In Sumeru, pretend to be a scholar

With no work to do, Wang Yan didn't turn around and leave. Instead, he chatted with Khalid for a while at the Menaka shop and taught Feretes some basic knowledge about epistemology.

"By the way, are there any well-known Liyue Merchant Guilds in Sumeru City?"

Before leaving the Menakali shop, Wang Yan casually asked a question.

"Liyue Merchant Guild?" Khalid didn't even hesitate. "The most famous Liyue Merchant Guild is naturally Feiyun Merchant Guild, and that Tianquan also has a shop in Sumeru City..."

“Tianquan? Ningguang?” Wang Yan asked in surprise.

Khalid nodded, but was somewhat puzzled by Wang Yan's surprise: "Your Tianquan from Liyue is a big merchant, is it strange that she has a shop in Sumeru City?"

Wang Yan was speechless for a moment. In fact, he realized what he had said as soon as he spoke.

Although it's not explicitly stated in the game, Ningguang is Liyue's top merchant, even holding a position in Tianquan. Therefore, her business must extend to neighboring Mondstadt and Sumeru, if not all of them.

"The investigation has left me completely bewildered," Wang Yan chuckled, then asked again, "Are they all on Baoshang Street?"

"Yes, most of the shops in Liyue are together. You'll see when you go there. But what do you need the Liyue Merchant Guild for? If it's convenient, tell me. Maybe I can help."

Khalid also held a certain position in the Sumerian business community and had influence.

Wang Yan didn't hide anything and told them that he planned to find a Liyue merchant ship to hitch a ride back to Liyue.

Khalid laughed immediately: "Haha, then why are you looking for a merchant guild? Just go to the Adventurers' Association and post the mission. Spend a little money, and the Adventurers' Association can connect you with the right person."

"Besides, you're a scholar. If all else fails, go to Vizier... You should know Secretary Faliha; she can help you make arrangements."

"There's really no need for you to go find it yourself."

Khalid's words brought Wang Yan to his senses.

Yeah, I'm rich and have status, why would I do everything myself?

Why not just hire a boat and find someone to help arrange it?

Having gotten used to doing everything himself in the ruins, he was momentarily stunned when he returned to Sumeru City.

"Okay, I'll go check out the Adventurers' Association."

Wang Yan nodded, then said goodbye to Khalid and Feretes.

"Okay, take care. I won't see you off."

...

The Adventurers' Association of Sumeru is located below the Menakali Shop, between Baoshang Street and Tianbi Pond Square.

To be honest, compared to other countries, there aren't that many adventurers in Sumeru.

The reason is simple: the role of adventurers has been partially taken over by local gilded tour groups.

However, many gilded guilds, in addition to taking on missions from the 'gilded guild headquarters' controlled by the 30-person group 'Gathering Sand Hall', also take on commissions from the Adventurers' Association.

This, in turn, benefited the Adventurers' Association of Sumeru, allowing the branch to complete tasks at a level comparable to that of other countries.

Many scholars come to the Adventurers Association to post missions, but Wang Yan's entry into the branch did not attract any attention.

Posting a quest in the Adventurers' Guild is simple: just tell Catherine your quest requirements and offer a reward.

"So, your request is to find a caravan that's on the same route and return to Liyue before the Lantern Festival, right?" Catherine repeated Wang Yan's request.

Wang Yan nodded: "Yes, but we also need to ensure safety on the road."

“Okay, you need to pay a deposit of three thousand Mora, with any overpayment refunded and any underpayment collected.” Catherine registered the commission.

Wang Yan, of course, wouldn't haggle. He took out thirty large-denomination Mora coins from his Mora bag and placed them on the counter.

"Your registration has been completed here. Given the time-sensitive nature of your request, if no one accepts the request within two days, the association will send someone to notify you."

"Is there anything else you need?"

Looking at Catherine, who was being overly polite, Wang Yan shook his head: "That's all, goodbye."

"Thank you for choosing the Adventurers Association. Goodbye."

Wang Yan left the counter to make room for the client behind her, but did not leave the Adventurers Association directly.

This was his first time visiting the Adventurers' Guild. In the game, only Catherine was there, but in reality, the Sumeru branch was a large building where not only Catherine but also many employed locals worked.

Of course, the most distinctive feature is the adventurers in green uniforms. Most of them look travel-worn and gather in twos and threes, chatting about their adventures.

In a way, Wang Yan's trip to the ruins could be considered an adventure, but compared to the adventurers around him, his experience was relatively easy.

After all, with Erosan following along, and Kavi and Elhesen helping from behind, the only truly difficult part was deciphering the floral reliefs.

Wang Yan found his own experiences too simplistic, so he was very interested in the experiences of these real adventurers.

