Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue. [71]

"Why are we turning back? We're on the right path, aren't we? Isn't Liyue Harbor just ahead?"

Xingqiu looked at Gu Sanqiu with confusion. "What's gotten into you?"

"I'm feeling the northwest wind."

Gu Sanqiu rolled his eyes. "The problem is, the people up at the harbor seem... off. Are you sure you want to go up there?"

"Who?"

"Oh, right. You weren't there last time when I fought Childe."

Gu Sanqiu suddenly understood. "I just took a look. Those Millelith soldiers up there? They're the same ones who took me away last time."

"But the Millelith stationed at the harbor aren't supposed to be those guys. It's pretty clear they were specifically sent there. You know what that means, right?"

A bead of cold sweat dripped from Xingqiu's forehead. "You mean..."

"Exactly. Captain Beidou probably loaned us the ship, then immediately spilled the beans about our trip to the Guyun Stone Forest."

Gu Sanqiu rubbed his temples. "Why didn't I think of that earlier? I should've just bought a small boat somewhere instead of insisting on borrowing a high-quality one from Captain Beidou."

Chongyun, gripping the rudder, looked utterly bewildered. "So... should we make a run for it or not?"

"Run my foot."

Xingqiu snorted coldly. "We go in directly. At most, we'll just get yelled at. But if we run away under the Millelith's noses, trust me, it'll be way worse when we try to sneak back later."

"I mean... it can't be that bad, right?"

"It can be that bad."

Xingqiu glanced at Gu Sanqiu, who was sprawled on the deck, seemingly in a state of spiritual departure.

"Hey, stop playing dead. Get up and figure out what we should do now."

_(:ì」∠)

Seeing that Gu Sanqiu didn't even bother moving a muscle, Xingqiu knew he couldn't count on him right now.

"Forget it. Let's go straight in. We all sink or swim together."

Xingqiu, unusually carefree, drew his longsword and pointed it forward. "Helmsman! Forward!"

"Stop adding unnecessary drama!"

As the boat docked, Gu Sanqiu, hands in his pockets, walked past the Millelith with a serious expression, as if he were a government official returning from an important mission at sea.

"Ahem."

A right hand landed firmly on Gu Sanqiu's shoulder.

"Gu Xiangjun, isn't it a bit inappropriate to pretend nothing happened and just walk away like that?"

Gu Sanqiu turned to look at the man beside him. "I didn't break any laws. I docked the ship according to regulations. What right do you have to detain me?"

"This."

The Millelith soldier held up a gold-lettered invitation, adorned with tiny gemstones.

"Come with us, Gu Xiangjun. The Tianquan has requested your presence."

"...Can't I not go?"

"You'll have to ask the Tianquan yourself."

"If I'm already meeting her, what's the point of asking?!"

"Hmm... Uncooperative behavior from law enforcement's perspective. I'll have to make a note of that, Xiangjun."

"As for you two," the soldier turned to Xingqiu and Chongyun, "someone will be here soon to handle your situation. I hope you'll both be forthcoming with your statements and cooperate with the Millelith."

Xingqiu maintained a polite smile. 'Handle our situation'... It was clearly a euphemism for interrogation.

The kind where silence would only make things worse.

Gu Sanqiu, shoulders slumped, followed the Millelith to Yuehai Pavilion, where a middle-aged man was already waiting for him.

"Xiangjun, long time no see."

"Bai Yun... Forget it, asking you is pointless anyway."

Standing on the elevator platform, the cold wind brushing against Gu Sanqiu's handsome face woke him up a little.

Fact: Their expedition to Guyun Stone Forest had been discovered, and now a major figure had summoned him to her turf.

Query: How to successfully escape?

Answer: No way out. Just face the music.

Entering the Jade Chamber, Gu Sanqiu boldly pushed open the main hall's door. Sure enough, there she was—a white-haired woman, sitting in a chair, sipping tea with her back to him.

"Ningguang."

"Sit."

Ningguang set down her teacup, the golden rings on her fingers gleaming in the light.

"Pour yourself some tea if you want. Play a game with me."

"Another Liyue Millennial game? Those are a bit brain-heavy. Can't we play something simpler?"

Gu Sanqiu sat down across from Ningguang, picking up the documents on the table to read them carefully.

"Ah, just as I thought. Another game update. If you were to work in the gaming industry, you'd be the only one not getting flamed by players."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing. Just praising your dedication."

"Then why don't you learn from me?"

Ningguang raised her index finger, lightly resting a smoking pipe against its tip, watching the delicate balance of the pipe as it gently swayed but never toppled.

"Finished reading?"

"Finished."

"Then let's begin."

...

A day later, the main hall was shrouded in smoke. Gu Sanqiu's brow was furrowed as he studied the board in front of him.

Ningguang, seated across from him, wasn't faring much better. Smoke curled from her pipe, and the once-pristine teacup lay discarded on the floor. Her gaze was fixed solely on Gu Sanqiu's strategic layout on the game board.

"Industries... Why do you insist on clashing with me over industries?"

Ningguang finally broke the silence after hours of play.

"If you weren't so fixated on it, you might have caused me quite some trouble. Yet the interesting part is, now, I can't even mount a grand counteroffensive against you. That's the most intriguing aspect."

She studied Gu Sanqiu's impassive face with a curious glint. "You know, you remind me of a giant tortoise. A tortoise that pulls its head into its shell, making it impossible to strike."

"I'm no tortoise, sis."

Gu Sanqiu extended his index finger, conjuring a small flame with a confident smirk.

"I'm a Black Tortoise."

He revealed his trump card. "The Endless War card. Due to some unforeseen force, Liyue is plunged into a long-term conflict, comparable to the Archon War era, causing devastating economic blows to both sides."

"With the Industrial card's protection, my economy suffers only a fifty percent loss. You, sis, are looking at an eighty percent hit."

He flipped several pieces on the game board, changing the layout. "The tide has turned. I now hold the dominant position."

"Also, the Endless War card's lingering effect makes recovering your economy thirty percent more costly."

"And in the next round, I plan to employ commercial suppression tactics against Liyue—setting trade barriers and strategically targeting key resources to seize control of your economic lifeline."

Gu Sanqiu's grin widened. "I'll even dump low-priced goods to squeeze out your local industries, ensuring they never thrive."

"And that's just the commercial aspect. On the diplomatic front, I'll establish you as a client state, masking my other policies towards you under that guise."

"As for the political side—espionage, assassinations of capable individuals, nurturing corrupt officials, and cultural infiltration... no need to go into detail. You should get the picture."

"Sis, you've lost!"

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T/N: I'm not sure if it is noticeable but the translation should've improved, let me know if it's better than before!

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