While Ryen and the others were discussing in the courtyard how to deal with the imprisoned god, Lumine had been invited by Ayaka aboard Beidou's Crux — Alcor.
At present in Liyue, Ayaka's temporary identity was that of a crewmember of the Alcor.
That made her half a Liyuean in a sense.
This also made it much easier for Ayaka to move around.
Beidou herself was not aboard the Alcor today. In fact, ever since she had learned about that other world, Beidou rarely returned to her flagship at all.
Most days, she would simply craft a small wooden boat for herself, sail out alone from the harbor, and explore the seas.
Only in the evenings would she teleport back.
For more than half a month now, aside from the times when she needed to join the others in expeditions to the Twilight Forest, Beidou had been almost entirely absorbed in her Minecraft-world voyages.
At the very least, she had already gone out to sea seven or eight times.
And yet, each time she set out, the scenery she encountered was never the same.
Sometimes it was a deserted island.
Sometimes, the ruins of a sunken ship on the ocean floor.
And just a few days ago, during her explorations, Beidou had even discovered a brand-new continent—
a land thick with tangled shrub forests.
Rumor had it that she was planning to bring some Qianyan soldiers over there soon to investigate.
The Columbus of Teyvat—none other than Beidou herself.
Though the Alcor had not gone on any long voyages for quite some time, the crew had grown used to this rhythm.
After all, the Alcor was not a ship meant to drift endlessly at sea. Its sailors had families as well.
Sometimes, after completing a major maritime trade expedition, Beidou would give them a month or two of rest.
This time, only a little over a month had passed.
And with Liyue changing and developing at such a rapid pace, the crew naturally felt no urgent need to sail out again for business.
Inside her own cabin, Ayaka sat with Lumine, brewing a cup of Inazuma-style tea for her guest.
"Speaking of which, Ayaka, you've already been in Liyue for quite a while now, haven't you?" Lumine asked curiously.
"Don't you feel anxious to return to Inazuma and have a look?"
At these words, Ayaka let out a faint, bitter smile and sighed softly.
"How could I not be anxious…? With news so cut off from Inazuma, I've been away so long, and I have no idea how my homeland fares…"
To say Ayaka was not worried would be the furthest thing from the truth.
In fact, she was nearly beside herself with worry.
It had been more than a month since she had first entered that other world.
And in that time, how much had Liyue grown stronger before her very eyes?
The Dragon Knight regiment had expanded to two hundred men.
The newly stationed Qianyan Army troops had already grown familiar with the other world's environment.
And during this same period, Liyue had recruited even more manpower.
Now, three thousand Qianyan soldiers were already in place.
Within another month or two, those three thousand men would all either become alchemical light infantry, heavy cavalry, or members of firearms battalions.
On top of that, Liyue had already resurrected many adepti.
Word had it that they were even preparing to revive the god Guizhong.
Zhongli was also deliberating on how to restore Azhdaha's reason.
And all of that was merely the growth of Liyue's military strength.
As for civilian life…
Ayaka could only say this: the people of Liyue, in gaining joy and pride, had lost nearly all of their worries.
They had no need to worry about food or drink, for with the vast resources of that world to support them, virtually everything ordinary humans desired was now within reach of the Liyue people.
And even if someone were afflicted with a grave illness…
With Liyue citizenship, or simply by applying at Bubu Pharmacy, one could obtain medicine directly.
If medicinal herbs were needed, they were taken straight from stores—on Guili Plains alone, thousands of acres of land had been dedicated to cultivating herbs.
All of Teyvat's regional specialties could be found there.
Liyue had planted massive quantities of them, harvested once every two days.
Even rare herbs like Qingxin and Glaze Lilies, which normally grew only on sheer cliffs, were being harvested by the hundreds of tons.
If medicine failed, there was always milk.
If milk didn't work, then alchemical potions could be used.
And if that still wasn't enough, Golden Apples—or even Enchanted Golden Apples—were on hand!
It no longer mattered what illness one contracted.
What mattered was whether or not you were a citizen of Liyue.
So long as you were, then there was no disease that could not be cured, and no mora that needed to be spent on healing.
As for the pharmacies' income…
The Ministry of Civil Affairs covered it all!
The Ministry supported every Liyuean!
With resources being poured out in such massive quantities, the mora being collected in return was so immense that if it wasn't circulated back into the economy, Ningguang would have to expand the Golden House immediately.
Food, clothing, housing, travel, birth and death…
For Liyue's citizens, aside from purchases in the other seven nations, within Liyue itself there was no need to spend mora at all—
unless it was for something rare or for leisure pursuits.
As for basic necessities, there was absolutely no expense whatsoever.
Seeing such a life, Ayaka could not help but feel a tinge of envy, her eyes growing red with longing.
And this was only Liyue.
Mondstadt's changes were even more striking.
With vast quantities of alchemical potions shipped back, along with enormous amounts of resources, Mondstadt's wealth was doubling nearly every other day.
Its actual combat strength, too, was skyrocketing.
Just like Liyue had in the beginning.
As for Snezhnaya, though it had started later—joining at the same time as Ayaka, in fact—
they too had signed agreements.
Rosalyne and Tartaglia's gains were not much less than hers.
And now, the Tsaritsa herself had arrived…
Even with only seven hundred people, those seven hundred alone were enough to tip the scales of Snezhnaya's development.
From here on, Snezhnaya was certain to enter a period of explosive growth.
And Inazuma?
Still drowning in war and turmoil.
Turning a deaf ear to everything beyond its closed borders.
The thunderous will of the Shogun both blocked outsiders from peering in and prevented those within from looking out.
How could Ayaka not be anxious?
For several days now, she had been unable to sleep soundly.
Whenever she closed her eyes, all she could see was the other three nations soaring high above, while Inazuma's people could only look up to them in awe.
And even then, their upward gaze was shrouded, obscured beneath the veil of endless lightning.
Ayaka had long resolved in her heart to return.
Lumine scratched her head lightly and said in a soft voice:
"Didn't Sister Ningguang already prepare a huge stockpile of resources? Ayaka, when are you planning to go back?"
Ayaka let out a sigh.
"It should be in the next few days. Once the last of the resources are ready, Sister Beidou will likely take the Alcor to Inazuma for trade.
At that time, I will return with her."
Lumine was silent for a moment, then asked curiously:
"Ayaka, do you have a plan?"