Shen Xing almost lost his composure, his expression cracking. Blas... blasphemy?!!
How can you say such a thing with a smile on your face?
Saying I like the Anemo Archon was just to brush you off, to keep you away from me. Who said I really liked you?
But since he said this to Venti, and Venti took it seriously, there was nothing he could do.
Shen Xing regretted telling that lie.
Telling one lie requires a thousand more to cover it up.
The first time he lied, he made it a big one, feeling like he had dug a hole for himself.
Venti then said, "If the Anemo Archon knew, he might get angry."
"At worst, he might even bring down divine punishment."
Shen Xing glanced at the person walking beside him, all smiles, not a hint of anger.
He rolled his eyes inwardly, trying to scare him, "If he gets angry, then so be it."
It was just the excuse he needed to end this lie.
Venti was shocked, "You're giving up so easily?"
"What else can I do?" Shen Xing said, "I just wanted to express my feelings to him. If Lord Barbatos doesn't like it, then so be it. I'm just a human; how dare I hope for him to truly like me."
"If the Anemo Archon really liked me, that would be earth-shattering."
Shen Xing spoke more fluently, thanks to his current profession as a novelist. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to make this up.
"And that word you used, blasphemy, sounds so creepy. What kind of words do bards have in their heads?"
Venti listened to his perspective, first pondering, then hearing Shen Xing's complaint, he suddenly pulled out a book from his pocket, "Hey, didn't you say liking the Anemo Archon was like what's done in this novel?"
Seeing the cover with two prominent characters, Shen Xing fell silent. Why does Venti carry a novel with him?
Venti held the very novel Shen Xing wrote about the Doctor and Childe. Shen Xing watched as Venti, with a straight face, flipped through it, then stopped at the last few chapters, pointing at the text in front of him.
Shen Xing: "..."
"You've said this before, so you must have read it."
"Look, wouldn't these descriptions be blasphemy if applied to the Anemo Archon?" Venti showed him, then thoughtfully pondered, "It's already mild to call it blasphemy..."
Shen Xing: "...." Can you stop saying blasphemy every other word?!
He suddenly exclaimed, covering his face, "Stop talking!"
Venti looked innocent, curious, but continued to ask, "If you really met him, and he responded to your feelings. Hmm... I mean, would you lie there like in the book, or would you want to turn the tables?"
It could be described this way; now Shen Xing wasn't the Pyro Archon, so it would be turning the tables.
The language suddenly shifted into high gear.
Shen Xing was finally asked something he couldn't handle by Venti, his ears burning red, glaring at Venti, who spoke such bold words with a straight face. Now he truly understood the Anemo Archon's slyness.
I didn't expect you to be like this, Venti, talking about such things so openly. Can't you be a bit more like Zhongli, more reserved?
Even if we're free, we can't be this free with our language. Even someone as experienced in writing as Shen Xing felt that when it came to verbal sparring, he couldn't match Venti. His openness was only in writing; in reality, compared to Venti, he was a novice.
Being openly asked about his preferences, Shen Xing blushed, unable to handle such teasing questions.
He snapped, "Shut up, or we're no longer friends!"
Venti blinked, noticing his red ears and slightly flushed cheeks, realizing he was embarrassed and angry~
He couldn't help but take another look. In the past, he couldn't see such interesting expressions on Xibalack's face.
Except for the very beginning, before Venti became the Pyro Archon, he saw confusion, longing, and growing determination on Xibalack's face. Even after experiencing hardships later, he never had such intense emotional fluctuations as he did now.
Is it really that his mind has become younger?
At first, when he said he liked the Anemo Archon, Venti, as the Anemo Archon himself, was shocked. Since his birth, he never thought about having a partner. To Venti personally, it seemed a bit early.
As a spirit born from the thousand winds, he had an infinite lifespan. As Mondstadt's Anemo Archon, Venti had no thoughts of finding a partner; he only wanted to protect Mondstadt.
Now, being confessed to by a seemingly old friend, Venti's first reaction was disbelief.
The second reaction was to treat it as a joke. When Xibalack remembered, he would surely tease him about it.
As for the third reaction...
Venti took another look at his shrunken old friend's face, filled with anger and embarrassment, and placed a comforting hand on the young man's shoulder, saying, "Don't be mad, I was just curious. If you don't want to say, I won't ask."
Shen Xing, thought to be shy, was actually embarrassed. Is there anything more awkward than being asked by the person involved if you're the top or bottom?! No. Especially when it's Venti asking, how could he say it?
Curious, my foot.
With his shoulder held, Shen Xing felt like he was being held hostage, forced to comply or face punishment. Imagining a series of indescribable scenarios, Shen Xing felt embarrassed, a professional hazard, a professional hazard.
He muttered, "That's more like it."
