He changed Tiwat

The gossip about him and Ningguang was all orchestrated by Ningguang herself.

As a successful businesswoman, Luo Qiao knew perfectly well what to say and what not to say when facing a prominent figure like Ning Guang. She had paid a hefty sum to seek Ning Guang's advice; how could she possibly gossip about her and intrude on her privacy? Wasn't she afraid that Ning Guang would cancel the luncheon in a fit of anger?

Ying'er usually drives and laughs without restraint, so her suggestive remarks don't seem out of place. But she's also Ningguang's "personal tailor," so it's easy for Ningguang to rehearse the lines with her beforehand. And Ningguang's final warning is more like telling her not to tell Han Fulai about the rehearsed lines.

If there's any gossip about him and Ningguang in Liyue Harbor—they're wearing matching outfits and strolling down the street, so why would Ying'er spread gossip? Anyone with eyes can see it.

The whole process was essentially Ningguang setting the stage, gradually elevating Han Fulai to the position of the male lead in the scandal.

As for ignoring his request to return to Qunyu Pavilion and forcibly taking him out of the city to be alone, it was practically a blatant question to him—the atmosphere had been built up to this point, so just give him a straight answer.

These things have absolutely nothing to do with whether Han Fulai is oblivious to emotions or not. If he can't see it, then it's not an emotional problem, it's a problem with his intelligence.

Moreover, Ningguang deliberately revealed her past to him today, and even changed into new clothes and cooked for him, all of which were unabashed attempts to shorten the distance between the two of them.

Han Fulai had already taken his feigned ignorance to the extreme, countering each move and forcibly creating a warm and intimate sibling atmosphere, trying his best to cosplay a male protagonist in a visual novel with the divine power of slowness—but Ningguang decided not to give him that chance.

"As our first date, didn't it leave you with a wonderful memory?" Ningguang chuckled.

"It was a wonderful memory, thank you."

Han Fulai's words came from the bottom of his heart. His experience today was probably a dream come true for most men on the Teyvat continent—well, except for the part about working overtime to obtain the Luminescent Essence. No, if he could win Ningguang's favor, he believed there were plenty of people willing to work overtime with her.

In fact, just the fact that Ningguang would put so much effort into planning a day-long date is something many people would dream of. At least he believed that Miss Baishi would be so happy she'd faint.

"Then... give in to me?" Ningguang whispered in his ear.

Han Fulai raised his left hand and placed it on Ningguang's bare shoulder.

Ningguang's body trembled slightly.

"I did consider just agreeing to Ningguang's request..."

Han Fulai gently, little by little, but firmly, pushed Ningguang away.

"But I refuse."

"……Why?"

A fleeting sadness crossed Ningguang's face. But it lasted only a moment.

Han Fulai stared directly into Ningguang's wine-red eyes; neither of them could discern joy or anger in their gazes.

"I have a question for Sister Ningguang," Han Fulai said.

“…Ask away.” Ningguang lowered her eyes.

She actually knew what Han Fulai wanted to ask, and she knew that this question would come sooner or later.

She had considered delaying the issue as much as possible, but she also knew that delaying wouldn't solve anything.

Just like she said today—children will eventually grow up.

I just wish these days could last a little longer.

Han Fulai raised his right hand, which was still interlocked with Ningguang's left hand.

"Does Sister Ningguang intend to keep the secrets beneath the Qingxupu ruins all to herself?"

He still asked the question.

"What if I said I'm willing to share this secret with you?"

Ningguang asked a rhetorical question.

"Then this is my answer."

Han Fulai slightly channeled his immortal power, and although it was weak, a golden three-leaf knot appeared on the back of his right hand.

"I'm sorry, Gan Yu and I had a prior agreement."

Chapter Sixty-Four: You Are My Pride, Vice Minister Han

Ningguang released her grip.

The golden three-leaf knot on the back of Han Fulai's hand said it all.

"It seems I was... a step too late."

Ningguang shook her head slightly, a look of regret on her face.

She knew that Han Fulai was a transmigrator from another world, and she also knew that Han Fulai had an unusual relationship with Gan Yu and the Rock King Emperor. She even knew better than Han Fulai himself how many girls had feelings for him... But there was one thing that neither Gan Yu nor Han Fulai had ever told Ningguang.

—This is the contract witnessed by the divine power of the Rock King Emperor.

Ningguang had noticed Han Fulai ever since he inadvertently displayed the extraordinary phenomenon of "a white rainbow piercing the sun" during the "Three Bowls Before Crossing the Harbor" drinking session. In fact, this had only happened in the half-day Han Fulai had traversed.

Up until the ritual of summoning the immortals, Han Fulai's every move was actually under Ningguang's control. Ningguang was able to accept him as her adopted younger brother because she was certain that she had a clear understanding of everything about Han Fulai.

