After the competition concluded, Xiangling cheerfully led everyone on the journey toward Liyue Harbor.
Along the way, everyone chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.
While the group was traveling toward Liyue, inside the Jade Chamber, which floated above Liyue Harbor...
Ningguang leaned against the carved window, lightly tapping her tobacco pipe with a fingertip, as the faint scent of incense swirled indoors.
The emblem of the Knights of Favonius was particularly striking on the letter spread open before her.
Keqing stood before the table, her purple eyes slightly narrowed, clutching a newly delivered intelligence report so tightly that her knuckles were turning white.
"Ningguang, are you sure you're not messing with me?"
She asked, word by word, her tone filled with disbelief.
Ningguang sighed softly and tapped her pipe against the edge of the table: "It is Acting Grand Master Jean's personal letter; every word is true."
Keqing slammed the report onto the table: "Four souls from another world possessing Hilichurls? And causing chaos throughout Mondstadt?"
The contents of these reports included:
Jesse used a brush to paint on the city wall, and then the painting started fighting itself.
Elliot's invented "Automatic Wall Repair Machine" sang Mondstadt folk songs while stacking rubble into a life-sized statue of Diluc.
Inside Zane's "Abyss Mage Luring and Trapping Device," three Hydro Mages were crying, clutching their heads, with "Voluntary Reform" stickers plastered on them.
Matt accidentally sat and collapsed the Cider Lake Dam and was currently using the Electro Element to help fishermen electrocute fish, while the shore was piled high with stunned perch.
Keqing's temples were throbbing: "This has gone beyond the scope of 'absurd'..."
"More importantly."
Ningguang lightly moved her fingertip and produced a paper document.
"They repaired the entire Cathedral in a single day, and 'casually' installed an Automatic Defense System."
The document detailed that several Treasure Hoarders members were launched skyward by suddenly deploying spiked maces.
Keqing rubbed her forehead: "So, you specifically called me back from The Chasm just to..."
"Formulate countermeasures in advance."
Ningguang unfolded the map of Liyue Harbor.
"They are already on their way to Liyue."
Keqing's gaze fell upon the drawing of Mt. Tianheng on the table—the smoking giant pit was a souvenir left by the quartet's "test flight" last week.
"I have a suggestion..."
Ningguang's lips curled up, revealing the shrewd smile characteristic of a merchant.
Keqing sighed, rubbing her forehead, and gently tapped the desktop with her fingertip: "So, Ningguang, how do you plan to handle this?"
Ningguang gently set the pipe on a crystal ashtray, a flash of shrewdness passing through her golden eyes: "Naturally, we will welcome them warmly. Acting Grand Master Jean specifically wrote to warn us, hoping to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."
She tapped her fingertip, and a gilded letter of appointment unfolded on the table, "That Traveler and the four... special guests, are now all certified Honorary Knights of Mondstadt."
"Honorary Knights?"
Keqing raised an eyebrow, her purple eyes full of suspicion.
"I only knew the Traveler received this honor. When did those four... uh, special individuals..."
"Just this morning."
Ningguang's lips curved slightly.
"Acting Grand Master Jean signed the letter of appointment in an overnight rush. The funny thing is, the individuals involved don't even know yet."
Keqing's gaze involuntarily drifted toward the window. The hundred-meter-wide giant pit on Mt. Tianheng was particularly conspicuous in the sunlight—it was the "masterpiece" left by the quartet's "test flight" last week, and it was still emitting wisps of smoke.
"I understand your concerns."
Ningguang followed her line of sight.
"But rather than making enemies of them, it's better to guide them well."
She gently unfolded the map of Liyue Harbor.
"For example, we could have them deal with the collapsed areas in The Chasm, or those troublesome ruins in Guili Plains..."
"You plan to make them work for free?"
Keqing immediately looked at Ningguang with suspicion.
Ningguang laughed lightly: "How could I? Liyue cannot afford the losses that would result from antagonizing beings like them. Keqing, what kind of person do you take me for? My vision isn't that narrow."
