"Great!"
Hearing Captain Beidou's proposal, Furong's face lit up with excitement.
Going ashore with Beidou was always a treat. Especially now that she had seen the magic of the instant noodles—she was dying to visit Wanmin Restaurant and taste the real thing.
As for the noodles Wang Ming had brought back? Forget it. She wanted fresh ones.
"Captain, can I come too? I really want to go!"
"Me too! Let's all go have a feast together. I'm craving Chef Mao's cooking!"
"That's a great idea, Captain. We're setting sail in a few days and won't be back for a while. We should have a proper get-together before we leave."
"And Wang Ming mentioned the new Liyue Bank! No fees for withdrawals, interest on deposits... damn, I'm going to deposit all my savings."
"Now that you mention it, that is smart. We keep money on the ship but can't use it at sea. Sending it home takes time. If we can just deposit it and earn interest while we sail... that's free money."
"I almost opened an account with Northland Bank a while back. I know they wouldn't dare steal my Mora, but the idea of paying withdrawal fees always rubbed me the wrong way. Screw that noise."
The crew of The Alcor buzzed with conversation. Beidou's suggestion had ignited their enthusiasm, and Wang Ming's news about the bank was spreading like wildfire.
Wang Ming stood there, exasperated.
"Hey! I tried to get you guys to go shopping with me this morning! I literally asked, 'Who wants to come?' and not a single one of you volunteered. Now suddenly everyone wants to go?"
He grit his teeth. "You guys are unbelievable."
"Ahem. Well, we didn't know about Lady Ningguang's new bank back then," Sea Drake coughed, trying to hide a grin. "Look, if you guys want to go, go ahead. I can't. Someone has to watch the ship. If we all leave, who guards The Alcor?"
"Oh. Right."
The excitement dampened slightly. They had forgotten the golden rule: the ship comes first. The Alcor wasn't just a vessel; it was their home and their livelihood.
"You can go in shifts," Beidou said with a relaxed smile. "One group goes this afternoon and comes back by evening. Then the next group goes tonight. Just rotate."
"That works!"
The crew's eyes lit up again. Trust the Captain to have a simple solution.
"Awesome! I'll take the night shift!"
"Yeah, me too. Liyue Harbor is way more fun at night. The lantern lights, the food stalls... afternoon is boring."
"Serious people don't go to Liyue in the afternoon. Night shift for me too."
"You guys... literally a minute ago you were fighting to go first, now everyone wants the night shift?"
Laughter rippled through the deck as the crew teased each other, exposing their little schemes.
Beidou shook her head, chuckling. "Alright, you bunch of rascals. Fine. You all take the night shift. I'm going now. I'll come back in the evening to hold down the fort while you lot go have fun. I want to see if I can catch Ningguang today anyway."
She turned to three specific crew members.
"Qianyan, Huixing, Furong. You three are with me."
She selected the ship's accountant, the navigator, and the deckhand.
"Yes, Captain!"
The three women beamed. A girls' trip with Beidou was the best kind of shore leave. Beidou might be the captain, but she was also one of the girls when she wanted to be.
"Good. Get ready," Beidou nodded. "Bring your Mora. Today, we shop."
"Yes, Captain!"
Furong and the others scrambled back to their cabins to fetch their savings. Beidou didn't bother; the heavy pouch of Mora at her waist was more than enough for whatever caught her eye.
"Um... Captain?"
Wang Ming stepped forward cautiously. "Can I come with you guys?"
Beidou blinked. "Huh? Didn't you just get back? You spent the whole morning there. What do you need to go back for?"
"I..." Wang Ming choked on his words.
Yeah, what did he need to do? He had already bought supplies. He had seen the sights.
Except the bank.
Regret welled up in his chest. I should have visited Liyue Bank while I was there.
"Just go with Sea Drake and the others tonight," Beidou waved him off. "The harbor is livelier at night anyway. I've got enough company with Furong and the girls."
