"Gulp…"
Varka swallowed hard, his eyes filled with shock.
He stared at Dottore's corpse for a long time, unable to come back to his senses.
"Th-this… he's really dead?"
Varka raised his head in a daze and looked at Gu Chen.
"Otherwise?"
Gu Chen shrugged.
"Was I supposed to spare him?"
Then he frowned slightly.
"What a pity. The scenery here was actually quite nice. I'm still not strong enough—otherwise I wouldn't have left so much damage on the land."
Varka: "..."
Sir, do you hear what you're saying?!
"If it were me, killing him would've been extremely difficult," Varka let out a long breath.
With Dottore dead, Mondstadt wouldn't need to worry about Fatui schemes for a while.
Snezhnaya would definitely be furious—but it would take time for them to act.
And during that time, Gu Chen would only grow stronger.
Even the Second Harbinger couldn't defeat him.
Give Gu Chen some more time—and what if the First Harbinger came?
So what?!
Varka felt exhilarated—so much so that he wanted to drink nonstop for an entire day.
"Don't be too optimistic," Gu Chen shook his head.
"The Fatui have plenty of evil technologies. They're very good at burning their own lives to exchange for power—just to kill their enemy."
"And you don't need to be modest, Grand Master. If it were you, you could kill him too."
Varka chuckled.
"I could, yes—but I'd definitely be heavily injured. If this were me before cultivating body-refinement…"
He clicked his tongue.
"I wouldn't have been a match for Dottore."
As he spoke, he added:
"Since things are settled here, Dawn Winery and Mondstadt City should be about done as well. Perfect timing—let's head over and drink properly."
"We're lucky Dottore didn't try to shift the battlefield," Gu Chen said thoughtfully.
"Otherwise, Dawn Winery and Springvale would've suffered serious losses. That's something to remember for next time."
"Stop thinking so much. Let's go."
Varka patted Gu Chen on the shoulder.
"Oh—have someone preserve Dottore's body," Gu Chen added with a smile.
"Snezhnaya will definitely want to take it back."
"Alright," Varka nodded after a glance.
The two headed toward Dawn Winery.
Not long after they left, a gentle breeze swept through.
A green-clad youth appeared at the edge of the crater, staring down at Dottore's corpse and clicking his tongue.
"Wow… that's rough."
"But deserved."
He tilted his head and sniffed the air.
His eyes lit up.
"Heh—wine!"
With that, he turned into a gust of wind and shot toward Dawn Winery.
[Dvalin]: This bastard smells wine and runs off! Why isn't he checking on me?! The Abyss Order might already be knocking on my door!
[Venti]: Relax! No need to panic! Everything is going exactly according to plan!
[Diluc]: Including the Traveler's arrival?
[Venti]: Heh!
[Azhdaha]: Look at him—definitely got some grand plan, but refuses to explain. @Dvalin Let me break it down: he lets you suffer first, then has the Traveler help you resolve it, farms reputation, helps you grow through adversity… happy ending for everyone—except you suffered for years for free.
[Dvalin]: Following Barbatos is the biggest regret of my life! @GuChen Cult Leader, let me follow you!
[Venti]: Cult Leader, take me too!
[GuChen]: So all this yapping was just to hug my thigh, huh? Fine. Fine. (Knife)
[Zhongli]: By common rationality, following the Cult Leader means five meals a day. Any chance you're recruiting retired seniors?
[Paimon]: @Zhongli Hey, there's still a hardworking guy at Wangshu Inn—how are you so chill about retiring?
[Xiao]: No need to worry about me. With the Taiyuan Scripture, my karma is suppressed—actually becoming nourishment for my growth. Guarding Dihua Marsh is my own choice.
[Zhongli]: You should still give yourself breaks.
[Xiao]: Yes.
[Kaeya]: Anyway—Master Crepus is safe, Dottore's dead, and Snezhnaya can't cause trouble anytime soon. @Diluc Celebrate?
[Diluc]: Angel's Share—30% off today.
[Venti]: Woohoo! So generous, Master Diluc! Flying back from Liyue right now—wait for me!
[Diluc]: Idiot.
[Dvalin]: Agreed.
[Kaeya]: @Venti Do you even have Mora?
[Venti]: Don't look down on an unofficial consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—Cult Leader pays my salary!
[Diluc]: No need to rush over. I'll send a red packet—drinks are on me.
[Diluc sent a group red packet]
[GuChen grabbed…]
[Venti grabbed…]
[Furina grabbed…]
[GuChen]: Several bottles! Thanks boss—wishing you good health!
[Venti]: Thank you boss!! kowtows with wine bottle
[Dvalin]: How did Mondstadt end up with this as its Anemo Archon…
[Jean]: Even the video version of Lord Venti is… well, very him. (Facepalm)
In the video—
A breeze slipped into Dawn Winery, sneaking straight into the cellar to steal wine.
At the manor entrance, news of Varka and Gu Chen's arrival spread joy.
Master Crepus smiled nonstop.
The two most powerful men in Mondstadt attending his son's coming-of-age ceremony—what an honor!
After entering the estate, Jean hurried forward.
Seeing Gu Chen's slightly disheveled clothes, stained with dark red blood, worry filled her grey-purple eyes.
"Don't worry. I'm fine," Gu Chen shook his head.
The battle with Dottore left only minor injuries, most of which had already healed.
The blood was mostly Dottore's.
Seeing his steady breathing and relaxed tone, Jean finally relaxed.
"This girl looks like she's worrying about her lover," Varka teased with a grin.
Jean's face flushed red.
"I—I was just concerned about my superior's safety!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Varka smiled but didn't press further.
Nearby, Frederica watched Gu Chen with increasing satisfaction.
Such a powerful man inspired a deep sense of security.
