The next morning, a gentle breeze brushed through the air, bringing with it the freshness and tranquility of a new day.
Shao Yun stood atop the Cloudstepping Stone, gazing upward. The Jade Chamber appeared like a celestial palace suspended in the sky.
He took a deep breath, soaking in the peace and serenity that surrounded him.
When Shao Yun ascended to the Jade Chamber, Ningguang was already there, waiting.
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, a glint of satisfaction flashing in her eyes.
"Good day, Mr. Shao Yun. We meet again."
Shao Yun gave a slight nod in greeting and got straight to the point. "Hello, Miss Ningguang. What's the matter that required such urgency?"
After all, he had left the house just after dawn. If it turned out to be something trivial, his morning grumpiness might just lead him to rob the Jade Chamber outright.
Ningguang turned slightly, gesturing for Shao Yun to follow her inside. She smiled as she spoke, "This is not the place to talk. Let's go inside the Jade Chamber."
…
Inside the Jade Chamber, a faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air. The walls were adorned with elegant paintings and exquisite jade artifacts, every detail highlighting the prosperity and wealth of Liyue Harbor.
Shao Yun was led to the same place he had sat last time, taking the same seat once more.
Baishi smiled gently as she poured him a cup of warm water. Shao Yun drank it in one gulp and set it aside, getting straight to the point. "Miss Ningguang, what exactly is the urgent matter?"
Ningguang sat across from him, her gaze deep and penetrating, as if she could read minds. She gently fanned herself with a jade fan, her tone calm and weighty.
"Three days ago, three Adepti suddenly visited Liyue Harbor. They demanded an explanation from us, the Liyue Qixing. Ganyu managed to buy us some time, but tomorrow, the Adepti will return in person—they demand to see the body of the Archon."
Shao Yun furrowed his brow at her words. He had heard something about this from Tartaglia, but hadn't expected Ningguang to address the matter so bluntly.
He gave a slight nod, indicating he understood, then asked, "So, Lady Ningguang, what's your plan?"
Ningguang's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile as she gently set down her jade fan.
"My informants tell me it was your people who leaked this information to the Adepti."
As soon as Ningguang spoke, Shao Yun slowly reached for his waist and drew his gleaming golden Schofield revolver, aiming it at her head.
"So what? You planning to cause me trouble? Then you should've tricked me into going to the Millelith barracks, not here."
Ningguang showed a flicker of surprise but quickly regained her composure. She raised a hand to indicate he need not be tense.
"Shao Yun, you misunderstand. I have no intention of being your enemy. You came seeking the Archon—entirely reasonable. With the Archon gone, turning to the Adepti for help is only natural."
Seeing that Ningguang had backed down, Shao Yun nodded and slowly lowered his weapon, returning it to his side.
He gave a slight, sardonic smile. "Next time, don't speak in riddles or try to test me. I'm prone to misunderstandings."
Ningguang exhaled silently with relief as Shao Yun holstered his gun.
She knew full well that Shao Yun was no easy man to deal with. Her usual tactics didn't work on him—he was volatile, utterly indifferent to protocol.
"In fact, I should thank you. You upheld the agreement and didn't cause trouble for the Northland Bank. That helped me a great deal. I've already uncovered their accounting. Even if you had burned the place down, they couldn't deny it. This way, Liyue's economy won't suffer too much."
Shao Yun shrugged casually. "If you hadn't been covering our lodging and meals, I wouldn't have been so well-behaved."
He paused, his expression sharpening. "But let me remind you—the Fatui will act in Liyue just as they did in Mondstadt. You know what I mean."
Ningguang gave a slow nod, her expression grave. "Yes, I know. Ever since the Archon's passing, the Fatui have been active here. You saw what happened during the Rite of Parting..."
Shao Yun's eyes lit up with understanding. He nodded. "So that's it. You brought Childe to the Jade Chamber to keep him from tracking down the Geo Archon's body." He looked at Ningguang with a glint of approval. "Well played."
"You're quite perceptive," Ningguang praised.
A flicker of humility crossed Shao Yun's face as he waved her off, his voice steady and deep. "Let's not digress. Lady Ningguang, you didn't summon me here just to exchange pleasantries, did you?"
Though Shao Yun was growing impatient, Ningguang showed no irritation. Instead, she spoke with renewed seriousness.
"Shao Yun, I invited you here today because I hope you can guard Liyue the way you protected Mondstadt."
Shao Yun frowned, confused. "Liyue is full of talent, its warriors countless. Why me, an outsider?" His tone carried genuine doubt.
Ningguang gently shook her head, her eyes filled with deep concern.
"Shao Yun, it's true that Liyue has many brave heroes. But in these troubled times, we face an unprecedented threat. We need your strength because... there are more important matters that require our attention."
A flicker of curiosity passed through Shao Yun's eyes. "What's so important that you can't spare forces to deal with the Fatui?"
Ningguang didn't answer right away. She slowly stood and walked up to him, asking, "You've seen Guyun Stone Forest during your time in Liyue, haven't you?"
Shao Yun didn't understand why she asked, but he nodded.
"Yeah, I've seen it."
"That isn't a natural formation. It's the colossal rock spear the Archon hurled during the Archon War. Beneath it lies a defeated enemy of the Archon, sealed away."
Her gaze sharpened.
She then gestured to Baishi, who took a document from the wall and handed it to Shao Yun.
