Genshin Impact: I Am a Slime

The three of them traveled at a brisk pace, heading straight for the secluded beach at the very edge of Guyun Pavilion.

The wind pressure from the high-speed movement made it almost impossible for the traveler to open his mouth, and the young girl also had many questions swirling in her mind.

Where exactly is Yelan taking them? And what does she know about Pantalone?
These words were stuck in his throat as if blocked by the wind. Ye Lan's figure floated in front of him like a phantom, her speed undiminished. Her silent and focused back exuded an aura of unspeakable unease.

The traveler hesitated several times, unable to find an opportunity to speak, and could only follow silently behind Paimon.

In the blink of an eye, the rugged outline of Guyun Pavilion came into view. When they finally stepped onto the edge of the soft sand, what came into view through the sound of the waves was a giant ship as majestic as a mountain.

Like a steel behemoth lurking in the deep sea, its massive hull was brightly lit in the night, and the warm light shining through countless portholes cast long, swaying bands of light on the sea surface.

On both sides of the ship, the huge oars, densely packed like a forest, sank into the water in unison and then rose up again with great force, stirring up surging white waves and emitting a deep and powerful roar.

On the towering mast, huge hard sails billowed like wings in the wind, while an anchor larger than a house hung tilted over the ship's side, deeply embedded in the seabed, firmly stabilizing this behemoth.

"Wow!"

Paimon stared wide-eyed at the sight before him, and the traveler held his breath, awestruck by the massive ship's imposing presence.

If she wasn't mistaken, the ship's deck and bow were equipped with the Guizhong Machine and Xuanyan Heavy Cannon that Ningguang had previously moved to the Qunyu Pavilion.

The pitch-black cannon barrel and the massive firing port gleamed with a cold, hard sheen under the lamplight, exuding a chilling aura.

This was no ordinary merchant ship; it was clearly a heavily armed sea fortress.

"I, I remember now!"

Paimon slapped his forehead, the floodgates of memory instantly opening, and he excitedly did two somersaults in the air.

“Traveler, that…that ship!” Her voice rose with excitement, almost cracking. “I’ve seen pictures and records of it in the Liyue Gazetteer. That must be the legendary ‘Death Star,’ Captain Beidou’s ship that shook the seas!”

Ye Lan had stopped on the soft sand at some point, the sea breeze ruffling her clothes.

Hearing Paimon's exclamation, a faint smile played on her lips, her clear voice like shattered jade falling into an icy spring:

"Good eye, that's the flagship of the Southern Cross fleet, the Death Star."

Listening to Paimon and Nightland's words, the traveler gazed in awe at the ships on the sea.

She had seen Beidou's Southern Cross fleet before; when she was fighting the vortex demon god Osel at Qunyu Pavilion, she had seen Beidou leading a fleet to provide support from afar.

However, the Travelers were standing at such a high altitude that the size and scale of the Death Star were not nearly as awe-inspiring as they are now.

After a moment of shock, the traveler's emotions receded like the tide, replaced by deeper doubts.

Why does such a powerful flagship not stop at the bustling Liyue Harbor for repairs, but instead quietly lie dormant on the desolate coast of Lone Cloud Pavilion?

The traveler's gaze, filled with inquiry, was fixed intently on Yelan.

Ye Lan seemed to be able to read minds. She didn't answer directly, but instead turned her gaze slightly to a spot not far away.

An unassuming little sampan was lazily bobbing with the waves. At the bow, a sailor with his head wrapped tightly in a bright red headscarf was holding a crooked, homemade fishing rod, his gaze unfocused on a small float.

The roar of the giant ship and the surging sound of the oars seemed to him as nothing more than insignificant background noise.

"follow me."

Before Ye Lan finished speaking, she had already taken the first step towards the small sampan that was swaying with the waves.

The traveler and Paimon dared not delay and immediately followed.

Ye Lan lightly stepped onto the sampan, causing the boat to dip slightly. The previously lazy sailor, hearing the noise, slowly raised his eyelids.

