Although a long line had formed outside the gates of Mondstadt, due to the strange smell emanating from Arkz after rummaging through trash, everyone in line tacitly agreed to let him pass through the city gates first.
The smell was simply too strong; those with more sensitive noses could even be choked unconscious.
Arkz was truly amazed by Mondstadt's unexpected hospitality. It seemed the Mondstadters were quite friendly after all.
However, even Arkz himself could hardly stand the odor clinging to him.
So, Arkz planned to find a place outside Mondstadt to take a bath and wash off the smell. As an experienced Adventurer, Arkz had stored medicine, bandages, and spare clothes in the space within his Vision.
Although there were two small ponds on the farm in Springvale, Arkz didn't intend to bathe in them.
Putting aside the fact that he needed that pond water later for watering the farm's plants, he also planned to raise fish in the pond in the future, so he couldn't just pollute the water.
Therefore, Arkz thought it would be fine to just find a small river in the wilderness and wash up quickly.
Thinking about bathing made Arkz realize his farm didn't even have a place to wash. Springvale, being a small village primarily focused on hunting, didn't even have a shop, so it certainly wouldn't have a public bathhouse.
Living in Springvale was definitely not as convenient as living in Mondstadt.
If his farm hadn't been located in Springvale, making the location unchangeable, he really would have considered buying an apartment in Mondstadt to live in.
Because he needed to bathe, Arkz walked along sparsely populated paths until he reached a desolate grassland with no trace of human activity nearby, where he stopped and began searching around.
Not long after, Arkz spotted a wild boar and was immediately overjoyed.
Of course, Arkz wasn't planning to catch and roast the boar for food. Instead, the fact that a boar could live here, was plump and strong, and wasn't afraid of humans indicated that the area was sparsely populated and had an abundant source of clean water nearby.
Indeed, after searching for a while, Arkz discovered a clear little river.
In Teyvat, there were no factories haphazardly discharging sewage, so this river was genuinely clear, not the kind that looked clear but was actually mixed with chemical substances, containing no living things—a heavily polluted water source.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the river surface, creating a scene of tranquil and leisurely natural beauty.
Arkz stood on the bank and looked out, noticing fish playing in the river, appearing very plump. Arkz immediately decided to mark this spot on his map so he could return next time with a fishing rod and let those big, fat fish know the terror of a Fishing Enthusiast.
Arkz cupped his hands, scooped up some river water, and splashed it on his face. He immediately felt refreshed, as if the fatigue had been washed away by the water.
Confirming the water quality was fine and no one was secretly watching, Arkz cheered, tore off his clothes, hid them in the bushes to prevent the wild boar from stealing them, and then executed a backflip, landing on his bottom as he plunged into the water.
A huge splash erupted as Arkz, wearing only his shorts, swam freely in the river, thoroughly enjoying himself.
Fortunately, this was running water; the current washed away the filth on Arkz's body and also cleansed the dust from his soul.
With a casual touch, Arkz felt something slippery brush past his hand. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a large fish.
Arkz rejoiced, took a deep breath, dove sharply into the water, and swam toward the big fish.
Not far away, Diona, tracking the wild boar, arrived at the bank of this small river.
As a bartender at the Cats Tail Tavern, Diona was welcomed and admired by customers due to her innate talent for mixing delicious drinks no matter the ingredients. However, for Diona, it would be much better if these fans weren't all drunks.
Today was Diona's rare day off. When visiting her old man Draff, she was delighted to find that the tavern father hadn't been drinking to welcome her. Diona immediately decided to catch a wild boar to make a grand meal and celebrate with her dad tonight.
As the daughter of the Hunter Leader Draff, Diona had not only inherited Draff's excellent hunting skills but, aided by her Cryo Vision, she had become an even more outstanding hunter than Draff.
For Diona, hunting a wild boar was naturally a piece of cake.
However, an ordinary wild boar wouldn't satisfy Diona. After learning from her father that the boars near this small river were exceptionally plump, Diona immediately decided to head to this secluded spot to hunt one.
Although Draff wanted to accompany Diona, Diona insisted, so Draff could only let her go hunting alone.
Even though Diona, possessing a Vision, had combat power far exceeding ordinary people—to the point where Draff might need her protection if they encountered Hilichurls blocking the road—as an old father, he felt his daughter always needed his protection, no matter how capable she was.
Draff could only urge Diona to go early and return early, warning that if she didn't come back before dark, he would take people to look for her.
Although Diona outwardly acted annoyed by Draff's behavior, she secretly cherished her father's concern.
