It was a reunion 3.0!
The scene I'd been waiting for appeared once again.
Xia Zhi watched with amusement as the young man covered his face with his hand, looking a bit flustered.
Xia Lin was so startled she didn't even finish her dried fish, scurrying straight back into Xia Zhi's arms.
She remembered this handsome youth not far away.
She remembered his singing and his lyre-playing, how beautiful they sounded.
She also remembered how sorrowful they had sounded.
She even remembered, in the moment before her death, seeing him hovering in the sky, gazing down at her — eyes that held not the slightest hatred, only a profound and crushing weariness…
He was the Anemo Archon, Barbatos.
Just like there was an enormous tree behind Sister Xia Ci, and a dazzling bolt of lightning behind Sister Xia Zhen, in Xia Lin's eyes, there was a terrifying, terrifying whirlwind behind him.
Xia Zhi sensed Xia Lin trembling in his arms and gently hugged her tighter, patting her on the back to comfort her. "It's okay."
Xia Ci looked at the boy, who was still sneezing nonstop, then glanced at the kittens on the ground and laughed. "Still afraid of cats, huh?"
The boy spoke between gasps, "Quick, get them away from me…"
Xia Ci bent down, smiling, and spoke to the kittens still meowing for more dried fish. "Hear that, little ones? Someone doesn't like you. Go back inside the tavern, okay?"
The kittens seemed to understand, giving her a few reluctant mews while staring longingly at the can of dried fish, then obediently trotted back toward the Cat's Tail tavern.
Once they'd gone, though, the boy was still sneezing.
Xia Ci looked puzzled. "What's with you?"
Xia Zhen glanced oddly over at Diona, who was still wrestling with Charlotte over the embarrassing photo. "Could it be because of Diona?"
The boy showed a helpless expression.
Diona looked up, completely innocent. "Huh? Why are you all looking at me?"
Xia Zhi thought for a moment, then said, "Diona, why don't you take everyone inside the Cat's Tail to have some fun? We've run into an old friend and want to catch up for a bit — we'll come find you afterward."
Diona looked at the green-clad boy in the distance, surprised. "Boss, you're saying he's your old friend?"
Truth be told, it was Xia Zhi's first time meeting this Anemo Archon in person, but he nodded. "Yes."
Diona looked even more shocked. "But he's just a bard who goes around scamming drinks!"
"Huh?"
"I mean it, boss — when I used to work part-time at the Cat's Tail, I always heard the customers talk about him. They said he goes around cozying up to people just to mooch drinks off them… I hate lazy drunks like that the most!"
"…"
Xia Zhi, Xia Ci, and Xia Zhen all turned to stare at the boy with the strangest expressions.
Seriously? You, an Anemo Archon, doing something that low-class?
The boy scratched his head awkwardly and tried to explain, "How is that scamming! A bard's trade is stories, right? I'm just exchanging my stories for drinks!"
Xiangling suddenly recognized him too, exclaiming, "It's him, master! The bard I saw singing on top of the statue in front of the Church of Favonius last time — that was him!"
"…"
The looks from Xia Zhi, Xia Ci, and Xia Zhen became even weirder.
At your age, why are you still so addicted to showing off?
The boy showed no hint of shame, declaring with confidence, "That's freedom!"
Fine, fine, if you say so.
Xia Zhi turned and said, "I understand. He's not a scammer, and I won't be fooled. You all go ahead to the Cat's Tail — I'll catch up in a bit."
The girls trusted him, so they turned and left.
Shenhe came over to help lead Xia Lin along with them.
After they entered the Cat's Tail, Cloud Retainer and Madame Ping exchanged a glance and whispered to each other.
"That was him, wasn't it?"
"It was. Back when he came to Liyue to drink with the Geo Archon and Azhdaha, I was there watching — I could never mistake him."
"I wonder what they'll talk about…"
"Whatever it is, it's beyond our pay grade."
"True."
