The Weapon Master Shall Never Die Bare-Handed in Genshin Impact [192]

“You hit me on the head?!” Lumine clutched her head, glaring at Jia Changjiang. “But Ningguang said we could treat this place like home!”

“She was just being polite. Who told you to ask about the beds as soon as we arrived?” Jia Changjiang retorted.

Paimon chimed in, agreeing with Jia Changjiang. “Yeah, yeah! Asking for food would’ve been fine…”

Before she could finish, Jia Changjiang lightly knocked on her head as well. “You’re no different, Paimon.”

“It’s fine.” Ningguang’s calm smile never faltered. “You don’t need to stand on ceremony here. The Acting Grand Master wrote to me about you, and now that I’ve met you in person… you’re just as interesting as her letters described.”

“Jean wrote to you about us?”

Lumine’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “What did she say? That I’m cute, dependable, and thoughtful?”

“Well… something along those lines.” Ningguang smiled.

In reality, Jean’s letter had included some candid remarks about their personalities:

Lumine’s character is a bit… unconventional, but she is a kind and enthusiastic traveler. Paimon, while a tad gluttonous, is endearing. As for Mr. Jia Changjiang, any challenges he issues to Liyue’s elite should not be seen as hostile—he simply enjoys testing his strength against formidable opponents.

From the letter alone, Ningguang could sense Jean’s high regard for them. Being recognized as heroes of Mondstadt spoke volumes about their abilities.

The incident with Stormterror had not escaped Ningguang’s notice either. Resolving such a crisis solidified Lumine and Jia Changjiang’s reputations as reliable allies—making a friendly relationship with them a logical choice.

“If you’d like, you’re welcome to join me for a meal here in the Jade Chamber,” Ningguang offered. “Though I’m not particular about gourmet food, I can arrange something to entertain you.”

“Really?” Lumine beamed. “That sounds great! We were so busy finding our way here, we barely had time to eat. I’m starving!”

As Lumine spoke, her gaze wandered to a nearby wall plastered with notes and documents. “What’s that?”

Paimon’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait, is that the wall people talk about?”

“You’re well-informed.” Ningguang smiled. “Seeing it in person—what do you think?”

“It feels like I’ve stumbled upon the key to Liyue’s wealth…” Lumine stared at the wall. “I heard merchants are desperate to get their hands on the information on it.”

“Of course. That wall holds many of Liyue’s secrets. Merchants thrive on secrets—they’re the currency of trade.”

“That makes sense!” Lumine nodded enthusiastically. “Money is a wonderful thing… it can buy so much delicious food!”

Ningguang chuckled softly. “But for you, bits of commercial intelligence are likely of little use, aren’t they?”

“Perhaps,” Ningguang continued, “I’d like to offer something in exchange for your trust.”

“Sure, sure…” Lumine and Paimon were about to nod when Jia Changjiang interrupted.

“Didn’t you just say you hoped we’d make our own judgments? Why, then, are you suddenly trying to win our trust?” he asked casually.

Ningguang’s expression didn’t waver. “Previously, I spoke as a member of the Qixing, considering Liyue’s broader interests. But now…”

She smiled warmly. “I’m speaking personally, as someone who wants to be your friend.”

“However, if you had to choose—between trusting me or Keqing—who would you pick?”

Ningguang’s question made Lumine recall her brief encounter with Keqing.

“They’re both trustworthy!” Lumine declared, clenching her fist with determination. Why choose when you can have both?

“Haha… I honestly thought you’d choose Keqing,” Ningguang said, amused. “Her ideals differ from mine in some ways. I assumed someone who fled the Rite of Descension would align more with her.”

“But I must admit, your words to Keqing intrigued me,” Ningguang added. “Standing for both the Adepti and Liyue… isn’t that a form of neutrality?”

“Not really,” Lumine murmured. “Back in Mondstadt, I never expected I’d end up dealing with the Stormterror crisis… I guess you could call it fate.”

Lumine placed her hands on her hips, her confidence returning. “If I think something can improve, I’ll definitely help!”

“And those Fatui… What happened in Mondstadt won’t happen in Liyue,” she said firmly. “If you must label me, then call me a warrior of justice!”

“So, you’ve learned quite a bit about the Fatui.” Ningguang nodded. “They’ve used Rex Lapis’s death as an excuse for countless transgressions. Approving the Rite of Parting was a way to buy Liyue some time…”

“‘Time’ and ‘Fatui,’ huh…” Jia Changjiang repeated thoughtfully, his gaze turning distant as he fell into contemplation.

“Well then, let’s not dwell on these heavy topics while entertaining guests.” Ningguang’s smile returned. “Considering everything you’ve been through in Liyue, as compensation, feel free to take anything you like from the Jade Chamber.”

“Anything?” Lumine’s eyes sparkled. “Then I’ll take you, Ninggua—”

Bonk!

Paimon barreled into Lumine, cutting her off. “Traveler, stop saying weird things!”

Paimon realized she was growing increasingly adept at predicting Lumine’s odd remarks. Whether this was good or bad, she wasn’t sure.

“Then… can we take the notes on that wall?” Paimon asked, thinking seriously.

“Didn’t we just say the secrets there wouldn’t be useful to us?” Lumine grumbled, rubbing her face where Paimon had hit her.

“But we could sell them for a fortune!” Paimon exclaimed. “With all that Mora, we’d never have to camp out again!”

“Of course,” Ningguang said with a knowing smile. “You may choose whatever you like.”

She turned to Jia Changjiang, who still seemed distracted. “Mr. Jia, aren’t you going to pick something?”

“Me? I don’t really care about that.” Jia Changjiang shook his head. “Let Paimon decide.”

“What I’m looking forward to isn’t here,” he added, his tone carrying a hint of longing. “It’s something I want to do.”

Jia Changjiang glanced back at Ningguang. “So the rest doesn’t matter much…”

“Between you and Keqing, you’re the better partner for collaboration.”

“Alright, Traveler, let’s go pick something!” Paimon tugged Lumine toward the wall, clearly excited.

“Well then, I hope you find something you truly desire.” Ningguang didn’t respond directly, her enigmatic smile unwavering. “Perhaps this compensation will suit Mr. Jia’s taste as well.”

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This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!