Inazuma.
Before the Sakoku Decree was issued, that place had practically been Beidou's second home. After all, the island nation was poor in resources, it was normal for her to make a fortune each time she returned from a voyage there. Even the sea rogues of Inazuma couldn't stop her.
But now, with both the Sakoku and Vision Hunt Decrees in place, the nation was shrouded in terrifying thunderstorms. Traveling there was no longer a simple matter, it was perilous beyond compare.
Beidou frowned. "You're joking, right?"
"I never joke," Su Han replied calmly. "Besides, even without this wager, you'd still be able to sail through the thunderstorm to Inazuma, wouldn't you? Think of it as helping a friend. My manga reaching Inazuma could earn quite a bit of Mora."
Beidou had no room to refuse.
She, too, had seen the massive business potential in Su Han's works. Selling them to Inazuma, or even to other nations, would bring incredible profits.
"Fine, deal! I'll take you up on it. I also want to see how your manga becomes a hit."
"No problem," Su Han said with a grin. "Since you're already here, how about reading the first two volumes of Fox Spirit Matchmaker? I guarantee that once you finish them, you'll regret ever doubting me."
He smiled confidently, because Fox Spirit Matchmaker truly was that good.
Seeing the lively mood, Ningguang suggested, "Since we're all gathered, why don't we have dinner here later? I'll have food sent from Wanmin Restaurant."
Beidou's eyes lit up instantly. "Oh? Will there be wine?"
"Food, yes. Wine, no."
"Tch, stingy! Coming to Boss Su's place and no wine? That's just cruel."
Beidou looked genuinely disappointed. She had just returned from over a month at sea, what was the point of a reunion without wine?
"You've misunderstood," Keqing interjected with a smirk. "It's not that Ningguang won't drink, it's that Su Han can't drink."
Beidou blinked in disbelief. "A big boss like you can't drink? You're kidding me."
When she saw Su Han nod in confirmation, she sighed and gave up on the thought of getting drunk. Still, the fine tea and exquisite pastries before her weren't a bad consolation.
While the others chatted, Ganyu was already immersed in the manga. She quickly noticed that one of the characters looked suspiciously similar to the shrine maiden Yae from Inazuma.
The story began with a matchmaking scene. Just like Su Han's previous works, the opening chapter seemed somewhat ordinary, it told of a desert fox demon and a human woman. As the story unfolded, Ganyu gradually realized that the human woman was the reincarnation of someone from the past, though she couldn't recall her former life. Despite the efforts of both protagonists, all the memories that surfaced were of the fox demon Fan Yunfei's embarrassing past.
After several twists and turns, the truth finally came out when it was revealed that both Fan Yunfei and Li Xueyang had been under control.
It was all just a misunderstanding.
When Ganyu finished that story, she was moved, but not deeply so. She even felt a faint worry, could Fox Spirit Matchmaker really become popular?
Still, she continued reading. After the first story ended, the protagonist and the little fox began a new tale.
This time, the focus was on a spider demon.
The demoness had scars on her face and a ferocious appearance. Her first act was to try stealing the protagonist's Heavenly Scripture, but she failed.
Keqing, watching along, was impressed. "What an amazing technique! Her tears can slice through space itself, that's incredible."
"I, on the other hand," Ningguang said, "am more intrigued by that flying machine."
Her eyes glinted with curiosity. Romance was of little concern to her, she always looked for business potential.
If that flying machine could be replicated, travel across Liyue would become so much easier. But considering how far behind their alchemy and mechanics were, she set the idea aside for now.
The story took a turn when the protagonists journeyed to Tushan.
Among them was the spider demon, Qing Tong. At that point, the manga inserted a flashback, Qing Tong's past, and her story with Wang Quan Fu Gui.
Back then, she had been just a small spider demon. Captured by Wang Quan Fu Gui's junior martial sister, she was turned into nothing more than a messenger tool. The panels showed a pitiful, wounded little spider girl, her face scarred, her body incomplete, heart-wrenching to look at.
Though Wang Quan Fu Gui was a Daoist cultivator, he couldn't help feeling compassion for the miserable creature. He lifted the spell restraining her and even healed her wounds.
For the first time in her life, Qing Tong felt kindness, and she wept. From that moment, she fell in love with the man before her.
Ningguang's eyes trembled slightly. She began to suspect that she and Keqing had been too quick to dismiss Su Han. Though the story hadn't yet reached its climax, she could already tell, it was not a simple tale.
Sure enough, Volume Two told the full story of Wang Quan Fu Gui and Qing Tong.
Hundreds of years ago, Wang Quan Fu Gui was still young, yet already a powerful Daoist. With a single strike, he could slay fearsome demons.
But despite such strength, he never killed Qing Tong.
When asked why, he smiled bitterly.
"Do I look like a Daoist to you? I merely follow the family's orders. I'm just a weapon, a blade that's only been taken from its sheath twice."
Hearing his words, the once-frightened Qing Tong suddenly understood, the man who could so easily kill her was, in truth, the most pitiful one of all.
Then came chaos at Tushan.
Wang Quan Fu Gui still refused to acknowledge Qing Tong, even going so far as to try killing her to sever their karmic bond. Yet despite everything, Qing Tong never retreated.
In the flashback, when Wang Quan Fu Gui was confined and unable to leave, Qing Tong wandered the surroundings, spinning webs to weave pictures, pictures of the world outside, just so he could glimpse what freedom looked like.
At that moment, the weapon known as Wang Quan Fu Gui was moved.
His story was a tragic one. Born with immense spiritual power, he lost his mother at birth. Every day, he was forced to train for eight long hours, constantly fighting others, never given a moment's rest.
Until he met Qing Tong.
Only then did that emotionless weapon become a man of flesh and blood.
During a later battle with demons, he began to realize that even monsters had emotions and lives of their own. So instead of killing his opponent, he let them go. The punishment was severe, his father whipped him mercilessly.
Qing Tong was heartbroken watching it. But Wang Quan Fu Gui only wished to see the outside world again. Touching the barrier would alert everyone, so he didn't want Qing Tong to risk it.
After that, his happiest days were those spent with her, watching the "outside world" through the delicate pictures she wove with her silk.
It was enough for him.
The flashback ended.
Wang Quan Fu Gui showed no hint of sentimentality. Instead, he conjured a long sword and attempted to kill the demon before him.
Facing the blade that had once protected her, Qing Tong's heart shattered. She threw herself into him, unflinching even as the sword pierced through her chest, just to say one final line:
"I'll never let you leave me again."
At that moment, Wang Quan Fu Gui froze.
Memories flooded back, and the manga reached its most emotional scene yet.
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