Anomalies in the Guili Plains

Somehow, Lin Yi and Shenhe got along quite well.

Their conversation ranged from the power within her and Lin Yi's authority to Liyue's development and the state of the entire continent.

Whatever the topic, they always seemed to strike a chord with each other.

A beauty was hard to meet, and a kindred spirit harder still to find.

With a few pointers from Shenhe, he even adjusted some of his upcoming policies, making them all the better!

Early the next morning.

Lin Yi woke in the pavilion on Mt. Aocang. Shenhe and Ganyu were nowhere to be found.

"I slept so well... I still have business to take care of today. I'd better hurry back."

Without another word, Lin Yi found a mountain stream to wash up in, then hurried back to Liyue.

Unbeknownst to him, Shenhe stood near the clouds, quietly watching him leave.

Then she conjured a red cord that floated in midair.

"People spend their lives troubled by what they cannot attain. As fate turns and cause gives way to effect, could you be the one I've been waiting for?"

At Liyue Harbor, a large central platform had already been built for the Geo Archon and senior officials to announce policies.

Ningguang was absent, but Lin Yi still efficiently announced the details of the upcoming policies.

While refining the system, they could also ensure that the people received the greatest possible protection.

Recently, Keqing had been serving as Lin Yi's personal assistant, responsible for organizing the data from the Guili Plains.

"As you predicted, very few independent teams are still taking part in the incentive program. Associations and merchant guilds have begun organizing them, and even monster hunting in the Guili Plains has developed its own hierarchy and system."

The strong hunted powerful monsters, while the less capable killed weaker ones. Naturally, few objected to receiving different levels of rewards.

Lin Yi nodded in satisfaction.

What even Keqing did not know, however, was that among the associations currently working hardest in the Guili Plains...

One had been secretly set up by Lin Yi himself. He had arranged everything behind the scenes, including its personnel, and even Ningguang knew nothing about it.

That association also counted as one of Lin Yi's private businesses. It was still in its early stages, so continuing to develop it in secret was a good choice.

"Understood. The weaker monsters in the Guili Plains should be cleared out in another few days. When that happens, the Land Reclamation project will officially begin!"

Lin Yi had not been idle. Over the past two days, he had rushed from place to place, purchasing obscure mechanical devices and materials from various merchant guilds, and even paying exorbitant prices for them at the Northland Bank.

Some people had secretly tried to work out his plans from his materials list, but not one could reconstruct what exactly Lin Yi intended to create.

Of course, Lin Yi possessed special blueprints. As long as he had enough materials, he could construct the devices and buildings without lifting a finger himself!

Outsiders could rack their brains all they liked, but they would never figure out Lin Yi's intentions in advance.

As a result, every nation and major faction had independently arrived at the same assessment of Liyue's Geo Archon, Lin Yi: mysterious.

Of course, with things so hectic lately, Lin Yi had simply rented an unoccupied home to use as an office, sacrificing almost all his rest time. Ever since Ningguang had locked him out and kicked him to the curb, he had rarely even seen her.

Anyone who lost themselves in romance would ultimately become a good-for-nothing who achieved nothing.

Lin Yi understood that principle well. An ambitious man was most attractive when he accomplished something in his career.

Yet something puzzled Lin Yi about Ningguang, who usually discussed some of her work plans with him.

It did not seem as though she had no time to see him. It was more as if she were deliberately avoiding him...

By the day after tomorrow, he would have gathered nearly all the materials, and he would set out for the Guili Plains to expand the land. Who knew how long it would be before he returned to Liyue?

"That Ningguang really has the heart to let me run myself ragged out here... No, even if I have to cancel every meeting tonight, I'm buying some gifts and checking what that girl is up to!"

Keqing seemed to know something, but she had her own selfish reasons and had no intention of telling Lin Yi anything.

Still, hearing Ganyu praise Lin Yi had left Keqing curious and puzzled.

Ganyu was a notorious workaholic who sacrificed even her time for socializing. Aside from the Liyue Qixing, she had very few friends, and she had initiated conversations with Lin Yi no more than three times.

Why would she praise him for being gentle?

"All right, Keqing, don't stand around. Go take care of your work. I have something to do, so I'll head out first."

"All right."

At Tian Tie Zui's storytelling stall.

Zhongli listened with great interest, accompanied by a cup of fine tea. Life was truly delightful.

Lin Yi found him there and took the initiative to pay the attendant for Zhongli's tea over the past few days before sitting down.

"Good morning, Lord Geo Archon."

Lin Yi had just been about to take a sip to quench his thirst, but Zhongli's greeting nearly made him choke.

"It's fine when other people call me a god, but coming from you, old man Zhongli, it's a bit more than I can bear."

"Let's get to business. You seemed to have something left unsaid at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor last time. I might as well hear it today."

Lin Yi cut straight to the point, hoping only that Zhongli would bring some good news.

"The situation in the Guili Plains may not be as simple as you think. My advice would be to suspend the Land Reclamation project for now."

No sooner had Zhongli finished speaking...

Than Lin Yi slammed the table and shot to his feet, startling Tian Tie Zui into biting his tongue and hopping in pain.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"I assigned people specifically to monitor everything in the Guili Plains, with reports every four hours. I know the details down to how many trees and puddles there are. Asking me to stop now is practically asking me to die!"

Too much had already been invested in the Land Reclamation project, and not just money.

If the plan failed to proceed smoothly, or even paused briefly, the losses inflicted on Liyue would have to be calculated by the hour.

Stopping was essentially impossible. Besides, Lin Yi still did not know what had gone wrong in the Guili Plains.

"You'll need to visit the Guili Plains yourself to find out. Xiao and Venti are waiting for you there."

"Those two? All right, understood. I'll take care of the matters at hand and set out immediately. You'd better just be trying to scare me. If the Land Reclamation project falls apart, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Lin Yi wasted no more words and swiftly left the storytelling stall.

After he left, not only Zhongli but even Tian Tie Zui wore a meaningful smile.

Even the Millelith guards Lin Yi passed seemed to be hiding something from him, their expressions strangely inexplicable.

Pressed for time, Lin Yi needed to ride to the Guili Plains immediately. The teams already assembled would also escort the materials there in batches.

Of course, the price of rushing was that his plan to see his wife Ningguang today had to be put on hold.

Even when he passed the Jade Chamber, he had no time to stop.

Nothing could be allowed to go wrong with the development of the Guili Plains.

It was not that Lin Yi feared being implicated himself. The reasons were complicated and difficult to explain.

Still, he ordered someone to deliver a Three-Star High-Grade Geo Artifact set he had acquired by chance to the Jade Chamber, hoping only that Ningguang would see it.