12. What A Surprise

The two of them had arrived at Liyue Harbor. Xingqiu himself led Ryūhei directly to the Feiyun Commerce Guild which was located in the Feiyun Slope, northeastern part of Liyue Harbor. It's right next to the Ministry of Civil Affairs building, the central point of the Feiyun Slope.

Arriving in front of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, they were greeted by a servant wearing glasses.

"Master, where have you been?"

"Ah, Xu. I just had my own moment. In any case, there's nothing important, right?" Xingqiu answered the servant named Xu indistinctly.

"Who is this person, master?" Xu asked after seeing Ryūhei.

"He is my business partner. Treat him politely, okay? I'll go in first, I have something to discuss with him."

Xu bowed respectfully as he opened the door for them.

When Ryūhei entered, he saw a lot of products on display. And what caught his eye was something similar to an object he knew on Earth.

"Camera? You have that thing as well?"

"Well, we have a lot of things to sell. Anyway, follow me!" Xingqiu led Ryūhei to a certain room. After that, he took out a book that showed every building in Liyue Harbor inside.

"Of the several buildings, there are only a few that can be rented. In the first place, which area do you want to choose?"

"Near the Adventurers' Guild if possible. Oh right, can I buy that building in the future when I have more Mora?"

"You can. But let me check it first." Xingqiu flipped the pages quickly. And after a moment. "There are 2 buildings that you can rent and buy in the future. One is a two-story building in front of the Yanshang Teahouse, and the other is a two-story building to the west of the Wanmin restaurant."

"The price?"

"The two-story building in front of the Yanshang Teahouse is more expensive by a fourth." Xingqiu stated. And Ryūhei held his chin as he pondered. He took a glance at Xingqiu.

"What do you think?"

With Ryūhei's question, Xingqiu answered immediately.

"In my opinion, don't take the one in front of the Yanshang Teahouse."

This statement certainly surprised Ryūhei, who didn't know too much about Liyue Harbor.

"Why?"

"You may not know. But from the servants to the guards there, they have a very annoying attitude. If you look like someone from the "lower class", you will be utterly scorned by them."

From what Xingqiu said, the owner of the Yanshang Teahouse was a person who liked to look down on others like nobles or people in big clans in Chinese novels.

"Seriously? What kind of a Chinese novel clichè moment is that?"

"Chinese novel? What kind of novel is that?" Xingqiu didn't understand what Ryūhei meant. Even so, Xingqiu wouldn't immediately understand if Ryūhei told him either.

"I'll tell you in the future. More importantly, are you saying it's better if I choose the one beside the Wanmin restaurant?"

"Yeah. How is it?"

"Alright, I'll take it. Also, I will return your Mora later when I have some income."

"Hahaha, you don't need to think about it. After all, we have already sworn brothers. Consider it a gift from me."

"I don't have anything to give you for now. But I will give you something later."

"I'll be waiting. Oh yeah, don't you still have to go to the Adventurers' Guild first? I'll take care of renting this building. You just wait there. I'll catch up with you after this is over."

"You're right."

Xingqiu accompanied Ryūhei outside. After leaving the Feiyun Commerce Guild, Ryūhei made his way to the Adventurers' Guild alone.

— — — —

"Surely you completed today's commissions. Here is your reward." Katheryne gave a total of 9 thousand Mora from completing the four commissions plus bonuses and she also gave Ryūhei 5 Resins.

After receiving the gift, he headed to the Wanmin restaurant while waiting for Xingqiu to take care of the rent for the building that was next to the Wanmin restaurant.

Ryūhei waited at the Wanmin restaurant for over half an hour before he felt Xingqiu's presence along with someone. Instantly, Ryūhei immediately paid and left the restaurant to meet Xingqiu.

Together with Xingqiu was a young woman about 160 cm tall. She has a pale complexion, bright teal-green eyes, and salmon-pink hair that goes past her shoulders and fades to a pale peach at the tips. The hair around the sides of her head is chopped short at ear length in a fringe, revealing a pair of cream-colored antlers as a result of her Adeptus heritage. In addition to this, the sides of her chest, ankles, and the backs of her hands have white diamond-shaped markings that resemble scales.

