"Since you don't mind, Cloud Retainer, all the better—we can even be neighbors."
Jiang Yan smiled, then turned to Ningguang and the others.
"When you first arrived below the heights of Jueyun Karst, I noticed you all looked a bit tired. I'm guessing yesterday's… disturbance I caused made things troublesome for you?"
Ningguang waved her hand with a smile.
"The Gentleman, you're too polite. Even without yesterday's events, our daily work is exhausting—at most it just meant a little more or a little less to handle."
Jiang Yan hesitated for a moment. He disliked causing others trouble.
Helping others was, in the end, helping oneself.
But yesterday's tribulation wasn't something he could have controlled. If anything, the system had already been merciful—otherwise half of Teyvat might have been flattened.
He didn't say that aloud. Instead, after a pause, he looked up.
"In any case, it was my doing. I'll make sure to give proper compensation."
Ningguang pursed her lips slightly before speaking in a low voice.
"You're too generous. We came today as friends—on behalf of ourselves, and on behalf of Liyue."
"But… since you put it that way, I would like to propose a trade between Liyue and yourself."
Jiang Yan chuckled when he saw the glimmer in her eyes.
He understood why Ningguang would phrase things this way.
From the Jade Chamber's point of view, she was a merchant with countless livelihoods depending on her.
From the perspective of the Tianquan Star, she was one of Liyue's leaders, bearing the lives of its people on her shoulders.
She could never put her own gain first.
He admired that sense of responsibility.
So he spoke plainly:
"There's no need to be coy, Miss Ningguang. Before I regained my strength, Cloud Retainer and Ganyu protected me, and Liyue took me in.
And Liyue's culture is much like Mount Shu's—I hold your land in good regard.
If there's something you need, say it directly."
At that, Cloud Retainer frowned at Ningguang, clearly displeased.
In her eyes, Ningguang was calculating yet again—this time even toward their new friend, whose power was unfathomable. What if he took offense?
But Zhongli understood Ningguang's intentions. A discreet cough was enough to get Cloud Retainer to hold her tongue.
Ningguang finally spoke:
"Would you allow the Millelith and some of Liyue's stronger fighters to be stationed here?"
Cloud Retainer could no longer hold back.
"Presumptuous! Ningguang! What is your intent in garrisoning troops here?"
Zhongli frowned slightly—this fiery temper of Cloud Retainer's could be troublesome.
But this time, before he could mediate, Ningguang explained to Jiang Yan:
"Please be assured, we have no interest in spying on you, nor could we hope to monitor someone of your strength.
It's simply that… your daily morning lessons—we've experienced them firsthand—benefit not only the Archon and the adepti, but mortals, wild beasts, even fish and birds.
We need that rare gift of strengthening.
"Liyue needs a stronger army. I swear by my title as the Tianquan Star: the Millelith stationed here will have no intent to watch you. If I break this vow—"
"Enough."
Jiang Yan cut her off, his tone firm.
"No vows in my presence—especially not made lightly."
Ningguang blinked in surprise.
Jiang Yan sighed.
"Do you know that every cultivator is a seeker of the Dao, and the Dao is all around us?
A cultivator's greatest taboo is swearing carelessly. Break an oath, and the backlash may cripple your cultivation—or worse, destroy your very soul.
Even if you are not yet a cultivator, swearing before me is no different from swearing before the Dao itself.
So—this isn't just for you, Miss Ningguang. In future, none of you should swear lightly in my presence. And if you take up cultivation, remember this: once you make an oath, you must see it through, even if it means life and death. Otherwise, the fate awaiting you will be worse than death."
The group fell silent at that.
Zhongli, however, was rather pleased—oaths were much like contracts. And he liked contracts.
After a while, Ningguang still raised her head.
"Even so, I can promise you that Liyue's troops will not try to pry into your affairs."
Jiang Yan waved a hand.
"No need for promises. It's just a trifle for me. If you want to send troops, do it. My morning lessons happen every day—why hoard them for myself when they can help you grow stronger? Besides, I doubt you could monitor me if you tried."
He smiled at his own jest, and Ningguang let out a breath of relief.
"That's only natural. You could cross Teyvat in a single step—perhaps even the Geo Archon himself wouldn't notice.
Still, Liyue is a land of contracts. We cannot accept such a gift without giving something in return.
If you truly need nothing, then forgive me for taking the liberty—your Mount Shu Cave Heaven is newly built, and will need many living creatures to fill it with life. Let Liyue Harbor gather them for you."
She added,
"I'll bring it to the Qixing for discussion when I return."
Seeing her so insistent, Jiang Yan didn't refuse. Truth be told, that was exactly what Mount Shu Cave Heaven needed right now—more creatures to make it flourish.
Ningguang was quietly delighted.
With the value of The Gentleman's lessons, a year of Millelith stationed here would produce soldiers rivaling the Archons' might.
The Fatui? They could choke on Liyue's dust.
A faint smile touched her lips at the thought.
Jiang Yan flicked his wrist, and teacups appeared before everyone. From somewhere beyond the horizon, golden osmanthus blossoms drifted in like mist, falling straight into the cups. Moments later, steaming tea welled up from nowhere.
Jiang Yan glanced at the quiet Zhongli with a smile and said softly,
"Wishing to buy osmanthus flowers and share them with wine…"
Zhongli let out a long, wistful sigh, picking up his cup and feeling its gentle heat.
"It's a pity that old friends…"
Before he could finish, Jiang Yan interrupted with a faint smile.
"Spring is not late—the time to meet will come."
Zhongli froze, staring at Jiang Yan.
In that moment, the serene smile before him seemed to steady his own restless heart. A path to the heavens opened in his mind.
That unshakable confidence… made him believe that in cultivation, too, meetings would come in time.
After a long silence, Zhongli broke into open laughter—true, hearty laughter the adepti had never seen from him. Even in gatherings of immortals, the most he'd ever shown was a small, polite smile.
Now…
Zhongli's good mood was contagious. Even Xiao's frosty face softened into the faintest smile.
"Well said! 'The time to meet will come' indeed…"
Zhongli raised his cup solemnly.
"A shame there is no wine within, or we could drink until the night ran dry!"
Jiang Yan said nothing, only raised his own cup to tap Zhongli's lightly.
Though it was tea, they drank it as though it were strong wine, finishing in one bold swallow.
Setting the cups down, the tea within refilled itself.
Jiang Yan's expression shifted to a more formal air.
"So—have you come today to visit on behalf of Liyue?
Or… have you already decided you're ready to join Mount Shu?"
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