Chapter 131: Venti: I, Mondstadt's God, Am Not Just a Name for Nothing
Let's talk about Amon.
After seeing Ayaka off at the port, he and Ganyu turned around and returned to their residence.
During this period, Ganyu had been staying at Amon's house, occasionally guiding Shen He in practicing magic.
It was evident that Ganyu, who was initially not good at socializing, had gradually improved her communication skills during this time.
The most obvious sign of her growth was her increasing proficiency in taking care of children.
Whenever the little ones acted naughty, she would gently stop them with her calm and soothing voice.
When one of them cried loudly, she would hold them in her arms and comfort them swiftly.
Even Yu Jin often joked that Ganyu was becoming more and more like a good wife and mother.
Every time he made such a joke, Ganyu would leave in a panic, her face flushed red.
Yet it wouldn't be long before she was seen taking care of the children again, diligent and patient as always.
Hardworking and devoted—that's Ganyu.
Amon, on the other hand, had not been idle. He was seriously teaching the children various skills.
It was clear that Shen He and Beidou were particularly interested in learning combat techniques, so Amon taught them some foundational skills.
Meanwhile, Ningguang, more inclined towards business, was entrusted with managing 10 million Mora that Amon handed her. He encouraged her to invest boldly and learn through trial and error.
Keqing would return home punctually every day, affectionately calling him "Brother Amon" each time. Amon, in turn, was happy to teach her swordsmanship.
Life during this time was both busy and fulfilling.
However, to be honest, taking care of children, especially several at once, was quite exhausting.
Sometimes, Amon had to stand for an entire day, giving instructions.
Now that the little ones were training, Amon seized the chance to take a break, lying on the sofa to relax.
Ganyu noticed this and immediately approached him.
"Is Mr. Amon feeling unwell?"
"If there's anything wrong, please tell me. Don't bear it alone."
Her tone was filled with concern and sincerity.
Amon smiled and shook his head. "Ms. Ganyu, I'm fine. Perhaps I've just been a bit tired lately. A short rest will suffice."
He had only intended to rest on the sofa for a while, but to his surprise, Ganyu placed her hands on his shoulders and gently began to massage them.
"The master once said that this type of massage helps relieve fatigue," she explained softly.
"I hope I can help Mr. Amon feel a bit more relaxed. This is my first attempt, so I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly. I hope it helps."
Feeling the soft, comforting pressure on his shoulders, Amon relaxed completely.
"Ms. Ganyu's technique is excellent. I already feel less tired," he said, smiling.
Hearing his praise, Ganyu blushed deeply.
Hesitating, she added shyly, "If Mr. Amon likes it, then… then I'll massage your shoulders every day. Would that be alright?"
At that moment, the little ones noticed Amon relaxing and rushed over to help in their own way.
"Amon, would you like some coconut milk?" one of them asked adorably.
Looking at Ganyu and the small, affectionate group of children, Amon's exhaustion seemed to dissipate.
It wasn't just him working hard during this time.
Ganyu and the children were also putting in great effort.
Ganyu had to balance her work at Yuehai Pavilion with caring for the children—a task that was anything but easy.
The children, too, trained diligently from dawn until dusk, eager to share Amon's burden as soon as possible.
Amon silently observed and appreciated all of this.
He even thought about making some nourishing soup for Ganyu and the children to support them better.
But first, it was time to prepare dinner.
Just as he was about to head into the kitchen, there was a knock at the door.
"Good evening, Mr. Amon," came a familiar voice.
"I brought some Mondstadt dandelion wine. Let's share it tonight!"
The visitor was none other than Venti, the carefree bard and unreliable god of wind.
Ever since tasting Amon's cooking by chance, Venti had developed the habit of visiting for meals.
Sometimes he'd exchange a bottle of wine for a meal, other times a song or even a simple compliment about Amon's appearance.
Today, bringing wine was already unusually generous for Venti.
Amon accepted the dandelion wine but frowned slightly as he addressed the bard.
"Venti, it's fine if you want to drink with me, but let's set some rules. You can't get drunk tonight and freeload."
Feigning innocence, Venti scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Oh, come on, Mr. Amon. You can trust me this time. How could just a jar of dandelion wine possibly get me drunk? I can handle three to five jars easily! Tonight, I'll show you what Mondstadt's god of wine can do."
But before long, Venti was fast asleep at the dining table.
Shaking his head helplessly, Amon muttered, "You're hopeless, Venti. Half a jar of wine, and you're already drunk. For a so-called god of wine, you're not much better than a freeloading bard."
He sighed, realizing once again that Venti had come over primarily for the free food and lodging.
Chapter 132: Venti Has Not Slept Yet
"I really admire you, you bastard. You come here every day to eat and drink for free, and even ask for a place to stay."
