While I was in Mondstadt, I never imagined becoming a god.

Beidou stood on the deck, his right eye covered by a black leather eye patch, his left eye narrowed into a slit with a smile.

She was still wearing that deep red captain's coat, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing her muscular, wheat-colored forearms.

The sea breeze ruffled the stray hairs that hadn't been tucked into her hairline, but she didn't care and casually brushed them aside.

Her gaze fell on Xu Chuan, and she looked him up and down.

"Is this the companion you were talking about?"

Ying nodded, her voice soft but clear: "His name is Xu Chuan, and we agreed to go to Daoqi together."

She knew Xu Chuan didn't like being high-profile.

Xu Chuan cupped his hands in greeting, a perfectly timed smile on his face.

"I have long admired Captain Beidou's reputation as the 'Uncrowned Dragon King,' and seeing him today, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved."

Beidou paused for a moment, then threw his head back and burst into laughter.

"Haha! Just because you said that, don't hesitate to tell me if you need anything on the ship!"

She reached out and patted Xu Chuan's shoulder twice, the second pat being harder than the first, clearly a test.

Beidou raised her eyebrows slightly, seemingly surprised that he remained perfectly still.

"Good, you're in good health!"

After a few casual words, Beidou strode to the bow deck and began directing the sailors to raise the sails.

Her voice pierced the sea breeze, each word carrying an undeniable crispness.

The Death Star cleaved through the waves and sailed into the vast blue expanse.

The initial novelty wore off quickly.

After spending the whole day admiring the magnificent view where the sea and sky meet, even Paimon quieted down.

The little guy lay on a wooden crate by the ship's side, his chin resting on his crossed arms, staring blankly at the unchanging horizon in the distance.

Occasionally, a flying fish would leap out of the water, and she would let out an "oh" before continuing to stare blankly.

Xu Chuan found a quiet spot at the stern of the boat.

The deck was washed white by the seawater and felt slightly rough to the touch.

He laid a waterproof tarpaulin on the ground, sat cross-legged, and waved to Ying.

"Come on, let's continue."

Ying sat down in front of him, naturally adjusting the hem of her skirt.

The sea breeze immediately tousled her hair, with a few strands of golden hair sticking to her cheeks.

"Is it still the Golden Light Mantra?" she asked.

"Correct."

Xu Chuan refused to believe it.

He had witnessed Ying's constitution firsthand.

She can control all the wind and rock elemental forces, switching between them smoothly and naturally.

As for the phlogiston, lunar power, and even the various other messy energy systems of Teyvat that she encountered later, she learned them all very quickly.

It seems that there is no such thing as a "threshold" in her body at all.

Why can't I learn the Golden Light Mantra?

"I'll say it once, so listen carefully."

Xu Chuan cleared his throat and recited the basic mantra of the Golden Light Mantra from beginning to end, then broke it down step by step.

Ying closed her eyes and began to try following his steps.

half an hour.

She opened her eyes, a look of confusion appearing on her pretty little face.

His brows were slightly furrowed, and his lips were pressed into a thin line.

“No, that’s not right.” Xu Chuan observed her state. “You’re too nervous.”

Ying tried again.

This time, her breathing was noticeably calmer and more methodical.

Unfortunately, he still failed to cultivate the golden light.

"Let's try a different approach."

After thinking for a moment, Xu Chuan suddenly had a new idea in mind, taking into account Ying's special physique.

He stretched out his hand, palm facing up.

Give me your hand.

Ying looked down at his hand; his fingers were long and slender, much larger than her own.

She placed her hand on his palm, and as soon as her fingertips touched his palm, she felt a dry warmth.

"Next, I will inject the golden light directly into your body. You can first feel its trajectory within your body and the sensations it brings."

"If you experience any discomfort during the process, please tell me immediately."

Xu Chuan stared directly at her, his pupils devoid of a smile, only displaying an almost harsh focus.

Although he had already mastered the Golden Light Spell, this was the first time he had ever transferred the golden light into another person's body.

He needs Ying's cooperation, and even more so, her feedback.

Ying's gaze met his, then looked away the next second.

