Those with skills speak with confidence

Bai Ye followed Ningguang into the Jade Chamber.

Along the way, Bai Ye and Hagintos kept examining the Jade Chamber.

"Crude. These methods are far too crude. They may look exquisite, but the techniques behind this Art of Automata are utterly lacking in technical merit. This is clearly a case of lacking the skill and forcing the desired effect with high-grade materials. What a complete waste of resources."

Hagintos kept complaining in Bai Ye's mind.

It was no wonder Hagintos was so angry. None of the mechanisms used to build the Jade Chamber were concealed in the slightest, and she could tell at a glance just how wasteful they were.

It was like asking a university professor to grade vocational school homework.

Hagintos was wearing the very picture of pain.

"Exactly, exactly. Aah, why do the people of Liyue care so little about machinery these days? If I could still come up with a design like this after studying under you for a year, you'd probably smash my head in."

"Not just smash your head in. I'd expel you from my school."

"Mhm, mhm, mhm!!!!!"

It was not just Hagintos; Bai Ye could see plenty of problems as well.

Just how wasteful were you people with resources?!

Simply relying on the power of Floaty Boulders to send a building into the sky was something anyone with even a little knowledge of the Art of Automata could accomplish.

Bai Ye thought about it. If he were the one doing it, he could save at least thirty percent of the Floaty Boulders. At the same time, the mechanism at the core of the Jade Chamber would not need such high-grade ore at all.

What a bunch of spendthrifts!

Bai Ye thought that if he could make use of all those wasted materials, he could add at least several more functions to the Jade Chamber.

If nothing else, just give me the wasted bits! I'm so poor I can barely afford to support my own teacher.

Bai Ye deeply regretted not transmigrating earlier. If he had arrived when Ningguang was building the Jade Chamber, skimming off even a little material would have kept him comfortable for a long time.

Ningguang led Bai Ye around the Jade Chamber for a while longer.

She was showing off her Jade Chamber.

They were about to enter business negotiations, so it would be best to intimidate the other party first.

Ningguang had been watching Bai Ye's expression the entire time.

She rather wanted to see this adorable young man look surprised.

He was so cute. He really made people want to tease him.

Yet the shock she had expected was nowhere to be found. Instead, Ningguang clearly saw the disdain and pain in his eyes.

Was he dissatisfied with my Jade Chamber somehow?

Without revealing anything, Ningguang asked Bai Ye, "Well, little brother Bai Ye, do you have any suggestions for my Jade Chamber?"

"Nothing, nothing at all. I think it's quite good like this."

Bai Ye hurriedly waved his hands.

After hesitating for a moment, he still could not help saying, "If Miss Ningguang ever wants to renovate the Jade Chamber, you can come find me."

"..."

Ningguang was speechless.

She could see it now. It was not that Bai Ye had issues with some part of the Jade Chamber; he simply did not think much of any of it.

Ningguang remained composed. She still had too little information. The people she had sent to investigate could not find Bai Ye's background at all, nor could they uncover anything about his master.

All she knew was that he possessed adeptal methods.

But she still had no idea how capable he truly was.

If he really had the ability, what was wrong with leaving the renovation to him?

"Not for the moment, but who knows about later? For now, let's discuss our other cooperation."

"Mhm."

Bai Ye nodded.

His teacher had already shut off her senses.

In her words, constantly looking at such crude mechanism craftsmanship was severely wearing down her remnant soul. If she kept looking, she might not even make it out of the Jade Chamber alive.

The group arrived inside the Jade Chamber.

Ningguang had arranged a table full of dishes. Yelan was waiting for them in boredom and was nearly dozing off.

When she saw the two of them, Yelan hurriedly said:

"You're finally here. I was about to fall asleep waiting for you. This is Xinyue Kiosk's cooking. If you lined up downstairs, you'd have to wait a long time before getting a table."

"Yes, I put quite a bit of thought into entertaining Bai Ye."

Ningguang said with a smile.

Then, she made an inviting gesture.

"Come, Bai Ye. Have a good taste."

"Mhm, mhm."

Bai Ye nodded vigorously.

He took the seat reserved for the main guest and began tasting the dishes.

Bai Ye had loved seafood in his previous life, and Xinyue Kiosk specialized in seafood dishes. He ate with great delight.

He opened his mouth, picked up a shrimp ball, and placed it inside. The satisfaction brought by the delicious food rose from the depths of his heart.

"It's really good."

Seeing how satisfied Bai Ye was, Ningguang and Yelan somehow felt happy as well.

So cute~

"Come on, tell me what else you want to eat, and I'll have the chefs make more right away."

Ningguang could not help saying.

Seeing how content he looked, Ningguang put aside her earlier displeasure over the way Bai Ye had looked at the Jade Chamber.

"No need, no need. I'm already very satisfied with this."

Bai Ye shook his head.

Waste was a crime.

After working hard to swallow the shrimp meat in his mouth, Bai Ye asked Ningguang, "Right, Sister Ningguang, tell me about the cooperation plan we're here to discuss."

"Mhm."

Ningguang was lifting a spring roll to her mouth. Oil glistened on her crystalline lips, making her appear even more beautiful. She then said to Bai Ye, "I invited you here because I intend to invest in and cooperate with you to develop the vehicles made with your Art of Automata."

As one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, she could see at a glance just how promising the truck Bai Ye had developed was. It could even drive Liyue's development forward.

That made Ningguang want to get involved.

"Alright, I agree."

Bai Ye agreed without even thinking.

"Hm?"

Ningguang was somewhat surprised by how readily Bai Ye agreed.

"Did a single meal buy you off that easily?"

Even Yelan could not help teasing him.

"Of course not." Bai Ye shook his head.

"The capital I have cannot support large-scale vehicle production at all. If I produce them little by little, I will never meet Liyue Harbor's demand. So finding someone to cooperate with is inevitable."

"Aren't you afraid that once I obtain the technology, I'll kick you out of the partnership?"

"Not at all. Sister Ningguang isn't some black-hearted merchant, and you wouldn't stoop to petty schemes." Bai Ye paused, and his tone became even more confident.

"Besides, the means to manufacture vehicles is merely one of my simplest little tricks. Sister Ningguang isn't that shortsighted."

In short, those with skills had confidence.

"Do you have even more ideas?"

Ningguang could not help asking.

"Of course."