Chapter 17
Halfway through his run, Shen Xing looked back, not seeing any sign of Venti, and finally relaxed.
He didn't know what had gotten into Venti to suddenly claim he was the Anemo Archon. Recalling the storyline where Venti seriously declared he was Barbatos while the nun didn't believe him and Venti's aggrieved expression, Shen Xing grinned.
That's how it should be. If Venti insisted on revealing his identity later, he would resolutely refuse to believe it.
It's not about what you think; it's about what I think.
Who would have thought there'd be a second person who wouldn't believe you even when you admitted your true identity? Can't blame me; you don't look like a god at all, neither in appearance nor in behavior.
Shen Xing didn't return directly to his lodging.
Taking advantage of Venti's absence, he sneakily made his way to the most famous place—Windrise. Not seeing any sign of Venti, he observed the area and then took out a notebook and pen to jot down his impressions and the surroundings.
After sketching a simple drawing, he closed the notebook, activated his Vision, and explored Mondstadt.
The last novel focused mainly on the romance plot, with little mention of place names and character names, as it was primarily set in Snezhnaya. That place hadn't been revealed in the modern game, not even Natlan, but the Tsaritsa's domain was undoubtedly the most dangerous place, and he wasn't about to risk going to the Fatui's territory.
But now he was writing about Venti, and as his new friend, Shen Xing would take it seriously.
With a mischievous grin, Shen Xing sneaked over to the Stormterror's Lair. As soon as he entered, he heard the familiar sound of machinery activating, and he could almost imagine being targeted if this were a game.
He looked up, and sure enough, the Ruin Guard stationed at the entrance had risen, its mechanical legs striding toward him.
This thing was every newbie's nightmare back then. Every beginner had been crushed by its spinning attack, and even the Geo Archon's shield couldn't withstand its whirlwind.
But later on, it became a joke, and taking down a Ruin Guard was child's play.
In reality, facing a Ruin Guard with such a height difference would be enough to scare off countless adventurers. Its tracking missiles were no joke, and few adventurers could escape unscathed; it was either death or injury.
If an ordinary person without a Vision encountered this thing, there was no other option but to run. But if it encountered someone with a Vision, it might as well wave a white flag.
Yet Shen Xing had no intention of running. His eyes reflected the Ruin Guard's targeting flames, making his gaze even more striking.
The boy with a small ponytail on his right shoulder slowly tucked his notebook away. As the missiles fired, he moved so fast it was like an afterimage, dodging the barrage and swiftly closing in on the Ruin Guard, delivering a powerful kick to its steel leg!
The Ruin Guard emitted mechanical sounds, tilting forward and crashing heavily to the ground.
With his hair trailing in the air, Shen Xing landed steadily on the Ruin Guard's back, effortlessly piercing its core.
"Ruin Guard, rest in peace."
Shen Xing clapped his hands, smiling as he patted the now-defunct Ruin Guard. He had said he hit hard, and it would hurt.
Thinking of how Venti had teased him, and how he had lightly tapped Venti's head, with Venti furrowing his brows and saying it hurt, Shen Xing's grin twitched as he dismounted.
If he really fought Venti, Shen Xing imagined the scene. If he went by Venti's combat power in the storyline, he thought he could take him down, considering the scene where La Signora extracted the Gnosis, and Venti had no strength to fight back.
However... if he disregarded Venti's act, Shen Xing recalled how Venti had taken him to find his Vision, and they had arrived at their destination in the blink of an eye.
If he had moved like that in the storyline, even if they didn't fight, just hiding, La Signora wouldn't have found him.
As one of the only two original Archons who survived the Archon War and the Cataclysm, Venti couldn't be weak. Shen Xing concluded that if Venti got serious, he would lose before he even made a move.
Shaking his head, Shen Xing patted his head. What strange thoughts was he having? Why was he thinking about fighting Venti?
Venti would never fight him.
If Venti really wanted to make a move, Shen Xing wouldn't even bother. He'd just lie down.
After all, he wasn't facing an ordinary person but an Archon. Why fight? Surrendering was more comfortable.
Venti's personality wouldn't lead to a fight, and Shen Xing leaped to the top of a ruined tower, stepping on the massive formation to confirm it was like a floor, observing the glowing, constantly operating array.
He had long suspected it was a seal, and with its similarity to Venti's skill patterns, it was likely that Venti had sealed something beneath it.
Not daring to linger, Shen Xing sketched a few lines in his notebook and left for Mondstadt.
He inquired about the West Wind Knight's shift and headed to Lisa's library with a bag of Mora.
Casually scanning the bookshelves, he found mostly reference materials, history, and geography. Finding it uninteresting, Shen Xing withdrew his gaze and soon found the person he was looking for in a corner of the library.
"Hey, you're the boy from before." The handsome young man brightened up when he saw Shen Xing approaching. "You're okay, right? Captain Jean didn't give you a hard time?"
The guy seemed genuinely concerned, and Shen Xing nodded. "No, I was released without charges."
"That's great!"
