“Since you, Liuyun, don't mind, then that's the best. We can still be neighbors.”
Jiang Yan smiled and looked at Ningguang and the others.
“I noticed you when you arrived at the foot of Jueyun Karst. You looked quite weary.”
“Perhaps my commotion yesterday caused you some trouble?”
Ningguang smiled and waved her hand.
“Mr. Jiang Yan, where did you hear that? Even without yesterday's incident, we would be tired from a day's work. It's just a matter of handling a little more or a little less.”
Jiang Yan pondered for a moment. He was reluctant to cause trouble for others.
Convenience for others means convenience for oneself.
However, yesterday’s tribulation was not something he could control.
To be honest, the system had already been quite restrained.
Otherwise, the whole of Teyvat might have been destroyed.
Jiang Yan wouldn't say such things. After a moment, he looked up and said:
“Whatever the case, it was my fault. I will give you the appropriate compensation.”
Ningguang remained silent for a moment, then pursed her lips and said softly:
“Mr. Jiang Yan, you're too polite. We came here today on behalf of ourselves, and on behalf of Liyue, to befriend you.”
“But since things have come to this, I… would like to make a deal with you on behalf of Liyue.”
Jiang Yan laughed, a little dumbfounded, as he looked at the glimmer in Ningguang's eyes.
He understood why Ningguang suddenly brought up this deal.
From the perspective of the Jade Chamber, she was the great merchant, Ningguang, with countless people relying on her for their livelihood.
From the perspective of the Tianquan Star, she was one of the controllers of Liyue, bearing the burden of the well-being of all the people of Liyue.
She could never put her own interests first.
He admired Ningguang's sense of responsibility.
So, Jiang Yan frankly said:
“Miss Ningguang, you don't need to be so indirect. Before I regained my strength, it was Liuyun and Ganyu who protected me. It was Liyue that took me in.”
“Furthermore, Liyue is similar to my Shu Mountain in its style, and I have a fondness for Liyue.”
“Just tell me what you need.”
Upon hearing this, Liuyun suddenly looked at Ningguang with some annoyance.
In her heart, Ningguang was always scheming this and that.
Now, she was even scheming against this new friend, Jiang Yan, who also possessed terrifying strength.
What if he was unhappy?
However, Zhongli understood Ningguang's intentions and gave a light cough, silencing Liuyun.
Ningguang pursed her lips and said softly:
“Mr. Jiang Yan, would you allow the Qixing to station some Liyue warriors in this Flowing Town?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Liuyun couldn't help herself.
“Audacious! Ningguang! What are your intentions in stationing troops here?”
Zhongli frowned slightly, worried about Liuyun's hot temper.
But this time, before Zhongli could intervene, Ningguang explained to Jiang Yan:
“Please rest assured. We will never spy on you, nor do we intend to monitor you. With your strength, our little tricks are useless.”
“However, Mr. Jiang Yan, we have personally experienced your daily lessons, which have a powerful effect on the Archon, the immortals, the gods, and ordinary people.”
“Even the mountains, forests, beasts, fish, and birds are greatly affected.”
“We need this hard-earned strengthening.”
“Liyue needs a stronger army. I swear by the name of the Tianquan Star that the Qixing stationed here will have no intention of monitoring you. If I violate this oath…”
Before she could finish, Jiang Yan abruptly interrupted her.
“Alright, oaths and all that, don't make them lightly, especially not in front of me.”
Ningguang was taken aback, somewhat puzzled.
Jiang Yan said helplessly:
“Miss Ningguang, do you know that every cultivator is a seeker of the Dao, and the Dao is all around us?”
“Cultivators are most wary of making oaths lightly. If they break their oath, they are easily afflicted by retribution, ranging from severe injury and decline in cultivation to becoming complete invalids, even death.”
“Even though you are not a cultivator at the moment, your oath to me is no different from an oath to the Dao.”
“So… not only you, Miss Ningguang, but also everyone else, please don't swear oaths lightly in front of me in the future.”
“If you start cultivating, remember this even more. Oaths should never be taken lightly. Once taken, even at the cost of life and death, they must be fulfilled.”
