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Chapter 232 - Chapter 232: Rock ‘n’ Roll, Storm, and the Crux Fleet

"Bad news!"

"What happened, what happened? Is it the Meat of All…? Yesterday you said you'd take it back to ask Zhongli—don't tell me it really was a problem?"

"Mm! Guess what Zhongli said? He said the stuff itself really is harmless to the human body, but… its owner is probably still alive. Think about it: some chunk of its flesh mysteriously goes missing, and then ends up in your stomachs. Of course it'll hold a grudge, of course it'll come after you!"

"What? Clearly this was All's doing."

"That thing sounds super strong though!"

"Hmph, let it come! I'll give it a proper lesson in spearplay!"

Unhurried, Hu Tao picked up the last fragment of dark matter and popped it into her mouth. After her face twisted from the stench, she waved a hand and declared: "I'm still the captain of the Liyue Exploration Squad. If there's danger, I'll share it with my comrades. I will never shirk that responsibility."

"Hu Tao!" Xiangling clutched her hand, eyes brimming with tears. "And Xingqiu and Chongyun too—we need to warn them right away!"

But Hu Tao, glancing at Victor Wang's calm indifference, pulled Xiangling back before she could run off. "Zhongli also said that under normal circumstances, nobody ever encounters it in the first place. So, there's really nothing to worry about~"

"You little—so you were tricking me again!"

"I told the truth. How's that a trick? Look at Victor, so calm. You're the only one who gets spooked this easily."

Failing to scare Victor Wang left Hu Tao a bit bored. She waved her hand dismissively. "Enough about that. I heard the Crux Fleet returned to port last night?"

"That's right. Every time the Crux Fleet comes back from a long voyage, they hold a three-day banquet. As their most favored chef, I was invited right away. Then I took the chance to talk with Beidou. She has friends everywhere and is so openhearted—before I even finished saying you two wanted to meet her, she cut me off and said no problem."

"Big Sister Beidou!"

"By my count, Xinyan's concert should be starting soon too. The Crux crew are doing their team gathering at her show. Let's hurry and head over."

Originally, Xinyan's stage was never fixed—like an unlicensed street stall. Whenever the Millelith discovered it, they'd order it torn down. Only after Xinyan petitioned the Ministry of Civil Affairs did things change. Ningguang herself revised the laws to include performance permits, officially designating certain spots like those given to street vendors.

Xinyan's allotted spot was near the South Wharf Fish Market. But with the Lantern Rite approaching, crowds swelled there. For safety and for the festive spirit of Liyue Harbor, her stage was relocated to one of the city's three main roads—Chihu Rock West Bridge.

Compared with traditional storytelling, Liyue opera, or elegant classical music, rock wasn't exactly popular among the Liyue masses. But it was lively. And during the festival, that liveliness multiplied—drawing a crowd like never before.

When Victor Wang arrived, among the many listeners he spotted two familiar faces: Zhongli, fishing for leisure, and Yun Jin in her casual attire.

"My, my. The Consultant's daily routine is really colorful. Tea and bird-watching, reading and music, helping old ladies cross the road. Then, when you've nothing else to do, dining at Liuli Pavilion or Xinyue Kiosk. And now, rock music? You're full of surprises."

"Xinyan's rock carries great vigor. I once invited her to perform at the parlor as a resident singer, but she declined… Also, her shows don't charge an entrance fee."

"If I cared about that little Mora, I would've fired you long ago!"

Zhongli nodded placidly. "Which proves, then, that the Hall Master is a good person."

"Hehe! Hold on, you weren't secretly thinking 'Since the Hall Master doesn't care about Mora, I don't have to either,' were you? If the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor goes bankrupt, Liyue won't find another Hall Master as generous as me. You'd better raise the importance of Mora in your mind."

"…I wasn't thinking that."

"Better not be!" Hall Master Hu gave her Consultant a stern lecture.

Nearby, Yun Jin was already acquainted with Hu Tao, and her love for rock wasn't any secret. But facing Victor Wang—who had written The Butterfly Lovers, collaborated with her, but wasn't especially close—she felt a strange awkwardness, caught somewhere between acquaintance and stranger.

Normally, no matter how busy she was, Yun Jin came to Xinyan's shows at least three times a week. Today, she just offered a polite nod and greeting, her demeanor carefully restrained.

Thankfully, Xiangling quickly led Victor Wang away.

Crossing with difficulty to the other side of the crowd, they came upon a cluster of sailors unmistakably dressed as Crux Fleet crew.

On stage, Xinyan struck a metallic chord on an unknown instrument, her voice soaring into the opening line of a song. At once, most of the sailors cheered and sang along.

And seated at the very back of the group, with an eyepatch over her left eye and a specially tailored crimson qipao that revealed most of her arms and thighs—was a woman who radiated power even while calmly sipping tea with a smile.

Beidou.

In the game, merely a four-star character. Yet without even a Vision, she had slain the mighty sea beast Haishan. In martial terms, perhaps she had long since reached the level of a Sword Saint. Her true strength could never be measured by stars.

As Victor Wang's thoughts wandered, Beidou clapped the seat beside her and beckoned the three over.

