Chapter Thirty Four: Springvale

Heading to Springvale wasn't because it was particularly important, but because there was a "spirit" there - a water spirit.

The Spring Fairy, just something Xianyu remembered. These critters are elemental creatures, and their "evolution" process is kinda quirky—it involves merging with their own kind!

Considering their peculiar way of doing things, Xianyu thought it might be a good idea.

If creatures of the same element can merge, can't we have the Cryo Crystal Butterfly merge with other Cryo elemental beings? No need to go through the hassle of hunting down the elemental leader and having it absorb after a big showdown.

I mean, these Hydro elemental sprites, they merge with those weaker Hydro elementals, and after merging enough, they can reach the "lord" level. Maybe even stronger?

Though I'm not sure if this method will work, giving it a shot won't hurt, right? What if it does?

Even if there are limitations or it might not work, it's worth a try.

Plus, Springvale isn't dangerous at all, and it won't take up much time.

As for forging weapons, as long as no travelers pop up, there's no rush. Unlike Urban, Wagner's location is fixed, so once inside the city, it should be easy to find.

...

Being a village reliant on hunting for survival doesn't necessarily mean life is always good. Occasionally, lucky hunters might stumble upon rare prey, and that could sustain them for a lifetime.

This leads to the majority of adults in the village being hunters. As Xianyu approached the village, he saw many people carrying hunting tools, dressed in outfits reminiscent of those in games. Some were preparing to go out for a hunt, while others were returning with their spoils.

Hunting is never a simple task. Dealing with small game is one thing, but if the prey is stronger, it can be dangerous. So, Xianyu observed various situations - some were smiling with joy, others were downcast, and a few were nursing injuries.

He didn't spot any dead bodies, which was fortunate. Overall, injuries were more common than fatalities, which was considered a stroke of luck.

Such occurrences are actually quite common and not limited to Springvale alone. Both Mondstadt and other nations face similar situations. However, with great risk comes the potential for great reward.

Upon entering Springvale, Xianyu refrained from immediately asking others for information, choosing instead to carefully observe his surroundings.

Unfortunately, water elementals like the water spirit do have some unique characteristics. Xianyu couldn't sense their presence even though they were elemental creatures.

Thinking about this, Xianyu also recalled the pure water elemental at Cui'er's residence. Despite being in Mondstadt for a while, he had never heard anyone mention that elemental, for some mysterious reason.

"Since I can't sense them, I'll have to ask around."

To locate the water spirit, he realized it wouldn't be too difficult. He just needed to find someone like Hopkins or Finch.

Hopkins was notorious for being a swindler in the game, but his "Holy Water" did seem to have some elemental power in it, as it could heal "life" in the game. Even though it was a slow trickle-by-trickle kind of recovery.

The latter, Finch, was a somewhat pitiful individual.

Regardless of which one he chose, they could narrow down the search area.

The "springs" in Springvale, while called springs, were quite expansive. Just the type of "small pond" that Xianyu remembered could be found in plain sight, and there were easily five or six of them. And that was just what he saw upon entering.

Who knows how many more there were in other places? It couldn't be described as ponds anymore; it was somewhat similar to certain scenic spots from his previous life.

Coupled with the elusive nature of these elemental creatures, pinpointing a target was no easy task.

"Excuse me, sir. Do you know where to find Hopkins?"

Xianyu's question left the man momentarily puzzled, as if he couldn't fathom why someone would want to find that swindler.

Though it was strange, Hopkins was relatively well-known. No one in Springvale would be unfamiliar with him, so there was no reason to conceal his whereabouts.

Xianyu didn't bother asking about Finch. If he ended up needing to resort to other means to draw out the water spirit, it might be better not to reveal his reasons directly. So he figured it would be simpler to find Hopkins, a "merchant" who could be persuaded with a bit of money. No need to make things overly complicated.

"Oh, him? Just keep walking ahead from here, and you'll come across a pile of hay. He's usually there."

"But I have to warn you, what that guy sells is fake. Many of us here have been fooled before. If he weren't a local, he would have been kicked out long ago."

The old man's words didn't concern Xianyu much. He knew who Hopkins was. This time, he wasn't buying "holy water," just asking some questions.

"Alright, thank you. I just need to ask something, not looking to buy anything."

Watching the young man's back, the old man just shook his head and sighed, "I hope he's not causing trouble for Hopkins..."

"They've told him before not to do this kind of thing. If this young man is causing trouble this time, maybe it'll make that guy repent."

Repent?

Though Xianyu was a bit far away, he still heard those words.

Making the other party stop selling "holy water"? It was highly unlikely.

And Hopkins' "holy water" couldn't be entirely fake.

Leaving aside the rest, it should taste sweeter than regular water, and it might even have a little "awakening" effect.

Following the designated route, it wasn't long before Xianyu heard people talking.

"Maia, let's go to Hopkins and buy two bottles of 'holy water' from him."

"Are you crazy, Jerman? That guy who sells 'holy water' is a fraud! Did the boar hit your head just now?"

"Moreover, the prices he charges for the spring water are outrageous. People who don't know might fall for it, but we, as the townsfolk of Springvale, are aware of the situation here."

Jerman still insisted on buying 'holy water'.

"I know, but it seems like the 'holy water' that Hopkins sells is a bit different. If you don't carefully sense it, it's hard to detect."

"You've bought his 'holy water' before, haven't you noticed that after drinking it, it makes you feel significantly more relaxed?"

Maia was left somewhat speechless. He hadn't felt that kind of sensation. Back then, he was too busy feeling cheated to pay attention to anything else.

"Never mind! If you want to go, go on your own. I won't be fooled again. Once or twice is fine, but if it happens too many times, you'll be considered a fool."

Jerman's friend's departure left him hesitant. That feeling, though faint, was indeed different. But seeing that others didn't experience it, he started doubting if it was just his imagination.

After much consideration, Jerman headed towards Hopkins's location.

Following closely behind was Xianyu, who was also looking for Hopkins.

"Interesting, another person sensitive to elemental energy."

"This place in Mondstadt seems to have quite a few of these folks..."