The Feiyun Commerce Guild had secret dealings with the Fatui?
Bai Ye was somewhat doubtful.
Over the past month, he had crossed paths with members of the Feiyun Commerce Guild several times in the wild. Both in the game and after being transported here, he had also had dealings with the guild's second young master.
The Feiyun Commerce Guild did not seem like the type.
Then again, there was no telling.
Xingqiu had not come into contact with the Feiyun Commerce Guild's core business.
Come to think of it, now that Yelan had changed into men's clothing, with her short hair and long robe, at a glance she looked almost like Xingqiu after he had grown up.
Yelan played with her folding fan as she spoke to Bai Ye. "The Feiyun Commerce Guild owns quite a few shops and businesses in Liyue Harbor. If they truly have dealings with the Fatui, we need to keep a closer eye on them."
"So how should we investigate?"
"From what I know, the shopkeeper of one of the Feiyun Commerce Guild's antique stores is planning to do an antique deal with the Fatui. This folding fan of mine happens to be several hundred years old and fairly well-crafted. We can sell it to them, then trace where it ends up."
After saying that, she handed the folding fan to Bai Ye.
"Got it." Bai Ye took the fan and pressed a mark onto it.
His Art of Automata and Adeptal Arts were clearly stronger than Yelan's. It was safer for him to make the mark himself.
Yelan saw it but said nothing.
The two immediately headed for the Feiyun Commerce Guild's antique store.
As Bai Ye walked alongside Yelan, she did not forget to remind him:
"At the antique store, I am not called Yelan. My name is Lan Ye, and I am a merchant whose family deals in maritime trade. As for you, you are the bodyguard I hired in Liyue Harbor."
"Understood."
Bai Ye nodded.
As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance to the antique store.
Before even entering, Bai Ye spotted Xingqiu behind the counter, fiddling with antiques.
He was actually here.
Bai Ye immediately went over to greet him.
"Hey, Xingqiu. Never thought I'd run into you here."
He and Xingqiu were on fairly good terms.
Back when he had been in the wild, he had happened upon a batch of Feiyun Commerce Guild goods that had been robbed by the Treasure Hoarders. After he had beaten all those Treasure Hoarders flat, Xingqiu had arrived just in time.
Xingqiu had been very grateful to Bai Ye for helping them recover the goods.
And Bai Ye had been very satisfied with the reward Xingqiu gave him afterward.
As long as the pay was right, you were his dearest friend and family.
Seeing Bai Ye, Xingqiu was initially surprised, then promptly broke into a happy smile.
"Bai Ye, what a coincidence! What, are you here to sell antiques? Did you find anything while hunting Treasure Hoarders out in the wild?"
As he responded, he did not forget to remind the shopkeeper, who was currently dusting porcelain with a feather duster.
"Shopkeeper Zhao, he is my friend. If he wants to sell antiques, give him a fair price."
"Yes, Young Master."
Shopkeeper Zhao agreed.
Bai Ye walked over to Xingqiu, slung an arm around his shoulders, and gestured behind him with his lips.
"No, I didn't get these from Treasure Hoarders in the wild. See that person behind me who looks like your long-lost older brother? I'm his bodyguard today. We came here together to sell antiques."
Xingqiu turned around and froze when he saw Yelan.
Then he lightly shoved Bai Ye.
"They only look alike at a glance. Stop joking around."
Xingqiu walked over to Yelan and politely said, "Welcome to our antique store, sir. May I ask what you wish to sell?"
"I have a folding fan that I would like appraised. I wonder whether you would be interested in purchasing it?"
Yelan placed the folding fan on the table.
Shopkeeper Zhao from the antique store walked over.
Appraising antiques was his specialty, after all.
He picked up the folding fan and began examining it carefully.
He inspected both the fan leaf and the ribs in detail.
Yelan and Bai Ye stood together at this point.
Yelan leaned close to Bai Ye's ear and quietly asked:
"Aren't you worried that your mechanism will be discovered?"
"Hmph. If he had the ability to discover my device, would he still be stuck here as a mere shopkeeper?"
Sure enough,
after inspecting it once,
Shopkeeper Zhao said to Yelan, "Sir, this folding fan is undoubtedly the work of a renowned master. Both the painting on the fan leaf and the inlaid jade are exquisitely crafted, and it has a history of at least three or four hundred years. How about this? I can offer you fifteen million Mora. Would that be satisfactory?"
As he said this, he glanced toward Xingqiu.
Xingqiu gave a slight nod.
Signaling his approval of the deal.
"That price is certainly acceptable."
Yelan approved as well.
Bai Ye stared in surprise.
This fan was worth that much? He had practically cleaned out the Treasure Hoarders around Liyue Harbor and had only made twenty to thirty million. This fan alone was worth fifteen million?
Soon, the two sides began the transaction.
Yelan handed the folding fan to the shopkeeper, while the shopkeeper gave Yelan a certificate of deposit.
The transaction was completed.
Yelan was about to leave with Bai Ye.
Bai Ye lagged behind Yelan for a moment to say goodbye to Xingqiu.
"I'm off. I need to get back to work."
"Mm-hm, goodbye."
"Don't worry. We'll see each other again very soon."
Xingqiu tilted his head, somewhat confused.
When they reached Liyue Harbor's docks, Yelan turned to look at Bai Ye.
"What are you thinking now?"
"If I push you into the sea, can I keep all fifteen million for myself?"
Bai Ye answered without a second thought.
"That is indeed a fine idea, but you're dreaming." Yelan mercilessly informed Bai Ye, "That fan belongs to Tianquan Ningguang's collection. If you want to take it, you would have to stop operating in Liyue Harbor."
"Forget it, then."
Bai Ye dejectedly walked over to the railing by the harbor.
Bracing a hand against it, he leapt up and sat on the railing.
Yelan rose slightly onto her toes before sitting down beside him.
Watching her sit down, Bai Ye's mouth twitched faintly.
He kept comforting himself inwardly.
This body is still young, still young. It will grow. It will grow.
He then looked at the Anemo Vision on the back of his hand.
His confidence was not particularly strong.
"What are we doing next?"
He asked Yelan.
"Of course, we wait patiently for the fan to be moved. We will see how that shopkeeper and the people behind him sell this fan, along with the other antiques, to the Fatui. Then we will find out whether the mark you made is truly accurate."
Yelan answered Bai Ye.
"Of course it's perfectly accurate." Bai Ye confidently patted his chest.
Then,
he reached inside his clothes.
He pulled out a device made of black crystal.
"Come on, let's see where Shopkeeper Zhao is taking that fan now."
Watching Bai Ye's actions, Yelan blinked.
Were the marks we had in mind perhaps a little different?
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