Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue.

"T-The Tenryou Commission?"

Arataki Itto froze, finally processing the chaos they had just unleashed.

Environmental destruction, public brawling, blatant disregard for Inazuma's laws—these were just a few ways to describe their earlier activities.

Wait, no, technically it wasn't a "brawl," since only one weapon had been involved—a now-shattered longsword.

But who would believe that?

One look at the cratered, uneven battlefield, and any Tenryou Commission officer investigating the scene would assume they'd used Vision-infused powers in some grand, destructive "duel of sorcery."

"So… what now?"

The three underlings huddled together, trembling. Not only had they caused trouble, but they'd also stayed to host a feast like some kind of deranged criminals celebrating their exploits.

Normally, their interactions with the Tenryou Commission ended with mild warnings—don't bully kids, don't disrupt the peace.

But this? This was on a whole other level. With their boss's outrageous strength, if they got caught, they were doomed.

"Don't be scared! What's done is done. What do you expect us to do, go back and wait to be arrested?"

"Well… you have a point…"

Gu Sanqiu's nonchalant tone somehow steered their thoughts astray. After all, it's human nature to cling to hope, and these guys weren't exactly the rule-following type to begin with.

Sanqiu silently thanked Fontaine's lack of advanced surveillance systems. If cameras existed, they'd have no chance of getting away.

Especially since, no matter how far Itto and his gang might run, their "temple" wasn't going anywhere.

Then again, even if surveillance existed, Inazuma's current resources wouldn't stretch to placing cameras in the wilderness. And if they did, it wouldn't take long for the devices to "disappear," sold off by opportunistic thieves.

"Hahaha! When you put it like that, today's duel was incredible!" Itto suddenly draped an arm around Sanqiu's shoulders, grinning ear to ear. "Not only did I have a proper fight, but now we'll make the Tenryou Commission eat dirt!"

"How is this a victory?" Sanqiu asked, unimpressed.

"It is a victory!" Itto declared proudly. "Putting those self-important, meddlesome folks in their place—that's a win!"

"Well, to me, victory involves achieving far greater goals."

"Oh? Like what?" Itto asked, his interest piqued.

"Lifting the Sakoku Decree."

Silence.

Itto and his gang all gulped audibly, their eyes wide with shock.

Was this guy serious?

Abolishing the Sakoku Decree? Achieving that would constitute victory?

That would mean going against the Shogunate. Against the Tri-Commission. Against her, the one who wielded the ultimate authority.

"B-Boss, I think the party's over. How about we call it a night and head back?"

"Y-Yeah, great idea," another underling chimed in, nodding furiously. "If Grandma finds out we're out this late, we're done for!"

"Get it straight—you don't report to that guy anymore. I'm your boss now," Sanqiu cut in, his voice calm but firm.

"Hey, who are you calling 'that guy'? I'm Arataki Itto, The One and Oni!" Itto protested, slapping the ground beside him. "And what's there to be scared of? He's just talking. Now spill—why abolish the Sakoku Decree? What's the reason?"

"It's not like you'd believe one of those dramatic plots from Yae Publishing House," Sanqiu teased. "You won't suddenly meet a stranger in a duel only to find out they're some pivotal character, right?"

Well, hate to break it to you, Itto, but today you're the protagonist of a serialized novel. Every stranger you meet is a key figure in the plot.

Unfortunately, this particular key figure isn't here to hand out treasure or opportunities. In fact, they might just make your life significantly harder.

If his true identity were exposed, and Itto's gang was found to have ties to him, the fallout would be catastrophic.

Sanqiu smirked. In truth, his ambitions extended far beyond challenging the Sakoku Decree.

But appearances had to be maintained.

"Because," he began, a wistful look crossing his face, "on the other side of the storm, across the sea, there's someone waiting for me to return."

"Oh!"

The four single men perked up, instantly captivated.

"Who? Who is it? Tell us already!"

Itto's eyes sparkled. "Judging by the tone, it has to be a girl, right? It's a girl, isn't it?"

"Someone across the ocean, waiting for a foreign samurai to return to her side… This is gold!"

Sanqiu chuckled. "More or less. That's why I want the Sakoku Decree gone."

"Perhaps the Shogun has her reasons. But I'm just an ordinary man. What I want is simple."

He softened his voice, the words carrying a deliberate weight.

"A place to belong. A purpose worth fighting for. And someone who misses me, loves me, and sees no one else but me."

"I want to be by her side, cutting through storms, oceans, even time itself. Nothing—not lightning nor the sea—can stop our longing for each other. The breeze and the tides will carry my love to her."

There was, of course, no such person. But Sanqiu knew plenty of people back home who probably wanted him to stop wandering and return safely.

If his father had been looking for him in Liyue Harbor, he was likely already pinching the bridge of his nose, assuming Sanqiu had gone off to do something reckless.

Hu Tao and Xingqiu? No worries there. Hu Tao would just assume he was off exploring again, while Xingqiu would likely deduce he was working on something important and keep it to himself.

But his elder sister? Ha! If she found out he'd left without notice, he'd probably end up being sent to the Jade Chamber as a walking lightning rod.

"Ohhh!"

Itto and his gang were thoroughly enraptured. Their faces were red as they each fantasized about their own romantic tales—despite likely having never held a girl's hand.

In truth, they didn't mind. Following Itto already painted them as a bunch of aimless slackers. Spending their youth doing odd jobs for pocket money wasn't exactly winning them admirers.

Meeting someone like Sanqiu, a "man with a story," naturally stoked their curiosity.

"So that's how it is," Itto said, his expression a mix of envy and admiration. "You're not as handsome as me, but you're strong and have someone who loves you. So unfair!"

Sanqiu chose to ignore the remark about not being as handsome.

If the timing weren't so off, I'd pull off this mask right now and show you what real handsome looks like.

"Damn it! Where's the girl who's supposed to steal my heart? Why hasn't she shown up yet?!"

---

Oh? You're still here? Wow. Either you really enjoy my company, or you scrolled too fast and forgot to close the tab. Either way—respect.

Now, since I have your attention, let's talk business. Web fluid, coffee, replacement suits—being me isn't cheap. And last I checked, saving the world doesn't come with a salary. Tragic, I know.

But you can make a difference! By supporting [patreon.com/WiseTL], you're not just helping a poor, overworked Spider-Man—you're securing front-row seats to even more chaos, bad jokes, and possibly a few existential crises.

So go on, be a hero. Support the cause. And who knows? Maybe I'll name my next web trick after you. (Probably not, but hey, worth a shot.)

Stay cool, don't trust bald telepaths, and always double-check your web cartridges.

— Xia Luo 🕷️