Su Han slept all the way until the afternoon before finally getting up. Looking at the sunlight outside the window, he still found it hard to believe. Who would have thought that Shenhe, who was usually extremely aloof, would become so clingy once her feelings were stirred.
"Good thing my cultivation is deep. Otherwise, this would have been truly embarrassing."
Su Han stood up and stretched his body, but his mind was already thinking about how to face the Adepti. After all, he had thoroughly taken advantage of their disciple. If he did not give an explanation, it would not make sense. Yet after thinking for a long time, he still could not come up with a perfect answer.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door outside.
"Boss, Captain Beidou is outside. Would you like to meet her?"
"Beidou? She sure is fast. Tell her I'll be right out."
"Yes."
Su Han had not expected Beidou to return so quickly. Since that was the case, the next shipment of goods should probably be started as well.
When he came downstairs, Su Han realized that she had not come alone. She had also brought Kaedehara Kazuha with her.
"Sleeping in broad daylight, Boss Su is really living the easy life."
"Not really. I recently went to Mondstadt and got injured a bit."
Su Han naturally would not say that he had been completely drained, so claiming he was injured was a perfect excuse.
Sure enough, the moment Mondstadt was mentioned, Beidou frowned and said, "I heard from Ningguang that your skills are exceptional. Someone who could injure you would not be simple. Did you get involved in the dragon crisis?"
"More than that. I personally wiped out the dragon crisis. I even ran into the leader of the Abyss Order. Because of that, Ningguang has strictly forbidden me from going out."
"What? You were the one who resolved Mondstadt's dragon crisis!"
Kaedehara Kazuha was utterly shocked. When he had arrived earlier, he had not paid a visit and instead wandered around Liyue for a while. He had learned about Mondstadt's dragon crisis only from others.
Even though he had not seen it personally, so many people had discussed it, and Mondstadt had once fallen into great danger. It had to be an incredibly powerful existence.
And such a powerful being had been defeated by the boss in front of him. Just how strong was he?
Beidou felt an itch in her heart as she listened and immediately asked, "Then how are your injuries? When will you recover?"
"Probably need some time. What is it?"
"Of course I want to fight you! A master who can subdue a giant dragon, I naturally want to test you myself! Don't rush to refuse. If you beat me, or at least let me fight to my heart's content, I'll agree to one condition of yours for free. How about it?"
Su Han originally wanted to refuse, but upon hearing that, his interest was piqued. He smiled and asked, "Any condition?"
"Of course! I keep my word. As long as you beat me or let me fight to my fill, anything goes!"
Beidou's personality was similar to Tartaglia's. Both loved challenging strong opponents. Unfortunately, in recent years, Beidou had rarely encountered anyone who could stir her fighting spirit. Su Han could be considered the first.
After some thought, Su Han said, "Alright. Let's set it for tomorrow night."
"You don't need a few more days? Let me say this first. If I don't get enough excitement, there won't be any reward."
"Don't worry. I won't disappoint you."
Seeing that Su Han did not seem to be joking, Beidou finally believed him and nodded. "Alright. Tomorrow night, you pick the place, and we'll fight to our hearts' content. Oh, right. Besides coming to talk to you about the comics, there's something else I wanted to ask for your help with. I'm not sure if you're willing."
"Go ahead."
"It's like this. This young brother beside me used to be from a noble family in Inazuma, but due to family upheavals, he eventually ended up with me as a sailor. Recently, after reading your comics, he became unwilling to keep sinking into decadence and wants to revive his family. What I mean is, could you help him? As for the conditions, the two of you can discuss them yourselves. You don't need to worry about me."
Listening to Beidou's explanation, Su Han finally understood her purpose. Simply put, Kaedehara Kazuha wanted to revive his family, but no one could help him, so he had come to seek Su Han.
Su Han turned to look at Kaedehara Kazuha, only to see him immediately kneel on the ground and say with utmost respect, "As long as you can help me revive my family and fulfill my friend's final wish, I am willing to do anything."
"Even selling yourself into servitude?"
"Yes!"
Kaedehara Kazuha no longer wanted to be a coward. This was a responsibility he had to bear, even if his father had given him the option to retreat.
Hearing this, Su Han smiled lightly and said, "Very well. I can agree. The condition is that from this day forward, the Kaedehara family must obey my commands for generations. What do you think?"
"No problem!"
Before coming, Kaedehara Kazuha had already prepared himself mentally. He was alone yet wanted to revive his family. He was bound to pay a heavy price. Otherwise, who would help a stranger out of kindness?
With the matter settled, Beidou said with a smile, "Seeing you follow Su Han, I can finally feel at ease. Work hard. I hope to see the Kaedehara family rise again soon. Oh, right. I still haven't told you about Inazuma. At present, I've already established connections with that Lady Guuji. There's no problem with comic sales. Do you still need to continue transporting comics?"
"Of course. The comic business cannot stop. At least for the next few months, you'll need to help me."
"A few months? Are you crazy? I'll serve you at most two more trips, then I have other business to handle. Don't treat me like your personal transport captain."
Although Su Han's comics were very profitable, Beidou also had other businesses that needed maintaining. If this went on for several months, not only would her old clients complain, her business might even be taken by others. Naturally, she did not want to see that happen.
But Su Han was not about to let her off so easily and immediately said, "Then let the condition of our match be that you serve as my transport captain for four months. How about that?"
"You… you really are persistent."
Beidou was so amused that she laughed in exasperation and said, "Fine. Tomorrow, as long as you can beat me, forget four months. Even half a year won't be a problem."
"Then it's a deal."
Seeing that there was nothing else to handle, Beidou got up and went out to drink. After all, neither Su Han nor Kaedehara Kazuha could hold their liquor, so there was no point in inviting them.
Looking at the courtyard where only Kaedehara Kazuha remained, Su Han said to him, "Go find a room on the second floor to rest first. Today, you and I will sign a contract. After that, I will teach you many methods. As for how to revive your family, just do as I say."
"Yes, my lord."
Kaedehara Kazuha was extremely obedient. Whatever Su Han told him to do, he would do, without any other thoughts.
After that, Su Han taught him three methods: the Golden Light Mantra, the Cloud-Dispelling Palm, and the Ice Heart Art. As for Observation Haki, there was no need to rush. It would be taught sooner or later.
In truth, Beidou's request this time had helped him instead. Su Han had originally been considering how to lay out plans in Inazuma, but there had been no suitable candidates. Kaedehara Kazuha's arrival perfectly filled that gap.
Not only was he a native of Inazuma, but he had also signed an eternal contract with Su Han. On top of that, his strength was not bad. He was simply the perfect candidate.
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