NOVEL NEXT Chapter 118: Chapter 118
"You're back?"
Xianyun asked while idly poking at her plate with chopsticks.
"Yeah, Sister said to come back for dinner, so I had to return. I even turned down Keqing's dinner invitation, especially since Master is home too," Jiang Ning replied.
He thought this statement would make Xianyun happy, but instead, she tapped his head and said:
"Oh you... you're really clueless. When the Yuheng invited you for dinner, you should have just stayed!"
"Huh?"
Jiang Ning rubbed his head, completely confused.
Why would she say that?
Xianyun heaved a heavy sigh and moved to the side with her bowl, sulking in silence.
Completely baffled, Jiang Ning could only ask, "Sister, what's wrong with Master?"
Ganyu glanced at Xianyun before explaining quietly:
"Today, Master went with Madame Ping to visit an exorcist family. Seeing their four generations living together with numerous descendants, Master probably became envious."
"She's been asking me and Shenhe when we're going to give her great-disciples... even talking about having enough for a football team..."
As she explained, Ganyu's face grew increasingly red. What was Master thinking? She was a qilin, not a pig!
Shenhe added: "Then Master realized it wasn't realistic for one person to have so many children, so she turned her attention to you. She thinks the responsibility of continuing our lineage falls on your shoulders..."
After all, among this generation of adepti disciples, Jiang Ning was the only male.
Reportedly, Xianyun and Madame Ping had already started discussing plans, wanting Jiang Ning to take multiple wives. Didn't Rex Lapis also say that he would be Liyue's next Geo Archon? The more ties he had to Liyue, the better.
If it weren't too sudden, and if Madame Ping hadn't stopped her, Xianyun would have considered the Tianquan Ningguang - beautiful and graceful with a lovely figure. More importantly, she looked like she'd be good at bearing children...
Through recent investigations in the city, they'd learned that both Tianquan and Keqing seemed to show some interest, worth keeping an eye on.
That's why when Jiang Ning rejected Keqing, Xianyun was so upset. It felt like she'd lost a potential great-disciple.
"...Master, really..." Jiang Ning was speechless.
"Master, come eat. Your bowl is too small to hold much food," Jiang Ning could only say.
After much persuasion, Xianyun finally came over. As an immortal who loved food, she couldn't resist good cuisine... though she still needed to keep up appearances in front of familiar faces.
Although Xianyun had returned to the table, she was still displeased and poked at Jiang Ning while saying:
"Look at you, during your time in the wild, you've really opened your master's eyes. When you encounter treasure hoarders, they run at the sight of you, yet you chase them down and beat them up, leaving some dead and others injured. Then you take all their money and throw them in front of the Millelith..."
"That's called eliminating threats for the people," Ganyu said.
"And then there's the Fatui. I don't know what you're thinking, keeping all the women and sending them to the Millelith, while the men - not even ashes remain. If all these women were commanders, that would be one thing, but you don't differentiate between commanders and regular soldiers."
"That... should also count as eliminating threats..." Ganyu carefully explained.
Honestly, even she felt something was off about how Master's perspective had turned her little brother into some kind of villain who bullied men and dominated women.
Jiang Ning explained confidently: "It's simple. When I went to the Salt Mines, I found many Fatui members who were simping for their Cicin Mages or Mirror Maidens. I captured them all - if any hot-headed ones try to raid or break into prison, we'll catch even bigger fish!"
"You have your reasons, but they're all twisted..."
Seeing Ganyu and Shenhe looking thoughtful and even finding this logical, Xianyun's beautiful eyes widened as she continued tapping Jiang Ning's head.
Jiang Ning was already frustrated about not growing taller, and now she was hitting his head...
This grudge, I'll remember it. Just wait, Master, I'll headbutt you back later.
"Let's eat, let's just eat..."
In the end, Ganyu played peacemaker.
After the meal, Xianyun sat alone on the roof admiring the moon when she spotted Ganyu sneaking around suspiciously and Shenhe with her expressionless face, both carrying pillows into Jiang Ning's room one after another.
Upon sensing the situation, Xianyun's face turned red, but then she felt deeply gratified.
Hmm, not bad, at least they're making an effort...
Though the direction of their efforts was rather peculiar.
Xianyun thought for a moment, then decided to go chat with Madame Ping.
...
After being held up by Keqing earlier, now Jiang Ning was invited to Jade Chamber by Ningguang.
Ningguang abandoned her usual elegant reserve and sat directly beside Jiang Ning, showing familiarity.
She kept pointing out coincidences - how they both had white hair, and even more coincidentally, both had red eyes.
"You call me Sister Ningguang, right? So I'll accept you as my brother. By the way, I heard you have the continuation of this book..."
Then Jiang Ning understood - apparently his master had been in contact with the Qixing lately, and while the outcome wasn't clear, she seemed to have gotten along particularly well with Ningguang.
She had even given Ningguang one of the otherworldly books that Jiang Ning had given her - books she treasured deeply. Coincidentally, this one was part of "Das Kapital."
Ningguang had initially planned to read it casually to pass time, but she was completely amazed.
Much of the knowledge within was ahead of its time, and she found it incredibly beneficial.
Unable to resist, she read through the night and spent her free time studying it carefully.
The "Shattered Snow" that drove merchants crazy had scattered many times.
After finishing it, she realized there must be more content, and upon inquiry, learned it came from Jiang Ning.
So, she sought him out directly.
Xianyun, keeping a low profile, gave her disciple and the Tianquan an opportunity for private interaction.
Seeing Ningguang's friendly demeanor, Jiang Ning felt a bit overwhelmed:
"Um, Sister Ningguang, I can write down the rest for you later... There's no need to be so polite."