—
Once Diona and the others had left, the boy finally relaxed and stopped sneezing.
He walked over, a bright grin spreading across his face. "It's been a long time, hasn't it? Buer, Baal."
Xia Ci nodded. "A long time."
Xia Zhen also nodded. "You haven't changed one bit, Barbatos."
The boy laughed. "You say that like Morax has changed."
Xia Zhen answered, "Compared to before, he has changed a little."
The boy then turned toward Xia Zhi, flashing the same dazzling smile. "Hello there, Mr. Xia. We meet again."
Xia Zhi's expression froze.
So did Xia Ci's and Xia Zhen's.
The boy laughed. "You don't remember me? Just a moment ago, you called me an old friend, remember? Hehe… then let me reintroduce myself — I'm Venti, the best bard in the world. Of course, you can also call me Barbatos, though I'd prefer you save that name for private, or people might think you're crazy."
From his god's-eye, Xia Zhi saw no sign of deception in Venti's smile, and finally understood.
Most likely, just like with Morax, he would one day travel back to the past and meet Barbatos, and that was why Barbatos could say something like this despite Xia Zhi never having seen him before.
Xia Zhi smiled as well and replied, "I'm Xia Zhi. Since you already know me, there's no need for me to introduce myself."
Venti looked at him and grinned. "You're just as fun as before, Mr. Xia."
"Can you tell me what 'before' refers to?"
"Nope — that was part of our contract, remember? Being able to tease you like this is already the farthest the contract will allow."
"I see. But maybe it's precisely because you're telling me this now that I'll end up making that contract with you in the past."
"Hmm? …Huh? …You know, you might have a point! Time is such a curious thing."
Venti laughed.
"Standing in the square like this isn't ideal, though. Why don't we find somewhere to sit?"
"The Cat's Tail?"
"No way! If I go near those cats, I'll start sneezing again. There's another tavern nearby that's great — they've got some strong fruit wine… why are you looking at me like that?"
Xia Ci teased, "We can go to that tavern you mentioned, but let me ask first — this time, you're buying, right?"
Venti scratched his cheek, embarrassed. "Well… technically this is my territory, and you're guests in Mondstadt, so I should treat you, but… um… things are a little tight for me right now…"
Xia Zhen burst out laughing. "Seriously? This is the greatest bard in the world?"
Venti replied solemnly, "Being the greatest bard doesn't mean being the richest bard."
Xia Zhi smiled. "No worries. I'll treat this time — and if you're more flush later, you can return the favor."
Venti laughed heartily. "Haha! Mr. Xia, you're the best! Unlike these two women who like to pinch every Mora…"
Xia Ci and Xia Zhen: "…"
With Venti leading the way, they arrived at a nearby tavern.
Venti went straight up to the bar and expertly ordered the strongest — and most expensive — wine in the house.
Of course, for Xia Zhi, money meant nothing.
He could literally pick up a random stone off the ground, use [Midas Touch] to turn it into gold, sell it, and buy out the entire tavern if he wanted.
Before long, the wine was served.
Venti raised his glass and took a big gulp, looking thoroughly satisfied. "Old friends meeting and drinking together — what could be better?"
Xia Ci gave him a sideways glance. "Still a drunkard, I see… how did you even find us?"
Venti took another sip and said, "I heard your prayers. It scared me for a second — I thought someone was playing a prank. I barely had two sips of someone else's drink before I ran over here to find you."
Xia Zhen smirked. "Wow, how dedicated."
Venti chuckled, then looked curiously between them. "So, what happened to you two? Buer vanished back then, and I really didn't know what happened to her. But Baal — Morax and I saw you die with our own eyes, and yet here you are…"
Xia Zhen's lips curved. "Want to know?"
"Of course."
"Not telling."
"Aw…"
"Women like us are stingy, remember?"
Venti looked defeated, downing his entire glass, then turned to Xia Zhi. "Mr. Xia, do you know?"
