"Alright, then let's go."
Idris neither showed particular enthusiasm nor acted cold.
Yet that very neutrality was enough to make Ganyu feel uncomfortable.
Just last night, the two of them had still been close—intimate even, with an air of undeniable ambiguity.
And now, after only a single night, everything felt distant and restrained.
She couldn't help it.
A faintly resentful glance flickered across her eyes as she followed behind Idris.
Am I really that lacking? she couldn't help thinking.
Her figure was fine.
Her appearance was fine.
She couldn't even see her own toes when she looked down—wasn't that practically the definition of stunning?
Idris walked behind Ganyu, while Nahida ran with her arms spread wide just to keep up.
No helping it—short legs were short legs.
Shenhe sent Idris a voice transmission, saying she would wait in Liyue Harbor and wouldn't follow them.
This was a discussion about cooperation.
She had no role there—and no intention of becoming an awkward third wheel.
Who knew what kind of topics might come up once everyone sat together?
On the way to the Jade Chamber, they passed by Yun Jin's opera stage.
Idris suddenly slowed his steps.
His gaze landed on a familiar figure in the audience.
"Grand Sage Idris? Is something the matter?" Ganyu asked, thinking he had something to say.
"No," Idris shook his head. "I just remembered something."
Then he asked casually, "Any news about the Geo Archon?"
Ganyu clenched her fist.
"Not yet. Lady Ningguang is still searching. Even Hu Tao from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor says the same."
"Everyone says the Geo Archon is dead… but I don't believe it. Lord Morax wouldn't die. He absolutely wouldn't."
Idris laughed softly.
"You're right. The Geo Archon won't die—unless this entire continent disappears first."
Ganyu's eyes lit up.
She hadn't expected Idris to share her conviction.
Most people believed what they saw.
The descent during the Rite of Descension had produced a corpse—undeniable, unmistakable.
To the common folk, that was proof enough.
But mortals didn't possess the insight of gods or long-lived beings.
They didn't truly understand the one who had ruled Liyue for countless ages.
Meanwhile, the tall man watching the opera frowned.
He had sensed an unfamiliar presence—one far too strong to ignore.
"When did Liyue produce someone like this?" he muttered.
Losing interest in the performance, he stood and quietly left.
Idris noticed—but didn't react.
There were priorities.
That man could wait.
Right now, inter-nation cooperation comes first.
Upon arriving at the Jade Chamber, Ningguang was already waiting with Liyue Qixing.
She stepped forward personally.
"Grand Sage of Sumeru, I apologize for summoning you at such a time."
"You're too polite, Lady Ningguang," Idris replied calmly.
"Cooperation should be flexible. Sumeru has been looking forward to this for quite some time."
Ningguang smiled. "Then shall we speak inside?"
As they ascended, Idris briefly reflected—
If this were his old world, he would never trust a floating structure like this.
But now?
With strength rivaling a god, even standing in midair posed no threat.
Times had truly changed.
Halfway there, Cloud Retainer arrived as well.
Given that they had met the day before, the two only exchanged a nod.
Cloud Retainer moved directly to Ningguang's side and began whispering to her.
The Liyue Qixing slowed their steps, deliberately giving them space.
As Cloud Retainer spoke, Ganyu's face suddenly flushed red.
She lowered her head, saying nothing.
Nahida leaned close to Idris and whispered:
"Grand Sage… do you think Ganyu really likes you?"
"Should we just kidnap her to Sumeru? That way we'd gain another helper!"
Idris chuckled.
"Even if Ganyu agreed, do you think Lady Ningguang would?"
"Why don't you go ask her?"
Nahida instantly deflated.
"She'd definitely beat me up…"
In her eyes, Liyue was terrifying.
Everyone here was tall—Ganyu, Shenhe, Ningguang, the Geo Archon.
The pressure was real.
Thankfully, she had Idris.
He was tall too.
And good-looking.
That alone made things feel more balanced.
After Cloud Retainer finished recounting yesterday's events, Ningguang's eyes sparkled with interest.
"So… by that logic," she said with a smile,
"the Grand Sage of Sumeru is practically Liyue's son-in-law now?"
Her delight was unmistakable.
Idris's reputation had already spread across nations—
military industry, manufacturing, revolutionary ideas, overwhelming strength.
Every nation wanted a connection.
And now Liyue has taken the first step.
With Ganyu as the bridge, as long as Sumeru didn't withhold classified technologies, Liyue would effectively gain an inexhaustible reserve of future power.
Who would dare challenge Liyue then?
Already strong, now backed by Sumeru—
That wasn't first under heaven yet.
But second under heaven?
That was more than realistic.
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