Star-Picking Cliff was one of the famous scenic landmarks outside Mondstadt City, attracting countless lovers who came to take photos, check in, and show off their affection.
In the storyline, the Traveler and Venti, among others, used the Lyre der Himmel at this location to summon Dvalin.
Dvalin had not yet been awakened by the Abyss Order, so Star-Picking Cliff remained a sacred spot for young couples in love in Mondstadt.
Seeing dangerous Ruin Guards appearing in such a romantic sanctuary, Arkz felt that as an enthusiastic Adventurer, he should promptly lend a hand and deal with this Ruin Guard.
(In reality, it was entirely for the Mora reward from the commission.)
Arkz immediately accelerated with all his might and sprinted toward Star-Picking Cliff.
As a tourist destination, the Knights of Favonius also stationed Knights at Star-Picking Cliff to prevent naive young men and women from secretly sneaking there. There were also dedicated Knights patrolling the road leading to Star-Picking Cliff, ensuring that if these love-struck individuals encountered danger, the Knights of Favonius could provide timely rescue.
This commission was to eliminate a Ruin Guard operating near the Star-Picking Cliff area. The Knight stationed there was just an ordinary Knight, whose strength was only enough to handle a few Hilichurls; facing a Ruin Guard, he could only try to stall for a few minutes.
Actually, this Ruin Guard was still quite far from the main road to Star-Picking Cliff. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't pose a threat to people walking along the main road patrolled by Knights, but some people just don't stick to the beaten path.
The Knights of Favonius were currently short-handed, and the experts remaining in Mondstadt were overwhelmed with work. Dealing with a Ruin Guard that didn't pose an immediate threat was placed lower on the priority list.
The Knight stationed here could only remind passing civilians to stay away from the dangerous area where the Ruin Guard frequently operated.
Because the roads were well-maintained and transportation was convenient, it only took Arkz half an hour to travel from the Adventurers Guild in Mondstadt City to Star-Picking Cliff.
Along the way, Arkz even saw tourists from other nations heading toward Star-Picking Cliff, clearly sightseeing.
Along both sides of the road, businessmen who had spotted a commercial opportunity were waiting with carriages, specifically ferrying guests from Mondstadt City to Star-Picking Cliff. The fare was 5000 Mora per person, or 10,000 Mora for chartering the entire carriage.
Although this price was a bit steep, considering the carriage's speed—it only took twenty minutes to get from Mondstadt City to Star-Picking Cliff—and the fact that the strong and powerful coachman could protect the passengers' safety if they encountered monsters on the road, it was quite worthwhile in the eyes of the wealthy, especially when they could comfortably enjoy the scenery along the way without exhausting themselves.
Some might wonder why Arkz, who possessed a Vision, was still running slower than the carriage.
This requires an explanation.
Firstly, on a road crowded with people, Arkz couldn't possibly run at full speed without regard for his image. If he ran too fast and couldn't brake, hitting someone would be troublesome.
Secondly, the speed and stamina of horses naturally far surpass humans. As horses native to Teyvat, their stamina and speed were further enhanced after being imbued with Elemental Power. In other fantasy worlds, they could even be called magical beasts.
Finally, the commission Arkz accepted to subjugate the Ruin Guard had no time limit. Arkz only needed to rush over before dark to resolve the Ruin Guard, then hand over the ruin core of the Ruin Guard to Katheryne for inspection to complete the task.
Therefore, with ample time and no urgent matters, Arkz naturally traveled while appreciating the scenery along the way.
The pleasant weather in all four seasons, coupled with Mondstadt's beautiful scenery and atmosphere of freedom, made it a tourist destination in Teyvat. Every year, many people from other nations traveled great distances to visit Mondstadt and admire its views.
Furthermore, before the Grand Master went on an expedition, when the Knights of Favonius had sufficient manpower, the public security within Mondstadt was quite good. It was precisely because of this that Mondstadt's tourism industry was very developed, with hotels of all sizes filling Mondstadt City and tour guides everywhere soliciting guests.
Unfortunately, Arkz knew that not long from now, Dvalin would be awakened and corrupted by the Abyss into the Stormterror, delivering a heavy blow to Mondstadt's tourism industry.
The scenery along the way might have long bored the Mondstadters living nearby, but for Arkz, who had only arrived in Mondstadt a few days ago, such beautiful scenery was endlessly captivating.
To use a term from his past life, the scenery here was the kind where any single photograph could be used as a wallpaper.
Along the way, Arkz's behavior of exclaiming like a country bumpkin attracted the attention of a Mondstadt young woman.
A young woman with her hair in a ponytail, dressed brightly and youthfully, proactively approached and greeted him:
"Hello there, sir. Are you here in Mondstadt for tourism?"
Arkz pointed to himself, confirming the young woman was addressing him, and replied:
"No, no, I'm not here for tourism, although it is true I only arrived in Mondstadt a few days ago."
The young woman blinked and said, "Oh," her expression looking somewhat bewildered, as if her mind hadn't caught up; she seemed a bit slow.
"Oh, my name is Ellin. It's very nice to meet you."
"Arkz. An Adventurer from the Adventurers Guild, currently on my way to Star-Picking Cliff to complete a commission."
Ellin carefully sized up Arkz. He looked quite handsome, but due to his studies at the Sumeru Akademiya and sixteen years of academic life in his previous life, he exuded a strong scholarly air. Coupled with the lack of prominent muscles, he looked somewhat frail.
Ellin: "An Adventurer from the Adventurers Guild?"
Arkz smiled and asked, "What? I don't look like one?"
Arkz had only meant it as a casual tease, but to his surprise, the honest child Ellin actually nodded genuinely.
"Indeed, you don't. You look more like a Scholar from the Sumeru Akademiya."
Arkz: "..."
Seeing Arkz fall silent, Ellin seemed to realize she had said the wrong thing and quickly tried to apologize, but Arkz stopped her.
Arkz: "Hahaha, I was originally planning to interact with you as an ordinary person, but I didn't expect you to see through it after all?"
Ellin: "Huh! See through what?"
Arkz: "It seems my excellence is like a beacon in the dark night; no matter how I hide it, it cannot be concealed."
Ellin: "Actually..."
Arkz: "I'm done pretending. I reveal my true identity! I am actually an allogene with a Vision!!!"
Saying this, Arkz struck a handsome yet flamboyant pose facing the sun, holding his precious Vision between his two hands. Under the sun's glare, it emitted a dazzling light that made Ellin squint.
Ellin covered her mouth and couldn't help but burst out laughing; she was clearly amused by Arkz.
Ellin: "You don't think I'm some little girl who doesn't understand anything, do you? You think you can fool me by showing me a glass marble?"
Saying this, Ellin snatched the glass bead from Arkz's hand and examined it closely under the sunlight, saying, "Where did you buy this glass bead? The craftsmanship is quite good."