"Alright, alright, I get it."
Buyu Raimei nodded in understanding. "It's kind of like how I sometimes tease Kazuha. Same vibe, right?"
"Eh, close enough," Xingqiu replied, leaning back slightly. "Except Sanqiu occasionally follows through with his 'jokes.'"
"True, true! Kazuha always hypes me up so much, only to turn around and claim it was just a joke. All with a straight face, too!"
Xingqiu sighed. "Sanqiu tries way too hard to seem dependable in front of outsiders, even though he sometimes lets his guard down with us."
"I told him it's unnecessary—he barely talks to anyone else anyway—but he insists. Says he needs to be ready in case he ever has to deal with someone he can't fool."
He let out another sigh, picking up a document. "Whatever. That idiot may have gone too far by tying me down here in Liyue Harbor, but I guess he has his reasons."
"The disaster in Dragonspine was severe, so it's no surprise he earned the title of 'West Wind Saint' in Mondstadt."
Buyu Raimei tilted his head curiously. "Would Liyue ever face something like that?"
"You'd have to ask Sanqiu. Maybe once upon a time, but not anymore." Xingqiu's tone was light.
"Before he left, he even warned Hu Tao to be cautious while working outside. It's possible there are hidden dangers in Liyue too—just none that have surfaced yet."
He chuckled. "Still, we have the Conqueror of Demons and other adepti guarding us. Liyue will be fine."
"Man, Liyue's the best." Buyu Raimei grinned. "By the way, have you heard any news from Inazuma?"
"Inazuma? No, not much. The Sakoku Decree makes it tough. Even when someone from the Grand Narukami Shrine visited, it surprised even me, let alone the Qixing."
Xingqiu shook his head. "If you're after Inazuma intel, you should ask Beidou. The Ten Pull Guild doesn't have any leads there, but Captain Beidou might."
Buyu Raimei nodded silently. "Thanks."
"Don't worry about it. I don't usually pay attention to foreign affairs, but Sanqiu mentioned something before. He said Inazuma's situation would only improve… because he 'poisoned' it."
"Poisoned it?!"
"Mm-hmm." Xingqiu furrowed his brow in thought. "Let me think… Oh, right. He said it was something insidious, difficult to remove, with a lasting negative impact—even capable of altering fundamental judgments. It fits the definition of a psychological toxin perfectly."
Buyu Raimei looked horrified. "When did he do that? Kazuha and I never noticed a thing!"
Xingqiu shrugged. "Who knows? With Sanqiu, you can't take his words at face value. Maybe his idea of 'poison' is something entirely different. Don't try to understand a lunatic's logic."
"For example," Xingqiu continued, "he'll gently tell someone impulsive about the dangers of reckless travel. Then he'll add, 'If something happened to you, we'd all worry.'"
He smiled faintly. "Even that, in his words, could be 'poisoning.'"
"Oh, emotional bonds as poison, huh? You Liyue people sure have a way with words."
Buyu Raimei smirked. "Is he like that with everyone?"
"Not quite. He reserves that for Hu Tao—she's especially susceptible to that kind of approach. Someone like her, who thrives on mischief, is bound to push back hard if you lecture her with logic. But if you appeal to her feelings? She's putty in your hands."
Xingqiu leaned back, pondering. "I do wonder, though. Has Sanqiu made any romantic connections during his travels? Aside from us childhood friends, he probably has less experience with the opposite sex than Chongyun does."
He chuckled. "At least Chongyun has a cute face that draws fans. If it weren't for his unique constitution, I bet admirers would be falling all over themselves to get close to him. Some are so obsessed they'd stick around even if they had to strap on ice packs."
"But Sanqiu?" Xingqiu shook his head.
"That guy barely leaves the house. The rare few women he meets are usually aware of his identity, and their interactions are strictly formal."
He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh, and for the record, we communicate with Sanqiu differently. Among us brothers, fists tend to do the talking. He probably worries that if we're not strong enough, we might get into serious trouble out there."
Just as long as he doesn't tie me up and force-feed me carrot soup again…
Buyu Raimei snickered at Xingqiu's visible frustration.
"Speaking of romance," Buyu Raimei began, a sly smile spreading across his face, "did you know that when Sanqiu came to rescue me and Kazuha, he actually fought the Raiden Shogun head-on?"
Xingqiu froze. "Is he insane? That's a god!"
"Not quite that far." Buyu Raimei's expression turned even more mischievous.
"But during the fight, he apparently shouted something like, 'I love you!' I'm sure I heard those words clearly."
"WHAT?!"
Xingqiu's demeanor shifted instantly. He whipped out a pair of glasses and perched them on his nose, pulling out a notebook and pen with blinding speed.
"Come on, spill! I never thought that thick-browed, straight-laced guy would pull a stunt like that in public. This is gold!"
"Hey, hey, we're talking about the Shogun here! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Xingqiu waved dismissively. "Relax. I'll tweak the details for dramatic effect. And I'll add a disclaimer: 'Any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.' Easy."
"As long as no one traces it back to me, I'll be fine. I've got nothing to hide!"
"Alright, suit yourself." Buyu Raimei sighed, then suddenly smirked as if recalling something.
"Anyway, let's put Sanqiu's antics aside for now. I have another question."
"Oh?" Xingqiu raised an eyebrow.
"Master Zhenyu, do you happen to have any of your latest works? I could use some cultural enrichment."
"You're asking the right person!"
Xingqiu stood up dramatically, pulling another notebook from his robes.
"This is a masterpiece born from my travels and the inspiration I've gathered—an unrivaled gem of creativity!"
He struck a proud pose. "Oh, and there are some lovely illustrations too. Truly a feast for the senses."
Buyu Raimei raised an eyebrow, exchanging a knowing look with Xingqiu. Both men shared a silent, conspiratorial grin.
"By the way, this is an exclusive edition, just for us close friends. Don't let it leak, or my brother will break my legs."