"North Star, Captain Beidou, you seem particularly cheerful today. Did you win against Ningguang again?"
A graceful young man in grey samurai attire, upon hearing Beidou's hearty laughter, pushed himself off the ship's railing and approached her with a gentle smile.
He was Kaedehara Kazuha, who had traveled from Inazuma and coincidentally joined the returning Liyue vessel.
At this time, Inazuma had not yet officially implemented the Vision Hunt Decree, and Kazuha's friends had not been slain before the Shogun.
Therefore, Kazuha was still in a state of leisurely travel and contentment.
The smile on his face was more pronounced than it would be in the future.
Kazuha was grateful to Captain Beidou, the enthusiastic captain who had given him a free ride.
During his idle moments at sea, Kazuha had listened to the sailors boast about Captain Beidou's heroic deeds, including some past encounters between Beidou and the Tianquan, Ningguang.
This morning, someone from the Jade Chamber had come to invite Captain Beidou over. After returning, Beidou was beaming with joy, and Kazuha could easily guess some of the reasons why.
"Hehe, of course! My luck is no joke. I won something good from Ningguang! Since I'm in such a good mood today, I'll call all the crew back later for a lively party. Kazuha, you don't need to rush off. It's not too late to leave after you've eaten and drunk your fill!"
Beidou had a very good impression of this young Kazuha, who had hitched a ride on the "Alcor" for its return journey. Kazuha's ability to perceive the wind and observe the clouds, in particular, had earned Beidou's admiration.
If Kazuha wasn't so free-spirited and fond of wandering the world, Beidou would have truly wanted to keep him on the ship as her weather observer.
"Then I shall trouble you, Captain Beidou!"
Kazuha patted his empty coin pouch and accepted the invitation.
Kazuha's full name was Kaedehara Kazuha. He was not originally of common birth but was the last descendant of the once-prominent Kaedehara clan of Inazuma.
In the city of Inazuma, which was filled with influential families, the Kaedehara name had once commanded considerable respect.
However, fortunes change. By the time the family's business was passed down to Kazuha, the Kaedehara family was already in a state of precipitous decline.
The young Kazuha felt a sense of helplessness regarding this situation.
Despite his helplessness, when the moment came for their estate to be used as collateral and their retainers to be dismissed, he actually felt a sense of relief.
'This can be the opportunity to become a free spirit, roaming the world.'
Wandering through mountains and forests had always been Kazuha's wish.
From childhood, he had learned to appreciate the beauty and truth of nature.
To Kazuha, nature was never silent.
It was always speaking its mood in its own unique language.
The sudden cessation of the wind, the stillness of all things – that was the calm before the sky wept.
The sudden leap of a clear spring – that was a sign of the earth's wrath.
This was the unique poetic sensibility that nature had bestowed upon him. Kazuha was not born to crave glory and wealth.
Since the burden of family responsibility was no longer his, he would travel light.
Like a fallen leaf from a courtyard, scattering with the wind to the ends of the earth, Kazuha began his journey.
Throughout his travels, though Kazuha possessed nothing, he was naturally carefree and did not dwell on such matters.
To Kazuha, a samurai did not need a life of affluence; they needed poetry, fine wine, and the blade in their hand.
During his travels, Kazuha met all sorts of people, among whom was one with whom he shared a particularly deep bond.
After parting ways with his friend, Kazuha continued his usual journey, though sometimes he went hungry.
Faced with Captain Beidou's generous invitation, Kazuha could not refuse. Perhaps it was also due to his empty pockets and the desire for a free meal.
"Hahaha, I know you like your drinks, young Kazuha. I've brought quite a bit of Liyue's finest wine for this party. You're in for a treat!"
Beidou reached out and patted Kazuha's shoulder, indicating that they would drink to their hearts' content tonight until they were thoroughly intoxicated!
Hearing Beidou say this, a smile spread across Kazuha's face.
He eagerly anticipated the party.
Feeling a bit guilty about eating and drinking for free, Kazuha prepared to help out in the galley, but Beidou refused.
Beidou told Kazuha to just wait. Tonight, he was a guest, and there was no reason to ask a guest to help!
Although Kazuha was helpless, he accepted Beidou's kindness.
Bored, Kazuha disembarked to wander through the bustling Liyue Harbor.
When he returned, he found a handsome and dashing young man on the ship, chatting and laughing with Captain Beidou.
"Speaking of Kazuha, here he comes! Fengyi, look, that's the young Kazuha I just mentioned!"
Beidou said with a smile to Fengyi, pointing at Kazuha as he gracefully boarded the ship.
Kazuha's feet seemed to catch the wind, and with a gentle step, a sudden gust of air lifted him.
Kazuha rode the wind back onto the deck and, upon hearing Beidou mention him, immediately approached them.
"Let me introduce you. This is young Kazuha, a traveler who sailed all the way from Inazuma. And this is Fengyi. Coincidentally, he's also a traveler touring Teyvat. You have similar interests, so you should have plenty to talk about..."
Beidou stood between Fengyi and Kazuha, making the introductions.
"My name is Kaedehara Kazuha. I am a ronin who wanders the world, and I find solace in good wine and poetry..."
Kazuha nodded in greeting to the young man before him, briefly introducing himself.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Fengyi, and I'm currently touring Teyvat. I enjoy good food and drinks. To tell you the truth, when I was traveling in Mondstadt, I even opened a tavern. The drinks my bartender concocts are simply unparalleled!"
Fengyi returned the greeting with a smile. He was a little curious as to why Kazuha was on Beidou's ship at this time.
According to the story's progression, Kazuha had only been taken in by Beidou's fleet after the Vision Hunt Decree began, when he snatched his friend's Vision from the Electro Archon and was subsequently pursued by the Shogunate's forces.
But the Vision Hunt Decree hadn't officially started in Inazuma yet.
Could it be that Kazuha was simply traveling?
Fengyi didn't know, but Kazuha was indeed here for a journey.
"You opened a tavern? Then why didn't you tell me? I would have come to support you!"
Beidou's eyes suddenly lit up upon hearing that Fengyi had opened a tavern. She was already tired of drinking the same old Liyue wines.
"It was just a small endeavor back then, nothing worth boasting about. Besides, there's no direct sea route from Liyue to Mondstadt, and your 'Northland' fleet can't go there..."
Fengyi waved his hand, signaling Beidou not to worry about such a small matter.
"Even if my 'Northland' fleet can't go, I can always travel overland! Ah~ What a shame to have missed such a great opportunity!"
Beidou sighed, covering her forehead with her hand. It was a great regret that she hadn't been able to enjoy a drink at the tavern's opening.
"It's no matter! Half a year from now, when I go to Inazuma, I'll bring some wine from Mondstadt."
When it came to wine, perhaps only Mondstadt's god of idleness, Venti, could be compared to Beidou.
"Inazuma? Mr. Fengyi is going to Inazuma?"
Kazuha, overhearing this during Fengyi and Captain Beidou's conversation, asked with considerable curiosity.