The return to Liyue Harbor was imbued with a sense of purpose. Ren felt the familiar, humid, salt-tinged air on his face not as a patient returning to rest, but as a partner arriving for a crucial negotiation. As they approached the familiar gate of the house on Feiyun Slope, it slid open before they even reached it.
Ganyu stood there, a look of profound relief and joy on her face. She had clearly been waiting, watching. The moment Ren was within reach, she swept him up into a hug that was both gentle and desperately tight, burying her face in his hair for a long, silent moment.
"You're alright," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I know you were well, but I had to see it for myself."
She finally set him down, her hands lingering on his shoulders as she scanned him from head to toe, as if checking for any lingering trace of his strange illness. Seeing him looking healthy and vibrant, a brilliant, happy smile finally broke through her worry.
"Welcome home," she said, her gaze including Xianyun, who gave a small, approving nod.
That evening, after Ren had recounted a carefully edited version of his recovery—omitting the part about spontaneously creating ice sculptures—he looked at Ganyu with a serious expression. "Big sister, we're ready. Can you arrange the meeting with Lady Ningguang?"
Ganyu's demeanor immediately shifted from doting sister to efficient secretary. "Of course. I'll send a request at once. Given her previous interest, I expect a prompt reply."
"Prompt" was an understatement. Less than an hour later, a messenger from the Jade Chamber arrived. The meeting was set for the following morning. The Tianquan, it seemed, did not like to wait when a profitable and philanthropic venture was on the line.
The next day, the trio ascended to the Jade Chamber once more. This time, there was no nervousness, only a quiet, confident resolve. They were greeted at the doors to Ningguang's office and escorted inside.
Ningguang was seated at her desk, the massive intelligence board a chaotic, brilliant tapestry near the right side wall. She looked up as they entered, and a genuine, welcoming smile touched her lips. Her first words were not for the adeptus, but for the child.
"Little Ren," she said, her amber eyes holding a sincere warmth. "It is a relief to see you looking well. I was concerned when I heard you had fallen ill."
"Thank you for your concern, Lady Ningguang. I'm feeling much better," Ren replied with a polite bow. He and Ganyu then took their seats, leaving the floor to the two powers who were now ready to negotiate.
This meeting was different. Ren remained a quiet observer, his part in the proceedings already played. This was a discussion between Xianyun, the adeptal inventor and guardian, and Ningguang, the mortal ruler and master of commerce.
"Cloud Retainer," Ningguang began, her tone one of respectful equals. "Your disciple has presented a most remarkable and generous proposition. I am prepared to commit the full resources of the Qixing to the mass production and distribution of this… 'heater'. But first, we must agree upon the terms."
Xianyun, in her elegant human form, was the picture of calm, scholarly authority. "The terms are simple, Tianquan. This one has no interest in personal profit. The designs are a gift. However, this one has two conditions."
Ningguang steepled her fingers, her gaze sharp and attentive. "Name them."
"First," Xianyun stated, "the quality of the final product must be uncompromised. This one will provide the master blueprints and material specifications. The Qixing must adhere to them without deviation to ensure the safety and efficiency of every unit."
"A reasonable and prudent request," Ningguang agreed immediately. "Quality control will be of the utmost importance. I will assign a team from the Ministry of Civil Affairs to oversee it personally. And your second condition?"
"The device must be made accessible to all," Xianyun said, her voice firm. "This one understands that production has costs, and that merchants must be allowed their profit. However, the final price for the common citizen must be kept to a minimum. This is not a luxury item for the wealthy mansions of Feiyun Slope. It is a tool for the common folk, for the miners in the Chasm and the villagers in the mountains. This one would suggest a… subsidy from the Qixing to keep the price affordable."
Ningguang's smile widened. It was a bold, shrewd move. Xianyun had given her the invention for free, but in return, she was leveraging the Qixing's own coffers to ensure its philanthropic purpose was fulfilled.
"An elegant solution," Ningguang conceded, a deep respect in her eyes. "And one I had already anticipated. The Qixing will indeed subsidize the cost of the heater for domestic sales. The profit we will generate from exporting the technology to other nations will more than cover the expense."
Her gaze flicked to Ren for a moment. "After all, the comfort of the people is the goal."
The negotiation was smooth, a meeting of two brilliant minds who were, despite their different origins, perfectly aligned in their ultimate objective. While they discussed the finer points of logistics and supply chains, Ningguang revealed the extent of her preparations.
"Upon reviewing your disciple's initial proposal," she said, gesturing to a section of her intelligence board where a new, detailed map was pinned, "I took the liberty of scouting a suitable location for a new factory, just on the outskirts of the harbor, near the main trade road. I have also compiled a list of master blacksmiths and craftsmen who can be reassigned to this project. They are on standby, awaiting our command."
She had not waited. The moment the opportunity had presented itself, she had begun to move the pieces into place. Her decisiveness was breathtaking.
With the terms agreed upon, the meeting concluded. A formal contract would be drafted by Ganyu and delivered for Xianyun's final approval. As they stood to leave, Ningguang looked at Xianyun, a final thought on her mind.
"This partnership between the adepti and the Qixing, working together to bring a new technology to the people… it feels like the dawn of a new era for Liyue."
"Indeed," Xianyun replied, a quiet, profound satisfaction in her voice. "Perhaps it is."
They returned home that afternoon, a sense of finality and accomplishment in the air. The heater project was no longer theirs alone; it now belonged to Liyue. As they stepped back into the warmth of their own prototype, Ganyu looked at Ren and Xianyun, her heart full. Her strange, wonderful family—a child from another world and a divine crane from the heavens—had just quietly, humbly, changed the future of the nation she loved so dearly.