Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue.

The Redhorn Stonethresher—Arataki Itto's signature weapon.

Excluding his own armory, this was the third high-quality weapon Gu Sanqiu had come across.

There was the Staff of Homa from Hu Tao's home, the Primordial Jade Winged Spear carried by Xiao, and now this blade. Judging by its razor-sharp edge, it deserved every bit of its reputation as a top-tier weapon.

Unlike the in-game mechanics where whales and luck-blessed players had vaults full of 5-star weapons, legendary weapons in Teyvat were singular and unique.

For instance, Mondstadt's Favonius Sword was the unyielding anthem and unbroken banner of a previous generation's heroine.

The Wolf's Gravestone, on the other hand, started as a simple chunk of iron gifted by a blacksmith. Through the journey shared by a knight and the Wolf of the North, it underwent a profound transformation.

Both weapons shared a key trait: they had evolved through arduous journeys and the combined efforts of their wielders and companions, akin to refining and enhancing a weapon.

If someone like Gu Sanqiu's grandfather wanted the Wolf's Gravestone, they'd probably have to wait for a certain blond-haired traveler to expose the Darknight Hero's identity before such a legendary blade could even be considered usable.

Otherwise, as a mere Mondstadt guild leader and ex-Knight of Favonius, even Diluc wouldn't be entitled to wield it publicly.

To put it bluntly, trying to claim a weapon of such renown would be like walking into a museum and stealing an ancient, legendary sword to use in battle. You'd be lucky not to end up behind bars.

The rarity of such weapons—excluding the illusory magic conjured by a certain bard—was on par with artifacts like the Skyward Harp.

Take Barbara's reaction, for example. Her reverence made it clear just how difficult it was to obtain such treasures in the real Teyvat.

That said, Gu Sanqiu could probably borrow the Staff of Homa if needed. Maybe even Xiao's spear.

Come to think of it, was he the real legendary weapon magnet?

He suddenly felt quite proud of himself.

"Alright, everyone! Stop moping!"

Itto activated his signature skill: LOUD ROAR.

"A man should hold his head high and accept his losses with grace! Didn't I just say it? Don't be the kind of man who can't handle losing!"

"Tell me—do you want to be cowards?"

"No, boss!"

"Good!"

Itto joined his gang, bowing deeply and dramatically toward Gu Sanqiu.

"From now on, this esteemed samurai is the boss of the Arataki Gang!"

"Boss! Greetings, boss!"

The three lackeys blinked for a moment, then mimicked Itto, bowing in unison and yelling at the top of their lungs:

"Boss! Greetings, boss!"

---

The Gu family was one of Liyue's most distinguished clans. By all rights, this sort of nonsense should have had nothing to do with someone like Gu Sanqiu.

Then again, if the Ten Gold Chambers ever became a reality, dealing with all kinds of underground characters might be inevitable. Maybe "boss" would end up being a title he'd hear more often than expected.

But now, after just a few days in Inazuma, he had somehow ended up as the boss of the Arataki Gang.

It left him feeling… complicated.

Surely this wasn't something he'd picked up from Beidou, right?

He had no intention of becoming a crime lord!

"To be honest, I don't want to be your boss," Gu Sanqiu said with a sigh. "I only said that to scare your leader. Nothing more."

"Instead of calling me 'boss,' why not treat me to a meal?"

"A meal?"

The three underlings exchanged glances, then bowed even deeper, their posture impeccable.

"Boss! Greetings, boss!"

Subtext: Feeding you would bankrupt us! Just let us keep calling you boss!

---

Gu Sanqiu turned to Itto. "Is your gang really this poor?"

"Obviously!"

Itto's face flushed red, but he puffed out his chest proudly.

"But we in the Arataki Gang don't steal or rob. We earn our living with our own two hands! Who cares if we're poor? I'm proud of it!"

"Hold on, hold on," Gu Sanqiu interrupted, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're missing the point. It's not I'm proud of being poor. It's about taking pride in working hard for your livelihood."

"Here's an idea: why don't you guys gather some ingredients and cook me a meal in the wild? Let's call it even for today. How about that?"

"Hey, you're right!" Itto's eyes lit up. "What's a proper duel without a feast afterward? Boys, gather the ingredients! It's party time!"

"Yes, boss!"

---

Out in the wild, five figures gathered around a campfire.

Well, four men and one… big oni?

Meat sizzled on makeshift grills, dripping juices into the flames. Nearby, Itto's lackeys enthusiastically juiced fruits, mixing in wild honey to create a sweet and fragrant concoction.

"Hahaha! How's this? This is the Arataki Gang's top-tier feast!" Itto laughed heartily. "Normally, we'd save these for ourselves."

Gu Sanqiu raised an eyebrow. "What do you usually eat, then?"

"Me?" Itto scratched his head. "Well, when I work odd jobs, they feed me. When I'm not working, I just forage in the wild. Sometimes I roast bugs. If I can sprinkle some salt on them, that's a real treat—a feast, even!"

Gu Sanqiu's mouth twitched. He now had a newfound respect for the oni's physical resilience.

This guy might be suffering from malnutrition… and yet his punch had left Sanqiu with internal injuries.

Grass. (A certain plant.)

"With your strength, you could do pretty well with the Adventurers' Guild," Gu Sanqiu said, half in disbelief. "Even if you avoid routine commissions, you could handle fieldwork easily. Based on our fight, I'd say you could even hold your own against a Thunderhelm Lawachurl and walk away unscathed if you didn't overcommit."

Itto rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Well, yeah, I used to take on commissions. But then came the Vision Hunt Decree, and with that statue business, I had to keep my head down. Otherwise, I'd have been the first oni they came after."

Sanqiu nodded. It made sense. For someone like Itto—famous but without backing—the decree's enforcers would have easily used him as an example.

What puzzled him wasn't the logic of Itto's caution, but rather the fact that the oni had shown such foresight.

"You're smarter about this than I expected," Sanqiu muttered.

"Don't look at me like that!" Itto protested. "Grandma told me to lay low for a while!"

"And yet, here you are at my doorstep, challenging me to a duel?" Sanqiu said, exasperated. "Did you forget something?"

"Huh? What's that?"

"Do you think the Tenryou Commission won't investigate a duel this loud?"

…

---

Oh, you're still here? Nice. While I'm out here juggling revival matches and reminding villains why they should reconsider their life choices, someone's behind the scenes making sure my story reaches you. Gotta admit, they're doing a pretty solid job.

If you want to help keep this whole thing running smoothly, here's the link: [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Think of it as… supporting your favorite underdog. Everyone loves an underdog, right?

Anyway, time to get back to saving the day. See you in the next chapter—don't forget to stay out of trouble (that's my job).

— Xia Luo 🕸️