Time flew by, and night fell over Liyue.
The lights of ten thousand homes lit up in unison; the brightly illuminated Liyue Harbor was reflected in the sea, looking exceptionally prosperous.
On the streets, pedestrians came and went in an endless stream.
"Ah Kuan, I want to buy a toy."
"Don't call me Ah Kuan, call me Dad."
It was a scene of peace and harmony.
Inside the room.
Fang Qiu attempted a sit-up, wanting to kip up like a salted fish coming to life.
However, her body was far too delicate; she only made it halfway up before losing all strength, and her upper body fell back onto the bed.
"Hiss, that hurts."
She had no time to care that this movement had left her clothes in complete disarray, revealing patches of snow-white skin at her waist and chest.
Under the pain, she couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air and rub the back of her head.
She really ought to change beds.
Or at least lay down a few more layers of bedding.
"Come to think of it, I really have absolutely no core strength at all."
Fang Qiu lifted her clothes, wanting to check her stomach, but her line of sight was obstructed...
After a moment of silence, she crawled out of bed and looked into the bronze mirror.
Under the candlelight, a flat, fair lower abdomen was exposed to the air.
There wasn't even a hint of muscle definition...
Fang Qiu sighed faintly and covered herself back up with her clothes.
Although her physical strength hadn't increased in the slightest, with the passing of the book launch date, she could clearly feel that the power of her Vision had improved significantly.
"Phew."
She breathed out gently and waved her hand; azure icy mist instantly rose up in dense vapors. Amidst the rolling mist, an ice sword radiating biting cold immediately coalesced.
The cold air seemed to materialize, overflowing in all directions.
Fang Qiu could clearly feel that the Cryo elemental power contained within this sword was much greater than what she could condense before.
How should she put it?
It was just like playing games in her previous life and leveling up a skill—her Ice Sword attack had gone from Level 1 to Level 2.
Of course, this was just one application of her Vision: reducing the quantity of ice swords to improve their quality.
The density of the ice sword, the cold energy contained within it, and its flight speed had all increased by a tier.
With her current strength, she should be able to condense five of these ice swords simultaneously.
Thirty years east, thirty years west—how fortunes rise and fall!
The corners of Fang Qiu's mouth curled into a faint smile.
The current her should have no problem insta-killing a Hilichurl.
Thinking of this, she smiled faintly and waved her hand lightly; the ice sword immediately turned into icy mist and dissipated.
Hmm... it seems a bit cold.
Fang Qiu opened the window, and the salty, wet sea breeze blew into the room carrying the unique temperature of Liyue Harbor.
Fang Qiu exhaled gently, her body feeling much more comfortable, and cast her gaze toward the distant sea.
Fang Qiu suddenly thought of a famous saying.
What is on the other side of the ocean?
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean.
The Alcor was taking the lead at the very front of The Crux Fleet, sailing upon the silent night sea.
However, although The Alcor was brightly lit at this moment, it was completely silent.
Most of the sailors were leaning over the gunwales, smoking dry tobacco, looking as if their pasts had been evoked.
The younger sailors were simply shedding manly tears.
"I wish to buy osmanthus wine and carry it with me, but alas..."
"Li Lao'er! Why the hell are you being so bookish? Speak honestly, where did you copy that sentence from?"
"Ahem, I heard a gentleman from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor say it under an osmanthus tree before. I thought it sounded impressive at the time, so I memorized it."
"You really are something. I was wondering how a dog's mouth like yours could spit out ivory. If I didn't know you, I would've actually been bluffed."
"But, this book written by Miss Fang Qiu, it's really damn... the ending is truly heart-wrenching."
"Yeah, but it's written really well. The ending made even a grown man like me want to cry."
At this moment, Beidou was sitting on a chair, her strong, straight legs crossed, exuding the full aura of the Captain.
"Phew."
She let out a long breath and closed the book in her hands.
"Little Miss Fang Qiu's writing is truly not bad. No wonder Ganyu, Keqing, and even Xiangling all have such high praise for her."
As she spoke, she lifted a bottle of wine and took a large swig. As the wine went down her throat, she exhaled another long breath and said, "It's just that this subject matter feels a bit inauspicious."
"Captain, do you actually believe in that?"
Kaedehara Kazuha, sitting to the side, asked calmly.
"Believe? Naturally, I don't. Have you finished reading it? What do you think?"
Beidou smiled and asked.
"It is very good. Both the writing style and the plot can be called first-class."
Kaedehara Kazuha closed the book and said, "It is a tear-jerking masterpiece. If one has sad memories, I fear it would be very easy for this book to evoke those emotions."
