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After the two finished their conversation, Shao Yun boarded the floating platform of Plaustrite and descended all the way down from the towering Jade Chamber, arriving at Yujing Terrace below.
Shao Yun gently rubbed his slightly sore neck and was just about to head for Mt. Tianheng to have a chat with Cloud Retainer when—
After taking only two steps, the corner of his eye suddenly caught sight of a place not far away that was usually Granny Ping's favored spot for leisurely sightseeing.
Should I go say hello? he thought to himself. Our relationship isn't bad, after all.
Just as he hesitated, he focused his gaze—only to realize that the figure standing there was not Granny Ping, but Zhongli.
The moment Zhongli saw Shao Yun, he greeted him as if he had been expecting this encounter all along.
"Mr. Shao Yun, it has been quite some time. I trust you have been well…"
Shao Yun's right hand shot to the holster at his waist, gripping the handle of his pistol tightly as he stared at Zhongli with full vigilance, replying coldly, "Oh, damn it! I should've checked the almanac before leaving today. I really should find someone from Inazuma to teach me how to stop time!"
Zhongli did not understand what Shao Yun meant by that sentence, but he did understand the part about "not checking the almanac."
Thus, he asked with mild confusion, "Could it be that, in your eyes, I am an ill-omened person?"
Hearing this, Shao Yun shook his head, then gestured for Zhongli to stop putting on an act and spoke bluntly.
"Drop the fake pleasantries. I don't buy that kind of nonsense. You didn't show up here just to say hello, did you?"
"My relationship with you Seven Archons should be pretty close to completely irreconcilable by now, right?"
Faced with Shao Yun's aggressive words, Zhongli showed not the slightest hint of panic.
He maintained his usual calm and composure, only lightly responding to one part of Shao Yun's statement.
"Is it because of what happened between you and Buer that you believe I intend to harm you?"
When Shao Yun heard Zhongli mention Sumeru, he asked, "So you already know?"
Zhongli explained unhurriedly, "Several months ago, I 'happened' to encounter Barbatos at Dihua Marsh. At the time, he told me about how you descended from the sky, as well as the series of upheavals triggered by the torn firmament above Sumeru."
Hearing this, Shao Yun fell silent for a moment before saying, "That's true. What happened in Sumeru can hardly be called a good thing."
Immediately after, a bitter smile surfaced at the corner of Shao Yun's lips as he said self-mockingly, "So don't come near an evil guy like me. You'll only end up unlucky."
With that, Shao Yun turned to leave.
However, at that very moment, Zhongli hurriedly spoke up to stop him. "Wait. You say you are evil, yet I have never seen you harm Liyue."
After a brief pause, Zhongli began to recount Shao Yun's good deeds in Liyue.
"When you saw the Nianhua's family struggling to survive, you produced eighty million Mora to support them."
"After Beisht attacked Liyue Harbor, you went to the sea to rescue the Yuheng. You have helped Liyue so much, yet I was unable to provide effective assistance at critical moments. Whenever I think of this, I feel deeply ashamed."
After hearing Zhongli list these good deeds, Shao Yun felt that most of them were fine—but the story about Nianhua? What exactly had his brother-in-law's employee twisted that story into using the Loom of Fate?
He had simply felt sorry for Nianhua and given her eighty million Mora—about sixteen hundred dollars in total. That was practically on par with robbing the Valentin Bank…
Thankfully, Lumine knew that Nianhua's fate had been altered through an experiment with the Loom of Fate conducted by him and Aether. Otherwise, who knew what strange expression Lumine might show over his act of donating money to a widow?
Suppressing the discomfort, Shao Yun seized upon the word "ashamed" and mocked him. "Oh? You actually feel guilty? Looking all serious like that, yet you're spouting nonsense?"
Zhongli replied with the same unchanged expression, "Every word I have spoken comes from genuine sincerity."
Agh— Shao Yun let out a low, dry retching sound from his throat and said with disgust, "Enough of that! If you've got something to say, just spit it out. Stop beating around the bush!"
