A safekeeping contract

The two at the city gate were, naturally, Xingqiu, the second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, and A-Xu, a servant of the guild.

After leaving the inn last night, Yucheng had sought out A-Xu, a servant of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, and explained that he had a treasure he needed to leave in the guild's safekeeping. He had not specified what the treasure was, only asking A-Xu to wait near Liyue's southern city gate the following morning.

At first, A-Xu had not taken him seriously. Yucheng had no reputation in Liyue, his clothes were not luxurious, and he did not even have a Vision to signify his strength. What valuable possessions could an Inazuman with neither strength nor backing possibly have?

As it happened, the second young master, Xingqiu, had overheard A-Xu's complaints about Yucheng. Xingqiu was never one to stay cooped up at home. Whenever an opportunity arose, he liked to travel far afield and perform acts of chivalry. After scolding A-Xu for judging people by their appearance, he had naturally accompanied him to wait at the southern city gate.

However, it seemed they had been stood up. Just as the two were about to give up waiting, Yucheng appeared before them with Shenhe, who was carrying a mountain.

When Shenhe set down the Mingxia Floating Life Stone, everyone present felt the ground shake. They could not help marveling that this woman was truly extraordinary.

Upon seeing Yucheng, who had sought him out yesterday, A-Xu stepped forward enthusiastically and shook his hand. His earlier impatience and disdain had vanished without a trace.

At the same time, his admiration for his young master's judgment grew. When Xingqiu had criticized him yesterday, A-Xu had actually felt somewhat unconvinced, but his young master's position had left him no choice but to obediently agree. While waiting for Yucheng, he had also harbored some resentment.

But all his discontent vanished the instant he saw the Mingxia Floating Life Stone. What a joke-with such a rare Mingxia Floating Life Stone sitting right before his eyes, if he still failed to show some courtesy, all his years of living would have been wasted.

Fortunately, he had come today. Otherwise, he would have missed an incredible opportunity.

"Mr. Uchiha Yucheng, correct? We've finally caught you. Thank you for placing your trust in the Feiyun Commerce Guild. Oh, right, this is our guild's second young master, Xingqiu."

Yucheng's gaze instantly shifted to the young lady beside him... Young master? A man? This is actually a man? Holy shit! Xingqiu, my six-star Hydro god, we finally meet.

Yucheng quickly recovered from his shock, shook Xingqiu's hand, and said with a smile, "Having the Feiyun Commerce Guild's second young master receive me in person leaves me rather overwhelmed. Hello, my name is Uchiha Yucheng. You can just call me Yucheng. This is my friend, Shenhe."

"Not at all, Mr. Yucheng. You're too kind. It is our guild's honor that you would entrust your treasured Mingxia Floating Life Stone to us. To be honest, since Lady Ningguang finished building the Jade Chamber, I haven't seen a Mingxia Floating Life Stone in years, much less one as enormous as yours."

"It was simply luck. Luck."

"Nearly all the Mingxia Floating Life Stones documented today already have owners. I'm very curious where you obtained such an enormous stone that has yet to be activated, Mr. Yucheng. Of course, it is merely curiosity. The Feiyun Commerce Guild respects our customers' privacy, so you need not say anything if you prefer not to."

"There's nothing to hide. I happened to find the abode of the Sea of Clouds, Sea of Moonlight Adeptus and discovered this Mingxia Floating Life Stone inside."

"It really is the one from the Sea of Clouds, Sea of Moonlight Adeptus's collection?" Xingqiu's voice grew excited.

"Oh? Young Master Xingqiu, you know of the Sea of Clouds, Sea of Moonlight Adeptus too?"

"Just call me Xingqiu. The Records of Xianyun states that the Sea of Clouds, Sea of Moonlight Adeptus once personally constructed an abode to store all manner of rare treasures, including a Mingxia Floating Life Stone. In fact, when I first saw this stone, I had a feeling it was the one from the adeptus's collection. I just never imagined it really would be that very stone, or that it would be so enormous."

"You really are knowledgeable."

"Not at all. I simply enjoy reading miscellaneous books in my spare time. I thought no one besides me knew anything about the Sea of Clouds, Sea of Moonlight Adeptus. To think you actually found the adeptus's abandoned abode."

"Then, in your judgment, how much do you think this Mingxia Floating Life Stone is worth?"

"With the right arrangements, our Feiyun Commerce Guild is confident we could auction it for over two hundred million Mora."

"Only two hundred million Mora?" Yucheng frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the price.

Seeing Yucheng's dissatisfaction, Xingqiu hurriedly explained, "There's little we can do. The uses of Mingxia Floating Life Stones are too specialized, and very few people need them. That price already includes a modest premium on account of its extreme rarity.

"Moreover, forgive my frankness, but at that price, it would likely take a long time to find a suitable customer."

"Why is that?"

Xingqiu pointed up at the sky. Yucheng looked up and immediately spotted the Jade Chamber suspended high above.

"In Liyue today, Lady Ningguang, the Tianquan, holds the highest standing. The Jade Chamber is the only floating building in all of Liyue Harbor. Your Floating Life Stone is so enormous that it would be enough to build a small Jade Chamber upon it.

"If a second floating building appeared in Liyue Harbor, although Liyue's laws contain no relevant provisions, no one could say for certain whether it would offend Lady Ningguang. If she were to make things difficult for its owner afterward, that alone would be enough to make his life miserable."

Looking at the Jade Chamber high in the sky, Yucheng's lips curved into a charming smile. He knew perfectly well what fate awaited the Jade Chamber before him. In that case, he would wait and see how things unfolded.

"Ah, in that case, I'll leave this Mingxia Floating Life Stone in the Feiyun Commerce Guild's safekeeping for now."

"That won't be a problem. Our guild will arrange a dedicated warehouse to keep it safe. However, you will need to pay the storage fee first."

"Huh? I'm already short of money at the moment. I was hoping selling the Mingxia Floating Life Stone would help meet my pressing needs."

"In that case, our guild can waive the storage fee for the time being. You need only entrust us with the right to sell the Mingxia Floating Life Stone. We will find a buyer for you, and once the transaction is completed, we will deduct our commission and the storage fee from the sale price.

"Of course, if you change your mind later and wish to retrieve the Mingxia Floating Life Stone, you need only pay the outstanding storage fee. What do you think?"

"Excellent, excellent."

"Very well. Let us sign a contract, then."

And so, Yucheng and Xingqiu signed a fairly flexible safekeeping contract. In the nation of Liyue, nothing was more binding than a contract. As the God of Contracts, Rex Lapis upheld one law above all others: [Once a contract is made, those who break their word shall suffer the Wrath of the Rock.]