I opened a shop on the Astral Train-Chapter 58

The low hum of the Astral Train's engines provided a steady rhythm to the room, broken only by the occasional clink of ceramic against wood. Himeko took a slow sip of her tea, her crimson eyes fixed on the chessboard between her and Seele. The pieces were arranged in a tense midgame, white and black locked in a delicate balance of strategy and deception.

Across from her, Seele rested her chin on one hand, her other poised just above a knight, but hesitating. Her deep indigo eyes flicked between Himeko's pieces and her own, mapping out possibilities. She had started the match with a strong offense, pushing her queen forward early, but Himeko had countered with an impenetrable defense, making every move a test of patience.

Seele had expected a challenge—Himeko was not the kind to play anything lightly—but this match was something else. Every move she made was met with effortless counters, calculated and deliberate. It was as if Himeko had planned ten steps ahead before the first piece had even moved.

"You're thinking too hard," Himeko said, smiling as she swirled her tea. "A sharp mind needs to be decisive."

Seele scoffed lightly but didn't argue. Her fingers finally closed around the knight, moving it forward to challenge one of Himeko's bishops.

"Bold," Himeko remarked, setting her cup down. "But was it the right choice?"

Before Seele could respond, a sudden grunt and a loud thud echoed through the carriage.

Both turned their heads just in time to see March 7th stumble past the open door, arms wobbling under the weight of a large stack of boxes labeled "Kitchen Supplies."

"Don't mind me!" March huffed, struggling under the load. "Just... reorganizing! Pom said we needed better storage, and I volunteered!"

Seele and Himeko exchanged a glance before looking back at their game.

"Your move," Himeko said, as if nothing had happened.

Seele focused, pushing March's antics to the back of her mind. She needed to break through Himeko's defenses before she lost control of the board.

She moved a pawn forward, baiting a trade.

Himeko raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Not bad. But..."

With an elegant motion, she slid her queen across the board, placing Seele's king into check. Seele inhaled sharply—she hadn't seen that one coming.

Before she could fully process her next move, March ran by again, this time carrying a giant potted plant almost twice her size, its leaves swaying dangerously as she wobbled through the hallway.

"No need to stop playing! I'm fine!" March called as she disappeared around a corner, narrowly avoiding knocking over a coat rack.

Seele exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. "How is she even balancing that?"

Himeko smirked. "March is full of surprises."

Seele studied the board. Her position was growing more fragile with every passing turn. She needed to change tactics—fast. Taking a breath, she sacrificed her knight to break through Himeko's pawn structure.

Himeko let out a low hum of appreciation. "Oh? Getting aggressive, are we?"

The game intensified, each player responding with quicker and more ruthless exchanges. Pieces vanished from the board with every passing minute. Seele started to feel the pressure—Himeko was still calm, still in control. Seele was playing well, but Himeko played like she had already seen the outcome.

Then March walked by again.

This time, she wasn't just carrying something big. She was carrying something massive—a crate so wide she had to waddle sideways through the doorframe, face red with exertion.

"A little help?!" she gasped, barely able to see over the top of it.

Seele instinctively stood up, but Himeko put a hand up to stop her.

"She'll figure it out."

March gave an unconvincing chuckle before vanishing deeper into the train. There was a loud clatter somewhere in the distance, followed by Pom yelling something unintelligible. Seele shook her head.

"I don't know whether to be impressed or terrified."

Himeko chuckled. "Both. Now, focus."

Seele sat back down, narrowing her eyes at the board. She was down to her last few pieces. Her king was backed into a corner, and Himeko's queen had complete control.

Himeko rested her chin on one hand, waiting.

Seele's fingers hovered over her rook. If she moved it right, she could delay the inevitable for a few turns. Maybe, just maybe, she could turn the tide.

She made her move. "Check."

Himeko's eyes glinted with approval. "Not bad."

She moved her queen forward, sacrificing a bishop to keep the pressure on.

Then March appeared again.

This time, it was absurd.

She was dragging something so large it barely fit in the hallway—an entire refrigerator, strapped to her back with makeshift ropes. Sweat poured down her face as she inched forward, step by agonizing step.

"Okay," she wheezed, "I might have... overestimated my strength... just a little..."

Seele's mouth fell open. "March, what—?"

