Chapter 47: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [47]
Shenhe felt a strange sense of guilt under Luo Qing's direct gaze. But then she quickly caught herself—she was here for revenge, after all. What was there to feel guilty about?
Her frustration mounting, she lifted her spear higher, the tip almost touching Luo Qing's face.
Luo Qing couldn't help but find her reaction adorable. What a stubborn girl, he thought with a smile.
"So, Miss Shenhe, how do you plan to get your revenge?"
"I...!" Shenhe hesitated, then coldly declared, "We're going to fight again!"
"A duel?" Luo Qing shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, Miss Shenhe. The Northland Bank has been very busy lately, and I have a lot of responsibilities. I just don't have the time for a duel right now."
"If you refuse, don't blame me for getting rough right here!" Shenhe threatened, sounding almost desperate as if she'd actually make good on it.
"Miss Shenhe, I'm the official representative of Snezhnaya in Liyue, and this is the Northland Bank. If you attack me here, you'd risk causing a diplomatic incident~" Luo Qing said casually, confident she wouldn't act on her threat. Even if Shenhe did try something, with his Time Zero ability, she wouldn't be able to touch him.
"I..." Shenhe faltered, unsure. She wasn't well-versed in political matters, and Luo Qing's words made her worry that the situation was as severe as he suggested. Her raised spear wavered, and she seemed uncertain whether to lower it or not.
"Then... when will you be free?" she asked, her voice quieter.
"Hmm, that's hard to say." Luo Qing glanced around. A crowd had gathered, drawn by the sight of a young woman confronting a man with a spear in the middle of the street—a scene far too unusual to ignore.
"Miss Shenhe, there are too many prying eyes here. How about we go inside and talk?"
Shenhe hesitated, but seeing the crowd growing larger, she reluctantly nodded and followed Luo Qing into the bank.
Once inside, she no longer brandished her spear. "Give me a specific time," she demanded.
"Sorry, Miss Shenhe, I really don't know," Luo Qing replied.
"If you won't tell me, I'll just follow you until you're free!" Shenhe said, her tone cold and resolute.
"Uh...?" Luo Qing was taken aback. "Does that mean you'll even sleep next to me when I rest, Miss Shenhe?"
"..."
[+1 Frustration Value from Shenhe]
"You rogue!" Shenhe's cheeks turned pink, and she angrily raised her spear once more, forgetting they were inside the Northland Bank.
As soon as the spear came up, the bank's guards went on high alert, gripping their weapons and preparing to intervene.
Luo Qing waved them off, signaling that everything was under control. "Miss Shenhe, how about this—when I finish my work, I'll come to find you, and we'll have a fair duel. If I lose, you can do whatever you want with me. How about that?"
"Do you mean it?"
"I swear it."
"...Fine. I'll be waiting for you in Liyue." Shenhe summoned an ice talisman, tossing it to Luo Qing. It contained her current address.
"I hope you don't go back on your word."
With that, she cast one last icy glance at him before swiftly exiting the bank.
Luo Qing glanced down at the ice talisman in his hand. As soon as he committed the address to memory, the talisman disintegrated into frost.
He sensed the curious stares from the people around him. Looking up, he saw that everyone in the hall had paused their work to watch him.
"What are you all staring at? Get back to work!" Luo Qing snapped, waving them off. Spotting Natalya and the others leaning over the balcony above, obviously eavesdropping, he frowned and headed upstairs.
As soon as he reached the second floor, Natalya rushed to ask, "Hey, Lord Luo Qing, who was that girl? How do you two know each other?"
"Don't ask questions you shouldn't," Luo Qing replied curtly, darkening his expression. He was already annoyed that they had been snooping.
"Oh, come on! It's just a question!" Teresa chimed in with a mischievous grin. "Did you do something to her, Lord Luo Qing?"
"I did not, and stop making things up," Luo Qing said firmly.
"Oh, you totally did! That girl's eyes were practically shining! You must have done something to her!" Teresa insisted, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"..."
"It was just a little waist grab. Is that really such a big deal?" Luo Qing muttered defensively. He'd carried Shenhe around for a while and happened to hold her by the waist.
