Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

[You seem to be mistaken for a girl again. You're even wearing a sachet today. Honestly, these days, no one's first impression of you is likely to be that you're a boy.]

It doesn't matter, I don't care.

After admiring the large ship, Shen Liang jumped directly from the wheelhouse onto the deck without waiting for the Liyue receptionist to lead him into the cabin.

"Your Highness, the deck is dirty!" the receptionist shouted hurriedly.

The deck was where the sailors trained and worked. It was early morning, and the deck was filled with the smells of sweat, stench, and piles of dried fish, which also smelled strongly. But Shen Liang ignored him completely, carrying the coffin and the little fox on his back, looking left and right on the deck, covering his nose and staring wide-eyed at everything.

Strangely enough, if anyone else were to cover their nose and try to enter the group of sailors working, fearing the stench, they would definitely be looked down upon. But this adorable little wolf-dog with waist-length white hair, wearing a straitjacket, had "I'm curious" written all over his face. He wandered around the crowd, looking here and there, asking questions here and there, and everyone became expectant. Everyone subconsciously put down their work, hoping that this little guy would come to their side and stare at their work.

After drifting at sea for so many years, the sight of a pure and beautiful girl passing by is something I could only dream of. Although I know there's a chance she might be a boy, a boy this beautiful is perfectly fine too. After all, I can't even dream of someone this pretty!

"Uncle, how does the engine room retract the anchor? Isn't the anchor stuck firmly in the seabed? Can't it just be pulled up by force?"

"Why doesn't your ship, which is so big, sink? The keel is made of steel. Why couldn't it be made of wood?"

"Where do you usually live? Down below? Isn't it stuffy? I don't live in the lower deck, I live in the wheelhouse? Huh? Why am I getting different treatment?"

Shen Liang asked questions wherever he went, until he started asking, "Why haven't we Inazuma been able to build such a big ship all these years?" He had already reached the bow of the ship, and at that moment, the sailor he was holding suddenly fell silent and stopped answering.

Shen Liang tugged at his sleeve, wanting to ask more questions, when she heard a girl's voice behind her, soft and cool like autumn water.

"Don't ask. Sailors aren't very knowledgeable, and they can't explain some things clearly. If you're curious, just ask me." A soft voice said, "Your Highness, do you really like ships?"

"I'm telling you, I have a very good temper, but if you mention the words 'Princess' again, even I will get angry." Shen Liang complained as she turned around and saw the girl sitting on the dragon head statue at the bow of the ship.

The girl was sitting upright at the bow of the boat, reading a book, and only now did she look up at Shen Liang for the first time.

Charming, delicate, and lovely.

This is the two people's first impression of each other.

The second impression was of a girl with long, flowing, dark blue hair, her head adorned with jewels, her skin so white it was as clear as water. She wore a similarly dark blue jumpsuit that accentuated her petite yet voluptuous figure; the jumpsuit clung to her skin, the material resembling fish skin suitable for swimming. And her lower body wasn't human, but a beautiful fishtail.

The girl embodied the meaning of the saying "girls are made of water," and Shen Liang's gaze remained fixed on her fishtail.

He has always been fond of strange and unusual aspects of people. For example, he said that since he was a child, he liked to sleep in the eight big tails of the fox spirit, or ride a horse while holding the horns of the tiger spirit. Even when he slept with Raiden Makoto as a child, he subconsciously liked to bite the back of Raiden Makoto's neck because both Raiden sisters had a Tomoe mark on the back of their necks.

In short, Shen Liang has always been very concerned about the "inhuman" characteristics of girls, and has been concerned about them since he was a child.

The fish-tailed girl was also surprised by the boy's radiance. She had initially brought up "Princess" as a harmless joke to start a conversation, but now she even hesitated, wondering if she might have misread the gender field in Yuehaiting's interrogation mission.

Shen Liangcheng's red eyes lit up, and she strode forward.

"Let me introduce myself. I am the Admiral of the Liyue Navy, the Water Demon, Fanan. If Your Highness is interested in the treasure ship, I can... Eh! Eh! What are you doing? That won't do! No... Don't do that! Your Highness! Your Highness!"