But Ningguang was ultimately too late, too late to take this step.

This one step determined that Han Fulai could only be the Rock King's man. The contract he bore was the most powerful contract in Liyue, a contract witnessed by the gods.

"Can you tell me the contents of that contract?" Ningguang asked.

"To seek the greatest well-being for the majority of lives in Liyue," Han Fulai replied in a deep voice.

Ningguang gave a wry smile.

"I see... because this time, it was my selfishness..."

Han Fulai did not answer, because Ningguang already knew the answer.

In her pursuit of "infinity," Ningguang has been clearing all obstacles from her path. However, just before she is about to succeed, Han Fulai suddenly blocks her way.

Ningguang always sees long-term benefits when investing, so she doesn't care about the cost and is even willing to use herself as a bargaining chip to gain Han Fulai's support.

However, compared to the covenant with the gods, her bargaining chips were not enough.

Ningguang felt regretful, but she did not feel remorse.

From the moment the Golden House ceased production, she was certain that the Rock King, who had protected the continent of Teyvat for over 3,700 years with Mora, could not possibly retire so easily.

Given the sense of responsibility of that God of Contracts, it was impossible for him to allow the continent of Teyvat to descend into chaos because of his departure.

He will definitely have a backup plan.

Although Ningguang didn't know what the Rock King Emperor was thinking or doing, given his personality, these backup plans should be useful to his people.

Even though the Emperor himself is no longer here, the safeguards he left behind can still protect his people!

Besides the Liyue Asuras who are out in the open, Ningguang has now identified two of their backup plans.

Ningguang learned the secret beneath the Qingxupu Ruins from a certain intelligence source.

One of the Emperor's backup plans is the remains of the Geo Demon God buried beneath the Qingxupu Ruins. Even if the Geo Emperor abdicates, the Golden House can continue to create Mora using the remains of that ancient demon god. The flesh and blood of the Geo Demon God, the pure Geo elemental power in the amber, and precious metals such as gold can be combined with the Emperor's remains within the Golden House to create Mora!

Yelan's previous investigation also confirmed the existence of the Demon God's remains to Ningguang.

The Emperor's other backup plan was Han Fulai, who was standing right in front of her.

Just seeing the contract on Han Fulai's body made her investment over this period worthwhile.

Ningguang's eyes flickered, but she remained silent.

Han Fulai took two steps back, creating some distance between himself and Ningguang.

The two remained silent for a long time.

Han Fulai finally broke the silence: "Actually, it's not too late now... 'The method to create Mora is buried under the Qingxupu Ruins.' Only a few people know about this for now. I, Keqing, Yelan, Zhiyi... and Zhiyi may have already told Uncle Tian. Apart from that, I haven't even reported this to Ganyu yet. Sister Ningguang can still change her mind now."

This was the best Han Fulai could do. After returning to Liyue Harbor, he deliberately delayed reporting the matter. He believed Ningguang understood his meaning, and Ningguang hadn't had many objections to his actions before; he had assumed this was Ningguang's approval of him.

But now that I think about it, Ningguang was just preparing to pick up her hoe and dig her way over.

Ningguang, with her left hand supporting her right elbow and her right hand supporting her chin, asked, "You mean, we should reveal this secret to the 'Liyue Permanent Council,' and after Zhiyi's undercover plan successfully deals a sufficient blow to the 'rich,' the seven stars of Liyue should jointly oversee the development of Qingxu Pool and the restart of the Golden House, right?"

“Yes.” Han Fulai nodded seriously.

In this way, the secrets of the Qingxu Pool ruins will become a blessing for most of Liyue's inhabitants. Mora is, after all, a consumable resource, similar to oil, and the Qingxu Pool ruins are essentially Liyue's "oil field."

The only thing he couldn't accept was Ningguang's attempt to monopolize the "oil field" of Qingxupu.

From any perspective, this is Ningguang's selfish desire.

Even if their relationship was like that of siblings... or even beyond siblings, Han Fulai's contract dictated that he could not ignore the matter. He had no choice but to stand on the opposite side of Ningguang.

But if Ningguang is willing to back down, their relationship might be able to go back to what it was before.

Ningguang sighed.

"So that's why you invited Keqing to Qingxupu. Ostensibly, it was to let Keqing, who holds the position of Yuheng Star, control the situation, but behind the scenes, it was to add another insider to the matter that I couldn't handle?"

"Correct."

"And you made Zhiyi an undercover agent, planning to reveal this secret to Pantalone. On the surface, it was to lure Pantalone into your trap, but behind the scenes, it was to get Tian Shuxing involved as well, using Uncle Tian and Pantalone to restrain me?"

"Correct."

