A lucky star…?
Beidou felt momentarily dazed.
Only moments ago, the villagers had looked at her with cold hostility. And now—suddenly—they were all smiles and warmth. So it turned out that even a harbinger of misfortune could become a bringer of fortune.
And all of this was thanks to the Prince of Snezhnaya.
The small fishing village looked much the same as it had years ago. Poverty had left it little changed. Beidou led Severin to the village head's house.
Outside the village, however, a very different scene was unfolding.
A crowd had already surrounded the settlement—but these weren't the Millelith.
They were merchants.
Liyue merchants surged into the village, shouting the moment they saw anyone:
"I'll buy all your Tiger Fish! Every last one—no matter how many you have!"
"Don't sell to him! Whatever he offers, I'll pay double!"
"My shop assistant's uncle is from this village—no need for me to fight you all for supply. That's what you call home-field advantage!"
The villagers were beaming. The fiercer the competition, the better it was for them.
They could hardly believe it—an obscure fish no one cared about had gone viral overnight.
Of course, no one dared decide prices on their own. That required a meeting led by the village head. And so, without realizing it, every gaze slowly turned toward the small building where the village head lived.
Outside that house, Millelith soldiers now stood guard in force.
The Prince of Snezhnaya's visit to Liyue had prompted direct orders from the Liyue Qixing: his safety was paramount. No mistakes were permitted.
Inside, the air was filled with the gentle aroma of tea.
"This wild mountain tea is quite good," Severin said calmly. "It can't compare to famous teas, but it's infused with the ley-line breath of Dihua Marsh. Clean, mellow, with a lingering aftertaste."
Aside from Dawn Winery's wine, Severin also enjoyed tea.
Beidou took a sip—and tasted absolutely nothing.
"Captain Beidou, what do you think?" Severin asked.
She laughed awkwardly. "Your Highness, I prefer big gulps of liquor. Tea… I really don't understand it."
"No matter," Severin said lightly.
"A fine lady is like tea—revealing the passage of years. A beauty is like wine—intoxicating countless heroes. Tea and wine each have their own way. For most people, understanding even one is enough for a colorful life."
The village head quickly flattered him. "So young, yet so insightful. Your Highness doesn't just taste tea—you taste life itself."
"I merely carry more responsibility and pressure than most," Severin replied.
He closed his eyes slightly, savoring the tea.
The village head grew solemn with respect.
To people like this—towering figures at the top—burdens beyond imagination were spoken of as casually as daily chatter.
Beidou sat quietly to the side, brewing tea for Severin. The commanding aura she had on the Alcor was nowhere to be seen. In its place was an unexpected gentleness.
If her crew could see her now, their jaws would hit the floor.
It was like watching their greatsword-wielding boss suddenly take up embroidery.
"Your Highness, the grilled Tiger Fish is ready."
The village head's wife personally brought the dish from the kitchen.
Severin tasted it first, then nodded in praise.
"Tiger Fish truly lives up to its name. Fresh, rich, and deeply satisfying—each bite carries the vigor of a tiger."
The old couple finally let out the breath they'd been holding.
They'd feared the dish might displease such an exalted guest.
But with Severin's praise, their village's grilled Tiger Fish was all but guaranteed to make its name known throughout Liyue Harbor.
A fishing village on the brink of collapse had finally found a lifeline.
"Captain Beidou," Severin said as he stood, "there are still many matters awaiting decision within the delegation. I'll return to the city first."
"You've come a long way back—stay, talk with the village head, take a look around. After all, this is where you grew up."
He then nodded politely to the hosts.
"Thank you for your hospitality. No need to see me off. Oh—one more thing. From now on, send your Tiger Fish to Wanmin Restaurant. Their chef, Xiangling, will surely develop something remarkable with it."
With that, Severin vanished into thin air.
The village head and his wife gasped. This was the first time they'd witnessed such power—something they believed only Morax could perform.
The village head sighed deeply.
"Child… the Fatui have a terrible reputation. Yet this Prince of Snezhnaya treated us with nothing but respect."
"Of course," Beidou said proudly. "He's a true hero. I could tell you his legends for three days and nights."
The village head returned from the inner room with a bundle.
"This was the outfit you wore when you first came to our village as a child. We found it while整理ing the former village head's belongings. We couldn't bring ourselves to throw it away."
Beidou frowned. "Didn't everyone say I was a curse? Why keep my things?"
"Child… we were wrong."
The village head's voice broke.
"Back then, families were starving. People died of hunger. We blamed you out of ignorance and superstition."
"When you were driven out, alone and helpless, we feared you might die somewhere unseen. We planned to build a symbolic grave—so there would be something to mourn."
It was a confession of repentance, on behalf of the villagers.
Beidou's eyes reddened.
"But when I came back today with His Highness," she said softly, "people still called me a curse. Just like before."
"They heard you became a pirate captain," the village head explained. "They were afraid. And they heard you often violated Liyue's laws—that Lady Ningguang fined you many times."
"That's a private armed fleet," Beidou said helplessly. "We just walk the line between black and white… Forget it. You wouldn't understand."
She picked up her chopsticks.
"His Highness ate with such enjoyment—I'll try it too."
"Pfft—!"
Beidou grimaced. "Too salty. Bitter."
The village head's wife tasted it and spat it out as well.
"Oh dear—my fault. It's a saltwater fish, and I added too much salt."
She looked puzzled. "Then why did the Prince say it was delicious?"
Beidou paused, then set down her chopsticks, her expression solemn.
"He wanted to help our village promote Tiger Fish. Even if it tasted awful, he would've praised it—so the merchants outside would hear."
The village head's eyes widened.
"So that's why he told us to send the fish to Wanmin Restaurant… He already planned our way forward."
"Then we shouldn't waste time," Beidou said decisively.
"I'll take the fish to Wanmin Restaurant now. I know Xiangling well—she'll develop a new dish as fast as possible."
"This is our chance to get rich. His Highness gave us the opportunity—we must not waste it."
With that, Beidou gathered the Tiger Fish and hurried out.
Liyue was a land that revered culture.
Scholars, poets, and lovers of books were as numerous as fish crossing a river.
Outside Wanwen Bookhouse, a long line of readers had formed.
To these seekers of the spirit, yesterday's three "Snowfalls" from the Jade Chamber—or today's arrival of the Snezhnayan delegation—meant little.
Their inner worlds mattered far more.
They read as they walked, books never leaving their hands—
So much so that when Severin appeared out of thin air, not a single person noticed.
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