Chapter 13

[Today's double update, here you go qaq]

Morning mist shrouded the docks of Ritou, and the sea breeze swept in, carrying the scent of salt and damp.

Baichen tightened his collar, making sure his cloak covered the conspicuous marks on his earlobes. The bite mark on the right was especially sensitive this morning; even the gentle sea breeze brought a subtle sting.

[System notification]

[The antidote for "Camellia Love" is complete]

[Side effect: Raiden Shogun's mark sensitivity + 50% (time remaining: 24 hours)]

The dockworkers had already begun their day's work.

Following the instructions on Kokomi's note, Baichen found the Sea Moon, a cargo ship moored at the easternmost end of the docks.

Several men dressed as merchants stood on deck. When they saw him approach, one of them gave a slight nod and gestured for him to come aboard.

The cabin was more luxurious than he had imagined. Sangonomiya Kokomi knelt before a low table, brewing tea.

Today, instead of her signature shrine maiden attire, she wore a navy-blue Liyue-style long robe. Her long pink-and-blue hair was loosely pinned up with a wooden hairpin, making her look like an ordinary merchant's daughter.

"Mr. Baichen, please sit." She looked up and smiled, her coral-colored eyes glimmering in the dim cabin. "I'm sorry for inviting you to meet this way."

Baichen sat down across from her, careful not to touch the tea. "What did you want to see me about, Lady Kokomi?"

"Two things." Kokomi set down the teapot. "First, congratulations on freeing yourself from the effects of 'Camellia Love.'" Her gaze swept over Baichen's earring. "Though the price was that the Shogun's mark became more sensitive."

The precision of her observation sent a chill down Baichen's back.

Kokomi gave a soft laugh and took a small conch from her sleeve. "Don't be nervous. That's merely a strategist's power of observation. This is for you. It can ease the discomfort."

The conch felt smooth and warm in his hand, and wave-like white noise came from within it. Strangely enough, the sting in Baichen's right ear immediately eased considerably.

[Item obtained: Watatsumi Calming Conch]

[Effect: reduces elemental mark sensitivity]

"What was the second thing?" Baichen asked, gripping the conch.

Kokomi's expression turned serious. "I'd like to ask you to serve as a peace envoy between Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate." She slid a document across the table. "This is a proposal to open trade routes to Watatsumi Island. I hope you'll pass it on to the Shogun."

Baichen opened the document. Its terms were indeed mutually beneficial.

But the appendix on the last page made his pupils contract. It contained a detailed record of the Fatui's troop deployments across Inazuma's islands.

"This is..."

"My sincerity," Kokomi said softly. "Watatsumi Island has no wish to collude with the Fatui, but certain clans..." She paused pointedly. "Might not feel the same."

He was just about to ask more when a commotion suddenly broke out outside the cabin.

Kokomi's expression changed drastically, and she quickly gathered up the document. "Someone's coming. Go through the rear cabin door, quickly!"

Baichen had barely risen when the cabin door was flung open. Standing in the doorway was none other than the Raiden Shogun!

Today she wore kendo attire that allowed her to move freely, her long purple hair tied high. The lightning in her eyes showed that she was on the verge of fury.

"Y-Your Excellency..." Baichen instinctively took a step back.

Ei's gaze swept between Baichen and Kokomi before settling on the document in Kokomi's hand. "Sangonomiya Kokomi, you've overstepped."

Kokomi bowed, neither servile nor haughty. "We were merely discussing trade, Your Excellency."

Ei sneered and suddenly reached out, pulling Baichen to her side.

The movement tugged at the mark on his right ear, and an intense tingling sensation instantly shot through his entire body. Baichen nearly lost his footing.

"My person needs no concern from Watatsumi Island," she said coldly, then dragged Baichen out of the cabin.

[Raiden Shogun's affection - 3%, current value 59%]

[Note: anger at unauthorized contact with a hostile force]

On the way back to Tenshukaku, Ei said nothing. Her grip on Baichen's wrist was so tight it nearly crushed the bones.

Only when they entered her private tearoom did she release his hand:

"I need an explanation."

Baichen steeled himself and pulled out the document Kokomi had given him. "She really was just talking about trade... and there's this."

Ei glanced at the appendix, her pupils narrowing slightly. "The Fatui's troop deployments..." She looked up at Baichen. "Why give it to you?"

"She said... she wanted me to be a peace envoy."

"Naive." Ei sneered. "Sangonomiya Kokomi never does anything without a reason."

She put the document away. "Still, the intelligence is valuable. I'll send someone to verify it."

The tension eased slightly, and Baichen ventured a question. "How did you happen to go to Ritou?"

"Miss Ganyu mentioned seeing a suspicious ship at the docks," Ei said evenly. "I merely stopped by to investigate."

