She Knows How to Solve This One!

"You're not a virgin?"

Liu Bai's blunt question left Yelan speechless.

"At least I've seen pigs run."

"You say that like nobody's seen it these days?"

Liu Bai was speechless too. Was watching porn really that impressive?

If she wanted to act like a pervert, she should just say so. Why beat around the bush?

But then, seeing Yelan's expression, Liu Bai suddenly realized what the problem was.

"Hey, don't tell me..."

"That's right. I planted a tracker on you."

Yelan slipped her hand into the inside of Liu Bai's thigh, fumbled around for a moment, and removed a small button. While she was at it, she gave his hip a squeeze.

Then Yelan pinched the button between her fingers and showed it off to Liu Bai with a teasing smile.

"Well? A simple and unpretentious method, right?"

"...When did you put that on me?"

"That day when I went downstairs. I secretly stuck it on with Lifeline Threads."

Liu Bai and Guinaifen were both rendered speechless by that answer.

"You can't neglect real-world risks just because of the internet. After all, no one can predict how things will play out online, can they?"

"...I suddenly feel like I went too easy on you earlier."

After complaining, Liu Bai remembered something else.

"Wait, then does that mean..."

"Mm-hm... I never expected it to be Shencheng Pharmaceuticals."

"Hey, Yelan, you're courting death here." Liu Bai could not help but warn her.

He admitted that Yelan had gotten the better of him this time, but she had crossed the line with this step!

Gray Serpent looked intimidating, but his temper—especially toward his own people—had always been quite good.

But if Mobius was involved...

"Don't worry. I understand the so-called boundaries better than you do—you see, I told you I hadn't lost, didn't I?"

Yelan smiled with faint satisfaction.

"Well, winning under such unfair circumstances isn't anything worth boasting about. Here, these are for you. The first two are my family's inherited secret arts, and the last is my personal secret technique. Consider them my apology for this incident."

Yelan pulled open a drawer and took out three books.

Skill Book: Submerged Obsidian Bow

Skill Book: Entangling Lifeline Snare

Skill Book: Abyss Chart Exquisite Dice

"Ah, of course, whether you can learn them has nothing to do with me. Tutoring costs extra."

"Then how about a fair match next time?"

The moment Liu Bai saw the three skill books, his tone improved considerably.

"No. I was just saying that." Yelan refused decisively, looking uninterested. "Besides, how could people like you and Ningguang possibly create a truly fair environment?"

If it came down to it, the only thing Yelan had gambled on successfully this time was Liu Bai being rational enough.

If Liu Bai had come with killing intent, Yelan would have been thoroughly doomed no matter what.

Anyone who wanted to play with Liu Bai could go ahead. This guy was a big bad wolf in sheep's clothing.

As for those three books, Yelan had prepared them long ago. Even if Liu Bai had truly been kidnapped, she would have used them to apologize afterward.

Of course, then she would have had no choice but to kneel and beg forgiveness.

"Ah, but if we're playing dice, I'm always game. I... uh, only have a fifty percent chance of not cheating?"

"Get lost." Liu Bai laughed and cursed at her, and the atmosphere gradually eased. "Back to the point. What happened to Raiden Shogun?"

"I don't know either. All I know is that she's gravely ill and near death. Don't spread this news around, or something will happen. If the strongest person in the Far East dies of illness, it's hard to say what ideas the headquarters of Schicksal might get. They only revealed this intelligence because they trust us."

"..."

If death flags were anything to go by, the one who should currently be gravely ill was Raiden Makoto.

If... no, it was definitely Raiden Makoto.

If Raiden Ei, the martial pillar, had been the gravely ill Shogun, Inazuma would not have sought help from Anti-Entropy.

As long as Raiden Ei remained as their military strength, it would not matter even if the news leaked. Raiden Shogun's blade-light would silence every covetous opportunist.

But if Raiden Ei were seriously ill, then Inazuma should have been backed into a corner. They would never risk leaks by entrusting the matter to outsiders.

Not even someone close to them.

Trusting another's friendship and handing over one's lifeline were two entirely different matters.

She Knew How to Solve This One!

"So your next objective is to negotiate directly with World Serpent?"

"That's Anti-Entropy's objective. The Merchant Guild's assistance ends here. The fact that Shencheng Pharmaceuticals is a snake nest will only be recorded in our guild's archives." Yelan crossed her arms, looking as though it had nothing to do with her. "What about you? My instincts tell me you're planning to stir up trouble."

"That's right. Better to offer help in a snowstorm than add flowers to brocade."

Liu Bai openly admitted what he was thinking.

That was right. It would be strange if he had no ambitions in this matter.

Without question, Raiden Makoto was a kind and conservative leader, and as a leader, she was connected to many people.

If Mobius were on the verge of death and Liu Bai saved her, Gray Serpent's favorability would skyrocket at the very least.

If he saved Raiden Makoto, regardless of anyone else, Raiden Ei's favorability would definitely soar.

Besides, Liu Bai truly did have the ability to save people... all in all, Raiden Makoto was currently a rare commodity to him.

