“It is nothing.”
Vanessa did not grasp the hand Jiang Yubai reached out to her. Instead, she picked up the two large red apples that had rolled onto the ground, placed them in her medicine bag, and stood up on her own.
Jiang Yubai did not feel awkward. He took the opportunity to withdraw his hand and looked at the red-haired woman whose attire was considered bold for Mondstadt. He thoughtfully scanned the iron chain around her ankle and the solid iron ball attached to it. A slave?
Beside him, Leah was still holding his hand, panting from the run. When she saw Vanessa, she instinctively squeezed Jiang Yubai’s hand. He glanced at Leah and then back at the calm Vanessa. Do they know each other?
Vanessa cast a brief glance at Leah and spoke to Jiang Yubai, who was clearly not a local. “You are the first person brave enough to provoke the Lawrence family.”
She had witnessed the commotion. Every year at the Ludi Harpastum, the girls hand-picked by Barclay were sent to his room without exception. This time, however, the youth before her had ruined his plans. The Lawrence family would not let this go.
Vanessa approved of his actions. She had long been disgusted by those nobles, especially since her clansmen were under their control.
“Is that so? Then that is great.” Jiang Yubai let go of Leah’s hand and spread his arms wide. “Because there will likely be a second and a third time in the future.”
“…”
Vanessa’s lip twitched. She was speechless at his reaction. Is this blind confidence in his own strength? She could not help but let a corner of her mouth lift. “You have spirit. I am Vanessa, a gladiator.”
“Jiang Yubai.”
Vanessa nodded. “Goodbye. I must go back and brew medicine for my family.” With that, she left decisively.
Wow, Host! She does not seem like a weak female at all. She is quite rugged! the System remarked, flying beside him as it watched her receding figure. But that is the first time I have seen a woman with such dark skin.
Pfft, System, do not ever tell a girl she is dark; you will get hit. Besides, that is not dark. It is a healthy wheat complexion. Jiang Yubai’s tone was full of envy. He wanted a healthy tan like that. What use did a grown man have for being this pale? Yet, no matter how much he stayed in the sun, he never tanned. He let out a sigh.
“They have not caught up,” Leah noted.
Jiang Yubai turned around. Indeed, the path behind them was empty. They had been standing there for a while, yet no one had pursued them. Did they give up that easily?
Leah peeked at his face, her heart thumping. She whispered her thanks. “Thank you, Jiang Yubai. If not for you, I might have been”
“Don’t say that. You are the one who saved my life,” Jiang Yubai smiled. He then asked, “That Vanessa just now, you seem to know her?”
Leah nodded. “She is known as the Unbeaten Gladiator. They say she is a Muratabian who was sold into slavery. She fights for the Lawrence family in the arena.”
“I see,” Jiang Yubai said. “Who are the Muratabians?”
“They live in the volcanic region to the west of this continent,” Leah explained. “There are not many of them, and they rarely come north. I do not know much else, only that their tribe all have flame-red hair and are a people very skilled in combat.”
Living in a volcanic region explains why her skin is so different from the people here.
“Um,” Leah chewed her lip, hesitating. “What will you do next?”
Jiang Yubai pondered before suddenly asking, “There are no Demon Gods in Mondstadt, right?”
Leah was bewildered. “No. Demon Gods are old news from a thousand years ago. Lord Barbatos has also disappeared.”
“Barbatos?”
At the mention of this name, Leah’s eyes lit up. “He is our Anemo Archon! He blew away the snow and built this place for us to live! This very hill we are on was split from the mountains by him! Blah blah blah”
Jiang Yubai’s head began to throb as he stared at the girl, who had suddenly entered talkative mode. Leah was clearly a hardcore fan of this Anemo Archon.
So, after Decarabian died, a new Demon God took over. Well, not my business. It is not like I know him.
“Unfortunately, Lord Barbatos disappeared a thousand years ago,” Leah said sadly. “Modern Mondstadt has changed so much.”
“So, to summarize, there are no Demon Gods in Mondstadt right now, correct?”
Leah nodded.
Jiang Yubai clapped his hands. “Perfect. I have decided. I will stay in Mondstadt for a while.”
Leah’s fingers twitched nervously as she gathered her courage. “You can stay at my house for now. No, I mean, if you have nowhere else to go, you can stay with me. I mean I have a spare room” The girl’s face turned bright red as she stumbled over her words.
Jiang Yubai laughed at her nervous display. Leah’s head dropped lower at the sound of his laughter.
Host, you are flirting with her.
Don’t you think she is quite cute?
Uh, Host, is she your type? The System went quiet for a moment, observing the smile on Jiang Yubai’s face.
