Without thinking, Shen Xing dove into the water. This should put it out; a whole lake couldn't be dried up by a single flame.
The lake was shallow, the water reaching only his waist. As he submerged, he saw the flame coming straight for him and quickly held his breath, crouching down. The flame, like a moth to a flame, dove into the water.
Holding his breath underwater, Shen Xing watched in disbelief as the flame, like a ravenous wolf, clung to him!
Already stunned by this development, the flame, with intimate familiarity, wrapped around his exposed leg, spiraling upwards. The clothes it touched instantly turned to ash.
Shen Xing stood up abruptly, frantically shaking his right leg, water splashing everywhere. But apart from nearly slipping due to the water's resistance, he couldn't shake off or extinguish the persistent flame.
Klee, standing by the lake, watched the soaked, clothes-clinging, disheveled boy, blinking, and called out to him, "What's wrong?"
Submerged up to his waist, Shen Xing, panicked and embarrassed, covered his lower body. His pants were gone! Looking at the flame, it brushed past his thigh, and before Shen Xing could blush, it spiraled up to his waist, setting his shirt on fire.
"——!!!"
Shen Xing tried to put out the fire while loudly warning Klee not to come over: "Stay back!"
Klee tilted her head, staring at the suddenly ignited Shen Xing, slowly forming a "?"
The Vision hanging at his waist fell into the water as his clothes burned away, a small crack appearing on the wind pattern.
Shen Xing didn't notice his Vision was gone, too busy wrestling with the precarious fabric covering his chest.
"Let go of me!" Shen Xing cursed.
This flame was bizarre, clinging to him without causing any pain or burns. His skin wasn't even scorched, not even a hint of heat, yet the clothes it touched were completely consumed.
The young man's curses were incomprehensible to anyone present, except Klee. Though directed at the flame, the flame itself couldn't understand, continuing its upward spiral.
In mere moments, all his clothes were burned away.
Instead, the three bombs in his hand accidentally brushed against the flame, and before Shen Xing could react, three consecutive explosions sent him flying.
Klee's eyes widened, watching the lake water and Shen Xing, who was blasted into the air, stunned.
The next moment, Klee was drenched in water.
Oh no... Klee had blown up the Anemo Archon with her bombs, what should she do...
Klee stood helplessly by the lake, looking at the motionless Shen Xing, who had been blasted into the water, anxious and scared.
The loud explosion at Starfell Lake had already caught Jean's attention. Rushing over, she saw Klee, soaked and disheveled, tears on her face. Jean was alarmed, worriedly embracing her, "What happened?"
Klee, with a sobbing voice, said, "Bombs... Klee's bombs killed someone."
Jean's breath hitched.
Then she heard Klee say, "Klee blew up the Anemo Archon, wuwuwu—"
Jean: ???
Impossible.
Jean patted Klee's wet head, comforting her, "It's okay, I'm here. Where is that person?"
"In the water." Klee pointed, just as the water splashed, and Shen Xing emerged, bewildered, seeing Klee pointing at him, Jean with a blank expression, and the Knights of Favonius she had brought.
"..."
Suddenly, it was incredibly awkward.
Shen Xing quickly crouched down, arms wrapped around his bare body, his face turning crimson.
His previously tied shoulder-length hair had been burned away by the flame, now hanging wet around his neck.
Originally all black, his hair now had a gradient of red at the tips, dripping water down his smooth, fair skin, tracing his spine and slender waist, merging into the lake.
Shen Xing, helplessly hugging himself, huddled in the water, yet the lake was clear, revealing everything at a glance. Internally, he screamed, wishing he could dig a hole and disappear.
Klee, overjoyed, cried out, "Anemo Archon, you're okay, that's great, you scared Klee!"
Jean's expression darkened, covering Klee's eyes, holding her close, noticing the novel carelessly thrown on the ground, her gaze sharp as she looked at the naked boy huddled in the water.
This person was unfamiliar, not from Mondstadt, and had taken Klee to this place. Considering the book on the ground, Jean could almost imagine what would have happened to Klee if she hadn't arrived in time.
This pervert even dared to impersonate the Anemo Archon. Jean's eyes were cold as she ordered the Knights of Favonius, "Arrest him."
Shen Xing: ?
No, Jean, you?
Already, a Knight of Favonius followed orders, approaching in the water. Shen Xing quickly said, "Wait, why are you arresting me? I didn't do anything!"
Jean bent down to pick up the soaked novel.
Shen Xing's expression stiffened, suddenly connecting the dots, understanding why Captain Jean was arresting him.
Looking down at his current state, with only Klee, a little girl, on the scene, and the inappropriate novel on the ground—he was being mistaken for a pervert who preys on little girls!
"This is a misunderstanding!" Shen Xing, being pushed back step by step, trembled as he spoke.
No one responded to his defense.
With no other option, Shen Xing considered running, but his Anemo powers weren't working.
He looked down, realizing his Vision was gone.
A bolt from the blue.
Swallowing hard, Shen Xing forced a smile, "Hey, can I get some clothes?"
