The subsequent announcement of a ten-pull login bonus delighted many players.
After all, Genshin Impact had never been this generous in regular version updates.
Owlbert: "After covering the rewards, we have an announcement about a change that blends in-game and out-of-game elements."
"The development team hopes Trailblazers can experience a drama-like immersion while progressing through the story."
"Starting from version 1.1, the game will increase the proportion of story CGs, enhancing the quality of cinematics."
"Trailblazers might suddenly encounter story animations lasting over 20 minutes during missions."
"To avoid overly long animations impacting some players' experience, you can pause playback at any time."
"In the future, some of the Thousand-Star Chronicles and animated shorts released on official channels will also be integrated into the game's story."
"However, this means some story shorts can only be viewed on the day of the new version update to avoid spoilers."
[Yes, yes, YES!]
[Awesome!]
[Big rewards, over 20 minutes?]
[Holy cow, it's really like chasing a show in-game?]
[So cool!]
"Alright, that wraps up the full content of the 1.1 version preview special program."
"Thank you all, Trailblazers, for watching. See you next time!"
"Catch you in-game!"
The preview ended, and Ah Xian had already drained her milk carton.
"Sorry, family, I got too loud earlier."
"I panicked."
"Why's it still ten days until 1.1? I can't wait to see my husband Leon!!!"
"I paid my water bill yesterday, and this month's water is all for him!"
"A clever wife struggles without rice, but my husband Leon is my rice, and I can't wait to cook him hard!"
[????]
[What's with the question marks? Get used to it.]
[Daily dose of cringe, a brand-new power-generating phrase.]
"Logging off, logging off. I need to focus on creating to ease my longing for him with my brush~~"
Whether Ah Xian was exaggerating for show or genuinely felt this way, one thing was certain: she logged off at lightning speed.
And drawing doujins? Also real.
Ten days later, in the morning.
Having updated the game and waited for maintenance to end, Ah Xian finally saw the servers open.
Upon entering the game, the main story prompt popped up with an option to view a recap.
Skip.
She was in a hurry.
[Shortly after you, Welt, and March 7th arrived at the Xianzhou Luofu, on the Astral Express…]
In the Parlor Car, the figures of Leon and Himeko appeared.
Himeko, stunned: "You're… getting off the train?"
"Yeah, I'm worried." Leon's smile faded slightly, replaced by a touch of seriousness.
"No way! Your injuries are severe. If—"
Himeko stopped mid-sentence, meeting Leon's calm, unwavering eyes, her remaining words turning into a sigh.
"You said you'd be careful."
Leon said softly: "Exactly because I'm careful, I've decided to go. I just didn't tell them directly because I didn't want them to worry."
"If I'd said it upfront, everyone would've opposed me like you are."
His voice was gentle, his usual carefree, almost Path of Nihility-like smile gone.
In its place was a heartwarming, soft smile.
Ah Xian felt her heart clench.
"Starting with true damage, is my toughness bar gonna hit zero and break later?"
"…He's so yasashii, I'm crying!"
[Curse that yasashii vibe!]
[But honestly, Leon's expression and tone are super gentle right now.]
Himeko sighed again.
"Be careful."
"Of course. I promised everyone. As for Dan Heng…"
"I won't tell him for now."
"Alright, no time to waste. See you later."
With that, Leon vanished behind Himeko, leaving the Parlor Car.
The screen faded to black, then lit up again, showing him stepping onto the Luofu.
"So Leon got off the train before Dan Heng? MiHoYo, you sure know how to hide stuff!"
Seeing this, Ah Xian instinctively gritted her teeth.
What did this mean? She understood perfectly.
The 1.1 main story was entirely set within the 1.0 storyline.
She grumbled, but it wasn't enough to make her truly mad.
She knew that too many perspective shifts could disrupt immersion.
"As expected, it's Leon's first-person perspective, and they gave a trial version of him."
Ah Xian glanced at the panel.
"Fully Constellated and maxed skill levels, nice."
"Not a soul in sight?"
While controlling Leon toward the next mission point, he spoke every few steps.
Soon, he reached a few smoking Ingenium birds.
"Xianzhou's surveillance drones… Hmm, signs of deliberate sabotage."
"Let's try fixing them."
Expecting a puzzle, Ah Xian was surprised to find the repair process was a puzzle—but fully automated!
No need to lift a finger or think.
"Amazing, my Leon!"
"If all future story segments with him skip puzzles, that'd be perfect."
"Hmm, fixed. Let's check the surveillance system."
The Ingenium bird took flight, overlooking the entire area from above.
"This isn't Central Starskiff Haven. Wrong coordinates?"
"No… I followed the residual signals of the landing craft…"
"They likely landed nearby… or maybe not."
Leon's inner thoughts: "(Probably related to the Stellaron Hunters. I recall there's a little hacker…)"
"(Kids are easy to deal with. Let's try some sharp-tongued provocation.)"
"You Stellaron Hunters are even more shameless than I imagined…"
"You ask for our help, offer no support, and then block our communications?"
"Come on, the Express crew has dealt with Stellarons before. You think we can't tell if a signal's affected by one?"
"Let me guess, the one pulling this off is probably some crude, tacky, hot-tempered tomboy."
"Probably doesn't even have real-life friends, just seeking attention online, cheating in competitive games to mess with people."
"If she loses a match, she probably hides under her blanket, shedding little pearls, right?"
"And if her game accounts keep getting banned, how red would that face get?"
From the player's perspective, seeing Leon smirk while delivering this string of taunts nearly sent them into hysterics.
Having watched the 1.1 preview, most knew who he was targeting.
Silver Wolf, obviously.
Especially later, in Silver Wolf's Companion Mission, when her game account actually got banned, it was laugh-out-loud hilarious.
Is Leon a prophet or what?
How was he so spot-on?