Chapter 163

（Originally the Traveler was set to be Kong, but feedback was poor when asking everyone's opinion, so it was changed to Ying~~~）

The girl chatting with Ying.

She is Amber, a scout knight of the Knights of Favonius.

When Luo De and Venti came over, she was inviting Ying to the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius to see the Acting Grand Master together.

This is slightly different from what Luo De knew.

According to his memory.

When Ying first arrived in Mondstadt, Amber should have taken her to the Knights of Favonius to learn how to use Wind Wings.

"Did you skip the beginner tutorial directly?"

Luo De shook his head silently.

Ying's timing was good.

Because judging by the time.

Ying happened to have an identical tear in her hand.

As long as I and Ying successfully cooperate, we can avoid the situation where Kong might come out and cause destruction.

It's obvious.

That is Ying's older brother, Kong.

Luo De gained some understanding of the poisonous blood inside Te Wa Lin's body.

The abyssal poisonous blood inside Te Wa Lin's body is purer, and the corrupting power is stronger, yet it does not exceed Luo De's capacity to withstand it; devouring it is relatively easy.

Just as Luo De was pondering how to approach and strike up a conversation, Venti already came over with a smile.

Now this teardrop shaped like a blue crystal is what it looks like after purification.

Hi, hello everyone.

Huh——

As for the reason.

As soon as they met, before Luo De could even speak, Paimon, who had been constantly floating beside Ying, began circling him, and she even tapped on the similarly floating Void Terminal.

Hearing the 'bang bang bang' sound coming from the Void Terminal, Paimon curiously asked, "Is this your guide?"

At this time, Ying and Venti actually had never met.

It is precisely through the impurity within this crystal.

Thanks to this purified teardrop, their conversation went very smoothly, and Ying followed Venti to Luo De's side.

And Ying's arrival could well resolve this problem.

No matter how ruthless Kong becomes under the Abyss's influence, he would never lay a hand on Ying.

Turning Dvalin into an Abyssal weapon was something he personally oversaw.

Ying probably never witnessed Venti comforting Dvalin.

Knowing that Luo De could purify Abyssal power, he gave this teardrop to Luo De to have it purified.

But there is no doubt that.

It is the teardrop that Dvalin shed when Venti previously tried to contact him.

The thing he showed.

But Luo De wandered around Mondstadt for a long time and still didn't find any trace of that Abyssal Prince.

Naturally, it is that Abyssal Prince hiding in the shadows of Mondstadt.

At first.

This is Dvalin's teardrop.

It is a crystal emitting a blue light.

However, Venti simply showed something, and that brought Ying and Paimon, who were about to go to the Knights of Favonius with Amber, over to him.

Luo De didn't know how Venti knew that Ying also had a teardrop crystal in her hand.

This led to the situation that if a day passed without finding any trace of Kong...

This teardrop is a vivid, piercing red, constantly emitting a foul odor—the impurity from the Abyss, which carries strong toxicity; even Venti dare not touch it directly, so he can only wrap it in wind elemental energy to keep it safe.

Unlike those Abyssal monsters that leave a trail wherever they go, he can perfectly control his own power, not leaking even a trace.

Compared to Sumeru's death-domain power.

Later, he met Luo De.

A poisonous snake lurks in the shadows.

Luo De always had a feeling that he would show up to cause trouble whenever they tried to resolve Dvalin's issue.

It was just when Luo De needed to cooperate with her.

Nowadays, the Abyssal mages slain by Luo De, defeated or captured by Jean, or otherwise eliminated, are all subordinates of Kong.

Uh——

That could also count, right?

Luo De smiled, then looked at Ying and the others and said, "Hello, I'm Luo De, the helper invited by the Knights of Favonius to resolve the dragon disaster."

This is the identity that Venti and Ying just mentioned.

Luo De heard it very clearly.

Hi, I'm Ying.

I'm Paimon, the best~~~ guide~~~ in all of Teyvat.

Upon saying the word 'guide,' Paimon glanced furtively at the Void Terminal, then crossed her arms with a very proud expression.

The machine behind Luo De does not communicate with people.

Indeed.

She is the best guide.

Amber also followed.

As a reconnaissance knight, she has recently been active in the outskirts of Mondstadt, helping to clear the restless monsters caused by the appearance of the Wind Demon Dragon, and at the same time she has brought some travelers still wandering in the wilderness into the city.

Lumine and Paimon met her because of this.

Looking at Luo De's unfamiliar face.

Regarding his claim that he was invited by the Knights of Favonius to help resolve the dragon disaster, Amber was initially skeptical.

However, after seeing the knight's badge belonging to Lisa that Luo De displayed, she no longer doubted him.

Lisa is different from others.

They are said to be the librarian.

But she is a master whom even the captain of the Eighth Squad openly admits is superior to them, and both the Grand Master and the Acting Master have great trust in her.

