"Yes, dyes."
Ryen rose from his seat and walked to a chest on the other side of the room. From it, he retrieved a large pile of roses and dandelions.
These flowers were the raw materials for crafting rose-red and dandelion-yellow dyes—two of the most basic and easily obtainable colors in the world.
As for other dyes, some required bone meal, while others relied on lapis lazuli. The former was far too precious to spare at the moment, and the latter was completely unavailable.
Ryen had made a habit of collecting flowers of all kinds. They grew quickly and often appeared in large clusters, making them easy to harvest. Thanks to his efforts, he had stockpiled a variety of flowers—enough to fill four or five stacks.
For now, he selected only half a stack of roses and half a stack of dandelions.
With practiced ease, he placed them on the crafting table, breaking them down into a stack of rose-red dye and a stack of dandelion-yellow dye.
Handing the dyes to Zhongli, Ryen smiled.
"These are the most basic colors. If you combine these two, you can create orange dye. Feel free to give it a try."
"These dyes are made purely from flowers, which means they're of the highest quality. I imagine they'll fetch a good price in Liyue Harbor."
As he spoke, Ryen turned his gaze toward Ningguang.
He hadn't forgotten that she had a top-tier tailor under her command, as well as Liyue Harbor's largest bespoke tailoring shop. If anyone could appreciate the value of these dyes, it was her.
Just as he expected, Ningguang's eyes lit up with admiration as she examined the dyes. A soft smile graced her lips, her gaze lingering on the vibrant colors.
"Dyes crafted purely from flowers? Even in Liyue Harbor, I've never heard of such premium-quality dyes."
"With my expertise, I can say with certainty that these dyes will be highly sought after. They'll sell for an excellent price."
"It seems we'll need to pay more attention to flowers from now on," she added thoughtfully.
Then, crossing her arms with an air of elegance and authority, Ningguang tilted her head slightly and fixed Ryen with a shrewd yet playful gaze.
"Additionally…" she began, her tone calm but laced with a subtle allure. "If possible, I'd like to incorporate these dyes into our private trade agreements."
Ryen couldn't tell if she was being serious or teasing him, but it didn't matter much. It was a minor issue and easy enough to agree to.
Nodding with a grin, he replied, "That's something we can discuss in more detail later. For now, though… let's call it a day and head home."
The next day marked the official signing of a trade agreement between Ryen and Liyue.
While their return journey wasn't exactly overflowing with treasures, it was still a productive expedition.
As before, Ningguang arranged for Xiangling's Wanmin Restaurant to deliver a sumptuous dinner that evening. Around the dining table, the group shared stories and laughter, their camaraderie as warm as ever.
By nine o'clock, Ningguang and the others had bid their farewells and departed.
Tonight, even Keqing and Ganyu decided to leave. After all, staying too long in a remote place like Mount Tianheng alongside Ryen might give rise to misunderstandings.
However, both women mentioned they might return early the next morning.
Xiao, on the other hand, had mentioned something intriguing before leaving. He planned to bring along a friend who was "highly likely to fly."
Considering how any humanoid creature entering the Minecraft world was bound by its laws, which prohibited flying, Ryen could only speculate.
Most likely, Zhongli had decided that having someone with aerial abilities would simplify their tasks for the day.
Within Liyue, there were only a handful of beings capable of flight and possessing sufficient strength to protect themselves.
The most probable candidates were Cloud Retainer or Mountain Shaper.
As for Moon Carver…
Though the adepti in Teyvat were majestic beings, in essence, they were still just spirit beasts. Ryen figured that once they entered the Minecraft world, they were unlikely to retain their ability to fly.
But he didn't dwell on it. It didn't matter who was coming—as long as they could fly, it would be a major advantage. In the early stages of exploration, having someone airborne would make tasks like building and scouting much easier.
After escorting Ningguang and the others back to Liyue Harbor, Ryen stood at the city gates, gazing silently at the vibrant, illuminated city.
Ningguang had casually invited him to take a stroll through the harbor.
However...
Ryen had more pressing matters to attend to. Liyue Harbor wasn't going anywhere; he could visit any time.
Clearing his thoughts, Ryen bent his knees slightly before leaping into the air.
The resulting boom reverberated through the harbor like a thunderclap, startling the citizens. Yet, despite searching high and low, they found nothing damaged. Eventually, they chalked it up to a sudden, inexplicable thunderstrike.
