In truth, Guizhong and Cloud Retainer hadn't failed to consider combining their two ideas.
But after repeated discussions and trials, the results were far from satisfactory.
Not only did the outcome fail to reach the effectiveness each of them envisioned, the speed was also painfully slow.
Over time, their debate gradually split into two extremes.
Cloud Retainer abandoned firepower in pursuit of speed.
Guizhong abandoned speed in pursuit of firepower.
This was exactly why Streetward Rambler found the situation so headache-inducing.
"We previously tried combining both of our ideas," Guizhong said, frowning.
"But in the end, the result wasn't good at all. After being 'balanced,' it actually ended up worse than either extreme."
Cloud Retainer nodded in agreement.
She naturally shared Guizhong's view on this point.
Jiang Yan, however, smiled faintly and stood up.
"Don't rush. Listen to what I have to say."
He spoke calmly.
"First of all, both of you have fallen into the same misunderstanding."
"Why does an airship—as an aerial combat vehicle—have to mount naval ship cannons?"
"Ship-mounted cannons were designed from the start for sea combat."
"A ship moving through water is inherently cumbersome. While its straight-line speed may be high, its maneuverability is poor—so mounting heavy cannons makes sense."
"But an airship is different."
"You've all seen the blueprints. By design, it's a highly agile aerial platform."
"What you should be thinking about isn't how to cram naval cannons onto an airship—"
"But how to develop weapons that can be mass-equipped on an airship without affecting its speed."
Jiang Yan took a sip of tea and continued in a clear voice.
Guizhong's eyes lit up instantly.
Even Cloud Retainer nodded repeatedly.
That's right!
How had they never thought about modifying the weapons themselves?
If the weapons were too heavy, then the solution wasn't to argue about trade-offs—
It was to reduce the weight of the weapons!
With Jiang Yan's reminder, Guizhong and Cloud Retainer quickly realized the correct direction for their research.
Seeing the two of them sink into deep thought, Jiang Yan smiled, shook his head, and casually picked up a Sunsettia from the table.
Without even looking, he took a bite.
Caught completely off guard, Jiang Yan's face twisted from the sourness.
Damn it! Enough already!!
Why was it another tooth-achingly sour Sunsettia?!
Furious, Jiang Yan hurled the fruit straight down the mountain.
Beside him, Streetward Rambler chuckled softly.
"That Sunsettia wasn't ripe yet. Cloud Retainer picked it too early and left it here, planning to throw it away later."
"Who knew you'd just eat it directly."
Hearing this, Jiang Yan finally relaxed.
Good. Very good.
At least this time it was just a coincidence.
Otherwise, he would've started suspecting he was cursed with some kind of debuff.
Thank the heavens…
After chatting with Streetward Rambler for a while longer, Jiang Yan noticed that Guizhong and Cloud Retainer were still deep in discussion and contemplation.
He decided not to stay any longer.
"Alright, since you've got your direction now, Ganyu and I will head out."
"I was just about to take her out to have some fun, and you all called me over."
Jiang Yan stood up and called out toward the two on the other side.
Guizhong and Cloud Retainer seemed not to hear him at all—there wasn't even the slightest reaction.
"Tsk tsk tsk, so this is what research maniacs look like when they're thinking?"
Jiang Yan laughed.
He'd experienced this state himself—it was deep-focus mode.
When in this state, research progress usually skyrocketed.
Not wanting to disturb them, Jiang Yan turned to Streetward Rambler.
"Sister Ping, I'll leave them in your care."
"Mm-hm. You two go enjoy yourselves," she replied with a smile, waving her hand.
Jiang Yan then extended his hand toward Ganyu, grinning.
"Alright then, let's go!"
Ganyu nodded, stood up, and took his hand.
The Rooster Talisman in Jiang Yan's mind flared to life, and the two of them rose into the air, flying off toward the distance together.
Streetward Rambler watched them grow farther and farther away until they disappeared completely.
Then she turned back to Guizhong and Cloud Retainer, shaking her head with a smile.
"Ah… those two…"
It was unclear whether she meant Jiang Yan and Ganyu, or Guizhong and Cloud Retainer.
She sat cross-legged on a stone seat and waved her hand lightly.
A wooden zither appeared in her grasp out of thin air.
Moments later, a melodious tune drifted across Mt. Aocang—long, gentle, and lingering.
...
After leaving Mt. Aocang, Jiang Yan took Ganyu sightseeing through mountains and rivers.
When they grew tired, he used Wood Release to create lounge chairs to rest.
When they got hungry, he gathered ingredients on the spot and cooked.
Eventually, Jiang Yan couldn't even be bothered to keep flying.
"Ganyu, wait here for a moment," Jiang Yan said, patting her lightly on the head.
Ganyu looked at him in confusion, unsure of what he was planning.
Then she saw Jiang Yan extend his right hand.
On his wrist, a small green snake coiled there began to stir.
"Come out—Apep!"
The Monkey Talisman in Jiang Yan's mind lit up,解除ing the restraints placed on Apep.
Boom!
A massive cloud of dust exploded outward.
Before Ganyu's shocked eyes, a colossal being—vast as a mountain range—appeared before her.
She could feel it.
The moment this green dragon appeared, her very soul trembled under its pressure.
That was the innate domination of a Dragon King over all living beings.
As a half-adeptus beast, Ganyu felt it with terrifying clarity.
"Th-this is…?"
Even her voice trembled.
"Ah… my pet. Same as Xiao Bai," Jiang Yan said casually, stepping to Ganyu's side.
Then he waved at Apep.
"Apep, come here."
"Big Brother!"
Apep lowered its head.
Back when Jiang Yan had subdued Apep, he'd told it not to call him "Master," but "Big Brother" instead.
"Mm. This here is your sister-in-law. From now on, seeing her is the same as seeing me."
Jiang Yan spoke calmly.
"..."
"Sister-in-law."
Apep paused for a moment.
Though it very much wanted to ask why the sister-in-law wasn't the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata—
Big Brother said what he said.
Who Big Brother told it to call sister-in-law, was sister-in-law.
"Uh… y-you… hello?"
Ganyu nodded blankly.
And when she realized what Apep had called her, she didn't refute it—her cheeks merely flushed faintly red.
At that very moment—
The ground began to shake violently.
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