Mondstadt
At the break of dawn, Alice slung the still-sleeping Klee onto her back and followed Venti and Lisa out through the city gates.
As they passed the Goth Grand Hotel, she grinned, waved, and called out a greeting.
From a third-floor window, a curtain that had been discreetly parted quickly drew shut again.
Jean, Kaeya, Lumine, and Paimon had come to see them off at the gate.
Lumine found it all rather strange.
She couldn't shake the feeling that she, the supposed "traveler," had been in Mondstadt less than two days, yet was somehow being treated like a host already.
In the shadows nearby, a certain unnamed Darknight Hero leaned against a wall, his gaze quietly fixed on them.
Kaeya had already told him the news from yesterday—Alice had returned, intending to take Klee to cultivate immortality, and both the Anemo Archon and Lisa were going along.
Though Diluc had scoffed at Alice's usual unreliability, deep down he didn't truly doubt her.
That thunder that had shaken all of Teyvat… his information sources had long since confirmed it came from Liyue, at Jueyun Karst.
Besides, Alice would never gamble with Klee's future. That alone was enough for him to believe.
Unfortunately, Mondstadt was still plagued by the Dvalin's Crisis and the threat of the Fatui.
True, one had been severely injured by Alice's explosives and likely wouldn't recover anytime soon, while the other, startled by her, had withdrawn and kept uncharacteristically quiet.
But precisely for that reason, Diluc intended to stay and resolve matters while the opportunity lasted.
As expected, the Knights had once again turned to the Traveler for help—something that earned a derisive chuckle from him.
The Knights of Favonius had learned nothing, even with that particular junior serving as Acting Grand Master.
Still, this was a chance he could not waste. Once the Dvalin's Crisis was dealt with…
Perhaps he could make a trip to Liyue.
And maybe—just maybe—his long-awaited chance for vengeance lay there.
Thinking of Kaeya's description of a powerhouse who could swat aside countless Archons with a single blow, then keep them as pets, Diluc felt a heat rise in his chest.
"Alright! We'll leave it here," Alice said cheerfully. "If all goes well…"
She turned to Venti with a mischievous smile.
"Venti will be back soon."
Venti rolled his eyes.
"So I'm not allowed to learn cultivation too?"
"Which is more important—cultivation or Mondstadt?" Alice asked.
"Mondstadt, of course," he replied without hesitation.
"And Mondstadt, or drinking?"
"Eh-heh?"
Venti gave an awkward laugh. "Can't they both be equally important?"
Alice looked to Jean.
"See? Just like I said—you might as well just put on the golden robes yourself. This guy's hopeless as an Archon!"
Jean sighed helplessly.
"Please don't make such jokes, Lady Alice."
"Tch… you're nowhere near as cute as my little Lisa."
"Oh my, oh my," Lisa said in mock distress, "usually I'm the one calling others little cuties, and now Lady Alice calls me her little Lisa… Is that meant as praise for a wise big sister?"
The banter lightened the parting mood.
Venti thought for a moment, then condensed a Wind Seal and handed it to Jean.
"Grand Master, this trip to Liyue is something I must do. As for Dvalin, don't worry too much. I checked on him yesterday—he's knocked out cold and won't be doing anything for at least a month or two.
"As for his curse… I don't have a solution yet.
"The Fatui? Alice has already paid them a visit—they'll be keeping quiet for a while.
"If anything comes up, crush this Wind Seal and I'll be back quickly."
Jean accepted it solemnly.
"I will take good care of Mondstadt."
"Eh-heh! Sometimes, letting go a little is also a form of freedom," Venti said with meaning, then fell silent.
Alice waved.
"That's that, then. We'll be off—back in a while to tell you how it went.
"And you, little Traveler—enjoy your time in Mondstadt. Traveling is about witnessing the world's differences."
Lumine nodded thoughtfully. She didn't really understand the witch's words, but…
She was so strong, so she must be right!
Jean's gaze lingered on the peacefully sleeping Klee. When Klee was here, it was explosions every day—a headache indeed.
But now that she was leaving, Jean felt as though a vital piece of her life was being taken away.
"Please, Lady Alice, take good care of Klee. She—"
Then, seeing Alice's teasing look, she caught herself, smiling self-deprecatingly.
"Forgive me. You are her mother, after all…"
"But in Klee's heart, you're her favorite, most beloved big sister. She told me that just last night," Alice said warmly.
Jean's eyes softened.
"She really said that?"
"Of course! Would I lie to you?"
Checking the time, Alice nodded.
"That's it, then. Time to go. We'll be back before long.
"All aboard the Barbatos!"
Venti's face darkened.
"I told you to stop calling me that!"
"I said 'Barbatos'—what's that got to do with you, Venti?"
"Ugh! I'm not taking you anymore!"
"Then I'll go to Stormterror's Lair and brush Dvalin's teeth!"
"…Let's go."