"Yes, Captain..." Wang Ming hung his head, defeated. The thought of missing out on hanging out with Furong stung a little.
"Heh." Sea Drake, standing nearby, smirked. "You really want to go 'visit the bank', huh? I won't expose you, buddy."
He glanced meaningfully at Furong's retreating figure, then back at Wang Ming.
Wang Ming: "..."
A few minutes later, Furong, Qianyan, and Huixing emerged, dressed for town and radiating excitement.
"Let's move."
Beidou leaped from the deck, landing lightly on the small skiff moored alongside The Alcor. The three crew members followed suit, their movements agile and practiced. Years at sea had given them excellent balance.
Within seconds, the skiff was cutting through the water, leaving the flagship behind.
" come to think of it, I haven't been back to Liyue in over a month," Qianyan said, watching the harbor grow from a speck on the horizon. "I'm going to visit every shop today."
"I need to stop by Ying'er's shop for some rouge. Her stuff is the best in the city," Furong chimed in.
The three women chattered like finches, their laughter carrying over the waves. Beidou sat at the helm, a faint, contented smile on her face.
Meanwhile, at the Jar Shop.
Ningguang walked in, flanked by two of her trusted secretaries, Bai Xiao and Bai Wen.
"Lady Ningguang!"
The two Millelith guards stationed at the door snapped to attention.
"Look! It's Lady Ningguang! She's here!"
"Eh? Is she here to open jars again? Hey everyone, come look!"
"Here she comes! And she brought her secretaries, Bai Xiao and Bai Wen. She must be treating them to some jars."
"Open jars? What does that mean?"
"You don't know? You must not be a local."
"No, I'm a merchant from Mondstadt. I just arrived today. I can't believe I'm seeing the Tianquan herself! But... what is this 'jar opening' you're talking about?"
"I'm too lazy to explain. Just watch."
As Ningguang approached the shop, the street—already buzzing with the usual harbor traffic—suddenly congested. Pedestrians stopped in their tracks. Merchants abandoned their stalls.
Word spread instantly: The Tianquan is opening jars.
Those who knew about the shop were eager to see what legendary item she might pull this time. Those who didn't know were simply drawn by the crowd or the chance to see their idol, the richest woman in Teyvat.
Seeing the crowd form behind her, Ningguang sighed and massaged her temple. Next time, I really need to come during off-hours. Causing a commotion every time isn't ideal.
She stepped across the threshold, bringing her secretaries with her.
Inside, Felix looked up from the counter. Seeing Ningguang and the two secretaries in their professional attire, his smile brightened.
Twenty more jars sold. Excellent.
One step closer to unlocking his next Exclusive Jar.
"Shopkeeper, I brought my secretaries today," Ningguang said with a graceful smile. "Consider this more business for you."
"Hello, Shopkeeper. I am Bai Xiao. Lady Ningguang has told us much about you. It is a pleasure to meet you," Bai Xiao bowed respectfully.
"I am Bai Wen. We are honored to be here," Bai Wen added.
Both secretaries were polite and deferential. They knew the importance of maintaining good relations with this man.
"Welcome," Felix nodded. "You know the rules. Payment first, then choose your jars. Who's first? Or you can go together."
"I'll go first."
Bai Xiao stepped forward, placing a heavy bag of Mora on the counter. She scanned the shelves, her eyes settling on the second row.
"I'll take those ten."
"Done."
Felix took the Mora and waved his hand. Ten jars floated down and settled in front of Bai Xiao.
Bang!
Bai Xiao didn't hesitate. She smashed the first jar immediately.
A brilliant red light burst forth.
Bai Xiao's eyes went wide. Red light on the first try!
[Kekkei Genkai: Byakugan (White Eye)]
Description: When activated, grants the user a near-360º field of vision. The user can see through solid objects, perceive the flow of elemental energy (or chakra) within a target's body, and visualize their meridian system. Sight range extends up to one kilometer.
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