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After Boadicea's emotions settled, the two set off toward the Chasm.
On horseback, Shao Yun turned to Yelan, who was riding alongside him, and asked, "Can you tell me about the payment now? What have you prepared for me?"
Yelan held the reins tightly, urging her horse forward, then glanced at Shao Yun. "Do you know the Yanshang Teahouse?"
Shao Yun nodded, indicating that he did.
That was the place guarded by two sentries at the entrance, with a receptionist named "Chu Yi."
"Yes, I know. Why?"
Hearing his answer, Yelan continued explaining in detail about the Yanshang Teahouse.
"It used to be a gambling den. The previous owner had some debt issues."
"I was going to handle it myself, but the Fatui Harbinger you killed, Childe, got to him first. He eliminated the former owner, turning it into Fatui territory."
"Later, after Liyue survived the crisis of the Overlord of the Vortex, the Fatui were purged. I seized that chance, took over the Yanshang Teahouse, and rebuilt it as a covert bureau."
But Shao Yun wasn't interested in backstory. He only wanted to know about his reward.
He impatiently cut her off, grumbling, "All of that is nonsense. Just tell me directly what my reward is."
Sensing his irritation, Yelan quickly moved to the point.
She knew Shao Yun cared about profit, so she went straight to it.
"Though it now functions as my intelligence station, we still run business on the surface. Some customers need membership to access private rooms."
"The tea we serve comes from Qingce Village, rare and expensive. You understand what that means—there's a share of the profits."
The word "profit" piqued Shao Yun's interest at once.
"And how much can I make from this share?"
Yelan thought for a moment, then replied honestly, "If business is good, you'll be earning six figures in Mora every month."
When Shao Yun counted on his fingers, realizing it meant only a few hundred thousand Mora, his enthusiasm died instantly.
"What? That little? I suddenly don't feel like doing this anymore."
He complained and slowed his horse, as if ready to turn back.
Seeing this, Yelan grew anxious.
He had already stocked up on ingredients, and her paperwork was complete.
If Shao Yun backed out now, it would all be wasted!
She quickly shouted, "Wait! I'm not finished yet! Besides the business profits, there's also intelligence!"
At the mention of intelligence, Shao Yun's interest revived.
"Can you be more specific?"
Yelan cleared her throat, preparing to explain carefully, afraid any vagueness might cause misunderstanding.
"Ahem… From now on, whenever you need information, just contact Chu Yi at the Yanshang Teahouse. If it's news within Liyue, we'll deliver it to you within twenty-four hours."
"As for intelligence from other nations—tracking specific people, studying local customs, or checking historical events—I guarantee results within three to seven days."
"But," she added with caution, "if it involves state secrets, that's another matter. You know the Fatui excel at espionage. I'll do my best, but some missions are extremely difficult, with low success rates."
She wasn't exaggerating. Certain intelligence truly was hard to acquire.
Still, to avoid Shao Yun dismissing the reward as useless, she added more.
"However, if what you seek concerns the Fatui or other unofficial forces, I can also deliver within three to seven days. For that kind of intelligence, I have my own special channels."
Shao Yun nodded slowly, muttering, 'So the real reward that satisfies me is intelligence…'
Seeing his interest, Yelan pressed further. "Exactly. As travelers, you and your companions must need intelligence constantly."
She had originally considered offering money, but knew her fortune would never match his expectations.
As for seduction—that would never work.
So she leaned on her strength: intelligence, giving him a dual offer.
And Shao Yun was indeed moved.
Money wasn't most important to him. Intelligence could be invaluable to Lumine and Paimon.
He agreed.
"That does make sense… It's a good reward."
Relief washed over Yelan. Her effort wasn't wasted.
With the matter settled, they continued riding together for a while.
Growing bored, Shao Yun broke the silence with curiosity.
"By the way, does running a casino really make big money?"
The question caught Yelan off guard. Of course it did—wasn't that obvious?
But answering too bluntly could spell trouble, so she carefully explained, citing the former owner's records.
"Based on the old accounts, if business thrived and a few gullible fat sheep walked in, the house could easily rake in twenty to thirty million Mora in a single week just from cuts."
Mid-explanation, she realized something strange—why was Shao Yun suddenly interested in gambling?
That thought made her recall the Pearl Galley incident. She quickly clarified, "But now, card games aren't linked to money. They've shifted to purely recreational play."
"Many shady businesses in Liyue Harbor have either been cleaned out or reformed. Games like cards or dice remain, but only under strict control…"
Shao Yun recognized her concern—likely fearing he'd associate her with the Pearl Galley incident and suddenly decide to kill her.