Meanwhile, in the floating Jade Chamber, Ningguang and the others exchanged knowing glances, letting out wry chuckles.
"There's probably a new crater at the harbor gate…" Ningguang quipped, her tone light.
Keqing nodded in agreement, her expression serious. "Indeed, we'll need to send someone to smooth it out later. Also, tomorrow, we should remind Ryen to be more mindful of his strength while in Liyue. Such power could easily cause significant damage."
Her suggestion was practical, but Ningguang shook her head gently, her smile tinged with indulgence.
"There's no need to make a big deal of it. Ryen knows his own strength well enough. We shouldn't risk upsetting him by nitpicking over trivial matters."
Keqing opened her mouth as if to argue but was swiftly interrupted by Ningguang, who smoothly shifted the conversation.
"It's strange—without Ryen's physical enhancement, I'm starting to realize just how frail I've become…" Ningguang examined her slender arm with a mix of amusement and seriousness.
"In the past, when I roamed the streets of Liyue Harbor selling goods to earn Mora, my body wasn't exactly strong, but the constant activity gave me a certain resilience.
"Now, even though I've worked harder than ever since becoming the Tianquan, my body has grown weaker instead of stronger." She sighed, shaking her head with a rueful smile.
"I suppose, without realizing it, I've let myself grow soft and accustomed to luxury."
Keqing gave her a pointed look, her thoughts unspoken but clear: Soft and accustomed to luxury? You? The Tianquan of Liyue, whose power and wealth are unrivaled across Teyvat?
Still, Ningguang chuckled lightly, her gaze distant yet resolute. "It seems I'll need to spend more time in Ryen's world. They have a saying there: 'Your health is your greatest asset.'"
"Enough deflection," Keqing interjected with a sigh, her frustration evident. "Fine, I won't bring up Ryen's strength. But honestly, what's there to worry about? He's our friend, and a little reminder wouldn't hurt our relationship."
Though Keqing was known for her straightforwardness and dedication to her duties, her swift rise to the rank of Yuheng was a testament to her exceptional abilities. While not naturally adept at socializing, she had a keen understanding of human nature and relationships.
Ningguang, far from feeling slighted by Keqing's bluntness, simply smiled before addressing everyone in the room with a more serious tone.
"Let's put this aside for now and focus on reviewing today's findings. But first, I want to emphasize something important."
Her golden gaze swept across the room, commanding attention. Even Xiao, known for his aloofness, and Zhongli, who often maintained a detached demeanor, listened intently.
"Our partnership with Ryen must remain rooted in fairness, mutual benefit, and trust. Beyond that, I hope we can be more than just collaborators—I hope we can become steadfast allies, united in both prosperity and adversity."
Pausing for effect, she continued, "This is especially true now that Liyue's miners and Millelith have begun exploring and establishing a foothold in his world."
The room fell silent as her words sank in.
"I hope that as we venture further into Ryen's world, we can approach him not just as partners, but as friends," Ningguang concluded.
Her declaration left little room for dissent. Even Xiao, bound by his allegiance to Zhongli, offered no objections. Zhongli himself, who had entrusted Ningguang with the details of this collaboration, readily acknowledged her expertise in such matters.
As for Keqing and Ganyu, they had long considered Ryen a friend, though Ganyu's thoughts on him often strayed into more complicated territory.
Seeing the group's unified response, Ningguang allowed herself a moment of relief before addressing Xiao directly.
"Now, about today's discoveries—there's one thing in particular I'd like to revisit. Xiao, could you show us the trident Ryen gave you?"
Xiao nodded silently. Taking a deep breath, he summoned his strength and even channeled some of his adeptal energy to retrieve the trident from his inventory.
Fortunately, his preparation paid off, and he managed to produce the weapon without struggle.
Unaware of Xiao's efforts to maintain his composure, Ningguang assumed the trident wasn't especially heavy and relaxed slightly.
But as Xiao swung the trident experimentally, the sharp whistle of displaced air filled the chamber, carrying a feral, menacing energy.
The sheer force of his movements generated wind blades, one of which cleaved through a nearby tree, slicing it cleanly in half.
For a moment, Xiao froze, stunned by the weapon's power. Then, instinctively, he planted the trident into the ground to steady himself.
CRACK!
The trident's weight shattered the pristine white jade tiles beneath it, leaving the room in a stunned silence.
For several long moments, not a single word was spoken in the Jade Chamber.
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