46. Meeting The Tianquan

"What can I do for you?"

With Ryūhei's eyes, he could see that the woman in front of him was more than ordinary. So, he guessed that she was an Adeptus.

"She's strong." That was his honest thought.

However, he didn't say it out loud. If looking at her horns already made her uncomfortable, then she must be a person who hid her identity from any citizens of Liyue.

"Erm. I'm a secretary at the Yuehai Pavilion. At the moment, I am serving as Lady Ningguang's special emissary. The Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, Lady Ningguang, wishes to see you today."

Ryūhei furrowed his brow. Living in Liyue Harbor for nearly a month, he was familiar with the Liyue Qixing who governed the Liyue regions. In the past 3 weeks, he knew that the Liyue Qixing had their eyes on him due to his manga and his mysteriousness. And it seemed they tried to get in touch with him this time.

Well, this was also a chance for him to see the richest person in Liyue. After all, the Tianquan of Liyue Qixing was an experienced businesswoman, so he might learn a valuable lesson from her.

"Alright. I am not very familiar with how to meet the Tianquan. Can you lead me there?"

Ganyu nodded in response. Then, she led him toward the Yujing Terrace. Arriving at the Yujing Terrace, Ganyu didn't lead him to the Yuehai Pavilion. Instead, she approached a man next to the floating rock, which he found amazing as it contained an elemental with anti-gravity properties, similar to the Jade Chamber.

Ganyu and Ryūhei stepped on it. Then, Ganyu channeled her power and formed some kind of technique formula on the surface of the floating rock they stepped on.

"As I thought. It's Adeptal energy. So only Adepti could move this thing, huh? Or perhaps, there's something like a talisman or something to move this thing." Ryūhei said inwardly.

As soon as the rock they were standing on glowed after gaining enough energy, it began to move and flew upward slowly, carrying Ganyu and Ryūhei toward the Jade Chamber directly.

The sensation felt like riding on an elevator in a hotel, a platform or compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering people or things to different floors or levels, but without safety.

Arriving at the Jade Chamber, Ryūhei was presented with a structure that was so magnificent and beautiful. The pond was rich in fish, local aquatic plants, and a pleasant floral fragrance. All in all, the exterior view of the Jade Chamber would entice anyone to explore inside.

It was not long after Ganyu led him inside, Ryūhei could see the main chamber where a woman sat on her desk while puffing a smoke akin to a boss in the company waiting for an employee in the office.

She stood up from her seat and approached him.

"I always hear news about you, a businessman from Inazuma, Niwa Ryūhei. Welcome to the Jade Chamber."

The woman, who was none other than Ningguang greeted him with a dazzling voice while clasping her hands.

Ryūhei was somehow enchanted by her appearance in a split second. The reasons were, well… Her dress with a side slit reaching up to her thigh was one of them. Her crimson eyes and white-beige hair were the other points of her charm. He put on a professional smile akin to an experienced businessman while clasping his hands to follow the culture of Liyue as usual.

"Thank you for your invitation. I believe you must be Lady Ningguang. It's an honor to meet a prominent figure like you. I believe this is the first time I have met you in person."

"Indeed. This is our first meeting."

Ryūhei looked around for a moment. He was amazed at how classic it was. Then, he commented.

"This Jade Chamber— is such a nice place."

Hearing Ryūhei's honest opinion, Ningguang chuckled.

"Haha. I'm glad that you like it. At first, it was but the size of one room. Now, it is large enough to blot out the moon in the skies above Liyue. One day, I believe it will overshadow all seven nations."

"Your ambition is big enough."

"Aren't you the case? You take advantage of what the citizens of Liyue like through manga. Drawing Dragon Ball, causing a lot of clans and families to start training based on the manga. Drawing One Piece, causing a lot of people to try their luck in the ocean to find treasures. And drawing Food Wars, causing chefs to start to research new recipes and cooks to try to imitate the dishes in the manga. In just less than a month, you completely took over the Literature Industry, as well as the people."

Her voice sounded calm. But he could feel something hidden inside her, as if she was trying to find something to exploit.

Then, he heard Ningguang add, "You're so talented and smart. But, because of your manga—"

"Oh." Ryūhei chuckled in response because he was called smart by someone like her. It was unexpected. But, his response caused Ningguang to misunderstand.

"I see. I believe you already know about that."

Ryūhei tried his best not to change his expression.

He completely had no idea what she was talking about. Though he was an expert in certain areas, there was no fucking way he was as smart as she thought, nor could he read her mind.

Even so, he replied warily.

"Well, I'm just following the wind."

It was a vague answer, but it had a lot of meaning.

"Following the wind, huh?"

Ningguang pondered and said inwardly, "Some people already group up together and start to draw manga, with the help of some editor and a publishing company. Perhaps his standing in the literature industry will be ousted in the near future. Oddly enough, he didn't seem to care. What made him so confident? The novel he just published as well. Didn't he purposely release it together with his manga so the novel would be buried as well?"

She thought that Ryūhei planned something even though he knew some

"Your business is certainly interesting and innovative. But, in the long run, won't you need a lot of personnel? I believe drawing a volume is already exhausting. But you draw 3 stories at the same time."

What Ningguang said made sense. Still, no way he recruited people just to increase manpower. Too bad he couldn't perform something like a clone technique or shadow clone technique. If he chose between Rinnegan or Tenseigan, he might be able to do so. However, his eyes were quite useful in this kind of world where countless sources of negative energy at the god level were at his disposal. Perhaps from now on, he should research how to create a clone technique or doppelganger.

Putting aside his thoughts, he replied to Ningguang's question.

"Well, it's certainly exhausting. But I have no plan to hire another employee for the time being. You know, my shop is rather— small."

Ningguang didn't know Ryūhei's exact reason. However, she felt he had hidden something.

After thinking it through, she began to talk about something else.

"By the way, I heard you can play a musical instrument, right? Do you want me to register you to participate in the Moonchase Festival two weeks later?"

"Moonchase Festival? What is that?" Ryūhei was clueless about the tradition in Liyue. But, he heard of a similar festival back on Earth. Right, it was the Mooncake Festival or something.

"Understandable. You're from Inazuma and probably have no clue about the festival. The Moonchase Festival celebrates the arrival of fall by moonlight, which is said to be the time of year when the Adepti would seek "the Way '', thousands of years ago. Now, it gave rise to various festivals created by ordinary folk who sought to emulate it. And this year's festival will be the music festival." Ningguang explained.

"I see. But why do you want me to participate?"

"Your song that enchanted so many people at that time, was so unique, and I can't help but to have you participate in the festival. If you participate, I'll give you something in exchange."

Her offer wasn't that bad, if he must say. However, even if he wanted her to buy 30 copies of Xingqiu's novel, he still needed to wait after the set time had expired. So, he might ask for something else instead.