The white-haired, red-eyed puppy grabbed the fish's tail, preventing the little fish from jumping into the sea. The fish, struggling, could only cling to the bow, watching helplessly as Shen Liang excitedly stroked its tail. The puppy's face flushed red with a mixture of shame and anger. But when it saw Shen Liang lower his head and rub his cheek against the fish's tail, its brain nearly overheated and shut down. Instinctively, it reverted to human form, revealing two slender, white feet painted with dark blue nail polish.

"Change back!" The little wolfhound's face brushed against the ankle of the man with the red rope tied around it, and he immediately became extremely disgusted and furious.

"Still standing there, still standing there! Quickly pull Princess Inazuma away!" Vanan shouted at the stunned sailors, his voice trembling with tears.

Chapter Eighteen: The straitjacket was, of course, something Mom used to restrain you.

"presumptuous!"

"How dare you attack Lord Fanan!"

Quite a few people shouted that, but none actually pounced on them. It wasn't that the sailors were afraid of a superhuman like the Little Demon God, but rather that a child even prettier than Lord Vanan was bullying someone; it was more like playful fighting between pretty girls than bullying. It was awkward for them to intervene, so they could only shout from the sidelines to bolster their morale.

The gentle, water-like little fish could only sit on the gunwale, sobbing as she tried to pull her right leg back.

Although she was stronger than Shen Liang, Shen Liang still looked like a boy even younger than her, and given his noble status... Fa Nan regretted coming to this ship. She could have sent her subordinates to carry out the mission, but she thought that since the other party was Princess Inazuma, she couldn't be impolite... but she didn't expect him to be such a brat.

At this moment, Mistelin sighed, reached out and grabbed the straps binding Shen Liang's back, and pulled hard.

The straitjacket tightened instantly! Shen Liang, who had just been trying to lick someone's bare feet and taste what a fish tail tasted like, was suddenly bound hand and foot, forced to let go of what he was holding, and was thrown backward stiffly.

The pink fox bit Shen Liang hard on the back of the neck, as if punishing him for his wicked intentions, before stepping on Shen Liang's chest, bowing its head to Fanan, and wagging its tail, looking apologetic.

"Sister Yu Tu!" Shen Liang roared, "You've ruined my plans again!"

The god's tail slapped across Shen Liang's face.

"My God, how dare you! I won't be holding you while I sleep tonight!"

Shen Zi rolled his eyes beautifully.

Fanan looked on in surprise at the boy who was being tightened by his own clothes and being lectured by the fox he had raised.

The scene was utterly comical. Shen Liang showed no remorse whatsoever; instead, he was so enraged that he shouted the names of Mistelin and Yae no Miko, declaring his intention to take revenge. However, he was currently bound high to the coffin by a garment that appeared to be some kind of magical artifact. His hands were raised and fixed to the back of the coffin like a cross, rendering him unable to move. His face was flushed, and he was panting heavily.

"I'm...I'm sorry, Sister YuTu, I was rude...Please let me out..."

Fa Nan was both puzzled and wanted to laugh. He could only purse his lips and watch the white-haired boy, who was fixed to the upright coffin, struggling like a cat whose neck was being pinched.

This is the effect of the straitjacket that Shen Liang has worn since childhood.

When someone pulled the straps on his back, he was naturally bound by the clothes on his body. The material of the straitjacket was unknown and extremely tough, so much so that even a demon god or lower could not cut it, let alone a mere minor demon god.

Whenever Shen Liang tries to do something outrageous, Misterin immediately makes him experience what "restraint" feels like again. Under these circumstances, Shen Liang is powerless to resist. Even if he tries to activate the abilities he learned from his mother and master, it is to no avail. He will even slowly lose his strength, leaving him panting and exhausted until he is completely collapsed. Only then will Misterin release him.

This was one of the methods Aponia left her for educating Shen Liang.

