"So, old man—did it never cross your mind he didn't bring a single Mora?"
After sealing the deal, Rowan told Ningguang his name.
She froze when she heard it.
That… sounded like a Liyuean name, didn't it?
But then why was Rowan's hair the wrong color?
Most Liyue natives had black or brown hair. When someone's hair differed—like Keqing's or Baizhu's—it often traced back to their Vision. Usually, the element tinted the shade. There were exceptions, of course—Jean, Barbara, Lisa…
Rowan's gold hair, though, didn't look Liyuean at all.
Rowan offered no explanation. He simply smiled, took his leave from the Jade Chamber, and flew off in good spirits—leaving Ningguang half-mad with curiosity. She wanted to ask, didn't dare to, and ended up carrying her questions back toward the Stone Gate—already thinking of finding Keqing to discuss the roads.
Should they wait for Mondstadt to finish their own network first, then have Liyue's turn? Or should they buy the formula outright, handle the paving themselves, and invite a few experienced Mondstadt masons as instructors?
Ningguang already knew her answer.
The latter was optimal. Who knew how long Mondstadt would take? Better to buy out the know-how once and let Liyue move at Liyue speed—no delays.
Still, she would tell Keqing first. As Yuheng, Keqing oversaw land—roads crossed land; she had to be in the loop. Yes, Ningguang could overrule by power of Tianquan—but why? That only needlessly sharpened tensions. She admired Keqing; there was no need to pick a fight.
Elsewhere, Rowan strolled around the Stone Gate once he'd left the Jade Chamber.
The chests here were plentiful, and Dragonspine was close. He could sweep a few more later.
By late afternoon, he'd turned up more than twenty chests. Klee had also finished "her work," and was tugging his arm, insisting they go "fish blasting."
Just then, a helpless voice sounded in Rowan's ear.
"Bai, a small problem on my end. Do you have time to come back?"
"Zhongli?" Rowan blinked. "Weren't you chasing Venti? What happened?"
The weary tone was not like him at all. Hadn't those two left Stone Gate together?
"You'll see when you reach Mondstadt," the voice sighed. "I've truly been trapped by this old rascal."
Zhongli glanced at the snoring Venti and the Knights of Favonius standing watch outside the door, then exhaled.
They were currently confined inside the Knights' newly built detention center.
He was, in fact, the first foreigner to be locked inside it.
All thanks to Barbatos, the drunken menace.
"You said you'd treat us—yet you carried not a single Mora," he muttered to the sleeping bard. "In what world is that treating?"
"…All right. Wait for me." Rowan narrowed his eyes. Something was off. Zhongli didn't sound helpless unless the situation was truly absurd.
"Half an hour."
He'd go see for himself. The blasting here was wrapped up anyway. He'd bring Klee back, too.
As for transport?
Naturally…
"Roar!"
"Long time no see, Bai!"
A dragon plunged from the sky, lowering a massive head to greet Rowan.
Dvalin—the East Wind Dragon.
Rowan had been on excellent terms with him for a while now. Call and he came; the only fee was a whole roast suckling pig afterward. A consummate foodie.
Rowan dipped his chin in greeting. He'd only just turned to explain things to Klee when she bolted straight for the dragon.
"Waaah!"
"Dragon!"
The instant she saw Dvalin, she felt no fear—only pure delight. Eyes sparkling, she scampered up onto the dragon's back with giddy little steps.
Dvalin didn't mind, letting her clamber and crawl wherever she pleased.
Rowan chuckled. Right—this little rascal feared neither heaven nor earth.
"Let's go. Back to Mondstadt!"
He handed off final instructions to the local overseer, then vaulted onto Dvalin's head.
"Very well!"
"Rooaaar!"
Dvalin beat his wings a few times and surged into the sky.
"Waaah!" Klee leaned over the edge of a wing, eyes shining at the tapestry of Mondstadt below. "Tianyu-oniichan, that's Mondstadt?"
"So pretty!"
"It is," Rowan agreed. "Very."
"In such a hurry—what happened?" Dvalin asked, as curious as he was amused. Rowan was still within Mondstadt's borders; why summon him?
Rowan sighed. "Your dear master, of course."
Venti up to his usual tricks—who else? Otherwise, Zhongli wouldn't be this exasperated.
"Barbatos?" Dvalin's voice went dry. "What has he done now?"
"No idea. But this time, he's not escaping the consequences," Rowan said, shrugging. "He's managed to truly anger the old man."
"Oh? Did he tease the neighboring Geo Archon again?" Dvalin perked up. "Surely the Geo Archon won't let him off this time?"
"Who knows. We'll find out shortly."
At that, Dvalin's wings beat quicker. Clearly, he wanted to see how the master bard had provoked the rock-steady elder.
A half-hour flight compressed into ten minutes.
Rowan arrived at the detention center, heard the story from the guards, and could only rub his temples.
"Venti, Venti… If you don't have Mora, don't play the big shot. You 'treat' people, drag them out for drinks—then stick them with the bill?"
"You're unbelievable."
(End of Chapter)
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