Chapter 42: Someone Is Cheating, But I Won't Say Who

Finally, after ending the argument with Jean, Master Diluc carefully prepared a carriage for everyone to return to the city.

Oh, according to Master Diluc, there happened to be a carriage going to deliver wine to Angel's Share, so you can catch a ride there.

As for why there was no wine in the carriage meant for delivering wine, that was a question everyone couldn't answer. Instead, a certain wandering bard was very disappointed. He had hoped to sneakily have a drink.

The coachman from Dawn Winery drove the carriage steadily, and everyone on the carriage was skilled.

After dealing with some hilichurls blocking the road, everyone finally returned to Mondstadt three days later.

"May the Anemo Archon protect you!" The guards at the gate were still Swan and Lawrence Knights, but compared to before, they had obvious signs of battle on them.

"Swan Knight, it seems you've been through some battles?" Jean got off the carriage and looked at the battle scars on the two gatekeeper knights, asking with some concern.

"Yes, Captain Jean, while you were off slaying the dragon, there was a monster preparing to attack Mondstadt, but it was discovered early by Knight Amber and didn't cause any damage."

Swan Knight's words dispelled Jean's worries. Since it was a monster that had already been discovered, there was no need to worry. Although she had left Mondstadt, Lisa, Kaeya, Amber, and the others were still there. With their preparations, a single monster couldn't threaten Mondstadt.

After bidding farewell to the two diligent knights, everyone entered Mondstadt City.

Jean's appearance greatly encouraged the citizens of Mondstadt. Coupled with the recent calming of the atmosphere, everyone eagerly asked if the dragon calamity had passed.

Jean smiled and gestured to the citizens, but didn't directly answer the question.

Leaving the city area, everyone arrived at the Favonius Cathedral. Now there was still a big problem: how to return the battered Skyward Harp to the church.

Even Jean felt somewhat helpless about this problem, despite being the acting Grand Master.

For the Favonius Cathedral, which held the Anemo Archon in such high regard, the damaged Skyward Harp was definitely a major event.

Venti sensed Jean's worry and patted his chest reassuringly, "Don't worry, Captain Jean, isn't there still me here? Everything will be fine!"

Seeing Venti's confident assurance, Jean could only comfort herself, hoping that Lord Barbados would be reliable this time.

Entering the cathedral, Jean led everyone to meet a lovely blonde-haired little priestess.

"This is the church's commissioner in charge of reclaiming the Skyward Harp, Priestess Grace, Barbara."

Upon hearing Jean's introduction, Miss Barbara smiled and saluted with her right hand over her chest, "May the Anemo Archon bless you!"

Then, she put down her hand and showed a grateful expression, "Although I may not have the authority to say this as the acting Grand Master, I still want to thank you all for your efforts on behalf of Mondstadt!"

"Fortunately, it was resolved peacefully. Otherwise, if we had to mobilize military force to fight the dragon, I can't imagine how it would have ended."

Jean nodded in agreement, "And the Fatui can't say much either. With the matter resolved peacefully, they've lost their best excuse to pressure the Knights of Favonius, leaving behind only the rude and unreasonable image of the envoys from Snezhnaya!"

Miss Barbara nodded in agreement and smiled happily, "Alright, so have you brought back the Skyward Harp? The acting Grand Master's guarantee has already expired, and His Eminence has been urging us for a while!"

Everyone looked embarrassed.

"Well... we did bring it back, but... um... it's a bit... well..."

Paimon scratched her head, stuttering and unable to articulate properly.

Miss Barbara thought they were worried about the rent and waved her hand generously, "Hmm? Don't worry, you won't be charged rent. The church has special funds for offerings."

Jean didn't feel embarrassed about handing over the battered Skyward Harp, and everyone's faces became even more embarrassed.

Sure enough, upon seeing the battered state of the Skyward Harp, Miss Barbara, the little nun from the Church of the Wind, collapsed.

"Oh, Skyward Harp, my goodness, Lord Barbados, even if Barbara spends the rest of her life repenting to you, it won't be enough!"

