The Knights of Favonius.
Grand Master's Office.
Seated behind his desk, Varka looked at Gu Chen with an expression of anticipation mixed with barely concealed impatience. After a long while, he let out a sigh.
"Age is still the problem," he said. "And your strength isn't quite enough yet to completely suppress certain dissenting voices…"
"Give me some time," Gu Chen shrugged, unconcerned.
"Besides, you're still young yourself. You can remain Grand Master for a long time yet."
"It's precisely because I'm still young that I should go pursue my dreams," Varka chuckled, then added meaningfully,
"How much have you improved over the past six months?"
At that, Gu Chen thought seriously for a moment before answering,
"About thirty percent."
"Thirty percent?!"
Even Varka was taken aback. Then he sighed with emotion.
"Well… if it's you, that's not surprising. At this rate, by the time you're ten or twelve, you should be able to firmly take control of the Knights."
"You're really not afraid I'll develop some crooked ambitions?" Gu Chen teased.
"Crooked ambitions?"
Varka burst out laughing.
"Do whatever you want. Mondstadt is a land of freedom."
Though he said that, Varka knew Gu Chen wouldn't act that way—otherwise he never would have revealed something as earth-shaking as the body-tempering technique.
After trading banter for a bit, Varka finally turned serious.
"The Knights' cultivation system is now on the right track. You should focus on your own training as well, and at the same time rack up more achievements to strengthen your influence—and to quiet some of those voices."
Gu Chen nodded.
"That's my plan too. But I'll need some help."
"Say the word," Varka replied with a nod.
Teyvat was a wondrous world, and Gu Chen seemed to have his own unique way of accelerating his growth. He immediately asked Varka for various resources—some strange ores, some rare plants.
Varka knew how great the consumption was for body-tempering cultivation. After hearing Gu Chen's request, he raised an eyebrow.
"You're planning to break through in one go?"
"Yes." Gu Chen nodded.
Varka fell into thought, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the desk. After a long moment, he said,
"Very well. I approve."
"And one more thing," Varka continued.
"Remember what I told you before. When you turn ten, I'll take you to visit the Gunnhildr family."
"What for?" Gu Chen asked, puzzled.
"To rope in an assistant, of course," Varka said, pointing at the pile of documents on the desk.
"You don't really want to handle all these trivial matters yourself, do you?"
Gu Chen suddenly understood, then nodded firmly.
"Yes, we absolutely need an assistant!"
The two exchanged a look and burst into laughter, having already planned—within a few casual sentences—how they would "convince" the little girl named Jean from the Gunnhildr family.
[Kaeya]: Gotta say, worthy of the Knights' living legend and the Sect Leader. I swear these two are blessed by the Anemo Archon—how else could they smile so naturally while plotting to trick someone? 😏
[Dvalin]: That expression, that tone—I know it too well. Swap the face and it's basically Barbatos himself.
[Venti]: Hey now, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? 😏
[Jean]: Sigh…
[Paimon]: Jean looks really troubled. Is it because video-Gu Chen and Varka are planning to trick little-you? 😈
[Jean]: …Sigh.
[Lisa]: One can already foresee Jean spending her future buried in paperwork. ☕
[Nilou]: I don't think so! Mr. Gu Chen is such a good person—the video's theme is "The Best Grand Master," so he must be kind! (firm belief)
[Collei]: This is just like a romance novel! Little Gu Chen is leveling up his status and power in the Knights—soon he'll be a domineering CEO! And then Jean… hehe. ✨
[Yae Miko]: Oh my, I can already imagine the "domineering CEO falls for me" plot. 😼
[Jean]: ...
[Lisa]: Mm, a bit cliché, but it really fits the video's trajectory.
[Barbara]: (Qiqi·secretly observing)
[Kaeya]: Barbara, stop observing—you're not escaping either. 😏
[Barbara]: Ah…
[Yae Miko]: Sisters should share both fortune and hardship~ 😼
[Azhdaha]: Allow me to drop a keyword and watch the chat explode: "You arrived just in time." 😏
[Lyney]: The sense of déjà vu is overwhelming!!
[Nahida]: 😲
[Nilou]: I can totally picture it. 😲
[Collei]: Ugh, ugh, ugh! Why can't the video fast-forward?! 😠
[Kirara]: Hurry hurry hurry!!!
[Barbara]: Let's just keep watching. (Qiqi·collapse)
[Paimon]: Even though I know you're changing the subject, Gu Chen's growth speed is insane! If there weren't the possibility he's the Martial Emperor reincarnated, I'd think he wasn't even human—maybe a god's illegitimate child!