Entrusting Jean to someone like him—perfect.
"I need to talk to Jean properly sometime," Frederica decided.
Many nobles seized the chance to greet Gu Chen.
He responded politely, smiling throughout.
Diluc stepped forward.
"Vice Captain, how should Eroch be handled?"
Silence fell instantly.
Eroch was a high-ranking inspector.
Who would've thought he betrayed the Knights?
"Those who betray the wind won't even have their souls guided by it," Gu Chen said flatly.
"Execute him. Throw him into the sea to feed the fish."
"Yes!"
Diluc personally executed Eroch and his accomplices, then had their bodies dumped into the sea.
[Kaeya]: Diluc did it himself? So satisfying. In another way, that's revenge for his adoptive father—Eroch covered up Crepus's achievement of driving off the dragon.
[Diluc]: Cathartic.
[Nilou]: Did anyone notice? Jean's worry was practically tangible.
[Collei]: I saw it! She looked like a wife waiting for her husband to return from war—no care for glory, only whether he was hurt! I ship it!
[Furina]: Frederica's eyes were even more satisfied. Feels like if Cult Leader became her son-in-law she'd be over the moon.
[Kaeya]: Allow me to analyze Jean's mental journey—
Before arrival: That fight is intense… is he okay? He must be… he's so strong…
After arrival: He's covered in blood! Please be okay!
After checking: Yes! He's fine! Thank goodness!
[Jean]: ? Was it really that exaggerated?
[Lisa]: Yes.
[Nilou]: Yes.
[Yae Miko]: Mm~
[Jean]: …
She thought about it.
…It might really be true.
"Vice Captain, would you like to change clothes?" Diluc asked, eyeing Gu Chen's bloodstained outfit.
Gu Chen thought for two seconds and nodded.
"Alright."
Diluc was only half a year older; their builds were similar.
Soon, Gu Chen changed into clothes Diluc hadn't worn yet.
Once dressed, his aura shifted completely—
like a refined noble, elegant and handsome.
Guests showered him with praise.
Gu Chen waved it off with a smile.
"Hey—don't focus on me. Today's star is our Dawn Knight's coming-of-age."
Laughter followed, and attention returned to Diluc.
Barbara, standing beside Bishop Simon, looked small and quiet.
She secretly glanced at Gu Chen.
If Diluc was the rising star of the Knights, then Gu Chen was their blazing sun.
Barbara had heard countless legends about him.
Like most people in the Knights—she admired him.
Earlier, when he arrived cloaked in blood, he was like a victorious general returning from battle.
Now, changed into clean clothes, he felt like a gentle neighbor—comforting and warm.
Barbara glanced down at the Church emblem.
In wartime, she could only help in logistics.
If only she could fight too…
Then she could see Vice Captain Gu Chen's heroic figure on the battlefield.
"Barbara?" Bishop Simon called softly.
"Huh? Father?"
She snapped back.
"What were you thinking about?"
"N-nothing," she shook her head.
"Alright."
The banquet entered its next stage.
Glasses clinked, laughter filled the hall.
In a corner, a green-clad youth lay completely drunk—unnoticed.
[Nilou]: Huh? Barbara's still so young—she's already thinking about Gu Chen?!
[Heizou]: She's about ten here, right? Just a kid—but that's normal. Adolescent admiration. Hard not to, with someone like him nearby.
[Collei]: Similar to Jean's first meeting with him—maybe even stronger. That killing intent earlier plus his gentleness now? Easy to fall for.
[Kaeya]: That's a loli! Admiring the Cult Leader already?! Cult Leader—you really deserve it!
[Azhdaha]: Someone drag the Cult Leader out!!
[Osial]: I can't take this—humans gap is bad enough, now even gods?!
[Zhongli]: Incomprehensible.
[Barbara]: I-it's not that exaggerated, right…?
[Kaeya]: @Klee Do you like the Cult Leader?
[Klee]: Huh? Gu Chen big brother is amazing! Super handsome! If he takes me fish-blasting—hehe, Klee likes Gu Chen big brother!
[GuChen]: …
[Alice]: Clearly Klee didn't understand your question.
[Kaeya]: Switching targets. @Nahida Thoughts?
[Nahida]: Umm… that's a hard one…
[Buer]: If it were the original Great Sage… maybe not impossible.
[Nahida]: I didn't think that!!
[GuChen]: This group is getting more unhinged…
[Paimon]: Boss Gu… you don't actually like kids, right? I'm scared…
[GuChen]: I urge you all to be kind and stop slandering me, okay?!
[Azhdaha]: As a loyal Cult Leader fan, if I don't roast him, how do I live?
[Baizhu]: I firmly believe long-term happiness improves health and longevity!
[Kaeya]: For health!
[Osial]: For longevity!
[Zhongli]: For everyone's joy!
[Venti]: Therefore—
[Furina]: Roasting the Cult Leader is mandatory!
[GuChen]: Fine, I'll roast myself. I'm the First Cult Leader, the Second was Guizhong, current one's Zhongli~
[Zhongli]: A miscalculation… perhaps Azhdaha should take the position?
[Azhdaha]: Hello, not close. Maybe Kaeya?
[Kaeya]: Who are you? Why not Lady Furina?
[Furina]: Aba aba…
[Neuvillette]: Clearly, Lady Furina cannot bear such pressure.
[Alice]: Looks like Mondstadt's entering a calm phase internally—with external pressure. Klee, Albedo, and I are coming soon~
[Klee]: Klee will be on screen!
[Albedo]: Hopefully video-Alice doesn't throw bombs everywhere…
[Zhongli]: Alice does seem… explosively inclined.
[Venti]: A dangerous woman.
[Yae Miko]: Someone drag her out!!
[Alice]: Hehe~
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