This was likely the smoothest voyage the Crux Fleet had experienced since the Raiden Shogun unleashed the thunderstorm.
From initial skepticism and confusion, the sailors now gazed at Mu Yang with nothing but admiration.
"No wonder Captain Beidou didn't stop him—he's genuinely powerful!"
"When has Captain Beidou ever misjudged someone?"
"He's insanely strong. That aura of his… he's probably an Adeptus in human form..."
...
Mu Yang sheathed his sword.
That strike had left him refreshed.
He could clearly feel that his strength had grown significantly.
Aside from the Raiden Shogun herself, there was likely no one in Inazuma who could match him now.
Wait, that wasn't quite right.
Even before this, the only one in Inazuma who could defeat him was the Raiden Shogun.
So, in the end, he hadn't actually improved at all.
Pathetic.
Mu Yang had the system mask his presence from the Shogun's detection.
Otherwise, after tearing such a massive gap in her thunderstorm, she would've rushed over immediately to see which little brat dared disrupt her grand plan of "Eternity."
Mu Yang anchored the twin dragons within the thunderstorm zone, then leaped back from the "dragon's head" at the bow to Beidou's side.
"This should last a few months."
Beidou patted Mu Yang's shoulder.
"That move was divine. Looks like our future voyages will be much easier."
"Consider it my fare."
"Hahaha, then this trip was worth it a hundred times over."
Beidou was still Beidou.
Whether it was learning of Mu Yang's identity as an Adeptus or witnessing his power firsthand, she'd be amazed, but it wouldn't change how she treated him.
This was something Mu Yang deeply admired.
If someone started groveling just because of another's status or strength, then they wouldn't be Beidou.
Perhaps this was her unique charm.
Xiangling excitedly ran up to them, with Guoba close behind, wagging his head in obvious delight.
After breaking through the thunderstorm's blockade, they officially entered Inazuma.
Once inside, Mu Yang noticed that the thunderstorm divided the sky into two halves.
Outside, the world was sunny and clear, while Inazuma's skies were gloomy—especially toward Inazuma City and the Grand Narukami Shrine.
The concentration of Electro energy there was overwhelming, creating a stifling atmosphere.
Before arriving at Ritou, Beidou sought out Mu Yang to ask if he planned to disembark there.
"Ritou has a lot of restrictions on foreigners right now, but with your strength, it shouldn't be a problem."
Mu Yang asked, "Do you have other destinations besides Ritou?"
Ritou was currently Inazuma's only open port. Wasn't Beidou just here to conduct trade before returning to Liyue?
"We're also heading to Yashiori Island."
Hearing this, Mu Yang understood.
It seemed Beidou was delivering supplies to the Sangonomiya resistance forces this time.
Making money is making money. Whose Mora isn't the same?
Coins didn't come with names stamped on them.
Since there were no important characters in Ritou, Mu Yang decided to change his plans.
He'd disembark at Yashiori Island instead and meet Sangonomiya Kokomi.
"Then I'll get off at Yashiori Island."
Beidou nodded.
"Good. Fewer complications that way. I'm not fond of dealing with Ritou's bureaucrats either, hahaha..."
The Crux Fleet entered Ritou's harbor.
The exchange and replenishment of supplies were completed swiftly.
After leaving Ritou, the fleet changed course and sailed toward Yashiori Island.
The closer they got to Yashiori Island, the more surreal the weather became.
Dark clouds hung oppressively low over the island, with lightning occasionally striking without warning.
The sight startled Xiangling.
She usually only went as far as Ritou—this was her first time coming here.
"Captain Beidou, can people really live here?"
BOOM—
Just as Beidou was about to answer Xiangling's question, a cannonball struck the left side of the Alcor.
Beidou looked in the direction of the attack.
On Nazuchi Beach, a group of Nobushi had rolled out several cannons, their barrels now aimed squarely at the Alcor.
Seeing this, Beidou shouted to her first mate,
"Juza! Let these blind bandits taste real firepower!"
Juza cracked his knuckles.
"Got it. If I don't move around soon, my bones'll rust."
Thanks to Mu Yang's presence, this voyage had been too smooth.
Now, they were itching for a fight.
The Alcor's crew were all brothers who had fought alongside Beidou through life and death.
Their combat discipline was impeccable.
Two volleys of cannon fire were enough to suppress the Nobushi.
As the battle raged, Mu Yang didn't intervene.
Instead, he stored his Cryo Vision inside the system space.
For his Inazuma journey, he had crafted an identity for himself—
A wandering swordsman seeking pure swordsmanship, challenging others across the land.
So pure that he didn't rely on external tools like Visions.
Inazuma had the Vision Hunt Decree, and that meant trouble.
Not that Mu Yang needed a Vision anyway.
He wasn't sure if Kujou Sara would confiscate Visions from foreigners, but he was only here to make an appearance—to remind the "players" of his existence.
Complicating things would be counterproductive.
Inazuma isn't my main stage.
Events like the Moonchase Festival and the rebuilding of the Jade Chamber after Inazuma's main storyline were more suited to his current identity and wouldn't feel out of place to the players.
While Mu Yang was lost in thought, the Alcor's crew prepared to land.
As the ship drew closer, Mu Yang sensed others lying in ambush nearby.
Looks like I'll need to show off a little.
Mu Yang activated his Soaring Cloud lightfoot technique.
In two steps, he appeared amidst a group of Nobushi.
By then, the Alcor's sailors had only just begun disembarking...
"Uh… Captain, should we still go?"
First Mate Juza smacked the back of the speaker's head in exasperation.
"You idiot! The Adeptus is just clearing the path for us. You expect him to pick up the supplies for us too?!"
"Everyone, move out!"
Though these sailors usually joked around like brothers, when it came to battle, they followed orders without question.
Under the first mate's command, they began landing on Nazuchi Beach.
Meanwhile, at the heart of the battlefield, Mu Yang had surrounded a group of Nobushi.
A nearby Kairagi leader, confused by the situation, was about to enjoy the show when—
The Nobushi circled Mu Yang, drew their blades, and rushed him all at once.
"Returning Wind and Falling Swan." (A heavy strike.)
Mu Yang swung his sword in a circular motion, defeating all the Nobushi in a single move.
The Kairagi hadn't even processed what happened.
Weren't we the ones surrounding him?
How did all my men fall?
Not that it mattered—he didn't need to see clearly.
Because the next moment, Mu Yang's blade pierced his chest.
Two simple techniques:
Returning Wind and Falling Swan.
Azure Dragon's Lunge.
Nazuchi Beach returned to silence.
On the ship, Kazuha was stunned.
As a skilled swordsman himself, he could rationalize the earlier "Mystic Ice Dragon Soars" as adeptal arts—something beyond his judgment.
But these two moves were undeniably pure swordplay.
No flashy tricks.
Just sheer speed.
That sword was too fast.
Kazuha was certain that on this ship, no more than three people could've clearly seen those two strikes.
"Captain, are all the Adepti in Liyue this terrifying?"
Beidou didn't know how many times Mu Yang had shocked her by now.
"Mu Yang… just how many surprises do you have left?"
After dealing with the Kairagi, Mu Yang didn't sheathe his blade.
Instead, he swung it, releasing a sword aura that split a wrecked ship stranded on Nazuchi Beach clean in two...