Chapter 6: Jade Chamber Discussions

The Jade Chamber is a magnificent flying palace powered by floating stones, and it serves as the private residence of Ningguang, the Tianquan of Liyue's Qixing. When the weather is clear, one can stand on the deck outside its grand doors and gaze down at most of Liyue Harbor.

The chamber's resplendent exterior and its lofty height, overlooking all of Liyue, unmistakably signify Ningguang's unparalleled position among Liyue's merchants. What started as a room-sized structure has grown so large that it can now obscure the real silver moon above Liyue. Ningguang's vast wealth has largely been funneled into the continuous expansion of the Jade Chamber, inviting top craftsmen to make it more and more large and luxurious.

In Ningguang's eyes, the Jade Chamber symbolizes her authority and boldness—a beacon of her successful business ventures. Normally, the chamber is off-limits to outsiders, but today, it had a special visitor.

"You weren't supposed to be heading to Inazuma? What brings you back so soon?" Ningguang asked as she looked at Beidou, who stood before her with a Blackcliff Slasher on her shoulder and a wooden box in her other hand. The fact that Beidou could board the Jade Chamber with such ease spoke volumes about their relationship.

"Something came up on the way, and I thought it was important to report to you first," Beidou replied, helping herself to a cup of tea on the table and downing it in one gulp. She wrinkled her nose; as expected, tea didn't compare to alcohol.

"The Fatui?"

Sitting by the railing, Ningguang gazed out over Liyue Harbor under the night sky, her voice soft but certain.

"Hmm? How did you know?" Beidou paused, surprised. She had intended to tease Ningguang by withholding the information for a bit, but Ningguang had already figured it out.

"The importance of the Inazuma resistance is something we both understand. If anything made you turn back, it had to involve the Fatui," Ningguang said with a slight laugh. Beidou's mission to Inazuma was as much about aiding the resistance as it was about investigating the Fatui's activities. The fact that she returned early meant the information she brought back was likely more valuable than what she could gather from Inazuma.

"Have you heard about the Fatui's new Twelfth Harbinger?"

"Of course I have. I keep a close eye on information, and I'm not easily outdone."

The Fatui from Snezhnaya had been worming their way into every nation under various pretexts, and the other six nations had also placed their spies in Snezhnaya. Ningguang had received word of the new Harbinger's appointment within an hour of its announcement. So far, she only knew that the Twelfth Harbinger was the instructor of the Pyro Agents, but she had no information about his appearance or capabilities.

"But did you know that he used to be from Liyue?" Beidou's voice lowered as she revealed this, surprising Ningguang.

"A Liyuean?"

"Yes, from Lisha Suburbs, by the sound of his accent. He not only speaks Liyuean fluently, but he also has acquaintances in Liyue. This is what he asked me to bring back."

Beidou gently pushed the wooden box she had set down by her feet towards Ningguang. Although her crew had already checked the box and found nothing amiss, she still wanted Ningguang to inspect it, just to be safe, before delivering it to Qiqi.

"Coconut milk?" Ningguang took out a bottle of the milky beverage, sniffing it. Although she seldom drank it herself, she was familiar with it due to a certain someone in Liyue Harbor with a unique fondness for it.

"He knows Qiqi?"

This was the first time Ningguang frowned that day. Outwardly, Qiqi appeared to be just a herb-gathering girl and apprentice at Bubu Pharmacy, but in reality, she was an immortal zombie. Based on what Ningguang knew of Qiqi, it seemed unlikely she would know a Liyuean living far away in Snezhnaya.

No... As an immortal, Qiqi was much older than Ningguang. It wouldn't be surprising if she had acquaintances Ningguang was unaware of.

"Did the Instructor say anything else?" Ningguang asked as she resealed the box of coconut milk, needing more information to piece together the Instructor's identity.

"'This is a gift for Qiqi. Tell her... it's from Xiao Bai.' That's exactly what he said," Beidou repeated, knowing the importance of these details, especially the name "Xiao Bai."

"Baizhu?" Like Beidou, Ningguang immediately thought of Baizhu, the owner of Bubu Pharmacy, upon hearing the name "Xiao Bai." Baizhu was familiar with Qiqi, and the name "Bai" was a clear connection.

"I've never heard if Baizhu has any siblings, but since this person called himself Xiao Bai, he's likely related to Baizhu. However..."

Beidou paused to take a sip from her wine flask before sharing a thought that had been lingering in her mind.

"Isn't it possible that he simply knows of Baizhu and Qiqi and used this information to make us second-guess ourselves?"

"Absolutely not." Ningguang dismissed the idea without hesitation. "Qiqi's love for coconut milk is known by very few people in Liyue Harbor—only those close to her would know. If this person knew that, he must have genuinely known Qiqi in the past."

Xiao Bai... acquainted with Qiqi... Lisha Suburbs...

Wait? Lisha Suburbs?

"Did you say he had a southern Lisha Suburbs accent?" Ningguang asked, a hint of realization in her voice.

"Yes, I'm certain of it. I have people from that area on my crew, so I'm very familiar with the accent. There's no mistake," Beidou confirmed.

"Could it be him?" Ningguang's gaze shifted towards Lisha Suburbs, her brows furrowing once more. She had once asked Qiqi why she liked this peculiar drink, thinking it might have been given to her by someone strange in Liyue Harbor. But Qiqi's answer had surprised her:

"It's from a friend in Lisha Suburbs... It's cool and... delicious."

After discovering that Qiqi had a friend in Lisha Suburbs, Ningguang had even taken the Millelith to search the area, but they found no trace of Qiqi's friend—only a group of treasure hoarders they ended up chasing off. Could it be that Qiqi's friend from back then was the same person now claiming to be the Twelfth Harbinger, Xiao Bai?

"Let's go to Bubu Pharmacy."

With a wave of her hand, Ningguang summoned a Geo platform that lifted the box of coconut milk. Rather than continue speculating, it was better to go directly to the source and ask the real Qiqi.

Though Qiqi's memory isn't great, she has a habit of keeping a notebook. Perhaps there might be some clues about this "Xiao Bai" in her notes.

"Should we bring this too? Or have it checked again by your people?" Beidou suggested. She had brought the box to Ningguang because the inspection resources at the Jade Chamber were more thorough. it would be more appropriate to have it examined once more before delivering it to Qiqi, especially since it was a gift from a Fatui Harbinger.

"Is there anyone in Liyue Harbor more suited to examine this than Baizhu?" Ningguang replied.