"We've been waiting for you, Lady Durandal. It's an honor that you're willing to come to the Jade Chamber for a discussion. I thought you would refuse my invitation like last time."
Going to the Jade Chamber was not simple; one needed to use special means to reach this floating structure high in the sky from a certain special person on Yujing Terrace.
As soon as Durandal arrived with Shenhe and Klee, Ningguang came with her two secretaries to welcome Durandal's arrival.
Compared to Ningguang's composure, the two secretaries standing behind her seemed a bit nervous. They were among the few who knew Durandal's true identity.
The thought that this adorable girl in front of them was a God made it impossible for them to calm down, fearing that one small action of theirs would displease her.
Facing Ningguang's words, Durandal narrowed her eyes: "I wasn't interested before, but now I have many things I want to ask you. I don't think you'd mind enlightening me, would you? Tianquan Star—Ningguang."
"Of course. The purpose of inviting Lady Durandal to the Jade Chamber this time is to thank you for protecting Liyue Harbor. A few simple questions are naturally no problem."
Ningguang clearly felt the hostility emanating from Durandal. She was restraining her emotions, restraining the impulse to deal with her.
Although not as obvious as the merchants she had designed and deceived, this emotion hidden beneath a calm surface was the most terrifying, especially since this person was the God with the strongest combat power.
This time, she had been too impulsive. She had noticed Durandal's extraordinary qualities and wanted to find Durandal's weakness to bring her under her command.
But she never expected Durandal's true identity to be a God. Now, even if she found Durandal's weakness, she wouldn't dare to do anything.
Some people, once they find a weakness, can control even the most powerful person through it, but when power reaches a certain level, such small tricks become useless.
Ningguang was well aware of this, so this time, inviting Durandal to the Jade Chamber, besides repaying her, also had the purpose of eliminating her dissatisfaction with him.
"Hmph! Are you going to talk to me here? That's really rude."
"Of course not. Although the outdoor scenery is beautiful, the wind at high altitudes is a bit strong. The hall is already prepared to receive guests, please follow me."
Ningguang extended her hand, gesturing for Durandal to enter the Jade Chamber. She did not follow Ningguang's instructions to go in first. She looked at Klee, who had been observing the Jade Chamber since they arrived.
"It's... so big, so magnificent! How does it float in the air?"
She wanted to ask last time she came. How does such a large building float in the air? What supports it in the sky?
"Hehe~ This is achieved through a special mineral called Plaustrite. It is the power source that allows the Jade Chamber to float. If you are interested, you can also participate in the Lantern Rite Festival held in Liyue Harbor in the future. During the Lantern Rite Festival, the lanternss you make will also use this."
Ningguang did not hide it; this was not a secret. This special mineral was also on the cargo manifest of Liyue Harbor, and some merchant guilds would stockpile it.
It's just that the price of this mineral, which contains mysterious power, is not cheap, and the amount needed to keep such a large building as the Jade Chamber stably floating in the air is beyond words.
Simply put, Ningguang was rich enough to buy a large amount of Plaustrite, gather these Plaustrite together, build a structure on top of them, and then make it float.
"If you're curious, when you leave, I can give you a few stone pieces as a gift, how about it?"
"Really? Thank you, Sister Ningguang."
Klee thanked him with a joyful face. This was a material she had never seen before, and she wondered if it could be used to make bombs.
A bomb floating in the air, she wondered what effect it would have. She wanted to go back and experiment quickly.
Durandal watched Ningguang and Klee interact quietly. Was this an attempt to win over the people around her? Did he realize that she cared about Klee and wanted to persuade her through Klee?
Ignoring Ningguang's actions, Durandal was about to enter when she saw Shenhe standing motionless at the edge of the Jade Chamber.
She gazed at Liyue Harbor below. From here, she could see the scenery of Liyue Harbor more clearly. Looking at this scenery, Shenhe's heart was filled with mixed emotions.
"Shenhe," Durandal called out, "It's windy here, we should go inside."
Durandal reached out and said, "I need to have a good talk with Tianquan Star Ningguang later, so I'll entrust Klee to you. Is that alright?"
"Leave it to me." Shenhe tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and nodded, "I'll watch her."
Shenhe did not say she would take care of Klee, because she had no experience in that area at all. Watching her was fine, but taking care of her... was a bit too much to ask.
Among the adeptal arts she learned from the Adepti, there was no category for taking care of children. Fortunately, she didn't dislike Klee and enjoyed spending time with him.
Led by Ningguang, the group entered the Jade Chamber. Looking at the decorations inside, even Shenhe couldn't help but sigh.
