Passing each other by

"Pick up the pace over there! Don't waste time!"

"The materials escort team needs to leave right now! There are plenty of other teams waiting behind you!"

Everything had happened suddenly, leaving Lin Yi a little pressed as he handled it, but things were still proceeding in an orderly fashion.

In particular, the construction materials purchased from the Feiyun Commerce Guild and Northland Bank had almost all been handed over.

"Lord Lin Yi, everything is ready. Would you like to check the inventory one more time?"

"No need to waste time. I bought a hundred and twenty percent of the required amount for every material. Set out immediately-we can't afford any delays!"

Sensing Lin Yi's serious, meticulous attitude, the troops naturally grew more cautious as well.

The procession was an imposing sight, occupying an entire street.

People came out of every household to watch curiously.

Keqing and Xiangling would naturally accompany the group. Even Xingqiu, the Feiyun Commerce Guild's second young master, chose to follow so he could hear more of "Douluo Continent," and he even brought along the guild's Guard Team.

With such an enormous procession, it would have been difficult not to attract attention.

What puzzled Lin Yi, however, was that Ningguang still hadn't appeared despite all this commotion.

Is my wife really avoiding me on purpose?

Whatever. I'll deal with her once I finish this and come back!

Lin Yi missed her, but with important matters at hand, romance would have to wait.

Keqing even offered to take Lin Yi to see Ningguang, but he turned her down.

"There's no need. We haven't seen much of each other these past two days, but we're husband and wife. Our hearts are one. She'll understand me."

Keqing nodded at his words.

As Lin Yi walked past her, a mischievous smile actually appeared on her face.

After spending some time with him, she had learned that although Lin Yi was usually easygoing, he never overlooked the finer details.

When it came to important matters, the sense of security he inspired was even greater than the Tianquan's.

But even if my opinion of him has changed, I still can't tell him ahead of time. Otherwise, it won't be a surprise~

No wonder everyone in Liyue had been acting strangely these past two days, as though they were deliberately keeping something from Lin Yi.

Even after the procession left,

Ningguang still hadn't appeared before the public.

At that moment, Shenhe, who hadn't been seen in public for a long time, made a rare visit to the city.

For one thing, she was following her master's orders to purchase some daily necessities.

As for her own little selfish wish, she had come to the city hoping to see Lin Yi.

Shenhe had been cultivating alone away from civilization and had only recently returned to Liyue.

She wasn't particularly well informed and didn't know that Liyue had a new Geo Archon.

Cloud Retainer had been busy with something lately and hadn't told Shenhe about the situation in the city.

Shenhe still didn't know that Lin Yi was the Geo Archon...

"Please have a seat, miss. We happen to have an empty table!"

After the waiter showed her to a seat, Shenhe sipped her tea and watched Tian Tie Zui's solo comic performance, but her attention wandered. Her thoughts had long since drifted to a certain man.

Just then, Tian Tie Zui noticed Shenhe.

He had once encountered danger while traveling and received Shenhe's protection, so this refined Adeptus had left a deep impression on him.

During his break, Tian Tie Zui brought over his finest tea and snacks and took a seat across from Shenhe.

The other patrons were surprised to see it.

After all, Tian Tie Zui was notoriously uncompromising. He never held private performances for the powerful or wealthy, and everyone who came to listen received the same treatment: tea, two snacks, and a fan.

Apart from Morax, who had brought prosperity to Liyue, and figures such as the Tianquan, few received Tian Tie Zui's personal attention. Most people were seeing this cool, breathtakingly beautiful woman for the first time.

If Lady Ningguang possessed a beauty worthy of a nation, it would be no exaggeration to say Shenhe's beauty could bring kingdoms to their knees.

"It's been so long, honored Adeptus. Why didn't you let me know you were coming to Liyue today? Now I've failed to welcome you properly!"

Shenhe's lips curved faintly, almost but not quite a smile. Her cool, pale skin looked delicate enough to break at a touch, yet she gave off an air that kept others at a distance.

"There's no need for such courtesy... I'd like to ask you something. Is there a man named Lin Yi in the city who wields Geo?"

Lin Yi?

Forget Tian Tie Zui-even the cats and dogs knew that name!

Morax was gone, and the New God, Lin Yi, had addressed flaws in the existing policies and was even steering Liyue toward an entirely new path of development.

His achievements as a god would be extraordinary not only in Liyue, but eventually across the entire continent!

However, Tian Tie Zui sidestepped the more important details.

"Of course there is. Ah, what unfortunate timing... Lord Lin Yi stopped here for a short rest just an hour ago. He should be leading his procession to the Guili Plains now."

"The Guili Plains? I understand. Sorry for troubling you."

"Not at all. Come again whenever you have time. You can listen to my performances free of charge, honored Adeptus!"

Shenhe left thoughtfully, leaving Tian Tie Zui sitting there with his curiosity piqued.

"I've asked around before. The honored Adeptus Shenhe is a powerful figure unfamiliar with worldly affairs. Even when Morax descended, she rarely appeared to meet him. Why is she so curious about Lord Lin Yi now?"

Something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Tian Tie Zui didn't dare dwell on it. After all, it was taboo for mortals to speculate about an Adeptus.

After leaving and purchasing her supplies, Shenhe entrusted an Adeptal Beast companion with taking them back to Mt. Aocang.

Having learned that Lin Yi had left, she found herself wandering the streets somewhat aimlessly.

Her stunning beauty would have amazed even other women, so she naturally drew attention.

Since Lin Yi isn't here, I'll come back another time. Perhaps I'll need to visit the Guili Plains to investigate something in a few days, too.

After wandering around for a while, Shenhe unexpectedly arrived before the Jade Chamber.

Normally, the Liyue Qixing and senior administrative staff would come and go every day to deliver their reports.

Today, however, the place wasn't merely quiet. Its doors were tightly shut, with hardly a soul in sight.

Using her Vision to sense her surroundings, she discovered that only a handful of people remained inside.

Since I've come down the mountain into the mortal world, I should pay a visit. It would be the courteous thing to do.

Shenhe had even prepared a gift for Ningguang: an ancient secret manual she had obtained by chance while cultivating away from civilization.

She had just reached the door and had yet to knock when she heard breathless panting behind her.

Turning around, she saw a deliveryman.

"A package for the Jade Chamber! Sorry for the trouble, my lady, but please accept it!"

The deliveryman was in such a hurry that he didn't even have time to look up at Shenhe's face.

Sensing the unique, Adeptus-like aura around her, he simply assumed she was someone important from the Jade Chamber.

"Wait, I'm not..."

Before Shenhe could finish, the deliveryman thrust the gift box into her arms, turned, and ran out of sight.

Shenhe was left holding the gift box, at something of a loss.

Someone must have sent this to the Jade Chamber. I'd better give it to its intended recipient.

Still, Shenhe took a curious look and found a small note tucked against the back of the gift box.

It read:

[A precious gift for a beautiful lady]

The signature below was none other than Lin Yi's.

Could he have known I was coming?