Jade Chamber.
The elegant, noble Tianquan was not, as usual, immersed in her commercial empire. Instead, she was reading a light novel.
With Inazuma under lockdown, for a novel from Yae Publishing House to reach Liyue speaks to its gold content.
Clang—
The tightly shut doors of the Jade Chamber were pushed open hard from outside. A lithe, eagle-like figure strode in with her great blade over her shoulder—bold and dashing.
It was Beidou.
In all of Liyue Harbor, the only one who could freely come and go from the Jade Chamber without being bound by many rules—and who dared to win mora from Ningguang—was Beidou.
Though both claimed to see each other as business partners, their relationship was actually quite good.
"Love is War? Never thought the dignified Tianquan Ningguang would read this kind of book."
Looking at the novel in Ningguang's hand, Beidou's mouth twitched, genuinely shocked.
Since meeting Ningguang, Beidou knew this woman's interest in mora almost surpassed her interest in everything else.
Many magnates had pursued Ningguang, yet she'd never been moved.
In Ningguang's eyes, everything was business.
Who'd have thought such a woman would sit in the Jade Chamber reading a light novel from Inazuma's Yae Publishing… Love is War?
Beidou set her greatsword down, leaning on it with both hands, her expression complex.
"Hehe… When one is idle, one wants new challenges. Even I, though a Liyue Qixing, am no exception. But you… Coming to the Jade Chamber like this—did something happen at sea?"
Ningguang didn't feel embarrassed. She set the book aside and walked elegantly over to Beidou, red eyes gleaming.
Though they got along, if there wasn't serious business, they rarely met up here.
"Mm… The sea's been off lately, a faint pressure pervading it. It gives many sailors the creeps, like something is stirring in the deep."
Beidou had always found Ningguang less than forthright; seeing she didn't want to discuss the romance manual, she didn't pry.
But the commotion at sea unsettled Beidou.
Her sense for the ocean was keen. Since Osial's execution, she had felt an unease lingering. Something must be happening in the deep.
But the Crux Fleet hadn't set sail, so she didn't know what lurked below.
"As expected…"
Ningguang gazed into the high sky outside the Jade Chamber, her red eyes narrowing slightly. "I must ask you to keep an eye on the sea's movements. Maybe something is truly hiding down there."
Something?
"Even you don't know what it is?" Beidou frowned.
Ningguang smiled lightly. "If even the famed Crux Captain Beidou can't confirm it, how could I? I do have a guess… but I need to verify it."
"In that case, I'll keep watch. If needed, the Crux will be happy to step in—provided there's enough mora." Beidou swung her blade up onto her shoulder and left.
The Crux wasn't just any merchant fleet; it was an armed one.
When in the mood, they played at pirate, robbing passing Fatui ships.
With enough money, Beidou and her crew often worked as mercenaries.
"Mm?"
Just as Beidou left, Ningguang sensed a faint, almost imperceptible light spilling over the Jade Chamber.
She looked up instinctively and saw a radiant, swirling gateway.
"Ken… You can tell me about Liyue's future now, can't you?"
Seeing the vortex door of light, Ningguang smiled. She recognized it immediately: Ken's invitation gate to Blue Star.
Her eyes and ears were everywhere in Liyue Harbor; recognizing this invite wasn't hard.
Thinking back to their earlier exchange, Ken had refused to tell her about Liyue's future. Now he invited her himself, and Ningguang's smile deepened. She spread her arms, letting the irresistible force draw her in.
She wanted to see how Blue Star's development compared to Liyue's.
Anticipation, excitement, and unease—all condensed into one feeling: desire.
She desired to absorb useful knowledge from Blue Star and bring it back to develop Liyue.
She also wanted to understand the world in which that great prophet lived.
When Ningguang's figure vanished into the gate, the light dissipated, as if it had never appeared.
…
Villa.
Tap… tap…
The clear sound of high heels came from within the vortex door.
Ken guessed the invitee this time must be an older-sister type.
But when he saw those fair, slender legs and the gold-gleaming cheongsam, his eyelid twitched.
It was Ningguang.
"Hehe… Mr. Ken, can you tell me your prophecies about Liyue now?"
Seeing Ken in modern attire, Ningguang's eyes flickered with surprise.
This version of Ken was less scholarly, more sharply handsome.
Ningguang's smile was elegant and alluring, and ripples stirred in her heart. Every time she saw him, he seemed to reach a new level of handsome.
She wasn't a face-con, but who doesn't like beautiful things? All the more when that beauty had heaven-reaching means and unmatched bearing.
"Come here; it's all right here."
At first glance, Ken pulled up the files on Liyue.
As expected of Tianquan Ningguang—even on Blue Star, her first thought was Liyue.
Since Zhongli's plan had concluded perfectly, there was nothing left to hide.
"Seems I guessed right. You must have concealed it earlier for the Archon's plan, yes?"
Ningguang sat beside Ken with practiced grace, her faint fragrance drifting.
So clever—seeing Ken so forthcoming, she deduced the reason at once.
But as she read the prophecies for Liyue ahead, her brows knit. "So it's Beisht…"
Osial's wife…
The Avenger of the Vortex.
When Beidou had told her the sea was off, Ningguang had suspected Beisht. As a Qixing, she knew Osial's files—and of those creatures.
At the time she wasn't sure and needed more observation.
Now it seemed it was indeed them.
