Chapter 16
Does that mean he has to walk around town in this outfit?
Shen Xing felt utterly deflated. Just moments ago, he was full of energy, but now he was like a deflated balloon. Venti led him out of the room and into Jean's office. Before Jean could even stand up respectfully, Venti said:
"I believe the Anemo Archon is magnanimous and won't blame Shen Xing for what he did. He didn't impersonate out of malice; he was just comforting a child."
"He really is my friend, and he's a child of an old friend from Liyue who asked me to look after him. Captain Jean, please be lenient~"
Venti winked at Jean.
Jean: "..." Since the Anemo Archon himself said so, she couldn't say much more.
Shen Xing, still in a daze, was easily led out by Venti, released without charges. Was it really that easy?
Glancing at Venti, who was humming a tune as he led him away, Shen Xing thought it made sense. Since Venti himself said it was fine, what could Jean say? Having connections felt great.
Indeed, clinging to a big shot was the best decision he ever made.
If you asked what the biggest big shot in Teyvat was, it had to be the current Seven Archons.
Shen Xing's gaze fell on Venti, who seemed unaware. He had already secured Zhongli's support, one of the only two original Archons from the Archon War. He suspected that Venti wasn't as weak as he appeared in the storyline. Why not try to build a relationship with Venti too, and secure his support?
If his cover was blown in the future, Zhongli and Venti might let him off the hook for the sake of their friendship.
Winning over Zhongli involved staying by his side and spending money on him. As for winning over Venti... Shen Xing couldn't think of anything else. In the storyline, Venti mostly appeared in scenes involving alcohol or apples.
All things considered, Venti seemed easier to win over.
And just now, Venti mentioned that an old friend from Liyue asked him to look after him. The only person who could say that was Zhongli. Shen Xing felt touched; his efforts and gestures hadn't been in vain. Zhongli was indeed reliable, unlike Venti!
With these thoughts, Shen Xing gritted his teeth, feeling the wind from all directions. Once he finished the last bit of his outline, he planned to return.
He really couldn't stay in Mondstadt any longer!
Venti turned back, smiling. "This time, I saved you. How do you plan to repay me?"
"..." He wanted a reward.
"We're friends now. Talking about repayment feels distant," Shen Xing said.
Venti: "True."
Shen Xing asked, "I noticed you seemed familiar with Captain Jean. Did she let me off so easily?"
How would Venti respond?
Venti blinked and chuckled. "Well, as I said, I have a wide circle of friends. Being friends with me is never a loss~"
Shen Xing: "..."
"By the way, Shen Xing, you've already admitted we're friends," Venti said, walking alongside him with a smile. "I heard you say we're good friends."
Why was he so fixated on this?
Shen Xing nodded, a bit speechless. "Yes, we're friends now."
Venti smiled, his eyes narrowing. Shen Xing asked again, "You told Captain Jean that I'm a child your old friend from Liyue asked you to look after. Who's your old friend?"
Venti: "It's Zhongli, you know, that old man who's always drinking tea and listening to opera."
Although he knew Venti would describe him that way, hearing it firsthand was different. Shen Xing asked, "How did you two meet? You don't seem like people who would get along."
"That's a se~cret~"
Shen Xing thought to himself, you're quite something, just saying it's a secret without even bothering to lie.
The two walked side by side through the streets, drawing the attention of passersby. People cast subtle glances back and forth between them, and even some bards Venti knew came up to tease, saying, "Venti, you have a girlfriend now?"
Then came unabashed compliments, saying where did he find someone so pretty like Shen Xing.
Shen Xing: "..." I'd rather hear someone say I'm handsome.
Venti wasn't fazed by their words. After casually dealing with them, he turned to Shen Xing with a playful eyebrow raise. "You really are beautiful. I was stunned at first sight too!"
In short, he was asking for a beating.
Shen Xing expressionlessly punched him in the head, then walked away.
Venti, clutching his head in disbelief, had never been hit on the head since he became conscious. Even when he angered Morax in the past, it was just a Tian Dong Wan Xiang, but it never actually hit him.
Now, caught off guard by a punch, Venti was a bit dazed. He adjusted his slightly flattened hat and followed, looking aggrieved. "That really hurt."
"I gave up my bard's work and came all this way to save you, and you hit me. It really hurts~"
Venti hung his head, looking extremely pitiful, and followed him, chattering incessantly, as if he wouldn't stop until Shen Xing responded.
Why was a god so noisy?
The phrase floated through Shen Xing's mind.
Give up his bard's work? Not long ago, he said a bard's work was flexible, and now he's bringing it up again.
And today's wind was unexpectedly strong, almost blowing up his skirt a few times. Shen Xing's first thought was that the Anemo Archon beside him was messing with him.
But whenever he looked at Venti, the ever-chatty Venti would immediately meet his gaze, even with a layer of moisture in his eyes, looking pitiful as if Shen Xing had bullied him.
He hadn't hit him hard at all. What an actor.
Shen Xing started to spout nonsense. "Haven't you heard the saying, 'hitting is affection, scolding is love'?"
"You were so annoying just now, joining in when others teased me. I couldn't help but hit you. It wasn't a real hit. If I really hit you, you wouldn't be able to get up now. I hit hard."
"This kind of thing is common between good friends."
Venti let out an "oh" and then asked, "Since hitting is affection, does that mean Shen Xing wants to be affectionate with me?"
Hearing Venti's words, Shen Xing almost choked on the wind, his expression twisted. "No, I don't want to be affectionate with you! It means we're close, like family!"
What kind of understanding was that? He must be doing it on purpose. He looked young, but inside, he was an old man thousands of years old.
Afraid Venti would say something else, Shen Xing quickly said, "I need to go change clothes, then head back to Starfell Lake. I dropped my Vision in the lake. If you're busy, you can go ahead."
