After the Lunch Banquet
Following the luncheon, Ningguang had Luo Qing and his companion escorted back to the Northland Bank. She remained seated at her desk, replaying Luo Qing’s odd responses in her mind.
She had asked, “Mr. Luo Qing, do you have any hobbies? I hear the people of Snezhnaya are quite fond of drinking.”
Luo Qing’s answer had been, “Indeed! I usually mix red, white, and yellow wine with some Sprite and chug it down.”
She had followed with, “Are you finding Liyue to your liking? Anything that feels out of place?”
And he’d responded, “Not at all! It feels just like home. Woohoo, let’s go!”
Lastly, she’d inquired, “As the head of the Northland Bank, I assume you have quite a bit of insight into investment?”
To which Luo Qing had replied, “Absolutely. Investing is a serious matter — I always go for the shiniest, greenest ones. The greener, the better.”
…
What kind of nonsense is this?
For a moment, Ningguang wondered if Luo Qing was simply mad. But then again, she reasoned, there had to be a method to his madness… or at least a purpose behind his words.
She couldn’t afford to let her guard down.
Feeling a bit on edge, Ningguang remembered the disc Luo Qing had gifted her. He had said it was a carefully prepared present, though she couldn’t be sure if he was being sincere.
“Baixiao, fetch the phonograph,” Ningguang instructed.
“Lady Ningguang, why the sudden interest in music?” Baixiao asked, pausing her work to retrieve the phonograph from a display cabinet.
“Let’s find out what he so thoughtfully prepared,” Ningguang said, pressing her fingers to her temple and closing her eyes.
Baixiao carefully set the phonograph on a side table, opened the case that Luo Qing had given them, wiped the disc, and slid it into the machine. Then, she gently pressed play.
Suddenly, a loud and rugged male voice echoed through the Jade Chamber:
“The vast horizon is my love, the flowers bloom at the foot of the green hills, what rhythm is the most swinging one…”
“…”
“…”
“This is what he considers a thoughtful gift?! Lady Ningguang, he’s clearly mocking you! These Fatui are all the same!” Baixiao fumed, reaching out to stop the phonograph.
“Wait, let’s see what else is on it,” Ningguang said, her brows furrowed as she endured Luo Qing’s slightly off-key singing filling the room.
The song ended, and the phonograph’s needle automatically clicked off.
“Interesting,” Ningguang muttered, opening her eyes. Her expression was both stern and slightly irritated.
Conclusion: The disc was pure nonsense.
Given the usual arrogance of the Fatui, she’d thought Luo Qing might have hidden some secret information or message within the recording.
How could the Tsaritsa appoint someone like him as a Harbinger?
She had clearly overestimated him.
Meanwhile
As Luo Qing descended from the Jade Chamber’s floating platform, his system notifications began to ping.
【Frustration Value from Baixiao +1+1+1+1+1…】
【Frustration Value from Ningguang +1+1+1+1+1…】
“Master Luo Qing, why are you smiling all of a sudden?” Natalia asked, noticing his amused expression.
“Oh, nothing, just thought of something funny,” Luo Qing replied.
Dusk, South Wharf of Liyue
A massive three-masted ship with a dragon’s head prow was docked, undergoing preparations for its next voyage.
Unlike the usual merchant vessels or pleasure boats, this ship was equipped with giant crossbows, marking it as something far more formidable.
At the bow, a tall woman with black hair and red eyes leaned on her war blade. Unlike most women, she wore an eyepatch over her left eye, which only added to her commanding aura.
“Keep it up, everyone! We set sail as soon as the sun sets,” Beidou ordered, overseeing her crew as they loaded supplies.
A sailor named Hailong approached respectfully. “Captain, there’s someone at the dock asking to hitch a ride to Guyun Stone Forest. He’s offering to pay with Mora. What do you think?”
“Guyun Stone Forest?” Beidou said, raising an eyebrow.
The Stone Forest was the resting place of the sealed Vortex God, a dangerous area swarming with monsters drawn to the lingering godly aura. Ordinary people faced great peril by venturing there.
“Bring him up. I’ll hear what he has to say,” Beidou replied.
The Crux Fleet frequently docked at Guyun for resupply, as part of their routine patrols before heading to Inazuma. If someone was willing to pay for the trip, why not earn a bit of extra Mora?
Receiving Beidou’s approval, Hailong headed down to the dock.
“Captain said yes, you can board,” he called.
“Great, thanks!” Luo Qing said with a smile, slipping a small pouch of Mora into Hailong’s hands before following him onboard.
His blonde hair and blue eyes made him stand out against the sea of black-haired Liyueans.
To avoid drawing unnecessary attention, he’d decided against bringing Igor and Sergey along. Instead, he left them behind to keep Natalia company — and to play cards.
“By the way, brother, what’s the name of this ship?” Luo Qing asked casually, glancing up at the imposing vessel. Even from a distance, the massive dragon-headed warship had looked familiar.
“You don’t know?” Hailong asked, surprised. In Liyue, where maritime trade was paramount, the name of the Alcor was well-known, especially in the harbor.
“I live near Qingce Village and rarely visit the harbor,” Luo Qing explained offhandedly, relying on his Liyuean heritage to make his story believable.
“Your accent doesn’t sound like Qingce Village…” Hailong said, still suspicious.
“…”
“Suka Blyat.”
“Huh? What did you just say?” Hailong asked, confused.
“Oh, nothing, I just said you’re a good-looking guy,” Luo Qing said quickly, clapping Hailong’s shoulder to change the subject.
“Well, you’re in luck then. You’ve boarded the Alcor, flagship of the Crux Fleet,” Hailong said proudly. “I can guarantee you, there’s no other ship in Liyue that dares venture into Guyun like we do.”
“Oh? Why’s that?” Luo Qing asked, pretending to be intrigued.
“There’s no secret to it — we’re the only ones brave enough to go!” Hailong said, puffing out his chest.
“Those waters are crawling with sea creatures. Any ordinary ship wouldn’t stand a chance against a larger beast. See those crossbows?” He pointed to the massive bolt launchers lining the Alcor’s deck. “One shot from those, and even the biggest sea monster would think twice!”
“And what about Osial? Isn’t it said that he’s sealed somewhere in those waters?” Luo Qing asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Osial?” Hailong burst into laughter. “You must be from the stone age, kid! Lord Morax sealed that thing ages ago. For all we know, it’s probably dead by now.”
“Besides, what’s taking you to Guyun?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Luo Qing paused for a moment before answering.
“I’m going to pay my respects.”
—
T/N: HE’S A BLONDE???? I thought he was a generic xianxia character…
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