Inside the room, moonlight cascaded down, creating a serene atmosphere.
Keqing turned around, trembling, her pretty face flushed with a deep crimson hue. Lumine had dumped her here and ran off, leaving her all alone! The key issue wasn't just being left behind, but that remark about "delivering a wife."
How was she supposed to start a conversation now?
"Master... Master Ye Xi... The Traveler, she..."
Seeing Keqing resembling a panicked kitten, Ye Xi smiled and said, "It was that brat teasing you again, right?"
"Eh!?"
Keqing was slightly stunned, then hurriedly nodded. "Right...! It was the Traveler joking again..."
As she spoke, Keqing's voice trailed off. She felt a surge of frustration at her own incompetence! 'What am I saying!?' Although she had found a way out of the awkwardness, didn't this mean she had run out of things to say again?
Ye Xi sighed helplessly. That Lumine really was something. She claimed she would help handle Keqing, but getting the girl drunk and tossing her over—was that proper? He certainly wouldn't take advantage of someone in a precarious state. It seemed he would have to teach that blonde idiot a good lesson later.
Thinking of this, he changed the subject. "Keqing, there's actually something I need to discuss with you. Regarding the route map for the return to Liyue tomorrow, what do you think of this?"
"Route map?"
Upon hearing about work, the shyness in Keqing's heart was suppressed slightly. She put on a serious expression and walked quickly to the desk.
On the desk, there was a sand table map. Both Sumeru and Liyue were encompassed within it. Ye Xi had marked the route map on the sand table in advance. One line was for the Railway, and the other was a highway for trucks.
Starting from Sumeru City, the route passed through Lidu Valley, heading northeast, which was above The Chasm.
That area happened to be a low valley between two mountains, connecting to the Lumberpick Valley mine in the south. The ore excavated from The Chasm could be loaded onto vehicles and transported directly from there.
The line led straight to Tianqiu Valley, where it diverted. One direction went towards Wangshu Inn, and the other towards Liyue Harbor.
Seeing the route drawn by Ye Xi, Keqing nodded repeatedly in admiration. "Not bad! This fits Liyue's terrain perfectly! Ye Xi, you really are amazing!"
"As the Yuheng who manages the land of Liyue, my understanding of Liyue's terrain isn't even as good as yours!"
She truly admired Ye Xi; this sand table was made exactly like the real Liyue! Not only that, but the route planning was also extremely reasonable. It offered high speed and flat terrain—it was the most suitable route!
One had to know that in this era of relying on maps, for such an engineering project, it would be absolutely impossible to find this route so quickly without conducting field surveys for a year or so!
Ye Xi smiled and said, "Good, then we will set off early tomorrow morning. I will transport Sumeru's fruits to Liyue Harbor, and on the way back, pick up ore from The Chasm. Here's to a happy cooperation!"
Looking at the hand Ye Xi extended, Keqing reached out and grasped it. However, when Ye Xi wanted to retract his hand, he found that the soft, tender little hand was holding onto him tightly.
"Keqing?"
The girl lowered her head, saying nothing, her face flushed with intoxication.
"Are you drunk?"
Keqing still did not respond. Ye Xi had no choice but to maintain the posture, not moving a muscle.
To be honest, Keqing's warm and soft little hand was really quite nice; he enjoyed it too. Her skin was dense and smooth, her jade-like fingers slender and delicate. Holding them felt soft and delightful, making one reluctant to let go. Those pink, lustrous fingernails looked exquisitely beautiful under the light.
If it weren't for the fact that Keqing wasn't his wife yet, he would have wished to properly knead this small hand and rub those smooth, shiny little fingernails with his fingertips.
Just as he couldn't help but let his thoughts wander, Keqing's other small hand suddenly grasped the hem of his clothes. The girl raised her pretty head slightly and looked over.
In an instant, Ye Xi's eyes widened, and his heartbeat involuntarily skipped a beat.
Keqing's pretty face was filled with shyness, her cheeks like the red clouds of evening—whether due to alcohol or bashfulness was unclear. Within those beautiful, moving eyes, it was like a pool of water, delicate and touching. In her fragile gaze, there was a shyness and longing that threw caution to the wind. Meeting her eyes, he felt as if his heart were about to melt.
"Keqing, you..."
At this moment, Keqing's thoughts were completely chaotic. Her mind was blank, and she only felt her heart pounding wildly. She had never imagined that she, the high-ranking and powerful Liyue Qixing, would have such a flustered moment. Her outwardly strong self turned out to be so fragile.
As if she had made some determination, Keqing's cherry lips parted slightly, and she whispered, "I... I have a wish. I want to witness the Liyue Harbor of the new era together with you...!"
This sudden sentence made Ye Xi slightly stunned. But he seemed to understand what Keqing wanted to do. So he nodded and responded in a lowered voice, "Okay."
"Ye Xi, can you accompany me to live in Liyue?"
"Uh? Why do you ask that?"
Keqing took a deep breath and said seriously, "I want to be with you, to turn Liyue Harbor bit by bit into the appearance we desire. As long as you are by my side, no matter what problems I encounter, I can ask you. I am afraid of you leaving, leaving me at a loss."
These words put Ye Xi in a difficult spot. He had settled down in Sumeru now, so naturally, he had to return at night. If he went to Liyue, what about his wives?
Just as he was pondering, Keqing suddenly let go of his hand and hugged him instead. In that instant, an alluring fragrance erupted from beneath the bath towel, from the valley between... rushing over and filling Ye Xi's nose. That faint scent was simply intoxicating.
While Ye Xi was enraptured, the girl's whisper came to his ear: "I feel more and more that you are the ideal person in my heart."
