The manager of the Northland Bank still seemed a bit hesitant. More than ten years ago—
The previous manager of this very Northland Bank had been personally sent by the man before him, Jingchen, to the Liyue Ministry of Civil Affairs… and even now, he was still rotting away in that pitch-dark cell.
And now, this same Jingchen had actually become an Executive, even linked with that terrifying Third Seat—they were called the Twin Stars.
The manager stammered as he answered, his voice trembling.
"Lord Jingchen, I… I'm not the chief in charge of the Liyue branch, after all. Perhaps… you should ask Lord Childe instead?"
Columbina smiled faintly, and softly began to hum a song of the xianling.
That strange and ancient melody swirled eerily through the air.
The manager of the Northland Bank instantly broke into a cold sweat, his head bowed low, his pupils contracting.
"Lord Jingchen, Her Majesty should have instructed you to go to Inazuma, to oversee the diplomatic affairs there, right?! As for Liyue's matters, my lord… perhaps—"
Jingchen cut him off coldly, letting out a low snort.
"Do you want to accompany your predecessor to the Ministry of Civil Affairs?"
"I…"
The manager shakily handed over a sealed letter.
Opening it, Jingchen found within a list of Fatui infiltrators—people planted throughout various industries in Liyue.
Liuli Pavilion, Feiyun Commerce Guild…
Though none of them held truly important positions, the sheer spread of the infiltration startled Jingchen.
Was Ningguang ignoring these minor matters because she didn't care, or did she have some other motive?
That meticulous woman—she was truly hard to read.
Outside the Northland Bank, Tartaglia, who had been about to push open the doors, once again heard that eerie xianling song.
His hand froze midair. The two guards nearby moved to open the door for him—
—but he suddenly stopped them.
Tartaglia had always wanted to spar with every Executive above him, but the top three seats were four exceptions in themselves.
The Jester and the Doctor—no need to speak of them. Jingchen seemed the most normal, and Tartaglia really did want to fight him someday.
But that girl, Columbina—she spoiled Jingchen far too much. No one could approach him or pose him the slightest threat.
Otherwise, that ancient and eerie xianling melody would erupt in fury.
"Lord Childe?! Do you wish to go in? The two Executives of the Third Seat are both inside."
Tartaglia cleared his throat and forced himself to appear calm.
"Ah… suddenly remembered, I have to treat a certain gentleman to dinner. Don't tell anyone I was here today, understand?!"
He immediately leapt away and dashed in the direction of Wangsheng Hall.
The two guards looked at each other.
"That so-called 'gentleman' is who, exactly?"
"Probably that consultant of Wangsheng Hall—Zhongli, the one said to know everything from the heavens above to the earth below. Lord Childe mentioned him before."
"Ah… lately, our Northland Bank's expenses have skyrocketed. I feel like Lord Childe truly doesn't understand how hard Mora is to earn."
"Who cares? We're getting our normal wages. No need to brood over what those Executives do."
As the two chatted idly, Jingchen suddenly emerged with Columbina beside him, startling them out of their wits.
Had these two… not made a single sound while walking?!
"Miss Maiden, Lord Knight, have you finished your business?"
"Mn. Did Tartaglia come by?"
"Ah?! No, Lord Childe absolutely did not come!"
Columbina smiled faintly. The traces of Hydro energy still lingered in the air, and Jingchen could tell what had happened.
Eight or nine times out of ten, that battle-maniac colleague of his had been scared off by Columbina again. Though, truth be told, Aya was such a lovely girl.
Jingchen took Columbina's hand and led her down the wooden steps.
"Ah Chen, who are we going to see? Those informants listed in the letter?"
"Though they're numerous, they're just small fry who can't stir up any real waves. Let's go directly to see the Lord of Geo."
"Mn."
As they walked through the bustling crowd, Columbina suddenly pulled Jingchen to a stop on a small wooden bridge.
"What's wrong, Aya?"
"This water is so clear, Ah Chen."
Jingchen nodded slightly, smiling faintly.
Columbina was a sentimental girl—she always noticed the beauty hidden in daily life, and her smile would spread that warmth to Jingchen.
Snow beneath sunlight, pines in the snow, squirrels on the pines…
She could find beauty in everything. The two years by her side had been the happiest time of his life.
Suddenly, a pair of hands covered Jingchen's eyes. He froze slightly, grabbing them—something felt… a little off.
But besides Columbina, who else would do such a thing?
Perhaps it was just that being away from the snowy lands had changed the feel of her skin.
Jingchen smiled gently.
"Aya, you're doing this again."
Columbina stomped on his foot, her voice filled with growing jealousy.
"Jingchen!! Open your eyes properly—does that look like me?!"
"Ah?!"
He lowered the pair of jade-like hands and glanced to the side—Columbina was standing there, fuming.
Turning back, he finally saw the girl who had just covered his eyes.
It wasn't Columbina. She wore a peculiar hat adorned with a black ribbon bow, her twin ponytails a reddish-brown gradient, and the attire of Wangsheng Hall, embroidered with motifs of red spider lilies.
"Hu Tao?"
"Brother Jingchen!!"
Hu Tao jumped up and threw herself tightly into Jingchen's arms.
Columbina pouted, visibly displeased.
Flames began gathering around her, ready to explode at any moment.
Jingchen hurriedly tried to put Hu Tao down, but the girl's nimbleness made it hopeless.
"Hu Tao!! Get down, quickly!"
"Brother Jingchen!! I've grown up now—my hair's even down to my waist! Won't you marry into our Wangsheng Hall?"
"Hu Tao! This is broad daylight, in public—don't make a scene."
"Didn't you say our Wangsheng Hall is an iron rice bowl?"
As Jingchen struggled to pull her off, memories of that phrase surfaced in his mind.
Back when he had held the position of Tianshu Star, he'd sat outside Wangsheng Hall at a stone table with old Master Hu—
Drinking wine, eating peanuts, and chatting about life.
At that time, Hu Tao had only stood off to the side, gazing up at Jingchen.
"Old Master Hu, your Wangsheng Hall truly is an iron rice bowl."
"What's the use? Young people these days don't want to join us. Even my granddaughter has few friends because of Wangsheng Hall."
"Xiangling and Xingqiu—they wouldn't care about that."
"Forget it, Xiao Jing. Tell me instead—how'd your confession to that Yuheng Star, Keqing, go yesterday?"
"Ah, don't bring up Keqing, Old Master Hu. Let's just keep drinking."
"So, do you still have a chance with her?"
"What chance? She says she'll 'observe' me for ten years as a colleague. In other words, rejection dressed up as procrastination—and free labor on top of it."
"Is that so…"
Jingchen drank his wine gloomily, while Old Master Hu spoke, half-jokingly, half-seriously.
"When I'm gone, what will happen to Hu Tao?"
"Hm? Don't worry, Old Master Hu. You'll live to be well over a hundred."
Old Master Hu smiled faintly.
"Xiao Jing, what will you do in the future?"
"Ah, I don't know. Maybe travel outside of Liyue alone."
"Ah? Why not stay in Liyue—marry into our Wangsheng Hall instead?"
Jingchen's drunkenness vanished halfway in an instant. Stay in Wangsheng Hall? Marry in?!
"Old Master Hu, you—"
Before Jingchen could say anything more, Old Master Hu suddenly collapsed onto the stone table, mumbling in his sleep.
"Drunk, drunk… don't mind me."