Ren's days in the harbor fell into a comfortable, happy pattern. He was a familiar sight now, the beautiful little boy with the impossible eyes, either sketching quietly on Yujing Terrace, bravely sampling Xiangling's explosive new recipes, or simply walking along the docks, watching the great ships come and go under the silent, watchful gaze of his Millelith entourage.
One late afternoon, as the sun began to cast long, golden shadows, he was returning from the southern wharf. The air was thick with the scent of salt and sun-dried fish, and the lively sounds of the docks were a familiar, comforting symphony. He took the grand staircase up towards Chihu Rock, his destination the familiar path to Feiyun Slope. As he passed the grand, opulent entrance of the Xinyue Kiosk, a voice, smooth and calm as polished jade, cut through the ambient noise.
"Little Ren, I presume?"
Ren stopped and turned. Standing near the restaurant's ornate gates was a woman who commanded the space around her simply by existing within it. She was tall and regal, dressed in an immaculate, flowing gown of ivory and gold that shimmered with every slight movement. A large, intricate hairpin of golden cor lapis held her long, silver-white hair in place, and a smoking pipe of the same precious material was held delicately in her slender fingers. Her sharp, intelligent eyes, the color of molten amber, were fixed on him. This was the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, Ningguang.
Two of her secretaries stood at a respectful distance behind her, their heads bowed. The usual flow of merchants and dignitaries on the street seemed to part around her, creating an invisible bubble of reverence and authority.
Ren felt his ever-present Millelith escort tense up, not really from danger, after all this was Lady Ningguang, but simply because of his startled expression at first. He gave a small, almost imperceptible shake of his head to them, and they remained at a distance. He turned fully to face the most powerful woman in Liyue and gave her a polite bow.
"Lady Ningguang," he said, his voice clear and respectful.
A small, calculating smile touched her lips. "So it is you. I must confess, I have been most eager to make your acquaintance. I had expected Ganyu to arrange an introduction, but she has been… remarkably protective of you." She took a slow, deliberate step forward. "Her newfound desire to leave her work on time is a development the entire Qixing finds both startling and pleasant. It seems we have you to thank for that."
It was a compliment, but it was also a statement. It said, I see everything. I know you are the reason for the change in my most valuable subordinate.
"Big sister Ganyu works very hard," Ren replied simply, offering a guileless, innocent look. "She deserves to rest."
"Indeed, she does," Ningguang agreed, her amber eyes twinkling with amusement. She seemed to be enjoying this. "I find myself with a rare moment of leisure. Would you join me for a short walk? There is no agenda, I assure you. I am simply… curious."
Ren knew this was not a casual invitation; it was a summons. But it was also the opportunity he had been waiting for. He nodded. "I would be honored, Lady Ningguang."
They walked at a slow, unhurried pace along the upper terraces. Ningguang's secretaries and Ren's Millelith guards followed at a discreet distance, a silent parade of Liyue's power structure. Ningguang spoke of the city, of the new trade agreements with Inazuma, of the price of silk flowers, her voice calm and measured. She was testing him, assessing him with every word, her sharp mind analyzing his reactions, his expressions.
Ren played his part perfectly. He was the curious child, listening with wide, glowing eyes, offering simple observations and polite questions. He knew from his past life that Ningguang was a complex character—ruthless in business, fiercely protective of Liyue, and possessing a wisdom that went far beyond the simple accumulation of wealth. He trusted the Ningguang from the game, but this was reality. He needed to build the foundation of that trust himself, to create the appearance of a cautious child slowly being won over by her presence.
He decided it was time to make his move. He stopped walking and turned to face her, his expression serious.
"Lady Ningguang, can I ask you a question?"
Ningguang paused, taking a slow puff from her pipe, her eyes narrowing slightly. The child's demeanor had shifted. The innocent curiosity was gone, replaced by a surprising, sober gravity. "You may."
Ren looked her directly in the eye, his voice steady. "What do you think is more important? Making more and more mora for Liyue, or making sure the people of Liyue are happy and comfortable?"
The question landed with the weight of a thrown stone in a silent pool. Her secretaries, who were just out of earshot, couldn't hear the words, but they saw the change in Ningguang's posture. Her polite, placid facade dropped, replaced by a look of sharp, genuine surprise, which quickly morphed into intrigued assessment.
She recognized the question immediately for what it was. This was no idle, childish query. This was a test. A philosophical challenge delivered by a ten-year-old boy with eyes that held the light of ancient stars.
A slow, genuine smile spread across her face. It was not her public, political smile; it was a smile of true, intellectual delight. She was impressed.
"A clever question, little Ren," she said, her voice dropping to a more conspiratorial tone. "And it deserves a clever answer. Many would say they are two different things, but they are mistaken. They are two sides of the same golden coin."
She gestured with her pipe towards the bustling harbor below them. "Mora is the tool. It is the stone and mortar with which we build the comfort and security of our people. Without it, the Millelith go unpaid, the dykes that protect our harbor fall into disrepair, and our merchants cannot trade for the food and goods that make life pleasant. A strong, happy, and comfortable Liyue cannot be built on empty sentiment alone. The comfort of my people is the ultimate goal; mora is simply the most effective and reliable path to achieving it."
It was the perfect Ningguang answer. Pragmatic, unsentimental, but with the welfare of Liyue as its undeniable bedrock. It was the answer Ren knew she would give, the one he was counting on.
He gave a slow, thoughtful nod, as if carefully considering her words. The performance was key. He was the child who had just been given a piece of great wisdom.
"I see," he said softly. "Thank you, Lady Ningguang."
Then, he looked up, his expression now one of firm decision. "In that case… I have an idea. An invention in collaboration with Cloud Retainer. It aims to help with the 'comfort' part of your answer. A lot." He took a breath. "I would like to request a private meeting with you. In your office. To discuss it."
Ningguang's smile widened. She had dangled the bait of her curiosity, and in return, he had presented her with a hook of his own. An invention. From this strange, brilliant child who had so profoundly changed her best secretary and who asked questions like a seasoned philosopher. Not to mention the collaboration with Cloud Retainer. The potential was enormous.
She didn't hesitate. She didn't tell him to speak to her secretaries or submit a proposal. She was the Tianquan, and she did not let opportunities pass her by.
"Very well," she said, her voice crisp and decisive. "Tomorrow morning. My office in the Jade Chamber. My secretaries will clear my schedule for one hour. Be ready to be… persuasive."
She gave him a final, knowing look, a silent acknowledgment that a game had been played, and a new, more interesting one was about to begin. She then turned and swept away, her entourage falling in silently behind her, leaving Ren standing alone on the terrace, the setting sun glinting off the golden roofs of the city he was about to try and change.