Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue.

Gu Sanqiu had never studied Inazuman swordsmanship, nor did he plan to rely on it for any Duel Before the Throne.

Unlike Liyue, where martial arts styles were as numerous as the stars, Inazuman sword techniques largely traced back to one source: the naginata techniques of a certain eternally reigning figure. It was like the evolutionary origin of all things sharp in Inazuma.

Using such methods might impress ordinary folk, but it wouldn't fool anyone with real skill—certainly not someone as dangerous as a rogue samurai of the Kaizoku bandits.

Still, shouting out dramatic attack names before a fight was oddly effective.

In actual combat, those who yelled their moves were usually either playing with their food or preparing to pull some underhanded trick.

For example, a loud "Heaven-Crashing Slash!" might be followed by a sudden flick of the wrist to unleash a poisoned dart. Such tactics were so common that they had become an art form in their own right.

Under this veneer of theatrical flair, even an unfamiliar move could be dismissed as just another part of an opponent's repertoire rather than something truly unusual.

After all, in Liyue, Mondstadt, and Inazuma alike, most people shared the same basic physiology. A stab was a stab, a slash was a slash—it wasn't rocket science.

"One-Slash Style: Gold Splitting Slash."

"Two-Sword Style: Twin-Tailed Spiral?"

Gu Sanqiu shook his head, trying to banish the ridiculous thought. He was aiming for believability, not absurdity.

He wasn't posing as some grandmaster establishing a martial arts sect. He lacked the reputation to make wild claims seem credible.

"Sir, up ahead is our base," one of the rogue bandits said, bowing low. "Mind your step. We've laid traps, but those don't matter as much as ensuring your esteemed person isn't harmed."

The two deserters—groveling and eager to betray their comrades—led Gu Sanqiu through a series of traps, makeshift mechanisms, and labyrinthine passages meant to confuse intruders.

The entrance itself was a narrow crevice, barely wide enough for one person to pass at a time.

It wasn't a bad choice for a hideout, but Gu Sanqiu couldn't help but chuckle. It seemed every villain in Teyvat favored these claustrophobic rock formations for their lairs.

"Well, it works for concealment, I suppose," he muttered, motioning for the two bandits to go ahead.

Just as they hadn't trusted his promise of mercy, he didn't believe their cooperation was sincere. They were guided by fear, nothing more.

"Who goes there?" a voice barked.

"I don't know," Gu Sanqiu said, his hand on his blade. "Why don't you make up a name? That might be more fun."

With a flash of steel, the guard's head hit the ground.

"Keep moving," Gu Sanqiu commanded, his voice cold. "Take me to your leader."

The sight of the blood-spattered corpse seemed to freeze his guides in place.

Banditry had accustomed them to violence, even skirmishes with the shogunate. Yet decapitation? That was a rare, brutal spectacle. In less than an hour, they'd already witnessed two such deaths—and both times, it was over in an instant.

Their hearts pounded with fear.

"You fools brought an outsider here?!"

A furious shout echoed through the chamber, followed by the sharp whistle of an arrow cutting through the air.

Gu Sanqiu and his escorts deflected the projectiles with their blades.

Not out of loyalty—the rogues still intended to escape—but because they needed Gu Sanqiu alive long enough to improve their own odds.

"State your name, stranger," demanded a man in half-armor, his face obscured by a demon mask. His weapon gleamed menacingly, and a small army of raiders stood behind him.

"Classic setup," Gu Sanqiu said dryly, leveling his blade.

"Samurai. Ryukai Gentaku," he replied, aiming his weapon at the masked leader.

"A noble name," the bandit leader sneered. "Sounds like you're the scion of some highborn family in Inazuma City. What brings you here to disrupt my operations?"

"Justice," Gu Sanqiu said simply.

The leader laughed coldly. "With that line, you sound like an idealistic brat."

Lowering his stance, the bandit leader assumed a battoujutsu posture, flames snaking down his weapon like a living serpent.

As he roared, his lackeys charged forward. Gu Sanqiu's guides, meanwhile, darted away to find rocks and other improvised weapons, ready to blend in and "prove" their loyalty to their boss.

A final, desperate move before making their escape.

"How quaint."

Gu Sanqiu grinned, slashing downward in a single, decisive motion. The blade's energy radiated outward, cutting down every raider in front of him.

The attack didn't stop there. The energy surged toward the bandit leader, who instinctively swung his fiery blade to block.

If I don't stop this, I'll die!

Boom!

The resulting shockwave scattered the remaining raiders like leaves in the wind. For them, this was the signal to flee.

"This isn't worth it!"

Watching his comrades scatter, the leader cursed under his breath.

"Standard response," Gu Sanqiu remarked. "I do have a question, though. Your flashy move—does it lose effectiveness without backup to buy you time?"

"You mock me?!"

Unlike his underlings, the leader understood exactly what he was dealing with. This wasn't some upstart noble—this was a seasoned fighter who had just neutralized his attack as if it were nothing.

"Mock you? No. I just needed a training dummy."

Gu Sanqiu lowered his blade slightly. "That's you, by the way. The dummy."

"Enough!" the leader roared, launching a fiery crescent slash toward Gu Sanqiu.

Clang!

Gu Sanqiu deflected the blow with ease, twisting his wrist to redirect the attack. The blazing strike veered harmlessly to the side, robbed of its power.

"You know, I've been wanting to do that for ages. This move of yours caused no end of trouble back in the day."

With a flick of his blade, Gu Sanqiu struck the bandit leader square in the chest. Using the flat of the blade, he sent the man flying into the rock wall, leaving him slumped and motionless.

"The spirit of a samurai?"

Gu Sanqiu's voice dripped with disdain as he stepped forward.

"Banditry. Cowardice. Destruction. Theft. If that's what you call a samurai's spirit, maybe try rebranding it as the 'spirit of unchecked greed.' At least then you'd be honest."

With one final thrust, he drove his blade through the leader's heart.

"I'm not exactly the hero type," he murmured. "That's more my friend's thing. But killing a few pests along the way? That's not a bad way to pass the time."

Wiping the blood from his blade, Gu Sanqiu turned and walked away.

"Maybe I'll even rack up some karma points while I'm at it."

---

Ahem! Gather close, esteemed audience! Do you comprehend the privilege of basking in my radiance? Truly, you're witnessing history in the making—a performance unparalleled in the annals of Fontaine!

Ah, but don't get distracted! Let me be clear: this brilliance isn't conjured from thin air. No, no, no! It requires effort, dedication, and… well, a touch of your generosity. If you fancy being part of something truly extraordinary, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].

Oh, but wait! You're probably wondering, "Furina, how can someone as magnificent as you need assistance?" To that, I say: why deny mortals the honor of contributing to such greatness? Supporting me is supporting art, and who doesn't want to say they were instrumental in a legend's rise?

Now, off you go. Make your offerings, and perhaps, perhaps, I'll acknowledge you in my next soliloquy!

— Furina ✨