"Prince?"
The moment Dainsleif heard those two words, his pupils constricted like needles, and the aura around him froze abruptly.
That fleeting flash of astonishment carved a clear rift across his perpetually stern face.
He clearly hadn't expected the other to utter this taboo title so bluntly. His brow twitched uncontrollably, and a trace of disbelief still lingered in his eyes.
But this shock did not last long.
In less than three seconds, he swiftly suppressed all superfluous emotions, his expression returning to its usual solemnity, and the air around him seemed to grow a few degrees colder.
He raised his eyes to look at the Abyss Knight clad in pitch-black armor, a cold sneer curling his lips as his voice dripped with frost: "I've always known that creatures corrupted by the Abyss into monsters mostly lack brains, only able to roar based on instinct."
"But this is the first time I've seen one like you, who announces his identity the moment we meet, without even the slightest attempt to conceal it."
The Abyss Knight let out a raspy, cold laugh, harsh and chilling, enough to make one's scalp tingle: "I can't help it. The mission assigned from above must be completed."
The Abyssal Mist around him churned more violently, like a black tide. The fallen leaves beneath his feet quickly withered and carbonized under the dark energy's erosion, turning into black flakes that crumbled at a touch.
Before his voice had even faded, an invisible pressure suddenly erupted from Dainsleif's body. That power, like a mountain of ten thousand tons, instantly enveloped the entire forest clearing.
The Abyss Knight's face changed drastically. His once straight back subconsciously hunched over, and his breathing instantly became labored, as if a wad of cotton were stuffed in his throat.
His limbs were bound tight by invisible chains, and even the motion of lifting his hand was visibly stiff.
"Speak. What is your purpose?" Dainsleif's voice was calm and rippleless, yet carried an unquestionable sense of oppression. "Judging by your words and actions, you don't seem like those mindless beasts. Aren't you afraid of meeting your end here, appearing before me so brazenly?"
The Abyss Knight struggled to lift his head. The gaze behind his visor first flashed with a hint of ferocity, which was quickly replaced by smugness.
He sneered, his voice filled with certainty: "You won't kill me."
"Oh?" Dainsleif's brow twitched slightly, his tone tinged with a hint of amusement. "And why is that?"
"Because I know what you're looking for," the Abyss Knight slowly spoke, his voice still hoarse but now laced with a confident certainty. The dark energy swirling around him even seemed to steady.
A flash of genuine interest crossed Dainsleif's eyes. He took a half-step forward, the invisible pressure intensifying, almost solidifying the air around them. "Oh? How interesting."
"If you truly possess something that piques my interest, perhaps I could grant you a quick death, sparing you some unnecessary suffering."
"Death?" The Abyss Knight shook his head, extending a finger tightly shrouded in dark energy and wagging it gently, as if mocking Dainsleif's naiveté. "I never said I'd fight you to the death."
He paused, deliberately lowering his voice. The hoarse tone now carried a strange, seductive quality, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue near one's ear. "For instance... the Seven Cycles, which all of you are so concerned about."
-
The wind carried the four of them across the layered, undulating mountains. When Mondstadt's windmills and emerald-green plains completely vanished from sight, the silhouette of Liyue emerged through the mist.
The distant mountains rose majestically like ink, and merchant ships shuttled back and forth on the river. The crisp chime of wind bells echoed through the air. It was starkly different from Mondstadt's free-spiritedness, exuding a profound, millennia-old sense of stability and the bustling essence of mortal life.
Venti manipulated Anemo to slowly descend, bringing the upturned eaves of Wangshu Inn into view. The copper bells hanging from the eaves swayed gently in the breeze, producing a pleasant melody.
The four landed on the top-floor balcony, the wooden floorboards carrying a faint scent of sandalwood and the patina of age.
The evening breeze, laden with the moist air of the river and the fresh fragrance of mountain plants, washed over them, refreshing their minds.
Lydia leaned against the balcony railing, her snow-white dress billowing softly in the wind, resembling a white plum blossom in full bloom.
Her eyes filled with unconcealed wonder, her sparkling pupils reflecting the distant mountains and river. She couldn't help but utter a soft exclamation: "Wow... Is this Liyue? It's completely different from Mondstadt!"
She stood on tiptoe, gazing at the cloud-shrouded mountains and the scattered fishing fires on the river. Her fingertips gently traced the intricate carvings on the railing as she spoke with excitement, "It's even more beautiful than the Traveler described. Even the wind carries a different scent."
Lumine also nodded with a smile, gazing toward Liyue Harbor. She couldn't help but think of Mr. Zhongli's steady figure and the story they had experienced not long ago, a warm smile unconsciously spreading across her lips.
Paimon, meanwhile, flew in the air, looking around curiously at the inn's furnishings, her little mouth chattering without pause: "No matter how many times we come, Wangshu Inn is always so luxurious!"
"Standing here, you can see the scenery so far away. The view is much better than from the taverns in Mondstadt!"
Venti leaned against the railing, his eyes full of contentment, his fingertips gently tapping to the rhythm of the wind: "Liyue's scenery is indeed charming, it's just lacking a bit of the wind's free spirit. It's all too formal."
Just then, a wind, sharper and more piercing than Venti's gentle breeze, suddenly swept in, instantly enveloping the entire balcony.
The four turned around instinctively, only to see a cyan afterimage flash by like lightning. Xiao's figure was already standing quietly behind them.
His face was as cold as frost, the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear in his hand gleaming with a faint, chilling light. A faint, ethereal aura of a celestial being and a hint of murderous intent lingered around him.
Seeing that they were all familiar faces, he put away the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear.
He was about to ask the reason for their visit, but his gaze inadvertently fell upon Lydia, and his expression froze.
His brow furrowed imperceptibly, a flicker of confusion and bewilderment passing through his eyes. This unfamiliar snow-haired girl emanated an inexplicably familiar aura.
It was as if he had seen her in a time so distant it had blurred.
Yet, as he searched his memories, spanning thousands of years spent slaying monsters, there was no trace of such a vivid and spirited snow-haired girl.
Xiao quickly suppressed the doubt in his heart, dismissing the strange feeling as a mere illusion and gave it no further thought.
His gaze swept over Venti, Lumine, and Paimon, all familiar faces he had met before.
After focusing his senses for a moment to confirm there were no other prying presences nearby, he finally spoke. His voice was cool and devoid of emotion: "It has been a long time, God of Freedom of Mondstadt. May I ask what brings you here so suddenly?"
He faced Venti directly, his eyes holding a faint, barely perceptible trace of respect.
Though they had not interacted much, back then in Dihua Marsh, he had been plagued by Karmic Debt, suffering so intensely that he had nearly lost control, almost being swallowed by the darkness himself.