Ningguang's temporary office was now in the Yuehai Pavilion on the ground; the Jade Chamber was still under reconstruction.
"Hey, Miss Tycoon, just how much money do you have?" Koji asked.
Whenever Ningguang paid for something, she didn't even blink — just signed the check without hesitation.
"I'm not sure," she said calmly. "In business, progress never stops. Mora is just a number. What matters is the network of trust behind it."
Her words were elegant and detached, but they carried weight. To her, Mora wasn't money — it was sentiment, effort, and connection, tied to the Jade Chamber itself.
"With construction still underway, better not get too close to the site," Koji reminded her. "You know how merchants swarm wherever there's valuable intel."
Ningguang nodded. Even as one of the Liyue Qixing, this wasn't a small undertaking. Rebuilding the Jade Chamber would drain resources and test alliances — but if done right, it would be worth it.
"You've brought me quite a profit," she said with a graceful smile. "What do you want as payment?"
Koji blinked. "Me?"
Ningguang tilted her head slightly, smiling with poise but no embarrassment. "As for what people say about me—"
"'Tianquan Ningguang, wealthy beyond compare; bright eyes and gentle grace that outshine the peach and apricot blossoms' — is that the line?" Koji grinned.
Ningguang chuckled softly. "A line Hu Tao adores to tease me with. I can't say I dislike it."
Koji only shrugged.
"I'll think about it," Ningguang said at last. She neither rejected nor accepted.
If it were anyone else, she'd refuse without hesitation. But Koji? He wasn't ordinary.
A woman like Ningguang — rich, beautiful, brilliant — would never lack admirers. Suitors could circle all of Liyue Harbor several times. Still, with her duties as a Qixing, romance wasn't something she could entertain right now.
"Stop!"
Koji turned just in time to see Shenhe about to slam two street punks' heads into the pavement.
"Don't kill them!" he shouted quickly.
With Shenhe's strength, their skulls wouldn't survive the next second.
"Get lost," she said coldly.
The terrified pair scrambled away, barely alive. Whatever happened, Koji was sure Shenhe hadn't struck first — they must have provoked her.
The red ropes binding Shenhe's temperament had kept her from hurting innocents, but that didn't mean she lacked compassion.
"Tsk, tsk. What's Cloud Retainer been teaching you?" Koji said. "You're still like some immortal untouched by mortal dust."
"Did I do something wrong?" Shenhe asked innocently, blinking.
"Not wrong, but… maybe tone it down next time. Killing people in the city is just paperwork I don't want to deal with."
Shenhe nodded thoughtfully. "Understood. Next time, I'll hit softer."
Koji facepalmed. "That's… not quite what I meant."
"Anyway," he sighed, "don't fight inside Liyue. In the wild, fine — but if the Millelith see it, they'll arrest you."
"Koji," Shenhe said suddenly, "maybe you could remove my red rope?"
"Why not? I can help with that," he replied.
But Shenhe shook her head. "No. Without it, I might lose control."
"It's alright," Koji said, stepping closer. "Trust me."
Before she could react, he pulled the red rope loose. A surge of violent energy burst out from her body — rage, grief, and something far older.
Koji raised his hand. "Blessing of Purification!"
A flash of divine light filled the street.
The malicious aura screamed, writhing as if scorched, before dissolving completely.
Cloud Retainer appeared a moment later, alarmed by the sudden burst of spiritual force.
"What's going on? I sensed violent energy— wait, the rope's gone?!"
She looked at Shenhe in surprise. Her disciple stood calm and clear-eyed, aura stable.
"Master," Shenhe said quietly, "Koji helped me. I'm… fine."
She touched her chest. Without the rope's restraint, unfamiliar yet gentle emotions welled up inside her. Strange, but not unpleasant.
Cloud Retainer studied her, astonished. "So you've finally freed yourself from that burden. Even Morax couldn't solve this problem… and you did."
Koji just smiled faintly.
"In that case, Shenhe," Cloud Retainer said, "you may now live among mortals. Even solitary cranes need company."
"I still prefer the mountains," Shenhe murmured.
"Foolish child. Even in the mortal world, one can find new forms of cultivation and understanding."
Cloud Retainer waved her wing dismissively. "Take care of her, little friend." Then she vanished.
Shenhe exhaled, unsure whether to be relieved or nervous.
"Come on," Koji said. "Let's go meet the others."
At Koji's villa in Guili Plains, Fujuku lounged on the sofa, reading a light novel imported from Inazuma.
She laughed aloud. "Who let this kind of story get published? The author must have serious backing."
The name on the cover read: Linglong Tofu.
"Wait," Fujuku said. "Isn't that Yae Miko's pen name? Figures. Being one of Inazuma's top editors comes with perks."
Koji snorted. "Makes sense. Yae Miko's high enough in rank to write whatever she wants."
Fujuku giggled. "She even called the Raiden Shogun a countryside shut-in. And Ei barely leaves the castle! Does Yae show her novels to her every day?"
Koji smirked. "Probably. And judging by her temper, Ei just reads them in silence."
Fujuku covered her mouth to stifle laughter. "So in Liyue we've got the lazy old rock, and in Inazuma, the homebody thunder goddess? Mondstadt's got the drunk bard, and now we've got a country bumpkin Shogun."
"Then what about the Dendro Archon?" she asked.
Koji thought for a second. "A silly kid."
"Huh?"
Aether chuckled softly as Lumine smiled. Seeing her happy again filled him with quiet relief. With Koji at her side, her journey would never be lonely again.
(End of Chapter)
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