After chasing the wild boar for a long time, Diona finally caught up to it at the spot where Arkz was bathing.
"Take my arrow."
Diona let out a delicate cry as her arrow shot out like lightning, hitting the target dead center.
The poor wild boar, which had struggled to escape for so long, ultimately failed to evade Diona's deadly grasp.
Looking at the plump and robust boar, Diona was overjoyed and immediately stored the carcass in the space within her Vision.
After chasing the boar for a long time, even Diona, an experienced old hunter and allogene, felt a bit parched. Conveniently, the river water before her looked exceptionally clear and sweet.
When she saw fish jumping out of the water due to Arkz chasing them underwater, Diona's eyes lit up. She no longer worried the water was toxic; if it could sustain such lively fish, the water certainly couldn't be poisonous.
Diona immediately bent down, scooped a handful of water from the bank, and brought it to her mouth.
It was cool and pleasant, with a sweet aftertaste. Diona couldn't help but savor it.
Diona: "The water quality here is surprisingly not inferior to Springvale's!"
"I'll fill up some more and take it back for Dad to taste too."
Diona immediately took out a water flask from her Vision, intending to fill it with river water.
Just then, Arkz, who had been hiding underwater for a long time, burst out of the water holding a large, fat fish, looking excited.
Arkz and Diona locked eyes and both froze on the spot.
Arkz: "..."
Diona: "..."
Ahhhhh!!!!
After a moment of silence following their eye contact, the two immediately let out sharp screams.
Arkz's head twitched, and he suddenly hurled the large fish in his hand toward Diona.
Large Fish: "Take my attack—Salted Fish Thrust!"
Diona was still stunned and hadn't recovered, as anyone would be confused by a naked man suddenly appearing before them wearing only shorts.
Consequently, Diona not only failed to dodge the large fish Arkz threw but was also slapped a few times by this 'Fish Tyrant.'
Diona stared blankly at the fish flopping on the ground. A moment later, she finally reacted.
She shouted angrily: "Mee-ow!!!" Then, she pulled out the skinning knife from her waist and stabbed the fish that had caused her such embarrassment right through.
Diona: "Tonight's dinner gets an extra fish!"
Then Diona looked coldly at Arkz, took out her hidden bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed at Arkz in the water.
Arkz quickly waved his arms, trying to placate her: "Calm down, Diona, calm down!"
"You know me?"
"Yes, I'm the new owner of that abandoned farm in Springvale. I tried to visit Mr. Draff yesterday but found you weren't home."
Hearing Arkz say this, the hostility in Diona's eyes gradually faded.
"You're the new owner of that farm that's been abandoned for who knows how long? What a shame. I used to play there often when I was little. I guess I'll have to find a new playground now."
Seeing Diona lower her bow, Arkz breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, 'This little kitten is quite cautious.'
Arkz saw Diona looking dejected and quickly tried to comfort her. He certainly didn't want this little ancestor to take out her bad mood on him later.
"As the farm's new owner, I invite Miss Diona to visit my farm anytime."
"Thanks then. I didn't realize you were actually quite nice."
"Haha."
"Just a little perverted, liking to run around naked."
"Wait a minute!"
Arkz refused to admit he was a pervert and quickly explained: "I wasn't streaking. My clothes just got dirty from falling into the mud pit, so I was cleaning my body in the river, taking a bath."
"This place is deserted, and this little river has no owner. Taking a bath in it isn't being a pervert, is it?"
"Bathing!?"
"You said you were bathing here just now!?!?!"
Diona fell silent, then let out a fit of dry heaves.
"Ugh, so gross."
Arkz swam silently away from Diona, calling out from a distance: "Hey! Even if you want to throw up, don't spit into the river! I'm still in the river!"
"I don't want to soak with your vomit!"
"How dare you say that!!!"
"Ugh."
"If it weren't for you, ugh, I wouldn't be like this!"
Out of concern for the little loli, Arkz offered a gentle reminder, as it wasn't appropriate for him to appear before Diona in his current naked state.
"Don't you have a water flask? Just drink some water, and you won't feel nauseous anymore."
Arkz mentioning it reminded Diona that she had actually filled a large bottle of this guy's bathwater with her cute cat-paw flask.
Angry, Diona threw the flask toward Arkz, who deftly dodged it.
"You don't want such a cute flask?"
"I don't want such a dirty flask."
"Then this flask is mine. I happen to need one."
Diona felt incredibly unlucky today, running into that detestable fellow Arkz.
Since she had already caught the wild boar, Diona immediately decided to leave the area so her father could cook the freshly hunted boar into a grand meal to soothe her wounded little heart.