Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue.

"This little thing isn't planning to stick to me, is it?"

Gu Sanqiu glanced back, resisting the impulse to toss a medicinal pill to the small fox.

Pets, as far as he was concerned, were as good as family if there was any genuine connection involved. He couldn't afford to indulge too much—such sentimentality would only lead to trouble for everyone involved.

Take the giant shadow eagle at home, for instance. That creature could genuinely be called his "kid," yet ever since it "grew up," it didn't like staying home anymore. Last time, when Gu Sanqiu asked it to come back for the festival, it refused outright, saying it was busy "conquering and expanding territories" in the Lisha Outskirts and establishing its dominance early.

What could he say to that? Kids hustling in the wild and skipping holidays—what's a parent supposed to do? Other than sending over more pills and packing it meals, there really wasn't much else to be done.

Still, for a creature born from a biological weapons research facility, the eagle's ambition to achieve such success was truly something to be admired. It almost made Gu Sanqiu, who dreamed of lounging at home all day, feel a bit ashamed.

Then again, if more people around him were like that, he could officially lead the leisurely life he always wanted.

Which was why the old man's retirement comeback plan still needed some arranging when the opportunity arose. Of course, that was assuming Gu Sanqiu could cultivate an indestructible body tougher than a rock spear first.

By then, not only would Dvalin be shouting at Venti to "Get your act together, Barbatos!" but the old man and Keqing would also say, "Get your act together, Gu Sanqiu!"

Just thinking about that future was pretty appealing.

Gu Sanqiu wound the rope around his hand, tugging the unruly bunch along. A long streak of blood trailed behind them along the way.

But given the sheer number of these thugs, the amount of blood wasn't really anything to fuss over.

Some of the bandits had already woken up. However, upon seeing so many of their comrades fall into Gu Sanqiu's clutches, each and every one of them sensibly chose to behave.

Anyone capable of capturing them with such brute force must be overwhelmingly strong. If the Shogunate caught them, there might still be a chance of survival.

But if they resisted now... they feared they'd end up as raw materials for human shock absorbers or anti-wear components.

"Halt!"

Before they were even within sight of Hanamizaka, a small squad of soldiers intercepted Gu Sanqiu, ordering him to stay put and not move.

"What is it?"

Gu Sanqiu—or rather, Longhai Xuanzhe—kept a straight face, playing the part of a stern samurai to perfection.

"State your identity."

"Longhai Xuanzhe, wandering samurai. Captured these troublemakers causing chaos outside. Came to Inazuma City looking for work."

Looking for work?

The corners of the Shogunate soldiers' mouths twitched. Those three words didn't match at all with the nearly hundred miserable faces of the captives behind him!

"Sir Samurai, I mean your place of origin."

"I don't know. I've been to too many places because of the wars. My homeland… I've already forgotten where it was. Perhaps it's long gone, scattered like lightning and the sound of wind."

That final phrase, almost like a piece of doggerel, struck a chord with the soldiers. How they too longed for an end to the chaos. Their gazes toward Gu Sanqiu softened, carrying a hint of sympathy and understanding.

"Come with us. You've captured so many bandits that entering Inazuma City the normal way isn't an option anymore."

"That's fine."

Gu Sanqiu followed them, casually chatting about his encounters in the Byakko Plains. When they heard he even had some cursed items on him, their eyes gleamed with respect.

"I never imagined Sir Longhai was such a formidable samurai. Most samurai avoid cursed items like the plague, often seeking talismans from Narukami Shrine for protection."

A soldier's eyes lit up with curiosity. "By the way, Sir Longhai, carrying those items… are you planning to sell them in Inazuma City?"

"That's right. Do you know a good place?"

"No, no, no. I'm just a lowly soldier; I wouldn't know. But our army does."

He glanced at Gu Sanqiu. "The Tenryou Commission—or rather, a special department within the military—collects such items. Besides Mora, you can exchange them for military merits or even high-quality weapons."

"Oh? This is my first time here. Why are you telling me all this?"

"If you were a foreigner, we wouldn't bother. But you're from Inazuma, a subject of the Shogun. Not to mention, your experiences are the result of what our people caused."

The soldier sighed. "We help when we can. That's the only guidance we can offer. As for the rest, it's up to you."

"What a pity. If your identity details were clearer, I'd have dragged you into the army for sure."

"I've been a leaf carried by the wind for a long time. Perhaps when the wind settles and the leaves fall, I'll choose a path to walk steadily."

The soldiers brought Gu Sanqiu to the military camp, where he exchanged the captured treasure hoarders and pirates for a sum of money. The officer didn't bother questioning the weapons and clothes' origins.

For someone capable of capturing so many bandits, a low-ranking officer like him would simply report it to the higher-ups and let them deal with the headache.

Any unnecessary meddling would be tantamount to a death wish.

"Let's see… The Tenryou Commission office should be right here."

After explaining his purpose, the receptionist respectfully served Gu Sanqiu a fine cup of tea before rushing off to find someone higher up to verify the goods.

"So you're the one who wants to sell cursed items, huh?"

A towering, muscular man crossed his arms, his massive muscles exaggerated by his deliberate posturing.

"That's me."

Gu Sanqiu cast a cold, piercing glare at the man. A sharp killing intent stabbed directly into the latter's eyes.

Startled, the burly man instinctively stumbled back three or four steps before looking at Gu Sanqiu in shock and doubt.

"Impressive. A true warrior, indeed. To make my guards retreat with just a glare—this must truly be your own handiwork."

A slim, bespectacled man clapped as he approached.

"And you are?"

"Longhai Xuanzhe. You say this is my handiwork—what, do you think cursed items throw themselves at me, offering their cores at my feet?"

"Haha, of course not. But there have been cases of people robbing others of their loot, so we've added an extra verification step. I hope you understand."

"After assessment, here's a catalog of items you can redeem. Besides basic Mora rewards, you can select two additional prizes."

While Gu Sanqiu browsed the catalog, the slender man discreetly analyzed his weapons, attire, and even small details like his hairstyle.

An extra verification step?

Hardly. The time was simply for receiving intel and formulating further responses, masked under a plausible excuse.

---

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 ✨