In Snezhnaya, when he had pulled a similar move with Yekavon, a handmaid with a slender waist, she hadn't made such a fuss. She only got mad because she didn't make the cut for his selection.
"Well, that's Snezhnaya for you," Teresa nodded sagely. "But this is Liyue! The girls here are super conservative! They'd blush just from holding hands!"
"And that girl looked like the cool-but-warm type. If you get close to her heart, she's bound to show her softer side! Lord Luo Qing, you're in trouble!"
"Is it really that serious?"
Luo Qing was starting to doubt himself. Teresa spoke with such conviction that he began to question his actions.
"Absolutely! Sure, she's all cold and says she wants to duel you, but that's just her way of trying to get to know you better and figure out who you really are!
She might seem hostile now, but if you show her a little care and attention, she'll fall for you, bit by bit. Her hate will turn into love, and she'll start depending on you," Teresa explained passionately.
"Really?" Luo Qing was skeptical.
"Really! If you need some tips, I can help you win her over," Teresa offered slyly.
"No, thanks. I'd rather handle it myself," Luo Qing declined with a shake of his head.
Then he paused. Teresa had been locked up in Guyun Stone Forest for so long—when did she get so knowledgeable about relationships?
"Have you been in a relationship before?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nope," Teresa replied with a shake of her head.
"Then how do you know so much?"
"From reading all the light novels published by Yae Publishing House! They cover this stuff in great detail!"
"..."
"Go play somewhere else," Luo Qing said, pushing Teresa aside. He felt ridiculous for ever considering her advice.
Who in their right mind would develop feelings just from being carried around?
That only happens in novels!
---
T/N: FRICK I just realized it was Anxiety Value for a bit... UGHH WHY DO I TRANSLATE THESE PAST MIDNIGHTTT
Future me here I actually fixed the ones I spotted hehe already.
Chapter 48: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [48]
With the Adepti retreating, the Qixing had now taken full control of Liyue, making it truly a land ruled by humans.
In recent days, Ningguang had been too busy overseeing the post-disaster reconstruction and other cleanup efforts to think about Luo Qing's situation. She had simply ordered a news blackout, keeping the identity of the person who repelled Osial known only to the Qixing and a few trusted higher-ups.
According to recent reports from Yelan, despite his exposed identity, Luo Qing hadn't fled. Instead, he continued to wander the streets of Liyue every day, as if he were a true Liyue native.
Now that the reconstruction of the harbor was nearly complete, Ningguang felt it was time to probe Luo Qing's intentions once again.
A figure with the strength of a god, and from the Fatui no less, was not someone she could afford to leave unchecked.
But unlike the last time, Luo Qing had, after all, helped Liyue by driving Osial back. She couldn't wait for him to come to the Jade Chamber on his own.
This time, she made time in her schedule, preparing to take the initiative and meet Luo Qing in person.
Morning
The sun was shining, and the salty sea breeze blew gently across the harbor.
Ningguang arrived alone at the entrance of Northland Bank.
As the leader of the Qixing, visiting the Fatui's bank in person was certainly a significant gesture towards Luo Qing.
Upon entering the hall, those who recognized Ningguang's identity were visibly tense, unsure why this ruler of Liyue had come here alone.
"Ningguang, may I ask what brings you to Northland Bank today?"
Manager Andrei quickly stepped forward to greet her. Although the relationship between Liyue and Snezhnaya was far from cordial, Ningguang was, after all, the de facto ruler of Liyue. Showing her the proper respect was imperative.
"I'm here to see your Lord Luo Qing. Is he in?"
Ningguang's voice was calm as she began to survey the interior of the hall.
Though the architecture was based on Liyue's style, many of the furnishings had been replaced with Snezhnayan designs. The bank's setup was also quite different from Liyue's native treasuries—proof that it was a foreign bank with some influence.
Sensing someone watching her, Ningguang looked up and spotted a refined woman wearing a half-face mask, peering down at her through a half-open window on the second floor.
There was something strange about this woman's aura...
Even from a distance, Ningguang could sense a cold intensity emanating from her, beneath which lay a hidden warmth.
It seemed as if someone else had spoken to her, and the masked woman broke eye contact with Ningguang, turning her head slightly.
