@vulturent
word of treasure hoarders infiltrating lingju pass and looting caravans have finally reached her notice. this knowledge is followed by the clamoring of business partners and merchants who plead for the safety of their goods and fortunes. while she empathized with their plight, their incessant pestering for progress grated on her nerves, and often she was tempted to swat them like flies, flinging them out of her office for a moment of peace. it is only after she pushed stacks and organized the appropriate paperwork was she able to take leave of her office and investigate. she personally escorts a convoy traveling from liyue harbor towards lingju pass whilst cloaked in a threadbare cape, hiding within a wagon like a stowaway. the bumpy ride to their destination was reminiscent of the rolling ocean waves, nearly lulling her into a dreamless sleep. the sudden jerk in movement startles ningguang, snapping her out of her lethargic stupor and into action when the cries of her traveling companions echo outside. collecting the power of geo in her hands, the caravan she hid within splintered apart, a necessary distraction as ningguang summons her screen, dividing her enemies and wrecking havoc with a storm of dust and jade. she makes quick work of her enemies, and with the help of the merchants, manages to hogtie and round up the injured looters into a carriage for questioning back in liyue harbor. with a threat of bodily harm towards their leader, ningguang uses the vagrant as a guide towards their hideout, where the rest of the stolen goods awaited. the man leads her towards a cavern whose entrance was strategically hidden by moss and surrounding flora. leaving her guide behind with the gathered merchants, she enters the cave. with one hand pressed against the wall to keep her upright while the other holds a lantern, she travels further into the depths. she comes across stacks of opened crates, recognizes the silks and jades that had gone missing weeks prior. mentally checking off those items from her itinerary, ningguang ventures further, eyes sharp as she looks for the large cages housing elusive beasts.
near the center of the room, ruby eyes widen when she lays witness to proof of the tip off she received prior. some sort of chimera supposedly from the chasm, injured and captured, meant to be sold off. for what, ningguang shudders to think what fate met the beast. she carefully approaches the caged creature, mindful not to startle it and have another battle on her hands. she pauses once she’s an arm’s width away from the slumbering hulk, unable to fully discern what was before her. gloved fingers wrap around the an iron bar, brow furrowed as she stares at the mysterious being with pity. “ you poor thing . . . who knows what they would have done to you. i cannot say for certain your fate may be any different in liyue, but i can assure you that death is not in your cards— ” ( unless proven otherwise )