The Weapon Master Shall Never Die Bare-Handed in Genshin Impact [230]

“‘Forgot it,’ huh? That’s such a Zhongli move…”

“How hasn’t he starved to death yet?” Paimon quipped, rolling her eyes.

“You might want to ask how Venti hasn’t starved first,” Jia Changjiang said with a grin. “At least Zhongli has a steady job.”

“Speaking of which…”

Zhongli turned to Lumine. “I hear you embarked on this journey in search of the Seven Archons.”

Then, he looked at Jia Changjiang. “And you travel with her, seeking the strongest warriors across the Seven Nations.”

“But your journey may face a challenge ahead. The neighboring nation of Inazuma is currently under lockdown.”

“Lockdown?” Lumine repeated, surprised. “Why? What kind of god is the one ruling Inazuma?”

“Oh, Paimon knows this one!” the little companion chimed in, raising her hand eagerly. “Inazuma’s Archon is Baal, the Electro Archon! And the people there call her… Raiden, Raiden Shogun!”

“Correct,” Zhongli confirmed with a nod. “Raiden Shogun serves as the general of the Inazuma Shogunate, and under her divine will, the nation is in lockdown.”

“Raiden Shogun, huh? Sounds like an impressive title,” Jia Changjiang mused. “But what’s this I keep hearing about unrest in Inazuma? Is it true?”

Paimon nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, it only got really tense this year! Last year was still kind of okay… I wonder what caused the lockdown?”

“It is because of the Vision Hunt Decree,” Zhongli explained, his expression serious.

“Vision Hunt Decree?” Lumine echoed, intrigued.

Zhongli began to elaborate. “When faced with uncontrollable fates, mortals often lament their powerlessness. But at the most critical juncture of life, when their desires reach their peak, the gaze of the gods descends…”

“That is the origin of the Vision—a divine gift bestowed upon chosen mortals, granting them the power to channel elemental energy.”

“Okay, but what does that have to do with Inazuma?” Lumine asked.

Zhongli continued. “Last year, Raiden Shogun issued the Vision Hunt Decree. Across Inazuma, all Visions are being confiscated and embedded into the hands of The Statue of the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God.”

“Whoa-ho-ho!” Jia Changjiang chuckled.

“Wait, why?” Paimon asked, baffled. “A Vision is a gift from the gods, isn’t it?”

“In Raiden Shogun’s eyes, precisely because it is a gift from the gods, the gods have the right to reclaim it at will,” Zhongli said.

“That’s so weird…” Lumine frowned, deep in thought. “Why give such a gift just to take it back later? What’s her motive?”

Jia Changjiang crossed his arms. “Well, Zhongli, you seem like the guy with all the answers. Care to enlighten us?”

“For the sake of her ideal—Eternity.”

Zhongli’s voice was measured. “The Anemo Archon pursues Freedom, the Geo Archon upholds Contracts, and the Electro Archon seeks Eternity. The Vision Hunt Decree is her way of cementing her resolve.”

“Considering recent events in Mondstadt and Liyue, it’s no surprise she’s doubled down on her pursuit. When she issued the decree, she likely repeated her most cherished belief:

‘Among all the ideals pursued by the Seven, only Eternity comes closest to Celestia.’”

“Celestia?” Lumine stiffened at the mention of the name, her mind immediately on edge.

“Well, then, there’s no way we’re skipping Inazuma!” she declared, clenching her fists. “Even if it’s locked down, I’ll find a way to sneak in!”

“Traveler, are you sure?” Paimon fretted. “With the Vision Hunt Decree going on, won’t they just chase us like in Mondstadt and Liyue?”

“Chase us for what? None of us even have a Vision!” Jia Changjiang teased, giving Paimon’s cheeks a playful pinch. “Let them try to hunt three Visionless people!”

“Oh, speaking of rumors,” Paimon interjected, “we’ve been hearing all kinds of wild stuff! Everyone’s blaming Childe for everything, and they’re even calling the Traveler and Jia Changjiang Taisui Star now!”

“Hmm…” Zhongli chuckled lightly. “While not all accusations against Childe hold weight, his attempts to disrupt the Adepti and the Qixing by boarding the Jade Chamber certainly cannot be denied.

“Ningguang is using this as leverage to drive the Fatui’s envoys into a corner at the negotiation table.”

“If Childe weren’t personally chosen by the Tsaritsa as a Harbinger, I suspect the Fatui would have pinned all the blame on him and dismissed him entirely.

“It’s no wonder his reputation among the Fatui has taken another hit. I imagine his next drinking session will yield quite a few amusing tales. Would you like to join me then?”

“Sure! As long as I’m not paying. If Childe’s footing the bill, even better!” Lumine exclaimed, hands on her hips. “He still owes me for that fight back in Liyue!”

“Do you have any other questions?” Zhongli asked, his tone patient.

“Not really,” Lumine replied, shaking her head.

“In that case, it’s best to wait for the right opportunity. Breaking through Inazuma’s lockdown may require more than determination—perhaps a bit of fate’s favor,” Zhongli said with a small smile. “It may not take as long as you think.”

“Got it! And if we have to, I’ll just hire someone with a Cryo Vision to smuggle us in!” Lumine said brightly. “For now, I guess we’ll hang out in Liyue and Mondstadt a while longer.”

“Exactly!” Paimon agreed. “And your teleportation skills are getting better too! Though… you can’t carry much stuff yet.”

“Haha… If the leyline teleportation could transport goods, Teyvat would no longer need ships or caravans. Trade would vanish, and so would the merchants,” Zhongli remarked, amused. “But few can wield such power to begin with.”

“Hey, Jax!” Lumine’s eyes sparkled with an idea. “What if we started a business using teleportation? Think of all the money we’d save on transport costs!”

Jia Changjiang gave her a long look before replying. “Do you know what sells well? Or how to run a business?”

“Uh… no.”

“Then forget it. Stick to Adventurer’s Guild commissions.”

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This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!