Mu Yang set off from Liyue Harbor and passed through Port Ormos.
He headed toward one of Dori's strongholds.
"Where is your boss?"
Mu Yang casually grabbed a person and asked.
That person had seen Mu Yang a few times and knew that he had a share in this business, so he honestly answered the question.
After all, he did not want to be fired tomorrow for using his left hand to carry goods first.
According to the underling.
Dori had been quite busy these past few days. Ever since she got closer and closer with Layla.
She had been thinking about making a fortune from this astrology genius.
Right now, she was taking Layla on a trip under the guise of study travel.
And surprisingly, Dori was the one covering the expenses.
At least that was what the cargo-carrying underling had heard.
Mu Yang silently mourned for Layla for one second.
Dori's investments in other people usually found ways to return several times over.
However, if it was Layla's other personality, she probably would not be so easy to take advantage of.
What a pity. He did not know exactly where they had gone.
Otherwise, Mu Yang really wanted to see what kind of sparks they would create.
Since Dori was not there, Mu Yang did not choose to stay in Sumeru's rain forest area.
Because of Clarisse's rampage, he had not experienced Sumeru's main storyline.
He was not very familiar with the people of Sumeru.
As for the Dendro Archon, her authority was dreams.
Mu Yang was still quite resistant to this kind of thing...
After all, the last time someone made him enter a dream was not a good day.
Soon, Mu Yang left Port Ormos and headed straight for Caravan Ribat.
This place had become much livelier compared to the last time he came.
It was probably inseparable from Aaru Village's development.
And Aaru Village's development was brought by Mu Yang.
There was no problem saying that at all.
Even Candace herself thought so.
Although most of their goods were purchased from Dori.
But the reason they could get such high-quality supply sources and low prices was because Dori's backer was Mu Yang.
Otherwise, it would have been very difficult for their Aaru Village to negotiate with the big merchant Dori.
Mu Yang had not thought so much. He was simply using Aaru Village for his own convenience.
At the beginning, it was to lay out the Sumeru main storyline.
Later, it was temporarily not needed.
When the 3.8 island event came, he found another reason to help Aaru Village clear out the bandits along the way.
The purpose was only to encounter Idyia's bottle in the desert.
Both times were just reasonable use of Aaru Village.
However, these words could not be said to outsiders.
To Aaru Village, he was still that kind and benevolent big merchant.
He was someone that the men, women, old and young in the village all felt grateful for.
Sure enough, as soon as Mu Yang arrived at the village entrance, the children came up to welcome him and crowded around him.
The guardian Candace knew that Mu Yang liked quiet, so she pretended to scold them a couple of times and dispersed the children.
Candace's house.
Candace served the finest tea.
Mu Yang could tell with one sniff that it came from Chenyu Vale.
The desert originally had no habit of drinking tea.
Candace was just following the example.
What she used to like doing most was leisurely strolling in the village, watching the sunrise and sunset, and watching the children in the village play around.
Watching the days pass by one after another.
Later, Mu Yang brought business opportunities to the village, and her life became busy.
She rarely had such leisurely days anymore.
However, busy and fulfilling days that allowed Aaru Village to develop and prosper were not bad either.
One day, Candace finally gained a whole day of leisure.
She wandered around the village and finally sat in her own small courtyard, always feeling that something was missing.
She thought of Mu Yang again, so she took out the tea leaves she had specially bought to entertain Mu Yang and brewed a pot for herself...
From then on, she gradually fell in love with this taste and this kind of life.
Mu Yang listened to Candace's plans for future commercial development.
Now, Aaru Village had become the largest transit center in the desert.
The trade routes extended in all directions, and there was also the deterrence Mu Yang had previously given to the Eremites.
If things continued like this, it would soon reach its limit.
Regarding whether to develop toward Fontaine or Natlan next.
The village had vaguely split into two factions.
However, there was still quite a long way to go before that stage.
They were just asking Mu Yang's opinion in advance.
What a coincidence?
Besides passing by to catch up today, what Mu Yang wanted to talk about was exactly this matter.
This time he was going to Natlan to understand the situation.
"How much do you know about Natlan?" Mu Yang asked.
Candace shook her head. Her situation was similar to Baizhu's.
She had only met some Natlan traveling merchants.
She had only heard some interesting stories from their mouths.
Candace suddenly thought of something. "Wait a moment."
She got up and returned to her bedroom, then picked two dazzling gems from the box where she kept her jewelry.
This box was one of Candace's treasures.
She loved these cute accessories.
However, as the guardian of Aaru Village, she should not wear these cute ornaments on her body.
At least she had to maintain her dignity.
She would have to wait until after she stepped down...
Candace placed the two reddish-brown gems on the table for Mu Yang to admire.
"Not long ago, a traveling merchant came from afar and started selling gems and ornaments around Aaru Village..."
As the guardian of Aaru Village and the biggest decision-maker of the desert commodity transit station.
Candace naturally had to step forward to inquire about the other party's identity.
After confirming that the other party had no issues, they had a simple chat.
"I originally should have politely declined the recommendation and turned to leave..."
"But at that moment, the reddish-brown light caught my eye, and I couldn't help but recall the legends my grandfather told me when I was a child..."
Mu Yang listened and nodded repeatedly. Whatever you say, it is.
To others, your liking for small ornaments might be a secret.
But to me, it is not. There is really no need to bring up your grandfather...
He examined the objects on the table. The sculptor's technique was indeed exquisite.
It was only a little worse than his own, Mu Yang thought to himself.
With such skill, it was indeed enough to attract a girl like Candace.
It seemed the other party should also be a woman of similar age.
Perhaps she really recalled her grandfather. While Mu Yang was examining the items, Candace kept talking beside him.
"Now the flames of war have been buried by wind and sand. After long periods of displacement, the desert people have finally lived stable lives, and a large part of that is thanks to you..."
The stories that happened on this wasteland were indeed bizarre and full of ups and downs.
Unfortunately, what Mu Yang lacked the least was this kind of information.
He even knew the secrets of the Seelie and the Scarlet King.
He could casually say a few that would overturn Candace's current understanding.
But as a qualified listener, Mu Yang politely listened to everything.
Only after a round of discussion did he bring the topic back to the gems themselves.
"Did the Natlan traveling merchant mention the name of this gem craftsman? Maybe I can pay her a visit."
"Xilonen of the Children of Echoes. She is said to be a very famous forging artisan."
"Xilonen... I've noted it down..."
The two chatted idly for quite a while more. Candace stood up. "I know you are very powerful, but it is still better not to challenge the desert at night. Why don't you rest in Aaru Village for one night..."
Mu Yang thought that he was not in a hurry anyway, so he agreed.
It was not until Candace said she would go cook that he realized the atmosphere felt a bit strange.
He could not let these rumors spread!
Mu Yang made an excuse to go for a walk outside and high-profilely opened the best room at the tavern.
Eating was eating, but he could not let others misunderstand...