Venti slowly recounted the recent turmoil in Mondstadt.
Stormterror, the Abyss Order, the Dragonspine incident, Durin's revival... and Lydia, lying in a pool of her own blood.
Every word carried a heavy weight.
"That girl... she saved all of Mondstadt with her own life." Venti's voice grew softer, a flicker of sorrow in his eyes.
Zhongli's grip on the wine bottle tightened slightly. The bottle's chill seeped through his fingertips and into his heart, stirring a complex mix of emotions.
So that surge of the Anemo Archon's power I felt a while back...
It was hiding so many heavy burdens?
"I see..." he murmured, Lydia's childhood image involuntarily surfacing in his mind.
Back then, watching the vibrant little girl, he had even felt the urge to grant her a Geo Vision.
But who could have imagined that in just over a decade...
...the child who used to chase windmills would be forever stilled in Mondstadt's winds.
"If what you say is true—that a hidden hand from the Abyss is plotting in the shadows—then Liyue likely won't remain peaceful for long." Zhongli looked up toward Liyue Harbor. In the darkness, he could faintly make out the port's lights, but a grave look flickered in his eyes. "Liyue is currently in a state of unease. The Qixing are busy stabilizing order, and the people are plagued by doubts about whether the Adepti will continue to protect Liyue."
"If the Abyss wants to stir up trouble, now is the perfect time."
"Need any help?" Venti asked, his tone serious. "I can let the winds linger in Liyue for a while. The moment I sense the Abyss Order's presence, I'll notify you immediately."
But Zhongli slowly shook his head, tapping the bottle with fingers as firm as Geo. "There's no need. Liyue has relied on the Adepti and its Archon for millennia. It's time for it to enter an age of human rule."
"This is a conclusion I reached after long deliberation. I can't abandon it halfway just because of a potential risk." He paused, his gaze softening slightly as he added, "But rest assured, if I sense any Abyss activity that exceeds the Qixing and the Adepti's ability to handle, I will contact you at once."
Venti knew that Zhongli was always prudent and would not easily change his mind once a decision was made.
He didn't press the matter further. Instead, he smiled and teased, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. "Speaking of which, that little clever imp of yours—Yunqin—hasn't been causing any trouble lately, has she?"
At the mention of Yunqin, Zhongli's tense expression instantly softened.
"She's growing up just as I'd hoped—lively and unrestrained by the strict rules of the adeptal sect. She's just one final epiphany away from becoming a true Adeptus."
"Besides, with the other Adepti watching over her, the chances of her getting into trouble within Liyue are slim."
Venti's eyes lit up at his words.
A gentle breeze, guided by his will, drifted toward a small stream at the foot of Mt. Aocang.
Through the wind's eyes, he saw Yunqin clearly—sitting cross-legged on a rock by the stream, her fishing rod leaning against her knee. Her head nodded rhythmically, like a kitten about to fall asleep.
Her stomach rumbled occasionally. She rubbed her belly, furrowed her brow, muttered a few words, and then stared back at the water's surface.
The sight of her, desperately hungry yet forced to wait, made Venti chuckle aloud.
He quietly channeled Anemo into the stream, stirring up a plump fish as long as his forearm and gently nudging it toward her hook with the current.
-
By the stream, Yunqin's head drooped as she stared blankly at the bobber on the water's surface. Suddenly, she felt a sharp tug on her fishing rod!
She snapped awake instantly, gripping the rod tightly with both hands and pulling with all her might. Splash! A perch burst from the water, its tail still flapping wildly.
Yunqin hugged the fish and jumped up in delight. "Finally caught one! It's so big! I won't go hungry tonight!"
On the rooftop, Venti watched the lively scene, the smile on his lips deepening. Yet, his tone carried a hint of melancholy as he murmured, "If only my little drunkard had had her luck... maybe things wouldn't have ended..."
Zhongli remained silent, not responding.
He simply raised the bottle and took a small sip of cider.
The drink's faint fruity aroma couldn't dispel the sorrow in his heart. It could only transform into a soft sigh, dissolving into the night.
Venti quickly composed himself and clapped Zhongli on the shoulder. "By the way, her birthday should be coming up soon, right? I'll go give her a present."
As his words faded, Venti dissolved into a gust of wind, vanishing into the rooftop's darkness.
Zhongli watched the direction he'd gone, then looked up at the bright moon. Its light bathed him in a soft glow.
"Time flows, old friends pass away... This is yet another form of 'erosion'..." he sighed softly.
-
By the stream, Yunqin had already built a small campfire.
The dancing flames cast a rosy glow on her cheeks.
She had carefully cleaned the perch, skewered it with a branch, and propped it over the fire.
Fat dripped down the branch, sizzling as it hit the flames and sending up tiny sparks. A rich aroma quickly filled the air.
She squatted by the fire, cupping her chin in her hands, her eyes fixed on the roasting fish. Drool nearly dripped onto her hands.
From time to time, she'd reach a finger out, only to snatch it back, muttering under her breath, "Just a little longer, just a little longer..."
"It'll taste even better if you roast it for another ten minutes," a gentle voice suddenly said from nearby, as soft as the wind rustling through leaves.
Yunqin whipped her head around, instinctively taking half a step back. Her right hand quietly gathered a wisp of Geo energy, ready to react to any sudden threat.
Not far away stood a man in a green cape, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
He didn't seem malicious.