Earning her approval definitely means one is trustworthy.

Thus she merely sized up Luo De briefly, said nothing more, and simply introduced herself: 'Hello, I am Amber, a reconnaissance knight of the Knights of Favonius. If you need any help in the future, feel free to tell me.'

In just a few words.

They quickly became acquainted.

Lumine also mentioned that she came to Mondstadt actually to seek the Wind God, hoping to find clues about her brother there.

Speaking of this.

Luo De glanced at Venti.

Seeing that although he was joking and joking, his eyes were looking at Amber, Luo De did not reveal his identity, nor did he say anything about knowing the Wind God's whereabouts, and he invited: 'I and Venti happen to be going to the Hunter's Lodge restaurant; let's go together, I'll treat you, and you can also try Mondstadt's specialty honey-glazed pan-fried meat.'

"Honey-glazed pan-fried meat!"

Upon hearing that name, Paimon jumped up excitedly in the air, looking expectantly at Lumine and saying: 'Let's go, let's go~~'

Lumine naturally would satisfy her little foodie's request, and so she smiled and said to Luo De: 'Then I'll trouble you to spend.'

Regarding not going to the originally discussed angel's gift, but instead going to the Hunter's Lodge restaurant, Venti had no objection, yet Amber, who was also invited, looked uneasy, stepped forward, pulled Luo De aside, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Mr. Luo De, I have an order from Acting Grand Master Jean: whenever a blond traveler carrying a flying object is spotted, she must be brought to the Knights of Favonius immediately."

Upon hearing her say that,

Luo De then remembered.

Two days ago, he indeed had asked Lisa whether Lumine had entered the city.

It seems Lisa kept this in mind, then informed Jean, and Jean passed the order to the reconnaissance squad carrying out tasks outside the city.

Luo De originally wanted to say that he would later take Lumine to see Jean.

But seeing Amber's embarrassed expression, he changed his mind and said: 'Well then, let's go to the Knights of Favonius together first.'

Upon hearing that,

Amber let out a sigh of relief: 'Thank you.'

"You're welcome."

After speaking with Amber, Luo De returned to Lumine and Venti's side, apologetically saying: 'Sorry, the honey-glazed pan-fried meat will have to wait until tonight; we need to go to the Knights of Favonius first.'

Lumine had no objection.

Visiting the Knights of Favonius to inquire about the Wind God's information was originally part of the plan.

It was just that Paimon was a little unhappy, muttering repeatedly, 'Honey-glazed pan-fried meat, honey-glazed pan-fried meat.'

Afterward, under Amber's accompaniment.

Luo De and the others changed direction and headed straight for the Knights of Favonius.

Along the way.

To compensate for Paimon's resentment over not having eaten the honey-glazed pan-fried meat, Luo De deliberately bought her some convenient radish balls and grilled fish from a street-side snack stall.

This moment greatly increased Paimon's favorability toward Luo De, and her gaze toward him became much more enthusiastic than before.

After coaxing the mischievous Paimon.

Luo De then continued to ask Lumine where that drop of dragon's tear in her hand came from.

The process was actually not complicated.

It was the same as what Luo De knew earlier.

Lumine, traveling alone, fished up Paimon while fishing by the sea, and from then on they became travel companions, with Paimon serving as the guide, and they had made a travel plan to seek the Seven Archons in the mortal world.

Just like that.

They traveled for two months.

They finally arrived within Mondstadt's territory.

The day before yesterday, they encountered the Wind Demon Dragon resting in the forest.

The Wind Demon Dragon's body is huge.

It completely blocked the road ahead.

Paimon didn't dare to approach, so the two hid far away and secretly observed, waiting until the Wind Demon Dragon left, then they found such a crystal at the spot where it had just rested.

Te Walin

Even before, the smiling Venti, upon hearing this, had a hint of sadness appear on his face.

Even if he had already gone mad.

Te Walin still shed tears for his own actions.

Unlike the tear crystal in Venti's hand, the one in Yanfei's hand has not yet been purified.

Seeing this red crystal again.

Amber was a bit curious, reaching out to touch it.

Luo De stopped her bold action.

"Be careful, the impurity and elemental energy repel each other."

Luo De reminded Amber.

Having said that,

He seized the tear crystal in his hand.

"Hey, you!"

This action instantly shocked Amber and the others.

Luo De had just said the crystal repels elemental energy, yet he suddenly touched it himself.

Then they saw it.

The red in the tear crystal faded slowly, and within a few breaths it turned into the same pure green as the tear crystal in Venti's hand.

"All right, there's no problem now."

Having absorbed the abyssal power within this tear crystal, Luo De tossed it back into Ying's hand as if it were a trivial matter.

"Huh???"

"You can also use elemental energy, so why are you unharmed?"

