NCCnovel Chapter 185 Bandits on the Snow-Covered Road
Chapter 185 Bandits on the Snow-Covered Road
As soon as Xu Ning spoke, Qingyi couldn't help but look up and carefully examine the girl in front of her, Liyue.
"It's truly amazing, I had no idea."
The girl in front of me, Li Yue, was actually Ye Lan in disguise.
Ye Lan chuckled and asked Xu Ning, "I'm confident I can disguise myself without giving anything away, so how did you recognize me?"
"Firstly, I saw your drawing when I was making the 'Liyue Millennium' chessboard. Secondly..."
Xu Ning pointed to the last drawing on the paper in his hand.
"This matter only happened in the last few days. No matter how well-informed Liyue's spies are, it's impossible for them to get the information from Mondstadt to Ningguang in Liyue and then draw it into a picture for you to bring over in just a few days."
Ye Lan laughed and said, "I guessed that the problem would arise from this image, and you were right. But this information is really interesting, and I think Ning Guang and Bei Dou will be just as interested as I am."
Xu Ning said with a dark face, "I advise you to be kinder. It only takes a mouth to spread rumors, but it takes a lot of legwork to refute them. You should do less of these things that damage my reputation!"
Ye Lan rolled her eyes and said disdainfully, "You should be the one doing less. I'm just a faithful recorder and a spy responsible for passing on the facts."
Xu Ning was somewhat exasperated, "You can't ignore the facts just because you're making a record, this is clearly a man..."
Yelan blinked her innocent big eyes. "In the message I sent to Ningguang, I specifically emphasized his identity as a man. Oh, and I also mentioned some of the strange quirks of Mondstadt nobles."
Xu Ning glared at her for a long time, then resignedly said, "Ningguang will definitely choose to believe me... Fine, name your price!"
Ye Lan smiled with narrowed eyes, "There is indeed something I need your help with, but let's take care of the important matter first, and then we can talk about how to write your report."
"Your cave is a good place to talk. If there's nothing or no one you'd like to hide inside, please let me in for a bit?"
Xu Ning glared at him. "What do I have to hide? Let's go, let's find a quiet place."
After exchanging a few words with the steward accompanying her, Ye Lan followed Xu Ning out of the Cat Tail Tavern.
Xu Ning, with Ye Lan by the teleportation anchor point, teleported directly to the place where the wind rises. He placed the gourd under the big tree and then entered the cave with Qingyi and Ye Lan.
"The changes are amazing, it's getting more and more spectacular."
However, Yelan wasn't particularly interested in the wine itself. She exclaimed in surprise and then sat down at the table, explaining to Xu Ning what had recently happened in Liyue.
"Since you left, the development plan of Guiliyuan has continued to proceed steadily and in an orderly manner, and many merchants who made early investments have already begun to reap profits."
"All four teams of Star Banner and Lightning Halberd have been transferred by Tian Shu Star. As for what arrangements were made, Ning Guang wouldn't let me find out. However, 'Star' has made something of herself. She was nominated by Tian Shu and Ning Guang some time ago. With the strong support of her own family, she may become the youngest Seven Star in history."
Xu Ning recalled the purple-haired girl with exceptional swordsmanship and smiled, saying, "She's really quite accomplished. Where are the four teams from Tiger Fang Jie Li now?"
Ye Lan pointed to herself, spread her hands and pretended to be pitiful, saying, "Most of the leaders of the Star Flag Fourth Team come from prominent families and have extraordinary skills. They have been noticed by the higher-ups and have a bright future."
"As for our Tiger Fang Team 4, they're all just brute force, only good at fighting and killing. They'll have no choice but to follow me underground and do some shady things. It's worlds apart, truly worlds apart!"
Xu Ning noticed that although Ye Lan was putting on a pitiful act, there was a clear sense of smugness in her eyes, indicating that she was probably enjoying herself.
"So, you came here specifically to meet with me under the guise of your liquor business, what are you trying to find out about?"
Yelan smiled and said, "Jin and Ningguang, the acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, have been corresponding, and they usually share information about the Abyss Order. Although we learned some things about the Stormterror incident from Jin's letters, we don't know as much as you, the person directly involved."
"Furthermore, the Lady of the Fools has been staying in Mondstadt for a long time. What is the purpose of her and the Winter's Guild behind her in seizing the so-called power of the Anemo Archon?"
Ye Lan leaned forward slightly and asked, "And what we are most concerned about now is, what role did that Wind God play in this incident?"
Xu Ning smiled and said, "You've really come to the right person. I believe that in Mondstadt, apart from the Wind God Barbatos, perhaps only I can answer all these questions."
Xu Ning poured Qianfeng wine into two porcelain bowls and, while drinking, told Ye Lan in detail about the recent events that had occurred in Mondstadt.
When Ye Lan mentioned that she had also stolen the Heart of the Wind God, she could no longer contain her shock and turned to look at the wind-shaped mark below the dragon's head on the Ganli Spring.
"That is the heart of God?"
Xu Ning pointed to the wine bowl in Ye Lan's hand, "The Thousand Wind Wine you are drinking is brewed from the Heart of God and sweet wine."
Ye Lan looked at Xu Ning with complicated eyes and said, "Even the Ice Goddess Queen wanted to obtain the power of the Wind God, but you used it as a drinking companion. It's really... I don't know what to say."
Xu Ning couldn't help but feel a little smug, and said with a smile, "Then tell me about the thing you were going to ask me to help with."
Even though they were inside the cave, Ye Lan couldn't help but lower her voice.
“I recently uncovered a few of the Fatui’s secret networks. They’re using these hidden trade routes to smuggle contraband into and out of Liyue and Mondstadt.”
“I recently heard that a caravan is about to travel from Liyue through Mondstadt, and then take the sea route back to Winterhold. I’m thinking of secretly robbing it.”
"Firstly, it's an opportunity to warn that 'rich man' who's been causing trouble in Liyue lately, to make him tone it down. Secondly, there's something very important inside, and if it's lost, the 'rich man' will be heartbroken. Consider this a lesson for him."
Xu Ning felt no guilt about robbing the "rich" who were causing trouble in Liyue. He nodded and said, "No problem. If I help you close this deal, all the good stuff is yours. But when you pass on the information to Ningguang, you must describe my image and achievements in a positive light."
Ye Lan readily agreed.
The Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt have been focusing almost entirely on reconstruction efforts lately, and not many people are paying close attention to the two newly appointed honorary knights of Mondstadt.
It is said that Kong recently joined the Adventurers' Guild and is now enthusiastic about treasure hunting in the Mondstadt Mountains, spending his days wandering around the wilderness with that greedy white-haired boy.
As for that other honorary knight who's keen on creating all sorts of strange scandals in the streets and alleys of Mondstadt, he seems to have gone out to play these past few days, which has made the taverns in Mondstadt less talkative.
Even the bard in green robes sang poems with a greater sense of resentment.
At this moment, Xu Ning stood with Ye Lan at the starting point of the Snow-Covered Road.
"The place we're going to is Longji Snow Mountain?"