"Beidou, the captain of the Southern Cross Fleet, is said to be a ruthless warrior who killed the giant beast of the Nether Sea. She also has a rather interesting relationship with Ningguang, doesn't she?" Smith mused, recalling Beidou's past. This fearless captain had quite a reputation, and it seemed that, in certain retellings, her relationship with Ningguang was portrayed as something more than just professional.
Smith found himself somewhat intrigued by this dynamic. "They should be considered as having a relationship of mutual respect and rivalry, right?"
Keqing, standing beside him, nodded slightly before elaborating. "Although Ningguang often slanders Beidou and keeps pressing her to pay taxes, she actually helps Beidou in many ways behind the scenes. Many of Beidou's troubles are quietly handled by Ningguang, and a lot of her fleet's weapons are provided thanks to Ningguang's efforts. Likewise, many of Ningguang's caravans rely on Beidou's fleet for transportation. Their relationship is one of deep cooperation."
After a pause, Keqing added, "As for Beidou killing the Dark Sea Beast, that part is absolutely true. Even though she has a Vision, she rarely relies on it in battle. She took down that monster with sheer physical strength. If I hadn't joined the guild, I wouldn't be able to match her in combat."
Smith raised an eyebrow. "You're a five-star, and Beidou's only four-star." But then he thought back to Beidou's performance in various battles and reconsidered. There were times when Beidou's usage rate in combat surpassed Keqing's, even among adventurers.
"For someone with that level of physical strength, refining her Vision's abilities could elevate her power significantly," Smith remarked with some regret. "It's a shame. If there weren't so many responsibilities tying her down in Liyue, I would've invited her to join the Dimension Guild."
Most members of the guild understood that there wouldn't be many more recruits from Liyue. With limited space, Smith couldn't focus solely on one region. Even among the immortals, not all had been invited.
"Ningguang probably has her own plans for Beidou," Keqing said with a shrug. "This time, Beidou has returned with information from Inazuma, so I need to meet her quickly and understand the situation. Otherwise, knowing her, she'll dock at Liyue Harbor, drink herself into a stupor, pass out until the next night, and then go drinking again."
Smith chuckled at the description. Despite her fearless leadership, Beidou had a well-known love for alcohol. "Still, she's reliable when it counts."
Many people in Teyvat possessed great power without relying on Visions. Take the current Grand Master of Mondstadt's Knights of Favonius—he had no Vision, yet his strength was undeniable. Beidou, too, belonged to that rare breed of warriors.
"Let's go then," Smith suggested. "I need to check on Jiu Lama as well. Consider it part of our date."
As the Liyue Qixing's consultant, Smith's responsibilities were largely advisory, leaving him plenty of free time. Lately, Dream had been visiting Jueyun Karst to train with Mewtwo. Zhongli had taken an interest in mentoring Mewtwo, teaching it about strategy, combat techniques, and proper conduct. However, since Mewtwo was a Pokémon, its innate combat style was different from that of Teyvat's warriors. Learning from Dream, who shared a similar origin, was likely more beneficial.
At first, Mewtwo had been surprised that Dream had tracked him to Teyvat, but upon learning that she was merely a unique manifestation rather than the original, he gradually accepted her presence. Though he might not openly admit it, having Dream around gave Mewtwo a sense of comfort.
"A date, huh?" Keqing flipped her hair proudly. She was wearing a JK-style uniform, paired with black knee-high stockings—a look that Smith particularly appreciated. Though she wasn't sure why he was so insistent on this outfit, she indulged him nonetheless.
"I still don't understand why you prefer this over my usual stockings. My alchemically enhanced ones are more practical. They have high elasticity and even offer some defense," she muttered. "And yet, you keep ruining them."
Smith simply smirked, taking her hand as they soared toward Guyun Pavilion.
---
Near Guyun Pavilion, the crew of the Southern Cross Fleet gazed warily at the enormous nine-tailed fox resting in the distance. It was as massive as a hill, exuding an overwhelming aura that filled them with unease.
"Big Sister Beidou, is that a demon god?" one of the sailors asked, gulping nervously.
"Look at its tails! Nine of them! Hey, Manye, how many tails does the head priestess of Narukami Shrine have?" another crew member asked Kaedehara Kazuha, his voice filled with apprehension.
Kazuha hesitated before answering. "I'm not sure, but I don't think she has nine… If I didn't know better, I'd suspect this was the legendary Great Kitsune of Inazuma's myths."
"If that's what a demon god looks like, I'd rather not meet one in battle," another sailor muttered.
Even Beidou, who feared little, looked at the fox with solemn respect. She then turned her gaze toward Liyue Harbor. The city remained peaceful, and the floating Jade Chamber was still intact—evidence that Liyue had not fallen.
As Smith and Keqing landed on the Death Star, Beidou crossed her arms and smirked at Keqing, who was still being held in Smith's arms. "Well, well, Keqing. The two of you seem rather close."
Keqing quickly composed herself, stepping out of Smith's embrace. "This is Smith, my boyfriend and the Seven Star Advisor appointed by the Geo Archon."
Beidou raised an eyebrow at the introduction. "An advisor personally chosen by the Geo Archon, huh?" She looked Smith up and down, her expression filled with curiosity and amusement. "No wonder you can fly. That alone tells me you're no ordinary man."
The crew members who had overheard the exchange looked at Smith with newfound admiration. If the Geo Archon valued him, he had to be exceptional.
"Captain Beidou, I didn't have time to inform you before, but from now on, your Southern Cross Fleet can dock at Yaoguang Beach. A dedicated port has been arranged for you, and the water depth has been adjusted accordingly," Keqing explained, steering the conversation toward official matters.
Beidou's eyes widened slightly. "Yaoguang Beach?" A nostalgic smile appeared on her face. "I didn't expect that. Back in the day, Ningguang and I both spent time there. She used to be just a street vendor pushing a cart… and now she's one of the Seven Stars of Liyue. Meanwhile, I've built the most powerful fleet in Teyvat."
She laughed heartily before nodding. "Alright, I'll take your offer. If you say the area has been prepared, I'll trust you."
Her gaze then shifted toward the sleeping fox. "And what's the deal with that thing?"
"That is Jiu Lama," Keqing explained. "You can think of him as the guardian deity of Liyue's southern gate. He won't harm humans unless provoked. The Guyun Stone Forest and the surrounding seas are now under his protection, and he is also responsible for watching over the sealed demons here."
Beidou nodded thoughtfully. "A divine beast under the Geo Archon's command… no wonder he gives off such an overwhelming presence. If that's the case, we'll be sure to give him the respect he deserves."
Her expression then turned serious. "By the way, what's the situation in Inazuma?"
Keqing's expression darkened. "From what we've gathered, Inazuma's isolation policy and Vision Hunt Decree are becoming stricter. The Kanjo and Tenryou Commissions have taken extreme measures—so much so that even the Raiden Shogun has been kept in the dark about the true situation."
Kazuha's eyes widened in shock. "They're deceiving the Shogun?!"
Beidou clenched her fists. "No wonder Inazuma feels so off. I suspected a hidden hand was pulling the strings… and now it's clear. The true culprit behind this mess must be the Fatui."
Smith's gaze sharpened. "Exactly. The Fatui are the ones manipulating things from the shadows. And unless we intervene, things will only get worse."