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In a bustling tavern in Mondstadt, the air was thick with the scent of wine and the animated voices of its patrons. Venti, the carefree bard known for his vibrant green attire and unmatched melodies, had just finished a performance that had left the audience in high spirits. As he began to collect the Mora dropped into his hat, a drunken resident leaned forward, his words slurring but his tone intense .
"You say you're the best bard in the world," the man muttered, peering at Venti. "Then tell us, O master of songs—do you know about the legendary Wind Mystery Treasure?"
Venti blinked, a look of genuine confusion crossing his youthful face. "Wind Mystery Treasure? What in the world is that?" .
The question acted like a spark in a dry forest. Other patrons immediately piled in, their faces flushing with excitement as they added their own details. They spoke of a magnificent treasure used by two heroes, containing the very essence of the Anemo Archon, allowing them to become powerful knights in a single body. They described smaller treasures capable of commanding the weather—flying into the sky, diving into the sea, or summoning tornadoes and sandstorms to blast away those who dared to use the "power of dead gods" .
Venti couldn't help but chuckle. "Are the people of Mondstadt really this innocent? There's no such thing. The Archon didn't leave many treasures behind—the Holy Lyre der Himmel is the most obvious one, and that's safely tucked away in the Cathedral. There's really nothing else".
However, as the crowd continued to talk, Venti finally pieced the story together. The "Wind Mystery Treasure" wasn't a historical artifact; it was a plot point from Ye Ruo's latest hit novel, "Detective of the Windy City" . The book featured two young men using these magical items to fight an evil organization called the Museum, which sold props made from demon god remains—a description that bore a striking, and perhaps intentional, resemblance to the Fatui's Delusions .
"What a genius," Venti whispered to himself, a playful glint in his eyes. "To turn the fear of the Fatui into a thrilling detective story where the Wind God's power always wins. It's no wonder everyone is obsessed" .
But the patrons weren't easily swayed by a mere bard's skepticism. A refined scholar stood up, his face reddening with indignation. "You're just a bard! How can you deny the existence of such treasures so categorically? I've studied the history of Lord Barbatos deeply, and I believe these items could truly exist!" .
The tavern erupted in cheers of agreement. "He's right! We're the children of the Wind God! How can you not trust his power?".
Venti could only scratch his head and offer an embarrassed smile. "Hey, well... maybe you're right. Perhaps there really is a treasure". Satisfied, the residents returned to their drinks, leaving the bard to sigh in relief. It was truly interesting to see how his own people were reinventing his legend through the pages of a novel .
Determined to celebrate his earnings, Venti hurried to the counter and slapped his Mora onto the wood. "Mr. Bartender! A plate of beans and two bottles of your finest wine!".
The bartender looked at Venti, hesitated, and then frowned. "Wait a minute. You're not an adult yet, are you? No alcohol for minors. I'll give you two glasses of juice—on the house" .
Venti's jaw dropped. "But I grew up ages ago! I can drink!".
Despite his desperate pleas, the bartender remained firm, convinced he was doing a good deed by protecting a "teenager" from the corrupting influence of spirits. Venti lamented the new rules that seemed to have appeared since his last visit to the city.
"Mr. Bartender," a clear, elegant voice called out from a quiet corner. "Give the bard his wine. He's an adult. I can guarantee it".
The bartender looked up, recognized the speaker, and immediately bowed with respect. He pulled two bottles of dandelion wine from the shelf and placed them before the stunned bard . Venti turned to see Ye Ruo, the Wind Knight, watching him with a knowing smile.
"Thank you, little brother!" Venti chirped, hugging the bottles as if they were long-lost friends. "Who are you? I owe you one".
"Me?" Ye Ruo shook his head modestly. "Just an ordinary person passing by. Don't mind me".
As Ye Ruo turned to leave, Venti watched him thoughtfully. He noticed the Anemo Vision on the man's waist and the incredible elemental resonance emanating from his body—something far beyond what a normal Vision could provide .
"So that's the Wind Knight," Venti whispered to the bartender once Ye Ruo was out of earshot.
"Yeah," the bartender replied with a sigh of admiration. "Since the Grand Master left, Master Ye Ruo and Master Jean are the reasons everyone feels safe. Mondstadt is still the free, beautiful city we love". He paused, then shot Venti a suspicious look. "But even if the Wind Knight says you're an adult, you're only getting those two bottles. No more!" .
Venti could only groan, already planning how to bypass the city's drinking laws in the future.
Ye Ruo, meanwhile, had caught sight of two Fatui diplomats, Mikhail and Lyudmila, whispering on a street corner. As he walked past, Mikhail's face went pale, and he abruptly stopped talking. Only after Ye Ruo had disappeared into the crowd did the diplomat dare to breathe .
"Why are we stationed in this city?" Mikhail wiped sweat from his forehead. "If that God of Killing is in a bad mood, we're dead in a heartbeat".
"Don't be so dramatic," Lyudmila said, though her voice wavered. "We have diplomatic immunity. He won't act rashly on the surface".
"You didn't see him take down the Doctor's elite team," Mikhail hissed. "They all died, Lyudmila. He destroyed several of our bases. He looks like a gentleman, but he's a killer".
The two diplomats shared a look of pure dread, hoping that whatever Harbinger arrived next would be less... provocative than the Doctor . They were just soldiers, after all, and they had no desire to be caught in the crossfire of a feud between a mad scientist and the Wind Knight .