On a sun-drenched afternoon, Keqing and Ningguang, two of the Liyue Qixing, quietly listened to Nolan's account.
Before long, Nolan had succinctly recounted the misdeeds of the Fatui in Mondstadt.
"So that's how it is. The Fatui are collecting Gnosis; if that's the case, they are likely the culprits," Ningguang said, musing over the information.
However, merely suspecting without evidence seemed meaningless, as they couldn't confront the Fatui based solely on Nolan's word.
"Damn it, they even want to sow discord between the Qixing and the Adepti!" Keqing's pale and delicate face showed anger.
As a more radical reformist, she wasn't particularly fond of the Adepti, who lived in the mountains yet still influenced Liyue.
However, she knew that transitioning Liyue to being entirely governed by humans would require waiting for the right time and proceeding gradually. Change couldn't be forced through violence.
The Fatui were clearly up to no good.
While the Qixing had been very wary of them, it was still surprising to learn they were involved in such actions.
Seeing that Ningguang and Keqing suspected the Fatui of being the culprits behind the Archon's death, Nolan didn't add much.
Though not the absolute truth, the Fatui would indeed play a significant role in the upcoming events, even releasing the sealed ancient god.
However, all of this was within the Geo Archon's control, as he had orchestrated these events. Whether the situation would develop as expected after Nolan's warning to Ningguang remained uncertain.
Ultimately, the initiative lay with the Geo Archon, and the necessary events would happen regardless of any complications.
"Yes, we will make sure to protect the Archon's 'immortal body' carefully. Thank you for informing us about such an important matter!" Ningguang nodded, expressing her gratitude to Nolan and the others.
[Ningguang Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 330 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.3 (30/300)]
"Hmph, I will also make sure to find evidence of the Fatui's involvement in the Archon's assassination!" Keqing added determinedly.
[Keqing Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 300 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.3 (0/300)]
The notifications on Nolan's character panel made him feel that the trip had been worthwhile.
"Who would've thought there'd be so much behind the Archon's death? I just assumed he had reached the end of his lifespan after living for so long," Hu Tao remarked with a sigh.
"If it were just these matters, you could have told Keqing. There's no need to come to the Jade Chamber for that, so you must have other business with me," Ningguang said, pausing her contemplation on how to handle the potential Fatui crisis.
Her crimson eyes continued to gaze at Nolan and the others, prompting them.
"Indeed," Nolan nodded slightly and then turned his gaze to Hu Tao.
Hu Tao, understanding the cue, summoned the bicycle from her Vision and placed it in front of Ningguang. She grinned and asked, "Hehe, Ningguang, can you guess what this is?"
"You want me to guess?" Ningguang crossed her arms and chuckled. "Judging by its structure, it appears to be some sort of new vehicle. Is this why you've come to see me?"
"Yes, we call this vehicle a 'bicycle.' It allows one person to ride while carrying another. I'm sure you can see how convenient this could be for people's travel needs," Nolan explained, detailing the bicycle's functionality and potential applications.
"Oh, it seems this bicycle indeed has a broad market potential," Ningguang noted, her expression becoming more serious. "So, are you looking for me to invest in mass production?"
Considering they'd shared crucial information about the Fatui possibly stealing Gnosis, Ningguang thought that if they needed investment, she would be willing to help out, not just as thanks but also because the bicycle had investment value.
"No, while we've designed this vehicle, we lack experience in running a business or a factory. Rather than risk failure, we'd prefer to sell the design to someone more capable, like yourself, Lady Tianquan," Nolan and Lumine expressed their intention to sell the design to Ningguang.
"Hmm, if that's your plan, that's fine. However, I'll need the design blueprints first. I want to have a few bicycles made and tested before determining their actual value. Is that acceptable?"
Ningguang's request for the blueprints was not an attempt to take advantage but rather a sign of her seriousness. To set a fair price, she needed to understand the costs, user experience, and market demand.
"Of course, we trust you, Lady Tianquan. If we can't trust you, then there's no one we can trust in Liyue," Nolan said, handing over the design blueprints and complimenting her.
As a renowned merchant in a nation known for its contracts, Ningguang wouldn't have risen to the esteemed position of Tianquan by using deceitful means.
"Hmph, you may not know business, but you sure know how to flatter," Ningguang remarked, taking the blueprints with a faint smile on her fair face.
[Ningguang Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 120 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.3 (150/300)
"Hehe, since you've sealed the deal, I'll take the bicycle as agreed for a few days," Hu Tao eagerly reclaimed the bicycle into her Vision, earning disapproving looks from Lumine and Paimon.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way," Keqing said, turning briskly to leave.
Her twin-tails and the feather-like ribbons on her split sleeves fluttered behind her as she walked out.
She was off to investigate the Fatui.
If Keqing truly discovers that the Fatui were responsible for the death of the Geo Archon, then a conflict with the Fatui and Snezhnaya would be unavoidable.
This matter concerns the reputation of Liyue.
With their business with Ningguang concluded, Nolan and his group were also ready to leave.
Ningguang would send someone to contact them about the bicycle after completing all the necessary tests.
"By the way, since you're planning to visit the Adepti tomorrow, could you deliver a letter for me to avoid any misunderstandings?"
Ningguang asked. Even though Liyue could stand on its own without the Adepti, there was no need to unnecessarily offend them and create potential enemies.
"Of course, we'd be happy to," Paimon replied with a smile, conveying the thoughts of Nolan and Lumine.
Liyue Harbor
As Nolan and Lumine emerged from the "teleport waypoint" and arrived near the area, they saw Xingqiu and Chongyun waiting there.
