the blow fully pierced its heart and thrashed wildly, crushing Watatsumi Island soldiers and severely injuring Xiu Yuan.
• Xiu Yuan endured the Great Serpent’s final resistance, then approached its head as the Demon God admitted defeat.
• The Great Serpent asked Xiu Yuan to protect Watatsumi Island’s people and kill the people who had landed on Yashiori Island.
• Xiu Yuan promised to carry on the Great Serpent’s will and protect Watatsumi Island before limping toward the shore.

Three days earlier, Baal returned to Inazuma with the Gnosis, and she, Zebu, Kitsune Saiguu, and Chiyo planned a Founding Celebration to establish new rules and commissions. They named the Tenryou, Kanjou, and Yashiro Commissions, then set out to ask Xiu Yuan who should lead the first two.

• Baal returned to Tenshukaku with the Gnosis and let Zebu examine it before keeping it herself.
• Zebu proposed a Founding Celebration, and Baal invited Kitsune Saiguu and Chiyo to discuss it.
• Kitsune Saiguu proposed dividing Inazuma's administration into finance and customs, security and military, and cultural affairs.
• Baal, Zebu, Kitsune Saiguu, and Chiyo agreed to establish the Tenryou Commission, the Kanjou Commission, and the Yashiro Commission.
• Kitsune Saiguu took charge of the Yashiro Commission, and the group left to ask Xiu Yuan who should lead the other two commissions.

Zebu, Chiyo, Kitsune Saiguu, and Baal found Xiu Yuan relaxing on Yashiori Island and told him Baal had obtained the Gnosis as they discussed Inazuma’s founding celebration and government. After asking to bring a mysterious friend to the ceremony, Xiu Yuan stayed behind to prepare to welcome him.

• Zebu, Chiyo, Kitsune Saiguu, and Baal kicked Xiu Yuan out of his hammock as a prank, and he covered up his training by pretending he had been napping.
• Baal told Xiu Yuan she had obtained the Gnosis and explained that they were planning Inazuma’s founding celebration and basic laws.
• Chiyo chose to oversee the Kanjou Commission’s finances, while Baal took charge of the Tenryou Commission’s military affairs and public order.
• Xiu Yuan asked to bring a friend to the ceremony and left its preparations to the others so he could go pick the friend up.
• After the four women returned to Narukami Island, Xiu Yuan remained on Yashiori Island to prepare for his friend’s arrival.

On the day of Inazuma’s founding celebration, Zebu, Baal, Chiyo, and Kitsune Saiguu admired their new outfits and enjoyed the festive streets. Their celebration was interrupted when a messenger reported that the Demon God Orobashi was attacking Yashiori Island.

• Chiyo gave Kitsune Saiguu a white dress, and Baal praised Zebu in the outfit she had chosen for her.
• The four women left the Tenshukaku and walked through Narukami Island’s festive streets.
• A frightened man rushed to Zebu and the others with news of an emergency.
• The messenger reported that Orobashi was attacking Yashiori Island.
• Zebu grabbed the messenger and demanded an explanation, but Baal calmed him and began questioning him.

After learning that the Great Serpent had attacked Yashiori Island, Zebu found Xiu Yuan alive but badly wounded among the dead, with his left hand missing. Several days later, Xiu Yuan woke and learned that he had defeated the Great Serpent and protected the island, though he remained severely injured.

• A villager told Baal that he had seen Orobashi fighting Lord Sasayuri near Yashiori Island, and Zebu rushed there ahead of the others.
• Zebu found the Great Serpent dead and discovered Xiu Yuan standing among corpses along the shore, drenched in blood and missing his left hand.
• Xiu Yuan begged Zebu not to harm the people of Watatsumi Island, then passed out from blood loss.
• Several days later, Xiu Yuan woke in a bandaged state, and Chiyo called Zebu and the others to his room.
• Xiu Yuan asked about the Founding Celebration, then explained that losing one hand to keep the people of Yashiori Island safe had been worth it.

After recovering from his battle with the Great Serpent, Xiu Yuan promised Zebu he would not face danger alone again and helped lead Inazuma into an era of peace. He then sailed toward Watatsumi Island to honor his promise to protect its people, planning to stop at Yashiori Island on the way.

• Zebu confronted Xiu Yuan for risking his life alone, and he promised to seek her help if danger arose again.
• After more than ten days of treatment, Xiu Yuan recovered enough for Inazuma to hold the Founding Celebration again.
• Xiu Yuan became head of the Tenryou Commission, while Kitsune Saiguu and Chiyo headed the Yashiro and Kanjou Commissions.
• Xiu Yuan told Zebu he needed to visit Watatsumi Island to protect its people and address their resentment toward Inazuma after the Great Serpent's death.
• With Zebu's permission, Xiu Yuan settled affairs with his subordinates and boarded a ship for Watatsumi Island, intending to stop at Yashiori Island.

After defeating the Great Serpent and preserving Yashiori Island’s peace, Xiu Yuan stopped at Higi Village on his way to Watatsumi Island. The grateful villagers loaded his boat with gifts, and he continued west toward his destination.

