Chapter 30 – Xiangling and Guoba

“To receive such praise from Mr. Qiu Bai, it seems my efforts in constructing the Jade Chamber were not in vain.”

Ningguang looked at the somewhat surprised Qiu Bai and spoke with a smile.

“You are too modest, Miss Ningguang.”

After saying this, Qiu Bai followed Ningguang’s footsteps into the Jade Chamber.

What greeted his eyes was a central building typical of Liyue, surrounded by guest rooms, giving an elegant and grand impression. Unknown incense wafted gently throughout the space.

From a barefoot little girl to achieving what she has today—it truly hasn’t been easy. Qiu Bai still held great respect for Ningguang, after all, a person’s time is but a fleeting hundred years.

At this moment, Ningguang stood before Qiu Bai.

Her pale yellow eyes held a hint of amusement as she said to Qiu Bai, “Mr. Qiu Bai, please follow me.”

“Miss Ningguang, you may simply call me Qiu Bai. There’s no need to be so formal.”

Qiu Bai smiled and waved his hand, then entered Ningguang’s office.

The room was relatively simple in decor. Beside the window stood a large frame holding an enormous blackboard.

On the blackboard hung various papers, inscribed with Liyue Harbor’s commercial secrets and future plans.

Only now did Qiu Bai take a closer look at the Tianquan, Ningguang, before him. At this moment, she was pouring tea from a pot into cups.

Her platinum blonde hair was tied up with a black and gold hairpin, with a crimson tassel hanging from her forehead that complemented the color of her eyes.

Her arms were clad in black sleeves and golden finger guards, with wide, long sleeves hanging naturally.

Around her neck was a white scarf, and she wore a cheongsam interwoven with gold, white, and black. A Geo Vision hung from it as a pendant, while her legs remained bare.

Ningguang bent gently, holding the teapot in her hand, exuding an indescribable elegance.

“Mr. Qiu Bai, please have a seat.”

Ningguang set down the teapot and smiled at Qiu Bai.

“In that case, I won’t stand on ceremony.”

Hearing this, Qiu Bai did not hesitate and promptly took a seat.

“So, Mr. Qiu Bai, have you considered the matter?”

Ningguang smiled as she looked at Qiu Bai and spoke slowly.

Qiu Bai lifted the lid of his teacup, blew lightly on the tea, then took a small sip.

“Truly an excellent pot of tea, far better than what I’ve had at Liuli Pavilion.”

“However, Miss Ningguang, I suspect you didn’t invite me here solely for this matter.”

Qiu Bai set down his teacup and smiled at Ningguang as he spoke slowly.

Ningguang felt a flicker of surprise, not expecting Mr. Qiu Bai to see through her intentions.

“Mr. Qiu Bai, do you know why I invited you here?”

Ningguang asked with some astonishment.

“Naturally, I do. Otherwise, why would a mere idler like me come to take up a position?”

Qiu Bai looked at Ningguang’s surprised expression and smiled.

“All I can say, Miss Ningguang, is that everything you have done so far is correct.”

“As for the other Adepti, I cannot speak for them, but I am quite satisfied.”

With these words, Qiu Bai openly declared himself to be an Adeptus.

However, he did not specify which Adeptus he was, as there are many Adepti in Liyue.

“Everything I have done so far is correct…”

Ningguang murmured softly.

“Please, Miss Ningguang, do not reveal my identity to others.”

“Including the Adepti. I will explain when the time is right.”

Qiu Bai looked at the contemplative Ningguang and spoke slowly.

Earlier, the Fatui had already carried out too many covert actions that exceeded diplomatic boundaries, using the death of Rex Lapis as a pretext.

To temporarily stabilize the situation and prevent a repeat of La Signora seizing Barbatos’s Gnosis, Ningguang ordered the news to be sealed and the divine body of Rex Lapis to be hidden.

