The success of the heater was no longer a distant report; it was a tangible, palpable part of life in Liyue Harbor. The initial production run from Ningguang's factory had sold out in a matter of days. As autumn's chill began to truly set in, the soft, violet glow of the heater's internal crystal could be seen in the windows of shops in Chihu Rock and the homes of Feiyun Slope. The air in the city, especially in the evenings, seemed to carry less of the biting dampness from the sea.
Ren would hear the stories constantly. Xiangling would tell him how her father no longer complained of his joints aching in the mornings. The Millelith guards would quietly mention how much easier it was to stand watch on the chilly city walls with a small heater warming their guard posts. It was a quiet, creeping revolution of comfort, and Ren was its secret, happy architect.
It was amidst this wave of popular success that a formal summons arrived. Ningguang and Keqing requested a meeting with Xianyun, Ganyu, and Ren. The agenda was simply titled: "Phase Two Distribution."
Using the communication sigil, Ganyu called Xianyun, who, intrigued by the formal summons, agreed to journey down from the mountain once more.
The meeting took place not in the Jade Chamber, but in a private, well-appointed conference room within the Yuehai Pavilion. It was a more grounded, practical setting for what was to be a practical, forward-looking discussion.
After the initial greetings, Ningguang, ever direct, laid out her vision.
"The Harbor has embraced the heater with an enthusiasm that has exceeded even my most optimistic projections," she began, a hint of deep satisfaction in her voice. "The factory is already scaling up production. However, Liyue is more than its harbor. The true test of this device's purpose lies in the regions it was originally intended for: the remote, colder settlements."
She gestured to a large map of Liyue spread across the table. "Qingce Village. The small mining outposts near the Chasm. The scattered homesteads in the foothills of Jueyun Karst. These are the people who will benefit most, but they are also the most skeptical of new technology and the most isolated from the Harbor's influence."
Keqing, who had been listening with a sharp, focused intensity, took over. "A simple trade caravan is not enough. We need to demonstrate the device, to explain its benefits and its safety directly to the village elders and the community leaders. We need a delegation."
Her amethyst eyes then settled on Ren. "And I believe you should be a part of it, Ren."
The suggestion fell into the quiet room, and the atmosphere immediately shifted.
Ganyu's hand, which had been resting on Ren's shoulder, tightened instinctively. "Lady Keqing," she said, her voice soft but laced with a sudden, protective chill, "Ren is a child. And an inventor, not a travelling salesman. The roads to these villages can be… treacherous. It is not a suitable journey for him."
Xianyun, who had remained silent, her expression unreadable, added her own logical, albeit cold, assessment. "The risk-to-reward ratio for Ren's personal involvement is suboptimal. His presence is not a prerequisite for the device's functionality. A trained technician from the factory could perform the demonstrations adequately."
Both of his guardians were united in their immediate, instinctive refusal to let him go. The thought of him travelling on monster-infested roads, far from the safety of their home and the watchful eyes of the Millelith, was a scenario neither was willing to entertain.
But Ren's mind was already racing. He looked at the map, at the names of the places he had only ever seen as fast-travel points in a game. Qingce Village, with its beautiful terraced fields. The rugged, windswept landscape around the Chasm. To see them, to meet the people who lived there, to see their faces when they felt the warmth of his invention for the first time… it was an opportunity he hadn't even dared to dream of.
"I want to go," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
Ganyu and Xianyun both turned to look at him, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief.
He looked at his two worried guardians, his glowing azure eyes full of a calm, steady resolve. "You're right," he said to Keqing. "They shouldn't just hear about it from a merchant. They should hear about it from the person who made it. I can explain it better than anyone. I can show them it's safe."
He then turned to Ganyu and Xianyun, his expression softening as he sought to soothe their fears. "I won't be alone. Lady Keqing will be leading the delegation." He looked at the Yuheng, a silent acknowledgment of her formidable power. "And I'll be careful. I promise."
He then played his trump card. He looked at Xianyun. "And if anything goes wrong, if I ever feel unsafe, I'll have this." He gently tapped the small, unassuming pouch at his belt where he now kept the communication sigil Xianyun had gifted Ganyu, and which Ganyu now insisted he carry whenever he left the house alone. "I can contact you in an instant, Master. You'll never be more than a whisper away."
His logic was sound. His resolve was clear. He was not being reckless; he was being responsible. He was choosing to see his project through to its final, most important stage.
Ganyu looked torn, her protective instincts warring with the undeniable pride she felt in his maturity and sense of duty. Xianyun observed him for a long, silent moment, her analytical mind weighing the new variables. The child was no longer entirely defenseless; he possessed a formidable Cryo ability. He had a direct, instantaneous link to her. And he would be under the protection of the Yuheng, one of the most powerful Vision bearers in all of Liyue. The risk, while not zero, had been significantly mitigated.
"You make a compelling argument," Xianyun stated, her voice a neutral, logical assessment. It was as close to a concession as she would ever come.
Keqing, who had watched the entire family dynamic play out with a fascinated, pragmatic eye, sealed the deal. "He will be perfectly safe," she said, her voice full of an unshakeable confidence. "I will be personally responsible for his well-being. No harm will come to him. You have my word."
And the word of the Yuheng was a contract as solid as any forged by Rex Lapis.
The decision was made. Ren was going to leave the warm, safe, comforting embrace of Liyue Harbor. He was going on a journey, a mission to bring his quiet revolution of warmth to the farthest corners of the land he now called home.