Upon hearing Ye Xi's words, the Adepti and everyone around them were utterly speechless.
"I thought it was bold enough how Big Sis talks to Lady Ningguang — turns out this Master Ye Xi is an even greater master at this sort of thing!"
"This guy's on a whole other level."
"They say when Big Sis plays chess against Lady Ningguang, it's not about winning or losing — it's that Big Sis has the guts to win Lady Ningguang's money off her. But Master Ye Xi's even more savage! He went and called an Adept [that woman] right to her face!"
"If an ordinary person talked like that, wouldn't they be beaten to death on the spot?"
"Just what's Master Ye Xi's background, anyway?"
After almost a month adrift on the open sea, these sailors knew nothing — they had even less news than the Millelith.
So at this moment, they were all marveling at Ye Xi's nerve.
Cloud Retainer, however, was not the least bit angry.
She merely gave a single snort, every inch the haughty tsundere.
"This humble adept has taken a look at this [divine-grade Maritime Motion Mechanism] of yours — quite remarkable, truly."
"If placed in my grotto, it would make a fitting ornament."
"When idle, one could sit at the prow and fish — a fine pastime."
The subtext of those words couldn't have been more obvious.
Plainly put:
I like this ship — get me one too.
Out of Cloud Retainer's mouth, though, it came out as some [divine-grade XX mechanism], [ornament] nonsense.
The two True Lords beside her were utterly at a loss.
Was she joking?
Something this enormous — as an ornament?
For whose enjoyment?
As far as Cloud Retainer's grotto went, no one set foot in it from one year to the next.
And what was all this about sitting at the prow to fish?
A lone skiff drifting on the water, a figure seated at the bow — sure, that had real poetic atmosphere.
But sitting on a cruiser to go fishing? What atmosphere was that supposed to convey, exactly?
If you wanted it, just say you wanted it — yet she had to put on these airs.
Only after hearing that tone did Ye Xi finally realize — the gorgeous beauty before him was that bird, Cloud Retainer.
Though he wasn't actually bothered by Cloud Retainer's roundabout way of putting things.
He was just a little surprised — he hadn't expected this bird to take an interest in ships, of all things.
He countered, "This ship isn't something I can just hand over on a whim. You'll have to offer me something in exchange, no?"
"Something in exchange?"
Cloud Retainer folded her arms and said, "This humble adept has a disciple, named Shenhe."
"Ah-He has trained under me for many years — she is the disciple I cherish most, and I have treated her as my own daughter."
"I am willing to betroth her to you. How does that sound?"
"Eeeh—!?"
Ganyu's face was a picture of shock.
Back at the Lantern Rite, she had met Shenhe, and their bond had grown a great deal closer since.
Shenhe was a girl of few words.
She seemed cold and unapproachable on the surface, but in truth it was only because she had been raised in the mountains since childhood and was simply unfamiliar with worldly affairs.
Over the years, Shenhe had always been the disciple Cloud Retainer treasured most.
To think — a disciple that beloved, handed off in a single sentence? Ganyu was rather taken aback.
Ye Xi hadn't expected Cloud Retainer to say something like that either.
A ship in exchange for a wife — what a steal!
What's more, he recalled that Shenhe's natal chart was ill-favored — she fell under the Lonely Star, and clashed with the Calamity Killer.
The Adepti had used the red-rope soul-binding technique to seal away the malevolent aura and killing intent within her.
That malevolent aura and killing intent were, in essence, very similar to the [Karma] carried by Xiao.
If he could absorb that [malevolent aura] from Shenhe, he might well be able to replenish his Abyss Power again!
So no matter how he looked at it, this was an absolute steal!
Even so — was it really right to decide Shenhe's fate like this?
Even if Cloud Retainer was Shenhe's master, dispensing with the whole of Shenhe's life that casually still felt rather improper.
Ganyu thought so too.
However, before Ye Xi could even reply, Moon Carver, standing to one side, couldn't watch any longer.
