With Cloud Retainer's instructions, Shenhe returned to the adeptal realm to find Ganyu.
Yanfei, understanding the situation, followed after her.
Soon, only Lin Ze and Cloud Retainer remained atop Jueyun Karst.
"Thank you, Mister Lin Ze," Cloud Retainer said solemnly.
"For reversing Shenhe's fate."
"As for payment… what would you like?"
She'd invited him without settling the price, yet Shenhe had already made her choice.
Naturally, compensation was owed.
But Cloud Retainer wasn't sure she possessed anything Lin Ze would want.
"Do you remember what I call you?" Lin Ze asked.
"Yes. I Love Inventing True Lord."
"Then inventions it is."
"Give me some fun gadgets—things to pass the time."
"I'll take them home to play with."
Truthfully, Lin Ze lacked for nothing.
He was about to be drowning in Mora.
Artifacts? Useless.
Treasures? Boring.
But Cloud Retainer's inventions?
Those intrigued him.
"…For amusement?" Cloud Retainer blinked.
Then she relaxed.
That, she could provide.
"Please wait a moment."
She hurried into her adeptal realm and returned shortly after—having emptied her entire stockpile of leisure inventions.
Everything went into a simple ring.
It wasn't a storage artifact.
Just an ordinary ring—expanded internally via adeptal techniques.
With payment settled, Lin Ze didn't linger.
One step forward—
And space folded.
He returned directly to his villa.
"…Does Ningguang ever rest?"
He sighed.
He'd assumed he'd need to visit her tomorrow.
Yet the moment he returned, she was already waiting outside.
He opened the gate and let her in.
"Ganyu's gone back to Jueyun Karst," Lin Ze said.
"And you still had time to come?"
"She only left today," Ningguang replied calmly.
"And don't underestimate the Qixing."
"I came after reviewing the information from the opportunity."
"For the Gnosis?" Lin Ze asked.
"Yes. But also…"
"How is Ganyu?"
She'd worked with Ganyu for years.
In Ningguang's eyes, Ganyu was almost like an elder sister.
"She'll be fine," Lin Ze said after a pause.
"She has her own opportunity."
"She may even be back sooner than you think."
He really didn't want to talk about Jueyun Karst.
Too awkward.
"…Then let's discuss the Gnosis," Ningguang said, changing topics smoothly.
"One hundred million Mora," Lin Ze replied.
"Final price. No bargaining."
Ningguang's eyes lit up.
"That's far more generous than expected."
She handed him a Northland Bank card.
"Three hundred million Mora."
"I'll buy three."
"I'll take one Geo Gnosis today. The other two can stay with you."
Lin Ze accepted the card and casually tossed her a Geo Gnosis.
Ningguang caught it—an exquisitely crafted chess piece pulsing with divine power.
"I won't trouble you further."
She left immediately.
Tonight, sleep would be impossible.
A Gnosis—capable of birthing gods and weapons of divine scale—was now in her hands.
Watching her go, Lin Ze returned to his room.
He checked the diary system, dismissed the day's reward, hugged the pillow it provided, and collapsed onto the bed.
Today had been… awkward.
Very awkward.
But as Hook once said—
Sleep solves everything.
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