After finding a seat in the lobby, Wang Yan began to listen to the conversations of the people around him.

Not far away, several experienced adventurers were gathered together. Two men and one woman were probably a group, and they still smelled of rainforest soil and dew, obviously having just returned from completing a mission.

One of the tall men was waving his arms and speaking loudly to his companion.

"...You have no idea how steep that mountain was! We chased a cunning flower for most of the day, only to have it disappear into a cave halfway up the mountain."

"The three of us discussed it and decided that since we were already here, we might as well go in and explore. And guess what? It wasn't an ordinary cave at all. It was winding and deep inside, and there were ancient symbols carved on the stone walls, which looked like something from an ancient civilization!"

The female adventurer next to him chimed in, "What's most frightening is that there are so many branching paths inside, it's like a maze. If Aarhan hadn't brought fluorescent paint to mark the way, we probably would have been stuck inside with slimes."

Slimes really can be found everywhere.

She patted her chest with lingering fear: "But in the end, we actually found a small treasure chest in a dead alley. Inside were a few gems of good quality and a tattered roll of parchment, the things drawn on it that we still can't fully understand."

“If you don’t understand, go find a scholar from the intellectual school. Wasn’t there a famous scholar from Liyue a while ago?” the adventurer listening to the story interjected.

Wang Yan's lips curled up; he hadn't expected to hear news about himself again.

The female adventurer smiled and said, "I went to Khalid, but he said the scholar had gone out. So I just found a random scholar from the epistemology school to translate it. I don't know how long it will take to hear back from him."

"Haha, don't worry, if those scholars can't translate it, they'll ask their teachers for help. This is a small investment for a big result."

Someone laughed and said, and the people around also burst into laughter.

Similar to the medical system before the time travel, when scholars from the epistemological school receive a translation assignment, if they cannot translate it themselves, they certainly won't tell the client that they are incompetent, as that would damage their reputation. In the end, they will usually seek help from their mentors.

Professors generally won't refuse unless they're busy with experiments; however, they'll definitely get scolded.

...

In another corner, several adventurers seemed to have just returned from the beach, their clothes still carrying a faint salty smell.

A middle-aged man with tanned skin was spitting as he spoke: "...If you're talking about thrills, you have to go to the sea! Last month, I took on a job clearing out aquatic monsters near Omos Port. On a sunny day, it's alright, but if you catch a storm, the waves can be higher than the boat! Our little boat was almost smashed to pieces!"

He took a swig of mead and continued, "The most troublesome are those mutated water elemental monsters. Affected by abnormal ley lines, they are several times more ferocious than usual, and they can even merge together to form a giant water ball that chases after the ship and smashes it!"

"Our archer, Sally, stood at the bow of the ship, facing the wind and waves, and shot an arrow through its core. The water sphere exploded with a 'bang,' splashing us with seawater that tasted salty and bitter!"

Several people around him made noises, and he raised his cup to salute Sally, whom he was talking about.

...

Not far away, two young men dressed as scholars were talking to an adventurer who looked very reliable.

A young man wearing glasses pushed up his glasses: "...The entrance to the ruins we found was completely covered by vines, so we guessed that the ruins must be very old. There weren't many mechanisms inside, but the air quality was very poor, with a musty smell and a lot of fungal spores floating in the air. Inhaling too much of them would make you dizzy."

His companion, a woman with a ponytail, chimed in, "The key is those ruin guards. They're old models, slow-moving, but they're still working tirelessly!"

"So you want to invite me over?" the adventurer asked knowingly.

The young man with glasses nodded: "We can handle the fungus, but the two of us can't handle the ruins guards. I heard you're good at that, so I came to invite you."

“My prices aren’t cheap,” the adventurer said bluntly.

"Apart from the materials and data we need, all the other treasures are yours," the young man with the glasses said more directly.

The adventurer smiled and said, "Okay, I'll take it."

The two shook hands, and the cooperation was agreed upon.

...

Further afield, adventurers recount their harrowing experiences clearing monsters and their adventures escorting caravans…

After listening to stories at the Adventurers Association all afternoon, Wang Yan finally got up and went home.

His interest in these experiences wasn't because he enjoyed listening to people brag and joke, but for serious reasons.

When we went to the desert before, at Kavan Post Station, Wang Yan told the children stories of travelers, which the children loved.

At that time, Wang Yan felt that it was reasonable for him, as an epistemologist, to write a fairy tale book for children!

At first, Wang Yan wanted to directly copy some stories from before his time travel, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized that many of these stories would not be suitable for him.

Therefore, Wang Yan was gathering material.

The stories told by these adventurers are sometimes thrilling, sometimes wondrous, sometimes full of unexpected gains, or simply a release of power.

