"Hmph." Lin Tian let out a sneer as he pulled a thick banknote from his inner pocket. "Feiyun Commerce Guild-issued note. You can verify it."
Xingqiu took the note, and his eyes widened. "One hundred thousand Mora? How do you even have this much?"
His startled outburst caused the nearby students to shift their attention. Though many of them hailed from merchant families, few had ever seen such a sum in a single note, let alone coming from someone their own age.
Lin Tian snatched the note back and tucked it into his coat with a flourish. "This is what I earned selling goods at the harbor. So, do you dare to bet or not?"
Xingqiu met his challenge without flinching. "Of course. Who's afraid of a little competition?"
He pulled out his own banknote—also a one-hundred-thousand Mora note—and laid it on the desk.
As the stakes hit the table, the two began drafting a contract.
All the money they had brought forward was real. No fakes. No tricks.
To Lin Tian, what had taken him months of struggling with counterfeit Glaze Lilies and harbor hustling was nothing more than a slice of Xingqiu's allowance. That thought stung a bit.
Just then, a voice rang out from the crowd. "Xingqiu, Lin Tian, can we join the bet too? I think Ningguang really could become the next Tianquan."
Lin Tian exchanged a quick glance with Xingqiu. That was their cue.
"Of course," Xingqiu responded with a smile. "Everyone is welcome. Just sign the contract. Pick the candidate you believe in. Once the result is revealed, winnings will be divided according to the proportional stakes."
Most of the students present came from merchant families. They immediately understood the rules of the game.
"For fairness, the minimum bet is one thousand Mora. No change accepted," Xingqiu added.
This part had been decided in advance. It excluded those from lower-income families—those who couldn't spare that kind of money. Of course, if someone insisted on betting despite the strain, Lin Tian planned to "educate" them on better spending afterward.
As Xingqiu produced the pre-written contracts, the crowd leaned in. This wasn't just gambling. It was excitement. For these children of Liyue's elite, it was a rare thrill.
One by one, students began to place bets. And naturally, almost all of them sided with Xingqiu.
Lin Tian noticed with careful restraint the growing pile of bets stacked against him. He hid his satisfaction beneath a mask of frustration, embodying the role of the underdog scorned.
Then, a splash of violet caught his eye.
A girl with sleek purple hair stepped through the crowd and slammed a bill on the desk in front of Lin Tian.
Fifty thousand Mora.
Gasps rippled through the onlookers. This was unprecedented. After watching the entire debate, most students had aligned with Xingqiu. But here was someone siding with Lin Tian—and with a hefty sum.
"Keqing? Did you go to the wrong side?" a student blurted out.
Suddenly, the barrage in Lin Tian's eyes burst to life.
[WIFU ALERT 🚨 KEQING JUST DROPPED 💦]
[step on me, electro queen ⚡👑.]
[💀 not the beef intestine simp again]
[yo full c6 Keqing in da house 🛐🛐🛐]
[she could bankrupt me and I'd say thank you!]
[bro I'd let her electro slap me into the Shadow Realm and say "another, please" 🔥.]
[that tight qipao got me barkin' louder than a Geo hound 💀🐶]
The outpouring of admiration, downbad comments told Lin Tian one thing: this girl was important. Maybe even more so than Xingqiu.
Keqing folded her arms and shot a disdainful glance at the questioning student. "So what if I like her? Can't a woman stand as Tianquan? Why shouldn't I support her?"
Her voice was sharp, her tone brooking no argument.
The student was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. "Sure, sure. But you just gave us more Mora to win."
With that, he tossed another ten thousand Mora on Xingqiu's side. "I raise the bet."
Lin Tian could hardly suppress his grin. Even though Keqing's support meant she would claim a significant portion of any winnings, the student's increased stake helped balance the profit. It was a net gain.
As the atmosphere buzzed with excitement, more students joined in. By the time the contracts were signed, twenty-four students had bet, contributing over seventy thousand Mora. On average, each had wagered about three thousand.
That level of wealth was telling. This wasn't just any school. It was the best in Liyue. Aside from Lin Tian, who studied there thanks to his late parents' adventurer fund, most students came from affluent, influential families.
A few scholars, who studied hard despite limited means, remained at their desks, unfazed by the spectacle.
After collecting the money, Lin Tian and Xingqiu distributed the signed contracts to the participants.