The Knight of Favonius he addressed wasn't much older than him, looking like a newcomer to the Knights. His first mission with his seniors, and he encountered a naked person.
The key was, this boy was beautiful. Shen Xing, with his hair tied up, looked handsome. Now, with his hair down, his moist(?) red eyes looked at him pitifully, making the young Knight blush.
He was a bit nervous, looking down at the smaller person, "My clothes are too big for you... I only have a skirt I bought for my little sister. Um... do you want to wear it?"
Shen Xing: ... Damn height difference.
After a moment of silence, Shen Xing gritted his teeth, "I'll wear it."
It's better than being naked and arrested. It's just a skirt, no big deal. He'd bite the bullet and get through it. No one he knew was here, and no one saw him. He'd never mention this.
The young Knight whispered with his colleague, who laughed and scolded him, "You rascal," before the young Knight reported to Captain Jean, who nodded.
Shen Xing guessed they were worried he'd affect the city's image. He took the clothes handed to him, watching them all turn their backs, giving him privacy to change. Only then did Shen Xing, feeling awkward, stand up from the water, walk to the shore, and quickly put on the red dress.
He pinched the hem, feeling uncomfortable with the breeze on his legs, examining the clothes.
To be fair, it fit well.
He touched his exposed shoulder and collarbone, then looked at the knee-length red skirt, sighing. Though he had no underwear, it was better than being naked, just lacking a sense of security.
He tried taking a step, feeling the chill on his legs and butt.
"..."
They urged, "Are you done?"
Reluctantly, Shen Xing replied with a hum.
They turned around, their sharp gazes landing on Shen Xing, but they all paused.
The young Knight's eyes widened, his ears turning red, his gaze dropping, wandering, "You look nice."
Shen Xing: "?"
Seeing him seemingly shy, Shen Xing was shocked. No, dude, you?
Klee, still held by Jean, struggled free, "Why cover Klee's eyes? What happened to the Anemo Archon?"
She turned her head, seeing Shen Xing, held by two Knights, and then his dress, her eyes widening, "Wow! The Anemo Archon is wearing the same color dress as Klee, so pretty."
"Why are you arresting him? Let him go!"
The Knights didn't move. Seeing this, Klee understood and said to Jean, "Captain Jean, Klee won't sneak out again, let them let him go."
Jean: "He's a bad guy, Klee, and bad guys must be punished."
Jean spoke to Klee while signaling the Knights to take Shen Xing away. Shen Xing, held by two tall Knights, felt more wronged than Dou E, struggling, "I'm innocent—!!"
Pushed along by the burly Knights, Shen Xing wailed.
Realizing it was futile, Shen Xing gained a new understanding of his bad luck. It seemed since arriving in Mondstadt, he had been unlucky. It must be the water and soil! After this, he would leave!
Frustrated, Shen Xing clutched his fluttering skirt, awkwardly saying, "Slow down, slow down."
"Stop stalling, move!"
Shen Xing: Flips the bird.
Where's the promised gentleness of Mondstadt? Nowhere, he hadn't felt it at all.
Taken to the Knights of Favonius headquarters as a criminal, facing Jean's questioning, Shen Xing insisted he did nothing wrong, claiming innocence.
He miserably confessed everything, saying he was from Liyue, visiting Mondstadt for a few days, describing how he met Klee, and emphasizing that the novel was given to him by Klee.
Jean searched for the novel on his desk, finding it gone, so she believed Shen Xing's words a bit.
Klee did take her things.
But what made Jean distrust Shen Xing was his claim of being the Anemo Archon. As one of the few who knew the Anemo Archon's true identity, Jean took this seriously.
An outsider impersonating Mondstadt's god was a serious crime, even in Mondstadt, known for its freedom.
Even though Mondstadt was the City of Freedom, compared to other nations, especially the law-strict Fontaine, it was lenient, but impersonating their god was a line no one dared to cross.
Jean scrutinized Shen Xing, wearing a red dress, surprisingly not out of place. This boy was the first.
"You say you're innocent, but impersonating a god is an unforgivable crime."
Shen Xing: "..."
Jean: "Do you have anything else to say?"
That was just a casual remark, who knew it would lead to this. Shen Xing asked, "What will happen to me?"
Jean uncrossed her hands, leaning back in her chair, casually saying, "For impersonating a god, the crime is unforgivable, so you'll be imprisoned for life."
Shen Xing: "..."
"No! I have something to say!"
Jean looked at him, seemingly interested in what he had to say.
"My friend is still waiting for me, he doesn't know about this. If possible, could he bring my clothes? I can't be imprisoned in a dress, right?" Shen Xing lowered his head, weakly saying.
Expecting him to argue, who knew this boy named Shen Xing didn't, instead asking a small favor. Jean nodded, "Alright, where is your friend? I can notify him."
"I don't know where he is..."
Jean raised an eyebrow, friends not knowing each other's whereabouts, was he playing her?
"—His name is Venti, maybe you can find him at the tavern or the plaza." Shen Xing said.
Jean was stunned.
"You said your friend's name is Venti?"