Upon seeing the person's face clearly, a wide, almost ear-to-ear smile instantly bloomed on his face, a distinctly sailor's grin, and his warm, fishy-smelling accent rang out:
"Hey! Boss Yelan! There's some commotion in the harbor?"

Ye Lan simply shook her head calmly: "Everything is fine in the harbor, Xu Liushi."

The Ghost accurately called out the sailor's name, then turned to the Traveler and Paimon behind him, gesturing: "This is Xu Liushi, the lookout for Death Star." Night Orchid turned to the Traveler, her words carrying an undeniable direction, "He will escort you onto the ship, and once you are on board, someone will explain the situation to you."

Paimon panicked upon hearing this, and his small figure darted to Yelan's side in a flash, urgently asking:

"Hey? Wait a minute, Yelan, aren't you coming up with us?"

Ye Lan's gaze swept past the crowd and landed on the area deep within the Lonely Cloud Pavilion, shrouded in rugged rocks and the heavy darkness of night.

She shook her head gently, her tone resolute: "I still have a mission to complete, so I cannot stay any longer."

The moment Ye Lan finished speaking, she seemed to merge with the surrounding shadows, silently taking a step back. Then, she turned around decisively and walked swiftly and silently away along the edge of the steep cliff she had come from, like a shadow blending into the night.

In just a few breaths, her figure completely disappeared into the dim light and the outline of the jagged rocks in the distance, leaving only the sound of waves crashing on the shore.

On the small boat, only the traveler, Paimon, and the lookout with the red turban remained.

"Ha! Traveler! Paimon! We've been waiting for you!"

Xu Liushi slapped his thigh hard, making a crisp sound, and grinned to reveal a set of white teeth honed by the sea breeze. He greeted the man with great familiarity, as if he were facing an old friend of many years.

The traveler and Paimon were both taken aback and exchanged a puzzled look.

"Eh?!"

Paimon was so shocked that he did a half-turn in the air, his big eyes wide open, and his little finger pointing at Xu Liushi.

How do you know our names? We've never seen you before.

The traveler narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the sailor who seemed to know everything with a hint of inquiry.

"hey-hey!"

Xu Liushi tapped his temple with his index finger with a smug look, causing the red headscarf to sway.

"Look at the questions you're asking. In Liyue Harbor, your names are even more dazzling than the brightest lantern at the Lantern Festival."

His tone was full of undisguised admiration, even tinged with a sense of pride.

"Our Big Sister Beidou has long admired you two, and often talks about it on the ship, saying that she must find an opportunity to have a good chat with you and have a good drink with you!"

"It's a pity that things always go wrong. Either you're out adventuring and your whereabouts are unknown, or our fleet receives urgent orders to set sail. We just never seem to meet."

The traveler understood immediately and seized the opportunity to ask, "Brother Xu, from what you're saying, Captain Beidou is currently on the Death Star? That's precisely why we're on this journey—to find her, but..."

The girl's gaze shifted to the brightly lit, massive ship in the distance, which resembled a sea fortress.

The massive oars continued to pound the water steadily and powerfully, stirring up continuous white waves.

"Why did such an important flagship not dock at the bustling Liyue Harbor for supplies and rest, but instead remained at Lone Cloud Pavilion?"

Upon hearing the traveler's question, Xu Liushi's hearty smile suddenly faded, replaced by a knowing chuckle. He bent down, grabbed the oar resting on the side of the boat, and forcefully pushed off the rocks on the shore.

"Wow!"

The small sampan glided lightly away from the beach, cutting through the shallow waves.

"About this..."

As Xu Liushi rowed the boat rhythmically, he drew out his words, which carried the salty smell of the sea, and the sea breeze carried them to the ears of the two men.

"Once you step onto the deck of Death Star and see our boss with your own eyes, everything will become clear, won't it?"

"When the time comes, the boss will explain everything clearly to you."

Xu Liushi nodded towards the direction of the Death Star, his tone filled with trust in Beidou and the Traveler. (End of Chapter)