"Don't be nervous. I'm not Rex Lapis - he's my master. You've been in Inazuma long and haven't returned to Liyue, so you don't know how much has changed. I'm now the next Geo Archon. Liyue is in a transition period of divine supervision with self-governance by its people."
Jiang Ning smiled, explaining recent events in Liyue.
The merchants sighed: "So Rex Lapis has grown weary... But that's good, he deserves rest."
Some merchants remained nervous - even if not Rex Lapis himself, the person before them was second only to one in all of Liyue.
"Oh right, don't reveal my identity. If anyone asks, say I'm the Tianquan's special envoy, here to assist the Yuheng."
Jiang Ning said cheerfully.
"We obey, my lord."
The merchants were respectful, but their anxiety had almost completely vanished.
Their god had come to Inazuma to support them - what more could they ask for?
"Bear with it for a few days. When the time is right, we'll make the Kanjou Commission pay back double what they've taken."
Jiang Ning's eyes flashed coldly.
"Also, tell me what you know about Inazuma's current situation, so we can plan accordingly."
"Yes, my lord. Currently in Inazuma..."
They began discussing quietly.
After half a day, Jiang Ning understood Inazuma's situation.
Because their god pursued eternity, they started the Sakoku Decree. The god believed Vision holders pursuing their dreams would create factors unfavorable to eternity.
Therefore, Visions fell within the scope of things unfavorable to eternity, leading to the Vision Hunt Decree...
On Watatsumi Island, rebels and shogunate forces fought fiercely.
Among the three commissions, the Kanjou and Tenryou were utterly corrupt, only the Kamisato Commission truly cared for the people.
The Fatui ran wild in Inazuma. Though not as extreme as in Mondstadt, they were still very arrogant. As for monsters in the wild and the Nobushi and ronin who couldn't survive under the Sakoku and Vision Hunt Decrees...
They were everywhere.
Hearing this, Jiang Ning was shocked. Was this really Inazuma and not the Qing Dynasty?
Internal strife, external threats, corrupt upper class, closed borders... these debuffs were maxed out.
If this wasn't a god's domain, he could raise his arm and call out, and maybe... ahem.
In any case, Jiang Ning felt he should go see Inazuma City.
However, along the way, Jiang Ning and Havria were almost delirious with joy.
Archon remnants and resentment were everywhere, along with the Electro Crystals and Naku Weed needed for making bodies.
Inazuma was a great place.
"Jiang Ning, I think we can go to Inazuma City now. They say there's a Grand Narukami Shrine there. We could ask the shrine maidens about archon remnants - in Inazuman terms, they should be called 'divine remains'?"
Havria said.
"Mm, I was thinking the same."
Jiang Ning nodded.
"Let me see the road leaving the outlying islands... Ugh, we have to deal with those disgusting people again."
On the map, the official roads leaving the islands were all controlled by Kanjou Commission people. Jiang Ning really didn't want to deal with them.
Havria said: "Well, I think we could take a shortcut."
Jiang Ning said: "We could, but we'd need to deal with those Kanjou Commission tails first."
"Let's go somewhere without people."
Havria was merciless.
Even a kind god learned bad habits following Jiang Ning. During their time together in the wild, facing Treasure Hoarders and such, Jiang Ning had done plenty of killing and looting.
Zhongli and Xianyun had scolded him multiple times for this.
"You're going to be a god, doing such things daily? Mind your image, your image!"
But Jiang Ning still enjoyed it.
Leading their followers to a secluded place, they waited a moment, but there was still no reaction.
Jiang Ning muttered: "These people are probably just following? Afraid I'll leave the island? Really, such unprofessional tailing, wearing their clan crests so obviously..."
The next second, a cold wind blew, and their followers silently turned to ice powder, vanishing from this world.
"That was so simple..." Havria seemed disappointed.
"What did you expect? A big battle? Or revealing my identity to make them shocked and bow down? Please, Sister Havria, read fewer Liyue novels. I don't have time for that."
Jiang Ning complained.
"True, that would lower an archon's prestige."
Havria nodded seriously.
"Alright, let's find a shortcut..."
...
Fifteen minutes later, Havria sat on a rock, speechless.
"This is your shortcut?"
Jiang Ning said: "Well, there's only that one official road to Inazuma City. If we don't take that, we can only go by sea."
Looking at the vast ocean, Jiang Ning created a large floating rock, froze its bottom, and used wind and fire elements to propel it, speeding across the sea.
"But that's Inazuma... Is the Sacred Sakura really that high up? We can see it from so far."
Havria sat properly on a small stone chair on the floating rock, looking at distant Inazuma City.
"I think climbing that high mountain every day to worship at the Grand Narukami Shrine must be exhausting."
Jiang Ning couldn't help saying.
"Agreed."
Havria said.
"Oh, we're here." Jiang Ning slowed down.
Landing at an uninhabited spot, Jiang Ning recalled his floating rock.
"Wait, is Inazuma's defense really this ridiculous? No naval patrols? This is Inazuma City, a nation's capital, and we just walked in?"
Jiang Ning walked toward populated areas, questioning life... while collecting materials like Naku Weed along the way.
Had to admit, the Geo Archon's authority was great for mining.
Havria said: "Inazuma City is lifeless too..."
Few shops were open on the streets, only scattered patrolling shogunate soldiers, and Inazuman civilians wore worried expressions.
"That's not our concern. Our goal is divine remains."
Jiang Ning said.
Havria said: "Isn't this your old problem acting up..."
Kindly put, it was mercy; bluntly put, it was a bleeding heart.
"Hello, give me two... um, what's this? Dango milk?"
Jiang Ning approached a street stall.
"Oh, okay, that's 200 Mora total."
The young vendor said.
