23 23. Tianquan Has Eyes Everywhere
Ryūhei woke up at 6 in the morning. After washing his face, he went to a deserted area after crossing the bridge to the west to hone his sword swings using Bokken. This was a morning routine that he always did when he was still in Inazuma. But for the last 3 years, he's been training harder and not just doing his morning routine. He does it almost every time when his homework is done. And if necessary, he goes around Inazuma to challenge the samurai to a duel.
Well, it's undeniable that most Vision holders will be stronger than those without. But when he saw a girl who was none other than his fiancée and was already close to his level without having a Vision at that time, a little prior before she got her Vision, his pride couldn't allow that. If he was weaker than his fiancée, how would he protect her in the future? So, all he could do was train harder and train hardest after knowing that his fiancée got her Vision.
And after Ryūhei turned 14 and his fiancée already mastered her Cryo Vision, many lamented why a commoner who only knew about a sword like Ryūhei betrothed to a poised and elegant, noble, and virtuous lady.
Well, his fiancée is a figure greatly admired by the people for her beauty, dignified demeanor, and noble character. More than anything, his fiancée is none other than Kamisato Ayaka, the younger sister of the Kamisato clan's head, Kamisato Ayato.
In people's imagination, the nobility's living expenses were far higher than that of commoners. So for someone as noble as Kamisato Ayaka, of course, she also had to live a life of wanton luxury. And in the future, her partner would be someone as noble as her. Yet, everyone didn't expect that her partner was just a little commoner. How could they accept that?
At the end of the day, before Ryūhei decided to start a business in Liyue Harbor, Ayato said something to him due to the rumors.
"Are you mad because many people don't like you when you get engaged to my sister Ayaka? Do you know the reason? The reason is pretty obvious. You don't look worthy of walking alongside her on an equal footing and standing by her side. Even I do think so. So, prove it! Prove that you're worthy of her. Becoming a famous swordmaster, a merchant, or a businessman, it's your call as long as your standing can be at her level. Or perhaps you can surpass our levels."
Because of Ayato's words, Ryūhei was determined to prove it. And now, he already has the foothold that can make him known in every region in Teyvat.
"Hehe, not only a foothold, I can even defeat you in terms of strength, big brother Ayato." Ryūhei muttered with a smirk.
He practiced his swing using basic sword techniques continuously for 2 hours. Just like saying, "Fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."
What he wanted is mastery, not the number of techniques. So, he practiced monotonously for two hours before he decided to stop for breakfast.
— — — —
4 days have passed in a flash. In those four days, the percentage of sales was more or less the same as the first day because it was only the first volume he sold. Moreover, the two manga, One Piece, and Dragon Ball, have not yet reached their climax. So, enthusiasts have not skyrocketed. Precisely in the past 2 days, his sales have decreased even though Ryūhei earned a few points.
"Hehe, now it's showtime."
If it counts, it's only been 5 days since Ryūhei opened his manga shop, and today will be his sixth day, and in the few days since opening the store, Ryūhei has spent time drawing the second and third volumes of One Piece manga, then the second volume of the Dragon Ball manga.
Today, it is the time to release those volumes.
After doing the morning routine and breakfast, Ryūhei opened his shop and wrote on a standing board, the second and third volumes of the One Piece manga as well as the second volume of Dragon Ball manga published today.
Meanwhile…
The Jade Chamber, an airborne structure above the skies of Liyue from which the Qixing monitored all the happenings in the region.
Inside, mainly in the main room, a woman who looks to be in her 25s sits on the luxurious chair, while her desk is covered with neatly stacked scrolls, piles of books, a scale, a teapot set, and an ashtray.
The room is decorated with jade screens, antique pots and vases, bookcases, and an intel wall.
The woman held a piece of paper she picked from the intel wall.
She has fair skin, red eyes, and straight, knee-length, white-beige hair that fades into an ashy color at the ends. And also carries a smoking pipe with her while reading the content.
And the woman is none other than Ningguang, with the title "Tianquan" of Liyue Qixing. The leader of a committee made up of seven merchants and business leaders who govern Liyue.
"Get off the ship with the pirate queen, Beidou, and managed to get a building from the Feiyun Commerce Guild's second son, then sold image novels called manga. Hmmm..."
She read the intel about the arrival of Niwa Ryūhei in Liyue Harbor. She got the information from the locals who talked a lot about him, especially his works to create stories about pirates and a mystical item.
"And this one is the intel from Yelan. Niwa Ryūhei from Inazuma, apparently 15 years old, doesn't have Vision but his strength seems to be as strong as that of Vision holders, became Xingqiu's sworn brothers, split a Ruin Guard in half, caught a gang of robbers without a scratch, and from those robbers mouth, he seemed to master a mystic art." Ningguang read the intel carefully. "Mastering a mystic art? Is he a Yōkai from Inazuma?"
She pondered Ryūhei's identity. Although mystic arts can be mastered by humans, only a small percentage of people are capable of it. And most likely the person with the ability to use the mystic arts was through the bloodline of the long-lived race. So, Ningguang suspected that Ryūhei was a Yōkai, a supernatural creature in Inazuma, akin to the Adeptus in Liyue.
"For now, he is not the one who threatens Liyue Harbor. Maybe I'll try to see what kind of manga people are talking about because if he does make stories through pictures, that could be an example of innovation and creativity created by him."
— — — —
Next to Manga Impact, at the Wanmin restaurant to be precise, a girl with bob-like hair saw the manga shop was so busy with customers while delivering a dish. And the girl was none other than Xiangling.
"What happened?" She mumbled. But, her mumble was heard by her customer.
"Ummm, senior sister, haven't you tried going there yet?"
The customer knew her pretty well. The customer was her junior and they were both disciples of the same master, Madame Ping.
The customer is a little girl around 10-12 years old. She has fair skin, pale dark red eyes, and golden-brown hair. Her name is Yaoyao. Yaoyao's hair is braided and tied into a bow on top of her head. Her face is evenly framed by a set of neat bangs, with a pair of gold flower-shaped hairpins. Her hair is tied into two small buns, held together with a set of oversized golden jingle bells.
Yaoyao wears a yellow-green overcoat with puffed-up sleeves secured around the wrists with orange bows. She has a large orange pouch around her waist just above her skirt, decorated with an emblem resembling that of a flower. She also carries an oversized basket over her shoulder which is where her Dendro Vision is pinned to a red bow knot.
Looking at her junior, Xiangling replied.
"Listen, Yaoyao. Your senior sister just made a new recipe, and it's so delicious. So I don't have time to play around."
"But, the master said, "playing" is not to be underestimated. During playtime, I encountered all manner of people. And I learned by playing. Senior sister, you should do that as well."
"Ugh." Xiangling didn't know what to say. It was as if she was treated like a junior by her junior sister.
"But, what kind of shop is it? The shop is like selling some kind of book." Yaoyao asked. And Xiangling shook her head in response.
"I don't know. It's something called manga, a story told through pictures and dialogue. Anyway, finish your food, it's getting cold soon!"
