đź’– If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon. I'm offering advanced chapters there as a thank-you to readers.
--------------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/DragonOP
--------------------
The release of Old Mond: Pupils of the Gu King sent shockwaves through the City of Freedom. Unlike the lighthearted idol stories or the gritty urban mysteries of previous volumes, this new work delved into the deep, forgotten history of the land.
For the residents of Mondstadt, who lived under the gentle breeze of the Anemo Archon, the descriptions of a frozen, cruel past were both terrifying and fascinating.
In the Knights of Favonius headquarters, Jean sat at her desk, the newly released volume spread open before her. Her expression was uncharacteristically troubled. Beside her, Kaeya leaned against the wall, flipping through his own copy with a faint, knowing smirk.
"He's gone too far this time," Jean whispered, her eyes scanning the passages describing the Gunnhildr clan's struggle in the snow.
"The details of my family's history... the specific customs, the prayers they whispered to the wind when there was no wind to hear them... how could Ye Ruo know these things? These are records kept only in the most private archives of the Great Families."
Kaeya let out a soft chuckle. "Our dear Wind Knight has always been full of surprises, Acting Grand Master. But look at the public reaction. People aren't angry; they're captivated. He's turned our dusty history into a living, breathing legend."
"But the portrayal of Decarabian," Jean countered, pointing to a chapter titled The Lonely King. "The way he describes the King of the Gale... not as a simple monster, but as a ruler who truly believed his hurricane was a shield of love for his people. It's a perspective I've never seen, even in the oldest texts. It's almost as if he was there."
While the city debated the historical accuracy of the book, Ye Ruo was busy managing the surge of Legendary Prestige flooding his system. The "cliffhanger" at the end of the first volume had worked better than he had anticipated.
[System Notification]
Current Legendary Prestige: 48,950
New Milestone Reached: The legend of the Wind God has begun to resonate.
The numbers were astronomical compared to his earlier works. It seemed that in Teyvat, stories that touched upon the divine and the origins of the world carried far more weight than simple fiction. The prestige was still climbing as more people finished the first volume.
Ye Ruo sat in his private study above the bookstore, Noelle quietly brewing tea beside him. She looked at the manuscript for the second volume with wide, sparkling eyes.
"Senior, the way you described the little spirit meeting the nameless bard... it was so beautiful," Noelle said softly. "To think that our Lord Barbatos was once just a tiny wisp of wind among the howling gales of the North."
"Every legend has a beginning, Noelle," Ye Ruo replied, taking a sip of the tea. "The people of Mondstadt often forget that freedom isn't just a gift; it was a revolution. I want them to remember the price that was paid."
He turned his attention back to the system. With nearly 50,000 Prestige, he was nearing the threshold for the Precious Treasure Chests. However, he still needed to complete his quota of lower-tier pulls.
"System," he commanded mentally, "Perform twenty pulls from the Exquisite Treasure Chest."
[Deducting 10,000 Prestige. Starting lottery.]
The blue light of the Exquisite Chests filled his vision. Unlike the wooden common chests, these were ornate, glowing with a steady azure hum.
[Congratulations! You have received:]
Favonius Warbow (Blue Grade) x2
Mystic Enhancement Ore x50
Recipe: Northern Smoked Chicken (Enhanced)
A Pair of Hidden Blades (Assassin's Creed World)
Wind-Glider Skin: Wings of Azure Wind
Vial of Concentrated Anemo Energy x5
Skill Book: Advanced Swordsmanship (Teyvat Edition)
...and several other rare materials.
Ye Ruo's eyes lingered on the Hidden Blades. This was the "item from another world" the system had promised. They were sleek, mechanical, and hummed with a lethality that transcended Teyvat's typical weaponry.
"Not bad," he muttered. "A bit redundant given my sword skills, but a fine tool for the shadows."
Later that evening, Ye Ruo walked toward the giant oak tree in Windrise. He knew he would find a certain someone there. Sure enough, sitting on a thick branch and dangling his legs was the bard in green, plucking at the strings of a lyre.
"You have quite the imagination, traveler," Venti said without looking down. "Decarabian would be quite annoyed if he knew you were making him out to be a misunderstood romantic."
Ye Ruo leaned against the trunk of the ancient tree. "Is that what you took from it, Tone-Deaf Bard? I thought I was quite clear about the tragedy of his ignorance."
Venti hopped down, his movements as light as a dandelion seed. He circled Ye Ruo, his teal-braided hair glowing faintly in the twilight. "The Gunnhildr family's secret prayers, the exact temperature of the blizzard that year... even I had forgotten some of those details. Tell me, where does a 'novelist' find such secrets?"
"I hear them in the wind," Ye Ruo replied with a wink. "Isn't that what you always say?"
Venti laughed, a clear, melodic sound. "Touché. But be careful. When you write about the gods, the gods tend to listen. And not all of them are as fond of a good story as I am."
"Are you referring to the Fatui? Or the eyes in the sky?"
Venti's expression turned serious for a fleeting second before the playful mask returned. "Both. But for now, I'm more concerned about the next volume. Does the nameless bard survive in your version?"
Ye Ruo looked out toward the horizon, where the lights of Mondstadt were beginning to twinkle. "You know the answer to that, Venti. Some stories only become legends because of what is lost."
The bard sighed, looking up at the leaves of the tree. "Freedom is a heavy burden, isn't it? But as long as there are people like you to tell the story, maybe it's worth the weight."
As Ye Ruo walked back to the city, he felt a shift in the atmosphere. The "Dead Demon God's Resentment" he had written about in his detective novels wasn't just a plot point—it was a warning.
In the shadows of the city walls, he spotted several cloaked figures. They weren't the usual Fatui diplomats like Mikhail. These were agents of the Delusion Factory, their presence a sign that the Doctor's interest in Mondstadt had reached a boiling point.
Ye Ruo tightened his grip on the manuscript in his pocket. He had Noelle at his side, his prestige was growing, and his strength was reaching levels that even he didn't fully understand.
"Let them come," he whispered to the night breeze. "The Wind Knight still has a few chapters left to write."