"Keqing, are you drunk?"
"No... I am serious!"
Ye Xi looked down and saw that Keqing's beautiful eyes were full of determination. He understood.
"So that's how it is. Is witnessing the Liyue Harbor of the new era together your wish?"
Keqing nodded. "I want to become... family."
"Mm."
Ye Xi smiled gently. "Your wish is my promise to you."
As he spoke, he reached out and touched the girl's pretty face, unable to resist teasing, "Keqing, your face is so hot."
Keqing asked in a small voice, her face blushing with shame, "Can you help me cool down? Master..."
Ye Xi casually released a streak of electric current, shattering the lamp. The room plunged into darkness.
Under the moonlight, the girl looked delicate and ravishing. Her eyes were watery, filled with desire. She lowered her head and actively undid the white bath towel. As the fabric slipped down, a perfect treasure came into view.
"As you wish."
Ye Xi clasped the girl's willow-like waist and easily lifted her up.
*
Liyue Harbor. At the Jade Chamber.
Baiwen, Baishi, and Baixiao were dressing Ningguang. The high-quality silk qipao covered Ningguang's flawless skin, and in a short while, she was neatly dressed.
Baishi went to the door and said softly, "Miss Yelan, you may come in now!"
The next moment, the door opened a crack, and a weary-looking Yelan walked in.
"Ningguang, regarding the matter you asked me to investigate, there are quite a few astonishing discoveries."
As soon as these words came out, Ningguang, who had just been woken up, instantly lost all sleepiness. "Thank you for your hard work. Quickly, tell me what news there is."
She had Yelan sit at the table, where the secretaries had already prepared tea. Yelan downed several cups of water in one go and breathed a sigh of relief. "I just rushed back from Jueyun Karst."
"Jueyun Karst?"
Ningguang was somewhat puzzled. "Weren't you going to investigate Ye Xi's friend? Why did you go to such a faraway place?"
"It's a long story..."
Yelan recounted what she had seen and heard over the past two days to Ningguang. Hearing that Ye Xi's friend was Zhongli, Ningguang was also very surprised.
"Zhongli? You mean that guest consultant from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? To think it was him..."
Ningguang could never have imagined that Ye Xi would actually know Zhongli!
"That's right. Besides that, I suspect that Mr. Zhongli and Ye Xi are both Adepti!"
"What!?"
This news made even Ningguang unable to resist feeling horrified. She pressed, "Did you discover something?"
Yelan nodded and spoke about the matters she heard at Wanmin Restaurant. Then came the shocking scene she saw after heading to Jueyun Karst.
Ningguang couldn't help but widen her eyes, sighing, "This news is indeed extraordinary."
The three little secretaries serving at the side were also dumbstruck. They had been secretly discussing Ye Xi's affairs for the past two days. A handsome young master suddenly appearing in Liyue Harbor had already garnered their favorable impressions. Hearing that Ye Xi was an Adeptus and hearing the story of him defeating the Liyue Ancient Dragon King with just a few punches and kicks filled their hearts with worship and admiration.
'Did you hear that! That Master Ye Xi is an Adeptus!'
'So amazing! If one could form a bond with an Adeptus, wouldn't that be the greatest fortune!'
"What are you thinking? How could he look at mortals like us?"
Speaking of this, the three of them sighed simultaneously. Suddenly, Baixiao's eyes lit up.
"We don't have a chance, but that doesn't mean Lady Ningguang doesn't have a chance! If Lady Ningguang marries him, can't we go along as dowry maids?"
"That is a good idea!"
Baishi felt a surge of excitement and whispered, "In that case, I can be together with my beloved Lady Ningguang, and also have a handsome man!"
Among Ningguang's three little secretaries, Baishi was the one who liked Ningguang the most. Every time she dressed Ningguang, she couldn't help but feel excitement and appreciation for Ningguang's tender body! The thought of following Ningguang to marry into an Adeptus's abode made her feel extremely agitated.
The three people's whispering did not affect Ningguang on the side. At this moment, she had finished listening to the entire situation Yelan had encountered. Thus, she and Yelan had the same question.
Who exactly is Zhongli!
After pondering for a long time, Ningguang actually already had the answer. But she dared not believe this answer.
"Baishi, go invite Mr. Zhongli for a talk tomorrow!"
"Eh!?"
Baishi was somewhat stunned but hurriedly replied, "...Yes! Lady Ningguang!"
She went to the table on the side and began to organize Ningguang's itinerary.
Ningguang looked at the bright moon outside the window and muttered to herself, "Did he help Liyue solve a great crisis? Sure enough, Liyue Harbor cannot be without him!"
Now, she increasingly believed that Ye Xi was an indispensable force for Liyue's Age of Human Rule!
Initially, she thought Ye Xi's mechanism technique rivaled the Adepti and that he was a talent Liyue needed. So she had intentions of recruiting him as a subordinate.
Later, she discovered Ye Xi had a first-class eye and profound knowledge, so she changed her attention. Just like with Yelan, she wanted to make deals with Ye Xi, mutually utilizing each other as equals.
But now, hearing about Ye Xi's powerful strength—that he could even crush the legendary Azhdaha—she was completely convinced. She knew Ye Xi wouldn't make deals with her. Because her status could not be mentioned in the same breath as Ye Xi! She would forever be beneath Ye Xi!
What she could do was simply retain him! Try every possible method to retain him!
How she wished Ye Xi were penniless. That way, she could give Ye Xi handfuls of Mora, directly keeping Ye Xi for herself! Let Ye Xi become Liyue's live-in son-in-law!
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but sigh and murmur, "Keqing, is it going smoothly on your end?"
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