"You and Morax have taken all the bamboo shoots on the mountain."
Amon cursed under his breath as he carried Venti to the guest room.
Originally meant as a temporary space for visitors, it had now practically become Venti's exclusive room.
There was no other option—Venti would come by to stay every so often, shamelessly enjoying Amon's hospitality as if it were his own home.
It was no wonder Dvalin often complained about Venti.
Who wouldn't be upset with a master like him?
After settling Venti down, Amon quickly returned to the hall to find Qiqi.
Qiqi blinked her large eyes and tilted her head in curiosity. "Amon... what's the matter?"
Amon sat across from her and said directly, "Qiqi, I've noticed that everyone has been working hard recently. I want to make some nourishing soup for everyone to drink."
"You're very knowledgeable about medicinal prescriptions. Can you recommend a nourishing medicinal recipe for me?"
Qiqi blinked again and nodded enthusiastically. "No problem... Amon's request is no problem..."
"Qiqi... will think of a prescription..."
Even though Xiao Qiqi didn't remember much about her past, every medicinal prescription was vividly etched in her mind.
When deep in thought, Qiqi had a habit of gently swinging her legs, causing the talisman on her head to sway lightly.
Her innocent, wide pink eyes stared blankly in one direction as she pondered.
"Got it... Qiqi will take Amon to get the medicine..."
"Let's go!"
She hopped off her chair and grabbed Amon's hand.
These days, Qiqi always held Amon's hand when going out—it gave her a sense of security.
The two of them headed to the pharmacy and managed to purchase most of the required herbs without issue.
But the final ingredient was nowhere to be found.
"I'm sorry, we haven't heard of Spiritual Wind Luminous Essence. We only carry Luminous Essence. Wait, you're saying they're not the same thing?"
(T/N: Never heard of this herb in the game. Sigh… Spirit Wind Luminous Essence? You mean Glimmering Essence from Albedo's quest? I hate translating Chinese terms.)
"I have heard my ancestors mention Spiritual Wind Luminous Essence, but compared to it, Luminous Essence is barely even medicinal!"
"Spiritual Wind Luminous Essence was extremely popular in the market, which led to it becoming extinct decades ago. Unfortunately, we can't help you."
(T/N: It's extinct?? Typical Chinese obsession with overharvesting natural resources. Let's just assume this is like an Anemo Crystalfly drop or something.)
They visited multiple pharmacies, but the results were the same.
Many clerks had never even heard of the Spiritual Wind Luminous Essence.
Those who did know of it confirmed that it was extinct. Even if it still existed, it would be a rare and expensive commodity, as scarce as Dragonfall Stones.
With no other choice, Amon pulled out his treasure-hunting compass to see if he could locate the Spiritual Wind Luminous Essence.
The compass needle spun around before eventually settling in one direction.
Following the pointer, Amon realized it was pointing directly at the snowy mountains—the highest peak, no less.
The snow-capped mountains rose majestically into the clouds, as though connecting heaven and earth.
The midpoint of the mountain was shrouded in thick fog, obscuring the view further up.
Even from a distance, the biting cold emanating from the mountain was palpable.
Game developers had simplified the modeling of the snowy mountains for players, but the actual height of Mondstadt's Snowy Mountains was far greater than what the game portrayed.
In comparison, the in-game version was a mere shadow of the real thing.
Amon estimated it would take at least half a day to climb to the summit—if he didn't get lost along the way.
This task was going to be tricky.
It would be great to have someone familiar with Mondstadt and its snowy terrain to guide him.
Wait, there was a perfect candidate.
Venti was ideal for the job.
As the god of Mondstadt, he knew every corner of the region, including the snowy mountains.
Moreover, whether by creating a wind field or summoning Dvalin to fly up, Venti had the means to reach the peak effortlessly.
With this in mind, Amon glanced at Qiqi, chuckling. "Qiqi, I know someone who can help us find the Spiritual Wind Luminous Essence."
"Huh?" Before Qiqi could fully process his words, Amon had already taken her hand and dashed off.
Qiqi held onto Amon with one hand and steadied the talisman on her head with the other. "Slow down... slow down... the talisman... is going to fall off."
...
Soon, Amon brought Qiqi back home.
Without hesitation, he headed to the second floor and knocked on Venti's door.
"Venti, Venti?"
After knocking a few times and receiving no response, he pushed the door open to find Venti sleeping soundly.
"Venti, Venti,"
Seeing no reaction, Amon decided to take direct action.
Half-asleep, Venti was startled awake.
"Huh? What's wrong? What happened?" he mumbled groggily.
Amon looked at him, puzzled. "Venti, why are you still awake so late?"
"You're not thinking of dragging me out for a nighttime walk, are you?" Venti retorted.