After that conversation with Varka, Gu Chen settled into a steady routine.
The new recruits, after half a year of training, were elite in all but actual battlefield experience.
Though still young, they looked sturdy and solid. Those like Diluc, who had cultivated qi and blood, could easily take on several elite knights alone.
They were young, and their time cultivating was short—but given enough time, their future would be dazzling beyond imagination.
Recruits needed real-world experience.
As Chief Instructor, Gu Chen bore that responsibility.
Veteran knights needed no urging—they trained diligently on their own.
Thus, aside from meals and sleep, Gu Chen was either cultivating or leading the recruit battalions into the wilderness to clear monsters.
With intelligence from the Reconnaissance Squads, every sortie yielded rich results.
Victory after victory made Gu Chen's name ring ever louder.
In Mondstadt now, Gu Chen's fame rivaled Varka's. He was widely hailed as Varka's best successor—the future star of the Knights of Favonius.
Perfectly befitting his title: Morningstar Knight.
Diluc and the others who fought alongside Gu Chen rose to prominence as well.
They were young, confident, powerful—seen by the older generation as the indispensable backbone of the Knights' future.
Among them, Diluc shone the brightest, always charging at the front during monster-clearing operations.
Diluc's talent was outstanding, and Gu Chen deliberately nurtured him.
Gu Chen had once heard Diluc speak of his father, Crepus.
Crepus had two regrets in life: failing to become a knight, and never receiving a Vision.
Now his son Diluc had become a knight, making up for one of those regrets.
As for Visions, with the emergence of the body-tempering technique, their importance was gradually fading.
Visions were indeed powerful—but Crepus no longer pursued one so fervently, because with Gu Chen's special permission, he was now qualified to cultivate the body-tempering technique.
"I heard you have a younger brother?"
On the road back, Gu Chen turned his head on horseback to look at the red-haired youth beside him.
Diluc nodded.
"Yes. He's an adopted son my father took in. His name is Kaeya. Father plans to have him take the Knights' entrance exam next year."
As he spoke, a gentle smile appeared on Diluc's face, bright and sunny.
Gu Chen pondered briefly, then said,
"Teach him a bit when you get back. Help him grow quickly and become a leader among the second batch of recruits."
"You mean—?"
Diluc's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Exactly what you're thinking," Gu Chen chuckled.
"All right, let's head into the city."
Their return once again caused a sensation.
This cavalry unit of a hundred had crushed countless monsters—rumor had it they alone had eliminated over twelve monster strongholds!
The people of Mondstadt cheered, lavishing praise without restraint.
Diluc and the other youths held their heads high, backs straight, radiating youthful pride.
[Kaeya]: See? This is what young Diluc was like.
[Zhongli]: A fine, high-spirited youth indeed. 👍
[Alhaitham]: Geniuses inevitably draw attention.
[Azhdaha]: Charging into monster hordes at that age like it's nothing, racking up merits, then returning to a city cheering your name—I can't even imagine how good Diluc must've felt. 😏
[Tartaglia]: Oh, I know that feeling. Becoming a Harbinger at a young age, basking in those looks of envy and admiration—it really is exhilarating! 😎
[Osial]: @Diluc It's prime show-off time—seize the moment!
[Diluc]: Just foolishness of youth.
[Zhongli]: Seems you've matured.
[Venti]: Turning a sunny, cheerful boy into a brooding man—Dottore is the culprit! 😠
[Kaeya]: @Baizhu Recommendation: split Dottore in half vertically, then see if he can be stitched back together. 🙂
[Baizhu]: Noted. I'll try after he wakes up. 👍
Mondstadt was eternal spring—no true cycle of seasons.
But once the grapes ripened for wine, everyone knew a festival was near.
Mondstadt had many festivals, yet Gu Chen rarely participated.
As he grew older, he focused ever more on strengthening himself.
At eight, his combat power already astonished Varka.
At nine, he swept through the Knights—below Varka, no one could match him.
At ten, Varka openly admitted that once Gu Chen grew a bit more, even he would no longer be his opponent.
In the blink of an eye, Gu Chen turned twelve.
Still young, but thanks to daily training and body-tempering, his posture was upright and imposing.
Though not yet fully grown, his height far surpassed that of his peers.
What pleased Varka most was his rapidly increasing strength.
In their recent spar, Varka had only barely managed a draw.
In a true life-or-death battle, perhaps Varka could still rely on experience to kill Gu Chen—but such comparisons were meaningless.
Gu Chen was only twelve. His growth potential was vast, his future boundless.
