As Ryen had expected, the topic of "ex-girlfriends" lingered heavily in the air.
Throughout the entire dragon ride, Ganyu sulked in silence.
He did not even need to look back, he could practically feel the resentful, self-pitying gaze burning into his spine.
Yet strangely, he did not feel troubled.
Ganyu had always been gentle.
She had never once lost her temper.
She had always been considerate, always supportive, no matter what he chose, no matter what he did.
During their ti together, Ryen had long co to feel that Ganyu was his true soulmate.
But precisely because she never fought, never demanded, never complained,
He often felt he owed her.
Letting her pout once in a while, letting her show a little temper,
That, in his view, was what soone like her should be allowed to do.
Although…
Well.
Considering her age… perhaps "little girl" was not the most accurate description.
As for how to resolve her mood,
That was simple.
Before night fully fell, the dragons landed smoothly on the open plains outside Suru City.
This area had been designated in advance by Alhaitham and the others.
He had once visited Tianheng Mountain to observe Liyue's military developnt and understood how the Millelith trained there alongside the Dragon Riders.
Tianheng Mountain had beco a central military stronghold.
If Suru were to join the alliance, similar reforms and expansions would follow.
Many developnts could not occur within Suru City proper.
A military base like Tianheng Mountain would eventually be necessary.
For now, however, only a wide stretch of land had been set aside, sufficient rely for dragon landings.
The dragons did not remain outside long.
Upon touching down, each was promptly dismissed back into its owner's Serenitea Pot.
Mada Ping, back when she was still the elderly Granny Ping, had painstakingly crafted those domains.
Now, however…
The rejuvenated Ping reacted quite differently.
ntion crafting another Serenitea Pot, and she would imdiately grow irritated.
She often complained that spending sleepless nights crafting domains for everyone had been a symptom of aging foolishness.
"Only a fool works for free," she declared.
Sowhere, Narukami Shrine's reputation suffered collateral damage.
No sooner had Ryen stepped onto the ground than he turned, pulled Ganyu into his arms, and kissed her.
Half her anger dissolved instantly.
"You're my favorite, Ganyu."
With that, the gentle qilin returned.
She hugged him back tightly, rubbing against him with quiet joy.
"I like you most too…"
The qilin's temper rarely surfaced, and when it did, it vanished just as quickly.
Ryen promised to spend the entire night with her, properly making it up to her.
Not only did her displeasure disappear,
She beca radiant with happiness.
Watching this effortless reconciliation, Yae Miko sighed softly.
"Ganyu is really easy to appease…"
"Is that even compensation? It sounds more like a reward for Ryen."
Ganyu, too absorbed in her joy, did not hear.
Ryen, however, heard everything.
He cast Miko a aningful look.
In the distance, Alhaitham and the others approached swiftly.
Seizing the mont, Ryen drifted casually to Miko's side.
"You deliberately brought up the ex-girlfriend topic."
"Miko, do you know what Eula would say in this situation?"
Miko blinked innocently.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand at all."
"Oh?"
Ryen smiled faintly and patted her shoulder.
"No matter. I hold grudges."
"When we return to Inazuma, you'll regret stirring trouble today."
She tilted her head playfully.
"What? Are you planning to bully a poor little fox? How cruel."
"For three days," Ryen said calmly, "you won't even be able to sit up."
He left her with that and walked forward with Nahida and the others.
Miko's cheeks flushed faintly.
"Hmph."
Lisa appeared beside her.
"You should apologize when the ti cos," she advised gently.
"Trust . That sensation is not sothing you'll ever wish to relive."
"You won't be able to sit. You won't even want to move a finger."
"Do you know what it ans to be overwheld?"
Lisa smiled aningfully.
"Don't forget, Ryen's strength operates on a world-level scale."
"How could a mortal body endure that impact?"
She strolled ahead, leaving behind one final remark:
"I once had the sa confidence as you."
"I fainted seven tis."
"And stayed in bed for five days."
Now Miko felt slightly uneasy.
But having already spoken boldly, she could hardly retract it.
She was the Guuji of Narukami Shrine, after all.
Worst case,
She would simply beg adorably.
Shaking off the thought, she followed the group.
As before, the welcoming party consisted of familiar faces:
Alhaitham. Tighnari. Cyno.
The trio remained inseparable.
Perhaps the rumor was true,
Triangles were the most stable shape.
Ryen smiled.
"eting again so soon. You three are always together."
Just then, Alhaitham noticed Lumine peeking from behind Ryen.
For a split second, sothing indescribable flickered in his eyes,
Enough to make Tighnari and Cyno uncomfortable.
He cleared his throat.
"The Sabzeruz Festival begins tomorrow. It will be grand."
"The Akademiya has undergone a major purge, so for now, the three of us must oversee matters."
"Let's head inside."
As they entered the city gates, they saw him,
Azar.
Filthy. Disheveled. Eyes hollow.
Like a beaten dog.
A line of citizens waited patiently, gripping their weapons, eager for their turn.
Nearby, mbers of the Thirty Corps administered Life Recovery Potions periodically, ensuring he did not die.
Justice, of a sort.
Nahida's suffering could not be repaid to the deceased Grand Sage.
But Azar,
Would neither die nor be allowed peace.
"Are you satisfied with how we handled him?" Alhaitham asked quietly.
Ryen waved dismissively.
"You handled it well. Anyone who dared harm Nahida deserves neither life nor death."
Alhaitham inclined his head.
"We exposed all of his forbidden experints."
"The God-creation project."
"Exploitation of Eleazar patients."
"Collaboration with the Fatui Harbinger Il Dottore."
"Using Suru's citizens as experintal subjects."
"And… other things."
He paused.
"Now, no one in Suru sympathizes with him."
"People have traveled from Port Ormos and even the desert just to strike him once."
"Frankly, without exposing his experints, we would not have realized how despised he truly was."
Ryen smiled faintly.
"Were all those experints truly Azar's alone?"
Alhaitham returned the smile.
"Does it matter?"
"The people need a scapegoat."
"The Lesser Lord Kusanali wished to guide them, to unite rainforest and desert."
"She was imprisoned for five hundred years."
"The Grand Sage lineage deceived the populace and attempted to seize divine authority."
"Defeated by the Traveler and the united citizens."
"For the sake of stability, this narrative is… convenient."
Ryen nodded approvingly.
He appreciated intelligence, especially the pragmatic kind.
"Excellent," he said. "You'll refine our future strategies well."
"And Azar, in a sense, has beco your waste processor."
Alhaitham gave a faint nod.
"There is, however, one issue."
"We are nearly out of Life Recovery Potions."
"Purchasing more from Liyue has beco… expensive."
Ryen rolled his eyes.
"You don't need subtlety with us."
"Suru is joining the alliance. You'll receive the sa treatnt."
"Besides, Ningguang and Jean are standing right here."
Alhaitham coughed lightly.
"My apologies. Old habits."
"If negotiations regarding Akademiya procurent can wait until after the Sabzeruz Festival?"
Ningguang smiled warmly, one hand holding Nahida's, the other looped through Ryen's arm, like a dignified matriarch.
"We will remain for about a week."
"We will celebrate Nahida's birthday."
"And assist her in stabilizing Suru's governance."
"We can discuss trade terms at leisure."
Alhaitham nearly sighed with relief.
The administrative burden had been crushing.
If this continued, the three of them might truly work themselves to death.
Having capable leaders assist,
Was more than welco.
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