Thinking this, Ningguang suddenly noticed Ayaka's expression.
There was no hint of surprise on the girl's beautiful face; she appeared very calm, as if this were a matter of course.
'Does she not know how difficult it is to subjugate Hypostasis series elemental creatures?'
'No, that's not right. Inazuma has the Pyro Hypostasis and Hydro Hypostasis, she couldn't possibly not know.'
'Since she knows and still appears so calm, it seems this Shiki truly has the ability, and it must have been very easy for her.'
'Indeed, her strength must be more than what Beidou said.'
Ningguang's thoughts raced, then her furrowed brow relaxed.
That's right, why should she care so much about the other party's strength and identity? The other party wouldn't do anything to her.
She didn't trust Shiki, but she trusted the Traveler.
Besides, their transaction had already been made; it was perfectly fine for them to simply take what they needed.
"It seems Young Miss Ryougi's strength is quite formidable, to be able to subjugate a high-level element creature like the Geo Hypostasis," Ningguang said slowly.
"You flatter me. I've heard that Liyue has Adepti. Their strength is much greater than mine."
"In this regard, Inazuma still can't compare to Liyue. In Inazuma, the only one who could be considered an Adeptus is our Yae Miko of Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Whereas Liyue has the five Adepti: Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, Moon Carver, Ganyu, and Xiao."
"And as far as I know, Young Miss Ganyu and the legal expert Young Miss Yanfei are also Adepti, aren't they? Or perhaps half-Adepti?"
"Liyue truly is a land of outstanding people. Inazuma is genuinely lacking in this aspect."
How to make a lie sound more real? It's simple, just add a few truths.
Aside from the first sentence, the rest were all truths.
Although Inazuma had no Adepti, there were many monsters whose strength rivaled Adepti in ancient times, but they no longer existed now.
Unlike Liyue, where several Adepti survived, and who knows, there might be many more half-Adepti like Ganyu and Yanfei who haven't appeared yet.
"Heh heh, the current Liyue is an era of human governance; the Adepti generally won't appear."
Ningguang chuckled lightly. Clearly, she believed the girl's words.
"But having a sword and not using it is not the same as not having a sword at all. No matter what the Adepti do, as long as they are here, that is a form of deterrence."
Shiki knew that military power was the capital for a nation's diplomacy. As for those with weak strength, just look at Mondstadt next door.
The Grand Master took two-thirds of the Knights of Favonius's elite and disappeared to who knows where, the Anemo Archon Barbatos kept slacking off, and the Dvalin was driven mad by poisoned blood.
Mondstadt's local combat power could be said to be utterly pathetic. Otherwise, how could the Fatui be so audacious?
"Having a sword and not using it is not the same as not having a sword at all..."
"I've learned a lot, Young Miss Ryougi."
Ningguang nodded gently, then couldn't help but think of her Jade Chamber, which had crashed into the sea.
'I must rebuild the Jade Chamber as soon as possible. Liyue now needs a means of deterrence.'
'We cannot always rely on the Adepti, otherwise, human governance will just be empty words.'
Ningguang made up her mind. Not only that, but she also planned to refit the rebuilt Jade Chamber, installing several more Guizhong Ballistas.
The Jade Chamber and the Guizhong Ballista could be said to be Liyue's exclusive equipment, because building the Guizhong Ballista required Adeptal arts, and the Jade Chamber required Liyue's special product, Plaustrite.
'No, I must quickly list Plaustrite as a controlled material. For this year's Lantern Rite, personal possession of Plaustrite must be limited.'
Although Liyue had a lot of Plaustrite, it wasn't inexhaustible. If it continued to be wasted like this, there would eventually be a day when it ran out.
After control, the arrival of that day would certainly be later than the current situation. Liyue needed the deterrence brought by the Jade Chamber.
Shiki fell silent as she watched Ningguang deep in thought...
'Could it be... Ningguang really intends to create some kind of Jade Chamber deterrence, as some netizens jokingly suggested?'
How to put it? Our side promises not to use the Jade Chamber first?
Emmm...
"Ahem, Young Miss Ryougi, then let's start the lessons tomorrow. I hope you can be punctual."
Ningguang cleared her throat. She had to admit, today's conversation with the girl had given her great inspiration.
"No problem, then we'll be going now."
"Mm, Baixiao, see them out."
Shiki and Ayaka left Yuehai Pavilion under Baixiao's guidance, while Ningguang gently caressed the basalt pillar on the table.
The high concentration of Geo element resonated with her Vision, but she didn't cultivate right now. Instead, she gently opened the window.
Coo coo coo...
Pigeons cooed by the window. Ningguang took the paper tube from a pigeon's leg and read it carefully.
Her "eyes" were spread throughout Liyue, and the letter in her hand now came from Wangshu Inn.