She lowered her eyelashes and nodded gently.

"……it is good."

Golden light surged from Xu Chuan's palm.

It was a very thin layer of pale golden light, like threads drawn from molten gold.

It spread from his palm to Ying's palm, then along her wrist, up her forearm, seeping into her skin and disappearing.

Ying's breath hitched for a moment.

She felt a warm current enter her body, slowly advancing along a channel she had never perceived before.

The passage started from the palm, passed through the inside of the forearm, went up to the shoulder blade, and then turned down, completely different from the path she had tried before.

"Can you feel it?" Xu Chuan's voice was close to my ear.

“…Mmm.” She closed her eyes, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

"Yes, really feel this state."

Not far away, Paimon was floating aimlessly in the air, taking a break.

Her little head was nodding off, when she suddenly woke up with a start and subconsciously glanced at the stern of the boat.

Then, her little mouth slowly opened into a circle.

On the deck at the stern, Xu Chuan and Ying sat cross-legged facing each other, their hands clasped together.

A golden glimmer spilled from their clasped hands, flickering in the sea breeze.

Ying closed her eyes, her expression focused and serene. The sea breeze lifted a corner of her pale yellow skirt, revealing the edge of her white petticoat.

A boy dressed in Inazuma clothing happened to walk out of the cabin.

He looked up and saw this scene, and his steps suddenly stopped.

The boy quietly took a step back and turned around.

"Sorry to bother you."

His voice was very soft, and after he finished speaking, he left, his steps quick but not chaotic.

Xu Chuan caught a glimpse of that figure's back; there was a family crest with maple leaf patterns on the lapel of his clothes.

Maple Plains, Ten Thousand Leaves.

However, he didn't get distracted and his attention returned to Ying.

"Ying, concentrate, follow it, don't get distracted."

"Good, good."

Ying took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the inexplicable flutter in her heart.

She began to actively guide the golden light to circulate within her body, advancing step by step along the path opened up by Xu Chuan.

In an instant, Ying felt a faint warmth well up from her chest, spreading down her arms to her fingertips.

Then she looked down and saw a thin layer of golden light shining on the edge of her palm.

The golden light was very faint, so faint that it was almost invisible in the sunlight, but it was definitely there.

It wasn't reflected sunlight, nor was it an illusion; it was light emanating from within her.

"Yes, that's the state."

Xu Chuan's voice carried a hint of relief.

Paimon had already flown over and was circling around the two of them, his little face full of excitement.

"You did it! Ying, you're shining!"

Ying looked down at her glowing hands, and couldn't help but smile.

She looked up, as if to say something.

But she found herself standing too close to Xu Chuan, their knees almost touching, and the warmth of the golden light still lingering between their clasped hands.

She gently withdrew her hand, and the golden light gradually disappeared.

Ying paused for a moment, then placed her hand back into Xu Chuan's palm.

The golden light shone again.

Withdraw, disappear.

Put it back, and turn it on.

Seeing this, Xu Chuan frowned.

"That shouldn't be the case."

He stared at Ying's hand; the golden light emanating from it indicated that she had already entered the realm of mastery. Logically, once one has entered the realm, one should be able to maintain it independently without the need for external assistance.

Why does it stop working as soon as the contact is broken?

He turned to look at Paimon, who was floating beside him, and grabbed her small hand.

"Paimon, you should try it too."

Before Paimon could say what to test, a gentle golden light had already passed from Xu Chuan's palm.

She quickly closed her eyes and tried her best to sense the flow of energy within her body, following the steps Ying had just described.

However, nothing happened.

Paimon opened his eyes, looked at his unchanging little hands, pursed his lips, and deflated like a punctured balloon.

"I...I can't do it..."

Xu Chuan released her wrist and fell into deep thought again.

One can sense the golden light but needs physical contact to maintain it, while the other cannot sense it at all.

What's the difference?

He had considered all of this: Ying's constitution was special, and Paimon had many secrets.

But the core of the problem doesn't seem to lie there.

Ying said softly, "Perhaps... it's just a matter of time?"

"Maybe."