But before that, Liu Bai needed to find out what illness Raiden Makoto had.

The healing food he made with his cooking was fine for internal or external injuries, but it was utterly useless against difficult and complicated illnesses.

Firefly's Entropy Loss Syndrome, for example, was among the worst of such illnesses.

If Raiden Makoto's condition was also a more advanced type, then if he boasted now, the backlash waiting for Liu Bai would be severe.

"I might have a way to save Raiden Shogun, but you know, no matter what, to treat an illness I need to see the patient first... So? Help arrange an introduction. Are you taking the job?"

"Fine, I'll take it. Wait for Anti-Entropy to contact you in a few days."

This was just a small matter, nowhere near as sensitive as the previous issue involving World Serpent's headquarters. Since Yelan owed him, she could not even be bothered to charge a brokerage fee.

"Remember to tell your family. Don't make it look like I abducted you. But don't get your hopes up too much either. You're just making an empty verbal promise. Even if I vouch for you, don't expect too much—building trust is always difficult."

"I have plenty of time."

Liu Bai could afford to wait, but Inazuma might not be able to. No matter what, none of them would want Raiden Makoto to die of illness.

As for World Serpent, putting aside whether he could even establish contact and negotiate with them, Liu Bai would not even need to whisper sweet nothings in her ear. With Mobius's temper, it would be a miracle if she agreed anytime soon.

"Anything else you want to ask? Ask it all now. After this period, you won't get to freeload anymore."

"No." Liu Bai stood up.

There were certainly more things he wanted to ask, but Yelan definitely would not tell him.

"Oh, right. Doesn't your family's secret art require a Vision? Give me a Vision."

Liu Bai curled a finger at Yelan.

"You..." Yelan's eyebrow twitched. "Fine, fine, I owe you. Honestly..."

Yelan sounded irritated, but she still removed the Vision from her waist and tossed it to Liu Bai.

Vision: Hydro (Yelan) (Accessory/Token)

It could completely convert all Honkai energy into pure Hydro energy and allow it to be controlled. It would also store energy over time. Current energy: 100%

An item obtained through normal means could serve as proof of friendship with Yelan, the intelligence director of the Liyue Merchant Guild. Presenting it at the Liyue Merchant Guild granted a 20% discount. If faction favorability was below 50, it was treated as 50. This effect became invalid once Yelan's favorability fell below 0.

When using Yelan's skills, consumption was reduced.

The moment he obtained the Vision, Liu Bai immediately felt some kind of connection. Instinctively, he condensed a small ball of water from it.

"Be careful. If you soak the documents in here, I'm going to beat you up."

"I know what I'm doing." A tiny water ball did not reduce the Vision's energy in the slightest.

Liu Bai had merely tried it with the mindset that it cost nothing to take a shot. He had not expected it to actually work.

"By the way, do you have spare Visions?"

"I'm at least someone of standing in the Merchant Guild. Of course I can get one or two backup Visions. What, are you planning to keep shearing the same sheep? Go cool off somewhere."

Yelan began throwing them out.

Liu Bai shrugged and decisively fled with Guinaifen.

After all, she had shown plenty of sincerity, and he had already beaten her up. If they did not leave now, what were they waiting for?

To get beaten in return?

After watching Liu Bai close the door and leave, Yelan revealed a faint smile.

"A variable... Has our strong woman truly prepared herself to face a variable? Such a rare commodity... Honestly, if I'd known he was such a treasure, I should have waded into this mess myself."

"Mr. Liu Bai, what a coincidence. Are you here shopping?"

The moment he stepped outside, Liu Bai ran into Rita.

Rita gave him a polite curtsy, lifting the hem of her skirt.

"I was just looking around. Miss Rita, are you here to see Kiana?"

Liu Bai pointed at Kiana by the entrance, who did not seem particularly willing to pay Rita any attention.

"Something like that." Rita smiled amiably.

She really had come to see Kiana, but mainly to bully her a little.

That girl was far too lively. If no one kept her in check, her tail would be sticking up into the sky in minutes.

Rita's operation yesterday had also ended without result. By the time she arrived, the Anti-Entropy mechs had already vanished without a trace.

Still, it was not entirely a wasted trip, because Rita had no great enthusiasm for fighting Anti-Entropy in the first place.

"By the way, Mr. Liu Bai, would you be willing to visit Shencheng Pharmaceuticals with me tomorrow? It's your sister's workplace."

Rita was now more interested in World Serpent.

Her current goal was to use Liu Bai to lure Natasha over.

Kidnap Liu Bai, then watch Natasha's utterly helpless yet forced-to-submit expression...

Just thinking about it already felt incredibly satisfying.

Well, even a gentle maid could have sadistic impulses toward an enemy.

If she did not currently have no intention of dating, Rita would not have minded humiliating Natasha even further.

"...Why do I suddenly feel a chill down my back?" Guinaifen seemed to sense some malice and could not help moving behind Liu Bai.

This woman's smile was a little creepy.

Liu Bai: "..."

He could feel that malice too!

But he had nowhere to hide...

"Of course I have time... but if my sister sees the two of us together..."