Warm sunlight spilled across the courtyard as Adrian and Keqing stepped into Grant's estate. The moment they entered, the noise hit them like a wave.
Inside the main hall, Clark, the estate's accountant, was surrounded by a restless crowd—three layers deep—everyone shouting over one another, demanding that Grant's inheritance be divided immediately. The chaos was deafening.
Meanwhile, in a neglected corner, Lily's ice coffin sat abandoned and lonely, completely ignored.
Keqing's expression chilled. She strode forward, her voice sharp as thunder:
"Quiet! Grant's inheritance will be divided by Yujing Terrace according to the law. None of you are permitted to cause trouble here!"
Her words sliced clean through the noise. The crowd instantly fell silent—no one dared provoke the fearsome Yuheng of the Qixing.
Seeing the reprieve, Clark squeezed himself out of the mob and hurried over, face pale and anxious.
"Lady Yuheng, please—send someone from Yujing Terrace soon. I'm about to lose my mind dealing with this group!"
Keqing nodded slightly before turning to the others.
"You will all leave this estate immediately. Otherwise, the Ministry of Civil Affairs will arrest you for unlawful entry."
Though disgruntled, the crowd backed off and eventually dispersed. The hall, moments ago a storm of shouting, quieted into cold emptiness.
Clark bowed gratefully. "Thank you, Lady Yuheng."
"No need," Keqing replied calmly. "We're here to ask something. We heard from Shawn that Lily brought an expensive ginseng not long before she died. Do you know anything about that?"
Clark nodded. "Yes. The master refused to use it and told me to store it in the vault. I can fetch it now."
"Please do."
He hurried off, returning shortly with a beautifully packaged ginseng wrapped in fine silk and tied with an ornate ribbon—clearly worth a great deal.
Adrian took it, examining it briefly.
"At least a million Mora… Lily really didn't hold back."
Clark sighed. "I warned her. I told her the master's temper, how little he cared for her, that she shouldn't expect too much. But she always had unrealistic hopes… she wouldn't listen."
Adrian slipped the ginseng away.
"I'll take this as payment for her funeral."
Clark bowed repeatedly. "You're too kind, Mr. Adrian! I was worrying about how to handle her burial."
Adrian shook his head.
"Not kindness. Just business."
With that, he turned to leave, his interest fading. Keqing exchanged a few more words with Clark before quickly catching up.
Outside the estate, Adrian headed straight toward Liyue Harbor's bustling commercial district. About half an hour later, he stopped in front of a lavishly decorated building.
He tilted his head toward Keqing.
"Do you know who this building used to belong to?"
Keqing blinked. "Who?"
"It was Lord Dean's. Ten years ago, when the Northland Bank entered Liyue, they used… questionable methods. Not only did they seize this property, they forced him out of the financial world entirely."
Keqing's eyes narrowed with anger.
"How could Tianquan let something like this happen?"
Adrian only gave a faint smile and said nothing more.
Some things did not need to be said aloud.
He stepped inside and sat down at one of the counters.
A polite Snezhnayan clerk greeted him with a professional smile.
"Good afternoon, sir. What service can I assist you with today?"
Adrian answered calmly,
"A friend of mine borrowed money from your bank. I'm here on her behalf to repay it."
Hearing that it was repayment, the clerk's expression brightened with genuine warmth.
"Certainly. What is your friend's name?"
"Lily," Adrian replied.
She nodded and went to the back to check the records. After a moment, she returned holding a slip marked with dried blood.
"Sir, Lily borrowed one million Mora. According to the contract, the interest rate is thirty percent per week. With overdue penalties doubled, her total debt now stands at… six million five hundred and fifty thousand Mora."
Keqing's eyes widened. That was more than six times the original amount—in barely more than a month.
Adrian let out a soft breath.
"I've heard stories about the Northland Bank's business practices. Never expected the reality to be even bloodier."
He paused, then offered an apologetic smile.
"Unfortunately, I didn't bring enough Mora today. I'll return in a few days to settle the full amount."
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