111. The Anemo Archon

AN: Sorry guys. Just finished chain world quests...

Anyway, here's the chapter

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Unbeknownst to Ryūhei, someone in a green robe and hat inside the Angel's Share felt that the wind had changed all of a sudden in the morning.

"What happened?" That person was perplexed by the sudden change since that person was sensitive to the wind as if the storm was about to brew. And it was different from the previous kind of storm.

That person immediately disappeared and the wind gusted through the window as if that person turned into the wind.

——————

Ayaka's face got paler and paler the moment she felt the pressure from Ryūhei's aura. The bone-chilling aura she felt from him was too unbearable as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and sweat poured on the skin through her pores.

She grasped a wooden sword given by Ryūhei tightly as she tried to stand still, confronting the pressure. As such, she began to calm herself by fully concentrating. However, she suddenly saw a slight movement. Then, several talismans circled her.

'Come forth!'

Ryūhei muttered as formed a hand seal. In that instant, those talismans shone as several blades appeared in the mid-air before one of them launched in Ayaka's direction.

She gripped the wooden sword tightly in her hand and prepared to deflect the blade. However, the blade accelerated and changed direction slightly.

She realized in her mind that Ryūhei was serious about testing her. However, this was too much for her. The blade rushed straight into her heart. She wasn't prepared for this.

Due to the sense of danger, she moved almost unconsciously as if she was trying to avoid her death by imbuing the wooden sword with the Cryo element and swinging it slightly to the side, causing the blade to be deflected.

Seeing this, Ryūhei put a smile on his face before launching other blades simultaneously.

However, Ayaka suddenly turned into mist, avoiding most of the blades and parrying a few of them. After that, she knelt down while catching her breath as her chest could be seen rising and falling sequentially.

Ryūhei approached Ayaka and gave her a towel after seeing her sweat soaking through her clothes.

Ryūhei said, "Ayaka, you better eat mushrooms from now on."

"Why?" Ayaka asked confusedly.

Ryūhei put his hands on his hips before saying,

"Because you still have so "Mushroom" to improve on."

"..."

Ayaka didn't know what to say. She understood that it was his way of saying something to liven up the atmosphere. For as are Ryūhei's jokes, so too is his strength, those are no laughing matter.

Suddenly, Ryūhei felt a slight vibration in the air. And then, his gaze focused on a tree that was not far from his spot while covering Ayaka to protect her. He was astonished that someone managed to hide from him since his eyes could differentiate any energy by using his eyes or sensing the energy in the surroundings.

Weirdly enough, what he saw was a wisp of Anemo energy, meaning that someone managed to escape his detection. However, his gut feeling told him that someone was still there.

"Who's there?" Ryūhei put on guard as he unsheathed his sword. But then, he relaxed for a bit after knowing that he had no ill intention.

"Achaa, I was spotted so easily." The voice of a girl-ish young boy resounded as a figure appeared beside the tree.

'Easy, your head! If I'm not sensitive enough, I won't be able to notice you.' Ryūhei retorted inwardly.

"Yahoo, I was just fascinated with how you trained this young lady. Inazumans are fascinating as always, aren't they? By the way, I'm Venti the bard. Nice to meet you."

Venti was astounded when he saw how Ryūhei unleashed his aura. And somehow, his power didn't come from his Vision since he didn't have one. He thought that Ryūhei used Abyssal energy, but it seemed he was wrong. It was kind of similar but different. Moreover, he noticed that Ryūhei and Ayaka were a pair from Inazuma after looking at their attires and traits.

Meanwhile, after Ryūhei observed a little further, he found that Venti seemed to give a vibe similar to Rimuru in human form, a beautiful boy. He has fair skin, aqua-green eyes, and short black hair with short twin braids that fade into aqua at the tips. His attire consists of a frilly white top along with a green teal cape, white stockings, and a green beret-like hat.

Not only that, he felt a kind of similar energy that belonged to Zhongli.

'An Archon?' Ryūhei widened his eyes for a moment before going back to normal. He opened his mouth, "You're not an ordinary bard, aren't you?"

"The same with you." The bard, Venti, replied with a carefree smile.

"Do you need something?" Ryūhei asked.

"Not really, I'm just curious. That's all."

"..."

"..."

This is so awkward. Ryūhei doesn't know how to start a conversation, and neither does Venti.

