“Xiangjun, is this your first time sailing into open waters?”
“Ah, probably,” Gu Sanqiu replied with a casual shrug. “The last time, I just borrowed a small boat and took a spin around Guyun Stone Forest.”
“‘Took a spin’?”
Chongzu gave him a bewildered look. “That place isn’t exactly a tourist spot, you know. You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.”
“Since you’ve been out to sea before, I guess you’ve got the basics down,” Chongzu said, his tone lightening. “But Beidou wanted me to go over some things with you anyway, just in case.”
He added with a grin, “Do you have a specific destination in mind for this trip? If not, I can recommend a few sights in Inazuma.”
“Wait, foreigners can just roam freely there now?”
Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow in doubt.
“Ah, you’re right,” Chongzu admitted, scratching his chin. “Most people can’t even leave Ritou. That’s definitely a problem.”
“But the Crux Fleet has connections over there. If you want to look around, we can probably pull some strings for you.”
“No need. Just focus on your business,” Gu Sanqiu replied, shaking his head.
He knew Beidou’s “connections” likely referred to Thoma and his network, but it wasn’t the right time to engage with them. His trip to Inazuma was going to be a solo operation—survival mode. There was a good chance he’d have to figure out the return journey entirely on his own.
Ridiculous? Yes. But that’s what makes it fun.
Stretching his body under the morning sun, Gu Sanqiu breathed deeply. Spending too much time cooped up in Liyue Harbor left him feeling restless. He wasn’t about to compete with Xiao for work, but opportunities to truly test his strength were few and far between.
As for Yaya?
What’s the point of sparring with someone who hides her true strength? That’d just leave me frustrated.
And there was no way he was going to trick her into showing her full power prematurely—especially not when the Fatui could change strategies at any moment. Keeping variables to a minimum was smarter.
“Unidentified turbulence ahead! Possible sea monster sighting! Ready the ballistae! Combat crew, prepare for action!”
Xu Liushi’s shout rang out from the crow’s nest.
Chongzu stiffened momentarily, his expression turning sharp as he transformed into a seasoned fighter.
“Xiangjun, I need to get to work.”
“Go ahead. If there’s a big sea beast, leave it to me,” Gu Sanqiu said, waving him off as he lightly leapt onto the crow’s nest platform.
“Hey, how big is the turbulence up ahead?” he asked.
“It’s hard to tell, but the waves are flowing against the current, so it’s likely a large sea beast or a group of them lingering in the area,” Xu Liushi explained. “Sea creatures are usually far more sensitive than us. If they’ve noticed the fleet and aren’t leaving, they probably have their eyes on something.”
“So, taking them down and adding them to the menu wouldn’t be an issue, right?”
“Uh… I guess that’s one way to put it,” Xu Liushi said with a wry nod.
“Got it. Thanks for the info.”
Clapping Xu Liushi on the shoulder, Gu Sanqiu jumped down to the bow of the ship, shading his eyes as he peered toward the turbulent waters.
“Oh, nice! Definitely a sea beast. Bigger than that oversized clam from last time.”
The waters of Teyvat were divided into two types: the relatively safe areas under the protection of the Archons and the dangerous “open seas” filled with chaotic creatures.
Though the two zones were largely separate, the ocean’s interconnected nature allowed for biodiversity to thrive. No one had the resources to fence off the entire sea with protective nets.
“Sorry about this. I’ve been trying to keep my wings folded to avoid stirring up any unnecessary storms, but I’m in a bit of a hurry,” Gu Sanqiu muttered.
Reaching out, he summoned a massive ballista arrow designed for ship-mounted weaponry.
“Die!”
With a surge of elemental energy, he gripped the arrow tightly, narrowed his eyes, and hurled it with all his strength toward the sea beast.
Whoosh!
The sharp whistle of the projectile pierced the air, making even the non-combat crew flinch. The arrow, glowing with swirling green and yellow energy, struck its mark with precision, embedding itself in the sea beast’s skull.
Hands in his pockets, Gu Sanqiu floated back to the crow’s nest on a gentle wind current.
“So? Is it dead?” he asked casually.
While he could clearly see the waves calming, he didn’t want to risk the creature pulling any underhanded tricks. Details like that were better left to seasoned sailors.
“The turbulence has subsided, so it’s most likely dead,” Xu Liushi confirmed. “Creatures capable of stirring up waves like that are highly aggressive. If it weren’t dead, it would’ve already retaliated.”
“Good to know.”
Xu Liushi couldn’t help but admire Gu Sanqiu’s demeanor. For someone so young, his calm approach to such a dangerous situation was impressive.
Still, Xu Liushi couldn’t shake the thought: If I had that kind of power, I’d probably act a little more… indulgent. But this guy? Not even a hint of arrogance.
What Xu Liushi didn’t realize was that Gu Sanqiu’s meticulous caution in smaller matters was precisely what allowed him to remain composed—even when his wild schemes inevitably spiraled out of control.
“By the way, is that thing edible?”
“Edible?” Xu Liushi blinked in confusion. “Probably not. Back when the seas were chaotic, pirates would force their prisoners to eat this stuff as punishment. No one ever survived.”
“Ah, never mind, then.”
If it required detoxification just to be edible, he wasn’t interested. Besides, turning Beidou’s ship into a blood-scented mess wasn’t exactly appealing.
The last thing anyone wanted was to turn the vessel into a giant lure for more predators.
“Hahaha! Not bad, kid!”
Beidou clapped Gu Sanqiu on the back, laughing heartily. “Taking down a sea beast from that distance? Impressive!”
“From now on, any big sea monsters we run into are your responsibility. Take them out from afar!”
Not only would it keep their journey smooth and save time, but it was also incredibly cost-effective.
Using the ship’s ballistae would’ve required multiple arrows and crew coordination—and risked injuries. But Gu Sanqiu, a walking biological superweapon, only needed food, water, and some time to recharge his elemental energy to maintain that level of firepower.
“No problem,” Gu Sanqiu replied with a grin, setting a crate of arrows on the deck. “Might as well use this trip to practice my aim.”
“Practice? What you’re doing is way beyond archery,” Beidou teased. “Your attacks hit harder than the ballista itself!”
She laughed again, hands on her hips. “I have a feeling this voyage will be the easiest one yet.”
“Listen up, everyone! Don’t let my little brother here outshine you—give it everything you’ve got!”
“Yes, Captain!” the crew shouted in unison.
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