In Sumeru, pretend to be a scholar

He always carried a crossbow with him for self-defense.

However, Wang Yan still politely cupped his hands in greeting: "Thank you for your trouble, Manager Yun."

"You're too kind," Yun Gui said with a smile. "Then please feel free to browse around. The market in Omos Port is quite interesting, with many exotic goods. Remember to come back here before Shenshi (3-5 PM), and I'll take you to the new ship."

Shenshi is between 15 PM and 17 PM.

Wang Yan agreed and temporarily parted ways with Yun Gui, walking alone along the boardwalk towards the market area of ​​the port.

Omosport is very large, and it's definitely not possible to see everything in just a few hours. So, after thinking for a moment, Wang Yan decided on his destination – the Diafa Hotel.

This is the best hotel in Port Omos.

In the storyline, when Kaia arrived at Port Ormos, she helped Dawn Winery negotiate a wine business deal with the owner there.

In other words, you can drink authentic Château de la Dawn wines here.

Although Wang Yan was not a drinker, he was still very curious about just how good the wines from Dawn Winery were.

...

Hotel Diafa.

When Wang Yan arrived, there were already many people there.

Merchants, tourists, sailors, gilded tour groups, adventurers... all sorts of people gather here to drink and chat, creating a lively atmosphere.

The tavern's waitress, Nasmir, greeted them with a bright smile: "Welcome! Is there one guest here? May I have a seat?"

She pointed to the empty seat on the side.

Wang Yan nodded: "Okay, thank you."

After Wang Yan took his seat, Nasmir handed him the menu: "Our signature dishes today are curry shrimp and spiced grilled fish. As for drinks, we recently received a new batch of Zumiao Milk Fruit Wine from Mondstadt Dawn Winery, which is very popular."

"Then let's have a glass of apple cider from Dawn Winery." Wang Yan closed the menu. "We'll order the food later."

"Alright, a glass of apple cider, right away!"

Before long, Nasmir returned with a wooden cup. The wine inside was clear, with a golden hue, and there was a small piece of ice in it.

Wang Yan took it, sniffed it lightly, and could smell a fresh, slightly sweet fruity aroma.

He took a sip—the alcohol content was indeed low, it was sweet and refreshing with the natural crispness of apples, and the finish had a very faint tartness that perfectly balanced the sweetness. It was even more refreshing when chilled.

It's really good!

Wang Yan put down his cup and looked out the window at the bustling crowds and ships on the dock, but his thoughts drifted to the upcoming voyage and Liyue's plans.

Lost in thought, his gaze drifted unintentionally across the row of shops across the street from the hotel, and suddenly stopped.

A petite, agile figure in brightly colored clothes was directing several porters as they moved boxes.

The iconic purple spirit shroud floated to one side.

If it's not Dolly, then who is it?

"This guy... could he be smuggling?" Wang Yan thought subconsciously.

The reason is simple: with Dolly's financial resources, she could easily buy and sell legitimate goods openly.

After all, her identity at the Order Academy has already been cleared, and she's even able to collaborate on major projects with the Myo-ryo School.

The shop across from the hotel looked like a general store selling household goods, which didn't suit Dolly's temperament.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Yan summoned Nasmir, paid for the drinks, and then got up and quietly walked through the noisy crowd at the hotel entrance to the other side of the street.

Dolly had her back to him, one hand on her hip, the other gesturing, "Please be gentle! There's something good in here; if you break one, you'll lose a lot of Mora!"

The purple spirit beside him floated in mid-air, swaying up and down as if in agreement, seemingly also saying that money should be deducted.

Wang Yan stopped behind her, cleared his throat, and spoke in a voice just loud enough for Dolly to hear: "Old Master Sangge Mahabayi, what a coincidence, are you delivering goods?"

He deliberately softened his tone when he said the word 'delivery'.

"Wow!"

Dolly jerked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, jumped up on the spot, and almost bumped into the cargo box next to her.

She turned around quickly, her face showing a mixture of shock and guilt.

After recognizing Wang Yan, she breathed a sigh of relief, but was still somewhat incredulous, her voice rising a octave: "You, what are you doing here?!"

As she spoke, she subconsciously moved her feet, trying to use her petite body to block the person behind her who was carrying the Nanwo Ying. Her eyes quickly glanced at the chubby little Zi from the town, who was looking at Wang Yan with a hint of affection.