"Hehe… In the original plot, the Jade Chamber is sacrificed to suppress Osial… rebuild the Jade Chamber… Shenhe? One of the combat forces to deal with Beisht… an adeptus' disciple?"
As she read, Ningguang's expression grew serious.
A new, unfamiliar character had appeared in the plot.
For Ningguang, who was used to knowing everything, that was unexpected.
"Shenhe is at my specialty shop. If needed, you can ask her to help." Ken glanced at Ningguang's fair profile and spoke lazily.
Ningguang finished reading and covered a smile. "Even without Shenhe, Liyue has entered an age of human governance. We don't have the strength to kill Osial, but leave the Beisht to us."
Though Osial's wife, Beisht did not possess a god's seat.
If they couldn't handle enemies of that level, how could they lead Liyue to a better future?
"Mm. I won't interfere."
Ken had little interest in Beisht, even if he felt a twinge of admiration for their loyalty to Osial.
It was just that their stances and desires differed.
They were far weaker than Osial; letting the Qixing resolve it would help them establish prestige among the people.
"By the way, I heard Yun Jin asked you about that day, wanting to adapt it into an opera, and you emphasized the Qixing's merits?" Ningguang's eyes flowed as she leaned closer to Ken, meaningfully. "It seems you do approve of the Qixing."
"Miss Ningguang, your flirting is awfully stiff. Rather than forcing it here, you should go study Blue Star's knowledge. It might be more useful."
Ken was helpless.
Ningguang was worldly and slick, whether dealing with magnates or commoners.
But in matters of the heart… she was inexperienced.
This barely-there leaning-in to create accidental physical contact—on Blue Star, that was child's play.
"How do you know I wasn't sincere?"
Ningguang straightened, giving Ken a slightly wounded look.
She had been following tips from "Love is War": closing distance during conversation to create a seductive atmosphere.
She hadn't expected Ken to call her out immediately.
It left her a bit vexed.
It seemed that if she wanted Ken's support forever, the road would be long.
As for Ken… When she first had the thought, she did weigh the pros and cons with a business mindset.
But after the Osial incident, Ken's actions made Ningguang feel he was a true gentleman.
Even when Yun Jin sought him to write an opera, he didn't trumpet his own feats, instead emphasizing her decisiveness.
Even a strong woman like Ningguang couldn't help feeling a ripple in her heart.
But… "Love is War" wasn't very practical; she'd have to change tactics and not rush.
While she was lost in thought—
Ken had already pulled up many videos about Blue Star. Still immersed in romance moments ago, Ningguang was instantly stunned by Blue Star's development.
Express logistics… fighter jets… satellites… spacecraft…
Seeing these, even Ningguang was shocked. Blue Star's development far outstripped Teyvat's.
Even Liyue, the most prosperous of the Seven, couldn't compare technologically.
"I didn't expect… Blue Star to develop so rapidly. In comparison, Liyue lags far behind."
An invisible pressure struck. Ningguang's confidence took a hit.
Setting aside nuclear missiles—even the Internet surprised her. To know the world without leaving home, with so many pastimes—how could she not be amazed?
"Different planets, different developments. It's normal. But Blue Star's knowledge system is vast; you won't grasp it quickly. Better to think about what you need most right now."
You can't eat an elephant in one bite. Better to learn what's immediately useful.
Otherwise, even someone as smart as Ningguang could fall into a mental trap.
"You're right… As for what I need most…" Ningguang tapped her slender fingers thoughtfully. "The Northland Bank. I want to remove it—by business rules, not force."
Though the Rite of Descension was the Archon's plan, the Fatui's wanton behavior made Ningguang realize that if she didn't uproot the Northland Bank, they'd always have capital to act with impunity in Liyue.
And the bank was growing fast. If she didn't curb it, it might monopolize Liyue's banking sector in time—troublesome then.
Unfortunately, removing it completely wouldn't be simple.
First, there was a contract with Snezhnaya; opening a bank here counted as commercial exchange. She couldn't violate the contract and use force.
Also—
The Northland Bank was on the rise, taking a big share.
Especially for merchants traveling between Liyue and Snezhnaya: carrying big sums wasn't safe; they could deposit in Northland Bank and withdraw at destination.
That was a key reason for their rapid growth.
Under this model, Liyue's native money houses lost a lot of business.
Though she had tried to keep them in check, she couldn't prevent the Northland Bank from becoming a thorn in her side. So when Ken asked what was on her mind, the bank came up first.
Perhaps she could absorb new business knowledge from Blue Star and test it on the Northland Bank.
"There are plenty of books on business warfare… You can pick from my study to take back."
As a company owner, Ken had read many such books.
Useful or not aside, they broadened horizons.
"Do you have books on everything?" Ningguang breathed fragrantly. "Any about… how to pursue a man?"
Ken arched a brow and chuckled. "Plenty—especially on seduction."
Ningguang: "…"
Now she was speechless. In matters of love, she couldn't talk the talk.
Seeing her at a loss, Ken was amused. "Your Archon and Ganyu are both here. Want to see them?"
"Ganyu… Since she rarely rests, I won't disturb her." Ningguang pondered. "Let me visit the Archon."
Even retired, he was still Liyue's god. As a Qixing, paying respects was proper.
As for Ken… slowly, not in haste.
"Let's go." Ken led Ningguang to the neighboring villa.
It was next door, not far. They soon reached the door—but before they could enter, a rhythmically rich melody came from inside.
Then—
Ken and Ningguang both felt darkness wash over their vision.
Geo Archon, are you alright?