"Not even middle-aged yet, and I already have to admit I've been swept aside by the younger generation," Varka joked.
"Indeed," Gu Chen nodded.
Varka's mouth twitched.
"Couldn't you spare an old man a bit of face instead of speaking the truth so bluntly?"
"Honesty is a virtue," Gu Chen said solemnly.
Honesty?
Anyone else might be honest—but certainly not Gu Chen.
Varka understood this all too well. After all, he wasn't exactly an honest man either.
After some joking, Varka finally became serious.
"You now have enough strength to silence those unpleasant voices. I intend to formally promote you to Vice Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius."
The position of Chief Instructor was high-ranking, but its authority lay mostly in training knights.
Once he became Vice Grand Master, Gu Chen's authority would be second only to Varka's.
In a word: military power.
Gu Chen had no objections. After agreeing, he added,
"Diluc is excellent—among the very best in the Knights. Promote him exceptionally to Captain of the Cavalry."
Without hesitation, Varka said,
"Done. Submit the report, I'll sign it."
"I don't know how to write one," Gu Chen spread his hands.
Varka's lips twitched. He pulled out a document and handed it over.
"Just copy this and change the name."
"Works for me."
Gu Chen dipped his quill in ink and copied swiftly. Soon the promotion order was complete, which he handed to Varka.
Varka glanced over it, found no issues, signed his name, then said,
"Come on. Let's announce the good news."
Morning.
Varka gathered all knights without active missions and formally announced Gu Chen's appointment.
"In recognition of Morningstar Knight Gu Chen's outstanding contributions to the defense of Mondstadt… he is hereby officially appointed Vice Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius!"
Thunderous applause erupted.
Four years had passed—some familiar faces gone, new ones arrived—but Gu Chen's standing had never declined. It had only risen.
"Now," Varka said, "Vice Grand Master Morningstar Knight will announce the latest appointment."
Gu Chen stepped forward.
"Diluc!"
"Here!"
Diluc stepped out from the formation, confusion in his eyes—then dawning excitement.
Gu Chen listed Diluc's achievements at length, before concluding,
"Effective immediately, Diluc is appointed Captain of the Cavalry!"
Diluc's eyes widened in disbelief.
The Cavalry was the Knights' strongest force—the elite of the elite.
And now he was to lead it?
Overwhelmed with excitement, Diluc could scarcely believe it.
"I hope you'll continue to excel and not disappoint everyone," Gu Chen encouraged.
"Yes, sir!" Diluc responded loudly.
Varka returned to the front, announced recent training plans, offered further encouragement, and dismissed the assembly.
Back in the Grand Master's office, Gu Chen noticed gifts placed on the desk.
Varka said,
"Take them. We're going to the Gunnhildr estate."
"To 'convince' my future assistant?" Gu Chen smiled as he picked them up.
"What kind of wording is that?"
Varka said with mock solemnity.
"We are sincerely inviting capable individuals to join the Knights in building Mondstadt."
No wonder you're the Grand Master—you really know the art of speech.
Gu Chen thought to himself as he followed Varka.
After so many years in Mondstadt, Gu Chen had grown very familiar with the land.
The Lawrence family, one of the three great houses, was already in decline—though even a starving camel was still bigger than a horse.
The Gunnhildr family, by contrast, remained strong throughout history, steadfast in their oath to eternally protect Mondstadt.
The Ragnvindr family controlled Mondstadt's economic lifeline, and from Crepus's long-held wish to become a knight, it was clear they stood on the same side as Gunnhildr.
They arrived at the spacious noble district.
Within Mondstadt, this was a rare sight—a vast estate, though not extravagantly oversized.
"The Lawrence estate was built through plunder," Varka said with a smile.
"The Gunnhildr estate is a reward of honor."
Gu Chen nodded.
They walked along the wide path to the gates, where members of the Gunnhildr family stood guard—clansmen, and knights as well.
"Grand Master! Chief Instructor!" the knights saluted.
"The Chief Instructor is now Vice Grand Master," Varka reminded them with a grin.
The knights froze, then hurriedly corrected themselves.
"Vice Grand Master!"
"We've come to visit Lady Frederica," Varka said.
The knight nodded apologetically.
"Please wait a moment while I inform the lady."
"Go ahead," Varka replied.
Moments later, a woman with slightly wavy blonde hair, dressed in an elegant gown, approached gracefully.
Her steps were noble and refined, yet there was a crisp, knightly sharpness about her even in a long dress.
She was Jean's mother—
Frederica Gunnhildr!
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