Five Million in the Bank

Everyone chatted freely about whatever came to mind, and by the end, they had a clear picture of what had happened.

Still, they harbored plenty of doubts about choosing Lin Yi as the New God.

At that, Zhongli shook his head.

"Since Morax has chosen the New God and completed the transfer of divine authority, Lin Yi's position as the Geo Archon is beyond question."

Having taken the form of an ordinary man, Zhongli no longer intended to involve himself much in Liyue's affairs. Naturally, that did not mean he would wash his hands of everything.

Even in retirement, he remained one of the most powerful gods.

Aside from Snezhnaya's deeply mysterious Cryo Queen, why did they think the Anemo Archon, Electro Archon, and Dendro Archon had all agreed to use Mora as the standard for currency?

With Zhongli putting it that plainly, the True Adeptus could hardly say anything more.

But they would still judge Lin Yi with their own eyes, watching his performance as the Geo Archon at every turn.

At that moment, Cloud Retainer spoke.

"When you have time, go visit Madame Ping. Azhdaha's situation has kept her terribly busy lately."

Hearing his old friend Azhdaha's name, a rare flicker of complicated emotion crossed Zhongli's normally placid eyes.

"How is Azhdaha doing now?"

Cloud Retainer Skies-Cleaver shook her head.

"Because of erosion, he is in very poor condition. Even the purification power generated by the Dragon-Queller Tree's roots can barely suppress his agitation."

Zhongli nodded.

Over the long course of history, the old friend who had fought alongside him when the world was young had been reduced to this by erosion.

Even hard stone could be worn down and weakened by time and all things.

And when would my own erosion come?

Zhongli was clearly filled with emotion.

Lin Yi recalled that another reason Zhongli had relinquished his divine office to go wandering the mortal world was that he, too, was unsure how long he could hold himself together without breaking down. Azhdaha was an excellent example.

Perhaps he had also chosen a New God to lead Liyue so that, if a day truly came when erosion left him unable to distinguish right from wrong...

Having the people of Liyue put an end to him themselves would be a fitting end.

"Now that I, Lin Yi, am here, I absolutely won't let that happen. Making sure old man Zhongli enjoys his retirement is part of my duty, too!"

All in all, the evening's food, drink, and conversation had been enjoyable, and the adepti had come to see Lin Yi in a slightly better light.

This weak god who had suddenly dropped from the sky had now established a foothold among Liyue's upper, middle, and lower ranks.

"By the way, Cloud Retainer, pardon the question, but why haven't I seen your disciple anywhere?"

"My disciple? Do you mean Shenhe?"

Lin Yi nodded.

As major allies in the fight against Osial, the Vortex God, Shenhe and Xiao were important beyond question.

Clearing the monsters from the Guili Plains would require help from a few powerful people like them.

At present, Xiao was probably out investigating. As for the whereabouts of Chongyun's aunt Shenhe, Lin Yi felt he needed to find out.

Cloud Retainer Skies-Cleaver, however, shook her head.

"I haven't seen that child lately either. Before she left, though, she seemed to have performed a divination concerning herself."

Lin Yi nodded. Perhaps Shenhe was currently waiting for that "fated person."

He was a married man now, so it would hardly be appropriate to interfere.

Still, he was only just getting started. Plenty of things could wait.

As for Osial, the Vortex God, Lin Yi was in no hurry. There was still time, and he already had a plan.

Three peaceful days passed.

Although Lin Yi and Ningguang remained courteous toward each other, the subtle attraction between them continued to grow.

Whenever they were close, Lin Yi could feel the boundless allure of his wife's exquisite figure.

Being able to look but not touch was the most agonizing part.

It troubled Lin Yi greatly, but he also knew he could not rush things.

He believed that sooner or later, he would win her over. And then... hehehe!

As he was thinking about that, the Northland Bank's manager interrupted Lin Yi's wandering thoughts.

He had personally brought a guard team to deliver a mountain of five million Mora to Ningguang's office.

Standing nearby, Lin Yi's eyes lit up at the glittering gold coins covering the floor.

After Ningguang exchanged pleasantries with the bank manager and briefly discussed a few other matters...

Only the couple, still in the quiet phase of their marriage, remained in the office.

Since he had already said that Ningguang would manage and use both the money and the shares...

Lin Yi would naturally keep his word. Whenever he needed money, he could simply ask her.

But just as Lin Yi was about to see Yanfei and collect the draft she had revised several times, Ningguang approached him.

She slipped a specially made card straight through Lin Yi's slightly open collar and into his clothes.

That brief touch made Ningguang realize that Lin Yi was not nearly as scrawny as he looked.

At least his chest... was firm and felt nice.

"What's this card?"

"Startup capital for your grand undertaking as the God of Infrastructure. A voucher redeemable for five million Mora."

Lin Yi was a little surprised when he pulled the card out.

"Didn't we agree that you'd manage the money once it arrived, and I'd ask whenever I needed some? Why are you now..."

Lin Yi looked at Ningguang, visibly moved. Though he did not finish his question, he had already understood, and he solemnly put the voucher away.

"Thank you, honey!"

Seeing Lin Yi accept it, Ningguang's tense expression relaxed.

Things had been different back then. Now, Ningguang's trust in Lin Yi came from deep within her heart.

"Having to ask whenever you need it would be a bit of a hassle. Giving it to you directly means you can go whenever you need to. It's much more convenient!"

Ningguang's explanation did not surprise Lin Yi.

Deeply touched by her, he could not help grinning mischievously at her.

"What, you know how to treat your husband well now? Have you really fallen in love with me?"

"Hey, don't deny it."

"You're blushing! Haha!"

Lin Yi teased Ningguang until she was utterly flustered. She stamped one shapely leg and refused to pay him any more attention.

Before leaving and closing the door, she hesitated, then spoke solemnly.

"Remember, although we're husband and wife now, you only get those three chances for completing your tasks."

Lin Yi waved a hand casually. "Don't worry. I won't need three. Once will be enough!"

After Ningguang left, Lin Yi looked at the Exchange Card in his hand. He already knew what he would use it for.

As for the Gnosis, he could simply drop it off at the Northland Bank when he passed by.

When he found Yanfei again, she had pulled an all-nighter over the legal revisions. The provisions in her final version of the birth law were nearly perfect.

"Let's see whether Liyue's Number One Law Consultant has finished her task."

"Of course. But I recommend that you check it carefully, my lord. If anything needs changing, I'll revise it immediately."

Lin Yi did not bother with all that and simply put the documents away.

"Checking would be unnecessary. If it's passed through your hands, I trust it."

Hearing that warmed Yanfei's heart. The feeling of being recognized and trusted was what drove her to keep improving.

This was the spirit the people of Liyue ought to have.

"Also, here's your payment."

With a grand sweep of his hand, Lin Yi placed a chest containing fifty thousand Mora on the counter, its weight bowing the surface inward.

Yanfei accepted without much protest. She was being paid for her work, and the Law Office happened to need renovating so it could provide better service in the future.

Not long after Lin Yi left the Law Office...

The alluring, seductive La Signora emerged from around the Law Office's corner. Watching Lin Yi's retreating figure, she curled her lips into a meaningful smile.