Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

I knew you were hiding! Why aren't you replying to your brother?

Time passed quickly. During the day, Shen Liang accompanied Kiana to practice her marksmanship urgently, and at night he went to the rooftop with Rosalia for intensive muscle-building training. At first, he was full of confidence, thinking that it would be no problem for the light and airy Rosalia to sit on his back and do a few push-ups. Then he was so frustrated that he couldn't get up.

While Kiana was away or sleeping, he discussed strategies for developing the Teyvat continent with Bronya, and the fragmented daily routine led to the third day.

This was also the day that Shen Liang and Bei Dou had agreed upon.

A leather belt was strapped around his waist, and two black-painted pistols were stored in gun holsters on his left and right sides. He had changed his shoes to durable, thick-soled boots, and his satchel contained three boxes of spare ammunition.

He remained in his regular clothes, since even if he switched to stiff camouflage, it wouldn't make much difference to exploring the Teyvat continent. Bronya had actually sent him both soft and hard body armor, but after trying them on, Shen Liang found that even the lightest body armor weighed seven or eight pounds, which was indeed a heavy burden.

"Brother, remember to bring Rosalia some local specialties! Rosalia wants to know what cherries from other worlds taste like!"

"Lilia wants blueberries. If there are no blueberries in that world, don't bring Rosalia cherries."

"Lilia, you're asking for it!" Rosalia and Lilia started chasing each other.

Ignoring him, Shen Liang activated the teleportation screen in the bedroom, straightened his clothes, and prepared to step inside. Two little girls hurriedly ran to his side, grabbed his arms, stood on tiptoe on either side, and gave him a big kiss on the face, then continued chasing and fighting.

Shen Liang touched his cheek and smiled helplessly.

"Okay, I'm going out now."

I never expected that a chapter of two or three thousand words would need a title.

Umijima is an island that was at war with the shogunate. Although it was nominally part of Inazuma, it was practically independent and autonomous.

They don't even worship the Raiden General, the lord of Inazuma. The majority of the people on Umiji Island, the "Umiji people," worship the deceased "Umiji Omikami," a serpent god whose real name was Oropas. This shows how rebellious this island is.

Shen Liang had no idea how a country that was almost obviously in rebellion had been tolerated by General Lei Dian until now. However, Haiqi Island had not completely broken off relations. There was still a shrine dedicated to the god of thunder on the island, and it had never said that it had rebelled.

Well, he's the type who uses the banner of "reform" to force the "ruler" to back down. You know perfectly well that he's already carved out his own territory and doesn't listen to orders or proclamations, but he's still acting as your subject.

Shen Liang descended the gangway of the Death Star, vigorously rubbing his face, trying to revert to his former demeanor as a wealthy young nobleman with many secrets.

"Ah, it's Brother Ryoko! I haven't seen you for the past few days. Where have you been if you're not on the ship?" Someone immediately called out to him.

She was the navigator on the Death Star, a young woman named "Picture Star".

"Wanye told me you wanted to go out and see the world by yourself. Honestly, don't you know there are a lot of bandits here because of the war? Those savage warriors kill anyone they see and use civilians as test subjects!" Huixing said angrily, then hurriedly pinched and rubbed Shen Liang's body to make sure he was alright. She then said angrily, "Why can't you just stay put, you little rascal! What am I supposed to tell Big Sister Beidou if something happens to you!"

Shen Liang only had nodding acquaintances with most of the civilian crew members, so seeing her appearance now warmed his heart. "Sister Huixing, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"

“Come on, let’s go see Ginkgo. I need to give you a good look. You don’t know, there are so many insects on islands like Haiqi Island with such high humidity. If you get bitten, who knows…” Huixing was pulling him along as they were about to go find the ship’s doctor when they heard a soft cough. Looking up, they saw two priestesses from the Coral Palace standing not far in front of them.

One was Coral Palace Kokoro, and the other was dressed in a traditional blue and white shrine maiden outfit with long, straight black hair. She was probably a friend or subordinate of Coral Palace Kokoro; her formal shrine maiden outfit clearly indicated that she was not in a leadership position.

"Greetings, both of you. As per the previous agreement with Ms. Beidou, Mr. Shen Liang will be handed over to our Coral Palace for handling starting today." Coral Palace Xin Hai maintained the demeanor of a gentle and refined young lady. "Miss Huixing, there's no need for you to trouble yourself. There aren't many harmful mosquitoes on Haiqi Island, and I'm quite proficient in water elemental healing abilities. Mr. Shen Liang's physical condition is absolutely fine."

Weren't you doing this on purpose? What do you mean by "transfer for processing"? Why do I, a passenger, feel like a criminal being extradited for no reason?

"Ah, I didn't mean to say anything bad about Haiqi Island." Huixing chuckled awkwardly, then, as if reluctant, released Shen Liang's hand, shook her head, sighed, and returned to Death Star.

