Ningguang and Cloud Retainer were still up, poring over Foundry plans and the way a single factory would upend trade across Teyvat. With the Foundry in her ledger, Ningguang wouldn't just be Liyue's richest—she'd be the continent's manufacturer.
"This will overturn the world's economy," Cloud Retainer sighed.
"It's all thanks to Su Xuan," Ningguang replied, polite as ever. "But since other nations also have diary holders, I plan to coordinate manufacturing with our 'sisters' abroad—so no one runs crying to him and spoils his mood."
Cloud Retainer studied the white-haired, red-eyed woman. Yes—Tianquan Ningguang understood people, most of all his moods. A useful lesson.
Their diaries pinged. Both women glanced up.
"Looks like Keqing convinced him," Ningguang smiled. "I had late-night snacks prepared—shall we watch?"
Cloud Retainer nodded. "Precisely this immortal's intention. Please."
The Chasm
Keqing stared up at the mountain that hadn't existed a minute ago—because Su had just lifted the entire underground mine to the surface.
Within the newly exposed layers, several dark mouths glimmered with faint light.
"Why are there lights down there?" Keqing asked.
"I've wrapped the mine with telekinesis," Su said, casual as rain. "Following the threads, clearing the Abyssal sludge."
Keqing shut her mouth at once. He'd said telekinesis scaled with concentration.
"You don't have to tiptoe," he added. "At my current level I don't need to focus that hard to mop up sludge."
"I wasn't— I mean, you still have to help Cloud Retainer after this," she coughed. "I don't want to slow you down."
His diary flickered:
[The Chasm, Underground District.jpg]
[The sludge is only residual Abyss; easy to purge.]
[But the Chasm itself? Five hundred years ago, this was Liyue's main battlefield against the black tide.]
[Morax marched on Khaenri'ah; the immortals held here. Bosacius led Millelith to the last man. Even Snezhnaya sent several full companies to help.]
[Celestia dropped a Nail. We won—but losses were horrific.]
[Bosacius fell. Yelan's forebear Boyang stayed below to anchor the seals with him; another ancestor returned… tainted, and died raving.]
[Found the Taiwei Disc (太威仪盘). I'll bring it back for Yelan.]
Yelan's lips curled in a small, private smile over her midnight tea.
The diary kept going:
[Beneath the mine lies the Abyss Order's active zone, and a Khaenri'ahn tunnel the Ruin Serpent used to chew through the Seven Nations.]
[By hoisting the whole district, I've collapsed that route and severed the Order's reach.]
[Also plucked the Ruin Serpent itself. Turning it into a blueprint for the Foundry.]
[Packed up the Ninth Company of Fatuus still lurking inside—and the slimes and lizards—for disposal.]
[Chasm: done. Next, dig out the Dragon-Queller Tree and bring up Azhdaha for Cloud Retainer. Then bed.]
Liyue's girls all sat up straight at Azhdaha. A legend from Tian Tiezuì's tales—about to walk on stage.
Cloud Retainer folded her hands, very solemn.
"I merely mentioned Dragon King Azhdaha today," she said to Ningguang, "and he promised to restore its mind. He claims he isn't 'noble,' but he is generous. This immortal… finds such youths agreeable."
Ningguang maintained her smile while quietly making a new note: once Su's personal Jade Chamber was finished, she must arrange a private demonstration of the immortal's famed "resolve."
Edge of the pit
Keqing eyed the Ruin Serpent squirming in Su's grip. A flex—crackle—it disassembled itself into neat components.
"Done. Next stop, Dragon-Queller," Su said.
Keqing, oddly flustered, reached for his arm. "I'll go too. I've never seen the real Azhdaha."
The diary twinkled again:
[Speaking of Azhdaha, erosion bothers me. Do all long-lived beings erode? The adepti don't. If it's only 'gods,' Azhdaha's a dragon, not an archon—and Dvalin shows no such symptoms. Why only him?]
[Hypothesis: a systemic check. If Celestia feared over-mighty rulers, perhaps erosion throttles beings with broad authority so no single power can unify the world while she sleeps. Time weakens them; some go mad.]
[As for Azhdaha's weight class: those double adamantine crown-horns aren't for show. In his prime he was Morax's equal—the kingmaker of Liyue's war. After Morax ascended, the dragon guarded Liyue with him.]
[But being tied to the ley makes him… special. He wields geo, plus hydro, pyro, cryo, electro.]
[Liyue's over-mining rattled the ley, worsened his erosion. Even Morax splitting power to help didn't halt it. They fought. A market became Tianqiu Valley.]
[In a lucid instant he threw the fight, letting Morax and the adepti seal him. By now the madness must be worse.]
[Anyway, I knew our proud little Yuheng would insist on coming, so I told her to dress accordingly. If she gets scared and… leaks, at least the inside won't get wet.]
A collective beat of silence across the diaries.
Keqing went scarlet. Two light punches to his chest.
"Don't write nonsense! Now everyone will—"
"Relax. They can't tell, and most won't get it." He tapped her nose. "Besides, I don't think you scare that easily. Trust your own nerve."
Keqing looked away, lips tight—then nodded once, sharp.
"Fine. Lead on. I'll keep up."
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