Dolly didn't pay attention and glanced at the street behind Wang Yan, as if to make sure no one else was paying attention.

"Stop looking, it's just me, no one else." Wang Yan waved his hand. "I'm heading back to Liyue, passing through Ormus Port."

After saying that, Wang Yan pointed to the cargo boxes: "What are these? I feel a little strange about them."

He hadn't noticed anything before, but now, as he got closer to the boxes, he had a feeling that there was something familiar inside.

"Inside? Ha, ha, just some ordinary ingredients." Dolly's shifty eyes completely betrayed her inner tension.

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll have to call the port authority,” Wang Yanping said calmly.

Dolly's face stiffened: "We still have a working relationship, it can't be that bad, can it?"

"You're really smuggling?" Wang Yan asked, sounding somewhat surprised.

He dared not let the port authorities see it, for that would be smuggling. Now, Wang Yan hesitated. As a scholar of the Academy of Education, he should report Dolly, but as a partner, it seemed inappropriate to report her as well.

"No, no, no, don't talk nonsense. We promised Lord Grass God that we would stop smuggling." Dolly quickly waved her hand. "These are materials from Nordkalley... ordered by the scholars."

After a pause, she explained, "This used to be my smuggling warehouse, but now it's mainly used to store rare materials."

"Then why are you afraid of the port authority?" Wang Yan asked, somewhat skeptical.

“Hey, the port authority can’t come alone. If you call him, he’ll definitely bring his gilded entourage. Then the warehouse will be exposed, and who knows if someone will be eyeing my goods.”

Dolly said in a very serious tone.

Wang Yan pursed his lips, still somewhat disbelieving, but didn't press further. Instead, he looked at the box and asked, "Can I see the materials from Nordkal?"

He had a strong feeling that something inside had a quality that made him feel familiar.

"Look at the materials?" Dolly breathed a sigh of relief. "Alright, let's go to the warehouse."

She waved, took her short legs, and led Wang Yan into the warehouse behind the general store, then opened a box of materials.

This is a box of iridescent crystals. This mineral has excellent toughness and malleability, and has been regarded by artisans in Zhidong as an excellent forging material since ancient times. It is even more precious than the condensed crystals from the Mapleland region.

No wonder Dolly was so nervous about these goods.

This box of iridescent crystals alone is estimated to cost tens of thousands of Mora.

However, Wang Yan was not a craftsman; he had no interest in minerals. What attracted him was a certain power contained within the minerals.

'This is... the lunar torque.'

Wang Yan could clearly sense that if he wished, he could extract the power contained within the ore.

Feasts, moonlit nights, and dreams.

The goddess of flowers' powers do indeed involve the moonlit night. It is unknown whether the goddess of flowers ever served as a moon messenger, but she probably draws power from the moon.

After staring at the rainbow crystal for a while, Wang Yan looked away and said, "So this is what it is. Okay, you go ahead and do your thing. I'll be going now."

Dolly and Banya ultimately refrained from activating the lunar torque within the ore.

"Huh, you really just want to take a look?" Dolly said, somewhat puzzled.

"Otherwise what?" Wang Yan said irritably, "I can't exactly report you, can I?"

"Haha, no way, we're partners." Dolly laughed. "Then I won't keep you here."

She waved and said, "Have a safe journey, Wang Yan! Happy Lantern Festival!"

Only after Wang Yan turned and walked away did she finally relax completely, wiping away imaginary cold sweat: "That scared me to death! I thought I was going to get caught red-handed... How come this guy walks so quietly!"

As he spoke, he kicked the rainbow crystal box next to him.

The iridescent crystals rolled down, revealing the mechanical parts underneath.

Chapter 107, "A Study of Nordkalley—Notes on Lunar Torque"

Distracted by Dolly's matter, Wang Yan lost his appetite for drinking.

Back at the dock, Yun Gui was still directing her men to move things, and the boats were moving slowly and carefully.

Generally speaking, when traveling from Liyue to Sumeru, merchants bring goods such as tea, silk, and minerals.

When returning to Liyue from Sumeru, they brought spices, furs, and some small toys from the Mystic School.

Upon seeing Wang Yan return, Yun Gui was somewhat surprised: "Mr. Wang Yan, you're back so early?"

