At night in Liyue, thousands of lights illuminated the homes. The shadow of the Geo Archon's passing hadn't lifted from Liyue; the once lively Feiyun Slope was now quiet and desolate at night. Occasional passersby left only sighs.
In the courtyard surrounded by pines and cypresses, Ken had finished training the 150 Treasure Hoarder Weasels, lining them up neatly in the corridor.
"So many Treasure Hoarder Weasels, and all well-trained. Looks like the Treasure Hoarders put in a lot of effort."
These little creatures occasionally appeared in the wild, but not in large numbers.
Otherwise, the Seven Nations would be in chaos.
The Treasure Hoarders must have scoured all of Liyue to find so many, but in the end, they became his windfall.
"Go to the Northland Bank. Be careful."
Ken reinforced their routes using the training method, repeatedly leading them to the Northland Bank and back through hidden paths. After seven or eight repetitions, the little ones remembered.
This was specialization at work.
Now, Ken removed the surrounding wind elemental shields, and the 150+ Treasure Hoarder Weasels moved in unison, carrying small bundles as they headed toward the Northland Bank.
When they reached the inner courtyard's edge, the little ones silently burrowed into the ground.
Ken clapped his hands and turned toward his room. By tomorrow morning, he estimated he'd harvest hundreds of thousands of Mora.
This freeloading method was mentally and physically satisfying. For now, scouting the Northland Bank; later, he'd steal from Morax's Golden House.
Lost in thought, Ken climbed to the second floor. His room, though without modern floor-to-ceiling windows, was antique and elegant, offering views of the moon in the sky and the inner courtyard's babbling streams and lotus leaves.
Standing there now, gazing at the scenery outside, he felt relaxed.
But just as he stood still, Ken keenly detected a rock elemental aura approaching his specialty shop.
"Hmm?"
Ken narrowed his eyes, stepping to the nearby corridor. His eyes glowed brilliantly as he silently looked toward the rock elemental aura.
In the inky night, dim and lonely, a golden figure flew in, landing silently on a distant rooftop. White hair like frost-covered forests swayed with the night wind under the moon.
Her luxurious golden qipao, bathed in moonlight, shimmered softly. The soft skirt hem fluttered in the night wind, revealing her straight, slender legs, adding a touch of allure to her noble aura.
The woman stood in the night, her red eyes calm and thoughtful as she surveyed the elegant courtyard.
"Ningguang?"
Ken stood silently in the night, blending into the darkness.
Watching the white-haired woman arrive on the moonlight, he was somewhat surprised.
Though Keqing had warned him that Ningguang might ask him to prophesy, given the Tianquan Qixing's grandeur, Ken thought it would be at the Jade Chamber. He didn't expect her to sneak into the Liyue Specialty Shop at night.
Standing on the rooftop now, her flowing hair and clothes dancing in the wind, she had an air of otherworldly independence.
Ken lightly tapped his toes, his figure like a passing breeze, silently arriving behind Ningguang. Gazing at the noble Tianquan Qixing's back, he spoke softly, "Why does Lady Ningguang sneak in at night?"
His clear voice like a cold mountain spring instantly made Ningguang stiffen.
Tonight, she had come privately to the Liyue Specialty Shop, partly to see the famed Blue Star specialties, and partly to temporarily set aside her Tianquan identity and chat with Ken as Ningguang.
But she had just arrived and was already discovered by the owner.
"You must be the owner of the Liyue Specialty Shop, Mr. Ken?"
After a brief surprise, Ningguang elegantly turned, her face composed with a smile, not at all embarrassed by being caught.
Her luxurious robes fluttered, and Ningguang's red eyes held a faint smile. "I've heard the specialty shop has many products from Blue Star, so I came out of curiosity. Mr. Ken wouldn't mind, would he?"
Ken shook his head. "Not unwelcome, but I didn't expect the esteemed Tianquan Qixing to enjoy playing the role of a rooftop thief."
"At this moment, I am Ningguang, here to make friends with you." Ningguang gracefully leaped down, her skirt blooming like a flower. She walked uninvited to the graceful red plum tree, composed and at ease.
Ken smiled without speaking, simply waving his sleeve. From his system space, he took out Blue Star wines and delicacies, arranging them on the stone table. The aroma spread with the evening breeze.
Since fully unlocking the dual-travel door, he often kept spare food in his system space for emergencies.
"I can't refuse such hospitality." Seeing the table of food, Ningguang elegantly sat, naturally exuding the nobility of a superior. Her red eyes looked at the unusual dishes with a hint of surprise.
Her unreserved demeanor was completely different from the tsundere Keqing.
Ken wasn't surprised at all.
In fact, this Tianquan Qixing, admired by Liyue's people, had a tumultuous youth.
Compared to Keqing, born into a noble family, Ningguang came from poverty, often going hungry as a child.
Yet, even in poverty, it couldn't crush Ningguang's faith and ambitions. Little Ningguang, who couldn't afford shoes, walked barefoot from Yaoguang Shoal to the South Wharf selling her homemade Mora meat.
The hardships were unimaginable to others.
But it was this indomitable will that allowed Ningguang to rise from nothing to the pinnacle as Tianquan Qixing.
This was also why Ningguang and Keqing had such different styles.
Her early experiences made Ningguang love Mora deeply, viewing all matters as "business" to weigh pros and cons—which was one reason Keqing disliked her colleague.
