Chapter 4

Shortly after handing me the letters, Cloud Retainer decided to accompany me to Liyue Harbor. Her eyes narrowed with curiosity when I activated my spiritual energy to levitate effortlessly, floating beside her.

As we approached the harbor, she gracefully descended onto a rooftop, her silver feathers glimmering in the sunlight.

"This humble one still has unfinished matters in her domain," she declared, lightly shaking her wings. "We shall meet again during your Adeptus inauguration ceremony. By then..." She paused dramatically. "...perhaps I'll have stopped suspecting you're a creature in disguise."

(Was that... a compliment? I'm not sure.)

Before I could respond, Cloud Retainer had already taken flight, leaving behind only a shower of gleaming feathers and my bewildered expression

***

After Cloud Retainer's departure, I crossed the Southwest Gate, where the scent of fresh seafood and spices immediately hit my senses.

(From what I remember from the game, the alchemy table and the Adventurers' Guild should be around here... But this is way more chaotic than it looked on screen.)

Liyue Harbor was massive—so vast that the scenes shown in the game didn't do it justice. The streets buzzed with merchants shouting out deals, children running between stalls, and sailors carrying crates of various materials.

(Wow... Liyue being a commercial powerhouse wasn't an exaggeration. Though I really hope I don't run into some "young master" who needs a good slap to learn some manners. Luckily, there's no Mount Tai here... right?)

As I walked on, I noticed the curious—and at times wary—gazes of the passersby. Some whispered when they saw my horns.

(I better find Ganyu fast. I didn't think having horns would attract so much attention in Liyue.)

After getting lost twice (thanks to the very accurate directions of a kid who insisted that "the blue building" was the Tianquan's office), I finally arrived at the Yuehai Pavilion.

The place was even more impressive than in the game renders—marble columns carved with dragons, silk lanterns glowing with their own light, and a floor so polished I could see my reflection… horns and all.

(Wow, now this is what you'd call "showing off economic power." I wonder how much tax money it takes to maintain a place like this?)

I approached one of the reception desks, where a human secretary stared at me wide-eyed. She looked like she might faint just from my presence.

"Excuse me," I said, trying my best to sound as non-intimidating as possible. "Could I speak with Ganyu? I have a letter from her master… and her fellow disciple."

(Hopefully Cloud Retainer didn't write something like, 'This specimen requires constant supervision.')

"A-a letter from the Honorable Cloud Retainer…" she stammered, as if she'd just seen a ghost. "P-please forgive me, esteemed Adeptus! I'll call Secretary Ganyu immediately!"

After a brief moment, the receptionist returned—but this time she wasn't alone. Following behind her, moving with grace, was a woman who instantly caught my attention.

(Wow… If she recognizes Cloud Retainer's seal, she must be a real veteran at this…)

She was a slender woman, with deep violet eyes and sky-blue hair that darkened at the tips, almost fading into a purplish hue. Her long ponytail swayed gently with each step, and a striking strand of hair partially veiled her face, stopping just above her nose. Though her appearance was mostly human, I couldn't help but notice the curved horns—brownish in color, adorned with intricate red engravings—that arched backward along her hair, reminiscent of a goat's.

She wore a golden bell hanging from her neck, and her outfit blended elegance with mystery: a black suit with golden details, overlaid with a purple and white corset-like piece whose long tails resembled a tailcoat. Her sleeves, separate and form-fitting, matched the ensemble perfectly, while a white ribbon rested at the back of her neck. Her heels—white with golden accents and gray soles—were tied with red cords around the ankles. And on her left hip gleamed her Cryo Vision, secured with an elaborate red clover-shaped knot.

(The Cocogoat.)

For a moment, I stood frozen by her presence. But realizing how impolite that must have seemed, I quickly pulled myself together and adjusted my demeanor.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Ganyu. My name is Dan Heng, and I've come to deliver a letter from your master… and another from your sister Shenhe."

Ganyu took the letters in her delicate hands, and upon recognizing Cloud Retainer's seal, her violet eyes sparkled with curiosity. However, as she opened the first letter and began to read its contents, her serene expression cracked—if only for a brief moment. Her eyebrows rose slightly, and the tips of her fingers tensed against the paper.

"Mr. Dan Heng…" she finally said, lifting her gaze with a composure that felt too perfect. "Would you be so kind as to accompany me to my office? There's a... delicate matter we need to discuss in private."

"It would be my pleasure," I replied, keeping my best poker face as I followed her graceful silhouette.

Ganyu nodded and turned on her heels, leading me through the halls of the Yuehai Pavilion. The gentle jingling of the bell around her neck set the rhythm of our footsteps.

Upon arriving at her office, she closed the door with a soft click and leaned against the edge of her desk, arms crossed. Cloud Retainer's letter was still in her hands, but now her gaze held a deeper curiosity.

"It's an honor to meet you, Adeptus Imbibitor Lunae." Ganyu offered a perfect bow, her ponytail swaying gently behind her. "The Master mentioned in her letter that even the Geo Lord himself has acknowledged you as one of our own. I hope we can work well together."

I adjusted my stance, trying to appear dignified yet approachable. "Please, just call me Dan Heng. The adeptus title… let's save that for formal occasions."

Ganyu nodded in understanding, though I couldn't help but notice the way her violet eyes shimmered with interest. "As you wish, Mr. Dan Heng. By the way, the Master mentioned you're planning to settle down in Liyue…"

"That's correct," I confirmed, crossing my arms. "Though I'm still looking for a suitable place to stay."

Ganyu smiled warmly, the golden bell at her neck chiming softly. "In that case, allow me to show you the guest residences. They offer wonderful views of the—"

Knock, knock!

The gentle knock at the door interrupted our conversation.

"Come in," Ganyu responded in her usual professional tone.

(Who else knows I'm here? This is starting to feel like one of Zhongli's schemes...)

The door opened, revealing a figure that needed no introduction.

"Lady Tianquan, what brings you here?" Ganyu asked, surprised.

hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of light, and each of her steps seemed calculated with precision. She wore her traditional white, black, and gold ensemble, her black silk gloves gleaming under the room's light, adorned with her signature golden details at the fingertips.

(There she is… the woman who could buy and sell all of Mondstadt before breakfast.)

"Miss Ganyu," she began with a honeyed voice, "I came to discuss the message sent to me by the Geo Lord… but I see I've arrived at the most opportune moment."

Her golden eyes settled on me with a gaze worth a thousand mora.