Hearing the System claim that Venti was a problem, Jiang Yubai’s interest was piqued. He sat up straight and asked, What do you mean?
Host, you have no idea! He even threatened me! He forbade me from telling you anything about him! the System said with tragic indignation. He is the Anemo Archon Leah was talking about! He is a Demon God! I do not know why, but he can see me. Not just see me, he can touch me!
That is why I never dare to come out when he is around. Waaaaah!
The System’s voice grew increasingly piteous until it broke into full blown sobbing. Jiang Yubai felt a headache coming on from the noise. He felt a wave of doubt and asked, Venti is a Demon God?
He found it hard to believe. That clingy brat who stuck to him like sticky candy was the Anemo Archon?
How did Leah describe the Anemo Archon again? Splitting mountains, blowing away blizzards, it sounded incredibly formidable. Now that the System was telling him Venti was that god, Jiang Yubai tried to overlay Venti’s face with those legendary deeds. The result was, well, frankly, hilarious. He did not believe it at all.
Hearing the skepticism in his tone, the System wailed like it was at a funeral. Host! You have been blinded by his appearance!
Alright, alright, stop howling. Next time we see him, go for a spin in front of his face and let me see for myself.
The System’s voice stopped abruptly, as if its throat had been squeezed. It stammered, What if he kills me?
Don’t worry. I am watching you. It will be fine.
Whether Venti could actually see the System needed to be witnessed firsthand. As his partner of many centuries, Jiang Yubai did not think the System would lie about this, but the logic did not track. If Venti were truly the Anemo Archon, why follow him so closely? He had never provoked this god.
Moreover, this god was far too childlike. Jiang Yubai’s lip twitched. Not only was he lively, but he was more clingy than an actual toddler. He felt different from other Demon Gods. Jiang Yubai felt no hostility or threat from him, only an odd sense of intimacy.
Why is the System so afraid of him? Is he really that scary? Jiang Yubai wondered.
And another thing, Host! That night, he actually did to you, ugh! The System went silent in terror.
What?
He looked up and saw Venti’s face squeezed into the gap between the iron bars of the cell door. The boy was waving at him.
Jiang Yubai: “…”
“Did you not go to Liyue with Leah?”
“Sister Leah happened to be picked up by a merchant caravan heading to Liyue, so I came back!” Venti fiddled with the locked chain. “Quick, quick! I want to come in too.”
Jiang Yubai cautiously refrained from answering immediately. He studied Venti for a moment. Under the youth’s expectant gaze, he walked over and unlocked the door. The moment the chain fell, Venti slipped inside as quickly as an eel, as if fearing he would be locked out if he were a second late.
Vanessa smiled at the sight. “I was wondering why only you had returned and Venti was missing. Looking at this, it seems someone failed to drive him away?”
“It was not driving me away! He would never drive me away,” Venti said with a smile, immediately moving to Jiang Yubai’s side.
“It was driving you away,” Jiang Yubai said coldly. “I just did not succeed.”
Venti’s eyes widened, a look of profound hurt crossing his face. “How can you be like this? Did I do something wrong? You said I could follow you, and now you have changed your mind so quickly!”
“…”
Ignoring the intense gaze, Jiang Yubai spoke silently to the System: Come out.
But, The System was panicking, shrinking back and not daring to show its face. Only after Jiang Yubai called out a second time with visible impatience did it harden its heart and manifest.
Jiang Yubai snatched the System and, ignoring its horrified screams, tossed it directly at Venti’s face.
AHHHHHHHHH!
The System’s eyes widened in human like terror. Its screams hit a high decibel. It was already terrified of Venti. Now that it was flying toward the source of its fear, it felt like its little heart would explode.
Jiang Yubai ignored the sharp noise in his head and stared intensely at Venti’s expression, watching for any shift in his demeanor.
The System shot toward Venti’s face at high speed and passed right through him.
Venti’s expression did not change at all. There was no reflex blink or dodge. He looked completely normal. Jiang Yubai froze.
Seeing Jiang Yubai staring at him, Venti’s piteous expression slowly turned into joy. He leaned in. “Why are you staring at me? Did you suddenly realize I am very handsome?”
“…”
He silently reached out to push away the face that was almost touching his own. “Did you see anything just now?”
Venti let out a confused “Huh?” and looked around. Seeing nothing, he asked, “There was nothing there. Was there supposed to be something?”
Jiang Yubai could not detect any deception. Having traveled through many worlds, he was an expert at reading people. He could tell if someone was acting. Venti’s reaction seemed perfectly genuine.
I am skeptical of your claims, Jiang Yubai told the System.
Host! You actually believe an outsider over me?! Even though the System was in disbelief, it retreated into Jiang Yubai’s consciousness at extreme speed. Only it knew that every word it said was true. Why doesn’t the Host believe me!
Peeking at Venti, the System grew indignant. He is faking! He is lying to you! That night, while you were asleep, he actually kissed you!
Jiang Yubai’s mind went blank for a moment. He glanced at the boy clinging to him like a toddler and smiled.
You say, he kissed me?
How is that possible?
Not everyone was a pervert like Decarabian. This little youth was, at most, a bit attached to him. How could he kiss someone in their sleep?
