In Sumeru, pretend to be a scholar!

Chapter 112 ▊▊▊▊, ▊▊▊▊▊▊▊▊▊▊?

The next day, as dawn broke, the thin fog on the sea gradually dissipated.

The fleet finally sailed into Liyue Harbor, a prosperous port where Teyvat's wealth lies dormant, where thousands of ships and merchants gather, and where a thousand sails converge.

Wang Yan did not stay in the cabin any longer. He packed up the manuscript filled with rune sketches from the previous night, picked up his things, and went up to the deck.

The morning breeze, carrying the unique saltiness and hustle and bustle of the harbor, rushed towards him. He stood by the railing, gazing into the distance.

The first thing that catches the eye is the two natural rock formations that stand like guardian giants on either side of the harbor; these are capes extending from the southern foothills of Tianheng Mountain.

The mountain is steep, and the rock walls, weathered by wind and waves, display a pattern of deep ochre and gray-white. The outlines of man-made walkways and observation decks can be faintly seen on them.

At the foot of the mountain, the densely packed docks and berths stretch out into the bay like the tentacles of a giant beast.

Countless ships are moored there, their masts like a forest and their sails like overlapping peaks.

Nearby, many merchant ships of similar size as the "Breaking Waves" are moored at the dock. The shouts of loading and unloading cargo, the creaking of pulleys, and the muffled thuds of cargo boxes hitting the ground all blend together, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

In the distance, several larger warships can be seen anchored, which should be the official fleet of Liyue.

Beyond the dock area, the streets and buildings of Liyue Harbor rise in layers, nestled against the mountains and overlooking the sea.

The buildings near the port are mostly warehouses, barns, and workshops with a practical style, featuring gray tile roofs and thick brick walls, giving them a rugged and powerful appearance.

Further up, the traditional Liyue buildings with their flying eaves and bracket sets gradually increase in number. The vermilion columns and carved window frames gleam with a warm luster in the morning light, and the signs and banners of restaurants and teahouses sway gently in the breeze.

Further away, amidst the swirling clouds and mist on the mountainside of Tianheng, the outlines of pavilions and towers can be faintly seen. Perhaps they are the residences of immortals or the villas of wealthy merchants, adding a touch of mystery and grandeur to this port.

"Is this Liyue?" Wang Yan murmured.

Unlike the initial awe of seeing Sumeru City, Liyue Harbor is also magnificent, but it gave Wang Yan a strange sense of familiarity.

Yun Gui had arrived beside Wang Yan at some point, gazing at the scene before her with a mixture of emotion and pride in her voice: "Every time I come back, I feel that Liyue Harbor has changed a bit."

"Humanity's era should be one of constant change," Wang Yan said softly.

Yun Gui glanced at him, nodded, and said nothing.

The two watched Liyue Harbor in silence until the Wavebreaker sailed into the dock.

The boat gently came to a stop, and the gangplank was lowered.

Wang Yan picked up his box full of books and manuscripts and said to Yun Gui, "Manager Yun, thank you for your care along the way. I will definitely repay you if I have the opportunity in the future."

Yun Gui smiled and returned the greeting: "You're too kind. I also wish you a peaceful Lantern Festival and all the best in Liyue. If you need any help, you can find me at the Flying Cloud Merchant Guild."

"Okay, I've got it."

Wang Yan nodded and turned to disembark with the other passengers and crew.

The merchant ships docked at the North Wharf, which was very different from the fish market at the South Wharf. The simplest difference was that there was no fishy smell here.

This also made things convenient for Wang Yan, because the inn called "White Horse Inn" was located at the North Wharf.

Although Baiju Inn may seem to have declined as an old establishment, it is actually still quite famous.

Wang Yan simply asked around and found the hotel.

"Good morning, esteemed guest. Are you here for a meal or to stay overnight?"

As soon as Wang Yan approached, the maid at the door greeted him.

In fact, although Wang Yan did not know the inside story of [White Horse Inn], he did know a thing or two about the female servant in front of him.

It might sound unbelievable, but this guy is most likely one of Ningguang's people.

The maid's name is Xiuhua. In the game, when asked about her identity, she will be somewhat evasive. She will also tell the player that she has a twin sister who occasionally switches roles with her.

Then her sister must also be familiar with hotel work.

Quite coincidentally, the waitress at Wangshu Inn was named Yuhua.