Since arriving in Mondstadt, he had been on a path of being teased, with no return.
On the first day, he was kissed; on the second day, he got drunk and followed him back to his room; on the third day, he was asked about his preferences... Even though they were all accidents and misunderstandings. No, he needed to quickly finish the outline of his novel and leave Mondstadt.
Wasn't this completely different from what he imagined? He should have come quietly and left quietly, but the reality was completely different from his expectations, like two horses galloping in opposite directions.
Venti was very tactful and knew he couldn't follow him all the time, so when they reached this point, he told Shen Xing that he had a performance in the evening and wouldn't accompany him to continue searching for the Anemo Archon. Not long after, Venti left.
Watching the green figure disappear into the distance until he was out of sight, Shen Xing leaned against the wall, casually putting away the map he had been pretending to draw circles on, "Finally, he's gone."
This performance was exhausting. To make a lie believable, he had to make it true. After these few hours, he almost wore out the name of Lord Barbatos. Now that he was relaxed, his mind was still filled with the repetitive chant: "Lord Barbatos... Barbatos..."
Shen Xing: "..."
He was somewhat impressed by Venti's poker face. He had been calling the god's name right in front of him, yet Venti felt no shame or embarrassment, even joining him in calling his own name.
Calling himself.
He played the part well.
Shen Xing rolled his eyes, straightened up, and chose a direction to walk, planning to take a detour back to the inn.
He was currently inside Mondstadt's city walls, with the high walls to his right. Further ahead was Mondstadt's east gate, leading to Cider Lake, and then the Fishing Association by the lakeside.
He planned to pull another all-nighter tonight, estimating that he could finish the outline. Shen Xing touched the wound on his lower lip, which had scabbed over and was about to fall off.
Thinking about how he could soon leave Mondstadt and return to familiar Liyue, Shen Xing forgot about his recent bad luck and felt happy.
Liyue was still the best.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, a child's voice rang out, and immediately after, Shen Xing felt a tug at his waist, forcing him to stop. Looking down, he saw a girl in red with a small backpack, Klee.
Shen Xing: "..."
"Big brother, Klee has never seen you before." Klee blinked her big red eyes, tilting her head to look up at Shen Xing, who lowered his head. Seeing his red eyes, she widened her eyes in surprise and delight, "Wow! Red eyes, just like mine!"
"Does big brother have a Pyro Vision too?"
Did Klee sneak out again? Shen Xing instinctively looked around, not seeing Jean or any of the Knights of Favonius. He replied to Klee, "I'm not Pyro, Klee, I'm Anemo."
"Anemo?" Klee followed Shen Xing's gesture to see the Vision, a green one, like the wind.
"Has the Anemo Archon returned?!"
She said this and then tilted her head in confusion, "Big brother knows Klee's name, but Klee hasn't met you."
"Who are you?"
"Me?" Shen Xing smiled mischievously, saying with a straight face, "I'm the Anemo Archon, of course I know your name."
Klee's eyes widened, hugging Shen Xing tighter, full of innocence and trust, "Really? Then Anemo Archon, please save Klee. Klee doesn't want to be caught by the big bad wolf and locked in a room... It's so boring, and no one talks to Klee."
"Anemo Archon, please take Klee away." Klee urged repeatedly.
Shen Xing: ... So she really did sneak out.
As they spoke, the sound of footsteps grew louder and more chaotic. Shen Xing even heard Jean's voice, and Klee heard it too, looking frightened like a startled rabbit, burrowing into Shen Xing's arms.
"Please, Klee really doesn't want to be grounded. Anemo Archon, please save Klee!"
Shen Xing couldn't resist a child's plea, especially Klee's. He immediately picked her up and ran with the wind.
Klee believed even more that he was the Anemo Archon, her eyes filled with joy as she felt the wind rushing past them. They were flying. Klee clung to Shen Xing's clothes, looking down, seeing Cider Lake below.
Shen Xing moved quickly, and within two breaths, they had flown past Cider Lake, heading east, with Whispering Woods below.
Klee: "Amazing! We're in the sky! Anemo Archon, you're amazing!"
A child's praise is the purest and most genuine. Klee's unabashed joy was infectious, and Shen Xing couldn't help but smile.
The wind blew his black hair away from his forehead, revealing smooth, fair skin. The flames in his eyes sparkled in the sunlight, his face gentle and serene.
Klee looked down, then tugged on Shen Xing's clothes, "Stop, let's go down and play, Anemo Archon."
After landing with Klee, Shen Xing saw Starfell Lake and understood. She wanted to fish-bomb again.
Klee hadn't been out for a long time, and now, seeing the lake full of fish, she was excited, pulling Shen Xing towards the pond. As they got closer, she put a finger to her lips, "Shh."