Who knows?
“Sure. Thank you for taking me in, Miss Leah. To be honest, I do not have a single coin on me. I will leave as soon as I find a place of my own,” Jiang Yubai said. “As for Barclay, don’t worry. If they come again, I will drive them off.”
Leah nodded gently at his comforting words.
As they walked and talked, someone suddenly crashed into Jiang Yubai. He paused and looked down at the person who had let out an ouch and was now lying motionless on the ground.
His first reaction upon looking at the floor was: Holy crap, that is a lot of green.
How much did this person love green? They wore a green hat and a full set of green clothes with a little cape. Jiang Yubai’s gaze slid down to the straight legs in white stockings. Long dark blue hair? Seeing the braids resting on the shoulders, Jiang Yubai was certain: It is a little girl.
He studied the person, whose face was turned away. He had not been running, just walking normally. A bump should not cause a fall, let alone a total blackout. So Crap! It is a scammer!
Host, this person is a scammer! the System and Jiang Yubai thought simultaneously.
Leah was also confused, but she quickly stepped forward to help. Jiang Yubai stopped her, staring at the motionless lump on the ground as if facing a mortal enemy.
“Wait, let me do it.”
He could not let his savior be entangled by a crook. Recalling the professional scammers from the modern world who faked injuries for medical fees, Jiang Yubai thought grimly that even children in this world were starting to pull this stunt.
Jiang Yubai approached the green pile. Just as he reached out to tap the person, a hand grabbed his wrist. Then, an arm looped around his neck. The person who had been playing dead was now hanging off Jiang Yubai’s body.
It really is a scam!
With his brow throbbing, Jiang Yubai grabbed the person by the back of the collar, trying to pull them off. “Get down.”
Venti let out a sigh of contentment as he inhaled the youth’s scent, but he suddenly detected a thick smell of blood. The arm that had been clinging tight loosened, and a flash of anger crossed his emerald eyes.
Jiang Yubai easily pulled him off and held him up by the collar to scold him. “You are a little girl! Even if you are trying to pull a scam, you cannot just jump on people Freier?!”
Seeing that familiar face, Jiang Yubai was shocked. The System was also stunned.
Venti put on a dazed expression, his green eyes full of curiosity as he tilted his head. “Hmm?”
Jiang Yubai stared at the distinctive small flower on the hat. It looked familiar, but since it was not the only flower in the world, he did not think much of it. He quickly calmed down. No, it is not him. The face just looks the same.
Freier always had a look of determination. This person was just cute. Looking closer, there was no resemblance in personality at all. Jiang Yubai set him down without another word and signaled Leah to keep moving.
“Hey, hey, hey! You cannot just leave like that!” Venti hurried after him, chirping shamelessly. “You knocked me down! Look, I am injured!” He rolled up his sleeve to show a purple bruise on his arm.
Jiang Yubai thought, “Thanks. That bump would not have knocked over a three-year-old, let alone caused a bruise that large. It clearly looks like you did that to yourself. Also do I look that stupid?!”
Jiang Yubai’s silence was deafening.
The System flew around Venti in confusion and was startled when it met those emerald eyes, but the gaze shifted away instantly as if it were a mere coincidence. Impossible. No one here can see me except the Host. The System waved in front of Venti’s face again. There was no sensation of being watched. See? The locals cannot see me.
It told Jiang Yubai, Host, do you think he is Freier’s reincarnation? How else could they look so identical? But the personality is nothing alike
Jiang Yubai did not believe in gods or reincarnation. The world is big. Having people who look alike is not a miracle; it is a coincidence.
Jiang Yubai stopped, sighed tiredly, and looked down at the person who had been gripping his sleeve the whole way. “What exactly do you want?”
He was like sticky candy that could not be shaken off. Leah, watching from the side, covered her mouth and giggled.
Venti gave a brilliant smile. “Ehe! Since you bumped into me, you have to take responsibility.”
Jiang Yubai was worn down. “Fine. What compensation do you want?”
“Well,” Venti glanced at the exhausted Jiang Yubai and said lightheartedly, “I am Venti the bard. I just arrived in Mondstadt and have no place to stay. Why don’t you take me in?”
Jiang Yubai’s face went cold. “I cannot. I am a guest myself.”
“Oh, it is fine! I can sleep with you!”
“Men and women should stay apart.”
Venti looked shocked. “Eh? But I am a boy.” He leaned in with a smirk. “If you do not believe me, I can prove it”
Jiang Yubai thought, “…”
System: Is he flirting with you?