"So, this is the current Hall Master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao? I've heard plenty of rumors about you. And your Consultant Zhongli, too. I was thinking of seeking you out myself, but it seems the fates already intended it."

"You don't mind dealing with the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"

"Making friends is one of my hobbies. To me, the Parlor isn't something to avoid. Even Archons fall—how could mortals escape death?"

The seventy-seventh Hall Master of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao had presided over her last living relative's funeral—the seventy-fifth Hall Master—when she was only thirteen, with solemn dignity and composure. Even though most avoided the Funeral Parlor, her name spread quickly through Liyue Harbor.

Later, she gained three more identities: a mischievous girl, the alley poet behind Ten Hilichurls, and the ever-persistent funeral service promoter. Which one people whispered of most often hardly mattered. Beidou continued:

"But being open-minded is one thing. Drifting across the endless seas can still leave a sailor feeling small and powerless. Their state of mind matters. So, it's best not to share unpleasant words with them."

Hu Tao winced, then hastily shook her head. "I grew up listening to Captain Beidou's legendary stories. I've no interest in 'expanding business.' I came only out of admiration—just to make friends!"

"Haha! Then I accept your friendship!"

With a hearty laugh, Beidou finally turned her gaze on Victor Wang. "And you—I know of you too. From Mondstadt to Liyue, you've done well."

"I've long heard the names of Big Sister Beidou and the Alcor."

The Alcor and the Kunpeng—though they were meeting for the first time, both served the same organization. A few words were enough to confirm recognition.

"Huh? Beidou actually knows Victor?"

"Haha, bubblegum is such a fun thing. Next voyage, it'll give my sailors something new to enjoy."

With casual words, Beidou steered Xiangling's curiosity toward bubblegum. Even the sharper Hu Tao only thought of Beidou's ties with Ningguang, not prying further.

"By the way, the song Xinyan's playing right now—is it the Crux's sea shanty? It seems all the sailors know it. Beidou—"

"Ahem!" Xiangling shot Hu Tao a warning glance.

"Hahaha! It's fine. Many of my crew love Xinyan's rock. But my own tastes lie elsewhere… probably because of childhood memories. I like folk songs—especially fishermen's songs. Some rumor spread that no one should mention it in my presence. True, after defeating Haishan, I stopped singing them. But only because the sea no longer held my prey."

"I see. Well, legends are always half-true, half-false. At least the part about Haishan dying to your song was real enough~"

"This friend," Kaedehara Kazuha appeared silently nearby, addressing Victor Wang. "Even as a child, I could understand the voice of nature—I heard the breath of the wind, the whispers of leaves. From you, I sense something different. Could you spare a moment to speak alone?"

Three women deep in lively chatter—Victor Wang nodded and followed Kazuha beneath Chihu Rock West Bridge.

Kazuha was direct. "Your aura is extremely complex. Though I see no Vision, you can wield elemental power. More than one, in fact. Am I right?"

"I really am curious what this 'aura' you people keep talking about feels like. But yes, I can use multiple elements."

"A human who can wield many elements without a Vision… Compared to your ability, mine is nothing. Tell me, how do you do it?"

"Sorry. That involves secrets I can't share."

"…No matter. I only hoped for a small test. Here—this is an unclaimed Electro Vision. If it's you, could you awaken it?"

It was his friend's lost Vision. Victor Wang instinctively raised his hand, then froze.

If he really could awaken it… would that prevent Kazuha from keeping it? Then, at Tenshukaku, would he be unable to block the Shogun's strike? The chain reaction might be… too severe.

Still, Victor Wang accepted the Vision. Odd, really. He'd used elemental power daily for half a year now, but this was his first time holding a Vision. Its surface was like smooth glass, cool in his palm. And, as expected, no ripple stirred.

From what he knew, a Vision carried the wielder's powerful wish. After death, memories, desires, souls, and identities that didn't enter reincarnation were washed away by leyline flow. But what of the wish trapped in the Vision?

Perhaps it still lingered. That must be why this Vision could save Kazuha from the Raiden Shogun.

"In all my travels, even alongside Big Sister Beidou, I've never met someone like you. And yet… still nothing. Calling you here so abruptly was presumptuous. Thank you anyway. My name is Kaedehara Kazuha. If you ever need help, call on me."

"No trouble at all."

Back at Beidou's side, Victor Wang seized a break in the three women's chatter to slip in: "Big Sister Beidou, when will the Crux Fleet set sail again?"

Beidou raised an eyebrow. "Why, you want to board my ship?"

"They say that since Inazuma closed its borders, the surrounding seas have been ravaged by storms and thunder. In such waters, only the Crux can sail safely. To be honest, I want to go to Inazuma."

"Anyone who wants to set foot on my Alcor must answer me one question. The sea is full of danger and unknowns. Tell me—why do you want to board my ship?"

What Beidou wanted wasn't excuses like no other choice. She wanted the true destination worth entrusting one's life for. He could've dressed it up with lofty words. But looking at her smiling face, Victor Wang answered plainly: "To save myself."

"…Heh. That's not such a hard thing. Before we set sail, I'll send someone to notify you."

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