Using his last 50,000 Mora, Bai Mo bought two barrels of apple cider, two of dandelion wine, and one of cherry wine from the bartender.
As for the recommended grape wine, after tasting it, he also bought two barrels.
He didn't pay it much mind—after all, he had already set his sights on something better~
When Bai Mo arrived, a certain bard was already sitting on the tall tree in Windrise, strumming a lyre and singing a ballad.
Indeed, in this version of the tale, Dvalin was still the guardian wind dragon beside the Anemo Archon, not the corrupted Stormterror that plagued Mondstadt.
Bai Mo didn't care about the story itself. Instead, while listening to Venti's poetic narration, he paced around beneath the tree.
"This place feels... a bit different somehow~" he muttered, stopping casually before starting to dig.
Ignoring Venti's gloomy gaze, he paid a small fee and made his way to one of Mondstadt's most famous taverns—Angel's Share.
He began digging under the tall tree again, and to everyone's surprise—including Venti's—he unearthed a large chest two or three meters down.
"There really was one?"
Though he called it "junk," Bai Mo still pocketed the Mora without hesitation.
Free treasure? Why not take it?
A few more steps and another dig later, he uncovered a long box containing a longsword.
The hilt was shaped like a majestic falcon, and the blade shimmered with a cyan-blue glow.
It had clearly been buried under the tree for years, yet it still gleamed with an icy brilliance—likely a powerful weapon.
The wines he'd just acquired were all recently brewed—about two years old. The dandelion wine he had last time had been a special aged vintage, not something easy to buy.
After sending the wines and various fruits and dandelion seeds he purchased into his Gourmet World storage space, Bai Mo left Windrise.
Looking at his "Gourmet Golden Rule" skill on his character panel, Bai Mo felt like his recent luck wasn't just coincidence.
Without hesitation, he opened the new chest—though he was hoping for another rare wine, it was filled with pouches of Mora—likely over a million.
"Tch~ Trash!"
But despite the insult, he still collected all the money.
Just then, Venti's expression changed when he saw the sword.
"Uhh… Brother Bai, maybe you should put that sword back. It once belonged to someone I knew…"
Bai Mo hesitated, recalling tales of the sword.
It was said to be the sword of Vennessa—the founder of the Knights of Favonius and the first Lionfang Knight.
Looking at the sword in his hand, and then at Venti, Bai Mo finally shook his head.
"Sorry. I feel like this is fate. If I was the one to dig it up, maybe it's waiting for a new mission… or a new owner!"
Venti fell silent for a moment, then nodded solemnly.
"Maybe you're right. Maybe the sword felt something."
As one of the Seven Archons, Barbatos—the Anemo Archon guarding Mondstadt—Venti could sense the winds shifting across the city.
He wouldn't have appeared otherwise.
Now that the Windfalcon Sword had resurfaced, perhaps it heralded something new.
"Vennessa… do you still wish to guard Mondstadt?"
With that, Venti didn't stop Bai Mo anymore and instead said seriously, "Then I hope you find the right person for this sword in Mondstadt."
"Let the wind guide you. Listen to its song."
"I will," Bai Mo nodded. "Say, if I sell this sword to the acting Grand Master of the Knights, how many bottles of dandelion wine do you think it's worth?"
Venti's face instantly darkened.
"I'll split it with you!"
Venti suddenly straightened up.
"Anything less than 180 bottles would be blasphemy! At least five barrels! No—eight!"
"Fine, deal! I'll say you told me to ask for that much!"
"No, no! I'm just a humble bard!"
In the end, Venti still lost a few bottles of his hidden dandelion vintage.
Watching Bai Mo carefully place each bottle on the grass, Venti grumbled, "So... did you really know what was buried under that tree?"
"Nope~" Bai Mo answered while holding a bottle. "But my luck's been good!"
Tsk. That kind of luck...
First dig: a chest full of Mora.
Second dig: the Windfalcon Sword.
Third dig: Venti's secret stash, all dug up.
Was this guy the reincarnation of a Luck Archon?
While Venti was still musing, Bai Mo finished counting his loot.
"Ahem. Finders keepers—so no sword, and I don't think you need Mora. I'll give you three bottles of this dandelion vintage, no need to thank me~"
"Thanks a lot!" Venti gritted his teeth.
"So… you knew who I was from the beginning, didn't you?"
"Who? You mean the bard? You introduced yourself!"
"…Hmph~"
Seeing Bai Mo's unchanging expression, Venti gave up and simply snatched two more bottles.
"I'm taking sixty percent!"
"No way, fifty-fifty!" Bai Mo tried to take one back.
"They're mine!"
"They don't have your name on them! And if they do—do they answer when you call?"
"Ugh! Next time I'm carving my name into every bottle!"