Jiang Yubai did not answer. Realizing he could not shake the boy off, he gave up. He could not understand how he could be so unlucky as to meet such a persistent scammer while just walking down the street.
But that did not stop him from leaving the boy outside the door that night. Ignoring the constant knocking and the piteous cries, Jiang Yubai unbuttoned his shirt to re-bandage his wounds. During the escape with Leah, his movements had been too large, and the wounds had reopened. Sure enough, the bandages were soaked with blood.
After tending to his injuries, he mended his torn clothes. When the noise outside finally stopped, he opened the door to check. No one was there. He finally left.
He had never met such a clingy brat before, clingy in every sense. Not only would he not let go, but he also had a way of looking so piteous that it was hard to stay angry. And why is he ignoring a gentle, pretty girl like Leah just to fixate on me?
A breeze blew through the cracks in the closed window. As Jiang Yubai lay on the bed, a sudden, overwhelming drowsiness hit him without warning. His eyelids felt like lead. What is happening? I was not tired a moment ago
He could not resist the sleepiness. Amidst the gentle rustle of the wind, his consciousness sank into darkness.
Host? Host? The System was confused. So tired? My Host usually wakes up at the slightest sound. Why did he fall asleep so fast?
The window was suddenly pushed open by a gust of wind. The System jumped in fright and looked up to see the green-clad youth casually entering through the window.
It was Venti.
The System stared. Wait how did he just fly in? He was literally hovering! It prepared to scream to wake Jiang Yubai, but before it could, Venti looked directly at it and made a shushing gesture. He smiled, his emerald eyes bright. “Shh, don’t wake him up.”
The System: !!!!!!
Its round body froze, its light flickering in terror. Its eyes widened as it reflected Venti’s smile. It drifted to the right; Venti tilted his head and followed its movement, watching it with a grin. The System lost its ability to float and fell straight toward the floor in terror.
A wisp of wind caught the System, lifting it back up. Venti studied the startled orb for a moment and said, “Please don’t tell him about what happens tonight, or I will be very troubled.”
Feeling the physical force actually touching it, something that had never happened before, the System interpreted Venti’s words as a clear threat: Tell him, and you are dead. It shivered in fear.
It watched as Venti approached Jiang Yubai. Venti glanced at the bloody bandages discarded on the floor, his expression darkening. He moved closer to the sleeping youth. His gaze swept over the youth’s brows, the red mole at the corner of his eye, the straight nose, and lingered on the lips that were pale from blood loss.
He let out a helpless sigh. Meeting again, and you are in such a mess again. Can’t you take a little care of yourself?
Venti held his palm over Jiang Yubai’s chest. His braids glowed with a faint green light. Strands of Anemo Archon power followed his hand as it moved. Jiang Yubai’s buttons unfastened automatically, revealing his bandage-wrapped chest.
Venti’s cape fluttered in the circulating wind. The bandages began to dissolve under the gentle current, and the soft divine power began to repair the wounds. At this moment, Venti looked nothing like the playful, scammer brat from the day. His expressionless face and the glow in his eyes made him look exceptionally solemn.
The System watched in absolute horror. Who is this person?! Such terrifying power!
Once the wounds were fully healed, Venti returned the bandages and clothes to their original state. He touched Jiang Yubai’s face. “There. All better.”
Venti blinked, climbed onto the bed, and hovered over the youth. His eyes overflowed with tenderness as he stared at the defenseless Jiang Yubai. He watched the pressed lips with a dangerous gaze and leaned in
System: ??? My god, what is he doing! He is after the Host!
It watched as Venti approached the Host’s lips, but for some reason, he stopped abruptly and instead placed a kiss on Jiang Yubai’s forehead. Venti leaned down and whispered, “My dear one, the Anemo Archon will protect you for the rest of your life.”
Anemo Archon?! He is the Archon?! Leah just said he had been missing for a millennium! Why did he just show up! And when did the Host meet him?!
Host! Run! He is a Demon God! AHHH!
Wait, if he is a Demon God, why could Decarabian not see me, but this one can and can even touch me?! The System grew more terrified the more it thought about it.
Venti lay down beside Jiang Yubai, reached out to pull him close, and snuggled into his chest, closing his eyes with satisfaction. He completely ignored the System, which was spiraling in the corner.
The System stayed hidden, too afraid to even return to the Host’s consciousness. It did not dare make a sound. It hid in a corner until dawn, when Jiang Yubai opened his eyes.
Jiang Yubai woke up feeling refreshed. No backache, no pain, his whole body felt light. He was shocked to find that his wounds had completely healed. He confusedly removed the bandages. Is my healing ability really this strong?