• A man from Higi Village recognized Xiu Yuan and asked how he was recovering.
• When Xiu Yuan said he was traveling to Watatsumi Island, the man hurried back to Higi Village.
• The villagers gathered to thank Xiu Yuan for protecting them from the Great Serpent and offered him food and supplies.
• Xiu Yuan accepted the villagers’ gifts, and they loaded them onto his boat.
• Xiu Yuan set off from Yashiori Island and eventually reached Watatsumi Island.

Xiu Yuan settled on Watatsumi Island despite its people’s hatred, intending to let them grow accustomed to him over time. After finding hostile messages covering his hut, he continued about his day and encountered a mother and daughter.

• Xiu Yuan carried supplies onto Watatsumi Island and passed residents who greeted him resentfully or watched him with hatred.
• Xiu Yuan built a wooden hut on the mountainside, then spent the night eating, drinking tea, and meditating.
• Xiu Yuan found hostile messages scrawled across his hut, but left to look for exercise equipment without reacting to them.
• A mother and daughter stepped out of their house as Xiu Yuan passed, and the little girl innocently asked why she had never seen him before.
• The mother pulled her daughter close, scolded her for speaking casually to Xiu Yuan, and hurriedly apologized.

Xiu Yuan tried to be kind to Watatsumi Island’s people, but their fear turned his gift to Reiko into a rumor that he ate children. After discovering his hut had been ransacked, he summoned the island’s residents and began laying down rules.

• Xiu Yuan gave Reiko a pastry, but overheard her mother warning her that he was a demon who ate children.
• Xiu Yuan found a boulder topped with a tree, cut through it, and carried the massive object back to his hut.
• Islanders spread a rumor that Xiu Yuan ate children and warned them to run from him.
• Xiu Yuan discovered that his hut had been ransacked and five of his belongings were missing.
• Xiu Yuan summoned everyone on Watatsumi Island with a threat to destroy everything, then began listing his rules.

Xiu Yuan warned the people of Watatsumi Island to return anything they had stolen and stop interfering with his life, making clear he would retaliate if they crossed the line. After they left, he resumed his quiet routine and reflected on his plans to limit his ties to Zebu and prepare for the coming Khaenri'ah war.

• Xiu Yuan told the gathered people they could insult him but demanded that anyone who had stolen from him return his belongings by morning.
• Xiu Yuan threatened to punish anyone who failed to return stolen items and warned them not to interfere with his life.
• Xiu Yuan sent the uneasy crowd home, then took out his treasured tea set and roasted a Sea Fish.
• Xiu Yuan thought that he would rather stay on Yashiori Island and intended to minimize his contact with Zebu and the others.
• Xiu Yuan drank tea, trained when he had spare time, and meditated to prepare for the Khaenri'ah war.

Xiu Yuan discovered Watatsumi Island lacked reliable food and left to address its basic survival needs, after secretly giving supplies to a hungry family. The woman who had received his kindness resolved to correct the villagers’ hostility toward him and set out with her children and the supplies he had left behind.

• Xiu Yuan returned four stolen items, found the thief’s apologetic note, and left meat and a message for the hungry family.
• Xiu Yuan surveyed Watatsumi Island and realized its people depended almost entirely on dangerous, unreliable fishing.
• Xiu Yuan left a note saying he had urgent business and departed Watatsumi Island to establish better conditions for survival.
• The woman found Xiu Yuan’s departure note and supplies, reflected on how unfairly the villagers had treated him, and decided to stop the misunderstandings.
• The woman told her children that Xiu Yuan’s kindness was being repaid with invisible knives, then led them into the village carrying his supplies.

Xiu Yuan returned to Watatsumi Island with seeds and animals, only to find that the islanders no longer seemed hostile and his cabin had been repaired. Rina apologized for stealing from him and explained that she had shared his food with the villagers and told them about the Xiu Yuan she knew.

• Xiu Yuan returned to Watatsumi Island with seeds, ducks, wild boars, squirrels, and other supplies.
• Xiu Yuan noticed that the islanders' hostility had vanished and found his cabin repaired and its insults removed.
• Rina approached Xiu Yuan with two children and apologized in person for stealing his things.
• Rina told Xiu Yuan that the children had enjoyed the meat he gave her, and the children thanked him.
• Rina admitted she had shared the food outside his door with the villagers, and Xiu Yuan said he was not angry.
• Xiu Yuan asked whether Rina had spoken to the villagers, and she said she had told them about the Xiu Yuan she knew.

Xiu Yuan lived peacefully on Watatsumi Island until a rescued Liyue merchant secretly entered his cabin at night. The next day, Xiu Yuan tracked the visitor to Gongshu’s home and learned his name was Yide.

• Xiu Yuan spent his days farming, exercising, and visiting with Rina and her children, who told him Gongshu had rescued a merchant while fishing.
• That night, Xiu Yuan sensed a man enter his cabin, linger briefly, and leave without approaching him.
• Xiu Yuan searched the village the next day and followed the visitor’s scent to a house on its outskirts.
• Gongshu introduced the rescued merchant as Yide and introduced Xiu Yuan as Watatsumi Island’s highest authority.