The distraught nun knelt to the ground, tears streaming down her sorrowful face.

Everyone looked at Venti,

Come on, Lord Barbados, it's your turn.

"Ah, forget it, just give me the Skyward Harp!"

Venti bent down and exhaled, taking the Skyward Harp from Jean.

The wandering bard closed his eyes, and the Skyward Harp floated between his hands. Green elemental energy gathered from all directions. After a dazzling green light, the Skyward Harp returned to its original state.

"Ah, why, Skyward Harp!"

Miss Barbara stood up from the ground, snatched the Skyward Harp, and hugged it tightly to her chest.

"Huh? Let me see!"

Paimon also exclaimed in surprise, flying over from Jean's side to take a look at the Skyward Harp.

Miss Barbara took a step back, holding the Skyward Harp tightly, and refused, "No, no! Although I don't understand how it was repaired, I can't let you touch it again!"

With a toss of her head, the proud little nun carried the Skyward Harp and walked towards the underground shrine.

Seeing the little nun walk away, Venti hurriedly informed everyone.

"Let's go quickly. After all, the magic I used to repair the Skyward Harp, no, the spell, isn't one hundred percent reliable!"

"What?"

While speaking, Venti ran out of the Favonius Cathedral with Lumine and Paimon.

Wang Daoyi knew that the classic heart-to-heart moment was coming up next, but he wasn't in a hurry. He first instructed Xiangling who was beside him, "I'll go out and check on them. You stay with Captain Jean and don't come out for now!"

Xiangling didn't know why Wang Daoyi told her not to go out, but she trusted him completely and obediently nodded.

Walking out of the Favonius Cathedral, the plot had reached a classic scene.

Lumine was being suppressed on the ground by two members of the Fatui, and poor Paimon had been frozen into an ice cube by the lady, while Venti had his legs frozen and couldn't move.

"Oh, so you've finally found your pet mouse!"

The lady, accompanied by two Electro Fatui agents, strode over with her long legs, her tone full of mockery.

"Nibble on the wooden stake, nibble on the rice bag, causing so much trouble for Mondstadt."

The lady approached Venti and grabbed his little face with one hand.

"What you said isn't a pet mouse, it's a rat!"

Venti gritted his teeth and retorted to the lady.

"Shut up, you have no right to speak now, impudent bard!"

The lady's arrogant words seemed to provoke Venti.

Green elemental energy began to gather, and the ice that had frozen Venti's legs began to quickly dissipate.

"Heh." The lady observed Venti for a moment, then sneered disdainfully, "Abandoning the dominion as the God of Mondstadt, in the end, only this little power remains?"

Next moment, a silent breeze blew, and Wang Lumine's camera made a 'click' sound as it snapped into two.

"You're still saying you're not cheating!!"

Wang Daoyi was startled, then looked angrily at Venti, who had been blown away by a gust of wind, and then at the lady who had sent ice shards flying towards Venti.

Then, with a sudden lunge, her right hand fiercely plunged into Venti's chest.

And then, with a fierce grip and a pull, a chess piece-shaped object of green color was pulled out.

This was a rare opportunity, so Wang Daoyi immediately used his golden finger to observe it.

---

Name: Gnosis (Anemo)

Description: This is the representative token of the seven rulers of the Teyvat, used to connect to Celestia, a more advanced than the elemental Visions.

It also has some unknown functions. Your knowledge is not sufficient to fully analyze it, but through it, you can understand some of the power of the Anemo.

Note: It is a token of the gods, but it does not mean that obtaining it can make you a god! ---

The golden finger quickly analyzed the knowledge on the Gnosis, but unfortunately, Wang Daoyi's knowledge was still too limited, and he couldn't fully analyze the Gnosis. However, even the superficial aura it emitted was of great help to Wang Daoyi.

Reaching out, Geo elemental energy gathered, and then a wisp of Anemo appeared, with the Geo elemental energy turning into sand.

The power of the sandstorm, although still very small, was a seed.

(End of this chapter)