Venti shook his head. "I'm free. I'll go with you."
Shen Xing was about to refuse when Venti said, "It's an old friend's request. You don't have your Vision now, so you need my protection."
He gestured to the Vision hanging from Shen Xing's waist. "I'm quite capable."
Alright, your glass orb is impressive.
There's nothing dangerous in Mondstadt that requires Venti's protection... If he wants to come, let him.
Shen Xing didn't argue with Venti anymore. Holding down his skirt, he walked, feeling the wind only reach his chest. Under Venti's occasional glances, he reached his room and closed the door to change clothes.
After changing, he tied up his loose hair and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Luckily, he had brought a change of clothes; otherwise, he'd have to buy new ones.
Shen Xing looked at the red dress on the bed.
He had worn it, so returning it to that guy didn't seem right, especially since it was a gift for his sister. Shen Xing planned to compensate the guy with Mora after retrieving his Vision.
Opening the door.
Venti, who had been waiting outside, scanned Shen Xing's outfit, a conservative top and pants.
Shen Xing glanced at him. "What are you looking at?"
Venti: "It feels like a waste."
Maybe he should have taken a picture with the Kamera to keep.
"...We're about the same size. If you think it's a waste, you can wear it." Shen Xing squinted down at him.
Venti said, "I'll pass. I prefer green over red."
For some reason, Venti suggested, "You should try wearing something with white and red stripes. I think it would suit you better."
"Shall we go? Let's find your Vision."
With that, Venti extended his hand to Shen Xing.
Shen Xing: "?"
Lowering his gaze to the hand extended in front of him, what was he doing?
"We'll fly there. It's faster than walking."
Shen Xing thought of the wind field Venti created in the game and chuckled.
He was the Anemo Archon, yet he didn't have the flying skills of other Anemo characters. That was Venti for you.
Placing his hand in Venti's palm, Shen Xing didn't anticipate the seriousness of the situation. He was still wondering how Venti would fly with him.
Venti grasped his hand, and in the next moment, he was pulled by the waist. Before Shen Xing could react, he was hit by a gust of wind.
His neatly tied hair was blown into disarray, and he found himself being held by Venti, soaring from the doorway at an incredible speed, faster than an arrow, so fast that he couldn't even catch their shadow. In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at Starfell Lake.
"We're here."
Shen Xing was amazed.
"So fast..."
Rather than saying Venti was flying with him, it was more like teleportation. His power was terrifying. This guy was definitely pretending to be weak.
Taking off his shoes, Shen Xing went to search for his Vision. Fortunately, the lake wasn't large, not like the Cider Lake outside Mondstadt. He found it without much effort.
Shen Xing frowned, rubbing the small crack on the wind pattern. Was this there before?
He hadn't heard of Visions cracking. Shen Xing tested it and found he could still use elemental power.
Reattaching it to his waist, he called Venti to leave.
"I'll treat you to drinks," Shen Xing suddenly said.
Venti looked surprised. Shen Xing continued as they walked, "I promised earlier. You got me out, so I'll treat you to drinks. Also, I plan to return to Liyue tomorrow. Thank you for taking care of me during this time. If you ever come to Liyue, I'll make sure to treat you well."
"Eh," Venti said, "you're leaving so soon."
"Aren't you going to look for the Anemo Archon?"
This guy had an impeccable memory sometimes. Shen Xing gritted his teeth. He really knew how to hit where it hurt.
"No, I've searched all over Mondstadt and asked around. No one has seen the Anemo Archon. Maybe he really doesn't want to see me." Shen Xing feigned disappointment, lowering his head, looking like he had lost a love.
Please, let this topic pass quickly, Shen Xing prayed from the bottom of his heart.
A young adult male human confessing to the Anemo Archon or something, even if Venti himself wasn't embarrassed, he felt ashamed. Still bringing it up, Shen Xing thought Venti had nothing better to do and just wanted to see his expression when he couldn't find the person.
Such bad taste, Shen Xing thought.
"He wouldn't."
Venti suddenly spoke, his voice startlingly close to Shen Xing's ear. "Because he's right here. I am the Anemo Archon, Barbatos."
"?!"
Shen Xing, lost in thought, almost choked on his own breath when he heard Venti's words, starting to cough uncontrollably, his eyes filled with shock.
He looked at Venti, whose face was serious, with no hint of joking. What was he up to? Revealing his identity like this!
As an author who had written countless novels, Shen Xing couldn't help but think in indescribable directions, quickly realizing what Venti meant.
His mind raced with expletives, and he hurriedly said, "Haha, how could that be? Don't joke with me, Venti. That's not funny at all."
"Impersonating a god is a serious crime. Don't get yourself in trouble right after I got out!"
Venti's emerald eyes, beautiful enough to leave one speechless, fixed on him, his lips slightly parted as if he wanted to say more.
Damn it, you're not playing by the rules. Shut up. If you want to reveal your identity, at least put the mask back on! Otherwise, how will I act later? I don't want to risk everything over a casual lie.
Shen Xing covered his mouth, and Venti paused, Shen Xing's face full of understanding. His heart, which had been thrown into chaos by Venti, calmed down, and he started spouting nonsense, his expression serious. "Don't comfort me. I understand what you're trying to say."
"We're friends. Even if you want to comfort me, you can't say you're the Anemo Archon. How is that comforting? What if the Anemo Archon finds out and punishes us?"
"You go to Angel's Share and wait for me. I'll come find you later."
Shen Xing released his mouth, patting Venti's shoulder like a good friend. "Don't forget."
With that, Shen Xing activated his Vision and ran, disappearing from Venti's sight in a hurry.
Translating is a timetaking process sorry for late uploads, Just been a bit demotivated