Her lips moved, as if she was engaged in a conversation.
"Excuse me, Ningguang, but Lord Luo Qing left early this morning. He isn't in the bank right now..."
"Can you tell me where he went?"
Ningguang's tone was firm, with a hint of authority that brooked no refusal.
"Well... alright, let me go check for you."
Andrei hesitated for a moment before running upstairs to ask Natalia, who, after some inquiries, directed him back downstairs.
Catching his breath, Andrei relayed, "Lord Luo Qing's subordinates said he went fishing at the southern docks with the guest consultant from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Maybe it would be best if you visited another day?"
"Alright, thank you."
Ningguang nodded slightly, about to leave, but she couldn't resist looking back up at the second floor. The window was now closed, and the woman's face was no longer visible.
After Ningguang left, inside the second-floor room:
"Why did she come here?"
"Lady Signora, she said she was looking for Lord Luo Qing," Andrei replied respectfully.
"Oh, Luo Qing... he certainly knows how to attract a woman's attention."
Signora's lips curled into a subtle smile, whether it was praise or mockery was unclear.
"Hey, instead of gossiping about our colleague, why not think about what we're going to do next?"
Across from Signora, Childe took a sip of Snezhnayan firewater, his expression tinged with frustration.
No matter how he thought about it, his plan seemed flawless. He'd not only released Osial but also summoned his wife, Beisht.
It had seemed inevitable that Morax would intervene when Liyue could no longer withstand the assault.
But out of nowhere came this Li Feiyu, who took down Osial in just two strikes.
His carefully laid plans had been completely derailed.
"Heh, we'll discuss it when Luo Qing gets back."
Signora's smile deepened, and she said nothing more.
Noon, the old dock at Liyue's southern coast
Two men sat side by side on the wooden pier. One of them wore a wide-brimmed fisherman's hat to shield himself from the midday sun. Each held a fishing rod, their voices occasionally drifting on the breeze.
"Let me tell you, the fish here aren't very bright, especially the Thorn Fish and Bombfish. They'll bite at any bait. We'll definitely catch something big today—no way we're going home empty-handed!"
"Lady Hu Tao said that if we catch something big, we can bring it back, and she'll personally cook it."
"Hu Tao cooking? Yikes... maybe not. Oh, by the way, the Rite of Parting is coming up soon, do you..."
Luo Qing was about to ask Zhongli if he'd attend his "funeral" and pose for a picture with him when he suddenly heard the distinct sound of high heels clicking against the wooden planks behind him.
He turned around to see a tall, silver-haired woman with red eyes—her expression cool and her legs long—walking steadily in his direction.
"Lord Luo Qing, it's been a while."
Ningguang gave a polite nod, her gaze briefly flicking to the young man sitting beside Luo Qing.
Previously, during her investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Archon's death, she had looked into this mysterious consultant from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, only to find no useful information. All she knew was that he was kind, knowledgeable, and unhurried.
Seeing how closely Luo Qing interacted with him now, Ningguang couldn't help but wonder if this Zhongli had any connections to the Fatui.
Luo Qing removed his fisherman's hat with a smile.
"Oh, Lady Ningguang, what a coincidence! You're here to fish too?"
"..."
Ningguang was momentarily speechless, thinking to herself that her attire clearly wasn't meant for fishing.
She steadied herself and spoke politely, "I have some questions weighing on my mind, and I was hoping Lord Luo Qing could answer them. Would you mind accompanying me to Xinyue Kiosk for a discussion?"
"Questions? Are they about personal matters?" Luo Qing shook his head slightly. "I've never been in a relationship, so I might not be much help with those."
"..."
[Frustration Value from Ningguang +1]
Ningguang took a deep breath to steady her emotions. "No, it's about recent events."
"Oh, I see. But I haven't caught any fish yet..."
Luo Qing pretended to be troubled. "If I leave now, they'll call me a failure as a fisherman...
How about this, Lady Ningguang—I'll lend you a fishing rod, and you can join us for a bit?"
"..."
[Frustration Value from Ningguang +1]
---
T/N: Okay I SHOULD have fixed the format...
Future me again, I forgot what this was about :)
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