Ningguang rested her chin on one hand while the other played with Jiang Ning's hanging locks as if toying with a rare treasure. Her eyes full of gentleness, she said:
"You really think I'm being so close just for this knowledge?"
"No, absolutely not," Jiang Ning quickly replied. He wanted to say yes, but instinct told him honesty wasn't the best policy right now.
"That's right. Remember, even before I knew about your knowledge, you were the only man who could enter my Jade Chamber without announcement at any time."
Ningguang's words delighted Jiang Ning, not because of the special privilege, but because she called him a man.
I'm a grown-up now!
Yay, Sister Ningguang is a good person.
Jiang Ning was quite fond of those who treated him as an adult.
When he was leaving after dinner, Ningguang accompanied him all the way to the floating stone that transported people up and down. To the shock of the nearby Millelith guards, she even helped Jiang Ning tidy his slightly messy white hair, saying:
"Remember to come play with sister when you're free. Also, if you need money, just mention my name. No matter how big the bill, sister will reimburse you."
The Millelith were astonished, but the little secretary seemed unfazed.
Originally, she couldn't imagine what kind of man her revered Lady Ningguang would like, and Lady Ningguang didn't seem to have such thoughts.
But since Jiang Ning arrived in Liyue Harbor a year ago, it seemed Lady Ningguang had gone from initial curiosity to closeness, and now even smiled when talking about Jiang Ning.
Two of the three little secretaries (excluding the one who seemed to have an obsessive admiration for Ningguang) were very worried.
This... this... Lady Ningguang was breaking the law! No wonder she showed no interest in so many talented young men - she liked heavy industry!
But as time passed, the little secretaries became indifferent. After the Lantern Rite, although it still seemed like heavy industry, at least it wasn't illegal age-wise anymore.
It seemed their Lady Ningguang had also grasped this point, and her dates with Young Master Jiang Ning became more frequent.
After bidding farewell to Ningguang, Jiang Ning returned home to write books overtime. Of course, Jiang Ning was responsible for working overtime, but the actual work was done by the System.
[Host, I've realized that all you do is make me copy books or help you bring over books from the original world.]
"What else could you do? No personal status panel, no system shop, and what's more ridiculous is that you need to read manuals for every item and skill."
The System touched its temporarily non-existent head, suddenly realizing that besides complaining, embarrassing itself, and clinging to its host's leg, it hadn't done much else.
What did its sister say again?
Oh right, if a system can't do anything and meets an extremely reliable host, after taking form, there's still one thing it can do.
That is to be "Artemisia" - though it didn't understand what that meant, its sister said it meant becoming a wife.
The System was quite willing, after all, it was already bound to its host. Once it took form, it would give all permissions to its host and become a freeloader by its host's side, only eating, drinking, playing, and stealing performance points.
Seeing the System fall silent, seemingly lost in strange expectations, Jiang Ning thought it was deeply reflecting. He sighed and prepared to rest before continuing his farming.
...
On the outskirts of Liyue Harbor, at a camp, several Fatui members were lounging around. In the center was a relatively luxurious tent.
From inside emerged a handsome young man with a physique like a cheetah, full of explosive power and sharpness.
Wearing Snezhnayan clothing, with a Vision at his waist along with other accessories.
This was the Fatui Harbinger entering Liyue through the official road - No. 11, codename Childe, Tartaglia.
"Hey hey hey, I thought we agreed not to meet? Why are you actively seeking me out? Let me tell you, there are Liyue spies around. Don't drag me down with your self-exposure," a lazy voice rang out, its content not particularly friendly, rather sharp.
"Hmph, I don't need your reminder, you lowly 11th seat... You think I can't see what you can see? Use that muscle-filled brain of yours to think properly."
Another haughty voice rang out. Surrounded by several Cicin Mages, with a voluptuous figure and golden wavy hair, it was La Signora - the Fatui Harbinger who had previously crossed paths with Jiang Ning in Mondstadt.
"Liyue already knows of my whereabouts. It seems Liyue isn't like Mondstadt, full of useless drunkards. No wonder Her Majesty the Tsaritsa said to be cautious in Liyue."
La Signora's voice was filled with contempt for Mondstadt and a hint of wariness towards Liyue.
Tartaglia surprisingly nodded in agreement: "Besides completing Her Majesty's mission this time, I'd like to meet the person who gave the rich quite a headache here - Yelan, was it? I really want to cross blades with her."
Tartaglia looked eager, but La Signora frowned: "Don't let your hot-headedness ruin Her Majesty's grand plans."
"I know, I know. I have everything under control, and I already have a very detailed plan."
La Signora looked at Tartaglia's confident expression with disdain.
This simple-minded brute... if it weren't for some kind of contract between Her Majesty and Morax, if you dared cause trouble in Liyue, you'd probably be crushed by the Qixing or the adepti at the first sign of trouble.
He really thinks his plans are thorough and meticulous.
"Well, I just came to meet you to let you know - Her Majesty wanted me to tell you not to be rash. Remember our ultimate goal. Also, I have other tasks from Her Majesty in Liyue, so I won't accompany your foolishness. Don't get in my way."
Tartaglia snorted: "Same to you."
As La Signora turned to leave, she was deeply puzzled about why Her Majesty said there were changes to the contract with Morax.
She still needed to meet Morax once.
Tartaglia watched La Signora's retreating figure with displeasure.
If it weren't for the fact that La Signora was truly loyal to Her Majesty, Tartaglia wouldn't want to exchange a single word with this madwoman.
In Tartaglia's view, all Fatui Harbingers had their own agenda. In terms of loyalty to Her Majesty, La Signora was the best of a bad bunch.
It just showed that even within the Fatui, they weren't united, and the relationships between Harbingers weren't particularly good.
----
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