Chapter 409: Tingyun: "A Funeral? Whose Funeral?"

Chapter 409: Chapter 409: Tingyun: "A Funeral? Whose Funeral?"

In Liyue, with Tingyun’s assistance, Ningguang’s grasp over local affairs had noticeably improved.

She was a business genius to begin with.

Tingyun merely cited examples from across the universe.

Ningguang quickly adapted those ideas into policies suited to Liyue, and before long they were already being implemented.

The results weren’t dramatic yet, but the trend was undeniably positive.

Needless to say, Ningguang was very pleased.

Which only made her even more reluctant to let Tingyun go.

Still...

Although Liyue resembled the Xianzhou in many ways, the more familiar it felt, the more homesick Tingyun became.

No matter how similar this place was to home, it still wasn’t home.

Besides,

everything she cared about remained aboard the Luofu.

"Miss Tingyun, what’s the matter?"

"I haven’t seen your usual smile these past couple of days."

Normally,

Tingyun greeted everyone with a smile, regardless of their status or position.

Even Ningguang found that remarkable.

Someone so socially adept...

no wonder Su Ran had asked her to teach her.

But over the past few days, Tingyun had become noticeably more melancholic.

"Miss Ningguang..."

"Do you think Benefactor has forgotten about me here in Liyue?"

Tingyun sighed.

Life was hard.

Little Fox sighed.

Liyue was a wonderful place, but seeing everything here only reminded her more and more of home.

"...That... is possible."

Ningguang had originally wanted to comfort her.

But considering how intelligent Tingyun was, there was little point in offering empty reassurances.

"That’s just the kind of person he is."

"He follows his whims."

"When something comes to mind, he simply goes and does it."

After all, he hadn’t come to see her—his wealthy patron—for several days either.

And recalling Asta’s description of Herta...

Ningguang couldn’t help worrying.

Could it be... he’s already lost interest in me?

Herta herself only maintained a three-minute attention span.

How much better could Su Ran possibly be?

"It seems Miss Ningguang is even more troubled than I am."

As expected of a fox over a hundred years old, Tingyun was exceptionally perceptive.

She immediately noticed the concern hidden in Ningguang’s expression.

"This tremendous fortune has only just fallen into my lap."

"I can’t let it become nothing more than a fleeting dream."

Having only recently made contact with the wider universe,

Ningguang naturally wanted to preserve everything she’d gained.

Su Ran had disappeared for even longer periods before.

Far longer than this one.

But the situation was different now.

She had already caught a glimpse of the universe.

Having tasted such a magnificent opportunity, how could she not covet an even larger slice?

Her mentality had inevitably changed.

"That’s understandable."

"With Benefactor around, becoming the next Asta is only a matter of time."

Perhaps...

even surpassing Asta would simply be a matter of time.

After all, Asta had never received as much attention from Herta as Ningguang was receiving from Su Ran.

"’Only a matter of time?’"

"Do you think a genius’s attention can remain focused on someone forever?"

Right now,

Su Ran still paid attention to her.

But the day he stopped...

she would instantly be reduced to what she once was—the richest woman in Liyue.

On the surface, that still sounded impressive.

But after seeing the vastness of the sky, who would willingly return to being a frog at the bottom of a well?

Ningguang’s worries weren’t unreasonable.

Even Tingyun could understand them.

"So..."

"Miss Ningguang had better continue working hard."

"Keep improving."

"If I ever get the chance..."

"I certainly won’t hesitate to seize your place."

Tingyun made no attempt to hide her ambitions.

She envied the attention of a genius as well.

If Benefactor only wanted to cultivate one wealthy patron, why couldn’t she be that person?

She might only be a humble Sky-Faring Commission envoy, but she wasn’t lacking in assets.

At the very least, she had enough money to buy an entire planet.

"Then rest assured, Miss Tingyun."

"I won’t give you that opportunity."

Though they appeared to be teacher and student, beneath the surface, they might one day become rivals.

For now, however, their relationship remained perfectly cordial.

"What are you two chatting about?"

"Mind if I join in?"

Su Ran arrived, with Chiyo following beside him.

Distance in space meant nothing to him.

If he wished, he could appear at Herta Space Station the very next instant.

Showing up in Liyue was naturally no challenge.

"Benefactor?!"

The moment Tingyun saw Su Ran, her face lit up with delight.

She reacted even faster than Ningguang.

"...???"

Chiyo stared at the foxian woman in confusion.

Wait...

You call him "Benefactor" too?

Does that mean I’m no longer the only one?

"So, Miss Tingyun, long time no see."

"Let me tell you a little secret."

"I actually paid a visit to your hometown not long ago."

The instant she heard that, Tingyun’s eyes brightened.

"Is the Luofu doing well?"

"...Well..."

"Do you really want to know?"

Su Ran deliberately hesitated.

The joy on Tingyun’s face immediately faded.

"First there was a Stellaron outbreak."

"Then the Ambrosial Arbor revived."

"And after that..."

"...a Lord Ravager invaded."

Sigh...

Su Ran let out a long sigh.

Although he never mentioned the outcome, merely hearing about so many disasters nearly made Tingyun faint on the spot.

She wasn’t worried about the Stellaron, nor the Ambrosial Arbor.

After all, a single Stellaron wasn’t enough to bring down the mighty Xianzhou.

But the moment she heard that a Lord Ravager had attacked... her heart nearly stopped.

The Luofu certainly still had General Jing Yuan.

But Jing Yuan was a strategist first and foremost.

Though he was an Emanator, he was no longer young.

"Then..."

"Benefactor... did you help them?"

Jing Yuan alone might not have been able to guarantee the Luofu’s safety against a Lord Ravager.

But with the assistance of a genius, perhaps the casualties could have been greatly reduced.

"I did."

"But..."

"You should prepare yourself."

Su Ran gently patted Tingyun’s shoulder.

"That Lord Ravager infiltrated the Luofu..."

"...by assuming your appearance."

At that moment, Tingyun forgot how to breathe.

She was only a step away from collapsing.

"Then..."

"Benefactor must have recognized the impostor immediately... right?"

The real her was standing here.

How could that fake possibly deceive Su Ran?

That was the last sliver of hope she clung to.

"You should simply prepare yourself."

"In a few days..."

"I’ll take you back to the Luofu..."

"...to attend a funeral."

"..."

A funeral?

Whose funeral?!

TELL ME!

Tingyun’s heart was in complete turmoil.

General Jing Yuan’s?

Someone else’s?

Don’t tell me...

Lady Yukong’s?

Please... anything but that!

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