By the time Mu Yang and the others arrived, the Mountain King's commotion had already subsided.
Mu Yang guessed that some simple ritual had probably been performed to temporarily stabilize the Mountain King.
However, it only treated the symptoms, not the root cause — this could be seen clearly from the expressions on the guards' faces.
Because it involved internal affairs of the Scions of the Canopy, the guards did not let Mu Yang enter.
He didn't want to get scolded by the elders over something like this.
Thus, Mu Yang parted ways with Kinich.
He had already learned more or less everything about the Scions of the Canopy. If not for the Mountain King's sudden outburst, Mu Yang should have already set off for the Flower-Feather Clan by now.
Unfortunately, the Mountain King's incident seemed to be trouble he himself had caused.
Would it be a bit wrong to just sit back and ignore it?
But what could an outsider like him actually do?
The negotiations inside the cave seemed to be going very poorly.
Mu Yang judged this from the faces of the people coming out.
Just as Mu Yang was about to leave with Kinich, a person who claimed to be a tribal elder approached him.
He said that the Scions of the Canopy's oversight had frightened the traveler, and they wanted to properly receive Mu Yang.
Mu Yang gave Kinich a look, indicating that he could handle it.
He then followed the elder back to the Scions of the Canopy's settlement.
Inside Elder Trinidad's home.
Mu Yang was receiving warm hospitality.
He accepted it without any politeness.
This guy clearly had something to ask of him.
Anyone with eyes could see it — he might as well have written it on his face.
If it were Paimon…
Paimon probably wouldn't have noticed.
She was most likely already full, satisfied, and ready to sleep soundly by now.
"Elder, feel free to speak directly." Mu Yang put down the cup in his hand.
"I suppose Kinich has already told you about the Mountain King's situation."
Mu Yang nodded.
"I really envy Big Brother for being able to adventure together with Big Brother Kinich. I haven't even spoken to him yet…"
The speaker was Elder Trinidad's youngest daughter.
When Kinich was mentioned, the attitudes of these two people were clearly polarized.
One was disgust, the other was admiration.
Trinidad ultimately did not curse Kinich in front of his daughter.
Instead, he told her to go visit her dragon partner Nanna at the doctor's place —
In today's ritual to suppress the Mountain King, Nanna had been heavily injured by the berserk Mountain King.
"Oh…" The little daughter was quite worried about her dragon partner too.
After tidying up the things in her hands, she headed out to the doctor sister's place.
Only then did Mu Yang continue, "Kinich has already explained the basic situation to me. However, Elder seems to have other intentions…"
Elder Trinidad sighed. "This outburst was extremely sudden. Although we performed a simple ritual and barely got the situation under control, it could wake up again at any moment."
"My partner Nanna was injured by the Mountain King during this ritual and even suffered from overflowing corruption… Nanna is not the first dragon partner to be corrupted…"
"What do you want me to do?"
Mu Yang got straight to the point. When discussing matters, he rarely beat around the bush.
Especially for an incident that was very likely caused by him.
Elder Trinidad had not expected Mu Yang to be so direct.
He replied directly as well, "We need a suitable Flame Bearer to host an additional Return Fire Night."
"Shouldn't this matter normally be handled by [Malipo (Return Fire)]?"
"That's correct. The fact that he explained it to you so clearly means you've probably paid him quite a bit." When talking about Kinich, a trace of disgust appeared in Trinidad's eyes.
"This is the hero of our Scions of the Canopy. When we need him, he's busy running around for his Mora empire."
"Do you know what he said this morning?"
Trinidad grew somewhat agitated as he recounted the negotiation inside the cave.
["An additional ritual? That's an additional price."] Who knows how much he cares about the price!
"I don't like speaking ill of others behind their backs, but the fact that he obtained an Ancient Name must mean the Wayob was sleeping too deeply that day."
"I have never heard of any hero's famous saying being ['Let's talk about the price.']"
Mu Yang found it somewhat amusing. He said he didn't want to speak ill of others, yet he stepped on the gas pedal all the way.
However, Mu Yang had no intention of hitting the brakes.
If he wanted to collect information, he couldn't only gather it from Kinich's close friends.
Trinidad continued.
"Also, that dragon partner of his, the one who calls itself the sacred dragon Ajaw — it's an even more arrogant idiot."
"I have nothing to say about that evaluation, because I have indeed experienced it firsthand." Mu Yang said calmly.
"In short, it's obvious that this job isn't something only he can do. Now there is a better choice." Trinidad's "better choice" naturally referred to Mu Yang.
Mu Yang felt a bit puzzled. This morning at the Mountain King's place, he had still been stopped by the guards.
Why were they now inviting him to serve as a Flame Bearer?
Could it be…
"Messenger…"
"Correct. Messenger is the main duty of the Scions of the Canopy." Trinidad sounded somewhat proud.
Mu Yang's performance among the People of the Springs had been too dazzling. It was said that he could shatter an Abyss Gate with a single sword strike.
If it were other rumors, these high-ranking elders would have simply brushed them off.
But fighting the abyss was a problem Natlan had faced for hundreds of years.
They had no choice but to take it seriously.
The messengers had quickly relayed Mu Yang's real information back to the Scions of the Canopy.
He really could cut down an Abyss Gate with one sword.
It was described as one sword because he at least had to swing once…
According to the patrol team of the People of the Springs, that one sword strike had made all the abyss monsters tremble in fear.
"Since you've already investigated clearly, Elder surely didn't come empty-handed to negotiate with me, right?"
"Naturally. Your Excellency will gain the reputation and friendship of the Scions of the Canopy. This will bring only benefits and no harm to the development and deployment of your business routes."
What Mu Yang lacked was not Mora, but connections.
Just like Ningguang in Liyue, Dori in Sumeru, and Navia in Fontaine.
Having partners made things much simpler.
The elder before him might be relatively young, but he was still a shrewd and calculating person.
Not only had he set his sights on Mu Yang,
he even understood the needs that came with Mu Yang's identity as a traveling merchant.
No wonder he could become an elder.
"Deal."
"Your Excellency is truly straightforward. Cheers."
Trinidad raised his wine cup.
"Once you've rested well, we'll head to the back mountain in the afternoon."
"We can familiarize you with the ritual process there."
"A powerhouse like you will surely master it after seeing it once!"