Her answer warmed Baichen's heart-she had been worried about him. Ei seemed to see through his thoughts and turned her face away. "Don't flatter yourself. If something happened to you, it would be troublesome for me."

[Raiden Shogun's affection + 1%, current value 60%]

That afternoon's sword training was even harsher than usual. Ei seemed to vent all her anger through the training, every strike exceptionally fierce. Baichen barely held on for half an hour before he was defeated, his wooden sword flying from his hand.

"Weak," Ei said coldly. "Without strength, you can't even protect yourself."

The words stung Baichen's pride. He gritted his teeth and picked up the wooden sword. "Again."

A trace of approval flashed in Ei's eyes, but her attacks did not relent in the slightest.

Just as Baichen was about to reach his limit, a system notification suddenly appeared:

[Strong emotional fluctuation detected]

[Temporary skill unlocked: Adversity Burst]

A rush of warmth suddenly surged from his dantian into his limbs, and Baichen's movements instantly became much more agile.

He actually managed to block Ei's next strike, the two wooden swords clashing with a crisp crack.

"Oh?" Ei raised an eyebrow slightly, and her attacks suddenly grew faster.

With the temporary skill's help, Baichen miraculously held out for another five minutes before losing.

Ei put away her wooden sword and, unusually, offered him praise. "You've improved."

She stepped closer and suddenly reached out to press the bite mark on Baichen's right ear.

A powerful surge of Electro flowed into him, intertwining with the warmth that had yet to dissipate inside his body and creating a wondrous resonance.

"Do you feel it?" Ei asked quietly. "That's what it feels like to grow stronger."

[Reward obtained: swordsmanship experience + 20%]

[Raiden Shogun's affection + 2%, current value 62%]

After training, Baichen had just stepped out of the dojo when he ran into Ganyu, who had been waiting for some time. The Liyue secretary had changed back into her formal uniform today. Her ice-blue hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and her qilin horns gleamed like pearls in the sunlight.

"Mr. Baichen!" She hurried over. "I'm really sorry about yesterday. I didn't know..."

"It's all right." Baichen managed a smile. "The Shogun didn't give you any trouble, did she?"

Ganyu shook her head and took an exquisite brocade box from her bag. "Lady Ningguang asked me to give you this as an apology."

Inside the box was a jade pendant shaped like a dragon scale. It felt warm to the touch and bore the four characters for "peace and happiness."

"It's a Liyue tradition to give jade as an apology."

Ganyu explained, "Lady Ningguang said you're welcome to visit Liyue anytime."

Baichen was about to thank her when Ganyu suddenly lowered her voice. "Also... if you want to grow stronger, you could consider learning elemental control. You have a strong affinity for Electro, but you lack systematic training."

The suggestion stirred something in Baichen.

Indeed, aside from relying on system rewards, he also needed to master real power himself.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

Ganyu thought for a moment. "Liyue's 'Elemental Resonance Technique' is well suited to beginners. If you're interested, I can..."

Her words were interrupted by the clear ringing of bells.

Yae Miko had appeared at the end of the corridor at some point, the kagura bells in her hand jingling.

"Oh my, isn't this Liyue's little secretary?" She walked over with a smile. "Trying to poach someone from our Inazuma?"

Ganyu's face immediately turned red. "No! I was just..."

"I'm joking~" Miko affectionately wrapped an arm around Ganyu's shoulders. "But little Baichen is someone the Shogun is 'taking special care to cultivate' now, you know?" She deliberately emphasized those words.

[Ganyu's affection + 2%, current value 13%]

Miko insisted on joining their conversation, and the three of them eventually went to Tenshukaku's garden together. With Ganyu's expert explanation, Baichen gained a basic understanding of elemental control.

"Like this." Ganyu formed a ball of ice in demonstration. "The key is your breathing rhythm and directing it with your mind."

Baichen tried to imitate her movements, but only a few faint sparks of lightning flickered in his palm. Miko could no longer stand watching and suddenly grasped Baichen's wrist from behind:

"Not quite~ Do it like this..." Her palm covered the back of Baichen's hand as she guided the flow of Electro. "Imagine it's an extension of your body."

The intimate position pressed Baichen's back against her chest, and he could clearly feel her heartbeat. Watching from the side, Ganyu blushed from her face to her ears, and even her qilin horns began to glow faintly.

[Yae Miko's affection + 2%, current value 24%]

Toward evening, Kujou Sara suddenly came to find Baichen, saying the Shogun had summoned him. When he arrived at the administrative hall, he found Ei reviewing a stack of documents-the very ones Kokomi had given him that morning.

"It's been verified. The intelligence is largely accurate," she said without looking up. "The Fatui really have been secretly increasing their forces."

Baichen waited quietly for her to continue.

