“Why did you bring us here specifically? Is there something you can’t discuss at Yuehai Pavilion?”
“No way it could be Yuehai Pavilion. And those places Uncle Tian likes to ‘fish’ are even less suitable. Too many ears around, you know?”
Gu Sanqiu rolled his eyes. “If we talked about it there, do you believe by the next day, crowds would be flooding Huaguang Stone Forest seeking enlightenment? We’d have a second earthquake on our hands in no time.”
“Hey, what’s with the way you’re phrasing that? I’m not ‘fishing,’ I’m engaging with the people, getting involved at the grassroots level to contribute to the livelihood of Liyue Harbor!”
Uncle Tian furrowed his brow. “Are you worried about… the idiots from the Tri-Xuan Society?”
“That’s right.”
Gu Sanqiu waved a hand, setting up a protective barrier. “With the kind of disturbance we had, there was no way I could hide it. At the time, solving Azhdaha’s problem was the priority—I couldn’t worry about anything else.”
“The Tri-Xuan Society is deeply rooted in Liyue. Assuming they didn’t figure out the connection between the earthquake and Azhdaha would be wishful thinking.”
“So,” he continued seriously, “move all your hidden forces and assets towards the Huaguang Stone Forest. If you can avoid getting betrayed from within, there’s a good chance you can catch them making a mistake.”
“If you catch those stubborn loyalists who refuse to talk, just leave them to me.”
Gu Sanqiu’s smile turned wicked. “A thousand years of prosperity have built Liyue’s glory, but no one seems to remember the shadows that have accumulated over that time.”
Where there’s light, there’s darkness. For a millennium, Liyue has dealt with punishment, interrogation, and traitors. In matters of cruelty, humans can surpass any other species when motivated by profit.
And in Liyue, there’s been a family, passed down through generations, who recorded all of it.
Most days, such methods weren’t necessary, guided by a moral compass that kept them from going too far.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough.”
Uncle Tian firmly pushed down on Gu Sanqiu’s head, using his seniority to stop him from diving deeper into dangerous thoughts.
“You didn’t invite us over just to say this, did you? What else is there?”
“Yes, there’s more.”
Gu Sanqiu chose his words carefully. “If I’m not mistaken, you folks have a safe route to Guyun Stone Forest, don’t you?”
“You know, the kind that specifies a time and path to follow at a certain speed to safely reach the stone forest.”
“Hmm, we do have something like that, but even your family doesn’t get access to it lightly.”
Ningguang pondered. “However, your sister—who’s always sailing around the seas—should have it.”
“Ugh, forget it. Beidou is about to set sail again, planning to make another profit before Inazuma tightens its policies.”
“Oh, and there’s also that South Harbor-North Manor plan I was working on with Xingqiu. I might as well share it with you all now.”
Gu Sanqiu went back to his room, returning with a stack of documents covered in data and planning notes. Both Keqing and Uncle Tian looked bewildered as they skimmed through it.
“Kid, I thought you were just lounging around at home. Didn’t expect you to be up to something like this!” Keqing said, casting an intrigued glance at Gu Sanqiu before turning to Ningguang.
“Sister Ningguang, why don’t we have him work at Yuehai Pavilion? I think Sister Ganyu could use someone like him to help lighten the load.”
“Don’t even think about it, girl. The duties of a Fragrance Clan member are important,” Ningguang smiled. “Besides, this rascal probably wouldn’t appreciate being tied down by Yuehai Pavilion’s restrictions.”
“You know me so well, Sis.”
Gu Sanqiu gave her a thumbs-up, throwing a sidelong glance at Keqing.
I treated you like a friend, and you wanted to drag me into being a desk jockey with you?
No way!
Keqing silently tightened her grip on her longsword.
“Uh, let’s change the subject. Take a look at this proposal and see if it’s feasible. If it works, we won’t have to worry about finances in the future.”
The three took turns examining the plan. “It’s certainly not a bad idea,” Uncle Tian mused, “but have you considered the issue of Guili Plains? Even if the project succeeds, the cost of back-and-forth transport would be huge.”
Gu Sanqiu blinked. “Don’t you Qixing have a development plan for Guili Plains?”
“Of all people, you should understand why Guili Plains is so problematic,” Uncle Tian said, shaking his head. “Not to mention most of that area is still a den of monsters. Developing it is a massive challenge.”
“The most critical issue is that even now, the tainted stones of the Chi remain near Qingce Village.”
“Safety is the primary concern for any project, whether tourism or otherwise. If we can’t deal with the tainted stones, development in Qingce Village is off the table.”
“Damn.”
Gu Sanqiu clicked his tongue. “So all my work on this proposal was for nothing?”
“Not exactly.”
Ningguang carefully flipped through the documents. “There are some fresh ideas here—things that could be applied to day-to-day commercial operations. In that sense, it wasn’t a waste.”
“Hey, hey, I get the best ingredients and cook a meal for you, and that’s the attitude I get?”
Gu Sanqiu gave his sister an exasperated look. “Alright, then let me ask another question—do you have a way to fully resolve the problem of the remains of the gods scattered across Liyue?”
Keqing rubbed her forehead. “Please. Even I know your family used to be the premier sect of the Xuanmen. If neither you cultivators nor the adepti can handle it, how do you expect us to?”
“That’s not the point.”
Gu Sanqiu tapped the table. “The point is, do you have the confidence—or the determination—to resolve it?”
“No, and there’s no need.”
Uncle Tian shook his head. “The remains of the gods are a problem in every nation. It’s not something that can be solved quickly, especially when there are more pressing issues—like the livelihoods of our people.”
“To sum it up: we could address it, but there’s no reason to. Is that right?”
“Exactly.”
Uncle Tian nodded, glancing discreetly at Keqing, who remained silent.
“Liyue Harbor and Qingce Village are precious areas where our people can live in peace. We don’t want to jeopardize that tranquility lightly.”
“The times are changing, and we don’t know what will happen next. Not to mention, we have a Northland Bank right here in Liyue Harbor.”
Uncle Tian cleared his throat. “I’m old. My mindset probably doesn’t align with you younger folks. The drive to forge ahead—it’s been a long time since I felt that.”
“I’m the oldest one here, so it’s only right that I be the one to play the villain if necessary.”
“Liyue stands at the cusp of transformation. When that change finally arrives, our duty will be to gather strength and ensure our home endures the tides of the new era!”
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