Chapter 134 – Kaedehara Kazuha

Hearing Beidou call out Qiu Bai’s name, Lumine and Paimon quickly turned around.

“Qiu, Qiu Bai?!”

“What are you doing here!”

Paimon stared at Qiu Bai in front of her, her face full of surprise as she spoke.

“Hehe, just wandering around.”

“Taking a stroll to clear my mind.”

Qiu Bai looked at Lumine and Paimon and explained with a smile.

“Hello, Big Sis.”

“I didn’t expect you to recognize me.”

Qiu Bai looked at Beidou in front of him and spoke with some curiosity.

“Of course I recognize you. Ningguang even said you might be an Adeptus.”

“She told me to be extra considerate if I ever ran into you.”

Beidou looked at the youthful Qiu Bai before her, speaking with a hint of disbelief.

According to Ningguang, this Mr. Qiu Bai before her was most likely an Adeptus.

“He, he’s actually…”

Paimon was about to expose Qiu Bai when he covered her mouth with one hand.

“You flatter me, Miss Beidou.”

“I am merely a Consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.”

Qiu Bai kept one hand over Paimon’s mouth as he looked at Beidou and explained with a smile.

“Qiu Bai!”

Paimon broke free from his hand.

She looked at Qiu Bai, hands on her hips, speaking with some anger.

“Ningguang is a very picky person. For her to give such high praise is quite rare.”

“I was wondering what kind of extraordinary talent you must be, and I wanted to meet you in person.”

Beidou crossed her arms over her chest, speaking with heroic grace.

“And recently, because the Adeptus Lord resolved the Osial situation in the sea,”

“Everyone has fewer worries when sailing out.”

Beidou spread her hands, explaining to the three of them.

“And judging by your attire and the little thing beside you,”

“I figured it was probably you.”

Beidou looked at Lumine and Paimon and spoke with a smile.

“I’m not a little thing!”

“I’m Paimon~!”

Paimon stomped her foot angrily, hands on her hips, speaking indignantly.

“Paimon… Hmm, a truly fascinating creature.”

Just then, a young man stepped forward.

His white hair was tied into a short braid at the back of his head, with two stray strands above. Slightly below them was a streak of red dye matching his eye color.

He wore gray samurai attire, with the outermost layer of his furisode kimono worn only halfway.

The right side of his outer garment was tied at the waist, with the right sleeve hanging behind him.

Around his neck were two scarves, one black and one red, with his Vision pinned to them.

A maple leaf was tied at his waist, and the scarves, sleeves, and dark red hakama were all patterned with maple leaves.

He wore red leggings and black suneate on his lower body.

“From the three of you, I can sense not only the aura of wind and earth,”

“But also a hint of… hmm, the scent of the stars?”

The young man stepped forward, looking at Lumine and Paimon, one hand on his chin as he spoke with curiosity.

“But this gentleman…”

“He is truly mysterious—I can’t detect any aura from him at all.”

The young man looked at Qiu Bai, speaking with surprise.

“Huh? What’s all this about?”

“That’s the strangest comment I’ve ever heard.”

Paimon spread her hands, looking at the young man with confusion.

“It’s nothing, I just believe that fateful encounters”

“Must hold some meaning.”

The young man looked at the three and explained with a smile.

“Is this another bard?”

“Or is he your personal poet, Beidou?”

Lumine looked at Beidou and asked with some confusion.

After all, the young man before them spoke and looked very much like a poet.

“What do you think?”

“I don’t seem like someone with such refined tastes either.”

Beidou crossed her arms and looked at Lumine, chuckling lightly.

“This is Kaedehara Kazuha. Due to certain reasons, he’s staying on my ship for now.”

“From time to time, you’ll hear a few poetic lines from him.”

Beidou glanced at Kazuha beside her and explained with a smile to Qiu Bai and the others.

“With a ship and the sea breeze, not reciting a few lines of poetry…”

“Wouldn’t that be missing the romance of it all?”

Kazuha walked over to Beidou’s side, crossed his arms, and spoke calmly.

“Haha, that makes sense too.”

“How about giving you a chance to perform when The Crux Clash begins?”

Beidou placed her hands on her hips, looked at Kazuha beside her, and said cheerfully.

“That depends on the mood.”

“Poems written for a specific purpose often lack true sentiment.”

Kazuha waved his hand at Beidou and explained.

“It’s a rare opportunity.”

“And with a great hero participating, don’t refuse so quickly.”

Beidou looked at Kazuha, sounding a bit helpless.

“Wait, what is The Crux Clash?”

“And who is this great hero you’re talking about…”

Paimon stared at Beidou, looking utterly confused.

“Huh? I thought you must have come to sign up.”

“You haven’t heard of it?”

Beidou looked at Lumine and Paimon, puzzled.

“The Crux Clash is a martial arts tournament I organize.”

“Many people who want to showcase their skills come to participate.”

Beidou spread her hands and explained to Lumine and Paimon.

“There are two important rules for participation. First, you must have a notable reputation.”

“At the very least, you can’t be someone who knows nothing about martial arts and just wants to join the fun.”

Beidou paused for a moment, then glanced at Lumine and Paimon.

“Of course, you don’t need to worry about that. No one’s reputation is more renowned than yours.”

“The second rule is that you cannot use a Vision. Otherwise, the gap in strength would be too great.”

Beidou spread her hands and explained with a smile.

“Although I don’t have a Vision…”

“But…”

Lumine looked at Beidou, about to explain that she could wield two types of Elemental Power.

“Haha, you’re very confident in your abilities.”

“But don’t underestimate Liyue, where hidden talents abound.”

Seeing Lumine like this, Beidou thought she believed the competition would be too easy.

“With a great hero like you participating in my tournament…”

“It’s sure to become a major topic and attract even stronger contenders.”

Beidou looked at Lumine and said with a smile.

“But we really aren’t here to join the tournament!”

Paimon looked at Beidou and explained.

“Don’t refuse so quickly. I’ve prepared a prize for this tournament.”

“And that is… an ownerless Vision.”

Beidou looked at the group and said mysteriously.

Hearing this, Qiu Bai’s lips twitched slightly. A Vision was truly useless to Lumine.

“Actually, I provided it.”

“If the winner of the tournament can awaken this Vision, it will belong to them.”

Kazuha waved his hand at Lumine and explained.

“Such a thing actually exists?!”

Paimon stared at Kazuha in astonishment.

This was the first time she had heard of a Vision being ownerless.

“Why doesn’t it have an owner?”

Lumine looked at Kazuha and asked with some curiosity.

“When a Vision holder passes away, the Vision loses its light.”

“But the shell does not disappear.”

“What such a shell can be used for remains uncertain.”

“Yet I believe that since the empty shell remains in this world, perhaps it serves a purpose of inheritance.”

Kazuha rested a hand on his chin and explained calmly.