Mondstadt in the early morning was already bustling. Pedestrians came and went on the streets, and vendors hawked their wares, together creating a vibrant scene.
Yu Jin smiled as he looked at the prosperous scene before him, not at all bothered by the glances others cast his way.
Originally, everyone in Mondstadt had grown somewhat accustomed to Yu Jin's strange attire. Now, when Yu Jin went out, he wouldn't cause people to turn their heads every few steps as he used to.
So why had it gone back to the way it was? Of course, it was because Yu Jin was now riding Torrent!
Large livestock were rare in Teyvat, and horses were even rarer! The only remaining horses in Mondstadt had been taken on an expedition by the Grand Master, which meant Kaeya, the Cavalry Captain, commanded an entire infantry.
Not to mention, Yu Jin also had Lanssangx leading his horse in front of him. Her beautiful golden vertical pupils, long gilded dragon horns, and solemn white gown all revealed her uniqueness.
"Hey... who is that? She's so beautiful."
"Her horns, are they an atavism related to cattle? So rare."
"Isn't it backwards? Shouldn't the knight be below, and the beauty on top?"
...Among the many curious and confused remarks, only the last one reached Yu Jin's ears. He thought about it and realized it really was true.
In those scripts and novels, the knight always led the way, with the beautiful princess or whatever riding on the horse. How could it be like them, with the beauty leading and the knight riding?
Yu Jin looked down at Lanssangx, who was holding the reins in front of him, and wondered if he should display some chivalry and let Lanssangx ride.
He thought it, he did it. He immediately jumped off Torrent and said to Lanssangx, "You ride. I'll lead the way."
However, Lanssangx shook her head and refused. She looked at Torrent's horse eyes, which were staring intently at her, and said, "I think Torrent would kick me off."
"Then forget it." Yu Jin looked at Torrent's eyes; he knew Torrent's personality. For those it didn't approve of, Torrent wouldn't let them touch a single hair on its body.
Yu Jin thought it over, feeling that being too conspicuous wasn't good, so he blew the Spirit Steed Whistle, and Torrent returned to the ring.
"How peculiar, how did he do that?" Amidst the exclamations of the crowd, a calm and composed male voice stood out.
Then, a man wearing an open-fronted grey-white coat and short flaxen hair walked out from the crowd.
Albedo, Mondstadt's first alchemist, and also the investigation captain of the Knights of Favonius. He single-handedly raised Mondstadt's alchemy to the forefront of The Seven Nations.
"You are..." Yu Jin glanced at Albedo, an unfamiliar fellow, but seeing his calm demeanor, he must be a formidable person.
No, what do you mean 'must be a formidable person'? He *is* formidable! Yu Jin looked closely at Albedo, a nearly perfect artificial life form, truly rare.
"Albedo, I've heard much about you, Mr. Yu Jin." Albedo stepped forward and carefully examined Yu Jin.
He usually stayed deep in Dragonspine, but even so, Yu Jin's reputation had reached his ears.
One time was the blueprints Sucrose brought, and another was the Golden Tree Sapling Lisa showed him not long ago.
"Aren't you going to introduce the lady beside you, you silly boy?" Lisa's languid voice came, causing Lanssangx to narrow her eyes slightly.
However, seeing Yu Jin's lack of reaction, her golden eyes gradually relaxed.
But soon she lost her composure again, because Lanssangx saw Lisa walking over, holding a Golden Tree Sapling.
"Golden Tree?!" Lanssangx cried out in surprise. How could this thing appear here?
"Relax, I'm here." Yu Jin patted Lanssangx's excited shoulder, saying nonchalantly.
Lanssangx heard Yu Jin's calm voice and immediately reacted. Oh right, Yu Jin was here. Why was she panicking?
The great Golden Tree in The Lands Between had been burned away by Yu Jin, so why fear this little sapling? It was even possible that this Golden Tree Sapling was something he had created.
Lanssangx only guessed half right; he did provide the seed, but Lisa was responsible for its sprouting, which had nothing to do with him.
"Chatting on the street isn't good. How about we talk in my office at the library?" Lisa looked at the passing crowds and suggested.
Everyone readily agreed.
Lisa's office was on the second floor of the library, a quiet little room. It was quite suitable for research, reading, and chatting.
"Heh heh, calling him 'silly boy'—you really hit the jackpot." Lanssangx looked at Yu Jin, who Albedo had pulled aside, and said to Lisa, who was staring intently at her from not far away.
"King?" Lisa realized the unusual way Lanssangx referred to Yu Jin and savored the word.
"To destroy an old world on the verge of collapse, one must naturally create a new world. He who did all this is, of course, the King." Lanssangx flipped through a book, still understanding nothing, and simply gave up.
Lisa looked at Yu Jin, who was pointing at the Golden Tree, and her understanding of him rose another notch. However, she quickly turned her head to stare at Lanssangx's dragon horns and said:
"This isn't an atavism, is it?"
Lanssangx nodded and extended a hand. Under Lisa's gaze, her fair, smooth skin vanished, replaced by terrifying dragon claws.
"Dragon, I am a dragon." Lanssangx explained, then smiled and continued, "And I am also the High Priestess of the Dragon race, presiding over dragon worship."
Upon hearing this, Lisa once again carefully examined Lanssangx's attire. This time, her pure white ceremonial robe had many shadows: beasts, humans, and great dragons, intermingling.
The golden crown on her forehead also subtly rippled, representing the sun's corona.
However, these sights disappeared in an instant. Despite this, Lisa still gleaned a lot of information from them.
"Thank you." Lisa said to Lanssangx.
"You also need to reflect; short lifespans are not a reason for you to forget people." Lanssangx smiled. For a relationship, both sides always have to change a bit... "This Golden Tree isn't just for simple absorption and blessings, is it?" Albedo asked, looking at the swaying Golden Tree Sapling.
After a brief study of the Golden Tree, he discovered its uniqueness. This thing was far from as simple as Yu Jin had described.
"Your perception is very keen." Yu Jin nodded in appreciation. As expected of an artificial life form, there were always some special aspects.
However, this was also the difference between artificial life and natural life. Artificial creations always pursued the special, yearned for perfection, while natural creations often had flaws.
"How should I explain it to you?" Yu Jin tapped his head, gathered his thoughts, and continued:
"Understand it this way: there is a world where everything is condensed into something called the 'elden ring.'"
"As long as something called 'Law' is installed within the elden ring, the world can operate according to the rules of that Law."
"And this tree, to some extent, is the operating device for the Law, responsible for the Law's perfect functioning."
"Do you understand it this way?" Yu Jin asked Albedo, who was deep in thought.
"So, the rules of that world can be changed?" Albedo discovered a deeper meaning in Yu Jin's words.
"Yes." Yu Jin nodded. As if remembering something, he smiled and said, "Anything the Law has can operate."
"Water can turn into fire, life and death can be swapped, and the defilement of the soul can become the highest blessing. As long as you can put your Law into the elden ring, the world will operate the way you want it to."
Upon hearing this, Albedo's teal pupils contracted, seemingly shocked by a world that could be changed at will.
After a long pause, he finally sighed and said, "A world of ultimate power."
"Smart." Yu Jin did not refute; The Lands Between was such a world. Even with something like "Law" to frame it, it could not hide its inherently cruel and bloody nature.
"Then, do you still want to plant this tree now?" Yu Jin asked, looking at the Golden Tree Sapling.
Albedo chuckled softly, his eyes revealing a long-lost curiosity and desire for knowledge.
"Plant it, of course! Such a magical thing, I also want to see what kind of fruit it can bear in this world."
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