As Ryen had expected, the topic of "ex-girlfriends" lingered heavily in the air.
Throughout the entire dragon ride, Ganyu sulked in silence.
He did not even need to look back, he could practically feel the resentful, self-pitying gaze burning into his spine.
Yet strangely, he did not feel troubled.
Ganyu had always been gentle.
She had never once lost her temper.
She had always been considerate, always supportive, no matter what he chose, no matter what he did.
During their time together, Ryen had long come to feel that Ganyu was his true soulmate.
But precisely because she never fought, never demanded, never complained,
He often felt he owed her.
Letting her pout once in a while, letting her show a little temper,
That, in his view, was what someone like her should be allowed to do.
Although…
Well.
Considering her age… perhaps "little girl" was not the most accurate description.
As for how to resolve her mood,
That was simple.
Before night fully fell, the dragons landed smoothly on the open plains outside Sumeru City.
This area had been designated in advance by Alhaitham and the others.
He had once visited Tianheng Mountain to observe Liyue's military development and understood how the Millelith trained there alongside the Dragon Riders.
Tianheng Mountain had become a central military stronghold.
If Sumeru were to join the alliance, similar reforms and expansions would follow.
Many developments could not occur within Sumeru City proper.
A military base like Tianheng Mountain would eventually be necessary.
For now, however, only a wide stretch of land had been set aside, sufficient merely for dragon landings.
The dragons did not remain outside long.
Upon touching down, each was promptly dismissed back into its owner's Serenitea Pot.
Madame Ping, back when she was still the elderly Granny Ping, had painstakingly crafted those domains.
Now, however…
The rejuvenated Ping reacted quite differently.
Mention crafting another Serenitea Pot, and she would immediately grow irritated.
She often complained that spending sleepless nights crafting domains for everyone had been a symptom of aging foolishness.
"Only a fool works for free," she declared.
Somewhere, Narukami Shrine's reputation suffered collateral damage.
No sooner had Ryen stepped onto the ground than he turned, pulled Ganyu into his arms, and kissed her.
Half her anger dissolved instantly.
"You're my favorite, Ganyu."
With that, the gentle qilin returned.
She hugged him back tightly, rubbing against him with quiet joy.
"I like you most too…"
The qilin's temper rarely surfaced, and when it did, it vanished just as quickly.
Ryen promised to spend the entire night with her, properly making it up to her.
Not only did her displeasure disappear,
She became radiant with happiness.
Watching this effortless reconciliation, Yae Miko sighed softly.
"Ganyu is really easy to appease…"
"Is that even compensation? It sounds more like a reward for Ryen."
Ganyu, too absorbed in her joy, did not hear.
Ryen, however, heard everything.
He cast Miko a meaningful look.
In the distance, Alhaitham and the others approached swiftly.
Seizing the moment, Ryen drifted casually to Miko's side.
"You deliberately brought up the ex-girlfriend topic."
"Miko, do you know what Eula would say in this situation?"
Miko blinked innocently.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand at all."
"Oh?"
Ryen smiled faintly and patted her shoulder.
"No matter. I hold grudges."
"When we return to Inazuma, you'll regret stirring trouble today."
She tilted her head playfully.
"What? Are you planning to bully a poor little fox? How cruel."
"For three days," Ryen said calmly, "you won't even be able to sit up."
He left her with that and walked forward with Nahida and the others.
Miko's cheeks flushed faintly.
"Hmph."
Lisa appeared beside her.
"You should apologize when the time comes," she advised gently.
"Trust me. That sensation is not something you'll ever wish to relive."
"You won't be able to sit. You won't even want to move a finger."
"Do you know what it means to be overwhelmed?"
Lisa smiled meaningfully.
"Don't forget, Ryen's strength operates on a world-level scale."
"How could a mortal body endure that impact?"
She strolled ahead, leaving behind one final remark:
"I once had the same confidence as you."
"I fainted seven times."
"And stayed in bed for five days."
Now Miko felt slightly uneasy.
But having already spoken boldly, she could hardly retract it.
She was the Guuji of Narukami Shrine, after all.
Worst case,
She would simply beg adorably.
Shaking off the thought, she followed the group.
As before, the welcoming party consisted of familiar faces:
Alhaitham. Tighnari. Cyno.
The trio remained inseparable.
Perhaps the rumor was true,
Triangles were the most stable shape.
Ryen smiled.
"Meeting again so soon. You three are always together."
Just then, Alhaitham noticed Lumine peeking from behind Ryen.
For a split second, something indescribable flickered in his eyes,
Enough to make Tighnari and Cyno uncomfortable.
He cleared his throat.
"The Sabzeruz Festival begins tomorrow. It will be grand."
"The Akademiya has undergone a major purge, so for now, the three of us must oversee matters."
"Let's head inside."
As they entered the city gates, they saw him,
Azar.
Filthy. Disheveled. Eyes hollow.
Like a beaten dog.
A line of citizens waited patiently, gripping their weapons, eager for their turn.
Nearby, members of the Thirty Corps administered Life Recovery Potions periodically, ensuring he did not die.
Justice, of a sort.
Nahida's suffering could not be repaid to the deceased Grand Sage.
But Azar,
Would neither die nor be allowed peace.
"Are you satisfied with how we handled him?" Alhaitham asked quietly.
Ryen waved dismissively.
"You handled it well. Anyone who dared harm Nahida deserves neither life nor death."
Alhaitham inclined his head.
"We exposed all of his forbidden experiments."
"The God-creation project."
"Exploitation of Eleazar patients."
"Collaboration with the Fatui Harbinger Il Dottore."
"Using Sumeru's citizens as experimental subjects."
"And… other things."
He paused.
"Now, no one in Sumeru sympathizes with him."
"People have traveled from Port Ormos and even the desert just to strike him once."
"Frankly, without exposing his experiments, we would not have realized how despised he truly was."
Ryen smiled faintly.
"Were all those experiments truly Azar's alone?"
Alhaitham returned the smile.
"Does it matter?"
"The people need a scapegoat."
"The Lesser Lord Kusanali wished to guide them, to unite rainforest and desert."
"She was imprisoned for five hundred years."
"The Grand Sage lineage deceived the populace and attempted to seize divine authority."
"Defeated by the Traveler and the united citizens."
"For the sake of stability, this narrative is… convenient."
Ryen nodded approvingly.
He appreciated intelligence, especially the pragmatic kind.
"Excellent," he said. "You'll refine our future strategies well."
"And Azar, in a sense, has become your waste processor."
Alhaitham gave a faint nod.
"There is, however, one issue."
"We are nearly out of Life Recovery Potions."
"Purchasing more from Liyue has become… expensive."
Ryen rolled his eyes.
"You don't need subtlety with us."
"Sumeru is joining the alliance. You'll receive the same treatment."
"Besides, Ningguang and Jean are standing right here."
Alhaitham coughed lightly.
"My apologies. Old habits."
"If negotiations regarding Akademiya procurement can wait until after the Sabzeruz Festival?"
Ningguang smiled warmly, one hand holding Nahida's, the other looped through Ryen's arm, like a dignified matriarch.
"We will remain for about a week."
"We will celebrate Nahida's birthday."
"And assist her in stabilizing Sumeru's governance."
"We can discuss trade terms at leisure."
Alhaitham nearly sighed with relief.
The administrative burden had been crushing.
If this continued, the three of them might truly work themselves to death.
Having capable leaders assist,
Was more than welcome.