"It's truly an enviable ability," Keqing said, feeling a twinge of jealousy. Though she had made significant progress recently, gaining a second Vision was more than just a small improvement—it was a major leap. No wonder those who wielded multiple Visions were sometimes called pseudo-gods.
Keqing couldn't help but wonder: If she could one day obtain all seven Visions and develop them to a high level, would she be able to ascend to godhood?
She knew it was a long road ahead. It wasn't a question of whether she could earn enough points—3,000 points wasn't much; a few missions could easily cover that.
However, she had noticed that developing her Pyro Vision was significantly slower than her Electro Vision. It wasn't because the Pyro element was unsuitable for her, but rather because the more Visions one possessed, the exponentially harder it became to develop them all.
If she wanted to master all seven Visions, it wouldn't be a matter of months—it would take years. She estimated that even fully developing her Pyro Vision would take at least two years, and her future Dendro Vision might take even longer.
Otherwise, Smith wouldn't have needed to buy a godhead outright. The difference in point cost between obtaining a Vision and acquiring true divinity was immense.
"Take your time. You've made great progress recently," Smith said encouragingly. "By then, maybe defeating Tartaglia won't be impossible for you."
He couldn't help but admire Keqing's talent. Compared to himself, her natural abilities were astonishing. If not for the fact that he had a system to aid him, he would have lagged behind.
Tartaglia was talented, no doubt, but Keqing was no less gifted. He had his own opportunities, but Keqing had her own advantages now too.
"Yes, I won't lose to him, even if he uses that accursed Delusion," Keqing declared firmly.
Regardless of the outcome, she wouldn't allow herself to bring shame to Liyue. Her home was more important to her than her own life.
"If he activates his Delusion, his power will indeed increase tremendously," Smith admitted.
He recalled that in the future, Tartaglia would fight a grueling 48-hour battle against the Devouring Whale in Fontaine, proving that his combat prowess was formidable.
"However," Smith continued, "using a Delusion puts extreme strain on the body. If you can prolong the fight, the backlash will start to affect him. You, on the other hand, suffer no such side effects from using your Visions."
"I understand," Keqing said, nodding thoughtfully.
This was another crucial weakness of Tartaglia she would remember. When the time came to represent Liyue in battle, she had to win.
"Alright, let's go have breakfast, and then I'll escort you to Yujingtai for work," Smith said, taking her hand and leading her forward.
Keqing blushed slightly as he held her hand but didn't pull away. In fact, a faint smile appeared on her lips. Clearly, she didn't mind at all—if anything, she seemed to enjoy the moment.
As they strolled hand in hand through the streets of Liyue, many passersby took notice.
Keqing was one of Liyue's Qixing, and while not everyone knew Smith personally, word had spread about the traveler from another world who had been appointed as the Seven Stars' advisor by the Geo Archon himself.
Smith was somewhat of a celebrity in Liyue, even if he rarely appeared in public.
"This omelet is delicious, isn't it?" Keqing asked, watching his surprised expression as he ate.
"It's amazing," Smith admitted. "Even better than the egg pancakes I used to eat before coming here."
Back on Earth, egg pancakes had been a common breakfast for him, but he swore that none could compare to the one Keqing had bought for him today.
"As long as you like it," Keqing said with satisfaction. She felt a sense of pride in introducing him to good food.
Perhaps next time, she would wake up early to prepare beef offal for him—something he would never forget.
Just as they were about to continue their food hunt at another breakfast stall, a familiar voice called out to them.
"You two, what a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here."
Turning around, they saw a young man with a confident smirk walking toward them.
"Tartaglia," Keqing muttered, her expression darkening in disgust.
This wasn't their first encounter. Their first meeting had left a particularly bad impression—Tartaglia had intervened and saved a Fatui operative from her grasp. Since then, she had harbored nothing but disdain for him.
"Good morning, Yuheng Star Keqing! And the esteemed Seven Stars Advisor, Smith," Tartaglia greeted them with a bright smile.
If one didn't know better, they might have mistaken him for a friendly, cheerful young man. But those familiar with him knew better—behind that sunny exterior was a ruthless warrior.
"You certainly know a lot," Smith remarked, eyeing Tartaglia curiously. "And aren't you a bit too enthusiastic for this early in the morning? Don't tell me you're out here just to bother us."
"That's not my intention at all!" Tartaglia laughed, shaking his head. "Besides, my master always said that a day's plan begins in the morning. I make it a habit to train early every day."
"Your master... could it be Skirk?" Smith asked with amusement.
He still remembered his initial reaction when hearing about Tartaglia's master. Given Tartaglia's strength and training, he had assumed Skirk must be a fearsome beauty. But when she finally appeared in the game, she turned out to look like a plump, middle-aged woman.
Still, Smith remained curious about her true form. After all, she was the disciple of Surt Lokir, one of the Five Sinners—one of the most dangerous figures in Teyvat.
As long as Smith remained in this world, he knew he would eventually become an enemy of Surt Lokir.
Hearing Smith mention Skirk's name, Tartaglia's eyes flickered with a sharp glint. "You seem to know a lot more than I expected, Smith."
His master's identity was a well-kept secret. Even within the Fatui, few knew about her. How had Smith learned of her?
"I know many things," Smith replied with a smirk. "But what I don't know is why you've gone out of your way to approach us."
Tartaglia's serious expression suddenly vanished, replaced by a relaxed grin. "Honestly? No grand scheme or hidden agenda. I just wanted to meet you, the traveler from another world."
Then, his gaze sharpened with interest. "But now that I see you up close… You seem strong. And I really want to fight you."
Smith sighed, shaking his head. "I had a feeling you'd say that."
Tartaglia's obsession with battle was well-known. He wasn't the type to simply exchange pleasantries and leave—it was only natural he would eventually challenge Smith to a fight.
Keqing frowned. "Tartaglia, if you're looking for a fight, you should take it elsewhere. Liyue is not your battleground."
Tartaglia chuckled. "Don't be so serious, Lady Keqing. A friendly sparring match never hurt anyone… well, usually."
Smith crossed his arms. "And what do I get out of this fight?"
Tartaglia smirked. "Satisfaction, perhaps? Or maybe the chance to measure your strength against a Harbinger?"
Smith studied him for a moment, then smiled. "Alright. I accept."
Keqing's eyes widened. "Smith—!"
"Relax," Smith said. "I was planning on testing my abilities soon anyway. What better opponent than Tartaglia?"
Tartaglia grinned. "That's the spirit! I'll be waiting for you, then. Let's see if you can keep up."
And with that, the stage was set for their inevitable clash.
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