She pulled out two bombs from her backpack, handing one to Shen Xing.
Klee said seriously, "These fish are very alert. We have to approach quietly. Anemo Archon, will you play with Klee?"
Shen Xing: "Call me Shen Xing, Klee. Stop calling me Anemo Archon."
He wondered if Venti had heard her after all these calls. He should be at the tavern or performing now; they had just parted ways. He had left Mondstadt City, and Venti shouldn't be bored enough to waste his divine power.
But still, better not call him that. It would be awkward if things went south.
After playing, Shen Xing patted Klee's head. Though puzzled, Klee nodded.
He looked at the dodo bomb in his hand, red and fascinating. This was a real-life collectible. He was eager to try it out. Bombing fish, huh? Apart from playing with firecrackers as a kid, he had never played with real explosives.
Shen Xing surveyed the surroundings. The forest was far from them, and only a statue of the Anemo Archon stood quietly in the lake's center, watching them.
He led Klee along the lake's edge, away from the sparse trees, ensuring there were no flammable materials before asking, "I'll play with you. How do you use this?"
Typically, explosives need to be ignited. Shen Xing examined the dodo bomb, finding no place to light it.
Klee blinked, innocently holding the bomb, "Just like this, big brother, watch."
She threw the dodo bomb into the lake where the fish were. Shen Xing saw the bomb enveloped in flames just before hitting the water, followed by a loud explosion.
The lake's surface rippled, and the fish caught in the blast were sent flying, many landing on the Anemo Archon statue, their white eyes indicating they had passed on.
Shen Xing was stunned, suddenly understanding why Klee was so strictly controlled by Jean. The destructive power was quite something.
While he was in shock, Klee handed him two more bombs. After demonstrating, Klee jumped up and down, looking at the fish with white eyes in the center, and said to Shen Xing, "Klee will light the bomb for you, big brother, you throw it."
"Fun, fun!"
Shen Xing: ... Dear heavens, will these three bombs destroy Venti's statue?
He couldn't afford that.
Shen Xing began to change the subject, "Klee, do you know why you're grounded?"
Klee: "...Klee... knows. Because I used dodo bombs to fish-bomb and almost hurt others."
"So you can't play with bombs, understand? Playing with fire might make you wet the bed at night!"
Klee was startled, and Shen Xing continued, "You sneaked out this time, and Jean will definitely worry about you. Let's play a little longer and then take you back."
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded obediently, "Okay, then what should we play, big brother?"
Shen Xing scratched his head, unsure of what to play with a child.
Suddenly, Klee's eyes lit up, and she took off her backpack, unzipping it and rummaging through it, "Found it!"
"Anemo Archon, tell me a story!"
She shoved a book into Shen Xing's hands.
Seeing what he was holding, Shen Xing was petrified.
No, how did Klee get this novel? How does Jean manage the child, allowing her to get her hands on his book?
"Can you tell me where you got this?"
Klee: "I took it from the big bad wolf's desk when she wasn't around. The people in the book look nice, but there are many words Klee doesn't understand. Can you read it to me?"
"This one is a no-go," Shen Xing flatly refused.
Klee tilted her head, feeling wronged. She couldn't fish-bomb, and now she couldn't hear a story. "Why?"
"Because the book's content is very bad, and good kids shouldn't read it."
Tears began to well up in Klee's eyes, threatening to cry if he didn't read it to her.
Shen Xing panicked, quickly saying, "How about we continue fish-bombing?"
The little girl's tears receded, "Then play with Klee."
As soon as she spoke, Klee was already beside him, a small flame appearing in her palm, extending it to Shen Xing.
Shen Xing sighed, tossing the novel aside, holding the three bombs and moving closer.
No choice, he had to play. Better to risk the statue than see a child cry.
As he approached, the flame suddenly flared up, leaping high.
Startled, Shen Xing quickly retreated, a strand of hair on his forehead singed, the smell of burnt protein wafting to his nose. Shen Xing was shocked to see the flame leave Klee's hand, chasing after him!
Damn, the fire had come to life.
Klee's eyes widened, watching the flame chase Shen Xing back and forth. Though puzzled, she thought it was a trick Shen Xing was playing with her, thinking the Anemo Archon was amazing.
She clapped her hands, exclaiming, "Wow, amazing!"
Shen Xing ran so fast he left afterimages, utterly baffled by the flame's pursuit. He tried using Anemo to extinguish it, only for it to flare up even more.
Not only did it grow thicker, but it also lengthened.
It lunged at him, looking like a clingy admirer.
"..."
The scorching flame cut through the air, and Shen Xing could see the air distorting where it passed. He quickly surveyed the surrounding trees, realizing he couldn't escape, as it might cause a fire. His only option was—
He turned his gaze to the lake.
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