Baizhu had seen Ningguang summon Chen Fan to the Jade Chamber, so he knew she must have something to discuss with him.
Besides,
now that Qiqi had been found, he could set his mind at ease. Naturally, he had no intention of prying into Ningguang's business with Chen Fan.
"Take care, Mr. Baizhu."
Ningguang watched Baizhu leave, then turned her gaze to Chen Fan.
Bi Ji felt the atmosphere grow a little tense—
"You two have nowhere to stay at the moment. Why not spend the night at the Jade Chamber?"
After a pause, Ningguang suddenly smiled. "But first, allow me to introduce myself properly."
"I'm Ningguang."
"Chen Fan."
Chen Fan couldn't work out why Ningguang had invited him to stay at the Jade Chamber. After a moment's thought, though, he didn't refuse.
If he did, they really would have to sleep on the streets.
He had previously figured
that although he had changed his appearance, his purchases had left a trail. If the Liyue Qixing, who oversaw all of Liyue Harbor's commerce, decided to investigate, they would certainly find traces of his disguise.
Perhaps things wouldn't have gone that far in the original storyline.
But so many people in strange clothing, at least by Liyue standards, had appeared at the Rite of Descension. That was bound to put the Liyue Qixing on alert and prompt a full-scale search.
That was why
Chen Fan had been certain someone would come looking for him, and why he had spoken to Bi Ji as he had earlier.
The outcome was much the same now, but Ningguang's intentions remained a mystery to him.
Still,
if he couldn't figure them out, he would leave it at that.
Apart from the few Adepti and Rex Lapis, there's no one else in Liyue I need to fear.
Oh, right. There's Tartaglia in Foul Legacy, La Signora—and the imprisoned Azhdaha!
His earlier fight at Wangshu Inn had given Chen Fan some sense of his own strength.
Ordinary Vision wielders, such as Lumine, posed no threat to him whatsoever.
"This way, please!"
Before long, Ningguang had Ganyu lead Chen Fan and Bi Ji to a room beside the Jade Chamber. From the look of it, everything had been prepared in advance.
As she watched Bi Ji walk away, the smile slowly faded from Ningguang's face.
A little girl with her hair tied into braided bows hurried in from outside. "Sister Ningguang."
"How is Keqing?"
"Stable for now."
After a pause, lingering fear crossed the little girl's face. "But I can only keep Sister Keqing stable for now. If she's to be treated, we'll have to ask my teacher or Mr. Baizhu."
The little girl was Yaoyao, Qiqi's friend and disciple of Madame Ping—or rather, Streetward Rambler!
"I'll consider it."
Ningguang did not agree at once. After a moment's thought, she said, "Keep an eye on Keqing and make sure her condition doesn't worsen."
"Mm!"
Yaoyao nodded and hurried back.
As she ran, she muttered, "These outsiders are so rough, and they're incredibly strong, too—"
Once Yaoyao had gone, Ningguang was alone in the room.
But a moment later,
a figure stepped out of the shadows.
She had short, blue-black hair swept into side bangs. A fitted outfit of blue and white, matching her hair, covered her tall frame.
The top, leggings, and boots formed a single piece. Together with her accessories, it gave her an air of nobility.
It was Yelan, famed for appearing and vanishing like a ghost, her movements ever-changing!
Ningguang's special intelligence officer!
"Well?"
Yelan stepped forward. She seemed to have sustained a few injuries. At Ningguang's question, she shook her head. "No. His control over the wind is too strong. I couldn't catch him."
After a pause, she added, "He doesn't have a Vision, either, yet he can ride the wind with ease. It's hard for me to keep up."
"The Millelith have also found traces of the other outsiders. Hundreds of their soldiers are receiving treatment for their injuries, and the whole force is on edge—"
She paused, then looked at Ningguang. "I'm afraid this has gone beyond what we can handle. Should we ask the Adepti for help?"
Ningguang closed her eyes and said nothing for a long while.
It turned out that,
after the Millelith had sealed off Liyue Harbor,
Tianfeng Douluo had been the first to flee. The Millelith pursued him, only to be injured. Keqing happened to pass by and intervened, but after they fought, Tianfeng Douluo used his mastery of the wind to wear her down from high above and injured her.
Yun Jin had just finished her performance when she noticed the fight and came to help. Gaming, whose performance had also ended, lent a hand as well. Even together, the three could only injure Tianfeng Douluo. They could not stop him and had to watch him escape.
Ningguang then sent Yelan after him, but she lost his trail.
Later, as they were preparing to take Keqing to a clinic, another outsider ambushed them on the way.
Yun Jin and Gaming were severely injured and fell unconscious one after the other. In the end, Keqing fought with her back to the river and defeated their attacker.
But her own injuries were too severe. She collapsed unconscious and was found by Yaoyao, who happened to be passing by. After stabilizing Keqing's condition, Yaoyao rushed her to the Jade Chamber.
And that was not all!
Ningguang had also received a report from the Millelith: the man posing as a scholar whom they had arrested in Liyue Harbor the previous night had been broken out of prison.
The Liyue Qixing's Kaiyang Star had now been sent to investigate.
Yet they still had no leads whatsoever in the murder of Rex Lapis.
At the same time,
word had arrived of Fatui activity near the Golden House in southern Liyue. No one knew what they were plotting.
One incident after another had come rushing in over the course of a single day and night.
Experienced as Ningguang was, even she felt overwhelmed by it all. There was more than she could handle.
The problem was simple.
She had only so many capable people at her disposal.
As the Tianquan, she could mobilize plenty of personnel, but most of those involved in these incidents were powerful individuals who kept themselves hidden among the people. The large weapons she had prepared were of no use against them.
So—
as things stood, perhaps only the Adepti could stand against them—
"We'll see."
Ningguang let out a long breath and looked at Yelan. "Are your injuries serious?"
"I'm fine."
"Then stay at the Jade Chamber and recover."
Yelan froze. That wasn't like Ningguang.
She opened her mouth to speak, then suddenly stopped. Realization struck, and she stared at Ningguang in shock. "You mean—"
"Those outsiders might attack the Jade Chamber?"
"So you kept this outsider, Chen Fan, here because you want to—"
Ningguang glanced at her but said nothing.
"But what makes you think Chen Fan will help?"
Before you continue