He smiled, genuinely happy, then realized he was being a bit loud in the library. He lowered his voice and adjusted his expression. "I mean, Captain Jean is fair. She wouldn't wrongfully accuse someone."
The boy's black hair was soft, his long hair tied over his right shoulder, with red tips blending into the black, not looking out of place. His striking red eyes were fixed on him, radiating warmth.
The young West Wind Knight's heart skipped a beat, torn between hesitation and nervousness.
His mother had told him that if he met someone he liked, he should boldly express his feelings. Some things, once missed, could never be found again.
Should he say something? Would it be too forward? He was a man, and the other was the same gender.
What if the boy liked girls? Would he be disliked if he confessed...
But that recent novel about same-sex love was popular, and his sister had introduced him to another kind of affection. Would the boy be resistant to such feelings?
Love was like that. Once it happened to you, it was hard to speak up.
"Can I know your name? I'm Herder," he said.
"Shen Xing, like the stars. I'm from Liyue."
After introducing himself, Shen Xing noticed the tall guy suddenly getting nervous, especially when he looked up at him. The guy's face was trembling unnaturally, leaving Shen Xing puzzled. Did he look intimidating or unapproachable?
In that case, he should quickly state his purpose.
"Thank you for lending me your clothes. Returning the dress after wearing it doesn't seem right, especially since it was for your sister. I have some Mora here. You can buy her a new one."
Shen Xing handed him the money bag.
Seeing him hesitate, Shen Xing repeated, "Take it."
Herder hesitated before accepting it, his body tense under his armor. "Are you free tonight? I'd like to treat you to dinner."
"Can we be friends?"
Seeing him accept it, Shen Xing was thinking about meeting up with Venti. He didn't want to keep him waiting too long. Hearing Herder's words, he paused but didn't think much of it, assuming he was socially awkward. "I'm meeting a friend tonight, so I might not be able to."
"Of course, we can be friends."
Who would refuse more friends? The more friends, the more paths.
"Then," Herder said, "how about tomorrow—?"
Shen Xing shook his head. "I'm planning to return to Liyue tomorrow."
Herder paused, saying nothing more, only adding, "Alright, next time you're in Mondstadt, I'll treat you to a meal."
After agreeing, Shen Xing waved to him. "I'm off."
Usually, such invitations were just polite formalities, so Shen Xing didn't take it to heart. His figure disappeared between the library shelves, leaving Herder with a disappointed expression.
This really was a library. They even had books from Sumeru. Shen Xing walked while looking up, as the books were on the top shelf, and he could only see them by tilting his head.
Arranged in order were:
"Adventures in the Sumeru Rainforest," "Theories on the Existence of Aranara," "The Grand Scribe's Collection of Jokes"...
Wait, wasn't there something odd mixed in?
Shen Xing squinted, trying hard to see the thin book sandwiched in the middle. The title was indeed "The Grand Scribe's Collection of Jokes," almost making him burst out laughing in the quiet library. Who was so talented to write a book just for Cyno?
He was a bit curious.
Shen Xing reached for the book.
His trembling fingers stopped at the fourth shelf, while the book was on the fifth, not even touching the corner.
"..."
He stood on tiptoe, reaching again.
"What book do you want?"
Just then, a familiar female voice came from behind, causing Shen Xing to lose his balance and stumble back a few steps, only to be caught by a pair of hands on his shoulders.
"Careful."
Lisa looked down at Shen Xing, pausing when she saw his unfamiliar face. Then, with a teasing tone, she leaned in and said, "Hello, cutie. You look new. How come I haven't seen you in Mondstadt before?"
Her hair brushed against Shen Xing's face, carrying a hint of perfume. Hearing her tone, Shen Xing froze.
Li... Lisa—!
Lisa easily grabbed the book from the top shelf, showing him the cover. "Is this the one you wanted?"
Shen Xing took a closer look.
"Yandere Experiment Maniac and His Runaway Executor"!!!
He was petrified.
Why was this novel in the library? Was it appropriate?
With Lisa right behind him, Shen Xing didn't dare move, even inching forward a bit. Lisa drew out her words, "I didn't expect it. I thought I hid it well on the top shelf, but you found it. Cutie, are you interested in this... hmm, very much?"
"This one's mine, not the library's. I can lend it to you. Just remember to return it when you're done."
Shen Xing quickly replied, "No, thank you!"
With that, he ducked down and dashed away.
Only after leaving the library did Shen Xing relax. He had goosebumps earlier. He really wasn't good at dealing with people like Lisa.
Shen Xing arrived at Angel's Share, only to see a familiar green figure sitting pitifully at a table outside the tavern, the other tables and chairs empty, looking lonely and desolate.
It was as if he had always been alone.
The sight made Shen Xing pause, quickening his pace to approach. "Venti, why didn't you wait inside?"
Venti looked up. "You're here."
Then he gave a helpless smile, the previous dead atmosphere dissipating. He pointed to the sign hanging on the tavern door, looking innocent. "I wanted to, but I couldn't."
Shen Xing followed his gesture.
There was a sign on the door, black and white, with clear and striking words: "Venti is not allowed inside."