When Shen Liang heard that she had gone to find the ship's doctor, Yin Xing, he heard the laughter and complaints of two older sisters coming from inside. He tried to listen, and his expression immediately turned sour.

"Alright, Eisei, don't be upset. Ryoko is only a teenager. If you're talking about having feelings for someone, it's for that little shrine maiden. You're so old, touching her all over like that is a bit inappropriate."

"Hey, if Ryoko stays a few more days, I'm pretty confident. I don't see a single handsome guy in months on the ship. I'll make sure I get the most goodwill from him—wait, who are you calling old? I'm only in my early twenties!"

"Is twenty-nine considered twenty-something? Stop trying to woo young girls."

"Hmph, isn't Anzu the same? Don't think I don't know that last month you used the excuse of a medical checkup to get Ryoko in front of you..."

Shen Liang regretted that his hearing was good. He had always thought that the female office workers on the Death Star were all very gentle and kind, but now he thought that apart from Beidou being a true hero, these female sailors were probably not so kind.

This further deepened his understanding that Teyvat was a dangerous world.

Looking at the priestesses, Shen Liang jumped onto the dock, "Miss Xin Hai?"

"Just call me Kokoro," Kokoro Kokoro said indifferently, and then began to introduce, "This is Ruko, my friend, a delinquent shrine maiden. We came to pick you up on our way."

"pick me up?"

The black-haired shrine maiden named Ruko smiled slyly, jumped in front of him, and scrutinized him closely. She stroked her chin and said, "Hmm, no wonder our little sea maiden is so attentive; she's here to pick up such a handsome young man. Yes, she came specifically to pick you up. Your captain, Hokuto, has already sold you to our Coral Palace!"

"Lu Zi!" Coral Palace Xin Hai stamped her foot, somewhat annoyed. "Don't listen to Lu Zi's nonsense. As a distinguished guest introduced by Bei Dou, you do deserve our serious attention."

“Normally, Ryoko, a stowaway, would have to find a place to build her own house and live, at most she would be arranged to live in Wanglong Village,” Ruko said with a smile. “But since it was Lady Hokuto who instructed us, then she is no ordinary merchant. Coral Palace has many rooms for entertaining distinguished guests, so you can live in the palace from now on.”

"Wouldn't I become a eunuch if I lived in the palace?" Shen Liang blurted out instinctively, but fortunately, neither Coral Palace's Xin Hai nor Lu Zi understood what he was saying.

"I never imagined that Sister Beidou had such a powerful influence."

“Beidou is one of the top powers on the seas of the Seven Kingdoms. Our Haiqi Island is just a small island with a population of less than a million. How dare we not give face to such a big pirate... a big merchant?” Coral Palace Xin Hai coughed and glared at Shen Liang. “Besides, you’re not an ordinary child. You said you came here to do business. I’d like to see what kind of talent you have that you dare to spout such nonsense about making a fortune from the war.”

"You look about my age, yet you keep calling me a little kid?" Shen Liang shrugged. "As for my abilities, you'll find out soon enough."

Coral Palace remained noncommittal; her impression of Shen Liang worsened.

In her eyes, Shen Liang was just a spoiled rich kid from Liyue. She didn't know if he was related to Beidou or not, but he was just a young man who had never seen the world but dared to speak arrogantly in a foreign land.

And how dare such a spoiled brat compare to a genius girl like her, who has been well-versed in military strategy since childhood, took over as the second-in-command of the Imperial Palace at the age of fifteen, and is busy with the people's livelihood and national affairs every day?

Don't be ashamed!

He even called me a pervert! You lecher!

The three walked for a while. Coral Palace Xin Hai was too lazy to talk to Shen Liang, but Lu Zi was quite curious about him. She circled around him and even touched and pinched him.

"Has Liyue's textile technology reached this level? The fabric you're wearing is so strong and tight, yet it doesn't seem like animal skin..."

"This is canvas."

"Don't lie to me. The sails are clearly made of tarpaulin. The Southern Cross fleet is right there, do you think I don't know? Hey, are those two iron blocks some kind of alchemical weapons?"

"It's a gun."

"Ugh, you're lying again! Do you think Haiqi Island is some backwater place where we've never seen a gun before?"

"..."

Coral Palace Heart Sea secretly glanced over and saw Shen Liang giving the curious Lu Zi a helpless look.

Lu Zi and she had been playmates since childhood. Lu Zi was a year older than her, yet they were still having so much fun. As Xin Hai watched, she felt a strange sense of envy.

"What gun? It's clearly a musket with the barrel sawed off." She muttered to herself. As the successor of the Coral Palace, she had been well-versed in various books since childhood, and she vaguely recognized this kind of alchemical weapon, while Ruko did not. This information gap gave her a slight sense of superiority, but this feeling was quickly replaced by envy.

But she quickly suppressed her envy.

