True to her word, Ningguang moved with the speed and force of a tidal wave. The announcement of the refrigerator hit Liyue Harbor with an even greater impact than the heater. While warmth was a comfort, the preservation of food was a fundamental, life-altering concept. The promise of fresh food lasting for weeks, of reducing waste and saving mora, was a dream that every household, from the richest merchant to the humblest fisherman, could understand and desire. The demand was instantaneous and overwhelming.
Amidst the local fervor, a formal, wax-sealed letter arrived at the Yuehai Pavilion, delivered by a merchant vessel flying the colors of Mondstadt. It was an official trade request from the Knights of Favonius.
The letter spoke of Mondstadt's admiration for Liyue's recent technological advancements. Despite the ongoing Stormterror crisis, the Acting Grand Master, Jean, wished to demonstrate that Mondstadt remained a stable and active participant in international trade. The letter formally requested an exchange: a substantial shipment of Mondstadt's finest wines and raw ores in return for a shipment of Liyue's new heaters and the first available units of the newly announced refrigerators.
The Qixing convened, and the decision was unanimous. To accept the request would be a powerful display of Liyue's strength and goodwill, a gesture of support to a neighboring nation in a time of crisis. A delegation was to be formed to escort the first shipment and formalize the trade agreement in person.
"The Yuheng, Keqing, will lead the delegation," Ningguang announced in a meeting with Ganyu. "Her efficiency and pragmatism are best suited for this task."
When Ganyu returned home that evening and relayed the news, a familiar, determined spark lit up in Ren's eyes. Mondstadt. The city of freedom. The place where the story he knew was about to truly begin. He thought of Venti, of the Traveler who was sure to arrive as well, of the coming confrontation with La Signora. He couldn't stop it, Zhongli had made that clear. But to be there, to see it, to understand the world beyond Liyue's borders… it was an opportunity he couldn't ignore.
"I want to go," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
Ganyu, who had been in the middle of pouring tea, froze, the teapot hovering in mid-air. "Absolutely not," she said, her voice a mixture of shock and immediate, unwavering refusal. "Mondstadt is in chaos. A dragon is attacking the city. It is the most dangerous place in Teyvat right now. You are not going."
"Big sister, please," Ren insisted, his expression earnest. "This isn't like the trip to Qingce. I'm the inventor. The Knights of Favonius will have questions about the technology. Having me there will make the negotiations smoother. It's a matter of… diplomatic courtesy." He was using the formal, logical arguments he knew appealed to her Qixing sensibilities.
But Ganyu was not swayed. Her love for him was not logical; it was absolute. "A technician from the factory can answer their questions. My answer is no, Ren. It is too dangerous."
The conversation had reached an impasse. Ren knew he couldn't convince her with logic alone, not when her fear for his safety was the primary emotion. He needed a different approach. He needed his Master.
That evening, he used the sigil. Xianyun's voice, calm and clear, filled the room. Ren explained the situation, the trade delegation, and his fervent desire to go. He laid out his logical arguments, but he also spoke of his need to see the world, to understand the other nations.
He then made his final, most powerful point. "Master… I can protect myself now. And with the information we have about the Fatui's movements in Mondstadt… isn't it better if someone who understands the true situation is present? To observe? To learn?"
There was a long silence on the other end of the sigil. Ren had not just asked for permission to travel; he had framed it as a strategic intelligence mission.
"Your logic is… not without merit," Xianyun conceded, her voice thoughtful. "The risk is substantial, but the potential for acquiring valuable information is also significant." She paused. "However, Ganyu's concerns are valid. The Yuheng's protection, while formidable, may not be sufficient for a situation of this… complexity."
Another pause, longer this time. When she spoke again, her voice held a new, decisive tone. "A change in the delegation's composition is required. If you are to go, you will not go merely as an inventor under the Qixing's protection. You will go as my disciple, under the protection of the adepti. Your sister will accompany you."
The next day, a meeting was held that quietly reshaped the entire political landscape of the delegation. Xianyun's will, conveyed through the Qixing's most respected secretary, was not something to be ignored. Keqing, while a capable leader, could not refuse the addition of an adeptus to her party, especially when that adeptus was the sister of the delegation's chief asset.
Ganyu's presence was now a non-negotiable condition. Her fears were not assuaged, but now she could be there herself, a literal shield of Cryo and love for her brother.
But Ningguang, in her infinite, calculating wisdom, saw the new composition and made one final, brilliant adjustment.
"An adeptus and the Yuheng," she mused in a private meeting. "A powerful combination of Liyue's old and new guards. But the situation in Mondstadt is volatile, and the Fatui are involved. We need more than just overt power. We need subtlety. We need an agent who can move through the shadows, who can gather information that the others cannot."
And so, a third, unexpected member was added to the delegation. A woman known for her enigmatic nature and her deep connections to Liyue's intelligence network. A woman who could be both a charming diplomat and a lethal operative.
The final roster for the Mondstadt delegation was set. It would be led by Keqing, the pragmatic Yuheng. She would be supported by Ganyu, the diligent adeptal secretary. And providing an element of subterfuge and intelligence was the mysterious and formidable Yelan. Ren was no longer just a boy on a trip; he was now the central, precious cargo of a diplomatic entourage comprised of three of the most powerful women in all of Liyue. The mission to Mondstadt had just become a great deal more interesting.