Winds swirled around Venti, carrying Alice and the others toward Liyue at high speed.
At his pace, they'd arrive before noon at the latest.
Watching the fading trail of wind, Kaeya stretched lazily.
"So, we can take a break now, right, Grand Master?"
"No!" Jean clenched her fists.
"I want Mondstadt's problems solved before Venti and the others return!"
"More overtime?!" Kaeya groaned.
"Special situation, special rules! Kaeya, send someone to investigate Stormterror's Lair immediately. I'll go check the archives for anything on lifting curses.
"Lumine… sorry about yesterday's scare. Take the day off to rest."
Lumine swallowed hard at Jean's relentless work ethic. She had meant to politely decline, but what came out was—
"Alright."
"Good! Let's move, Kaeya—can't waste this opportunity!"
Jean strode off toward the Knights' headquarters, and Kaeya slouched toward the cavalry post, yawning.
"Lumine, Jean really is a hardworking Grand Master," Paimon whispered.
Lumine nodded, about to reply when a calm male voice cut in.
"In the rotten, decayed Knights, she's the only one barely worth a glance. But… heh, it's still all in vain."
A dark-red figure approached silently.
"Another new face!" Paimon said, scratching her cheek.
Diluc spoke quietly.
"Traveler, I've heard of your battles since arriving in Mondstadt. You're strong. I have a commission for you—will you take it?"
"Huh? You've been investigating me, won't say who you are, you badmouth the Knights, and now you ask if I'll take your job?" Lumine huffed.
"The Knights pay me, you know! I deliver for those who hire me!"
"Pay?" Diluc sounded almost amused.
He raised five fingers.
"Whatever they offer, I'll pay five times more.
"I'm the master of the Dawn Winery, Diluc—and a high-ranking member of an underground intelligence network.
"You want information on your brother. My organization spans all of Teyvat. I can help."
Lumine was silent for a moment, then her expression flipped instantly to a wide smile.
"Why didn't you say so, Master Diluc? The customer's need is our pursuit!
"So—who's the target?"
Diluc's mouth twitched, but he let it go.
"Come with me to the Domain of the Four Winds.
"There may be secrets of Dvalin there."
Liyue
At the Stone Gate, many Millelith soldiers stood on high alert per the Qixing's orders, eyes fixed on the elven witch with the little elf girl in tow.
None of them—not Ningguang, not even Zhongli—had expected Alice to bring Venti along.
But in the blink of an eye, a gust swept over the gate, and the figure Liyue had been so wary of stepped onto its soil.
On the summit of Jueyun Karst, Jiang Yan had just finished the morning lesson, leading his disciples back into the cave-heaven.
Had he still been outside, Zhongli's mastery over Liyue's leylines would have alerted him to Venti's arrival instantly.
Today, there was no need for a crane to pick them up—everyone had brought their flying swords, so they returned to Tongtian Peak together.
Jiang Yan, flying at the head of the now far stronger Primordial Jade Cutter, didn't rush them.
Last night, after explaining the Dao to Ganyu, he'd idly gone through his materials. Using a world fragment from the Quantum Sea and a supreme-grade spirit stone, he had reforged the Jade Cutter.
It was now a top-grade spiritual weapon.
Anything higher—a treasured artifact—was still beyond current crafting limits.
As for today's first lecture, Jiang Yan had already decided.
The very first lesson for entering Mount Shu could only be the Mount Shu Sword-Manipulation Art.
Even Zhongli would need to hear it anew—he was barely at the introductory stage, far from the true mastery of one thought, ten thousand blades.
Just being able to fly on a sword wasn't real sword control.
Mid-flight, Jiang Yan's expression turned odd. Others glanced occasionally toward Mountain Shaper.
Behind him, at some point, a line of white cranes had appeared, flying in formation.
They followed him like well-trained beasts—better than even Baisheng of Luoxia Peak, who specialized in beast-taming—looking every bit like their leader.
The group couldn't help but chuckle, while Mountain Shaper wished he could find a hole to hide in.
The cranes had been trailing him since yesterday, as if wanting to acknowledge him as their chief.
This morning, he'd even found a pile of fish at his door.
Yes, he was a crane in his true form—but who said cranes had to eat fish?
And if it had been high-level savage-beast fish, fine—but these looked barely evolved at all.
What was he supposed to do, start cooking?
Forcing himself to ignore the teasing glances, Mountain Shaper focused on flying.
Fortunately, the moment they landed at Tongtian Peak, the cranes gave him a longing look, then turned and flew toward Great Bamboo Peak.
It seemed they'd truly made their home there.
Mountain Shaper felt oddly wistful.
"To be close with all living things is a good thing," Jiang Yan said with a smile.
He then sat cross-legged in the square, speaking softly:
"Alright, disciples, calm your hearts. The first Mount Shu lesson begins.
"This lesson is the sect's compulsory art—the Mount Shu Sword-Manipulation Art."
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