Chapter 5: Keqing – A Chat Group? A Better Way to Supervise Work?
Ningguang's Late-Night Visitor
Inside the Jade Chamber, despite the late hour, Ningguang remained at her desk, reviewing a mountain of documents.
From an ordinary street vendor to her current position as Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, her journey had been one of relentless effort—far beyond what most people could imagine.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice broke the silence.
"So this is the Jade Chamber? It truly lives up to its reputation as the most extravagant place in Liyue."
Startled, Ningguang snapped her gaze toward the source of the voice.
A man in a flowing white robe stood before her, his face obscured, yet wearing a casual smile.
Strangely, despite not being able to see his face clearly, there was something oddly familiar about him—an inexplicable presence that reminded her of Morax, the Geo Archon.
Was he… an adeptus?
Maintaining her composure, Ningguang took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes.
"Who are you?"
The man—Aiden—chuckled.
"You're quick to collect yourself. No wonder you're Tianquan of the Qixing."
"Relax, I'm not here to cause trouble.
After all, if someone were to assassinate Liyue's Tianquan in her own home, I doubt Morax would simply stand by and watch."
Before Ningguang could respond, a strange sensation flooded her mind.
Aiden had just added her to the chat group.
"So… what will you do now?" he asked with a smirk.
Ningguang Joins the Chat Group
An unfamiliar interface appeared within Ningguang's mind, and she instinctively examined its contents.
A chat group?
She quickly skimmed through the introduction and member list, her sharp mind processing everything in seconds.
A group that grants power? That can purify Abyssal energy and demonic corruption?
Even the adepti couldn't do such a thing.
Her gaze fell upon the list of members:
Aiden – Unfamiliar name. Never heard of him in Liyue. Could it be the man who just appeared?
Zhongli – Hm? The so-called "walking encyclopedia of Liyue," known for his vast knowledge, extravagant spending habits, and rumored adeptal connections.
I Am a Little Bird? – …What kind of name was that?
She frowned.
Surely no one in Liyue would willingly give themselves such an embarrassing username.
Before she could investigate further, another notification appeared.
[Ding! Welcome, Keqing, to the chat group!]
Keqing?
Ningguang's eyes gleamed with interest.
Perhaps she should discuss this with Keqing first.
Keqing's Furious Entry
Keqing: "Ahh! What is this?! And that b*****d—where did you go?! Don't think running away will save you! Breaking into someone's house is illegal!"
Ningguang: "I see you've met him too."
Keqing: "Σ(っД;)っ Ningguang?! You're here too?
Do you know what this place is? It says it can purify Abyssal corruption and demonic energy—sounds ridiculous! Absolutely unbelievable!
But more importantly—who is that man?! I swear I'm throwing him in jail!"
Ningguang resisted the urge to laugh.
Keqing was always strict about order and regulations, but for her to react so strongly, that man must have really provoked her.
…Wait.
Could he have broken into her home as well?
…Had he seen something he shouldn't have?
Aiden's voice suddenly interrupted.
Aiden: "The group leader isn't here right now. Also… do you really think you can catch him? Instead of worrying about that, why not take some time to explore the chat group?"
Meanwhile, Aiden stole a guilty glance at Zhongli, who stood beside him.
After all, accidentally walking in on Keqing taking a bath was… well, not ideal.
Mental note: Avoid sneaking into people's houses from now on.
…That being said, Keqing was really something—
Aiden's Little Experiment
Zhongli, choosing to ignore Aiden's guilty conscience, spoke calmly.
"With their intelligence, they'll likely deduce your identity rather quickly."
Aiden grinned. "So what if they do? As long as I don't admit it, it doesn't matter."
"Besides, don't you think this is interesting?"
"A mysterious 'Demon God' appears out of nowhere and grants them power—power that benefits Liyue. What will they do?"
Zhongli fell silent, contemplating the implications.
Was this a test?
Would they remain loyal to Morax, the Geo Archon?
Or would they accept that as long as it benefited Liyue, it didn't matter who wielded the power?
Though Zhongli didn't particularly care about status or recognition, this was an intriguing experiment.
The Discussion Continues
For now, Aiden decided to hold off on recruiting Ganyu.
She was still working late at the Yuehai Pavilion, and Aiden wasn't about to break into another home.
He'd find an opportunity later.
Meanwhile, back in the chat group—
Keqing: "Aiden? Who are you? I've never heard of this name before. Are you that man?!"
Aiden: "No, no, no! I'm innocent! I'm just a simple traveler who arrived in Liyue today! Then some strange person appeared before me and gave me these powers!"
Keqing: "…Is that so? You'd better not be lying! Otherwise, you… (╬▔皿▔)╯ will regret it!"
Aiden: "Of course I wouldn't dare!"
"But this chat group is really amazing! Earlier, I defeated some Hilichurls in the wild and earned points. Then I used them to download the 'Basic Internal Cultivation' technique. My strength improved significantly!"
"I plan to hunt more monsters tomorrow! If I keep growing stronger, I might even surpass the Archons one day!"
His words caught Keqing and Ningguang's attention immediately.
They had already seen the Basic Internal Cultivation technique, but they were still cautious about this chat group.
But now?
If this truly allowed someone to cultivate to the level of an Archon…
Zhongli: "The 'Basic Internal Cultivation' technique is indeed unique. While it may not match the adeptal arts, it provides ordinary people with a path to self-improvement."
Ningguang: "Even you acknowledge it, Mr. Zhongli?"
Keqing: "Mr. Zhongli, you're here too?! This just got a lot more interesting. If we have any questions, it'll be much easier to ask you directly!"
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Final Thoughts
And just like that, the test continued.
Would Liyue's Qixing embrace this new power?
Or would they try to control it?
Either way, Aiden was looking forward to the results.