The System, watching his bewildered expression, complained internally: Host, please get a clue! You were snuggled and slept with all night! We need to pack up and run!
The terrifying guy had vanished sometime in the morning. The System prepared to tell the Host everything. Host
“Ehe!” Venti’s head popped up outside the open window. “Good morning!”
The System jumped and swallowed its words, retreating into Jiang Yubai’s consciousness in a panic. No matter how much Jiang Yubai called, it would not speak.
What is wrong with it? Sudden autism? Jiang Yubai wondered. He looked at Venti and then at the window. I remember closing that last night. Did I remember wrong?
“You haven’t left?”
“Eh?” Venti put on a sad face. “Are you chasing me away? Leaving me alone in a strange city, sleeping on the streets”
Jiang Yubai looked at the piteous youth. Are we that close? Don’t act like we aren’t strangers. He sighed, finished getting ready, and told Leah he was heading out.
“Where are you going?” Venti followed him closely. “I walked around the city last night. If you are looking for something, I might know where it is.”
Jiang Yubai felt he was sighing a lot lately. “I am looking for a way to make money. It is not good to stay in a girl’s house forever.”
“Oh,” Venti pulled out a lyre from nowhere and proudly showed it to Jiang Yubai. “Look, this is my partner, Der Himmel. This is a bard’s tool for making a living! Want to hear a melody unique in all the world? I will let you in on a secret: there is not a song I cannot play.”
Without waiting for a response, Venti began to play. It was actually quite beautiful. Jiang Yubai silently appreciated the unique tune and the youthful singing. The green-clad bard seemed to glow as he played, his voice like a gentle wind. In a blink, they were surrounded by a crowd!
“Heavens is that the Song of the Wind?” an old woman asked. “I haven’t heard it in so long.”
“I cannot believe someone still remembers that song,” people whispered. “Yeah, ever since the Lawrences bards have been rare. Shh! Keep it down if you want to live!”
When the song ended, Venti bowed with a smile and expertly held out his hat to the crowd. “Those with mora, please contribute! Those without, please lend your applause!”
Jiang Yubai was stunned. Venti, his hat overflowing with coins, ran back and stuffed it into Jiang Yubai’s arms. “See? Making money is easy”
Jiang Yubai felt insulted. Deeply insulted! He stuffed the hat back at Venti and went to ask around for work. Venti followed, looking at the hat and then at Jiang Yubai’s back. “You don’t want it? I thought you wanted to make money.”
“Even if I do, I won’t take yours.”
Jiang Yubai learned that a tavern needed a large amount of raw materials, dandelions and apples. He headed out of the city. Venti followed him. “It is not for free! Just take me in, and this money can be my rent, okay?”
“No need. You have enough to rent your own place.” Jiang Yubai could not understand. Venti had enough money now; why was he still following him? He was a walking money-maker.
Jiang Yubai was struggling to find dandelions when Venti walked up with an armful. He stood beside the youth, his emerald eyes warm, and stuffed the harvest into Jiang Yubai’s arms. “For you.”
Damn it, even the dandelions are biased! Why couldn’t I find any, but he got this many in minutes? “Thanks,” Jiang Yubai said dryly.
Venti’s joy was visible. He grabbed Jiang Yubai’s arm and pointed. “There are lots of apple trees over there, let’s go!”
Jiang Yubai returned to the tavern with a full harvest and received a decent bag of mora.
“Manager! A bottle of Dandelion Wine!” Venti’s excited voice rang out. Jiang Yubai turned to see the boy leaning over the counter, eyes sparkling.
“Coming right up!”
Just as Venti was about to touch the bottle, it was snatched away. He blinked and saw Jiang Yubai looking at him with disapproval. Jiang Yubai told the bartender, “He is just a kid. How can you sell alcohol to a minor?”
The bartender was confused. “We do not have a rule against that.”
“We don’t want it. Take it back.”
The bartender looked troubled. “Once sold, it cannot be returned.”
Jiang Yubai sighed. “Fine, I will buy it.” He took twenty mora from his bag, took the wine, and sat at a table. Venti followed, his face practically screaming I want a drink.
“Alcohol is for adults. You cannot have any.”
Venti murmured something Jiang Yubai could not catch, then looked at him with total sincerity. “But I am an adult.”
Who would believe that? “Drinking is bad for your health.”
Seeing that the youth would not listen, Venti slumped onto the table, his eyes following the bottle. Jiang Yubai had not planned on drinking, but now he had to finish it so it would not go to waste. He was curious about the wine of this era.
He poured a bowl and smelled it. Not bad?
