"Ganyu, can I touch your horns?"
"N-No, you can't."
Ganyu covered her horns. This blonde traveler had no sense of boundaries. They had just met, and already she wanted to do such things.
She had come on Ningguang's behalf to invite Koji and the others. She didn't know the reason, but didn't ask.
Lumine looked at Ganyu's shy, fragile appearance. Her fingers itched, as if some strange instinct had awakened. She really wanted to know how those horns felt.
"Lumine, better not. Ganyu is a half-adeptus beast. She could beat you so hard even your brother wouldn't recognize you." Koji laughed.
"Cough, cough… it wouldn't go that far." Ganyu coughed lightly.
Lumine blinked. You didn't say you couldn't. You said it "wouldn't go that far." So you could beat me up?
A half-adeptus beast, huh. No wonder her horns were so appealing.
And that outfit… revealing. A white short cheongsam with gold trim, over a black bodysuit, back bare enough for cupping. The allure rivaled Mona's.
"Wow, this is the Jade Chamber? That Tianquan Star must be filthy rich." Paimon stood on the platform, comparing it to Liyue Harbor below. The Jade Chamber was far more advanced.
"Rich indeed. Across all of Teyvat, she's top three wealthiest." Koji said with awe.
"More or less. Lady Ningguang truly is wealthy." Ganyu agreed.
To rise from nothing to Ningguang's level was nearly unheard of.
"Ganyu, you've worked for years. You must have saved a lot of Mora, right?" Koji asked.
"Um… I don't really know." Ganyu shook her head. She didn't care about Mora, rarely spending any.
But indeed, she lacked nothing. Her savings just piled up.
Inside the Jade Chamber, Koji saw Ningguang. White hair, red eyes—a lethal combination for certain nations.
Her white hair coiled up with black-gold pins. Crimson tassels on her forehead matched her eyes.
Elegant, regal. The very image of a wealthy lady.
"Lady Ningguang, the Honorary Knight has arrived." Ganyu said.
"I see. Thank you, Ganyu." Ningguang nodded.
Though Ganyu was her secretary, her identity was special. None of the Qixing dared show her disrespect.
Once Ganyu left, Ningguang looked the group over with a smile. "Welcome, Honorary Knight of Mondstadt. I've heard of your deeds from Jean."
Though unable to leave Liyue often, she exchanged letters with Jean, chatting not of statecraft but of interesting matters.
"Rich lady, do your thighs need an accessory?" Lumine asked eagerly.
"…Huh?"
Ningguang's smile froze. She had met many types, but never someone this blunt. Was it candor, or just lust?
Thwack!
Koji flicked Lumine on the head. "Don't act crazy. You're a traveler, not some abstract star-core spirit from next door."
"What was that for?" Lumine clutched her head, glaring.
"Nothing. Just mind your image. You're acting like a sleazy outsider."
Koji's voice was calm. If he didn't stop her, she'd really jump at Ningguang's legs.
"Fufu, you two have such a close relationship." Ningguang chuckled.
"My relationship with him is not close!" Lumine retorted.
"Oh? But a few days ago, I happened to see you two being quite… affectionate in the sky." Ningguang teased.
From the Jade Chamber, seeing that scene wasn't difficult.
Lumine's face went crimson. Had Ningguang seen her accidentally kiss Koji too?
Koji's face remained calm. So what? With the Blessing of Thick Skin, he could endure anything.
"Ningguang, why did you call us here? If you want to commission us, you'll have to pay."
Ningguang nodded. Mora was never her concern. She couldn't even spend it all.
"If money solves it, I'll pay."
"Keqing mentioned you plan to build in Guili Plains. Which means you can deal with god remnants?" Ningguang asked directly.
Koji nodded. God remnants didn't threaten him.
"Koji, how large an area can you cleanse?" Ningguang asked with expectation.
"However much you need. It isn't difficult for me." Koji replied.
He already guessed her intentions.
The Qixing couldn't be unaware of Liyue's problem. The population was too concentrated in the harbor. If it collapsed, disaster would follow.
"If you can clear Guili Plains of god remnants, name your price. Whatever you ask, I'll pay." Ningguang said briskly.
That was a rich woman's confidence.
Spend now, profit later.
"Ten billion Mora, minimum. Any objections, Ningguang?"
For Koji, it wasn't exhausting. Just some time, and the money would pour in.
At that number, Lumine and Paimon's jaws dropped. They had never seen that much Mora. Too outrageous.
"Agreed."
Ningguang didn't hesitate or haggle.
The plains were vast. Ten billion was within her expectations.
"As expected of a rich lady. Very straightforward. Don't worry, I'll clear every remnant. But the monsters aren't part of the deal." Koji clapped.
"The Millelith can handle the monsters." Ningguang nodded.
The real problem was the remnants. Monsters were manageable.
"Pleasure doing business."
Ningguang stood and shook Koji's hand.
Not yet, of course—the Rite of Descension came first. She was hosting this year.
After that, new expansion could begin.
So soft.
That was Koji's impression. Ningguang's hand was smooth, well cared for. Truly the hand of a wealthy woman.
"Will you stay for a meal?" Ningguang asked with a smile.
"Yes!"
Paimon answered instantly. Food paid for by the rich had to be delicious.
"Then I won't be polite."
No need for false modesty when someone else was paying.
Ningguang called for Baixiao and the others to prepare. The Jade Chamber had its own chefs, and only the freshest ingredients were brought up.
(End of Chapter)
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