With his cousin's eyes on him, Xia Zhi quietly shook his head. "Sorry, I don't know either."
Venti sighed and raised his hand. "Boss, another glass!"
Xia Ci watched him and commented, "You really can drink."
Venti grinned. "Come on, it's rare to be this happy, of course I'm going to drink more."
Xia Zhen hadn't touched her drink yet, but seeing how happily Venti was drinking, she lifted her own glass and took a sip.
The fruit wine touched her lips — but she tasted nothing.
Oh, she'd forgotten she was still a ghost.
Xia Zhen pushed her glass toward Xia Zhi. "Cousin."
Xia Zhi reached out, lightly touched the glass with his finger. "Okay."
Xia Zhen picked it up again and took a sip.
The fruit wine hit her tongue, burning like fire.
She frowned. "This wine's not very good."
Venti hurriedly hushed her, "Keep it down! If the owner hears, he'll get mad."
Xia Zhen glanced at the distant owner. "It really isn't as good as Diona's."
Venti laughed. "You mean that little cat? I remember she used to work as a bartender at the Cat's Tail. Her specialty drinks were legendary. Too bad I can't go inside — if I get near, I start sneezing. I can only ask people to bring a glass out for me. They were incredible."
Xia Ci pushed her glass toward Xia Zhi. "Cousin, can you fix mine too?"
"How would you like it?"
"Add some Rainbow Juice."
"Sure."
Xia Zhi nodded, took out a little vial, dripped a bit of seven-colored liquid into her glass, then swirled it gently and handed it back. "Done."
"Thanks, cousin."
Xia Ci raised her glass and took a sip, looking completely satisfied.
Venti stared at the colorful wine in her glass. He'd heard of a special fruit juice from Liyue before, but never paid it much attention — fruit juice could never rival wine in his eyes.
"Why do you two keep calling Mr. Xia your cousin?"
"Not telling."
"Aw, come on… you two are so…"
"Hm?"
"Nothing…"
Xia Zhen also pushed her glass over. Xia Zhi adjusted it for her as well, and this time it tasted much better.
Venti looked at the two rainbow-colored drinks on either side, then pushed his own glass forward. "Mr. Xia?"
"Yeah?"
"Add some Rainbow Juice to mine, please — fix it up for me, too!"
"…"
Xia Zhi looked at the expectant sparkle in his eyes and sighed, taking up the vial again to Venti's drink.
"All done."
Venti raised his glass, took a sip — and his eyes lit up instantly.
This flavor… it was beyond words, as if countless fruits had come together in a perfect harmony… even better than the best wine he'd ever had in Mondstadt.
So good!
Another sip!
Too good!
Another!
Soon, the glass was empty.
Venti put it down with a satisfied grin, then raised his hand. "Boss, another glass!"
The owner quickly brought him another.
Venti turned to Xia Zhi with a solemn expression. "Mr. Xia, I hereby name you the greatest bartender in the world!"
Xia Zhi pushed up his sunglasses. "So?"
Venti held out the glass with both hands. "Please fix this one for me too."
"…"
Xia Zhi had no doubt that if he adjusted this glass, a few seconds later it would be empty, and the owner would bring another, and they'd do it all over again.
He glanced at Venti's skyrocketing progress bar. Honestly, he'd never seen a diamond-tier bar fill up so fast.
Seeing Xia Zhi hesitate, Venti suddenly tried a new tactic. "Cousin!"
Xia Ci choked on her drink. "Cough, cough…!"
Seriously, where was your pride?
Xia Zhi couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head. "It's just one drink, no need to be so dramatic…"
He picked up the vial and added another drop of Rainbow Juice, giving the glass a swirl.
"Thanks."
Venti took another sip.
Though it was the same juice, the same wine, and the same technique, this glass tasted completely different from the last, yet still just as dreamy.
Venti set down his glass, his eyes shining.
He looked at Xia Zhi with complete sincerity. "Mr. Xia, from this day on — you are my dearest friend!"
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