Keqing stood up and walked toward the exit of the Jade Chamber: "Fine, I trust you. I'll go notify the Millelith not to attack the four talking Hilichurls, and inform the citizens as well."
Ningguang smiled: "Then I will prepare for the Rite of Descension three days from now."
Keqing's footsteps gradually faded at the end of the long corridor outside the Jade Chamber. Ningguang stood by the window, gazing at the myriad lights of Liyue Harbor.
The wind brushed past the silver strands of hair near her ear, bringing a hint of coolness.
"Come out, Yelan."
Ningguang did not turn around, her voice calm as water.
A faint blue light shimmered in the corner of the room, like rippling water.
Yelan's figure emerged from the light. Her long legs crossed, she leaned against a carved pillar behind Ningguang, fiddling with a die in her hand.
"Lady Ningguang is truly becoming more perceptive."
Yelan's lips curved into a subtle, almost imperceptible smile.
"Even I can't hide from you anymore."
Ningguang turned around and said, "It's not that your Stealth Technique has deteriorated; it's that you deliberately let me discover you."
She walked slowly toward the desk, her fingertip brushing over the mountain of documents piled upon it.
"What is important enough for you to come and see me personally?"
Yelan dropped her flippant expression and stood upright.
She took a stack of photographs from her clothes and placed them gently on the mahogany desk in front of Ningguang.
"Regarding those four talking Hilichurls, I've uncovered some... interesting things."
Ningguang picked up the first photograph.
In the photo, four Hilichurls stood in front of the Mondstadt City Gate, one of them holding a thunder hammer and smashing his companion away.
The timestamp in the bottom right corner of the photo showed yesterday noon.
"This is an image from yesterday noon?"
Ningguang frowned.
Yelan nodded and handed her the second photograph.
In this photograph, the four Hilichurls were sitting on the city wall of Mondstadt City, one of them holding several Fluorescent Mushrooms unique to Sumeru and stuffing them into his mouth.
"This is even stranger."
Yelan's voice dropped.
"According to my informant's report, these Mushrooms were freshly picked from the Sumeru rainforest that very morning."
Ningguang's fingers unconsciously tapped the desktop, the rhythm quickening.
"Instantaneous movement? Spatial teleportation spanning the distance of three nations?"
"Not only that."
Yelan took out several more photographs.
"They also seem capable of conjuring... tools we have never seen before."
The photographs showed a strangely shaped metal vehicle, which the four Hilichurls were happily circling.
In the next photo, this "Motorhome" sped down a mountain slope at an astonishing velocity, then exploded mid-air in a massive fireball.
"The most frightening thing is."
Yelan's voice was practically squeezed out from between her teeth.
"After the explosion, they walked out of the smoke completely unharmed and immediately started constructing a second one."
Ningguang's hand froze mid-air, and a drop of cold sweat slid down her temple.
Yelan walked up beside Ningguang, pointing at the final photograph: "Look at this."
In the photograph, the four Hilichurls were fiercely beating an Abyss Mage.
"They can withstand almost any attack; the Self-Destruct Attacks of multiple Abyss Mages had absolutely no effect on them."
"Now, the Abyss Mages no longer dare to approach Mondstadt City."
Ningguang took a deep breath and neatly stacked the photographs.
"So, I made the right gamble."
Yelan raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"
"Keqing was just worried that I would try to exploit them."
Ningguang gave a wry smile.
"I don't have the ability to exploit them."
Yelan leaned back against the pillar, resuming her lazy posture: "That's why I said your choice was correct. Peaceful contact is currently the only viable strategy."
Ningguang walked to the window, gazing at the brightly lit Liyue Harbor in the distance.
"The Rite of Descension three days from now..."
She paused.
"Do you think they will show up?"
Yelan did not answer, merely walking slowly over to Ningguang's side.
Outside the window, a bright moon quietly hid behind the clouds, and the lights of Liyue Harbor shone exceptionally bright in the night.