Venti watched as Jiang Yubai drained the bowl. “How is it? How is it?”
Jiang Yubai frowned. Quite spicy the alcohol content is unexpectedly high. But the taste was unique. He had another bowl. “Not bad,” he said.
“Ehe, see? I knew you would like it,” Venti said with a smile, watching the youth’s ears turn slightly red.
Jiang Yubai did not notice the strange tone. Determined not to waste money, he kept drinking. He had thought one bottle would not be enough to get him drunk, but before he could even finish it, he let out a loud thud and collapsed onto the table.
Venti froze, then laughed. Drunk that easily? And I thought he could hold his liquor.
Venti took the remaining wine in Jiang Yubai’s bowl and finished it in one gulp. He smacked his lips and stared at the motionless person. He stood up and walked to Jiang Yubai’s side.
He whispered: “Jiang Yubai?”
The youth’s brows moved. He let out a reflex mhm and opened his eyes. He slowly turned his head, his hazy gaze landing on the blurry figure beside him.
Venti: “Can you stand up? Do you need me to help you walk?”
It’s over. The System watched in despair. It saw Jiang Yubai stare blankly at Venti, then suddenly lean forward, throw his arms around him, and bury his head in Venti’s shoulder. He murmured in a piteous, sleepy voice: “I feel so bad”
Venti was startled. He quickly reacted, his gaze darkening as he held the person who had just thrown himself into his arms. “Do you remember who I am?”
Jiang Yubai stared at him for a long time before answering: “Green person.”
Venti burst out laughing. Well, he is definitely not sober. This version of him was so different from his usual self. “Then, shall I take you to rest?”
The youth nodded slowly, looking foolishly obedient.
Venti looked thoughtful. “Can I kiss you?”
Jiang Yubai let out another mhm.
Venti gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Successful in his theft, he watched Jiang Yubai’s reaction. The youth only blinked slowly. Venti chuckled. So this is how he is when he’s drunk. So obedient that I want to do more.
He helped the unconscious youth out of the tavern and teleported them directly to an inn. He leaned in: “How long has it been since you came here?”
“Mmm just got here.”
“How did you come?”
“System teleport.”
The System screamed in its head. It is over! He is going to spill everything!
Venti drew out a long oh and asked, “Is the System that round thing that follows you?”
“Mhm.”
“Will you leave again?”
Jiang Yubai went silent for a long time before saying: “Can’t leave”
“I see,” Venti said. “Where did you come from before?”
“A place called”
The System’s alarm bells went off. You cannot tell the locals about that! It risked its life to force Jiang Yubai into a deep sleep. The voice stopped, and Jiang Yubai fell forward. Venti caught him. I cannot hear the rest. It seems it involves something critical.
The System hid deep in his mind. Venti had looked right at its location just now. So scary!
Venti tucked Jiang Yubai in and stood by the bed, chin in hand, thinking. He looked toward the window as if sensing something, and vanished. The System let out a massive sigh of relief. It wanted to tell the Host everything once he woke up.
Host! Wake up! Something terrible is happening! Earthquake! Fire!!!
No response.
Venti returned. The System immediately shut up and hid. It is not that I don’t want to save you, Host, but Venti is too clingy! Venti lay down beside Jiang Yubai, pulled him close, and closed his eyes.
When Jiang Yubai woke up, his head was throbbing. He rubbed his temples and opened his eyes, then froze.
Who is this person clinging to me like an octopus?! His brain was still a bit foggy. He started trying to push the person off. “Who! Get off my bed!”
The person was woken up. Venti looked up at him. “Eh? You don’t remember? I’m Venti!”
The memories slowly returned. Right, the green-clad guy. He had drunk a bottle of wine, got drunk, and then his memory was a total blank.
“It is you,” Jiang Yubai said, looking around. “How did I get here?”
Venti made a pained face. “You don’t know? You were so drunk you couldn’t even walk straight. I’m not that strong, so I could only help you to the nearest inn. You are so heavy; I am exhausted!” He shifted to a piteous tone. “I didn’t expect you to grab me and not let go the moment I got you to bed. I couldn’t get away, so you dragged me onto the bed too”
He looked like a helpless victim.
Huh? Jiang Yubai had never heard someone describe him as a clingy drunk. The System always said he was easy to manage and just slept
He looked at the tired Venti with an awkward expression. Truthfully, they were strangers. Venti could have left him at the tavern. But he had not. He’d even paid for a room. And Jiang Yubai had been so rude to him
Jiang Yubai let go of Venti’s clothes. “Thanks. Thanks for not leaving me there. If if you want to follow me, you can.”