"Ah Qing, how much do you know about Ye Lan?" Smith turned to Keqing and asked.
"Ye Lan is Ningguang's collaborator. Many people think she's just Ningguang's subordinate, but from the few times I've interacted with her, I've found that they're actually equals in many ways," Keqing replied after a moment of thought. "Ye Lan has done a lot for Liyue over the years. It's even said that she fought against a Fatui executive and didn't lose."
"Ye Lan is that strong?" Smith asked, genuinely intrigued. He knew Ye Lan's strength in the game, but he wasn't familiar with how she performed in the real world. Based on Keqing's description, it sounded like Ye Lan was stronger than the old version of Keqing.
Keqing nodded. "Ye Lan carries the legacy of the immortals. It's said her ancestors once fought alongside the Yaksha. My own inheritance wasn't as powerful as hers, so it's only natural that I can't compare to her."
Keqing spoke calmly, as if it didn't bother her. If she could defeat Ye Lan, she would, but if she couldn't, she wouldn't feel ashamed. This was Keqing's pride. That said, she was confident that she could now defeat Ye Lan. She wasn't the same person she had been before.
"If more people join in the future, we could arrange for Ye Lan to join the guild," Smith said as he pulled out the 753 Seal Book. "Now, we need to find something useful for us to learn from it. Ganyu, is there anything that interests you?"
"Me?" Ganyu looked down. "These techniques aren't suitable for me. I have Liyue's fairy arts for the time being." In Ganyu's heart, the fairy arts of Liyue were still powerful—after all, they had been passed down by Emperor Yanwang. Ninjutsu might seem interesting, but it lacked the depth and variety needed. Konoha didn't seem to have techniques like Ice Release or anything similar.
"As for the Impure World Reincarnation technique, there's no way to perform that in Teyvat." Ganyu smiled lightly. "If one day I end up in a world of fantasy or immortal cultivation, I might consider practicing those techniques, but for now, I'm content with what I have."
"Hmm." Smith's attention shifted to the water techniques of Senju Tobirama. Much like the Wood Style, these Water Release techniques were highly useful. Many people believed that Senju Tobirama had forbidden techniques beyond just water-based jutsu, but in reality, a lot of his Water Release techniques had made their way into the Book of Seals. These techniques could be helpful for developing Smith's water powers.
Smith couldn't help but feel a bit of regret. If the second godhead he had exchanged had been that of the Rock God, rather than the Water God, he might have been able to receive specialized guidance from Morax by now.
Ganyu soon left in a hurry. Her main purpose for coming had been to discuss matters regarding the Uchiha clan. Since Smith and the Geo Archon had already made clear arrangements for them, Ganyu didn't need to dwell on it. Allowing the Uchiha to either follow Ye Lan or serve under Smith seemed like a good decision.
Once Ganyu had left, Keqing narrowed her eyes and fixed her gaze on Smith. "Do you have any thoughts about Ganyu?" she asked with a hint of suspicion.
Keqing had always been observant of Smith. While Ganyu had been there, Smith couldn't stop glancing at her—specifically at her figure. As a result, Keqing felt a strange mix of anger and amusement. "This playboy," she muttered. Although she knew she couldn't restrain Smith entirely, why was he looking at Ganyu in front of her? Was it because Ganyu was more appealing, or did he simply find "wild flowers" more enticing than "domestic" ones?
"I have some thoughts, but it's not the right time," Smith replied, his tone entirely focused on practicality. This answer only irritated Keqing further. How could he be so nonchalant about such matters?
"You b*****d!" Keqing slapped Smith lightly in anger but then, in a more serious tone, added, "Don't even think about Ganyu. She doesn't care about love at all. She works far more hours than I do, and she won't be fooled by you. You won't take advantage of her the way you did to me."
Keqing's confidence in Ganyu was absolute. Ganyu wasn't interested in romance—her life revolved around her duties.
Smith nodded. "Everyone has weaknesses, and Ganyu is no exception. She's been working tirelessly for Liyue for thousands of years. If anything, she might be harder than even Morax. After all, while both Xiao and Morax occasionally take time to rest, Ganyu works from morning till night, without any break."
Smith sighed, feeling sympathy for Ganyu. "Ganyu has been responsible for a lot of things over the years. A thousand years ago, Liyue's population wasn't so large, so her workload was manageable. But now, the population has skyrocketed—several times, even dozens of times larger. Her responsibilities have increased exponentially. You should be paying attention to this. The staff at Yuehai Pavilion needs to be increased."
Keqing nodded thoughtfully, but her mind kept drifting to Smith's words. He seemed so familiar with Liyue's inner workings. Could he have his own interests in Ganyu? She wasn't sure whether to stop him or let things unfold. After all, she had been forced into a similar situation herself by this man.
As Keqing continued to ponder, she felt conflicted. It seemed Smith's words held a deeper meaning, one she couldn't quite place.
Meanwhile, the nation of Liyue, under the leadership of the Geo Archon, had recently established an organization known as Shadow. This organization was created for intelligence gathering and counter-espionage. The news quickly spread across the countries of Teyvat, stirring up concerns, particularly in the Kingdom of Winter. The announcement seemed almost directed at them, specifically calling out the Fatui and warning them that this new organization was targeting them.
The news of this caused a stir throughout Teyvat. Was Liyue preparing for war with the Kingdom of Winter? Would their struggle with the Fatui escalate into a full-scale conflict?
The Kingdom of Winter didn't know who exactly was behind the Shadow organization, nor who was in charge. But over the next three days, after the information was made public, the Fatui agents who had infiltrated Liyue and caused trouble suffered devastating losses. Most of them were killed in assassinations, while others died in direct confrontations. The manner of their deaths suggested that they had been taken out by a highly skilled group of "professionals"—likely members of Shadow.