It wasn't the decoration of a nouveau riche. Durandal didn't know how to describe the interior design style. It looked quite comfortable, but everything there clearly wasn't cheap.
Shenhe and Klee were led by Ningguang's secretary, Baishi, to a nearby room to rest, while Durandal followed Ningguang to her usual office.
"You can do as you please, Lady Durandal."
"Do you think I'll be polite with you? Tianquan Star Ningguang."
"I suppose not, after all, in Lady Durandal's eyes, I am a woman skilled in schemes, am I not?"
"Aren't you?"
"Hehe~ I can't deny that, after all, without schemes, one wouldn't be able to become the Tianquan Star."
Ningguang naturally returned to his usual office seat, picked up the pipe placed beside him, but did not light it, just held it in his hand and played with it.
This was his habitual gesture. In the past, when dealing with merchants, he would light a pipe to concentrate, but this time he was not facing a merchant, so this gesture was not allowed.
"Besides me, Yuheng Star also wishes to express her gratitude to you. She should have received the message by now and is on her way to the Jade Chamber. In the meantime, you may ask me anything you wish to know, Lady Durandal."
"There are many things I want to ask, but... will you tell me the truth? Tianquan Star Ningguang."
"That is natural. As one of the Liyue Qixing, and you being the benefactor of Liyue Harbor, how could I possibly engage in deceitful behavior."
"But besides being one of the Liyue Qixing, you are also a merchant. Merchants engage in deceptive practices for profit. As the biggest merchant, you wouldn't do such a thing?"
In Liyue Harbor, merchants often engaged in various deceptive practices to profit from ordinary people. As the biggest merchant in Liyue Harbor, Ningguang would certainly do such things.
If that's the case, what guarantee did she have that she wouldn't lie or deceive herself in the upcoming conversation?
Facing Durandal's questioning, Ningguang's expression remained calm, as if he had already anticipated such a question from Durandal.
"You are right, as a merchant, I do indeed engage in such behavior. But that is for business. As the Tianquan Star of the Liyue Qixing, I would not do such a thing."
"Moreover, even if I did lie, Lady Durandal, wouldn't you see through it?"
As a God, Durandal couldn't tell if a person was lying? Besides, would he dare to lie in front of Durandal?
Once exposed by Durandal, with her power, even if she were to eliminate him on the spot, the other Liyue Qixing would probably choose to turn a blind eye to avoid provoking the terrifying existence that is Durandal.
If that's the case, why would he do such a thing? He wasn't one of those brainless rich second-generation heirs who thought that with a little power, no one would dare touch him.
Although Durandal had always been kind, this could not change the fact that she was a God, so it was better to be careful.
"You mean... in the upcoming conversation, I still need to judge whether you are lying? Is this your sincerity?"
"No, it's just stating a fact. Any lie is useless in front of you, and for my own sake, I would not engage in such behavior. Right?"
He's got some foresight, this guy... It seems he really won't lie, so she can start her questioning.
"Have you... been observing me and Lumine for a long time? Were you observing us at Wangshu Inn? The boss behind that inn, that's you, isn't it?"
"That's right, almost the entire inn is run by my people."
"Does that include the Three-Eyed and Five-Eyed Adeptus—Xiao? You're quite formidable, to have even an Adeptus as one of your people."
Durandal knew that Xiao often rested at Wangshu Inn, and the proprietress there seemed to know about it. According to Ningguang, Xiao, who always rested there, was also her person?
This sentence made Ningguang's expression falter for a moment. He seemed to realize that his words were a bit presumptuous, so he coughed lightly a few times and shook his head.
"How could that be? How could I possibly have the power to make an adeptus one of my own? It's merely that the employees of Wangshu Inn are my people."
"The reason I know about you two is because I frequently exchange letters with Acting Grand Master Jean. She introduced you and Lumine in her letters. This made me very curious, so I observed you for a bit."
"And then you thought that Lumine and I were capable people, decided you could recruit us, and started to scheme against us?"
"It wasn't scheming; I just felt that you and she were both talented individuals. Since you are talented, it's natural for me to have a desire to cherish talent. Wanting to recruit you is also very natural, isn't it?"
I reluctantly accepted this reason, but I still felt uncomfortable, as if I really wanted to deal with this woman, I really wanted to make a move.
"Next question: The reason you often sought out Acting Grand Master Jean to discuss an alliance during that period, was it to avoid conflict in negotiations with the adepti, and to get me involved, which is why you did that?"
"...Yes."
"You…"
Durandal stared intently at Ningguang. The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, and breathing became difficult.
Durandal was about to explode with rage!
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