You, Hmph! Fine! I won’t care about you anymore! Even if you get slept with, I won’t care! The System went into a self imposed autistic state, refusing to respond no matter how Jiang Yubai called.
Jiang Yubai: “…”
He massaged his temples. He had just stated a fact, and the System had thrown a tantrum. And why does the System always assume I am the one being slept with? Setting aside the past, why did the System think Venti would be the one to do it? Regardless of the height difference, Jiang Yubai was taller. Even in terms of appearance, Venti was the one who looked cute and harmless. Why does everyone assume I am the bottom?!
Wait, what kind of weird thoughts am I having? I don’t even like men.
He was almost led astray by the System. Meeting Venti’s earnest gaze, Jiang Yubai realized he had not answered. “Nothing. I just saw a mosquito fly past.”
“Oh,” Venti looked around the messy floor. “There are indeed many bugs. The environment here is far too damp and dark.”
“Ah! A mouse!” Venti jumped in fright, his face full of terror as he leaped onto Jiang Yubai, clinging to him tightly and refusing to get down.
Vanessa could not help but laugh. “You’re afraid of mice?”
“Yes, yes! A huge one, aren’t you two afraid?”
“No,” Jiang Yubai said, bearing a weight he should not have to bear. His collar was being pulled so tight it was choking him. He sighed and supported the person clinging to him. “The mouse is gone. You, let go.”
Forced to lower his head, Jiang Yubai found himself in a close gaze with Venti. Their breaths mingled. Venti was staring at him intently, a look Jiang Yubai could not quite place.
Suddenly, Venti looped his arms around the youth’s neck and whispered in his ear, “I won’t.”
“What if it comes back? I’m most afraid of mice. You should understand. Everyone has something they’re afraid of.”
“…” So you’re just going to hang on me like this? “How old are you? Still wanting to be carried?”
“What does age have to do with it?” Venti said.
Jiang Yubai looked at him for a moment, then sighed and sat down, still supporting the boy who would not let go. Venti snuggled in with satisfaction. Jiang Yubai expressionlessly avoided the annoying grass on Venti’s hat. I want to throw it away. But I can’t peel him off. How troublesome.
As Jiang Yubai was thinking of how to make Venti let go, a series of footsteps approached. They sounded aggressive and hostile. Sure enough, Barclay’s unpleasant face appeared outside the bars.
“Where did that woman go?!” he demanded.
Jiang Yubai looked at him strangely. “Which woman?”
“Don’t play dumb with me! Where did Leah run off to?!”
“That sounds hilarious coming from you. I’m locked in your dungeon, yet you come to me when your prisoner escapes?” Jiang Yubai sneered at the man’s anger. “So Leah escaped? That’s great. I should thank you for the good news.”
Barclay’s fat shook with rage at the mockery. His eyes glared maliciously at the youth sitting lazily on the floor. “Still so arrogant in my hands? Do you really think I won’t do anything to you? Guards!”
He shouted, but no one responded. Barclay looked around and saw the two dungeon guards face down on the table, sleeping. Enraged, he walked over and slapped them both awake.
The two guards jumped up in a panic when they saw Barclay.
“I told you to guard the dungeon, and this is what I find? Eh? Guarding it by sleeping?”
The two stammered, “Y-young Master, we don’t know what happened, we just fell asleep.”
“Enough!” Barclay was irritable and in no mood for excuses. He pointed at Jiang Yubai through the bars. “Drag him out! I want him to experience the full weight of the Lawrence family’s torture!”
Venti paused and looked at Barclay, then at the two guards who were opening the cell door. His gaze darkened slightly. He held onto Jiang Yubai tightly and said with deep meaning, “If the Anemo Archon knew what you were doing, he would be very angry.”
Barclay laughed as if he had heard a joke. “The Anemo Archon? He abandoned Mondstadt long ago. He’s been gone for who knows how long. He’s probably dead. Who even remembers him now?”
“You aren’t actually hoping the Anemo Archon will save you, are you? Hahahaha! Only a kid like you would believe in a non existent Demon God. He doesn’t even know where he is. How could he possibly mind my business?”
“You should worry about how you’re going to get out of this. How about this, if you kneel before me now and shout, ‘I was wrong, please spare me, Young Master Barclay,’ I’ll go easy on you.”
Venti’s clear teal eyes watched the bragging Barclay. Seeing the two guards approach, Venti blinked.
Suddenly, a laugh came from above him. Jiang Yubai pushed Venti aside, his tea colored eyes full of contempt. “How about no. Actually, I think your physique is perfect for kneeling. Hiss, no, actually, seeing you kneel before me would just hurt my eyes.”
“You!” Barclay roared.
Jiang Yubai’s lips curled. He promptly kicked the two guards out of the cell. They flew through the air and crashed heavily into the opposite bars with a loud clank, falling to the floor and groaning in pain.
Barclay was shocked by Jiang Yubai’s ferocity. Even Vanessa in the next cell was stunned. Then, her brow smoothed out, and she felt a sense of relief. She had been worried about the two being tortured, but now it seemed the question was who would be torturing whom.