Zhongli spoke softly, almost as if tacitly admitting it. "In short… may I ask you to help me with a small matter?"
Seeing that Zhongli was asking for his help, Shao Yun immediately seized the chance to sneer. "See? I told you. You definitely needed something from me. Who knows, maybe you even stick pins in dolls to curse me on your free time."
Zhongli did not bother arguing with Shao Yun. After all, baseless things were baseless simply because they did not exist.
Taking a deep breath, he revealed the matter for which he sought Shao Yun's assistance.
"This concerns Cloud Retainer. You should be aware that ever since the chaos caused by Beisht was repelled by the combined efforts of the Adepti, Cloud Retainer has maintained differing views regarding Liyue's current system of human governance."
"She once proposed a system where humans govern under Adepti supervision, as a transitional phase from Adepti rule to human rule."
"I do not oppose the Adepti overseeing the work of the Liyue Qixing. However, Xianyun has been an outsider directing professionals, causing no small amount of trouble for Liyue Harbor's economic development… You also believe that professional matters should be handled by professionals, do you not?"
Zhongli then explained his reasoning.
"Liyue Harbor stands upon trade, yet the Adepti are not adept at financial management—only at combat. Cloud Retainer inevitably has good intentions but insufficient capability, resulting in well-meant actions that backfire."
Compared to Zhongli, Ningguang had been far more polite. She had merely asked Cloud Retainer to rein it in a bit. Zhongli, on the other hand, was basically saying, Cloud Retainer, just stop already. You haven't helped at all—only made things worse. Go home and take care of Shenhe.
Seeing that Zhongli's request aligned perfectly with Ningguang's, Shao Yun took the opportunity to extort him. "What do I get out of this?"
Noting that things were moving forward, Zhongli proposed something he could personally offer.
"I know that because of Buer, you are highly sensitive. You also do not care about the past. In that case, as the Tianquan has stated, the Liyue Qixing will protect Lumine and Paimon."
"I can make the same promise myself."
After hearing Zhongli's promise, Shao Yun thought to himself, That's way less tempting than you prepaying three months of salary from Hu Tao for me.
Of course, that was assuming Zhongli could still even collect a salary. Given how much he spent daily on tea and opera, he might already be signing a debt servitude contract with Hu Tao to pay it all back.
Shao Yun asked skeptically, "I seriously doubt this—if even I can't beat someone, you think you can?"
Zhongli calmly countered, "How would we know if we do not try? You lose nothing. I am not in a position to persuade Cloud Retainer myself. I can only rely on you."
Shao Yun pretended to reluctantly agree, then warned him, "Fine. But let me say this first—if you dare to eat rocks, even if I turn into a ghost, I'll come after you!"
The unspoken meaning was clear: Zhongli's credibility had already been completely exhausted.
Zhongli was well aware of this and said calmly, "That is precisely why I did not say that one who breaks their word shall suffer the punishment of eating stone."
Shao Yun thought of the incident where he stabbed Nahida and said vaguely, "Whatever. We're all lying bastards anyway."
…
Mt. Tianheng was bathed in the gentle light of the early morning sun.
At this peaceful and beautiful moment, Cloud Retainer in her human form—Xianyun—emerged from her Adepti thermal tent and stretched lazily.
After casually eating breakfast prepared by the Mechanized Cooking Device, Xianyun picked up the viewing tool she had made herself, looked toward Liyue Harbor, and muttered, "Let this Adeptus take a good look at how best to more effectively supervise all of Liyue Harbor today…"
In order to comprehensively monitor Liyue Harbor—especially to keep a close eye on the movements of the Liyue Qixing—Xianyun had been camping on Mt. Tianheng for over a month now.
Her presence had become a unique sight upon the mountain.
At that moment, Shao Yun climbed up to the summit.
He took a sip of bitter medicinal wine to recover some stamina.
After a brief rest, he raised his head and called out toward Xianyun's direction.