He explained casually, "Don't worry, I'm no righteous crusader. In fact, I used to play cards myself."
Memories surfaced: blackjack, poker, dominoes.
Sometimes he even tried thrilling games like the knife-finger fillet.
Thinking of those days, Shao Yun couldn't help laughing.
"Though, back then, if I lost too much, I really would flip the table."
It wasn't just a joke. He truly had blown up tables before—literally, with dynamite—after a streak of losses to deadly gamblers.
Yelan tensed at his words. He might say not to worry, but who knew if he'd snap?
Trying to ease the tension, she switched topics.
"Haha… Anyway, thanks for helping with the Pearl Galley incident…"
Shao Yun felt he had reminisced enough, so he cut it off.
His smile faded into seriousness. "I only did it to recover the relic of those two children's mother, Nianhua. Nothing else. Don't overthink it. Let's change the subject."
Seeing his solemn look, Yelan immediately agreed. "Alright, no more of that. Let's talk about something lighter."
She then described the tea house's current role.
"In truth, it's more of an intelligence market than a tea house."
"By selling trade intelligence to merchants or arranging connections for a fee, the income is still considerable."
Curious, Shao Yun asked, "Does Ningguang know you're profiting from your access to intelligence?"
Yelan nodded. "To be precise, she supports it. In fact, much of the trade intelligence comes from her."
"You understand… merchants must share the profit. It can't all stay in my pocket."
"Ningguang isn't just a merchant. As the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, she has to maintain market stability."
She then recounted an event from when they left for Inazuma.
"A Snezhnayan merchant once spent fifty million Mora at the tea house, just to secure a private luncheon with Ningguang."
Shao Yun was stunned. "Seriously? Fifty million Mora? That'd cover Paimon's food for ages."
But Yelan shook her head, adding, "Think long-term. That merchant later earned ten figures in the ore industry."
Shao Yun muttered flatly, 'Wow… with that much, he could've joined the bidding for Sunset Vermillionite back then…'
The tale, once just a business anecdote, turned darker when Yelan continued.
"But that merchant was backed by the Fatui. Most of his goods and profits ended up in their hands."
"In the end… you know. I dealt with him myself."
Shao Yun burst out laughing.
Shaking his head, he said, "Ha, Ningguang will never lose a deal. That's for sure."
With the Fatui mentioned, Yelan seized the chance to share intelligence.
"Speaking of them, back in Liyue Harbor I meant to ask—do you know the Ninth Harbinger, the Rich Man?"
Hearing the title, Shao Yun instantly pictured Leviticus Cornwall—the successful rail baron, sugar magnate, oil tycoon.
Feigning pleasant surprise, he replied, "Not bad. Sounds like he has plenty worth sharing."
Inside, he was already considering robbing him.
Noticing Shao Yun's reaction, Yelan twitched slightly. He really was a bandit—what horrors might unfold if he ever met that Harbinger?
She cleared her throat and continued.
"I've crossed paths with him. Very troublesome. I traded a family heirloom jade bracelet to gain this fur cloak and sabotage his trade routes."
She showed Shao Yun the bracelet on her wrist and the fine cloak draped over her.
"I grew curious and cautious, so I investigated him."
That naturally led her to recall Mondstadt.
"You must've already crossed him earlier—the Goth Grand Hotel in Mondstadt, do you remember it?"
Shao Yun nodded, recalling his first true massacre.
"Yes. I killed every Fatui agent there."
From that hotel, Yelan transitioned to the events of Mondstadt expelling Snezhnaya's envoys and declaring the Fatui illegal.
"That hotel was funded by the Rich Man. Later, because of the Fatui's crimes—attacks on Mondstadt's defenses and illicit Dragonspine expeditions—the Knights raided it."
"They uncovered a trove of evidence: sabotage, illegal exploration, all coordinated from there."
"With such solid proof, the acting Grand Master could officially brand the Fatui a criminal organization and act against them."
Shao Yun shrugged. "Oh, that must've been intelligence found by the cavalry captain of the Knights."
Yelan then returned to Liyue, revealing more.
"By the way, Ningguang once fought a financial war with him."
She added, "The Northland Bank you robbed belonged to him. Thanks to you, that war ended with the Fatui's defeat."
Shao Yun remembered that he had looted enormous sums, but still felt regret.
"They still transferred out over a hundred billion Mora. I only grabbed fifty billion." He sighed. "A hundred billion… that's a mountain of Mora."
Yelan nearly broke into a cold sweat.
This guy was truly a bandit. Even fifty billion wasn't enough for him?!