Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue.

The sky grew darker as evening settled in. Once again, Gu Sanqiu, stubborn as ever, chose to settle down under a large tree in the open, preparing to roast some meat for dinner.

Ordinarily, the sensible choice would have been to find a place that offered shelter from the wind and rain, preferably near a human settlement.

But he had no intention of going anywhere near other people. This was Byakko Plain, and he couldn't be sure whether something strange was already watching him. He couldn't afford to let his guard down—not even for a moment.

Here and now, he was Longhai Xuanzhe, a wandering ronin. A drifter wouldn't gather with common folk—it simply wasn't the way.

Though admittedly, resting under a tree in Inazuma did come with a decent risk of getting struck by lightning.

He had chosen the most classic of weapons: a katana. In Inazuma, it was the least suspicious weapon one could wield.

Carrying a long-handled weapon might raise questions, but a simple katana? Even if it were a crudely forged blade, most people wouldn't give it a second glance.

It was akin to using a spear in Liyue—a weapon no one vying for attention or playing the role of a big-shot would ever choose.

His clothes had been prepared in advance, and he paid little attention to his hair. A proper ronin would hardly care about hairstyles, after all.

As for "special skills"...

Gu Sanqiu reached into his pocket and felt the red gemstone there.

There would be no grand displays of unyielding Geo power, nor the unrivaled gusts of another Archon's Anemo might.

He planned to use the Delusion.

Stretching out his right hand, Gu Sanqiu used the Delusion's power to ignite a small campfire for warmth.

Using the Delusion was a calculated decision.

Had he not obtained it from the Doctor, he would have disguised himself as a skilled ronin, someone who relied on traditional techniques. But now, he had a better option.

In Inazuma, flames and thunder weren't rare elements of power—like those wielded by the Kairagi, whom Gu Sanqiu had recently dispatched with a single strike.

The Kairagi were akin to burly outlaws, a stronger variant of the Wandering Ronin.

The flames and lightning on their weapons weren't just an obnoxious gameplay mechanic designed to irritate players. Rather, they had inherited a fragment of Onmyodo knowledge from a past era, known as "Reigami." Corrupted by inner demons, the Kairagi had twisted Inazuma's exorcist arts, once used to protect the nation, into dark sorcery.

Gu Sanqiu intended to take advantage of this. He would disguise himself as a good-hearted youth who had learned these arts and used them for noble purposes.

The true Kairagi was me all along.

The Onmyodo master Reigami Harunosuke had once crossed the sea to Liyue in search of Adepti techniques. As Beidou had mentioned, this man had genuinely interacted with her family—it wasn't just a tall tale.

However, Liyue's records portrayed him as an unwaveringly loyal and virtuous individual deserving of respectful treatment—a steadfast friend, though never one of the Gu clan's more daring associates.

Simply put, he had too much on his mind and restrained himself with propriety and virtue. His temperament didn't match Gu Sanqiu's reckless bloodline, so their relationship couldn't deepen to something akin to Xingqiu and his own.

This brief historical mention, however, gave Gu Sanqiu confidence in his disguise.

When Kairagi performed Onmyodo spells, there was always a sinister, unnatural quality to their movements. The same applied to Delusions.

Even if Gu Sanqiu, as Longhai Xuanzhe, used such powers, so long as he wielded them against bandits or criminals, the authorities in Inazuma would likely see him as a resolute and virtuous young man who had mastered dark forces to serve justice.

And his background?

The chaos of war had displaced many. Some lucky individuals stumbling upon ancient legacies in these lands wasn't unthinkable.

Authorities often maintained blacklists and whitelists for such matters. At worst, the name Longhai Xuanzhe might end up on a "grey list."

This approach would grant him some degree of freedom, aside from occasional encounters with the Shogunate. It was a small but crucial goal of this journey.

Of course, this was all an ideal scenario—the best-case outcome Gu Sanqiu could imagine.

Exam questions often demand answers based on "normal conditions," but reality rarely offers such perfect scenarios. Change and unpredictability are the true constants.

To put it simply, even Gu Sanqiu didn't know what he might encounter. He could only set an upper limit on his expectations.

In the worst-case scenario, he wouldn't even make it to the Tenshukaku to challenge the Shogun. He'd be forced to play his trump card prematurely.

"But that means I'd have to face that reclusive old fox… Now that's a little terrifying."

Gu Sanqiu rested his katana across his knees. In the wilderness, one never sheathed their weapon—it was far more dangerous than logging off mid-quest in a game.

If he died again, he wasn't sure if there were any other Gu Sanqiu clones to take over his "post."

"Yip, yip—"

A faint sound reached Gu Sanqiu's ears. His eyes snapped open, crimson power surging around him as his katana shot from its sheath in an instant.

"Who's there!"

"Yip—"

"What's with the weird yipping noises?"

Carrying his katana, Gu Sanqiu searched for the source of the sound.

If he wasn't mistaken, foxes made noises like this.

Extending his spiritual awareness, he quickly found a small fox in the bushes. Its hind leg was bleeding as it stared weakly at him, emitting faint cries.

"That little cutie from earlier?"

Gu Sanqiu blinked. The flames surrounding him extinguished as he cautiously approached the fox, keeping one hand firmly on his katana while the other gently scooped it up and brought it closer to the fire.

"Found me all the way out here? What is this, some hidden legendary beast recruitment event? Maybe you'll transform into a fox spirit later?"

His mind raced with fanciful thoughts, but his hands didn't slow. He placed the fox down and retrieved a few emergency medical supplies.

He had no idea what had injured the fox—or whether this was some elaborate trap. So he didn't dare let go of his weapon.

"Didn't expect this kind of scenario at night," he muttered as he began cleaning the fox's wound. Its fur was matted with grass and dirt, evidence it had run quite a distance. Why it had come to him, he couldn't say.

"All right, this is going to sting a bit. Bear with it," he said, twisting the cap off a medicine bottle and sprinkling some powder onto the wound.

It was a basic remedy he'd crafted from herbs he'd gathered along the way. He couldn't afford to use the specialized medicine from Liyue—not even on an animal.

That said, if it came down to a life-or-death situation, his soft-hearted nature might lead him to save the fox regardless.

One brush against his leg. One bite of a toxin-free wheat cake.

These simple gestures told an animal everything it needed to know about a person's character.

Whether someone was strikingly handsome or hideously grotesque didn't matter at all.

---

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 ✨