Wang Yan nodded: "There's nothing worth visiting, let's come back and read some books."

“Reading… Haha, reading is good! Our second young master also likes to read.” Yun Gui said with a smile. “Then I’ll take you to the ship first. Your things have already been transferred.”

Are the books Xingqiu read the same as the books I read?

Wang Yan inwardly complained, but on the surface he still smiled and nodded: "Okay, thank you."

"No trouble at all, please come with me."

Yun Gui led Wang Yan along the wharf boardwalk deeper into the area. After passing several rows of moored inland river boats, the view suddenly opened up.

A massive ocean-going vessel rests quietly beside a designated deep-water berth, resembling a giant whale at rest.

This sea vessel was more than two or three times larger than the riverboat we had traveled on before.

The ship is towering, with a hull constructed from a mix of dark hardwood and reinforced metal components, featuring smooth yet sturdy lines.

The bow is carved with more exquisite Liyue-style auspicious clouds and wave patterns, and the three thick mainmasts point straight to the sky. Although the sails are not fully raised, their neatly rolled-up size already shows their imposing presence.

The deck is spacious, and even with a lot of cargo piled up, there is still plenty of room to move around.

"This is the design of the ocean-going navigation system by our chamber of commerce," Yun Gui introduced, her tone tinged with pride. "Please follow me."

Upon reaching the large gangplank attached to the ship's side, several sailors were inspecting the ropes and sails. They nodded to Yun Gui and Wang Yan when they saw them.

Crossing the deck and heading towards the passenger area located in the stern, Yun Gui pushed open a heavy oak door and entered a relatively quiet corridor with several guest rooms on both sides.

Yun Gui stopped in front of one of the doors, opened it, and stepped aside to let Wang Yan in: "Mr. Wang Yan, this is the cabin prepared for you. It's a long cabin, but the conditions are better than on a riverboat. I hope you will be comfortable."

Wang Yan stepped into the room, and his eyes lit up immediately.

This cabin is much more spacious than the one on the previous riverboat, about eight or nine square meters.

The layout was pretty much the same, with a bed, a table, and chairs, plus a small storage cabinet. His luggage was on the bed, and the box of books was on the desk.

"Then I'll be going now," Yun Gui said with a smile. "You rest and settle in first, and I'll go and confirm the cargo loading and departure details."

“Okay, you go ahead with your work.” Wang Yan nodded.

Yun Gui took her leave and gently closed the door behind her.

After watching the other person leave, Wang Yan withdrew his gaze, tidied up his luggage and clothes, then opened his suitcase, rummaged through it, and found a book titled "Nordekale Investigation - Essays on Lunar Moment Force".

The book was taken from the Church of Christ. It is a collection of essays by a scholar of the Theory School. The author examined the mechanics of the Nordic region and wrote down some conjectures about the force of the lunar moment.

Wang Yan naturally knew that the Moon's Grip Force was the power of the moon, one of the most primordial forces of Teyvat, a force that Columbia had channeled from the past into the future.

However, he only understands the concept of "y". He still needs to learn what lunar torque is.

Perhaps... after studying it in depth, I can really understand the principle of lunar torque and obtain lunar torque account.

[The Moon's Torque is a special force existing in the Nordkale region. After some investigation, I found that this force has certain similarities to the Wilderness Energy of the Maple Leaf region. Both exist in specific areas and do not dissipate outwards under special circumstances...]

Just as the desolate wilderness exists in the life forms, soil, atmosphere, and water veins of Maple Leaf, the lunar torque also exists in every aspect of Nordkalley…

[I came here to investigate the Nordkale machinery, but my curiosity about the Moon's Grip Force has led me to visit the oldest tribe in the area—the Frostmoon Children.]

[How amazing! The Moon Wanderer of the Frostmoon Child can actually use the horned crown on his head to guide and control the lunar torque... I think I've seen this in the books of the Faculty... But... isn't that a forbidden subject?]

As my research deepened, I increasingly felt that the legend of the Frostmoon Child was somewhat amiss, though I couldn't quite put my finger on it. However, I was certain that the lunar moment force was not solely a force emanating from the moon.

[I debated with the people of the Frostmoon Child, arguing that the power of the Moon's axis doesn't solely originate from the moon, and I got a beating... but the Moon Chanter healed me, though she banished me from the Frostmoon Manor.]