"Keqing, Uncle Tian, ​​Pantalone... plus Gan Yu, four layers of protection prevent me from keeping this secret to myself. And the 'key' to unlocking these four layers of protection is you yourself?"

"Correct."

"So why do you want me to change my mind? Does my opinion matter? I clearly have no choice but to give in to you, don't I?"

"……Correct."

"You prepared everything in just a few days, using all the resources at your disposal to set up an encirclement against me. Should I thank you for valuing me so much, Xiao Han?"

Just as Ningguang said, he had already begun planning these safety measures the moment he saw through her scheme. But the opponent was "that Ningguang"! No amount of caution was too much. If Zhongli hadn't been away from Liyue Harbor and the Asuras weren't so far away, Han Fulai would have even considered calling them along.

In the end, all he could say was, "...I'm sorry."

"Why apologize? You did the right thing. If I were you, I would have done the same."

A smile appeared on Ningguang's face, a smile that even carried a hint of relief, just like an older sister watching her younger brother succeed.

“Your growth has far exceeded my expectations. As an investor, this is something I’m proud of. I think I’m no longer qualified to treat you like an older sister… Deputy Minister Han.”

Han Fulai lowered his eyes.

"Thank you, Lady Ningguang."

Chapter Sixty-Five: A Traitor Within the Seven Stars of Liyue

Beside the campfire, the two, one standing and one sitting, gazed at each other in silence.

Standing is the Deputy Chief of the Moonsea Pavilion, and seated is Tianquan, one of the Seven Stars of Liyue.

The brother and sister who used to catch fish and have picnics together by Luhua Pond are no longer here.

Ningguang resumed her elegant sitting posture, as if the carefree Ningguang from before had never existed.

"I have a proposal regarding Vice Minister Han's plan."

Han Fulai meticulously tidied his slightly disheveled clothes before adopting a posture of attentive listening.

"Please speak, Lady Ningguang."

“I propose that until Pantarone falls into our trap, the secret of the Qingxu Pool ruins should remain a top secret of Liyue, known only to a select few of us, and not to the other members of the Seven Stars,” Ningguang said.

Han Fulai frowned slightly. Informing the Seven Stars Committee about this was meant to make Mora's manufacturing method public property of Liyue, not the private possession of any one person. But Ningguang wanted him to conceal this matter and pretend nothing had happened? It was no longer possible to keep this secret to himself; Ningguang had no reason to hide it from the other Seven Stars, did she?

As if she could read his mind, Ningguang said in a deep voice, "If you don't want Zhiyi to be tortured to death by Pantalone as soon as he enters Zhidong territory, I suggest you don't let the other Seven Stars know."

Ningguang paused, then said, "Don't forget... there's still the matter of the Radiant Essence."

"Ah..." Han Fulai opened his mouth halfway. Too much had happened just now, and the impact was too strong for a perfectly healthy young man like him, so he temporarily forgot about the matter of the luminous marrow.

But when Ningguang brought it up, he remembered the possibility from before—the possibility that someone among the Seven Stars of Liyue was collaborating with the Fatui.

He's not the only one who dares to scheme against Ningguang.

"Lady Ningguang, are you saying... there's a traitor among the Liyue Seven Stars?"

“Yes.” Ningguang smiled. “Moreover, this ‘mole’ is one of the four Seven Stars who are currently unaware of the Qingxupu incident. Vice Minister Han, you’re so smart, you can surely guess what I can think of. Why don’t you guess who the mole is?”

...Fine, I schemed against you first, then rejected you. You're resentful, you hold a grudge, fine...but you don't have to be so sarcastic, do you? Speaking of which, Ye Lan holds grudges just like you, and her words are just as barbed. Birds of a feather flock together...

Han Fulai may have been grumbling to himself, but his mind was racing. Even if it was just for the sake of saving face, he didn't want Ningguang to look down on him.

Following the line of thought from this afternoon, we can first rule out Yao Guang Star, which hasn't appeared for a long time, and narrow down the suspects to Kai Yang Star, Tian Xuan Star, and Tian Ji Star.

According to the clues provided by Lao Ke and Lao Xu, there are three key points in the matter of the luminous marrow.

Landa, a Mondstadt merchant who stayed at Wangshu Inn and spread the news that the Fontaine merchants wanted to buy Luminous Essence; Guan Hong, a Liyue merchant who seemed to have made a lot of money but lamented that life is too short to enjoy it while he could and sold off a large amount of Luminous Essence; and the Northern Bank that lent money to speculators like Old K and Old Xu.

Frankly, without investigation, he couldn't determine the connection between those three Seven Stars and the matter of the Radiant Essence based on just this one clue. But according to Ningguang, it seemed that knowing this much was enough to determine who the mole was?