Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue.

"Chief, are we really just letting him leave like that?"

The next day, after cheerfully bidding farewell to the children, Gu Sanqiu placed his left hand on the hilt of his blade, slung the supplies he had traded for over his shoulder with his right, and departed Konda Village, heading toward Byakko Plain.

"What else would you suggest? Do you have a better idea?"

Konda Denjiro sighed heavily, looking at the two young men before him.

"In combat between warriors, losing one's weapon is one thing—but that young man even stripped his opponents of their armor. Do I really need to explain what that means?"

"Are you saying…"

One of the young men's eyes widened in alarm. Glancing quickly to ensure the children nearby weren't paying attention, he made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Something like that," Konda Denjiro replied with a bitter smile. "When I asked if he had defeated those bandits, his evasive answer wasn't from a lack of confidence after scavenging. No, it was because he didn't even regard them as worthy adversaries. To him, they were as insignificant as slaughtering pigs or fish—not even worth a proper memory."

"For someone like that to provide the village with a good meal, trade some supplies, and leave us with a reward before departing… isn't that the best outcome we could hope for?"

"Still, it feels disrespectful to a powerful warrior. But for someone to develop such disregard for life, their hands must be steeped in blood."

"Konda Village is just a weak little place. It's better for someone like him to leave sooner rather than later."

---

"Hmm, so Byakko Plain is really just an open field?"

Gu Sanqiu chewed on a mint leaf as he studied the map, searching for the correct direction. The map he'd obtained from Konda Village marked the safest routes, though they were far from the fastest.

If this were Liyue, Gu Sanqiu wouldn't hesitate to take to the skies. Unfortunately, the current circumstances didn't support such luxurious travel arrangements from the Gu Family Private Airborne Service.

He wasn't foolish—he could remember about 90% of the route from Konda Village to Inazuma City. At the very least, he knew the general direction and landmarks.

He had gone to the trouble of acquiring the map mainly to see what local information it included about Byakko Plain—and to avoid the radiation of Yashiori Island.

With the strength of that pink-haired fox and the power of the sacred tree at the Grand Narukami Shrine, he had no confidence in avoiding an encounter if things went south.

After all, interactions depend on the relative power of the parties involved—voluntary or otherwise.

Clearly, Gu Sanqiu belonged to the weaker side.

In Mondstadt and Liyue, both Venti and Zhongli preferred to send their golden-haired champion to deal with their own kin.

But here in peculiar Inazuma, it was the kin themselves who rallied outsiders, dubbed them "Winds from Afar," and encouraged them to challenge their own leader.

His plan this time was straightforward: initiate a duel before the Shogun's throne to secure protection for his friend. If that failed, he would use his trump card and face the challenge head-on.

If he accidentally encountered Lady Guuji Yae along the way, she'd probably coerce him into signing a slew of unfair contracts or use him as cannon fodder in some grand "Save My Bestie" scheme.

Oh, and if his identity as a "Fragrance Bearer" were exposed, that might even become one of her trump cards.

In short, it wouldn't end well.

"Byakko Plain… I just hope I don't run into Hana Sari."

A small fox approached, brushing against Gu Sanqiu's leg. After taking a piece of wheat cake he offered, it scurried back to its group. The foxes here had mastered the art of surviving through cuteness alone.

On Narukami Island, foxes were one of the most esteemed creatures. Ordinary monsters wouldn't attack them, and even wandering samurai steered clear of them.

The reason? Though the ley lines were nearly severed and these foxes had become mundane, their noble lineage still carried weight.

Nearby stood an abandoned shrine surrounded by numerous stone statues of heavenly and earthly foxes. Anyone reckless enough to stir up trouble here must have a death wish.

Even in their self-proclaimed wait for a master who would never return, these foxes could deal with petty thieves with minor spells—just like that great tanuki guarding Chinju Forest.

But how did they develop such an innate knack for acting cute?

Watching the small fox rejoin its kin, or rather, observing its patrol of Byakko Plain, Gu Sanqiu put away the talismans he'd been holding—a charm for dispelling demons and an amulet for purifying misfortune.

Recalling the origins of these foxes and their statues, he now regarded Byakko Plain as a place of potential danger.

If this were Liyue, the situation would unfold differently—perhaps with a mysterious beauty appearing out of nowhere, or a woman searching for her missing husband, generously offering food to travelers.

If you were lucky, you'd wake up to find you'd merely eaten dirt, frogs, and bugs. If not, your last sight might be of yourself carving your own flesh, pulling out your organs, and cooking them for the yokai's feast.

When the little fox brushed against him earlier, Gu Sanqiu couldn't deny he had overreacted.

He was human, after all. Whatever tried to eat him would need to exploit his weakest points.

Oh, wait—Lady Guuji could probably crush most people's defenses and even have them begging for more.

"For someone at that level, it's better not to bother them unless you're prepared to match their energy," he muttered, shaking his head.

To Gu Sanqiu, "level" could mean strength, eloquence, or even comprehension of certain truths.

In his previous life, it was far simpler—things like salary, housing, and residency permits hadn't changed much over time.

"Wait… does that mean that guy might be going through this now?"

A mischievous grin spread across Gu Sanqiu's face.

If the "other" Gu Sanqiu had returned to his original body, Gu Sanqiu wouldn't feel awkward about it—in fact, he'd feel a sense of vindication.

He still remembered how that guy, claiming he wanted to "explore," had plunged into a black hole, leaving this Gu Sanqiu to shoulder the burdens of being a Fragrance Bearer.

It was like an emperor too tired of ruling handing his duties to a stand-in while he went off to play.

Naturally, as the stand-in, he wasn't thrilled. But imagining the other Gu Sanqiu having to resume his responsibilities now filled him with satisfaction.

When you feel pain, don't cry or feel sad.

If you share it and find others who relate to your struggles, your pain feels lighter.

Or, in another sense, "Your misery makes me happy."

Yes, perfectly logical nonsense.

Of course, if Gu Sanqiu scored 59 points and someone else scored 60, he wouldn't stew in resentment. Instead, he'd find a way to have his score adjusted and knock the other guy down a peg.

Ultimate satisfaction achieved.

---

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 ✨