The Lawrence Family Dungeon
Vanessa sat leaning against the cold stone wall, her eyes closed as she rested. When a flurry of disorganized footsteps echoed through the corridor, she opened her eyes to look out.
“Hey, hey, take it easy! You are hurting me,” Venti grumbled piteously, his face full of accusation. The guards escorting him were completely immune to his act, ignoring his voice as they dutifully led the two men down into the depths.
Jiang Yubai still had not fully processed Venti’s absurd display of surrendering on purpose. He walked along in a daze as he was shoved forward.
Vanessa stared blankly. Just last night, Venti had been wandering around the palace as he pleased, even inviting her to run away with him. Why was he caught now? And he was with Jiang Yubai, whom she had just met a few days ago!
Venti clearly spotted Vanessa. He gave her a secretive, suggestive wink, not caring whether she understood his meaning or not. He stumbled as he was pushed into a cell, and the iron door shut with a heavy clank as the chains were locked.
The guards exchanged a few words with the dungeon keeper and left.
“Ouch.” Jiang Yubai had been shoved, causing him to stagger forward a few steps. He managed to steady himself, but Venti, who was right behind him, did not seem to have any brakes. Venti crashed straight into his back, and Jiang Yubai was knocked face down into a pile of straw. Fortunately, it did not hurt much.
“Get off me,” Jiang Yubai said, glancing sideways at Venti, who was pinned on top of him.
After Jiang Yubai scrambled up, he looked at the boy with an unfriendly gaze. “Why did you not take the chance to run earlier?”
“I could not run away,” Venti said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“There was no one behind you.” Jiang Yubai knew that at that moment, no one had been paying attention to Venti. He could have escaped directly. He was not blind. This kid had not just failed to run; he had actively sought out the enemy’s attention and practically begged to be caught!
“Ehe.”
“Don’t act cute. Give me a straight answer.”
“Fine. I was worried about leaving you alone, so I followed,” Venti said, his eyes suddenly serious.
Jiang Yubai thought, “Precocious brat.”
He reached out and flicked Venti’s forehead. Seeing the boy clutch his head in pain, Jiang Yubai said with a stern face, “Never again. Do I look like I need a child to worry about me? You will be doing well just to look after yourself.”
“Heh heh.” Venti was not angry about the flick. He scooted closer to the youth and smiled. “I know, I know.”
Jiang Yubai tried to push the clingy boy away for a while, but eventually gave up and stopped struggling.
Vanessa, who had been watching their interaction from the adjacent cell, spoke up hesitantly: “Excuse me”
Someone else is here? Jiang Yubai looked toward the voice. He froze when he saw who it was. “Vanessa? Why are you here?”
“How did you two get caught?” Vanessa asked.
Jiang Yubai countered, “Weren’t you caught as well?”
Vanessa gave a small smile. “It is different for me. I was brought here because my final duel is in a few days.”
“A duel?” Jiang Yubai paused. “In the arena?”
Vanessa glanced at Venti, who was acting like he knew nothing. She did not know what kind of mischief the bard was up to, so she explained to Jiang Yubai, “Yes. Because my clansmen are all slaves sold to the nobles, they promised that if I win twelve duels, they will set us free.”
“If I may be blunt, you should not take their word seriously.”
Vanessa looked at Jiang Yubai with an amused expression. This guy and Venti seemed to get along quite well. Even their words were identical. Venti had said something similar yesterday, telling her not to trust the nobles and urging her to take her people and flee to gain freedom immediately.
But she had refused.
Vanessa: “I know.”
Jiang Yubai nodded and said nothing more. He walked to the wall, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest.
“Are you sleepy?” Venti asked curiously, sitting down beside him. He tilted his head to look at the youth. It was only just past noon.
“No,” Jiang Yubai replied. “I am conserving my energy.”
After all, there was work to do tonight. Venti looked half understanding, a smile flashing in his eyes as he watched the motionless Jiang Yubai.
As the night deepened, Jiang Yubai stood up. Venti, who had not slept at all and had remained quiet, looked over. The youth moved with light steps toward the cell door, examining the iron lock.
Venti approached and whispered, “What are you doing?”
Jiang Yubai did not look at him. He pulled a thin wire from his hair and started tinkering with the lock cylinder. “Escaping.”
Venti stared in wonder at the object produced from the youth’s hair. After a bit of fiddling, the lock clicked open. A flash of surprise crossed Venti’s emerald eyes.
Then, Venti watched as Jiang Yubai moved as gracefully as a ghost toward the two guards. Using a technique Venti had not seen before, Jiang Yubai struck them both in the neck. They collapsed into unconsciousness before they even realized an escape was underway.
Venti whispered in admiration, “Wow!”
Vanessa was jolted awake by Venti’s voice. She opened her eyes to see that the two people who were supposed to be in the cell were already outside. It was a remarkably familiar scene.
Her lips twitched. She watched as the black haired youth expertly picked her lock as well and raised an eyebrow at her. “Not coming?”
She sighed, remaining seated on the floor. “You two leave. I cannot go.”
Jiang Yubai paused.
“I have to participate in the duel in five days,” Vanessa said. “My clansmen are still in their hands so I cannot leave.”