"Fine, since you've brought it up, let's go now," he added cheekily.
Amon: "Venti hasn't gone to bed yet either."
Venti: "???"
Maybe I'm not human anymore, but as a god, you're definitely a real dog!
Chapter 133: Dvalin: I Have Never Been So Speechless in My Life
After Venti woke up, Amon explained the situation to him.
Venti stretched lazily, then nodded and said, "I see. Mr. Amon wants me to accompany you to the top of the snowy mountain to look for something called Spirit Wind Luminous Essence."
"But snowy mountains are so cold that just thinking about it makes me shiver... I mean, you have to pay extra for that."
"Hey, Mr. Amon, just give me two bottles of cider later, okay?"
Seeing Venti's carefree and drunken demeanor, Amon held his forehead helplessly.
This guy doesn't look like a god of wind at all—he's just a complete drunkard.
Amon nodded. "Deal. Let's go now."
Seeing that he'd earned himself two more bottles of cider, Venti smiled happily.
Then he raised his head to gaze at the snow-capped mountains in the distance.
It seemed a bit far to fly there from Liyue.
For someone like Venti, who was used to slacking off, such hard work was unappealing.
Standing atop a high mountain in Liyue, Venti took out his lyre.
He plucked the strings gently, and a melodious tune carried by the wind spread throughout Liyue and reached Mondstadt.
Moments later, a rumbling sound echoed through the sky. It resembled thunder, but if one listened carefully, it was the roar of a dragon.
A massive dragon burst through the clouds, flying rapidly toward Venti.
The dragon's body was primarily blue, and as it spread its wings, a fierce wind howled, enveloping all of Mondstadt in darkness.
The sudden strong gust nearly knocked Qiqi off balance. She clung to the talisman on her forehead with one hand and tightly grasped Amon's leg with the other.
"Qiqi... is about to be blown away by the wind..."
Amon noticed this and immediately picked up Qiqi.
He recognized the dragon in the sky at a glance. It was Dvalin, the devoted follower of the wind god Barbatos.
This dragon had once been an early-stage boss in the game, and Amon still remembered it clearly.
Hovering in the air, Dvalin flapped its enormous wings. Its faint glow was particularly striking against the night sky.
Dvalin looked at Venti and spoke in a low, resonant voice: "Barbatos, I heard your call. What do you want from me?"
Venti waved cheerfully and pointed toward the snow-capped mountains in the distance. "Dvalin, please take us to the snowy mountains."
Dvalin was momentarily stunned. Then, with a tone full of annoyance, it said, "Barbatos, you summoned me late at night just to ask me to take you to the snowy mountains?"
"With your power, flying there should be no issue. Why are you making unnecessary trouble?"
"Get serious, Barbatos!"
Dvalin's voice was filled with both frustration and helplessness.
Despite its complaints, the dragon still obediently descended, allowing Venti and Amon to climb onto its back.
In no time, Dvalin flapped its wings and soared into the clouds, swiftly carrying the three passengers upward until they vanished from sight.
Qiqi, seated on the dragon's back, curled up tightly in Amon's arms.
This was her first time flying so high, and she felt safer snuggled close to Amon.
Her gaze, however, was drawn to the scenery below.
Everything in Liyue looked like tiny ants from this height. Even the patrolling Millelith soldiers were mere black dots.
"It's so high! It would be terrible if I fell..."
The thought made Qiqi shiver as she burrowed deeper into Amon's arms.
She mumbled softly, "Qiqi... don't be afraid... don't be afraid..."
Amon couldn't help but chuckle at her expression.
He patted her head gently and said, "Don't worry, Qiqi. I won't let you fall."
Qiqi nodded vigorously, her large eyes shimmering with trust. She said in her baby-like voice, "With Amon here... Qiqi feels very safe."
As for Venti, he seemed utterly unconcerned.
The bard sprawled out on Dvalin's back and promptly fell asleep.
...
Soon, Dvalin brought them to the summit of the snowy mountain.
After they disembarked, Dvalin glared at Venti resentfully before taking off again and disappearing into the clouds.
Amon surveyed the area.
The entire mountain was a sea of white. The cold wind howled mercilessly, and heavy snow fell endlessly from the sky. Not a single living creature could be seen for miles.
It was the kind of place most people could never hope to reach.
Luckily, the three of them weren't ordinary people.
Qiqi's unique physique made her immune to the cold. To her, the snowy mountains were no different from Liyue, and she even seemed to prefer the chilly environment.
The sight of the heavy snow made her eyes sparkle with joy.
As for Amon, ever since he acquired the Gnosis, his body had undergone various changes.
Standing atop the snowy mountain, he felt neither the cold nor any discomfort.