Although Ryūhei felt no ill intention from Venti, his wariness didn't reduce in the slightest. He knew a kind Archon like Zhongli, but he also knew an unreasonable Archon like Ei. Since he didn't know what kind of the Anemo Archon was, Ryūhei didn't dare to let his guard down.

In that instant, Ryūhei ordered his clone through his mind to do something.

'Hold a second! Something happened last night and an Archon appeared in front of me now. I see, so he's one of the culprits, huh? I heard that the Archon in this nation is very secretive just like Zhongli. There's no way he announced his arrival just to take back the Holy Lyre, isn't he?'

In fact, Ryūhei had no idea that Venti had announced his identity at the church and asked for the Holy Lyre. Too bad no one believed in him and they labeled him as a heretic or sort.

On the other hand, Ryūhei concluded that the stolen Holy Lyre had to do with him and what happened to the dragon. But he had no idea what Venti would do.

—————

Meanwhile, in Liyue.

"Mr. Zhongli. What would you do if you met the Anemo Archon?"

"Oh, that drunkard, eh? Did your main body meet him?"

"Yup, just now."

"He is the most carefree Archon. Just give him some bottles of wine, and he will befriend you. Putting aside how drunkard he is. He is one of the two surviving Archons. In which, he is stronger than you think."

"If he's that strong, how come he couldn't handle his own familiar? I mean the dragon in Mondstadt that once defended Mondstadt with him."

"Oh, that little dragon? What happened to it?"

"No idea. But, it might be Erosion since it started to attack the City of Mondstadt."

"Well, that little dragon was born from a convergence of elemental energy in the high heavens. Because of that, it was immune to the Anemo element. Moreover, the drunkard and the dragon have fought side by side to protect Mondstadt for 2,000 years. It was understandable that he couldn't do anything to hurt that little dragon. Ask him if he needs help. I'll come right away with another identity."

—————

His clone's conversation with Zhongli wasn't that long. He felt relieved that Venti's personality wasn't as bad as Ei's. And the moment he heard that Venti would be friendly if he gave him some bottles of wine, he looked around before starting to speak.

"Please forgive my rudeness. I didn't expect that Lord Barbatos would grace me with His presence." Ryūhei bowed his head. Then, he added, "By the way, Lord Morax sent his regards to you. "If that drunkard needs any help, I would gladly come there as long as he prepared some delicious wine," he remarked."

"Ugh, that's definitely his remark. That old brutish buffoon, I bet he does nothing all day but wander around without care." He commented back about his old friend. Yet, it was surprising for a youngster in the front to know him as an Archon with just a few exchanges.

"By the way, how did you know that I'm the Anemo Archon?" Venti admitted immediately since he saw Ryūhei already realized that he was an Archon the moment Ryūhei widened his eyes. He was wondering if his disguise was that bad. But, after a little pondering, he concluded that it was Ryūhei's skill that might identify him as an Archon. After all, he knew Morax as well.

"You have the same vibe as Morax, I guess."

"What kind of vibe?"

"Erm, useless? Something like that."

Venti almost stumbled after hearing that. He asked,

"Why did you come to such a conclusion?"

Ryūhei scratched his head before answering, "Hehe. Our god is pretty much shut in. And even forced the citizens to shut themselves in Inazuma without being able to go out. But, I'm Outazuma now, so it doesn't matter. Do you get it? If inside that nation is called Inazuma, then outside will be Outazuma."

"..."

"..."

"Oh, come on! Why don't you laugh?"

"I'm speechless…" Venti facepalmed. He didn't think he would meet a weird youngster. Then, he added,

"Anyway, I heard the situation from your home nation as well. You must be quite lucky to get out of that nation before the decree was initiated."

Ryūhei shrugged his shoulders while answering.

"I snuck out a few months ago and started my business in Liyue Harbor."

"So, the reason for your visit to Mondstadt is?"

"Of course to promote my products. What else?"

"Interesting. Then, let me see your product!"

"Alright. Let's go to my lodging place first!" Ryūhei said, then glanced at Ayaka behind him. "Ayaka, can you stand?"

However, her expression was rather stiff. With a bit of difficulty, she opened her mouth.

"Ryūhei, is he the real Archon? And I heard you mentioned Morax, is that the Geo Archon? How did you…"

'Oh, right! I forgot that I haven't told her.'

And it seemed he needed some time to explain.