"What about you, Xinyan? What do you think?"
Beidou looked at Xinyan, who was sitting on the steps with red rimmed eyes, and asked.
"Books are like music; they both carry the thoughts of the author and the performer. Miss Fang Qiu's book isn't just praising love, it's also praising freedom and resistance."
Xinyan thought for a moment and said.
"Now that you mention it, it indeed has that deeper meaning. As expected of Miss Fang Qiu, her literary talent is striking."
Kaedehara Kazuha nodded thoughtfully.
"There should be more to it than that. When we return to Liyue, let's invite her out for a good drink and ask her properly."
Beidou smiled and said.
"Mn."
Kaedehara Kazuha nodded.
"Captain, I want to join too."
Xinyan hurriedly said.
"No problem."
Beidou took a sip of wine and said, "By the way, I heard Fang Qiu's previous book was about music. Xinyan, you should be very interested."
"Music?"
Xinyan's eyes lit up. Just as she was planning to dig out the second book Beidou had given her, a voice rang out.
"Iceberg!"
As soon as this voice rang out, the cursing of several sailors followed.
"Read slower! Are you even reading seriously? Did you slack off halfway through? Reading so slowly—The Eternal has already sunk, Jack is already dead, and you're still at the iceberg!"
"Speaking of which, who was it that suggested naming our Crux Fleet's new ship The Eternal earlier..."
"Ahem, who knew such an impressive ship would actually sink."
The crowd discussed animatedly.
A moment passed.
Just as their discussion was at its peak, Kaedehara Kazuha frowned, realizing things were not that simple.
"Something is wrong."
Just as Kaedehara Kazuha's voice fell, a head popped out from the crow's nest.
"What are you guys doing? Didn't I just shout? Why is there no movement? There's an iceberg ahead! Retract the sails and turn the rudder, quick! Quick! Or else we're going to crash!"
The person in the crow's nest shouted loudly, his face flushed red.
Only then did the sailors on the ship react; their expressions changed, and they hurriedly began to perform their respective duties.
"Alright, time to get to work."
Beidou rose from her chair, her face showing not a hint of panic, and spoke.
Instantly, the originally quiet Crux Fleet turned noisy.
"Notify the other ships, quick!"
"Quick! Drop the sails!"
"Left rudder, hard over!"
The ship's First Mate commanded anxiously.
As a veteran sailor and the First Mate of The Crux Fleet, he naturally knew the consequences of hitting an iceberg at sea.
It was very likely that the ship would be destroyed and everyone would die.
Moreover, they were the first in the fleet. If they crashed into the iceberg, the subsequent ships would definitely not have time to stop, leading to a pile-up.
Just as he was issuing commands, Beidou stepped onto the bow in a few strides, squinting her eyes as she looked toward the waters ahead. Not far away in the sea, a glacier stood erect on the surface.
And The Alcor, leading The Crux Fleet, was rapidly heading toward a collision with that iceberg.
They would hit it very soon.
"Captain, it seems we won't make it in time."
Kaedehara Kazuha stood by Beidou's side, his Vision lighting up with a brilliant teal glow.
He had been on Beidou's ship for quite some time, so he naturally understood the principle of the tip of the iceberg.
Generally speaking, the volume of the iceberg below the water surface was often several times that above it.
Relying on his power, it would be difficult to blow the iceberg away.
Therefore, he could only think of a way to blow The Alcor off its original course. As for the fleet behind The Alcor, they would have to think of another way when the time came.
Just as Kaedehara Kazuha intended to act, Beidou waved her hand and said, "No need."
After speaking, she looked at the First Mate again and said, "Listen to my command, bring the rudder back to center!"
"Huh?"
Kaedehara Kazuha was stunned.
He didn't understand what Beidou planned to do.
Wouldn't bringing the rudder back to center mean crashing straight into the iceberg?
"Bring the rudder back to center!"
Hearing Beidou's order, the First Mate didn't hesitate at all and directly relayed Beidou's command.
The helmsman also quickly turned the rudder back.
And so, The Alcor, carrying The Crux Fleet, rushed straight toward the iceberg.
"Kazuha, didn't you ask before how I slew Haishan?"
Just as Kaedehara Kazuha was feeling puzzled, Beidou took a sip of wine, drew her greatsword, and stood at the bow, her voice cold.
Kaedehara Kazuha's pupils suddenly contracted.
In this moment, he felt Beidou's aura change.
It became extremely dangerous.
As if what stood there was not a human, but a terrifying, peerless beast.
At this time, he remembered Beidou's alias.
Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean!
"Watch closely, this is the power that slew Haishan!"
The corner of Beidou's mouth curled into a chilling sneer, and she stomped violently underfoot.
"Crack!"
As the sound of the deck shattering rang out, Beidou instantly turned into a blurred shadow, leaping fiercely toward that massive iceberg.
"Stormbreaker!"
A low shout.
Her Vision suddenly erupted with brilliant purple light.
The greatsword in Beidou's hands, carrying the momentum of a thousand jun, crashed轰然 toward that iceberg.
This strike! Breaking the clouds and the new moon, like mountains and seas!
Accompanied by lightning filling the sky, a bolt of purple electricity descended from mid-air, landing on the greatsword Beidou was about to slash into the iceberg.
In a split second, a violet light lit up the surface of the sea.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Accompanied by the explosion of thunder, the greatsword wrapped in violent thunder power crashed onto the iceberg.
Under the powerful impact force, the massive iceberg exploded open, with countless shards of ice flying wildly.
Amidst the rolling giant waves, it could be seen.
That iceberg had actually been split open by Beidou's single sword strike!
Crushed ice splashed, and massive chunks of ice bombarded the sea surface like cannonballs, kicking up wave after wave, resembling a sudden flurry of broken snow.
Before Kaedehara Kazuha could react from the shock, a black shadow landed in the shade of The Alcor.
The black shadow walked out slowly; it was precisely Beidou carrying her greatsword.
"As expected of the Captain, that slash was just too cool!"
"The Captain's strength has gone a step further compared to when she slew Haishan."
"The pressure from that slash of the Captain's was way too strong; the moment she drew her blade, I felt like I was suffocating."
"Full sails, continue forward."
Beidou waved her hand, carrying the greatsword that faintly flickered with jumping lightning, and walked slowly to her chair to sit down. She set the greatsword aside, opened a new bottle of wine, and began to drink.
The Crux Fleet quickly returned to calm, and under the quiet moonlight, the fleet sailed toward Inazuma.
...
In a flash, a few days passed.
Morning.
Fang Qiu, who had slept until broad daylight, slowly crawled out of bed, eyes bleary and clothes disheveled.
"I really shouldn't have stayed up late."
She sat cross-legged on the bed, zoned out for a while, and then picked up a glass of water placed at the head of the bed.
However, she was sleeping in a daze; due to a moment of inattention, all the water spilled onto her chest, soaking even the bedsheets.
"Eek."
Fang Qiu let out a startled cry; the freezing water temperature made Fang Qiu shiver involuntarily, instantly waking her up quite a bit.
She hurriedly put down the water glass and wiped herself with a towel.
It was just that her undergarment was already soaked through and needed to be changed.
She glanced at herself in the bronze mirror; the soft undergarment clung tightly to her body, and because it was soaked with water, it appeared somewhat transparent.
So lewd.
This was the evaluation Fang Qiu gave herself.
However, compared to admiring her own body, Fang Qiu wanted to change clothes and go back to sleep even more.
But, just as Fang Qiu was halfway through taking off her undergarment, a knock sounded from outside the door.
"Is Fang Qiu there?"
It was Bai Qing's voice.
Fang Qiu's body trembled slightly. She hesitated between putting the undergarment back on or taking it off to change into a new set, but ultimately decided to change.
She didn't want to catch a cold and get a fever like before.
It was just that she was taking it off too urgently, and for a moment, it actually got stuck. It took a long time to get it off, and when she did, she accidentally stumbled, her shoulder bumping against the cabinet.
Although it didn't hurt much, it made a 'bang' sound.
At this moment, the knocking sound came from outside the door again.
"Fang Qiu, are you okay?"
"No... nothing, wait a moment, I'll open the door right away."
Glancing at her slightly reddened shoulder that had been bumped, and thinking about how she was speaking to Bai Qing in such a state, Fang Qiu's pretty face couldn't help but flush slightly red.
Fang Qiu hurriedly put the water-soaked clothing aside, then dug out a set of clothes from the wardrobe and put them on.
"Phew."
After dressing, Fang Qiu finally let out a long breath.
Finally done.
Tidying her messy clothes, she walked toward the door.
Just as she reached the door and intended to open it, she suddenly remembered that she hadn't put away the undergarment she had casually left on the table. Thus, Fang Qiu hurriedly doubled back, grabbed the undergarment from the table, and threw it into the cabinet.
Having done all this, Fang Qiu returned to the door and gently opened it.
After the door opened.
Editor Bai Qing was holding a pile of documents, standing gracefully outside the door.
________________________________________
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