"The child appears gentle and delicate, adept at concealing his true nature, yet in reality, he is domineering and driven by desires. No matter how many reincarnations he goes through, no matter how much his character changes with different environments, this essential nature within him will never change." Mistelin had once heard Aponia say this to Raiden Shin. "If the child is not taught and restrained, he will inevitably indulge his innate desires to the point of causing chaos, like myself, one who could not resist falling into their clutches... Therefore, I will leave some contingency plans. As a mother, you should teach him with both strictness and kindness, and not follow my example..."

"Indeed, no one knows me better than you..." Mistelin sighed.

However, even though Raiden Shin was a reasonable monarch, he still couldn't escape the law of spoiling his child. Mistelin had never seen Raiden Shin use a straitjacket. This easy and simple method would exhaust Shen Liang to the point of collapse, so Shin always felt sorry for the child and couldn't bear to use it.

She would rather be struck by lightning and chase after Shen Liang, but Shen Liang, as the son of the Thunder God, neither understood nor heard the lesson of being struck by lightning.

If he weren't bound to leave the castle tower, given his willful and playful nature, the entire Inazuma Castle would probably be filled with the infamous reputation of this biggest playboy... or perhaps even a playboy princess.

While her mind was wandering aimlessly, Mistelin turned around and saw Shen Liang tied to the coffin in a cross shape. He had been drained of his strength and didn't even have the strength to beg for mercy. He was sticking out his tongue to cool down.

【Sister Yu Tu, you just wait…】

[Not begging for mercy anymore?]

[I'm not asking anymore, anyway, Sister Yu Tu won't kill me... I swear, Sister Yu Tu, you won't eat a single meal cooked by me for a month... not a single one!]

If a meal could make Pandora behave better and more sensible, I would be more than happy.

At this moment, Shen Liang was released from his straitjacket, and he fell off the coffin with a thud, landing straight down. Fa Nan, who was watching the boy who seemed to be being "punished," rushed over and caught Shen Liang with a flick of his sleeve, letting him lean on his shoulder.

Despite the slight embarrassment that just happened, Fanan only felt that this little girl was a bit too noisy. Surely she didn't deserve to be punished to the point of sticking out her tongue? If she stuck out her tongue, wouldn't she be exhausted? It seems that Inazuma is indeed a country with strict rules and regulations. Children who are slightly unruly will be punished by divine power from hundreds of miles away.

"Tail..." Shen Liang finally regained some strength on Fanan's shoulder and said reluctantly.

"The Princess is very interested in Fanan's tail?" I've gotten used to calling him Fanan, and since the other party doesn't refute it, then I'm pretty sure I misread the gender section.

"I want to ride..." Shen Liang said honestly, "Could you turn into a big fish and let me ride you for a while?"

"Ah, this...this is so rude, Princess." Vanan's delicate face flushed, and she whispered, "Vanan, Vanan isn't such a casual girl. I can't turn into a fish; I'm only a half-human, half-fish Naga..."

“That’s fine too, half-human, half-fish is great! In fact, it’s even better! I want to ride it!” Shen Liang asked expectantly as she tried to catch her breath.

"This……"

Fanan was even more embarrassed. Who would come up to her and say they wanted to ride her? She wanted to say that Shen Liang was impolite, but looking down at Shen Liang's pleading expression, she couldn't bear it. Thinking about it carefully, this prince probably wasn't impolite, but rather very simple and direct, saying what was on his mind directly. He might not have been teasing her... maybe he just wanted to ride a big horse like a child.

"Sister Fanan, let me ride you for a bit, just for a bit." Shen Liang helped Fanan take a few steps, then looked up expectantly and said, "I can't force you, otherwise Sister Yutu will humiliate me again. How about we switch? You can ride me later too, and the time can be ten times longer! Just let me hold your horns and ride on your back!"

The little fish with its long, dark blue hair was both embarrassed and annoyed. Such childish remarks... made it impossible to get angry.

If any other prince or high-ranking official dared to speak to her, General Luo Juan, like this, she would have thrown them into the sea in anger long ago. But since this white-haired beauty, who was even more beautiful than her, made such a request, she could only bite her lip and remain silent.

