Didn't you go to Teyvat to earn money to support me?

But he still put away Shen Liang's letter and Lei Yingdian's fan, and instead of going back to the small courtyard where there were still many things to be taken care of, he headed straight for the dock.

------------

"Your Highness Liang's final exam will involve setting up a telegraph station in western Liyue, including the Wood Gathering Valley, Fu'ao Valley, Glazed Peak, and the surface mining area, specifically around the Lava Abyss battlefield, to establish a connection with the Ji Palace."

Late at night, at the cave dwelling of the True Lord of Clouds and Wind at Mount Aozang.

One boy was paired with seven women who, on average, were ten centimeters shorter than him, including the General and the Eighth Prince, both shorter than him. The eight women sat solemnly at the table and on the wooden bed, while Shen Liang's little face showed a million complaints.

But his hands were bound by the extra straps of his straitjacket, so he could only express his indignation by shouting loudly.

"No way! Absolutely not! We finally have a holiday, and all the other special agents have to wait until their third year to start their combat assessments. I'm only in my first year and I'm going to the battlefield? Even recruitment wouldn't be this fast!" Shen Liang bared his teeth angrily at Liu Yun Zhenjun, like a ruffled Chinese country cat. "I am a Daoqiren! I have extraterritorial rights, and Liyue has no right to make me join the army!"

The headmistress-like beauty in a feathered cheongsam adjusted her glasses. "Extraterritoriality requires an application to be effective, and it doesn't exist before Her Highness applied. Besides, Liyue doesn't have any laws that would allow a child in their teens to go to the battlefield."

"Then why did you make me take this kind of exam?"

“I told you, we never intended to obey the law.” Liu Yun scratched his chin.

Shen Liang was filled with grief and indignation, which then turned into a rage.

"Don't think I don't know what you're up to. All this talk of an exam is just a way to send me to work in the Lava Pit! With my power as a Demon God, I won't face any risks on the front lines, and I'll even get a general as support, right? I'm Inazuma, not some random thug you Liyue can just throw around. My appearance isn't so easy! I helped you take down Oser because I was interested, but right now my only interest is to relax, travel, and enjoy life in Liyue Harbor during my vacation! Dear aunts and sisters, I'm still a child. My vacation is almost here. How can you bear to send a kid like me, who's never even seen blood, to a place like that?!"

“You’ve seen blood, and more than once,” Fa Nan said weakly.

"What does it matter? As your assessment teacher, I have to go too." Alice waved her hand dismissively. "It's not like I'm sending you to your death. Even if General Thunder were really here, I dare say, what kind of training is it if she sends her son here for training and he doesn't even dare to go to the battlefield?"

"When my vacation is over, if you try to drag me to those practical courses, I won't say a word." Shen Liang was furious. "I'm not some fighting force you can order around. I'm just an ordinary person now, nothing more! I want to enjoy a normal vacation like any other international student!"

"Yes! We're going to rent out a whole restaurant in Liyue Harbor and live a life of debauchery every day!" Yae no Miko said angrily, hands on her hips, and pushed the General forward as well. "Who wants to go fighting with you guys? My brother and we have so much to do these past two months. The General and I have made up our minds to make sure my brother can't leave the house for two months!"

"Not going downstairs? What are you going to do?" Gan Yu asked curiously.

Fa Nan coughed.

Gan Yu suddenly realized what was happening, and after glancing at Shen Liang's suddenly gloomy expression, she couldn't help but smile slightly.

The general sat there expressionless, picking up his teacup.

Gan Yu heard Fanan's voice transmission and said with a hint of cunning, "Forget about that little fox, she's very bold and her skills are exceptional, but the general is such a quiet and petite child..."

"Huh?" Gan Yu didn't understand what she was asking.

"What can she possibly offer Liang'er for two months... even if it reaches her throat, it won't be long enough."

Gan Yu turned her head to look at Fanan's slightly flushed and still puzzled face. She tightened her expression so as not to be so angry and embarrassed as to hit her, but she still reached out and grabbed Fanan's thigh and twisted it hard.