"Cloud Retainer—or perhaps I should call you Miss Xianyun. As expected, you're here."
Hearing the familiar voice behind her, Xianyun was startled and immediately turned around.
When she saw Shao Yun standing behind her, a look of curiosity and delight appeared on her face.
"Wow! Mr. Shao Yun, when did you return to Liyue?"
Shao Yun smiled faintly and replied concisely, "Just now."
A trace of wariness flashed through Xianyun's eyes as she stared at him and asked, "You came to see me—do you have some special reason?"
Shao Yun lightly raised a finger and pointed northwest, roughly toward where Mt. Aocang lay, gently persuading her. "It's nothing much. I just wanted you to go back to Mt. Aocang and get some rest."
The moment she heard this, Xianyun's expression darkened instantly as she snapped angrily, "When did you become a lobbyist for the Liyue Qixing? You're actually persuading me to go home now?"
Immediately after, Xianyun began dredging up old grievances, her complaints pouring out.
"Go on, tell me—how much Mora did Ningguang give you this time? Back then, this Adeptus actually lost to that yellow-haired girl because of a single Mora she carried on her person. Truly infuriating!"
Adhering to the principle of everyone being happy, Shao Yun helplessly tried to reason with her. "Your recent actions really are a bit… outsiders directing insiders. They've already affected Liyue Harbor's normal development."
"And on top of that, Ningguang offered a considerable sum of Mora. So, you should return to Mt. Aocang and rest for a while."
As he spoke, a subtle seriousness crept into Shao Yun's tone.
Xianyun looked up at the Jade Chamber floating in the sky, clenched her teeth, and muttered angrily, "Ningguang… you actually called in outside help. How despicable!"
She then gave a light cough, finding herself a way out.
Slowly waving her hand, she put on a magnanimous expression and declared loudly, "Very well, very well. Since Ningguang went through all that trouble to bring you here as a lobbyist, this Adeptus shall not pursue the matter further."
After that, she pretended to think and said, "And upon further reflection, leaving that child Shenhe alone at Mt. Aocang during this time was indeed not a wise decision."
As soon as her words fell, a flash of light enveloped Xianyun, and her form changed instantly. In the blink of an eye, she transformed into a crane.
Immediately after, Cloud Retainer beat her wings fiercely, stirring up a gale as she shot into the sky, flying toward Mt. Aocang.
Watching the camping equipment Xianyun had left behind on Mt. Tianheng, Shao Yun hurriedly shouted toward Cloud Retainer, who was already far away.
"Hey! Wait! Aren't you taking your stuff with you?"
However, Cloud Retainer did not even turn her head. Her voice drifted back from afar.
"Consider it a gift! Do with it as you please!"
Hearing this, Shao Yun was rendered utterly speechless.
He raised his voice and shouted back, "No way—what use do I have for used secondhand stuff like this? Who would even buy thirdhand goods?"
To his surprise, upon hearing this, Xianyun made a sharp turn and flew back toward Shao Yun in a fury.
Before she even got close, her indignant shout rang out, "You ungrateful brat! These are camping supplies used by an Adeptus, and you want to sell them as secondhand goods? In your eyes, is there nothing left but that measly Mora?!"
Shao Yun looked at that woman—flying all the way back just to insult him over something this trivial—and could only feel at a loss for words.
"How about this?" Shao Yun tentatively suggested. "I'll pack everything up and give it to Ganyu. She can return it to you during her vacation."
After hearing Shao Yun's proposal, a flash of petulance crossed Xianyun's eyes.
She snorted coldly and said, "Do whatever you want! You lobbyist for the Liyue Qixing!"
With that, she spread her wings and flew off proudly, vanishing into the horizon in an instant.
Watching Xianyun's retreating figure, Shao Yun shook his head helplessly and muttered, "If I said this was Zhongli's idea, she'd probably explode."
"Ah, forget it. I should hurry up and pack this stuff and send it to Ganyu."
As he spoke, he began tidying up the items on the ground.
After all, Xiao had once said—do not litter.
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