Amber voiced her doubt.

Luo De's Vision, hanging conspicuously at his waist, is not just for show; he said it repels elemental energy, yet as a Vision bearer he not only touched it safely but also purified the crystal?

Paimon, who kept muttering about food, also flew around Luo De saying, "Just like Ying."

"Ah?"

Amber glanced at Ying, who was also deep in thought.

Then she remembered.

Indeed.

Ying also held the crystal bare-handed, and though she could use elemental energy, she showed no sign of repulsion.

"That's exactly why Jean wanted to invite Ying to help."

Facing many doubts, Luo De casually gave excuses; no matter how you ask, I just don't know why I have such a special constitution.

Fortunately.

Amber and Ying aren't the type to probe deeply, and the only one who liked to do so, Paimon, had her mouth stuffed with two candies by Luo De, so focused on the candy she stopped pursuing the matter.

Just then.

The wind in the air suddenly turned sharp, blowing the city's flags and trees into a rustling.

Even Paimon noticed this abnormality.

But before anyone could ask,

A loud dragon roar suddenly shattered Mondstadt's tranquility.

In an instant the clear sky turned as dark as ink, and then Stormterror's massive azure dragon body tore through the clouds, sweeping toward Mondstadt with gale and rain.

Amid the cries of "Stormterror approaches," urgent alarms rang across the city at once.

All the Knights of Favonius, whether on duty or resting at home, immediately rushed to the streets and the defenses; some directed civilians to shelter, while others quickly climbed the walls, operating the defense weapons and aiming them at the ever‑closer Stormterror.

The captains who bore Visions led the charge, fearlessly standing before ordinary soldiers and civilians, shouting hoarsely as they directed the Knights of Favonius' actions.

The Stormterror, which usually prowls the wilderness, has begun to attack the city.

Yet inside Mondstadt, the sudden assault did not throw them into disarray.

Although there was still some panic, overall under the Knights of Favonius' command things proceeded orderly, following the evacuation priority of elders and children first, adults later; a few troublemakers were also subdued on the spot by the Knights of Favonius with swift force.

In short.

Everything remained within controllable limits, and the chaotic scene Luo De had imagined did not occur.

"Sorry, everyone, I have to leave first."

Amber first sent Luo De and the others to a safe place, then she rushed out against the wind that had already risen to gale force.

Meanwhile, Stormterror's attack had only just begun.

As he swirled and surged through the air, Luo De and the others could clearly feel the wind elemental energy in the atmosphere growing ever more violent.

Moments later.

The wind elemental energy hovering over Mondstadt even became visible to the naked eye, condensing directly into a terrifying vortex.

The gale grew even more fierce under the influence of such massive wind elemental energy.

Some buildings that had previously withstood the wind now collapsed explosively, spiraling up in the whirling gale before crashing down heavily seconds later.

Luo De, quick‑eyed and quick‑handed, darted forward, swung his arm to shatter the falling debris for the Mondstadt residents clinging to pillars, then grabbed those who hadn't managed to escape and flung them into houses that could still hold.

Ying did the same, grabbing a blunt sword and patrolling the streets to protect those who hadn't escaped in time.

But this only addressed the immediate problem.

After rescuing over a dozen people in succession, Luo De lifted his head, narrowed his eyes, and fixed his gaze on Stormterror, which continued to roar and howl in the sky.

Mondstadt's defenses, whose heavy bolts and arrows were enchanted with elemental energy, all shot long‑tailed flames at Stormterror under the commander's orders.

The Knights of Favonius responded very quickly.

Almost as soon as Stormterror entered Mondstadt's territory, they activated all of the city's long‑range defenses.

With alchemical materials and elemental energy empowering them,

these seemingly primitive means matched the range and power of the ordinary missiles Luo De knew from his previous life.

Even Stormterror was unwilling to bluntly withstand these attacks.

Relying on being an elemental dragon, a favored child of wind, Stormterror not only flies extremely high; despite its huge body, its posture in the air is surprisingly agile, easily dodging all attacks while continually mobilizing wind elemental energy to increase the gale's destructive power.

Seeing this, Luo De turned his head and glanced at Wendy.

A simple exchange of glances.

Luo De immediately felt the wind beginning to flow around him.

This was not the murderous gale whipped up by Tevarin, but the thousand winds that had gathered under Wendy's command.

Those who shared his situation.

It was Ying, who was struggling to save people on the other side.

"Whoosh—"

Gazing at the sky‑covering Tevarin, Luo De drew a deep breath and, in the greenish glow, unfurled a pair of ice‑blue wings.

The people nearby still hadn't figured out what was happening.

His figure then vanished instantly from the spot.

By the time Luo De reappeared, he was already above Tevarin, and the two clearly visible dark‑purple poison‑blood crystals were also clearly visible.

(End of chapter)