Thinking about it carefully... it's not bad at all.

An exchange? Riding the future ruler of Inazuma, the dignified Prince Wakatsuki, the second-in-command of the gods? This kind of honor is utterly outrageous. Even during the Demon God War, no Yaksha dared to ride a demon god... let alone such an adorable little demon god. He probably doesn't even realize that his words have made the Shogunate lose face...

No, no! Fanan, what are you thinking? Are you thinking about how to bully that young and innocent little guy?

Seeing that Fa Nan's eyes were gradually hardening, Shen Liang sighed, knowing that the chances of him grabbing Xiao Yu'er's horns and riding on her back to surf today were gone.

But it's okay, we'll have plenty of time to get to know each other, and one day I'll be able to ride her! Just like how every female great demon in Inazuma has revealed her true form and been ridden around the world by him while he held her neck!

Only then did Shen Liang turn his attention back to the large ship. He held onto Fa Nan's arm and curiously examined the length of the ship from bow to stern. "Sister Fa Nan, is this ship yours?"

Fanan smiled slightly.

She was so glad to hear that. She had been really looking forward to this little guy asking so many questions, and now the conversation was finally back on track.

"Of course, I am Admiral Fanan, the Liyue Naval Commander. This treasure ship is the flagship custom-made for me by the entire Liyue Harbor Shipyard. The timber was transported from ancient trees in Jueyun Karst, and the keel is forged from black steel refined from the Abyss of the Rocky Mountains. The propulsion system can rely on wind power, manpower, and newly developed turbine technology. It should be the most advanced and powerful ship in the world." Fanan's tone returned to the coolness she had when they first met, but her pride was evident in her words. "Fanan's treasure ship is unparalleled in the world. The Princess will naturally not be able to see it in Inazuma. It is forty zhang long, sixteen zhang wide, has a draft of over ten meters, and a displacement of over thirty thousand tons. It supports two thousand five thousand soldiers daily and currently houses one hundred and twenty-eight iron cannons on three decks. It is the number one naval power among the seven kingdoms. After all, Liyue is the largest country that defends its sea power. As long as Fanan's treasure ship is still on the water, Liyue will still have the world's number one navy."

She was genuinely proud, her voice rising slightly.

Shen Liang's attention was drawn to one of the interesting remarks.

"Rotary? That's a good thing. I heard it's a new technology that Fontaine just developed. Is it a purely mechanical power turbine or a steam turbine?" Shen Liang said immediately. "I heard the steam turbine is still on the drawing board."

Fa Nan looked at him in astonishment.

This little princess from Inazuma seemed a bit different from her appearance. At first, I thought he was just being childishly curious, but as soon as he opened his mouth, I immediately realized that he seemed to have more than just a broad interest.

As for the concept of "engines," Vanan was well aware that it was a concept rarely known even on the continent of Teyvat. Currently, even the Faculty of the Sumeru probably hadn't included this new knowledge. This was the research direction of the scholars of Fontaine, and because it happened to be applicable to ships, the first group of scholars in Fontaine who studied engines were all in the shipyard of Liyue.

As for Fanan, she was a naval admiral, not a pure general. In Yaksha, she was also a studious person and an outstanding student in Jigong. Therefore, she and the scholars of Fontaine had a deep understanding of steamships. She knew that there were very few people on the entire Teyvat continent who could understand the concept of modern steamships, let alone Shen Liang, who was a woman from Inazuma, where shipbuilding was not well developed.

The same goes for demons. The little demon is just a child, said to be only a teenager, just beginning to open his eyes to the world... How could a child who still needs to study at the Ji Palace understand these things?

But Fanan was still excited. No one understood her shipbuilding research direction in Jigsaw. The engineers in Fontaine were drawing blueprints day and night in the shipyard. As the leader of the Liyue army, Fanan spent most of her time either at sea or in Jigsaw, so she didn't really have much opportunity to communicate with the scholars.

"You understand marine engineering?"