"No, Sister Gan Yu, don't twist it! It'll be obvious if you tear the stockings!"

"Stop joking, Liang'er. As you know, all the people who understand telegraph technology are in Inazuma. It takes at least a month for them to travel back and forth. And right now, none of the technical personnel involved in the telegraph project are as skilled as you. You could even say that your familiarity with this machine is comparable to its inventor. The military situation is urgent, and every day we delay is a day in the future. Go and set up the telegraph communication system on the battlefield first. This way, we can even allow the main force of the Thousand Rock Army to enter the interior of the Abyss. We can only fight a defensive battle on the outside of the Abyss right now because the internal terrain is intricate and there is no light source. Without means of communication, the risks of going underground are too great," Liu Yun said.

“But my vacation…” Shen Liang muttered.

Although he tried to pressure him with his sense of the bigger picture, Shen Liang felt that he wasn't a member of Liyue, so why did he have to think so much about Liyue?

He wasn't actually afraid of fighting or trouble; he just found the front lines boring. Besides, it wasn't like he was indispensable. Liyue had plenty of powerful warriors, and even skilled immortals like Yasha could do the work. Why did he have to be a "technical soldier"?

He killed Oser on a whim to see how he compared himself to a proper demon god, but this time he lost interest.

These people still don't seem to realize that whether something is fun or not is Shen Liang's primary criterion for making decisions.

“If you go, Jigong will cover your food and lodging, and will also guarantee you an extra two months of vacation, and all expenses in Liyue Harbor during those two months will be covered by Jigong.” Liu Yun finally said, “In addition, this is not an exam just for you. Given Rosalyn’s familiarity with telegraph machines, she will also be joining this operation.”

Shen Liang paused for a moment and looked at Rosalina.

“The Jigong Academy gives us credits. This mission is being escorted by Professor Alice, and I heard that the Thousand Rock Army will also protect us technicians, so we can basically guarantee our safety.” Rosalyn smiled a little embarrassedly. “With all expenses covered for two months, I can buy a bunch of alchemy materials. You know, I’m learning potion mixing from Professor Alice, and this major is really expensive.”

"Aren't you staying at Jigong to pick up your boyfriend?"

“People always have to improve themselves. I can’t rely on Rustan to support me, or I’d become some kind of opportunistic woman,” Rosalin scratched her head. “The credits from this exam are enough for me to skip all classes for the next year. Anyway, the practical exams in the next few years might be even more dangerous, so what do I have to be afraid of?”

"You don't have to participate in the practical exam. Anyway, you weren't planning to join the Combat Department in the first place, so this is just a forced entry. You can just transfer to another major in the Elemental Academy, like studying Explosions with Alice," Shen Liang said.

"Why switch?" Rosalyn curled her lip. "How many opportunities does a person have to improve themselves in a lifetime? You have to seize every opportunity, no matter how dangerous or troublesome it is. As long as you're at the bottom, you have to seize every possibility to realize your value in life. Only then can you rise to prominence. If you're afraid today and lazy tomorrow, you'll never amount to anything!"

Shen Liang's heart skipped a beat.

Is this the ruthlessness of the "lower class"? His comfort and ease have long since made him lose his ambition.

“But it would be even better if you came with us, Liang’er. You’re so strong, you could protect Sister Rosalind.” Rosalind encouraged him, “If something really happens, you’re not afraid, but you can protect me. Just think of it as experiencing life. Come along, and we can have a holiday together. We can go find Rustan and explore Liyue Harbor!”

Chapter 85 The Wedding Prepared by Rustam

After the crowd dispersed, Fa Nan accompanied Shen Liang and the others back to their dormitory. Since the cave of Liu Yun Zhenjun in Aozang Mountain was Gan Yu's second home, Gan Yu stayed to keep Liu Yun Zhenjun company.

Liu Yun watched as the cave's protective barrier closed, then turned and asked, "Do you have something to ask?"

"This kind of thing doesn't necessarily require Liang Jun to do it. We're not that short-handed. Do we really need to set up the radio station in these few days?"