Ei finally looked up, a trace of weariness flashing in her violet eyes. "I'm considering accepting Watatsumi Island's proposal. But as for the peace envoy..." She paused. "I have someone else in mind."

"Then what about me..."

"Starting tomorrow, you'll learn archery from Kujou." Ei abruptly changed the subject. "Since your elemental power is insufficient, make up for it with a weapon first."

The arrangement surprised and moved Baichen.

Ei rose and walked over to Baichen, her fingers gently brushing the bite mark on his right ear. After a day of training, its sensitivity had already diminished considerably.

"Remember, growing stronger isn't for anyone else." Her voice was unusually gentle. "It's for yourself."

[Raiden Shogun's affection + 3%, current value 65%]

[New objective unlocked: the path to growing stronger on your own]

Early the next morning, Baichen arrived at the training grounds. Kujou was already waiting there, with all kinds of bows and arrows laid out beside her.

"The Shogun has ordered us to start with the most basic Japanese bow."

She handed Baichen a plain wooden bow. "First, learn the stance."

Kujou's teaching style was completely different from Ei's-rigorous and meticulous, with every movement corrected over and over.

By the end of the morning, Baichen's arms ached terribly, but at least he could now ensure that three out of every ten arrows hit the target.

"Not bad." Kujou offered him a rare word of approval. "We'll practice on moving targets this afternoon."

At lunch, Baichen ran into Ganyu admiring the flowers in Tenshukaku's courtyard. Seeing how tired he looked, she thoughtfully offered him a box of special Liyue medicinal ointment.

"Apply it to sore muscles. It works very well." She smiled. "Have you given any thought to the elemental training we discussed yesterday?"

Baichen nodded. "I'm very interested, but I don't know where to start..."

"I can teach you some basics." Ganyu's eyes lit up. "As it happens, I'll be staying in Inazuma for another two weeks."

They agreed to practice in a side courtyard of Tenshukaku every day after dinner. Ganyu's expertise was surprising-she had even prepared a set of breathing exercises and a meditation guide suitable for beginners.

[Ganyu's affection + 3%, current value 16%]

And so Baichen's life settled into a new rhythm: swordsmanship with Ei in the morning, archery with Kujou in the afternoon, and elemental control with Ganyu in the evening. Every day left him exhausted, but he could clearly feel himself growing stronger.

One evening a week later, when Baichen succeeded in imbuing an arrow with Electro, Kujou was so surprised that her wings spread open. "You're improving so quickly!"

"It's because my teachers are excellent," Baichen said modestly, though he understood that it was thanks to the combined effects of the system's rewards and his own efforts.

[Skill unlocked: Electro Arrow]

[Effect: arrows deal Electro damage]

After dinner, Ganyu was even more excited than usual. "Mr. Baichen, today let's try elemental resonance!"

Under her guidance, Baichen tried combining Electro and Cryo. At first he failed repeatedly, until Ganyu took his wrist and guided the flow of the two elements.

"That's it..." she encouraged him softly. "Feel their frequencies..."

Something wondrous happened. Baichen's Electro intertwined with Ganyu's Cryo, forming a ball of ice sparkling with electricity in his palm. Ganyu's eyes widened in delight. "Wonderful! You're learning even faster than I imagined!"

[Ganyu's affection + 4%, current value 20%]

[New skill unlocked: Electro-Charged Reaction]

When Baichen returned to his room, he found a package on the table. Inside was a set of exquisite armor, with a note from Ei beside it:

"Starting tomorrow, participate in the Tenryou Commission's combat drills. -Ei"

The armor was light but sturdy, with a lining made of a special conductive material that could enhance the transmission of Electro. Baichen stroked the lightning-patterned decoration on the chest, warmth welling up in his heart.

Outside the window, moonlight fell on Tenshukaku's upturned eaves. In just two weeks, Baichen had gone from a transmigrator too weak to truss a chicken to a cultivator with a basic grasp of combat skills.

The system panel flickered before his eyes, displaying the improvements in his various abilities:

[Current ability values:

Swordsmanship: LV.32 (+15%)

Archery: LV.25 (+10%)

Electro control: LV.41 (+20%)

Overall combat power: C + rank]

Even more gratifying were the changes in affection:

[Raiden Shogun: 65% (deeply attentive)]

[Yae Miko: 24% (strong interest)]

[Ganyu: 20% (professional appreciation)]

[Sangonomiya Kokomi: 19% (strategic importance)]

Baichen's fingers unconsciously brushed the two marks on his earlobes. He rarely wore the Kamisato Clan's earring anymore, but Ei's bite mark was still clearly visible.

In this female-dominated Teyvat, he had finally begun to find his own place and path.

But deep in his heart, one question remained impossible to shake: when he became capable of true independence, how would these strong-willed women react?

And where would the system's so-called "romance rewards" ultimately lead him?