“Chongyun, if I attend the Rite of Descension with this lingering aura of evil spirits, could it cause any misunderstandings?” Jia Changjiang asked with a thoughtful frown. “Like, would people mistake me for an evil spirit?”
“No, that won’t happen,” Chongyun assured him, shaking his head. “The aura you carry is merely residual—it’s not actively influencing you. Moreover, with Rex Lapis present, no one would dare trouble you over such a faint trace of malevolence.”
He added with a calm tone, “The aura will dissipate naturally in time. There’s no need to worry.”
Chongyun’s explanation seemed reasonable, yet Jia Changjiang’s expression betrayed a hint of disappointment.
“I see…” Jia Changjiang muttered before shifting gears. “By the way, if someone wanted to visit the adepti, is there anything they should prepare?”
Chongyun blinked in surprise. “The adepti? Most reside in Jueyun Karst and rarely make appearances. They don’t take kindly to interruptions. Do you have a reason to seek them out?”
Jia Changjiang mumbled under his breath, “Not really. My hands are just itching…”
“Hmm? What was that?” Chongyun leaned closer, unsure of what he’d just heard.
“Nothing,” Jia Changjiang replied quickly, then changed the subject. “Speaking of, since your friend is busy, are you currently investigating leads on your own?”
“Yes,” Chongyun admitted with a nod. “But none of the leads I’ve followed have yielded anything substantial about actual evil spirits…”
“I was planning to meet up with Xingqiu soon. His family allowed him some freedom due to the Rite of Descension, so he’ll be joining me for the event. Liyue Harbor will get so lively during the ceremony, though…”
Chongyun hesitated, his tone tinged with worry. “I’m concerned that my pure-yang constitution might cause trouble in such an atmosphere.”
Jia Changjiang raised an eyebrow, curious. “This friend of yours, Xingqiu—what’s he like?”
Chongyun’s expression softened as he described him. “Xingqiu is a ‘heroic’ sort of person, and his martial skills are exceptional. I respect his talent and chivalry, though he does have a mischievous streak… He enjoys teasing me quite a bit.”
He continued, “He practices the ancient arts of the Guhua Clan and has an incredible aptitude for swordsmanship and spear techniques. He’s also very knowledgeable and loves reading.”
As Chongyun spoke, he suddenly recalled something Jia Changjiang had mentioned earlier. “Oh! Didn’t you say you were traveling to seek worthy opponents?”
Misunderstanding Jia Changjiang’s intentions, Chongyun innocently assumed he sought opponents to refine his martial skills.
“If that’s the case, you might find Xingqiu an excellent sparring partner. His understanding of Guhua swordsmanship, spear techniques, and even the combined Shengke Style is remarkable.”
Chongyun’s words lit a spark in Jia Changjiang’s eyes.
In Mondstadt, Jia Changjiang had already challenged familiar faces—like Kaeya—repeatedly. Word of his penchant for battle had spread, and many were reluctant to engage him.
Now, with Chongyun willingly offering himself as a sparring partner—and even recommending Xingqiu—it felt like a golden opportunity.
“Perfect!”
Jia Changjiang’s hand clapped down on Chongyun’s shoulder, his expression alight with excitement. “No need to wait. Let’s find your friend Xingqiu right now!”
“Uh, but aren’t you here for the Rite of Descension?” Chongyun asked, confused.
“That can wait! I can’t exactly challenge Rex Lapis to a duel, can I? Might as well keep myself busy until the ceremony starts.”
“Don’t worry, I’m only interested in exchanging techniques… Really!”
—
“Ah-choo!”
Xingqiu, who was quietly reading, sneezed unexpectedly.
Nearby, Lumine and Paimon turned to glance at him, but Xingqiu remained focused on his book.
Earlier, Lumine and Paimon had been searching for the Teyvat Travel Guide: Liyue Edition when they encountered Xingqiu. Their meeting had quickly escalated into an altercation with a group of thugs posing as Fatui, attempting to strong-arm the merchant Chang Nine into selling Noctilucous Jade.
Now, Lumine and Xingqiu were preparing to intervene.
Their actions, however, had not gone unnoticed. Hidden observers recorded their every move before attaching written accounts to messenger pigeons, which were promptly released.
The reports eventually found their way to an elegant desk, where they joined another set of documents detailing Jia Changjiang’s activities with Chongyun.
A slender hand adorned with gold nail guards picked up the two freshly delivered reports.
Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Qixing, studied the documents carefully.
The arrival of Mondstadt’s famed heroes had not escaped her notice.
In Liyue, understanding one’s potential allies—and enemies—was a fundamental strategy. Ningguang saw no reason to treat Jia Changjiang and Lumine any differently.
Their reputations alone made them figures worth observing. Their personalities, as described in the reports, were strikingly distinct, and Ningguang knew that strong personalities often came with exploitable weaknesses.
Whether to recruit their power or prepare for potential opposition, knowing their vulnerabilities was essential.
“Lumine… and Jia Changjiang…” Ningguang murmured, her gaze sharp as she pieced together the reports.
“Here for the Rite of Descension, it seems.”
A small smile tugged at her lips as she pinned the documents to a board.
“These two might just be worth an investment.”
—
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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