"Morning, everyone!" Paimon waved in greeting.
"Good morning. I assume you've already prepared the supplies for the adventure?" Xingqiu jumped down from a stone pedestal and brushed the dust off his clothes with a smile.
"Don't worry, we're professionals in this regard," Lumine replied with a smile on her fair face.
"Absolutely," Nolan agreed, nodding. "By the way, we've been taking commissions around Liyue Harbor and exploring the area, but we're not familiar with the route to Mt. Aozang, so we'll rely on you two to guide us."
"Chongyun often exorcises demons in the wild, so he's quite familiar with the area," Xingqiu said, patting his friend's shoulder.
"Yes, we studied the map of Liyue last night and have planned a route to Mt. Aozang," Chongyun replied, nodding slightly.
He then shared his thoughts:
"Originally, we planned to follow the main road through Guili Plains and Cuijue Slope to reach Jueyun Karst, and then cross over Qingyun Peak to arrive at Mt. Aozang. However, this route would take an extra half-day compared to another option."
"Another option?" Paimon tilted her head in confusion.
"Yes, we could instead take the main road past Liyue Harbor, passing through Tianheng Mountain, Tianqiu Valley, and Nantianmen, straight to Mt. Aozang," Xingqiu explained.
"Would this route be much faster?" Nolan asked, curious.
Xingqiu smiled and replied, "If we were walking, it would actually take longer due to the rugged terrain after reaching the Dunyu Ruins, which is filled with mountains. However, because of the highlands, we can use Wind Gliders to travel, making the journey much shorter—about ten days."
Nolan nodded in agreement. He often used Wind Gliders during his adventures, as they were faster than walking or running and didn't drain energy as quickly, allowing for longer periods of travel.
Lumine thought for a moment and then said, "Since both Nolan and I can use Anemo, we could use it to assist in flying, which would make us even faster."
"You can both use Anemo? That's great," Chongyun said, slightly surprised. He hadn't noticed a Vision on either Nolan or Lumine but didn't doubt their claim.
"Hehe, since we've prepared the supplies and mapped out our route, let's head out!" Paimon exclaimed excitedly as she hovered in mid-air.
"Yes," Xingqiu and Chongyun replied, taking the lead while Nolan and Lumine followed closely behind, all moving in a line as they set off.
Tianheng Mountain
The bright morning sun shone on the group as they made their way up the mountain. To achieve greater distance while gliding, they needed to reach a high point.
However, Tianheng Mountain was quite tall, so Nolan and Lumine couldn't use Anemo to directly carry everyone up.
Instead, they used wind currents to assist them up the steeper parts and walked the flatter sections.
By combining these methods, they reached the summit of Tianheng Mountain in about an hour.
"Wow, you can see all of Liyue Harbor from here!" Paimon exclaimed, slightly exhausted but captivated by the view below.
From their vantage point, they could see the bustling Liyue Harbor.
The streets and alleys were indistinguishable, making the city look like a sea of buildings slightly sloping downward.
"If you come at night, when the city lights up, the view is even more beautiful," Xingqiu remarked.
He had once visited this spot specifically to see Liyue Harbor at night and was so struck by the city's beauty that he incorporated it into his writings.
"Maybe we'll do that another time. Which direction are we flying now?" Nolan asked, seeming less surprised by the sight, likely because he had seen it frequently in the game.
"Let me check the map." Chongyun pulled out a rolled-up map of Liyue from his Vision and studied it closely. "We're on Tianheng Mountain now, so we should fly north."
"Alright, let's go," Nolan agreed.
After a short rest, they all spread their Wind Gliders and flew north.
Throughout the flight, Nolan and Lumine occasionally used Anemo to give the group a boost, helping them fly faster.
By midday, they had to land and take a break.
After flying nonstop from Tianheng Mountain over to Dunyu Ruins, Nolan and his companions landed and found a ruin filled with Hilichurls.
They cleared out the area of these monsters to use it as a temporary rest spot.
Nolan was quite enthusiastic about fighting monsters. When he noticed that this group of Hilichurls was only around level 40 on average, he stopped the others from intervening, saying he wanted to test his skills.
He activated his Elemental Skill, Dandelion Shield. Surrounded by a swirling wind, he charged into the group of monsters and used Wind Blade, a technique he had learned from Acting Grand Master Jean.
The nearby small Hilichurls were swept up and tossed off a cliff, dealing Anemo damage and additional fall damage, easily ending their lives.
During the fight, two Hilichurl Berserkers tried to stop him, but even without actively dealing with them, his spinning wind shield effortlessly knocked them away.
Nolan also experimented with his "Spiritual Threads" on the two Berserkers. These could easily trip them and, with their mental attack, cause a moment of confusion.
In the end, he finished them off with a couple of casual sword strikes.
After this battle, Nolan gained over 5,000 Adventure EXP, pushing his total Adventure EXP past 10,000.
[Adventure EXP: 10,553]
Initially, he planned to upgrade his "Concealment Form" skill, but seeing that he was just two levels away from reaching level 50, he decided to level up instead.
Reaching level 50 would allow him to unlock another racial trait, which piqued his curiosity.
Filled with anticipation, Nolan and his team cleaned up the battlefield and prepared to set up camp and cook a meal.
While they were doing this, he allocated most of his Adventure EXP to level up.
Adventure EXP: -9,700
Lv. 48 (0/4,800) > Lv. 50 (0/5,000)
[Your Level Has Been Raised To Lv.50, Your Evolution Has Reached A New Stage, And You Can Obtain A "Racial Specialty", Please Choose!]
(End of Chapter)
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