Gu Sanqiu approached the situation with caution, primarily because he feared Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, might shirk responsibility.
If it were anyone else with a shred of integrity, he might have leveraged guilt by saying something like, "How could you put a price on improving the lives of your people?"
But not with Barbatos.
That slippery Archon would likely retort with something like, "If you care so much about Noelle, why don't you pay for it yourself?" or "As the Anemo Archon and ruler of Mondstadt, I grant you the freedom to woo that girl."
Truly, there's wisdom in the phrase, 'Those who are shameless are unstoppable.'
High-grade elemental crystals weren't easy to come by, and he needed to be mindful of costs. With Barbatos' penchant for slacking, even if the Archon managed to get his hands on something as valuable as the Shaking Mountain Codex from Rex Lapis, he'd likely misplace it within a day.
As Gu Sanqiu mulled things over in silence, both Noelle and Barbara exchanged glances, hesitant to interrupt his train of thought.
Forget it. He sighed inwardly. Teaching her a little is still worth it. With her character, a favor like this could go a long way in the future.
Raising his head, Gu Sanqiu looked directly at Noelle. "I have a training regimen that's well-suited for you. Interested?"
"H-huh?"
Noelle was visibly stunned, as though he'd just dropped a depth charge into the tranquil waters of her mind.
Barbara's eyes sparkled as she nudged Noelle with her elbow, silently urging her to accept.
Say yes! Say yes!
Noelle was an ordinary person—no dramatic backstory, no protagonist-like aura. She had no connections to high-ranking members of the Knights of Favonius or the Church of Favonius.
Everything she had achieved was through relentless hard work and dedication.
So when a mentor-like figure suddenly offered her a golden opportunity, Barbara couldn't contain her excitement for her friend.
But Noelle hesitated, waving her hands nervously. "Th-this… Mr. Sanqiu, you've already been so kind by sparring with me. I can't possibly accept something so valuable."
"It's not a big deal. I'm not planning to teach you step-by-step. I'll just share some ideas and methods. It's no trouble at all."
Gu Sanqiu's expression turned serious. "Noelle, what is the Knight's Code?"
Noelle stood tall, her gaze firm as she gripped her sword with one hand.
"Humility, honesty, compassion, bravery, justice, sacrifice, honor, and spirit."
"Well said. I hope you'll continue to uphold these ideals on your path."
He pulled out a book and handed it to her. "This is called The Heart of the Earth. It's derived from an ancient scripture and could be considered the essence of Geo. I think it's well-suited to you."
He waved dismissively. "Of course, the name makes it sound much more impressive than it really is. Don't expect miracles."
"And don't take this too seriously. My family has given out plenty of techniques and weapons over the years. Just think of yourself as a lucky recipient."
"T-thank you!"
Noelle bowed deeply, her voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Sanqiu! I will remember this kindness for the rest of my life!"
"One more thing," Gu Sanqiu said, clapping his hands. "If you're serious about combat, you should look into getting a weapon that suits your strength. Otherwise, it might cause problems later."
The Favonius Greatsword wasn't a bad weapon, but for someone with Noelle's raw power, it wasn't optimal. She needed a ridiculously heavy blade—something so intimidating that merely planting it into the ground could make enemies surrender.
Noelle bowed again. "Understood. I'll be careful to choose wisely."
Gu Sanqiu glanced at a corner of the training field. "Don't stress about repaying this favor. Just stay true to your path, and you'll have a bright future ahead of you."
"Now, you two enjoy your time together. I'm making my exit."
"Huh?"
Barbara followed his gaze, only for her expression to nearly crack.
At the corner of the training field, three nuns were poking their heads around the wall, openly spying on their group. Their intentions were written all over their faces.
He's the only person in recent memory to receive a response from the Anemo Archon!
Were it not for the Fatui presence at his hotel and the need to maintain their dignity, the Church of Favonius would have likely assigned someone to follow him around the clock.
"Ah," one nun sighed wistfully. "Why does someone like him have to be from Liyue? If only Lord Sanqiu had been born in Mondstadt…"
A more senior nun's eyes gleamed with inspiration. "Why don't we petition the Liyue Qixing for permission to establish a branch of the Church of Favonius in Liyue? We could nominate Lord Sanqiu as its honorary cardinal."
"We wouldn't even need to preach freedom there. A mere title would suffice to bring him into our fold without provoking tension between the two nations."
The idea caused the gathered nuns—many of whom were influential figures within the church, including a few retired luminaries—to fall into deep thought.
It might actually work…
Incorporating someone like Gu Sanqiu into their ranks would undoubtedly benefit the church and improve relations between Mondstadt and Liyue.
A younger nun hesitated. "But isn't this akin to treating someone blessed by the Anemo Archon as a marriage pawn? And without offering him any real benefits?"
Her remark earned a mix of awkward glances and amused smirks from her elder companions.
"Mind your words. Don't let such notions spread," one chided gently.
---
While the church's elite schemed ways to "recruit" Gu Sanqiu, a caravan rolled into Mondstadt from outside the city.
Inside the carriage, Childe glanced at La Signora, who was idly stroking her cheek, her expression inscrutable.
"Was it really necessary to rush?" he asked, exasperation clear in his voice. "Headquarters ordered me to accompany you, which leaves our operations in Liyue vulnerable."
Whether others could exploit that vulnerability, Childe wasn't sure. But he knew for certain that one particular friend had both the cunning and capability to do so.
That same friend had once boasted, "Liyue belongs to my family."
And now, Childe was starting to think that wasn't just empty bravado.
That troublemaker had been causing havoc for years—openly collaborating with Childe, a foreigner and Fatui Harbinger, to siphon off Liyue's gray-market assets without so much as a slap on the wrist from anyone in power.
Childe sighed. I wouldn't be surprised if, by the time I return, half of our hidden businesses in Liyue have mysteriously changed ownership.