—
Outside the classroom window, a teacher observed the scene with growing concern.
Later that afternoon, he approached the academy's white-haired dean and explained the situation. He expected stern reprimands.
To his surprise, the dean merely chuckled.
"Dean," the teacher began, bewildered. "They're gambling with real Mora. Shouldn't we intervene?"
The dean raised an eyebrow. "Did they tell you what the wager was?"
"They're betting on who'll be named the new Tianquan."
"And the terms?"
"One thousand Mora minimum. Clearly defined."
"Did they write a contract?"
The teacher nodded. "Signed and sealed."
The dean smiled. "So. A matter concerning the governance of Liyue. Clear stakes. Binding agreements. Why, then, would we interfere?"
"But... It's still gambling," the teacher protested.
"You should've stopped them before they signed the contract. Not after. A deal is a deal. In Liyue, a contract is sacred. You know this."
The teacher's face turned red. "You're right. I failed to act in time."
"Then you know what to do."
"I'll revise tomorrow's lesson. We'll teach the history of the Qixing and use this wager as a case study."
The dean nodded with approval. "A fine approach. You're learning."
—
Back in the classroom, after the others dispersed, Lin Tian and Xingqiu exchanged mischievous grins.
"Xingqiu, your acting today was better than any Yun-Han Opera performer."
"Haha, thanks. But you weren't bad either. That outburst of yours nearly made me believe you were angry."
As they chuckled, neither noticed a familiar violet figure approach from behind.
"Hmph. So you are up to something," Keqing said sternly.
Lin Tian jumped. "Keqing! Don't sneak up like that. Scaring people can be lethal, you know."
[Uh-oh. Lin Tian's heart bar just went red. Boy's catching feels fr.]
[Keqing supremacy🛐🛐🛐 !]
[Bro I wanna tie her up and—]
[AYO keep it PG, horny jail awaits 🪑🔨]
As the barrage exploded again, Lin Tian sighed. He barely even knew this girl, and the commentators were already writing love stories.
Keqing crossed her arms. "I knew something was fishy. You two were way too convincing. Come clean, or I'm reporting you."
"Hey! This isn't anything shady. We're doing something noble," Xingqiu protested, his voice rising in defense. "This is chivalry in action."
"Oh? Chivalry?" Keqing shot him a skeptical look. "So you're using your family's inside knowledge to rig bets and call that heroic?"
"What inside knowledge? I got nothing from my family!" Xingqiu was clearly offended.
"Hmph. I don't even know for sure if Ningguang will be selected. How you came up with this idea is beyond me."
That was the key question.
Xingqiu's expression stiffened. "Now that you mention it... Lin Tian, how did you know Ningguang would be the next Tianquan?"
Lin Tian internally facepalmed. Thanks a lot, Xingqiu.
Keqing's triumphant smirk told him she already suspected the truth.
"I didn't get insider info," he said quickly. "It's all based on public records and analysis."
Keqing narrowed her eyes. "Oh really? Then explain your reasoning. If it's just a wild guess, I'll report you for fraud."
[Bro, Lin Tian, shut up and just kiss her already 💋]
[Tsundere law #1: kiss now, apologize never.]
[Y'all are rotting this kid's brain. Let him COOK first 💀]
Lin Tian ignored the noise.
He looked Keqing in the eyes. "You're from a well-off family, right? You probably don't understand what ordinary folks in Liyue deal with. But Ningguang does. She started from nothing."
Keqing's expression turned cold.
"I know she did. So what?"
"Then think," Lin Tian continued. "The Tianquan is responsible for commerce, construction, and public welfare. Who understands those needs better—some noble or someone who lived through them?"
Keqing didn't respond.
"The people don't need more power. They need understanding. And that's why Ningguang's the best choice."
For once, Keqing didn't argue. She just frowned.
"Hmph. Fine. You make a good point. But don't forget—I still took one-third of your profits."
Lin Tian nodded. Keqing had bet fifty thousand Mora. After payouts, she would claim a substantial cut. Xingqiu's money wasn't real. After expenses, Lin Tian's actual gains would be modest.
But he wasn't worried. He already knew what kind of person Keqing would become.
He was confident he'd earn it back.
***
Only real readers make it this far. The rest? Just background extras. Show me you're not one of them—drop your Power Stone 🔥