Then there was Venti—
He was the God of Wind, a title that inherently implied great power. Surely adapting to the freezing weather would be no issue for him.
However, Venti was hugging himself, stamping his feet, and exhaling heavily, his entire body trembling.
"A-choo! It's colder here than I thought!"
"Mr. Amon, let's quickly find the Spirit Wind Luminous Essence you mentioned and head back."
"No, it's too cold. I can't stay in a place like this for another moment!"
Amon's expression grew complicated.
Is this guy really Barbatos, one of the Seven Archons?
Chapter 134: That Day, Venti Recalled the Shadow in His Heart
Setting aside his thoughts, Amon took out the treasure-hunting compass.
Soon, the pointer responded and began to spin.
Amon immediately followed the compass, searching for the Spirit Wind Luminous Essence.
Qiqi hurried after him with her short legs.
Venti remarked in surprise, "I didn't expect there to be such a magical way to find treasures. Truly fascinating."
"Mr. Amon, can this compass help us find wine buried in the soil of a winery? I'm just asking, just asking casually, hehe."
Although Venti spoke casually, her eyes sparkled with excitement, clearly admiring the compass in Amon's hand.
Amon didn't need to think to understand Venti's intentions.
He replied with mild annoyance, "For some reason, only I can use this compass. If I gave it to you, it would just be an ordinary compass."
It wasn't that Amon was unwilling to lend Venti the compass—it was simply that the compass had limitations. In anyone else's hands, it was just an ordinary tool.
Hearing Amon's explanation, the light in Venti's eyes dimmed slightly.
She understood the restrictions on items like this.
After a brief moment of disappointment, Venti suddenly perked up and said excitedly, "Mr. Amon, are you interested in doing something big with me?"
"How about we search for all the wine hidden underground?"
Amon: ...
This guy is really a drunkard.
Finally, the group arrived outside the entrance of a cave.
The treasure compass indicated that the Spirit Wind Luminous Essence was inside.
However, the entrance was blocked by a massive chunk of ice.
To proceed, they needed to remove the ice.
Amon and Venti exchanged glances.
"Mr. Amon, I know what to do," Venti said, stepping forward with a rare serious expression.
Amon's heart was moved. Venti is actually not slacking off for once? That's rare.
It seems she's really interested in this treasure-hunting compass.
Still, this was good—it would give Amon a chance to see Venti's power in action.
For the Wind God, clearing such an ice block should be effortless.
After all, according to the game's lore, Mondstadt was once covered in snow, and it was the Wind God who used his divine power to blow it all away, reshaping Mondstadt's terrain.
Just as Amon eagerly anticipated seeing Venti demonstrate her strength, she instead pulled out her lyre and began to play a ballad.
"Mr. Amon, the song I'm playing is about an adventurer who overcame countless challenges and eventually found treasure," Venti explained cheerfully.
"I hope this inspires you, hehe."
Amon was speechless.
It became clear that Venti had no intention of helping; she was just cheering from the sidelines.
As expected of you, Barbatos.
Left with no other choice, Amon resolved to break through the ice himself.
Can I simply use fire-elemental combat skills to melt the ice?
Coincidentally, he had recently acquired Klee's bouncing bomb.
Time to test its power.
The thought had barely formed when a cute red bomb materialized in Amon's hand.
Seeing the bomb, the corners of Venti's mouth twitched involuntarily, as though recalling a traumatic memory.
Why does the thing in Amon's hand look so much like that witch's bomb?
Before Venti could say anything, Amon hurled the bomb at the ice.
The red bomb emitted a dazzling light as it collided with the ice.
In the next instant, a powerful force shattered the ice into pieces.
Venti instinctively raised her hands to shield herself as the ground seemed to tremble beneath them.
In that moment, Venti felt the fear of being dominated by a bomb resurface.
Once, in Mondstadt, a certain woman's bombs had left a lasting impression on her.
Qiqi tilted her head, looking confused, and asked, "Amon... are you setting off fireworks?"
"Qiqi likes fireworks..."
Venti managed a smile that was more strained than cheerful.
Little one, this is not fireworks.
Compared to this, fireworks are mere child's play.
Venti couldn't shake the certainty that Amon must have some connection to that troublesome witch from Mondstadt.
Absolutely certain!
Before Venti could voice her thoughts, a female voice rang out from the other side of the snowy mountain.
"Oh? There are others like me who enjoy using bombs to solve problems simply and directly."
"That's unexpected."
Hearing the voice, Amon and Venti both looked up instinctively.
Not far away stood a woman wearing a large magical hat and a bright red dress.
Her features were exquisite, her figure tall and slender.
One could see shades of Klee and Lisa in her—a mix of purity and authority.
Every gesture and movement exuded mature charm.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alice, and I'm from Mondstadt."