"Lady Ningguang, spare me! Don't kill me!"
"I was wrong! I know I was wrong!"
Stripped of all strength, the burly man was now nothing but consciousness trapped in a flat, fabric-like form. He stared up at Baishi and Ningguang with terrified eyes.
Why was this happening?
"Just as the shopkeeper said. Washed objects lose their form, and living beings lose their power."
Keqing looked on with intense curiosity. She picked up a sword from a nearby Millelith guard and scraped it experimentally against the flattened man.
The man's face went pale (or as pale as a flat face could go). His eyes bulged in horror.
Were they going to dissect him?
"I can confirm that physical attacks can easily destroy this form," Keqing observed calmly. "If I were to tear him, he would likely die. It's an incredible ability."
Her tone was filled with genuine wonder.
Knowing about the Devil Fruit was one thing; seeing it in action was another.
In less than half a day, Keqing felt her understanding of the world had been shattered repeatedly.
"Didn't he say it washes away the evil in a person's heart?"
Keqing asked. "Has his malice been cleansed?"
"Only a little."
Ningguang observed the man closely. "It seems to be a process, like washing clothes. Repeated washing should eventually cleanse the heart completely. We can test that further later. It will take time."
"Since we've tested the fruit, let's go see Zhang. I want to know the truth about his Vision."
"Agreed."
With that, the group left the interrogation room and headed deeper into the prison.
...
In a confinement cell, Zhang sat handcuffed to a chair, looking aggrieved as he pleaded with the Millelith guard across the table. "I really didn't mean to do it! I didn't want this to happen!"
"We know you didn't mean it, but you caused a scene in public. If we hadn't put the fire out in time, you could have burned down half the street."
The guard spoke sternly. "We understand that it was your first time using a Vision and you lost control. But the damage must be paid for. Furthermore, you will be detained for a period of time to undergo mandatory training on how to use your Vision safely."
It wasn't the first time a new Vision holder had caused property damage. Liyue had protocols for this.
But as he spoke, the guard couldn't hide his own shock.
He had heard the story. Zhang's Vision came from a jar shop.
It was unheard of.
He had already decided that the moment his shift ended, he would go to that shop himself. He had to see it. Maybe he would even buy a jar.
It was a Vision, after all.
Who didn't want to become stronger?
Click.
The heavy iron door swung open, and two guards ushered Ningguang and her entourage inside.
"Lady Ningguang!"
Seeing the Tianquan enter, the interrogating officer jumped to his feet and saluted sharply.
"At ease. I'm just here to ask Zhang a few questions about the incident."
Ningguang nodded to him, then turned her piercing gaze to Zhang. "Hello. I am the Tianquan of Liyue. You know who I am. I'm here to understand the details of how you obtained your Vision. Can you tell me everything?"
She needed to verify if the Vision was a shell that resonated later, or something else entirely.
"Gulp."
Zhang swallowed hard. The Tianquan herself was here?
He had never seen her in person before.
He didn't dare delay. "Lady Ningguang, I just... I wanted to gamble. I spent one hundred thousand Mora on a jar. When I smashed it, a red Vision fell out. And... and I could use it immediately."
"I was so excited I ran out to test it. I didn't think I'd burn down a stall! I swear I didn't mean it! Can you let me go?"
Zhang looked at her with pleading eyes.
He really hadn't meant any harm. And rumor had it that Lady Ningguang was reasonable. If she forgave his mistake, maybe he could go home today. He hated it here.
Beside Ningguang, Keqing listened intently. Her expression shifted from serious to grave.
An activated Pyro Vision.
That shouldn't be tradeable.
Even though she knew the shop sold impossible items, hearing the primary source confirm that an activated Vision could be bought and sold... it shattered the common sense of Teyvat completely.