She was now the head priestess, the backbone of the shrine maidens; she no longer had the right to be as carefree as Ruko. Umijima Island was beset by internal and external troubles, rife with chaos; she had to maintain her dignity, work diligently, and exhaust herself.

Envy is an unnecessary emotion, and playing is an unnecessary waste... That's just how it is, that's all there is to it.

Is this Seele? .jpg

Chapter Fifteen: I have important business to discuss and request an audience with the Palace Attendant!

After walking for about ten minutes, Shen Liang looked at the Coral Palace in the distance to his right and asked, "Didn't you say you were taking me to the Coral Palace? This direction doesn't seem right."

"I told you I was just passing by when I brought you here. We have important business to attend to, and we'll head back after we're done," Coral Palace Heart Sea said bluntly. "I feel bad for neglecting you, but Haiqi Island is going through a lot right now, so just consider it a day of sightseeing with us."

"Not to brag, but the scenery on Haiji Island is quite nice," Ruko interjected.

They were currently on their way to Wanglong Village, and Shen Liang had only asked casually; he had no objection to it. Wanglong Village was nominally a village, but in reality, it housed tens of thousands of elderly people, women, and children. It served as the rear base for the Haiqi Island army and was the largest population center on Haiqi Island. Shen Liang definitely needed to investigate such a place.

The scenery is indeed very nice.

Shen Liang took out his phone, focused it, and prepared to record a video and take photos to show Rosalia and the others when he got back. He had brought several high-capacity power banks with him, enough to last him for several days.

Just as he focused his attention on the undulating coral palace in the distance, resembling a seashell, the little witch in white silk noticed him. "What are you doing?"

Her tone was a bit cold, and Shen Liang didn't react for a moment. Then he saw Coral Palace Xin Hai jogging over, staring at him angrily, "What kind of alchemical tool is that in your hand?"

"A cell phone." Shen Liang shook it, but explaining the concept of a cell phone was quite complicated, so he didn't bother.

"A camera similar to Fontaine's, right? It can capture images in the machine and develop them into photos." Coral Palace Heart Sea frowned and held out her hand. "Give it to me!"

Even though Shen Liang had been ignoring Coral Palace's little temper, he was getting a little annoyed by her constant willfulness. After all, everyone was still young and impetuous at fifteen. "Why should I? If you want it, bring me Mora. I won't budge on the price of one million Mora."

Shen Liang wasn't lying to Coral Palace. In terms of purchasing power, one million Mora is roughly equivalent to ten thousand RMB. Of course, how much money one hundred gold coins can be exchanged for is another matter.

"The laws promulgated by Coral Palace explicitly prohibit anyone from taking photos or drawing pictures on Haigi Island without the permission of Coral Palace. This is espionage!" Coral Palace Shinkai said coldly. "If you don't give it to me, you can be considered a spy from the Shogunate on Haigi Island. Even if Hokuto supports you, you will be under house arrest on Haigi Island and unable to leave!"

Shen Liang hadn't really thought about this, but he was still unwilling to hand over his phone, so he could only open the camera interface to show her the deleted footage.

"But how am I supposed to know what you're doing? I can't even understand these words. You think you can just delete it like that?" Coral Palace Xin Hai stared at the screen for a long time, and although she was somewhat shocked by the development of Liyue alchemy, she still questioned it.

This is the problem between two worlds. Although they can communicate by voice, Shen Liang discovered early on that Teyvat's script is a completely different script from another world, and even different countries' scripts are not necessarily the same.

Coral Palace Heart Sea naturally didn't recognize Chinese characters, so she could only regard this as the culture of some remote country.

"Forget it, I don't need Sister Beidou's endorsement. I never planned to leave your Haiqi Island before the war ended. I'm here to make money off your Haiqi Island, so you can keep me under house arrest as you please. But I really didn't expect this, it's definitely my fault, I haven't experienced war." Shen Liang didn't care about house arrest or imprisonment. With his ability to travel at any time, if things really got too bad, Haiqi Island couldn't stop him from leaving.

Coral Palace Heart Sea didn't expect that he would rather stay on Umijima Island than hand over that cell phone. After a few seconds of silence, she said, "Fine, since you seem sincere, if you don't want to give it to me, then don't. Anyway... Umijima Island has long been thoroughly exposed by the Shogunate. They know all the military equipment in all terrains. If you really want to calculate it, they don't need your little bit."

Shen Liang immediately sensed the true contrast in this war from this helpless remark.

"Is Kaigishima much weaker than the Shogunate army?"

Lu Zi coughed and was about to speak when Coral Palace Heart Sea sighed before she could, thus securing the first speaking opportunity.

"It's not appropriate for me to say this, but you're a sailor, you've seen the world, I know I can't lie to you." Coral Palace Xin Hai stopped and looked at the abandoned fields on both sides of the road, speaking softly.

Shen Liang knew that this opening line meant she was going to explain a lot of settings that would be extremely useful to him, a person from another world!