Xingqiu seemed to have made a deal with the owner of the two-story building because he already brought the key which he used to open the building's door. Xingqiu invited Ryūhei and the young woman beside him to go inside first.

After the three of them entered and sat on the chairs used to receive guests, the young woman spoke up first.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Yanfei, a top legal expert in Liyue. I came along with the second son of the Feiyun Commerce Guild to take care of a legal matter."

"A legal matter?" Ryūhei turned to Xingqiu. "Why do you call a lawyer just to rent a house?"

Xingqiu grinned.

"Hehe, I decided to buy this house for you."

Ryūhei choked.

"*Cough* You what?" That was surprising. Ryūhei had said that he would buy the building in the future. Yet, to think that Xingqiu already did and intended to give it to Ryūhei.

"To be honest, I was surprised as well. I don't know why young lord Xingqiu is willing to give you this building. You must be helping him with something important, huh?"

"Yanfei, stop that "young lord" thingy. It's kinda embarrassing." Xingqiu turned to Ryūhei. "Well, this amount is nothing, really. You can pay me back in the future. Aren't we sworn brothers? Please don't be so stiff and just accept it!"

On the other hand, Yanfei seemed to be astounded by Xingqiu's statement.

"Heh, to think that the intelligent second son of the Feiyun Commerce Guild made a blood oath with this foreigner. Who exactly is this person? He's not blind, is he? There's no way this foreigner is an ordinary person because I understand very well how smart Xingqiu is." Yanfei said to herself, giving an opinion about Ryūhei through Xingqiu's attitude toward him.

"Haah. Since you insist, I'll gladly accept." Ryūhei sighed.

He was glad that everything went according to his plan. But, he didn't think that Xingqiu went so far as to give him a building to open his shop.

Through official procedures which were witnessed by Yanfei, Ryūhei took over on behalf of the owner of the building from Xingqiu by applying for a blood stamp.

"It's settled. Do you have anything to add?" After finishing the procedure, Yanfei asked again if there was anything she could help with.

"Umm, to be honest, I have nothing to ask." Ryūhei shook his head. He had something in mind that he wanted to ask Yanfei. But he didn't know what to say.

"In that case, I'll be going first. I still have other business to attend to." Yanfei stood up from her seat. Then she reached for the business card that was in her bag. "Oh yes, here's my business card. You'll find it has my contact details and office address. Keep it handy! If you have an urgent issue, just leave me a note at this address. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, I offer a very generous discount for first-time customers."

"I'll definitely call you when I need to. Anyway, thanks for helping us!" Ryūhei reached out his hand to give her a handshake. Yanfei reached out her hand as well before she went away.

"Those antlers, they are real, aren't they?"

Xingqiu nodded at Ryūhei's question.

"Yeah. She's half-Adeptus. I heard his father was an Adeptus who once worked with Rex Lapis."

"That's— She definitely is not an ordinary one then…"

"Anyway, little bro. When will you open your shop?"

Ryūhei widened his eyes while turning his head toward Xingqiu.

"Me? A little bro?" Ryūhei pointed to himself.

"Who else?" Xingqiu responded while putting both of his hands on his hips. But then, Ryūhei pointed at Xingqiu.

"You're shorter than me, you should be a little bro."

Xingqiu twitched.

"You are younger than me. So do what I say and admit that you are my little bro! If you don't want to be my lil bro, I'll take this building back!" Xingqiu smirked.

Naturally, Ryūhei couldn't do anything if Xingqiu took it back. As a result, he gave up immediately.

"To think that I was threatened by someone."

Even so, there was no seriousness in what Xingqiu said earlier. Ryūhei also knew that Xingqiu was joking. However, it was true that Xingqiu had bought the building so Ryūhei felt indebted to him.