"The number of monsters from the Dark Outer Sea in the Layered Rock Abyss is increasing. We need to launch a cleanup operation before they gather inside the abyss. Before that, we must establish a communication terminal similar to the 'Void'."

"No time to lose?"

"It's hard to guarantee that the Thousand Rock Army can win once the monsters from the Beast Realm gather. In any case, we must limit their numbers to a certain extent; otherwise, even if we abandon the Layered Rock Abyss to defend, we won't be able to create a buffer zone."

"Understood." Gan Yu nodded.

Do you have any more questions?

“It’s understandable that Liang Jun went to the battlefield, but… why did Miss Iris and Miss Rosalind? They are Mondstadt people. Putting aside whether this is somewhat inhumane, even for safety reasons, shouldn’t two foreigners be allowed to set foot on the battlefield of Liyue?”

"How long have you known Alice?" Liu Yun suddenly asked.

"One thousand...nearly two thousand years?"

“Iris’s lifespan may even exceed the history of Liyue. We still don’t understand what the Witches’ Society intends to do, but it’s clear that with her abilities, even if she harbors malice, she wouldn’t bother to cause trouble in this kind of war. The core of Liyue is still the Emperor and us immortals. Whatever Iris wants to do, she can’t threaten us, and she has no need to interfere in the war.” Liu Yun threw a document in front of Gan Yu. “In fact, the Witches’ Society is as powerful as the Seven Kingdoms. Iris is especially special. I don’t believe she has any interest in national wars. In fact, her interest in Princess Liang seems more practical.”

Gan Yu opened the file, looked at the intelligence records about Alice, and then paused slightly.

"'Golden' Rhinedoth? The Grand Master of Kanria, the greatest alchemist, and also a member of the Witch's Guild? One of Miss Alice's...friends?"

“This person is no less of a threat than a god, you know? Rhinedoth was able to incite Kanria to declare war on all nations and open the gates to the ‘Beast Realm’ from the edge of the world. So what level must her friend be at? Can we use her? Even if we can't, can we at least keep her under our control?”

“Miss Alice… According to this logic, if something were to happen and a conflict were to break out, we might not be a match for her.”

"But that lazy little princess is."

Gan Yu remained silent and closed the book.

“One last question,” Gan Yu said, lying down on his wooden couch, “I don’t think Rosalyn has anything to do with this mission. Her exam shouldn’t have been this dangerous.”

"Do you really think that girl, whom Alice took as a student, is an ordinary person? You're wrong. Rosaline Cruzsica Loefat, she harbors a flame far stronger than the Eye of God. The Sumeru Cult couldn't uncover her potential, so they entrusted us with it. As educators, we naturally have different ways to guide our students toward a great future. Besides, the second reason we sent her is that Princess Liang likes her. If she goes, Liang'er can't possibly not go."

"You like her?" Gan Yu frowned slightly.

"You've noticed it by now, haven't you? Liang'er has a boyish air about him. Even though he's the prettiest among the girls, he always makes other girls unconsciously drawn to him," Liu Yun said. "Fanan is like that, you are like that, and Rosalin is like that too. But perhaps none of you think you'll fall for a girl. It's just that you can take a long time to confirm your feelings, but Rosalin can't. She still feels she should marry Rustan, and even feels guilty about that thought."

She glanced at Gan Yu and smiled, "I want to give her a chance. This trip will allow her to spend a lot of time alone with Liang'er and confirm her own thoughts. Maybe it's just for fun. Don't you find it amusing to watch that child struggle with whether she likes a boy or a girl?"

Gan Yu thought to herself, "Zhenjun, how come you've also picked up Liang'er's bad habits? Don't you find things interesting anymore?" But she suddenly paused, realizing that Liu Yun had mentioned her as one of the girls.

She raised her head suddenly.

"The new bodysuit stockings are very nice. Remember to have Liang'er make me a set next time." Liu Yun chuckled. "I'll give you my measurements later. My disciple is willing to wear his handmade underwear. Shouldn't he show some respect to his master?"

Gan Yu quickly pulled the blanket up to cover the lower half of her rosy face.

------------------

Mondstadt, West Wind Cathedral.