“Fine.” Jiang Yubai did not force her. He had done his part as a good samaritan. Whether she stayed or left was her choice. However, the arena after saving Leah, maybe he should stick around and get involved. It would be great if he could topple the nobility while he was at it.
It would be a shame to leave Mondstadt just like this.
Jiang Yubai recalled the people fighting for freedom within the wind wall. How ironic that a thousand years later, Mondstadt had fallen into the hands of nobles again.
His clothes blended perfectly with the night. He pulled the brightly clad Venti along, slipping out of the dungeon silently until they found where Leah was being held.
The sound of the door opening startled the girl. She hid in the corner with terror in her eyes, only to find it was Jiang Yubai and Venti. She was stunned. “Jiang Yubai, Venti! Weren’t you”
“Ehe, escaping is easy!”
As if you were the one who escaped, Jiang Yubai thought, rolling his eyes. He ignored the boy and walked straight to Leah, stuffing his entire bag of mora into her hands. “I am sending you out of the city now. Leave Mondstadt and don’t come back.”
Leah froze. Her reflex was to ask, “What about you? Aren’t you coming?”
Jiang Yubai pushed the leisurely Venti toward her. “You go with Leah.”
Venti: “Huh?”
“No! I am not going!” Venti looked at Jiang Yubai petulantly. “I am going wherever you go.”
Jiang Yubai was so angry he laughed. This time, he was not going to let the boy say no. He pressed down on the head of the protesting Venti. Leah asked hesitantly, “If you aren’t leaving with us, what are you going to do?”
“I am going to the arena to check on those nobles and help a friend.” Jiang Yubai paused as Venti bit his hand. He looked at the indignant boy in bewilderment.
Seriously? How old are you? Biting people like a dog! What a brat.
“I see but if we leave Mondstadt, we don’t know where to go,” Leah said awkwardly. “I have never left Mondstadt before, so”
“I know a place,” Venti said, puffing out his cheeks. “The nearest region to Mondstadt is Liyue. The people there are protected by the Geo Archon, the land is wealthy, and it is a great place to settle. Plus, the people are very welcoming.”
Liyue?
Jiang Yubai could not help but think of the man he had met while taking Freier out, the man he could not forget. Morax. He had said that Jiang would be protected in his territory.
Who is this Geo Archon? Morax is he still around? It has been a thousand years, after all.
“Who is the Geo Archon?” Jiang Yubai asked. “And how do you know about Liyue?”
“Hmph! I am a bard, the best bard to have traveled all of Teyvat. There is nothing I don’t know,” Venti said, lifting his chin. “The Geo Archon is the Demon God who survived the Archon War in Liyue. He is essentially the ruler of Liyue now.” Venti stole a glance at Jiang Yubai and added with a disdainful tone, “He is just a grumpy old man, a total fossil.”
Leah: “…” Jiang Yubai: “…”
Traveled all of Teyvat? Even without knowing how big the world was, Jiang Yubai could tell Venti was lying just by looking at him. If he had really traveled the whole world, he would be six feet under by now. And even if he did not know the full extent of a Demon God’s power, was it really a good idea for a human child to insult one so openly? That is a Demon God! The kind you don’t mess with.
Jiang Yubai realized that this brat Venti was not just clingy; he was incredibly bold. He was already talking smack about a god. What was next? If he did not learn to hold his tongue, he would be dead before he knew it.
Tiredly, Jiang Yubai said, “Then Leah, you go to Liyue. Venti, since you know the way, you escort her. Once I have settled things here, I will find you.”
Despite Venti’s protests, Jiang Yubai drove them both away once they reached the exit. Watching the tall and short figures vanish into the distance, Jiang Yubai felt a sense of relief as he headed back.
However, he did not see that as soon as he turned around, Venti gave Leah a sweet smile. “Miss, I have already sent word ahead. Now, I will need you to head to Liyue Harbor on your own!”
“What?” Leah looked on in confusion, then her eyes widened.
The Thousand Winds surged around the youth. Venti’s eyes glowed with a faint teal light as soft Anemo elements enveloped Leah. Before she was whisked away, the girl managed to gasp out two words: “You are”
The sound cut off abruptly.
After sending Leah off, Venti turned back, humming a tune. “Trying to shake me off? No way.”
Under Vanessa’s surprised gaze, Jiang Yubai calmly knocked out the two guards again just as they were about to wake up, ensuring they slept deeper this time. Then, he leisurely walked back to his cell, put his chains back on, and locked himself in.
“You why did you come back?” Vanessa asked, watching his series of actions. She noticed Venti was nowhere to be seen.
“I want to see the arena. I am quite interested.”
Vanessa did not know what to say. Her lip was twitching uncontrollably. She had a reason she had to be there, but this guy had escaped and then come back just because he was interested.
Host! The System’s tearful voice echoed in his mind.
Jiang Yubai had not heard from it in quite a while. It had practically vanished. Usually, it loved to hang around, but since they arrived in this world, it had not appeared or even made a sound. He had thought the System was busy with something important. Now that it had reappeared with a sob, he was startled.
What is wrong? You have been missing for so long. Who bullied you?
The System looked around nervously. Seeing that the green clad figure was not around, it took the chance to scream: Host, that Venti you are with is a HUGE problem!