"Dining with Xiao... And that consultant Morax from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. It seems both of your identities are not simple."
But it didn't matter. The other party held no ill will, and she didn't need to dig into it. Everyone had their little secrets, didn't they?
As for that consultant Morax... He must be an Adeptus, right? It couldn't possibly be Rex Lapis, could it?
...
After leaving Yuehai Pavilion, Shiki and Ayaka went to Feiyun Slope and teleported back to the Kamisato Estate.
It was still several hours until dinner time, so they didn't need to stay there.
"What do you think of this Tianquan?" Shiki asked in the Kamisato Estate.
"Her aura is very strong; it's truly befitting of a Tianquan of the Qixing.
That air of having everything under control can only be cultivated through the passage of time."
Ayaka and Ningguang could be said to have taken completely opposite paths.
If Ayaka was the approachable Young Miss, then Ningguang was the queen who controlled everything.
Especially now that the Geo Archon had seemingly passed away, the Qixing had become the de facto rulers of Liyue.
"What do you think of me compared to her?"
For some reason, Shiki suddenly asked this question.
"Ah? For Shiki… you're probably quite similar to Miss Ningguang, aren't you? You both like to keep things under control."
"However, compared to the Tianquan's wisdom, Shiki prefers to use powerful strength?"
"So… Ayaka, do you think I'm reckless?" Shiki asked.
"No, no… Shiki simply chose the simplest method among various options; how could that be called reckless?"
Ayaka quickly explained, but this only made Shiki even more speechless.
The simplest method, wasn't that just being reckless?
Forget it, forget it. Reckless is reckless; why bother with more talk when you can just act?
"It's fine, I just think that no matter how many schemes are used, they're still not as reliable as personal strength."
"The more precise a plan, the more uncertain factors it implies, and powerful strength is the guarantee to eliminate those factors."
"Schemes should certainly be used, but first, we need to make ourselves strong."
Ever since coming to this world, Shiki knew that the ways of doing things on Earth might not work in Teyvat.
Because personal strength is extremely important here.
This is the so-called 'when immortals fight, mortals suffer.' The Musou no Hitotachi that Ei struck upon Yashiori Island not only slew the great serpent, but countless Watatsumi Island soldiers also died under its lingering power.
Speaking of strength, Shiki suddenly remembered the Shivada Jade Fragments she had given Ayaka some time ago.
They were found after raiding the Kanjou Commission's home, and Shiki didn't need them herself, so she gave them all to Ayaka.
"Ayaka."
"Hmm?"
"Speaking of personal strength, have you used up all the fragments I gave you a while ago?"
"…Not yet."
"Not yet? It doesn't matter. In a while, I'll kill a Cryo Hypostasis or a Cryo Regisvine for you; that stuff is much stronger than fragments."
The wealthy Shiki expressed that she didn't care about those few fragments; she could find better ones.
Cryo Hypostasis/Cryo Regisvine:???
Speaking of the Cryo Regisvine, that guy was quite miserable. It had just been tormented by Xiangling and the Traveler yesterday, and in a few days, it would be instantly killed by Shiki again.
To replicate ice cream, Xiangling directly had the Traveler take her to Mondstadt, then found the Cryo Regisvine for quick freezing.
After all, Dragonspine wasn't as fast as the Cryo Regisvine, and the Cryo Regisvine's attack style was also more inclined towards cold currents, which was more suitable than the Cryo Hypostasis's ice shards.
"This… probably isn't necessary, right? I haven't even used up those few fragments yet…" Ayaka said softly.
"Oh, didn't I say that stuff is much stronger than fragments? Just use it with peace of mind; they're just idle in their own territories anyway."
Shiki said this while embracing Ayaka's slender waist and swaying her. The latter felt a warm current surge through her heart upon hearing this.
Look, this was her wife!
Not only was she strong, but she could also cook (though she hadn't cooked in centuries), and most importantly, she would even help you catch up to her pace!
Cryo Hypostasis/Cryo Regisvine: You're amazing, you're pure! For your wife, you're just going to kill me like a Hilichurl!
"Oh… okay…"
Ayaka reluctantly agreed on the surface, but her heart was already blooming with joy.
Her happiness wasn't because she could become stronger, but because after becoming stronger, she could stand by Shiki's side.
"By the way, I have to go to Inazuma City for some financial errands. You don't need to come; just wait for me to come home obediently."
"Are they really just errands?" Ayaka looked slightly suspicious.
"Of course they are!" Shiki nodded. Besides checking the progress at the Machi-bugyo, they really were just errands.
"I understand. But since you said you'll be back soon… then I'll brew you a pot of sakura bloom tea. Just make sure the tea doesn't get cold, okay~?"
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