This ancient granite building, over a thousand years old, is a typical Gothic structure with beautiful pointed ribbed vaults and projecting buttresses. From the outside, it is filled with intricate lattice windows, and the people coming and going are devout followers of the wind god.

The area surrounding the Church of Favonius is filled with Mondstadt's most outstanding buildings, including the best hotels, the best private clubs, and even the best trading companies and auction houses. Naturally, there are also essential wedding venues built according to the beliefs of the Mondstadt people.

The priests of the Church of the West Wind are busy every hour conducting weddings. There is a special chapel in the church for the citizens of Mondstadt to do this. They read vows, exchange rings, kiss each other, cut the cake and distribute it, and incidentally, they also remove the bride's leg ring and throw it out. Whoever catches the leg ring will definitely get married within three years.

It may seem repetitive, but it's actually the happiest job. Every prayer pastor experiences many such moments but doesn't find them tedious, because this job is akin to witnessing the birth of happiness every day. Seeing those beautiful young women in white gowns, their faces flushed with excitement, almost crying as they receive the rings their lovers kneel before them, even the most averse pastor feels a sense of satisfaction.

The Church of the West Wind naturally had two marriage systems for commoners and nobles.

Ordinary people naturally fall into the category mentioned above. After completing these procedures in the chapel, the groom can carry the bride around in circles and then leave with firecrackers. The only cost from beginning to end is the rent of a chapel, which is economical and doesn't make one lose face at all.

However, for nobles, the cost of their weddings was often irrelevant, so a small chapel was out of the question. Of course, renting out an entire church was unrealistic for most nobles; they preferred observing the bride's wedding procession, then seducing her and returning her to the groom when they were done with her. Unfortunately, this was commonplace during the Lawrence family's rule centuries ago, but under the Knights of Favonius, it was no longer an option.

Most nobles preferred to hold their weddings in their own castles or manors, bringing the best priests to their homes. Of course, everything else had to be top-notch, such as how to design the wedding, which required the advice of the priests in the wedding planning firm.

Today's client is a typical aristocrat, and quite a famous one among them.

The pastor sized up the handsome man who was examining the wedding dresses on the models. He looked to be in his early twenties, tall and upright. Although he was a quiet man, he was polite and maintained a humble smile towards all the models.

"Tall, rich, and handsome"—those three words perfectly describe his persona. The priest could practically see the models practically swooning over him, their low-cut wedding dresses practically bumping into his solid chest muscles. But the priest also knew the allure of such a young and promising aristocrat to women. Even in his thirties, this kind of man would be a heartbreaker. Getting married in his twenties was simply not in line with the habits of Mondstadt's dissolute nobles.

Young Wolf Knight, Rustan.

Born a commoner, with a clean background, and perhaps even still a virgin. Half of Mondstadt's young nobles are vying for his attention. This peerless genius, barely in his twenties and already a vice-commander through martial prowess, is extremely valuable even as a commoner. All it takes is offering a daughter to recruit him into their household, and his future will likely belong to the entire Knights of Favonius!

But today he's choosing a wedding dress.

"Mr. Rustan, what do you think of this one? The bride isn't wearing the long, flowing gowns that are popular these days, but rather a hunter's outfit with a modified hem. This is the classic wedding attire of Mondstadt people during the time of the Lone King. Imagine this scene: in the middle of the afternoon, in the manor with lush green grass, you ride a tall white horse, dressed in a smart knight's outfit, to pick up the bride in her little hunter's dress. The guests are having a feast on the manor's lawn, and the children are throwing shuttlecocks around your horse. Then you jump off the horse, kneel on one knee, and take out a luminous ring made from Liyue's Noctiluca Stone from a box to propose."

Rustan stopped, a slightly wistful expression on his face.

"not bad."

"Of course, if you like this kind of wedding with a strong classical country style, we have more options. For example, we can replace the sharp hunter's outfit and knight's outfit with a tailcoat and a bright red backless dress. This kind of clothing is very trendy, and when you get off the horse, there is an abstract beauty that combines the classical and the modern. It is at least much more beautiful than those of our peers who wear wedding dresses on horseback!"