Xiu Yuan questioned Yide about his arrival on Watatsumi Island but could not work out why the merchant seemed afraid of him. Later, Jintai told Xiu Yuan to return for Kitsune Saiguu’s birthday and Yae Miko’s transformation, but Xiu Yuan planned to finish harvesting his crops first.

• Xiu Yuan spoke with Yide, who said Gongshu had rescued him after his ship was wrecked, and offered to help him return to Liyue.
• Xiu Yuan remained puzzled by Yide’s fear and his late-night visit, then returned home to train.
• Yide stayed on Watatsumi Island and went fishing with Gongshu rather than returning to his merchant work.
• Jintai arrived with word that Kitsune Saiguu’s birthday and Yae Miko’s human transformation would take place the following week.
• Xiu Yuan agreed to attend but said he would first harvest his crops, and Jintai left after delivering the message.

Xiu Yuan harvested his crops, gave Rina and her children seeds and grain, and left Watatsumi Island to prepare birthday gifts for Kitsune Saiguu and Rascal Fox. In his absence, Yide and Gongshu lured the villagers to the shore with a smoke signal, where a pirate crew arrived and claimed them as its captives.

• Xiu Yuan shared seeds and grain with Rina and her children, then asked Rina to care for his animals while he was away.
• Xiu Yuan left Watatsumi Island by boat to prepare gifts for Kitsune Saiguu and Rascal Fox, while a hidden man watched him go.
• Gongshu and Yide lit a smoky fire and told the villagers that Yide's merchant friends were coming with gifts.
• A large ship arrived, and a bearded man wielding a skull-adorned blade announced that the villagers were now part of his pirate crew.

Xiu Yuan left Watatsumi Island for Narukami Island to buy birthday gifts, still uneasy about Yide but deciding he would return soon. Meanwhile, Yide revealed that the ship bringing his supposed merchant friends carried pirates, and Gongshu realized the crates had held people.

• Xiu Yuan recalled his suspicions about Yide and set out to buy gifts for Kitsune Saiguu and the sly fox.
• Xiu Yuan bought a purple gemstone earring and a cherry-blossom comb, then headed to a restaurant to buy fried tofu.
• Yide's armed companions streamed off their ship on Watatsumi Island, shocking Gongshu, Rina, and the others.
• Yide mocked the islanders for trusting him and admitted that Gongshu's gullibility had helped his plan succeed.
• Gongshu remembered the noise from the iron crates and realized they had contained people, then broke down in despair.

Yide revealed that Rina had unknowingly helped him learn when Xiu Yuan would be away, allowing him to lead the Pirate Crew in raiding Watatsumi Island. As the pirates searched for the village’s children, Rina tried to flee with her own children but was pinned beneath a table while a pirate approached them.

• Yide thanked Rina for finding out that Xiu Yuan had gone to Narukami Island, then admitted that the information let him choose when to attack.
• Yide ordered the Pirate Crew to search the village for all fifty-eight children and kill anyone who resisted.
• The pirates raided Watatsumi Island, setting houses ablaze and spreading panic through the village.
• Yide told the captain that he had gained the villagers’ trust by praising them and giving them small benefits.
• Rina rushed home, grabbed her children, and tried to escape, but a pirate blocked the doorway.
• Rina attacked the pirate with a plate and a table, but he knocked her down and went after her children.

Rina died holding off a pirate to help her children escape, while Xiu Yuan and the others celebrated Yae Miko’s transformation into a human. The festivities ended when Rina’s voice reached Xiu Yuan, making him turn urgently toward Watatsumi Island.

• Rina clung to a pirate’s ankle and urged her children to escape and find Lord Sasayuri, but the pirate killed her and cut off her hands to free himself.
• Yide counted 58 children aboard the pirate ship and advised the captain to keep Rina’s two children unconfined because of their connection to Sasayuri.
• Xiu Yuan arrived at Tenshukaku with fried tofu and joined the others waiting for the Rascal Fox to take human form.
• The Rascal Fox transformed into a naked young Yae Miko, celebrated her new human form, and received gifts from Xiu Yuan and the others.
• Xiu Yuan heard Rina call for Lord Sasayuri in his mind and turned toward Watatsumi Island in alarm.

Xiu Yuan left the others and flew to Watatsumi Island after sensing that something had happened. He found the village devastated and learned that pirates had taken the children north, so he swore to rescue them and pursued them.

• Xiu Yuan sensed trouble and hurriedly left Baal, Chiyo, Zebu, and the others to fly to Watatsumi Island.
• Xiu Yuan reached the island and found much of the village destroyed, with injured and dead residents among the wreckage.
• A wounded man told Xiu Yuan that pirates had taken the children before collapsing, and another villager said they had gone north.
• Xiu Yuan swore to bring the children back and flew north in pursuit of the pirates.
• Xiu Yuan saw Gongshu hanging from a tree beside a bonfire with green leaves laid over it.