She had even considered selling her Vision once.
Though Ningguang loved money, she had broad vision, meaning she valued it but knew when to let go. Such people often seemed affable on the surface but were deeply inscrutable.
Watching Ningguang elegantly eat and drink, Ken smiled faintly and asked, "Lady Ningguang visiting my humble abode at midnight isn't just to see Blue Star specialties, is it?"
"Do you suspect I mean you harm?" Ningguang's eyes were like water, chuckling. "If I meant harm, I wouldn't come personally. You can rest assured; I have no ill intent."
"Naturally. If you alone meant me harm, it'd be like a lamb entering a tiger's den." Ken poured himself a cup of wine. The alcohol mixed with plum fragrance floated in the night, making the atmosphere subtly ambiguous.
Ningguang: "..."
Smooth as Ningguang was, whether dealing with commoners or tycoons, she handled everything with ease.
She only had a slight headache facing those who "played straight."
Rock elemental power slowly gathered around, Jade Chamber floating nearby. Ningguang's white hair flew, her eyes smiling as she leisurely sipped tea, silently probing Ken.
"Lady Ningguang, wardrobe malfunction." Ken glanced at her skirt swaying in the breeze. A chilling aura mixed with thunderous pressure instantly dispersed Ningguang's rock elements.
He even thoughtfully smoothed her flipped skirt, covering her slender, fair legs.
Ningguang's hand holding the teacup trembled imperceptibly.
Not from surprise at Ken's strength—someone who could break world barriers was naturally powerful.
What felt off was Ken's words.
The man's style didn't match her intelligence reports.
According to her past habits, before negotiations, she liked to grasp the opponent's cards and personality for victory.
From her intelligence, Ken was a humble gentleman from another world, with stunning looks, a tall figure, noble character like mountain clouds, and vast knowledge like an ocean.
But the man before her, though stunningly handsome, had a style that... wasn't gentlemanly.
Somewhat wicked.
This made Ningguang question her intelligence network's professionalism. She exhaled slowly and chuckled, "Mr. Ken is indeed impressive. In that case, I'll be direct and talk about the business between us."
"Speak freely." Ken leisurely drank his wine.
Ningguang smiled with pursed lips. "The reason for my midnight visit: First, I've long heard of you and wanted to meet privately, while seeing Blue Star's specialties to expand business ideas. Second... I have a business deal to discuss with you."
"You possess the Great Prophecy Technique, able to look back on the past and foresee the future. Let's make a trade. Tell me about the Archon's assassination and the storms Liyue will face, and I'll give you riches. Or... fulfill some of your wishes."
"All worldly matters revolve around food, clothing, shelter, and transport. Anything solvable with Mora, you can propose. In Liyue, I believe we can be great partners."
Ningguang's glassy eyes shimmered, her smiling face noble and confident, as if victory was assured.
"Hmm... But my current wish might be something even the esteemed Tianquan Qixing can't fulfill." Ken enjoyed interacting with Ningguang—smart, generous, noble, and business-oriented, which made things comfortable.
Ningguang raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why don't you tell me?"
As Liyue's top female tycoon, Ningguang had solved most issues with Mora, except for one special case.
"I want Keqing." Ken reverted to his carefree, playful demeanor. "Have Keqing marry me, and I'll prophesy for you."
Compared to Keqing, Ningguang was a tricky woman.
Many things, even with excuses, she'd investigate relentlessly for cooperation.
Ken simply shifted the blame to Keqing.
After all, besides Zhongli asking him to keep it secret, Keqing had specifically asked him today not to tell Ningguang.
As expected.
Upon hearing this, even the strategic Ningguang briefly lost her composure.
After a moment of silence, Ningguang spoke again. "I didn't expect you to like the Yuheng Qixing. She is indeed an interesting person. But with your charm, courting her shouldn't be hard. Why waste it on business?"
"Throughout Liyue, people seeking my promises are like carp crossing the river. Won't you consider carefully?"
Having done business so long, Ningguang was skilled in rhetoric.
When discussing serious matters, she involuntarily exuded the dominance of a business queen. Her red eyes sparkled, adding rigor to her charm.
In negotiations, she disliked others controlling the situation.
Hearing Ken's words, she naturally rebutted.
For Ningguang, emotions were important, but perhaps needed weighing against Mora.
Ken shook his head. "No, even if Tianquan offers me endless benefits, they can't compare to Keqing's place in my heart. If Lady Ningguang can't do it, this deal is off. If you want to stay for drinks, I'm welcome."
"Hehe... If Keqing knew you valued her so much, she'd be delighted." Ningguang picked up her wine cup, downing the rich brew.
The negotiation's failure didn't dismay Ningguang.
Even without Ken's help, her strategies could handle Liyue Harbor's unknown future. Gamblers never bet everything on one die; she was the same.
But for her... Ken's help would make things easier and clearer.
Time passed, the moon shifted west.
They spoke no more. The revered Tianquan Qixing finished a pot of wine, sitting under the red plum tree gazing at the moon, smiling beautifully. "I think we'll meet again."
Her golden figure leaped up, vanishing into Liyue Harbor's dark night.
Ken shook his sleeve, the alcohol scent seeming to blend into the moonlight.
…
Meanwhile.
Compared to the floating fragrance of wine and plums here, the atmosphere at the Northland Bank was tense.
...