Feng Yi stayed in Liyue for a few days, cherishing the time with his loved ones and reconnecting after half a year apart.
Afterward, he sought out Beidou, with whom he had arranged passage to Inazuma.
"Yo, Feng Yi, long time no see! The wind is perfect for sailing today. If you're ready, we can set off now. If all goes smoothly, we'll reach Inazuma in less than two days!"
Beidou greeted him with a smile as Feng Yi boarded the ship.
"Then let's depart!"
Feng Yi looked back at Liyue, took a deep breath, and declared, "Inazuma, here I come!"
"Then let's go! First Mate, tell the crew to hoist the sails and set sail!"
Beidou was a woman of action, and as soon as she said they were leaving, they were off.
*Heave ho, heave ho!*
The muscular sailors pulled on the ropes connected to the sails, unfurling them.
Carried by the sea breeze, the ship, the Alcor, sailed towards the Stormy Sea.
After setting sail, Feng Yi stood on deck, gazing at the shimmering expanse of the ocean before him, his heart filled with excitement.
This was his first time at sea. The salty breeze, the boundless ocean, the occasional flying fish leaping from the water, and the seagulls circling high above all provided Feng Yi with a novel experience.
"Feng Yi, long time no see!"
Kazuha approached, his face lighting up with joy at seeing Feng Yi again.
"Kazuha, it's been a while. I hope you've been well!"
Feng Yi greeted him with a smile. Just as he was about to say more, he noticed two Visions hanging from Kazuha's waist.
Besides his own Anemo Vision, there was another, unclaimed Vision.
'It seems Kazuha's friend has met their end in the duel before the Shogun...'
Feng Yi sighed inwardly. As an outsider, he couldn't say much. After all, Kazuha's friend had gained that Vision precisely because they intended to face the Raiden Shogun's Musou Issen.
From the moment that thought had arisen, his fate was sealed.
To have stopped him from challenging the Raiden Shogun, though it might have prolonged his life, would have been more agonizing than death.
Such was fate!
Feng Yi let it go with a smile. That was another's path, unrelated to him. He would remain a leisurely traveler.
"Feng Yi, are you interested in this Vision? It's a long story, this Vision belonged to a friend of mine..."
Kazuha, seeing Feng Yi's gaze fixed on the unclaimed Vision at his waist, assumed Feng Yi was curious about it and began to recount his friend's story.
"I see, that is truly unfortunate..."
Although Feng Yi already knew the story of Kazuha's friend, hearing it told by Kazuha himself still stirred a sense of regret.
"Indeed, but amidst that misfortune, I was fortunate enough to retrieve my friend's Vision from the Raiden Shogun. I will never allow my friend's fervent wish to be sealed within the Shogun's cold statues..."
Half a year ago, Kazuha was still that carefree wandering youth.
He and his friend had met by chance but found a deep kinship, a testament to their profound connection.
Though they parted ways then, Kazuha had believed they would meet again unexpectedly.
However, what transpired soon after shattered his peaceful state of mind—the General decreed the Vision Hunt Decree, determined to seize all Visions in Inazuma.
Those who possessed Visions, including Kazuha, lived in constant fear, in hiding, their identities concealed.
It was then that Kazuha learned of shocking news. Someone had resolutely challenged the Shogun to a duel, and that someone was Kazuha's friend.
In the duel, the loser would face the Shogun's punishment. His friend dared such a risk to engage in this duel, not only to test his strength against a formidable opponent but also to demonstrate the meaning of courage to the world.
Yet, at such a critical juncture, to initiate a duel... if he lost, his life would likely be consumed by the Shogun's blinding lightning.
The usually placid Kazuha could no longer remain calm. He drew his sword and raced to Tenshukaku, but it was too late.
The blade was broken, the Vision reduced to an empty shell. Kazuha, who fled in regret, was also branded a fugitive by the Bakufu.
During his escape, Kazuha briefly joined the resistance and was later taken in by Beidou, the captain of the Liyue Maritime Defense Force's "Crux Fleet," becoming a sailor aboard their flagship, the Alcor.
This was why Feng Yi found himself meeting Kazuha here.
"Feng Yi, Kazuha, come down for dinner!"
Beidou called out to the two on deck. For this voyage, her fleet had brought along a renowned young chef from Liyue.
"Xiang... Xiangling?! What are you doing here?"
As Feng Yi and Kazuha descended from the deck, they were met with the sight of a familiar figure, and their astonishment was palpable.
Hadn't Xiangling been at Wanmin Restaurant just a few days ago? How had she suddenly ended up on Beidou's Alcor?
"Hi, Feng Yi, didn't expect this, did you? We're meeting again so soon..."
Xiangling grinned and waved at Feng Yi, urging her little assistant, Guoba, to serve the dishes quickly.
That's right, the fire-starting helper—Guoba—had also come along.
Later, through Beidou's explanation, Feng Yi finally understood the full story.
After a long voyage, the Crux Fleet would disembark and, as per tradition, hold a three-day celebratory feast.
This time was no different from previous ones, except for the addition of a cheerful and exceptionally skilled young chef in town—Xiangling.
The fleet's accountant, seeking to save money, had cajoled and tricked Xiangling, whom they met in town, onto the ship.
Xiangling found herself in a difficult position when she met Beidou.
Considering that Feng Yi was embarking on his first sea voyage and might not be accustomed to the food served at sea, Beidou decided to make the best of the situation and paid handsomely to keep Xiangling on board.
Learning from Beidou that Feng Yi would be joining the voyage, Xiangling, who had been hesitant, readily agreed.
This was a perfect opportunity to use Feng Yi, her usual taste-testing guinea pig, to try out her seafood dishes.
At the same time, she hoped to find some new and exotic marine ingredients.
"Feng Yi, quick, taste this abalone I made! It's my first time, so I'm not very experienced. Give me some suggestions for improvement!"
Xiangling approached Feng Yi, holding a plate of fragrant abalone, her face filled with anticipation.
Xiangling had prepared the abalone using the common technique from Wanmin Restaurant, braising it in a savory sauce. The glossy sauce dripped onto the abalone, and wisps of steam rose from the freshly cooked dish. Its appearance and aroma were superb, making Feng Yi's mouth water.
Feng Yi picked up a piece with his chopsticks and savored it. It was slightly spicy, tender, and richly aromatic!
"It's wonderful, truly delicious! You've outdone yourself! However, it was cooked a bit too long, making the texture a little tough. If you improve on that small point, I believe the quality of this dish will reach new heights!"
As expected of Xiangling, her first attempt was so delicious. She just hadn't quite mastered the precise cooking time for the abalone.
"Is that so? I'll make a note of that! As expected of Feng Yi, your palate is so sensitive!"
Xiangling pulled out a small notebook and jotted down Feng Yi's advice. Feng Yi's palate had not disappointed her!