"It's fine! It's fine!" March shouted, though her legs were visibly trembling. "I just have to—AH!"

One of the straps snapped. The refrigerator wobbled dangerously.

Himeko sighed, finally standing up. With one swift motion, she grabbed the fridge with both hands, steadying it before it could crush March beneath its weight.

March sagged with relief. "Oh, thank the Aeons."

Himeko turned to Seele. "We'll pause for now. You help her tie that thing up properly, I'll make sure Pom doesn't have a meltdown over this."

Seele smirked. "I was about to win anyway."

Himeko arched an eyebrow. "Oh? That's an interesting interpretation of events."

March gave a weak laugh. "Hah... hah... I just need to lie down. For, like... a week."

Seele helped her unstrap the fridge while Himeko walked off, shaking her head.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

"And here I thought the most intense battle on this train would be the chess match," she mused.

March groaned from the floor. "I regret everything..."

The sun hung low over Liyue's private sparring arena, its golden glow shimmering off the polished stone tiles. A gentle breeze rustled the banners overhead, carrying the scent of incense from the nearby temple. In the center of the ring, two formidable figures stood poised—Keqing, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, and Ningguang, the Tianquan herself.

Keqing rolled her shoulders, muscles taut with anticipation. "I appreciate the invitation, Lady Ningguang, but don't expect me to go easy just because you're my superior."

Ningguang smirked, her golden eyes gleaming with calm confidence. "I wouldn't have it any other way." With a flick of her wrist, crystalline Geo constructs shimmered into existence around her, hovering like guardian spirits, each one glowing with condensed energy.

In a blink, Keqing vanished in a crackle of violet light, reappearing behind Ningguang in a flash of lightning. Her blade swung with deadly precision, aimed to test Ningguang's composure.

But Ningguang had already sidestepped, her experience evident. She waved her fan lightly, and her floating gems responded instantly, unleashing a flurry of brilliant Geo projectiles toward the incoming threat.

Keqing twisted midair, her sword slicing through several of the shining missiles. Shards of energy burst around her as she landed, feet skidding against the smooth stone. Before she could strike again, a wall of golden light materialized in front of her, stopping her charge cold.

She clicked her tongue, eyes narrowing. "You fight like you do business—methodical, controlled. But can you keep up with pure speed?"

Without waiting for a reply, Keqing surged forward again, her blade now crackling with an intense charge. She moved like lightning incarnate, darting in and out of Ningguang's defenses, her every strike leaving behind trails of violet light.

Ningguang remained composed. Her Jade Screen shifted with her motions, strategically intercepting Keqing's slashes and forcing her into tighter spaces. She countered with sharp bursts of Geo energy, controlling the battlefield with tactical precision.

But Keqing refused to be boxed in. With a burst of momentum, she dashed up one of the floating crystals and launched herself high into the air, her sword raised overhead. From that height, the entire arena was a blur of gold and gray beneath her.

Her blade pulsed with raw electricity, the energy radiating outward in an almost blinding halo.

Then she descended.

With a deafening crack, Keqing came crashing down like a thunderbolt, her blade striking true. The impact split the stone beneath her feet, sending shockwaves through the arena. Ningguang's defenses faltered; her Jade Screen shattered into glittering fragments, and she was forced to take a step back.

Silence followed.

Dust floated lazily through the air as the last traces of Electro energy dissipated. Ningguang looked at the remains of her constructs, then back at Keqing. A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she straightened her posture.

"Impressive," she said. "It seems I've lost this match."

Keqing smiled, breath still heavy. "So what does that make the tally between us at this point?"

Ningguang let out a rare, genuine laugh. "I thought you were keeping track?"

Keqing chuckled in response, and soon both women were laughing together, the tension of the fight replaced by camaraderie.

Keqing lowered her blade, exhaling slowly. She met Ningguang's gaze, and without hesitation, they stepped forward and bowed deeply to one another—a mutual sign of honor and respect.

"I look forward to our next match," Ningguang said, composed yet clearly intrigued.

Keqing smirked, her eyes gleaming.

"Next time, I expect you to give me even more of a challenge."

Meanwhile...

Hu Tao had a rather comedic angry expression on her face...

"I swear...if Keqing is up to some sparring nonsense again...I'm gonna beat her up so bad..."

Hu Tao grumbled to herself as she prepared to go look for her.