The excitement, lingering fear, pride, or satisfaction on their faces as they recounted their experiences all seemed genuine and vivid.

Moreover, since these stories can be told openly, they naturally do not involve any scheming or treacherous matters; they are all stories of mutual assistance among companions to complete adventures.

These stories are well-suited for adaptation and adaptation for children.

"Hmm, go back and ask Dixia if she'd like to be the protagonist of the story. If so, we'll tell the story from her perspective."

The Adventurer Desia, The Lion with the Mane...

Just by looking at the name, you can tell it's very popular with kids.

Chapter 104 Good Fortune

The Adventurers Association is very efficient.

The next day, Wang Yan received a message from the association saying that his commission had been accepted by someone else and that he should go to the Adventurers Association to discuss the details with them.

After giving the child who had come to deliver the message a Mora as a reward, Wang Yan went directly to the Adventurers' Association.

When Wang Yan stepped into the Adventurers Association, perhaps because it was too early, there were fewer people in the lobby than yesterday.

He walked straight to the counter, where Catherine was smiling as she greeted another adventurer.

Upon seeing Wang Yan, she nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

After the previous adventurer left, Catherine spoke up, "Mr. Wang Yan, the 'Finding a Caravan on the Same Route Back to Liyue' quest you commissioned has been accepted. The accepting party is a representative of the Liyue Flying Cloud Merchant Guild, who is currently in the waiting area."

She raised her hand to indicate a quiet corner on one side of the lobby.

Wang Yan looked in that direction and saw a young man dressed in Liyue-style clothing sitting on a wooden chair.

The man was about twenty or thirty years old, dressed in an indigo long robe with a dark blue outer garment, tied with a dark belt. His attire was neat yet elegant.

He sat upright, and the teacup beside him was no longer hot, indicating that he had been waiting for a while.

As Wang Yan walked over, the other person noticed him, immediately stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and said in a standard and natural manner: "My name is Yun Gui, and I am honored to serve as the manager of the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce."

Wang Yan subconsciously raised his hand in return, saying, "Wang Yan, I'll trouble you with this request."

Yun Gui's expression was gentle and her tone polite: "Mr. Wang Yan, you are too kind. During my time in Sumeru City, I have heard a lot about your deeds. We are both from Liyue, so it is only right that we look after each other."

After a polite remark, he continued, "Miss Catherine has briefly explained your request: to arrive in Liyue Harbor before the Lantern Festival and to travel with a reliable caravan."

"Coincidentally, our chamber of commerce has a shipment of goods that needs to be transported to Liyue Harbor. After a short stop at Moss Harbor, it will sail directly to Liyue Harbor. If all goes well, the journey will take about eight to ten days, and we should be able to arrive before the Lantern Festival."

He paused briefly, then continued, "There are still passenger cabins available on the ship. If Mr. Wang doesn't mind, he can travel on board. The merchant guild's ships regularly travel between Sumeru and Liyue; their hulls are sturdy, and they are equipped with guards, so you can rest assured of their safety. As for the remuneration..."

At this moment, Catherine walked over and spoke up at the opportune moment: "You two can discuss the details of the mission yourselves. Once you've finished negotiating, please call me, and I will draw up a formal contract for you both as proof."

Yun Gui quickly waved her hand: "No, no, no, I meant to say that we can forget about the reward. The Chamber of Commerce doesn't lack that little bit of money. Just consider it as a favor for going along the way."

He looked at Wang Yan: "Mr. Wang Yan only needs to settle the commission fees of the Adventurers Association."

"No reward?" Catherine nodded slightly. "The association will take one percent of the three thousand Mora as commission, and the remaining two thousand nine hundred and seventy Mora will be returned."

The Adventurers Association takes a cut of the commissions posted, though it's not much, just one percent. This is one of the Adventurers Association's sources of income.

As for other sources of funding, the majority came from the headquarters in Zhidong.

"This...isn't that inappropriate?" Wang Yan refused. "The price should be the price; there's no reason not to charge."

Yun Gui smiled and said, "Mr. Wang Yan, don't worry, this is not an exception. You should know Qi Shan, right? She also rides our boat and doesn't charge us either."

"Is the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce doing charity?" Wang Yan said with some emotion.

"It's not really a good deed, just a way to build a good connection," Yun Gui said with a smile. Then she explained to Wang Yan, "If it were ordinary merchants traveling by boat, the Chamber of Commerce would charge them for the ticket, but since you and Qi Shan are scholars who have joined the Academy of Teachings, we won't charge you."

"It's not easy for Liyue people to get into the Faculty of Arts, so it's a good investment to make a good connection with them."