Publicly, it was announced that since the true culprit had not yet been found, no one was allowed to pay respects to the Ancestral Exuvia.

As for Zhongli, this actor, he only cared about Liyue’s traditions, buying time for the Liyue Qixing to fully take over Liyue.

The Liyue Qixing also tacitly allowed the preparations for the Rite of Parting and informed Zhongli that the Ancestral Exuvia would be temporarily placed in the Golden House before the ceremony.

“So, should I address you as Mr. Qiu Bai or as an Adeptus now?”

Upon hearing this, Ningguang smiled slightly at Qiu Bai.

She had originally intended to probe for information, but she hadn’t expected this Mr. Qiu Bai to reveal it himself.

“I am not like those old-fashioned Adepti.”

“Just treat me as one of you. Miss Ningguang, you may call me Qiu Bai.”

Qiu Bai explained with a smile.

“However, Ningguang does have some questions.”

“Mr. Qiu Bai, I wonder what you meant earlier when you said that what I am currently doing is correct?”

“What did you mean by that?”

Ningguang asked with some confusion. Could it be that the Liyue Qixing’s attempt to replace the divine through this opportunity was also correct?

Zhongli: “Correct, absolutely correct.”

“In the literal sense, from the moment you observed the Traveler who had just arrived in Liyue…”

“Everything you have done up to now has been correct.”

Qiu Bai took a sip of tea and then looked at Ningguang, speaking slowly.

“However, the entirety of Liyue has yet to deliver a satisfactory answer.”

The entirety of Liyue—this includes not only the Liyue Qixing but also the people and the Adepti.

“Ningguang understands. Thank you, Mr. Qiu Bai, for clearing up my doubts.”

“I will keep today’s matters confidential and will not speak of them publicly.”

Ningguang said to Qiu Bai with some surprise. Could it be that this Adeptus before her already knew everything she had done since observing the Traveler?

Qiu Bai nodded slightly, and then his figure vanished without a trace.

Leaving Ningguang alone, sitting there deep in thought.

Shortly after, Ningguang summoned Baiwen, Baishi, and Baixiao, conveying an order to the three of them: to search for information on the last of the Fatui Harbingers.

In the outskirts of Liyue, Qiu Bai had just appeared here.

He sensed that there seemed to be a battle ahead. Using his Divine Sense to probe, he discovered it was Xiangling and Guoba fighting three Geo Lawachurls.

At the site of the battle, Xiangling’s Pyro element had burned the grass on the ground into a blackened patch, and the flames were still spreading.

Yanfei: “Setting fire to the mountains is illegal!”

Qiu Bai instantly teleported in front of Xiangling and Guoba.

“Ah!”

“It’s Mr. Qiu Bai! You startled me.”

At this moment, Xiangling had her left hand pressed against her chest and her right hand holding Dragon’s Bane. Her expression clearly showed she had been frightened by Qiu Bai’s sudden appearance.

“Mr. Qiu Bai, hurry and get out of the way! Don’t get caught in the crossfire!”

As soon as Xiangling finished speaking, a Geo Lawachurl not far away performed a “Meteorite Fall,” crashing toward Xiangling and Qiu Bai’s direction!

“There is no need for such panic.”

Qiu Bai calmly spoke, looking at the Hilichurl in the air and calmly extending a single finger.

The finger emitted an eerie black aura, pointing toward the Geo Lawachurl.

The black aura instantly immobilized the Geo Lawachurl in mid-air.

Then Qiu Bai closed his palms together, and the Geo Lawachurl instantly transformed into faint black specks of light, drifting away into the air.

The remaining two Geo Lawachurls could not escape Qiu Bai’s fingers either, each turning into black specks of light and vanishing one by one.

Qiu Bai looked at the scorched land and pointed his finger once more, this time releasing a snow-white aura.

Emerald green sprouts rapidly broke through the soil, and in mere moments, the surrounding blackened, charred earth returned to its previous lush green grassland.