Lin Tian sighed inwardly as he quietly observed the stream of floating text in his vision—the barrage.
It didn't take long to identify the recurring terms: Feiyun Commerce Guild, Second Young Master, Xingqiu, Hydro Vision, Flowing Clouds, and Water Style.
"So... Xingqiu is the second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild? And he'll eventually gain a Hydro Vision and team up with someone I haven't met yet?" Lin Tian muttered to himself as he pieced together the implications.
On the other side of the classroom, the blue-haired boy named Xingqiu glanced over, puzzled by Lin Tian's sudden question.
They were both just students, young scholars in training, so why would someone like Lin Tian care so much about the Liyue Qixing?
Although Lin Tian was known to obsess over ways to earn Mora, he never really talked about Liyue's governance. He was far more interested in new trade policies.
The idea to pass off ordinary lilies as rare Glaze Lilies, after all, came from Lin Tian's careful study of a loophole in Liyue's commercial regulations.
According to one clause: "When Party A is unaware of the goods' defect, only compensation equivalent to the goods' price is required. No further liability shall be imposed."
Which meant, as long as a vendor couldn't be proven to have knowingly sold counterfeit goods, they were safe from harsher legal consequences.
Unfortunately, when that woman had caught him at the pier, Lin Tian had panicked and basically admitted his guilt. That was why he fled—and fell into the harbor.
Still, even though the question about the Qixing was odd, Xingqiu answered politely: "They say the current star being replaced is the Tianquan. Several candidates have been announced, but I don't remember all of them. If you're curious, I can check when I go home tonight and tell you tomorrow."
Maybe the barrage was right—Xingqiu had a natural sense of justice. Though he and Lin Tian were merely classmates, he offered help without hesitation.
"Alright. Thank you, Xingqiu. You're really noble," Lin Tian said, quoting a line he'd seen earlier in the barrage.
Xingqiu's cheeks flushed instantly. He looked at Lin Tian with a strange light in his eyes, like something had just clicked.
For a boy who secretly read tales of chivalry, to be praised as a noble hero hit him like an arrow to the heart.
"You can count on me. I'll find out everything about the candidates!" Xingqiu promised with conviction, pounding his chest dramatically.
His gesture drew a few curious glances from their classmates. Lin Tian quickly tugged at Xingqiu's sleeve to rein him in, but the barrage had already erupted in laughter.
[She's too precious.]
[He folded with just one compliment. Xingqiu's a total softie.]
[That's it, Xingqiu just marked Lin Tian as his sworn brother. Chongyun is doomed.]
[Haoxing shippers rise! This is the real duo.]
The messages tumbled through Lin Tian's vision like leaves in a breeze.
Soon after, the teacher entered, and the morning classes began.
—
The following day, Xingqiu returned with a tightly rolled scroll filled with names and details.
Lin Tian unrolled it eagerly. His eyes scanned through until they landed on the entry he was looking for:
Ningguang. A merchant who rose from humble beginnings to become a powerhouse in the Liyue market. Known for her signature white hair and Geo Vision.
A gleam sparked in Lin Tian's eyes. This had to be the woman the barrage kept mentioning.
Based on their chatter, she would soon become the new Tianquan Star.
Oddly enough, the more he read, the more familiar she seemed. But he shook the thought from his head. There were more important things to consider.
In Liyue, gambling was not illegal. At least, not when it came to betting on official outcomes like the selection of a new Qixing.
Word was, many regulars placed bets at a quiet corner in Yanshang Teahouse.
"If I start a betting pool on Ningguang becoming Tianquan, people might not take it seriously. I'm still a kid. How do I even get people to join?" Lin Tian muttered to himself.
He turned once more to the barrage, which by now felt like second nature.
[Talk to Xingqiu. His family runs one of the top commerce guilds. He has connections.]
[You think they'll just set up a bet for a random schoolmate? Be real.]
[Exactly. Unless they already believed Ningguang would win, there's no incentive.]
[Why not keep it simple? Just start something at the academy. Little bets, small stakes.]
Lin Tian nodded slowly. He didn't need a fortune—just enough Mora for a few needs at the orphanage. Enough to help the director. Nothing huge.
If the stakes got too high and things went sideways, he wouldn't be able to afford the fallout.
He made up his mind: a small, internal bet among classmates. Pocket money from his peers, not city gamblers.
Bit by bit, it would be enough.
***
"Xingqiu, do you want to make a lot of Mora?"
In a quiet corner of the academy courtyard, Lin Tian approached Xingqiu with the tone of a shady uncle trying to rope someone into a scheme.
"No, not really," Xingqiu replied.
"What?"
Lin Tian blinked. That... did not compute.
In Lin Tian's worldview, Mora solved everything.
With Mora, the kids at the orphanage could afford sweets, even if they were overstocked leftovers.
With Mora, they could buy books, even if they were secondhand and falling apart.
With Mora, the director wouldn't have to plead with the General Affairs office every week for aid that never arrived.
In Lin Tian's mind, Mora meant safety. Security. Happiness.
The barrage burst into motion again.
[That was savage! Just a flat-out "no"!]
[Poor Lin Tian. Rejected instantly.]
[Of course it didn't work. His Guild is loaded. Why would Xingqiu care?]
[Try asking him if he wants to do something important. It's about the mission, not the Mora.]
Reading the barrage, Lin Tian's eyes lit up. Of course. Not everyone worshipped Mora.
He quickly pivoted, grabbing Xingqiu before he could walk away. "Okay, forget the money. Xingqiu, do you want to do something big? Something noble?"
That made Xingqiu pause. A flicker of excitement crossed his expression. He was still just a kid, one obsessed with tales of righteousness.
"To do something noble?" he repeated, swallowing hard. "What kind of plan?"
Lin Tian nodded seriously. "Think about it. There are classmates in this academy who waste their allowance on snacks and toys. They never help others or spend it on anything meaningful."
Xingqiu's frown deepened. "You're right. They're not like us. I spend my savings on martial arts manuals. For justice."
"Exactly. So," Lin Tian continued, adopting a tone of grave wisdom, "do you want to use your talents to awaken their conscience? To redeem them?"
"You mean beat them up?" Xingqiu asked brightly.
Lin Tian choked. "Absolutely not. That breaks the academy rules. You want to get smacked on the palm by the dean in front of everyone?"
Xingqiu paled at the thought. Not because of the punishment, but the public shame.
"So then… what do we do?" he asked hesitantly.
Lin Tian leaned in with a conspiratorial grin. "You know, there are heroes who don't fight with swords. They use their wit. Outsmart corrupt nobles, redistribute Mora to the poor."
Xingqiu nodded slowly. "Like in the folk tales. I've read those."
"But we're not fighting nobles. Just our wasteful classmates," he added.
Lin Tian's eyes turned serious. "Compared to hungry children at the orphanage, aren't they just as bad?"
Xingqiu was taken aback by the intensity in Lin Tian's voice. But… he couldn't deny it made a kind of sense.
"So what's your plan?"
"We collect bets. Make a little Mora from their poor judgment. Then we help those in need."
Xingqiu's eyes lit up. "Alright. I'm in. What do you need from me?"
The barrage surged again.
[He is a goner.]
[Lin Tian played him like a lute. Flawless manipulation.]
[This kid was born to be a strategist.]
[Hey, we helped too! Give us some credits, bruh!.]
Lin Tian nodded to himself, silently thanking the barrage.
Then, leaning close to Xingqiu, he whispered the plan in full.
As he spoke, the messages in his vision filled with praise, awe, and mischief.