“Otherwise, you will face a fate more painful than death.”
Hearing this, Ningguang and the others fell silent.
But Zhongli was quite pleased with this feeling.
Oaths, similar to contracts.
Breaking an oath is a condemnation of heaven and earth. Zhongli loved this kind of play.
In his heart, oaths and contracts were the same, an inviolable existence.
After a while, Ningguang still looked up and said:
“Even so, I can swear that the Liyue garrison will have no intention of spying on or monitoring Mr. Jiang Yan.”
Jiang Yan helplessly waved his hand and said:
“There's no need. It's just a small favor for me. If you want to station troops here, then go ahead.”
“My lessons continue every day. It's better to help you all grow stronger than to be self-absorbed.”
“Besides, I don't think you can monitor me anyway.”
Jiang Yan joked, and Ningguang breathed a sigh of relief.
But she continued:
“Of course. Mr. Jiang Yan, you can effortlessly traverse Teyvat, and even the Archon would have difficulty noticing you.”
“However, Liyue is a nation of contracts, pursuing fairness and justice. Perhaps your lessons are just a part of your daily life for you, Mr. Jiang Yan.”
“But this strengthening is very important to the Liyue Qixing. We cannot accept this gift with a clear conscience.”
“If you really have no need, then forgive me for being presumptuous.”
“Mr. Jiang Yan, your Shu Mountain Cave Heaven is newly built, and you need many creatures to enrich its vitality. Why don't you have Liyue Harbor collect them for you in Teyvat.”
“I will discuss the specific number with the Qixing Meeting when I return.”
Seeing Ningguang so persistent, Jiang Yan didn't refuse. As for what the Shu Mountain Cave Heaven needed now…
Indeed, it was some animals to enrich the vitality.
Ningguang felt a little joy in her heart.
This was an unexpected bonus.
With the value of Jiang Yan's lessons, as long as the Qixing stayed here for a year.
They would surely become as strong as the gods.
Then, Liyue would have an unimaginable elite force.
The Fatui?
They could eat Liyue's exhaust fumes!
Thinking this, a smile appeared on Ningguang's lips.
Jiang Yan waved his hand, and many teacups appeared in front of them. From somewhere in the sky, golden osmanthus petals flew down like clouds.
They flew directly into the cups. Following them, at the bottom of the cups, right before everyone's eyes, something appeared from nothing.
Hot tea emerged.
Jiang Yan smiled, looked at the silent Zhongli beside him, and said softly:
“I want to buy osmanthus and share a drink with you…”
Zhongli sighed leisurely, picked up his teacup, felt the slight warmth, and said softly:
“It's just a pity…”
Before Zhongli could finish, Jiang Yan suddenly interrupted him and said softly:
“Spring is not late, we will meet again.”
Zhongli was stunned, staring at Jiang Yan.
At this moment, the confident smile on Jiang Yan's face suddenly brought peace to Zhongli's own confused heart.
A path to heaven opened up.
That genuine confidence made Zhongli finally believe that cultivation…
Truly, we will meet again.
After a moment of silence, Zhongli suddenly laughed happily.
This was the first time the immortals had seen Zhongli laugh so happily. In the past, even when the immortals gathered, at their happiest moments, Zhongli only smiled slightly.
Now…
Zhongli seemed to be in a good mood.
Unconsciously, even Xiao was affected, and even the cold-faced Xiao showed a hint of a smile.
“Good! Good, we will meet again…”
Zhongli sighed in admiration, solemnly raising his teacup.
“It's a pity there's no wine in the cup, otherwise, I would have a drink with Daoist Jiang Yan to the point of intoxication!”
Jiang Yan smiled and said nothing, raising his teacup to lightly touch Zhongli's.
Even though it was tea, the two somehow drank it with the same feeling of drinking a cup of wine to the dregs.
They looked at each other and smiled, everything unspoken.
They put down their cups, and the tea in them reappeared from nothingness.
Jiang Yan slightly straightened his expression and said:
“So, you came to see me today on behalf of Liyue.”
“Or… have you already considered joining Shu Mountain?”