But her Master had always said, "Bad people never look like bad people." She couldn't let her guard down.
Venti sensed the fluctuation of Geo energy and saw her wary expression. Instead of being offended, he smiled with satisfaction.
"It's good to be cautious. That reluctance to trust strangers... it reminds me of another little girl I know." He casually walked over to the campfire and sat down, pulling a small hourglass from his pocket.
"I'll keep an eye on the time for you. When the sand runs out, it'll be exactly ten minutes. I guarantee you'll have a perfectly roasted fish—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside."
Yunqin eyed the hourglass skeptically, then glanced at Venti and asked quietly, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"My name is Venti, a bard traveling across Teyvat." Venti smiled and summoned his lyre, its strings chiming brightly. "I was just passing by when I smelled the roasting fish and came to take a look."
Yunqin still hadn't completely let her guard down, but she didn't retreat further. She simply squatted in place, watching the sand slowly trickle down in the hourglass.
The ten minutes passed quickly. As the last grain of sand fell to the bottom, Venti snatched the fish from the fire, blew on its surface to cool it, and held it out to her. "Want to try?"
Yunqin took it cautiously and brought it close to her nose to sniff.
The rich aroma of fish mingled with the smoky scent of charcoal, along with a faint, fresh herbal fragrance. Her mouth watered, and she swallowed hard.
She took a gentle bite. The crispy-skinned, tender fish melted in her mouth. The rich flavor of the fish oils, the smoky char from the fire, and the faint, finely chopped herbs Venti had sprinkled on—when had he even done that?—instantly flooded her taste buds!
Her eyes lit up. "Delicious!" she mumbled, her mouth full. "This is amazing! You're incredible!"
Venti watched her devour the fish, a deeper smile gracing his lips. "Little girl, what's your name? Aren't your parents worried, with you out here alone in the wilderness at this hour?"
Yunqin's cheeks puffed out, stuffed with fish. "My name's Yunqin," she said indistinctly. "I'm... I'm a traveler on a training journey!"
She didn't dare mention she'd secretly run away from her adeptal abode.
How embarrassing would it be if a stranger found out she was an Adeptus's disciple and was slacking off like this?
Venti nodded thoughtfully but didn't press further.
"A traveler, you say? Then you must have heard many stories."
"Only the ones from storybooks and novels." Yunqin put down the half-eaten fish, forgetting to wipe the grease from the corners of her mouth. "If you're a bard... could you sing me a song? It's so boring out here alone at night."
"I'd be delighted!" Venti smiled, gently strumming his lyre.
An elegant melody instantly flowed through the night.
He sang the story of Lydia—from her fateful encounter with the Anemo Archon on Dragonspine, to her taking up her sword to protect her companions, and finally, to her exhausting her strength to unleash her Elemental Burst...
The lyrics were as gentle as a casual conversation, yet tinged with a faint sorrow. Even the wind by the stream seemed to slow down to listen.
The song ended.
The lingering notes of the lyre still hung in the air as Yunqin dissolved into tears.
She snatched the white handkerchief Venti had just taken out, shamelessly blew her nose into it, then wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
"That was so moving..."
"That Lydia girl had it so rough! How could the Abyss bully the people of Mondstadt while the Anemo Archon was away?"
"Does the Anemo Archon, Lord Barbatos, know about this? Will he avenge Lydia?" Yunqin choked out between sobs.
"..." Venti's mouth twitched slightly, but he gently patted her shoulder.
He glanced at the handkerchief being handed back to him, now stained with snot and tears, and forced an awkward smile. He quickly stuffed it back into his pocket and said in the gentlest tone he could manage, "The Anemo Archon has always kept this matter close to his heart. He has not forgotten Lydia, nor has he forgotten the people of Mondstadt."
"Right now, he's harnessing the power of the wind to search for traces of the Abyss all across Teyvat. Maybe one day, you'll even see him in Liyue Harbor."
"I could meet an Archon?!" Yunqin instantly grew excited, forgetting to even wipe away her tears. "Is the Anemo Archon super handsome and majestic? Just like Rex Lapis!"
"You know, the first time I saw Rex Lapis glowing with golden light at the Rite of Descension, I became his fan on the spot! I swore I'd become as amazing as him!"
She suddenly shook her head, her expression firm as she clenched her fists. "No, no! If the Anemo Archon is that impressive, it's like he's coming to Liyue to steal believers!"
"Rex Lapis is the greatest Archon! As a citizen of Liyue, I absolutely cannot let that happen!"
"So, I have to be the first person from Liyue to meet the Anemo Archon and tell him, 'Liyue's Geo Archon is the strongest!' I'll make sure he knows just how magnificent our Archon is!"
Venti burst out laughing at her earnest and adorable declaration, nearly dropping his lyre from his lap.
The two continued to chat for a long time, sharing amusing stories from Mondstadt and fascinating tales and legends from all over Teyvat.
Growing sleepy, Yunqin lay down on the grass and drifted into a deep sleep. A faint smile played on her lips, as if she were lost in a sweet dream.
"Just keep growing up happily like this," Venti murmured, watching her sleeping form. He rose quietly, preparing to transform into a gentle breeze and depart.
Suddenly, a wave of Hydro energy shot toward him.
Then, a voice—both familiar and strange—rang out.
"The Guardian Archon of Mondstadt... Barbatos?"
"You may hide your presence, but you cannot conceal your past."