Chapter 231

Furina: "If it's Egoria, she isn't a pure water spirit—she... wouldn't really turn into water, would she?"

Ye Er: "Then won't I turn into a tree?"

El Haisen: "I can't imagine—what a terrifying curse, reducing even the Seven to regress."

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhen Jun: "Sigh, we'll just have to wait and see—the answer will come eventually."

【Mondstadt lies next to Liyue.】

【Using sword flight, the three quickly descended upon Mondstadt.】

【They had just landed.】

【The stench of decay immediately made Su Bai frown.】

【Mondstadt's scene was no better than Liyue's—worse, even.】

【The houses along the streets were dilapidated, and even Mondstadt's most iconic statue of the Anemo Archon had been damaged.】

【It lay collapsed on the ground, its head shattered into pieces.】

【The entire city showed not a single living soul.】

Jean: "Impossible... Mondstadt... Mondstadt is worse than Liyue?"

Lisa: "Sigh, it seems the headquarters of the Windrider Knights, the Xifeng Sect, and even the Anemo Archon's statue all look like they were attacked."

Amber: "So cruel—look at the blackened walls of the Windrider Knights, as if scorched by fire."

Kujou Sara: "Hmm, could this be something your own people in Mondstadt did?"

Jean: "....."

Tartaglia: "Because they realized they couldn't be saved, they vented their rage upon the knights and the sect, huh..."

Eula: "This... is so embarrassing..."

Navia: "This is terrifying—there isn't a single person in the whole city! At least Liyue still had the Treasure Hoarders."

Tianquan Ningguang: "A place where Treasure Hoarders appear at a time like this proves there's still something worth stealing."

Colette: "Under these apocalyptic conditions, many must have succumbed to mental torment and taken their own lives."

【"This..."】

【"I never imagined Mondstadt would be even more..."】

【Mondstadt's condition surpassed even Gan Yu and Seeing Shenhe's expectations.】

【They had thought Liyue's ruin and the departure of old friends were already unbearable.】

【Who could have imagined that this free city-state now held not a single living soul?】

【"Could they have gone to a shelter—or somewhere else?"】

【"Also, I once heard from my senior that the Anemo Archon, Barbatos, was someone who loved drinking and falling into deep slumber."】

【"In this state, has he fallen into slumber again?"】

【Seeing Shenhe's speech had noticeably increased since before.】

【After all, their current mission was to find her senior—in her eyes, her senior's existence mattered more than the end of the world.】

【Gan Yu and Seeing Shenhe both turned their gazes toward Su Bai, who appeared to be meditating with closed eyes.】

【This sight made their beautiful eyes tremble slightly.】

【The way this sword spirit named A Shi sat with closed eyes in deep thought was identical to Su Bai's.】

【Su Bai suddenly opened his eyes.】

【Seeing Shenhe and Gan Yu's bodies tensed instinctively—they felt he had found something.】

【Just like Su Bai had done before.】

【Sure enough, as soon as Su Bai opened his eyes, he said: "I detected a life sign."】

【"He's not far from Mondstadt—right there..."】

【"Windfall Grounds..."】

Venti: "Windfall Grounds? That must be where I am."

Tartaglia: "That does suit your style."

Diluc: "Then our Anemo Archon hasn't been affected by the curse."

Kaeya: "At least from Su Bai's words, we now know the Anemo Archon is still alive—and still in his favorite spot."

Jean: "Then the one at Windfall Grounds must be Archon Barbatos."

Zhong Li: "Hmph... this gentle breeze hasn't been touched by the curse..."

Yotuo Long Wang: "Could it be that this curse affects stronger deities more severely?"

Venti: "Hey, Yotuo Long Wang, why aren't you undermining Old Man today?"

Yotuo Long Wang: "....."

Azael: "Ordinarily is ordinary—but when it really counts, the people of Liyue stay united."

Yaoyao: "Exactly—otherwise, how could Tianquan Ningguang have dared to smash her hard-won dream onto you?"

Tianquan Ningguang: "【Sipping tea · Yelan】"

【Su Bai, Seeing Shenhe, and Gan Yu...】

【The three hurriedly left Mondstadt, and soon a towering tree came into view.】

【Also visible, a green figure seemed to be dancing beneath its shade.】

【"That's..."】

【"Green skin, white silk—yes, it's the Anemo Archon Barbatos," Su Bai replied to Seeing Shenhe.】

【Seeing Shenhe's eyes instantly sparkled with hope.】

【Found it—if they found Archon Barbatos, they could trace clues to Su Bai's whereabouts.】

However, before the three could approach.

A booming voice reached the ears of the three.

It was Barbatos, who was writhing under the tree, who let out the loud voice.

"This is..."

Hearing the raucous singing that came, Su Bai's shocked pupils gradually dilated.

For a moment, he could not accept the fact before his eyes.

"Is this the Anemo Archon Barbatos?"

"This..."

"This is simply the Mad God, isn't it."

Ganyu stared at Barbatos, who was singing and dancing, and was completely dumbfounded.

She had once been fortunate enough to meet Barbatos; although the other party liked to drink, the overall impression given was slightly elegant.

The zither playing in one hand, though not as good as the flute Su Bai played, could still be called pleasant to the ear.

But the person before her, swaying back and forth like a drunkard, howling something unknown in his mouth.

Was a world of difference from the former Anemo Archon.

"Hey, my lord Anemo Archon."

Seeing Shenhe stepped forward, her attitude towards Barbatos extremely respectful.

"My lord Anemo Archon, we are disciples of True Immortal Yun-Han from Liyue, and have come to find you to inquire about clues regarding senior brother Su Bai."

"You..."

However, before Seeing Shenhe could finish, Su Bai gently patted her shoulder, interrupting her inquiry.

"Alright, stop asking. Barbatos seems to have also suffered the invasion of the curse."

"Something is not right here." Su Bai pointed his finger at his own head.

Signaling that the current Barbatos must have been driven mad by the influence of the curse...

Venti: "???"

Dvalin: "..."

Paimon: "Eh! Lumine, look quickly, Venti, he, he has gone mad..."

Lumine: "(Alert · Klee)"

Furina: "This, this... what on earth is going on? Can a curse also erode another's brain?"

Neuvillette: "I recall this curse can also cause monsters to fall into a state of madness; it should be able to invade the brains and nerves of living beings."

Venti: "Wait a moment, I definitely know they came to find me; I did it on purpose."