"Cloud Retainer, your scheming is awfully loud, don't you think? The Shenhe child was originally—"
"Moon Carver, hold your tongue!"
Cloud Retainer panicked, gave a snort, and seemed genuinely vexed.
One look at that reaction made it clear — this woman had her own little schemes brewing.
Ye Xi then spoke up. "True Lord Moon Carver, what exactly is going on?"
Now that Ye Xi had asked, Moon Carver went on: "This humble adept recently cast a divination for the Shenhe child."
"The hexagram revealed that you, young friend, can unbind Shenhe's Lonely-Star, Calamity-Killer fate — there is a red-thread bond of companionship between you."
"We had been planning to find an opportunity to ask your help with the Shenhe child all along."
At that, it all suddenly clicked for Ye Xi.
Put plainly: this woman wanted to freeload off him, and grab a few extra perks along the way!
She was going to ask him for the favor in the first place — and now look, she was not only handing Shenhe over to him to have him unbind Shenhe's fate…
…she was also seizing the chance to swindle a free ship out of him into the bargain!
This woman — what a sly one!
Catching the look in Ye Xi's eye, Cloud Retainer suddenly found it hard to keep up appearances.
"Ahem…"
"This humble adept only had the thought because your ship struck me as rather fine."
"If you're unwilling, this humble adept simply won't take it!"
As she spoke — perhaps because her human form's expressions gave too much away — she reverted to the shape of a celestial crane.
Only that bird-head was tilted high, the very picture of refusing to admit a thing.
It was shameless stonewalling, plain as day.
The sight tickled Ye Xi, and he waved a hand. "I'm not a stingy man."
"If you want this ship, I'll have one delivered to you another day."
"When I have the time, I'll drop by your grotto — and have a look at Shenhe while I'm there."
At those words, Cloud Retainer's mood lifted at once, and she nodded eagerly. "Mm, mm! Excellent, excellent indeed!"
The two True Lords beside her praised him over and over.
"As expected of our young friend — truly generous."
"Hearing you put it that way, this humble adept is rather tempted myself. Young friend — if I take in a female disciple now, can I come trade her for a ship a couple of years down the line as well?"
Ye Xi: ???
Good grief.
Were they trying to exploit the system here?
These two were even worse than the first!?
Hearing the exchange between Ye Xi and the Adepti, the surrounding Millelith and fleet crew were all left dumbstruck.
"J— just like that… he married an Adept's precious disciple!?"
"I'm not dreaming, am I? What a magical-realist reality!"
"I want an Adept's disciple too!"
"Even the Adepti are willing to marry their disciples off to Master Ye Xi! Just who on earth is Master Ye Xi!?"
"However you look at it, our Southern Cross fleet's old-boss has Adepti backing her now! That's the real capital!"
"Amazing — truly amazing!"
"..."
And it wasn't just them — even Ningguang, Beidou, and the rest found it scarcely believable.
These were Adepti standing before them, after all!
That Ye Xi addressed the Adepti without standing on ceremony was one thing — but in just a few sentences, he'd carried home a wife (and turned a profit doing it)!
Wasn't that just a tad too hasty?
Beidou murmured into Ningguang's ear, "What kind of background does this man of yours have, anyway? His connections run that deep?"
"It's a long story. I'll fill you in slowly once we're back."
If Beidou ever learned about all the things Ye Xi had done, there was no telling how stunned she'd be.
At Ningguang's words, Beidou marveled, "No wonder he's got even you wrapped around his little finger — so Ye Xi is this formidable!"
Ningguang's brow furrowed — clearly she wasn't pleased with the way Beidou had put it.
After a few more exchanges, the three True Lords headed below deck to take a stroll.
The ship was enormous; the space below deck was substantial too, plenty for them to make a full circuit.
Some of the sailors followed along eagerly behind them.
From now on, this would be their ship — their home.
They couldn't wait to look the place over.
Once the crowd had dispersed, Yae Miko finally drifted over.
She felt she needed to have a proper talk with Ye Xi!
She wanted one of these ships too!
...
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