"This… won't work."
"I have a contract with him, so I can't take the initiative to act!"
Unfortunately, faced with Ningguang's plea, Rowan could only shake his head with a regretful look and refuse.
"Hm?"
"I was overthinking it."
Ningguang frowned, then immediately reacted.
Right—since Rex Lapis had gone this far, how could he possibly leave Rowan, a god-level combat power, as a loophole they could freely use?
There was no way he'd leave them a bug like that.
But if they couldn't rely on Rowan… then even if they faced the adepti, how could they possibly stand their ground?
That was the gap in strength.
Vision bearers were stronger than ordinary people, but compared to adepti who had cultivated for hundreds, even thousands of years in Jueyun Karst, they were still far too weak.
Even the very best of Liyue's "allogenes" would struggle when facing the adepti—let alone Liyue as it was now, where their top-tier combat power really was lacking.
Who could've imagined that the adepti who had protected Liyue for so many years… would turn against them today?
The adepti turning hostile was inevitable. Ningguang understood that better than anyone.
It wasn't as if there were no adepti living in seclusion within Liyue Harbor.
For example, the old lady on Yujing Terrace was an adeptus living quietly in the city.
And there was also that Zhongli, the learned, brilliant, and erudite gentleman from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Those two were adepti.
Not only them—there was Ganyu, a half-human, half-adeptus beast, serving as Rex Lapis's envoy while working at Yuehai Pavilion.
And Yanfei, also a half-human, half-adeptus beast, the greatest legal expert in Liyue Harbor—most of Liyue's laws had been popularized and drafted with her involvement.
These four were the adepti most friendly toward Liyue Harbor.
But the rest were different.
Especially since most of the adepti lived in seclusion in Jueyun Karst, long since sick of mortals running up there at every little thing to "seek the adepti," hoping for blessings and freebies.
If they learned Rex Lapis had died, they would definitely rush straight to Liyue Harbor without hesitation.
When that happened, could she withstand their fury and interrogation?
Even the Conqueror of Demons at Wangshu Inn—though he diligently kept watch over Guili Plains—had always been lukewarm toward humans.
Expecting him to speak up nicely for them? Ningguang felt she'd better not count on it.
Besides, she'd already learned from Rowan that this was Rex Lapis's test.
If they couldn't reach an understanding with the adepti—and couldn't turn conflict into reconciliation—then what would Rex Lapis think of them?
Ningguang had to resolve this with everything she had.
The first priority was dealing with the adepti.
Then she paused.
Rex Lapis wanted Rowan to stand aside and not directly act—but that didn't mean he couldn't act indirectly.
If Rowan became the witness and mediator for peace talks between Liyue Harbor and the adepti, wouldn't that solve part of the problem?
What was Ningguang most afraid of?
Wasn't it that the adepti would arrive and start fighting without a word—something Liyue Harbor simply couldn't endure?
If Rowan, that powerful god, stood on Liyue Harbor's side, then the adepti would have to weigh whether they could win—and even if they could, what kind of damage it would do to Liyue.
After all, the adepti had all signed contracts with Rex Lapis to protect Liyue.
Even if Rex Lapis were truly dead—let alone merely faking it—those oaths meant they wouldn't easily strike at Liyue.
So as long as everyone could sit down calmly and talk, once the truth was known, the adepti shouldn't do anything drastic.
"If that's the case, then I also want to sign a contract with you, sir."
"When the adepti of Jueyun Karst arrive at Liyue Harbor, I hope you can mediate so they'll be willing to sit down and properly talk with us."
"As for whether the talks succeed, that has nothing to do with you."
"And the price… is thirty percent of Liyue's mineral output for the next ten years."
"How about it?"
Ningguang proposed the contract in one breath, then looked at Rowan with expectation.
Rowan thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine."
"I accept this contract."
Thirty percent of Liyue's mineral output for the next ten years.
Even though the Chasm was currently closed for special reasons, and the Blackcliff Forge was the same…
That didn't mean Liyue's mineral production would come to a stop.
The Chasm's resources only made up about seventy percent of Liyue's ore output—Liyue still had other mineral sources.
And before long, the Chasm would reopen again.
At most a year—once Lumine returned from Inazuma, the Chasm would open once more.
As for ore, Rowan would never complain about having too little.
Since Liyue was offering this kind of "gift," he naturally wouldn't refuse.
All he had to do was make the adepti of Jueyun Karst calm down a bit.
Easy.
Besides, that person Rowan kept running into, the "fungus" was extremely grateful to him for reviving Bosacius.
They would definitely listen to Rowan.
When the time came, Rowan would probably only need to intimidate them a little, and they'd sit down obediently to negotiate.
Seeing Rowan agree, Ningguang let out a heavy sigh of relief.
She didn't know what Rex Lapis's true test would be.
But she did know this: only after clearing the "adepti" hurdle would she be qualified to face whatever came next.
If she couldn't even get past the adepti—what right did she have to talk about rule by man?
"Oh, right—about that little girl who came to Liyue with you. Is she connected to you?"
"Could she be used by the Fatui?"
Ningguang stood up, preparing to leave. Next, she needed to seize control of the situation and draw all of Liyue Harbor's authority into her hands—before the adepti arrived.
But as she reached the doorway, she remembered Lumine and Paimon and asked.
"She definitely will, but she's not stupid. She'll realize it."
"And do you think that one won't intervene?"
Did she really think Zhongli was an idiot?
He'd been following Lumine the whole time during the Rite of Descension—did she think he did that because he had nothing better to do?
Of course not. Zhongli walking with Lumine and Paimon for a while was to test their character.
Even if Zhongli knew Lumine was one of the twin travelers of fate, he still wouldn't blindly believe her just because of some prophecy.
Seeing is believing.
"That's true as well. If Rex Lapis is doing this, then he must have his reasons."
"I was worrying too much. Then goodbye, sir."
With that, Ningguang left.
(End of Chapter)
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