Even more coincidentally, both Wangshu Inn and Baiju Inn are places related to legends of immortals.

Therefore, Wang Yan guessed that the two sisters were probably Ningguang's people, responsible for monitoring the situation in certain areas.

However, Wang Yan did not have any further evidence to prove this, so it could only be considered a guess.

"I'll stay at the hotel," Wang Yan said.

"Okay, please follow me." Xiuhua gestured and led Wang Yan into the inn.

The check-in process is very simple and doesn't even require identification. You just need to say where you're from and where you're coming from.

The room rate is not expensive, only fifty mora per day, but food and drinks are not included.

After putting away his luggage and books, Wang Yan didn't rest at the hotel and went straight out.

One reason is to register with the Adventurers' Guild so that I can receive letters from Sumeru later.

On the other hand—since we're already in Liyue, of course we should enjoy some Liyue cuisine!

Although the food in Xumi wasn't bad, Wang Yan felt that his Chinese stomach needed to be saved.

So, let's go to Wanmintang.

After leaving Baiju Inn, Wang Yan walked along the street outside the dock towards the South Wharf.

Although the real-world Liyue Harbor is very different from the one in the game, the difference in size alone is enormous.

Overall, the city layout hasn't changed much; places like Chihuyan and Feiyunpo are still roughly in their original locations.

Head south to the dock, then go to Huyan to eat. We can have a meal at Wanmintang first, and then go to the Adventurers' Association.

Although Wang Yan was prepared, he still underestimated the size of Liyue Harbor. It took him more than an hour to reach the exit of the stairs below Tiger Rock.

However, after seeing the lively scene at Chihuyan, Wang Yan felt that the journey was worthwhile.

The bluestone pavement gleamed from the constant flow of people, and shops lined both sides of the road.

Blacksmith shops, soy sauce shops, tea stalls, peddlers, jade gambling stalls, and toy stalls—the variety was dazzling.

Further away, the sound of the storyteller's gavel, the haggling of vendors, and the greetings between neighbors wove together into a warm and bustling atmosphere.

It's even more lively and has a more human touch than the Grand Bazaar.

"That's really good."

Wang Yan sighed in admiration, then naturally blended into the crowd.

Finding Wanmintang was easy. Aside from the shouts of "Delicious and inexpensive," the aroma wafting through the streets also guided Wang Yan to the right path.

As soon as we arrived near the Wanmin Hall.

Wang Yan saw a young girl standing on a stool, talking to the people around her about wanting to become famous and make a name for herself.

The people around looked at each other, seemingly not recognizing the girl.

One diner, looking bewildered, asked his friend, "What's wrong with this person?"

His friend shook his head: "I don't know, did they get food poisoning from eating boiled black-backed bass?"

Perhaps provoked by the chatter, the girl became agitated, raising her voice and pulling out a shovel to swing wildly, causing the surrounding diners to instinctively dodge.

Just as things were about to escalate into a major incident, Wang Yan saw a tall, aloof figure emerge from the Wanmin Hall and walk towards the shouting girl.

After a brief exchange that hardly constituted an argument, a flash of icy blue talisman appeared, and the girl who had been shouting earlier collapsed to the ground.

At this moment, another energetic young woman came out of Wanmintang; it was Xiangling, the head chef of Wanmintang.

She first addressed the aloof figure, saying, "Shen He, please take this guy to the General Affairs Department."

Shen He nodded, reached out and picked up the fallen girl, and walked outside.

Xiangling then began to comfort the guests who had been disturbed by the girl who had fallen to the ground. After she finished comforting the guests, she noticed that there seemed to be something extra on the ground.

A photograph had fallen to the ground where the girl had just been knocked down.

"What is this?"

Xiangling picked up the photo from the ground, but was somewhat puzzled.

In the photo, the high-hanging moon is obscured by a dark shadow, as if a piece has been gnawed away, which looks somewhat unsettling.

Xiangling was puzzled.

A gentle voice came from beside me: "May I take a look?"

"Hey, ah!~" Xiangling was startled and turned around to see a handsome young man dressed in clothes that didn't look like those from Liyue.

She thought for a moment before remembering, "You—a scholar from the Order of the Church?"

Wang Yan smiled and said, "Yes, I am a scholar of the Zhilun School of the Teachings Academy. You can just call me Wang Yan."

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