After the conversation, Venti stood up, dusted himself off, and prepared to leave:
"Well then, I won't bother you anymore, Mr. Yuuko."
"Take care." Yuuko didn't try to keep him and simply saw him out.
Venti smiled, then walked out of the house: "Mr. Yuuko, we shall meet again if fate allows~"
"I hope fate doesn't allow it," Yuuko muttered.
"Hahaha..." Venti laughed awkwardly, then waved his hand and strolled away.
Seeing this, Yuuko sighed softly.
Just as he was about to go inside and wash up for bed... he noticed Venti pausing in the distance, then turning back and walking towards him... "Why did you come back..."
"Hahaha..." Venti scratched his head: "I suddenly realized I don't have any Mora on me, so I can't stay in a hotel."
After speaking, Venti shamelessly added:
"Mr. Yuuko, you wouldn't let a friend sleep rough, would you?"
"When did we become friends..."
After speaking, Yuuko continued to complain:
"Also, aren't you a guest who accepted an invitation? I remember during the Irodori Festival, there are hotels specially opened for foreign friends like you, free of charge, right?"
Venti showed a difficult expression, seemingly having some unspeakable difficulty.
Seeing this, Yuuko raised an eyebrow: "Could it be that the hotel has someone you don't want to run into?"
Venti's expression became even more conflicted.
It was clear there was a profound reason.
Because of this, Yuuko sighed helplessly.
Although this guy is unreliable, he is still the deity of Mondstadt, and it really wouldn't be good to let him suffer.
And judging by Venti's conflicted expression, he probably has some unspeakable difficulty, right?
Just as Yuuko was thinking this... Venti reached out, scratched the back of his head, and laughed:
"Hahahaha, the main thing is that kind of hotel doesn't offer free wine, so I don't want to go back. If Mr. Qian could lend me some Mora..."
"Scram!"
"Alright~"
Just like that, this Mondstadt deity who never did anything serious finally left.
Yuuko also returned home and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Speaking of which, the Little Fox didn't come home today."
Looking at the empty bed at home, Yuuko murmured softly.
However, he wasn't overly worried.
After all, it wasn't uncommon for the Little Fox to stay out all night.
Besides, Inazuma has been so peaceful recently, so generally, nothing should go wrong, which is why Yuuko wasn't too concerned.
"Time to shower and sleep."
Thinking this, Yuuko didn't dawdle and quickly washed up and went to bed... On the other side, after bidding farewell to Yuuko, Venti strutted off with a jaunty, carefree gait, happily heading toward the hotel.
Probably because it was late at night and they were in a residential area.
At this moment, the street was dark and completely silent.
Both peaceful and eerie.
Venti, who had been smiling moments before, immediately noticed the eeriness.
His steps involuntarily slowed, and his expression became reserved.
Although there was no significant change on the surface, Venti was already guarding his surroundings.
After a long while, Venti's expression suddenly relaxed, and he let out a helpless sigh.
He then looked towards a dark alleyway:
"So it was you. Don't scare me in the middle of the night..."
As his voice fell, an graceful figure slowly walked out from the direction Venti was looking.
That figure was both noble and icy, giving off the aura of a queen of the world.
She was wearing a light blue dress, her white hair reached her waist, and her delicate features, illuminated by the moonlight, gave off an indescribable sense of coldness.
That was precisely the Archon of Snezhnaya, the Tsaritsa.
However, the one who came this time was no longer a mechanical body.
The one who came this time was the Tsaritsa's true, genuine body.
The kind that could be fried.
After stepping out of the alley, the Tsaritsa strolled over to Venti and said coldly:
"Long time no see, Barbatos. Why are you here instead of staying in Mondstadt?"
The surrounding air quickly became covered in a chill as the Tsaritsa spoke.
"Hahahaha..." Venti forced a smile and took a slight step back:
"I received an invitation, didn't I? So I thought I'd come over and leech some wine."
Hearing this, the Tsaritsa sighed slightly:
"Barbatos, you're still the same as ever—carefree and irresponsible, never knowing what you're thinking about all day long."
Venti smiled again, but neither refuted nor could refute her.
After all, he really didn't do anything serious all day... At this moment, the Tsaritsa looked in the direction Venti had just come from and said:
"You came from that direction, meaning you've already met Yuuko?"
Venti's expression gradually softened, revealing a faint smile:
"He's a very interesting person. This trip wasn't wasted."
The Tsaritsa was silent for a moment before speaking:
"So Barbatos, what are your thoughts after meeting him?"
Venti started his old routine of feigning ignorance: "Huh? What are you talking about?"
Seeing this, the Tsaritsa sighed helplessly and continued:
"Are you still planning to stay out of it and remain neutral at this point? You should understand better than I do that the One in the Heavens won't allow you to remain neutral."
"And since you've met Yuuko, you should also understand the power he holds, right?"
"Do you intend to join us, or continue fleeing reality?"
These words caused Venti to fall silent, a rare occurrence.
The usually carefree Venti now had a profound look flickering in his eyes.
At that moment, Venti seemed like a completely different person.
After a long time, he looked at the Tsaritsa and spoke:
"For now, at least, I don't want to make a decision. Even though Yuuko... he is very unique, I still don't think your chances of winning are very high."
Although Venti never did anything serious all day.
He is still the deity of Mondstadt, after all, and without absolute certainty.
He would not easily allow Mondstadt to be dragged into meaningless disasters.
The battle against Heavenly Principles is destined to result in the annihilation of one side.
If he takes a side too early, and chooses the wrong direction, not only will Barbatos be destroyed, but the nation of Mondstadt will perish with him.
Hearing Venti's answer, the Tsaritsa said nothing in response.
Instead, she remained silent for a moment before speaking:
"Barbatos, his identity is very special. In the coming period, I will find a way to confirm his true identity. If you dare to obstruct me, I will launch an attack on Mondstadt at any cost."
When she said this, the Tsaritsa's eyes were extremely cold.
The surrounding temperature plummeted accordingly.
It was clear that the Tsaritsa's attitude was absolutely firm: if anyone dared to make a move against Yuuko in the future.
She would destroy the opponent at all costs.
This chill caused Venti to retreat several steps, forcing a smile:
"Hahahaha, no need to be so fierce! I'm considered a friendly party to you guys, right..."
Hearing this, the Tsaritsa finally withdrew her coldness.
In fact, she didn't actually want to be enemies with Venti.
Although Venti appeared frail and weak on the surface.
And lacked any dignity befitting a member of the Seven Archons.
But the Tsaritsa understood.
Barbatos, as one of the few Original Seven Archons, a deity who has lived from that era until now without being replaced once.
How could he be simple?
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 70 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"