Jiang Ning frowned: "So expensive?"
200 Mora could buy a good meal at Wanmin Restaurant. (Game prices are unrealistic, let's use real-world conversion)
The young vendor said: "Sir, it's not expensive. Prices are very high in Inazuma now... You look like you're from outside? How did outsiders get in nowadays?"
He seemed surprised.
Jiang Ning said: "Oh, I came with Liyue's delegation, just touring... Here's 100 Mora."
It was all Sister Ningguang's money anyway... No, Ningguang herself was his now, so it was his money!
Jiang Ning suddenly felt justified using it.
Taking the dango milk, when no one was looking, he gave one to Havria and continued wandering.
"This tastes good."
Havria was very satisfied. It was sweet, and the dango were chewy - delicious.
Jiang Ning said: "This thing... taro bubble milk tea?"
"Hm? What's that?"
"Just a drink from my old home, tastes similar," Jiang Ning said casually.
"Excuse me, sir from Liyue, please wait a moment."
"Hm?"
Jiang Ning was confused. Were they calling him?
Turning around, he saw a very pretty shrine maiden who blushed upon seeing him, then quickly came to his side:
"Excuse me, are you Mr. Jiang Ning?"
"Yes, how did you know?" Jiang Ning was curious.
The shrine maiden said: "Lady Guuji said if we saw a young man in white Liyue clothes, the most handsome in the crowd, with white hair, that would be Mr. Jiang Ning."
"Oh... So what does Lady Yae want?"
The shrine maiden quickly said: "Lady Guuji asked me to give you these travel permits, for both the outlying islands and Inazuma City. Otherwise things might be inconvenient."
Jiang Ning accepted a pink charm with cherry blossom and fox markings - clearly Yae Miko's seal.
"Nice, saved me 100,000 Mora."
Jiang Ning was happy.
The shrine maiden looked awkward - seems the Kanjou Commission's corruption was well-known.
"Anything else?"
The shrine maiden said: "Also, there's a simple welcome banquet tonight at Uyuu Restaurant. If convenient, please attend."
Jiang Ning nodded: "Good, I wanted to try Inazuman cuisine... Please tell Lady Yae I'll definitely attend."
The shrine maiden sighed in relief, bowed to Jiang Ning, and left.
"Well, having permits makes things much better."
Jiang Ning said.
Havria continued disappointedly: "Too bad, I thought we'd see some face-slapping and bloodshed..."
Jiang Ning's expression didn't change: "I told you to read fewer mindless novels..."
"Let's rest tonight. Tomorrow we'll start work properly in the wild. I've sensed something very nourishing in that direction of Inazuma..."
Jiang Ning was tempted.
Havria said: "Alright, I'll go with you then."
With her soul and authority restored, Havria was now half-resigned, just waiting for her body to be made.
"By the way, Jiang Ning, there are Fatui watching you over there. Didn't they fight you for archon remnants in Liyue?"
"I know, let them watch. If they dare try to grab what I want, I'll chop off their hands and sink them in the sea."
Jiang Ning said casually.
Havria said: "Isn't that too cruel? I wanted to say this back in Liyue - just kill them or let them go, why torture them?"
Jiang Ning said: "For information. But since Sister Havria mentioned it, I won't kill them then, I'll let them go."
Havria smiled with narrowed eyes - seems her persuasion worked?
Then Jiang Ning said: "Won't kill them, just feed them aphrodisiacs and throw them in a pigsty, regardless of gender. Thanks Sister Havria, you made me think of this punishment."
Fatui: Thanks a lot, God of Salt.
Havria: "...Just kill them instead."
Havria felt this must be Xianyun and Morax's fault. How did little Jiang Ning, originally such a pure child, become so lawless?
But little did she know...
[Host, you really get it. Want me to trade some performance points for some "I Love Firewood" or something?]
"Save your stuff for something useful." Jiang Ning was exasperated.
[Yes sir.]
"Let's look around more..."
Jiang Ning looked around, wanting to see what entertainment he could find.
Then he saw what seemed to be shogunate troops gathering, led by a woman in military dress wearing tall wooden sandals, the rumored "milk cover", showing long legs, and a crow mask on her head.
The woman was tall with a shapely figure, radiating the valor befitting a soldier.
Though a soldier, her face was very beautiful. She looked like someone important.
Jiang Ning quietly moved aside. Within minutes, from the soldiers' responses to orders and surrounding discussions, he roughly understood her identity.
Current Tenryou Commissioner, adopted daughter of the Kujou clan, Kujou Sara, also the Raiden Shogun's most trusted general... an absolute loyalist to the Shogun.
Reportedly also a youkai, an orphan of the tengu clan.
Her Electro energy was very abundant, and her aura was magnificent - a powerful youkai.
After just a few glances, Jiang Ning withdrew his gaze. Confirmed - judging by outfit and appearance, definitely a future playable female character... Though a nation's general, should be a 5-star character?
Well, not necessarily. Look at Sister Ningguang, wasn't she 4-star back then?
However, just as Jiang Ning withdrew his gaze, Kujou Sara, who was organizing troops, suddenly felt someone watching her. The feeling was like when the Shogun looked at her.
The observer was unmatched.
But looking around, she only saw ordinary Inazuman civilians and a young man's departing figure.
Was it her imagination?
Kujou Sara frowned, but now wasn't the time to dwell on this. The situation on Watatsumi Island was urgent, requiring her support.
Looking at the rapidly assembling troops, Kujou Sara said commandingly:
"All troops, follow me! The way is mighty, eternity to the Shogunate!"
"Yes! The way is mighty, eternity to the Shogunate!"
----
You can join my P@treon to read 30+ chapters early and support me and my work.
P@treon.com/rivyura