Ningguang nodded slightly and continued. "Recently, our intelligence network learned that the Fatui are secretly trying to replicate an artifact called the 'Sigil of No Taboos.' Their goal is to awaken the sealed god beneath the rock spear, bringing unforeseen disaster to Liyue."
"This document details the Fatui's recent movements and plans." Her voice was firm and unwavering. "If this is true, our primary focus must shift to preventing these enemies of the Archon from returning. That leaves us short-handed against the Fatui."
Shao Yun took the document and carefully read its contents.
He recalled how Childe awakened Osial and flooded Liyue, an apparent test to see if Morax was truly dead.
But in truth, it had all been a staged performance between Morax and the Fatui.
"Miss Ningguang, if you already know what the Fatui are up to, why not take action directly?" Shao Yun looked up, puzzled.
Ningguang shook her head slightly and sighed. "Without concrete proof, if we act rashly and they claim it was 'just for artistic purposes,' we'll only end up hurting ourselves. It would be like lifting a rock only to drop it on our own feet."
Shao Yun's brows knitted tightly. His eyes flickered with thought. He leaned in slightly, his tone probing.
"So, what's your plan?"
Ningguang took a deep breath, as if bracing herself.
"I want to tell you the exact location of the Archon's molted divine body. What you need to do is accidentally let this information leak—just enough for Childe to catch wind of it."
A cold smirk curled on Shao Yun's lips, his eyes filled with disdain.
"And what's in it for me? Why should I help you pull this off?"
Ningguang didn't answer immediately. She studied him quietly for a few moments before responding, her tone full of confidence.
"Fortune, status—whatever it is people desire. If it's within my power, I'll make it happen for you."
But Shao Yun merely shook his head lightly.
"Money? Status? They mean nothing to me. I'm not interested."
Money? I've got over forty grand in cash—twenty-some billion Mora. You think I'm hard up?
Status? If someone threatens me, I shoot. That's status.
Ningguang was taken aback, but quickly regained her composure. She thought for a moment, then looked up, adjusting her approach.
"Then allow me to offer something else. I know you care deeply for Lumine. I'm willing to fulfill one of her wishes. As long as it isn't too outrageous, I'll see it done."
Shao Yun's expression softened instantly. He nodded, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
"Seems we've reached a preliminary agreement. But to put me completely at ease, I'll need a detailed explanation."
Seeing he had been swayed, Ningguang explained her plan thoroughly.
"The molted divine body lies quietly in Liyue's coin mint—the 'Golden House.'"
Shao Yun nodded, eyes gleaming. "Got it. But I still have one question—why are you doing this? How does this benefit Liyue, or you?"
Ningguang sighed lightly, her tone heavy.
"Liyue, like Mondstadt, needs a justification—a reason to show our stance. The Northland Bank, backed by Snezhnaya's economy, has expanded rapidly in Liyue. While it's helped our economy, it's also harmed local businesses."
"And the Fatui have done plenty of shady things behind the scenes. We need an expert in Fatui matters—someone like you."
She paused, her gaze sharpening.
"As the Tianquan of the Qixing, it's my duty to defend Liyue's interests. To put outsiders who've grown too arrogant in their place. But we need to lead public opinion. That's why I need you, Shao Yun—to be the one who lures the snake from its den."
Shao Yun sneered slightly.
"I see. You want me to be your pawn in this Fatui chess match."
Ningguang didn't flinch. She nodded calmly. "This isn't for nothing. Once the situation stabilizes, I can make an announcement like Mondstadt's—declare the Fatui an illegal organization and ensure your safety. Would that promise satisfy you?"
But Shao Yun didn't seem fully convinced. He added:
"Miss Ningguang, my, Lumine's, and Paimon's lodging and daily expenses in Liyue—those are your responsibility now. If you agree to that, I'll lend you my strength."
Ningguang frowned slightly, thinking for a moment before offering a compromise. "I can cover part of your daily expenses. I'll authorize all shops in Liyue to give you a 10% discount. How's that?"
Ten percent? What am I, a beggar?
Shao Yun shook his head slowly, his gaze firm. "Fifty percent."
His tone was short and decisive, brooking no argument.
Ningguang sighed quietly. She knew he wouldn't budge. After a moment of internal struggle, she gritted her teeth.
"Seventy-five percent. That's my final offer. You should know, your expenses these past few days have already surpassed 12 million Mora. Even if my money grew on trees, I couldn't keep up with that kind of spending."
Shao Yun frowned. "How could I have spent that much?"
Ningguang began breaking down the costs in detail.
"You ordered a custom outfit for Lumine from Xingsheng's Atelier. Do you know it was shipped from Fontaine? The shipping, the craftsmanship, the materials—all on my tab. That alone came close to ten million Mora."
"Then there's the luxury inn you stayed at, and all your fine dining at places like Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk. It adds up."
Shao Yun was stunned. He hadn't realized the outfit cost that much.
But then he thought, $200 or so? Considering the craftsmanship and shipping, not bad. Not outrageous.
He smiled and nodded, tacitly agreeing to Ningguang's terms.
But he wasn't done. He added, "Let me sum it up. You want me to protect Liyue and fight the Fatui. But I don't think the price is quite right. Throw in another ten million Mora, and I'm all in."
Ningguang, afraid he'd change his mind, agreed immediately.
"Deal! The contract is sealed: 'Let the oathbreaker suffer the punishment of stone!'"
One wish. A little discount. And twenty million Mora to buy peace for Liyue. A worthy trade.
Watching Ningguang agree so decisively, Shao Yun couldn't help but feel—maybe he'd sold himself a bit too cheap.
…