"Haha~" Seeing Venti fume, Bai Mo stopped teasing and brought out more bottles.
"As thanks, I'll let you taste some of the other drinks I brought!"
This time, Bai Mo revealed a selection he acquired via Totsuki's network:
Baijiu from Donghuang—Maotai, Wuliangye, Xifeng, Fenjiu…
Japanese sake, Western whisky, and more.
Looking at the dazzling lineup, Venti forgot all his complaints.
Even though his aged dandelion wine was nice, these were all new and tempting.
Seeing Venti take the bait, Bai Mo marveled at how effective drinking culture could be.
Originally, he wanted to use these drinks in Liyue's social circles. Instead, he was now catering to Mondstadt's biggest drunkard.
Still, not a bad trade~
With wine in hand, Bai Mo and Venti sat beside a small creek under the giant tree, setting down cushions and laying out the feast.
Of course, alcohol needed proper snacks.
Venti brought out spiced beef, sausages, and cheese—very western indeed.
But Bai Mo wasn't content with just those heavy flavors.
Fried peanuts, freshly boiled edamame, and roasted river fish caught from the creek, skewered over coals.
He also made smashed cucumber salad and crispy fried mushrooms.
A perfect spread.
The two of them drank and feasted joyfully, laughing into the moonlit night.
Three rounds in, Venti's face glowed red.
"This wine is amazing! Even better than Snezhnaya firewater!"
"Firewater might be strong, but it gives headaches. This stuff—smooth and mellow—delicious!"
"Want strong? I've got it!"
Bai Mo pulled out a bottle marked 96% alcohol, poured Venti a full cup, and added some oolong tea.
"Here, Flaming Oolong! Enjoy~"
Sniff sniff~
Venti looked at Bai Mo's grin but didn't refuse—he raised the glass and drank it down.
"Cough cough! Hoo—good stuff! Hic~"
"Have some food!" Bai Mo chuckled.
The two of them continued until the moon was high, drunkenly wandering back toward Mondstadt.
The city guards saw them and sighed—just another day in the City of Freedom.
The smell of alcohol on them even made the knights crave a few drinks after their shift.
Once inside Mondstadt, they headed straight for the Knights of Favonius HQ.
"Hic~ Hey, Bai… you sure this won't get us arrested?"
"Nonsense. This is Vennessa's sword—it needs a proper entrance!"
"We're making a grand presentation—adds value to the product, you know?"
"You're too clever!"
"Of course. Watch me work. If we get less than ten barrels of dandelion wine, I'll compensate you!"
They slipped past the guards, dodging patrols thanks to Venti's control of the wind and Bai Mo's uncanny luck.
Eventually, they reached Acting Grand Master Jean's office.
Bai Mo straightened his clothes, gave Venti a nod, and stepped inside.
Jean was still working late into the night.
Seeing a stranger enter, she immediately reached for her sword.
"Who are you?"
"Heh, I knew this kind of dramatic entrance would work! Venti, follow my lead!"
…Silence.
Bai Mo turned—Venti had vanished, leaving only a wisp of wind behind.
"Damn it! That drunk misled me!"
Realizing he was alone, Bai Mo sobered up instantly.
Using his awakened magnetic martial arts powers, he dispelled all alcohol from his system in an instant.
He had only pretended to be drunk earlier—for the vibe!
Now, standing in a very incriminating scene, Bai Mo's brilliant mind raced.
Three seconds later, he bowed with both hands holding the sword.
"I've heard the Acting Grand Master Jean is noble and diligent, a guardian of peace in Mondstadt!"
"I recently unearthed the legendary Windfalcon Sword of Vennessa and have come to present it to you!"
…This felt a bit like being Cao Cao.
But he wasn't a villain, right?
Jean, still cautious, said, "But trespassing in the dead of night isn't the proper way to deliver a sword, is it?"
"Well~ There were… complications. I got drunk with a certain bard and thought I could trade this for some wine..."
Smelling the alcohol on him, Jean believed part of it and pressed a button on her desk.
Within minutes, several knights burst in, weapons drawn, ready to strike.
Behind them stood a mature woman in a purple mage robe.
Upon seeing the situation, she smiled wryly.
"Young man, sleep deprivation is bad for ladies. Can you explain why you're in Jean's office this late?"
"Don't tell me our dear Jean is finally experiencing young love? Should I recommend you some romance novels?"
Jean sighed, "Lisa, stop. Look at the sword—see if it's the real Windfalcon Sword."
Bai Mo handed it over, and Lisa inspected it with magic.
"It matches all the recorded descriptions. The Knights' current Windblades are modeled after this. Yes, this is the original Windfalcon Sword."
Jean breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Bai Mo, who was sipping tea on the couch.
"May I ask your name, sir?"
"Bai Yujing. Just call me Bai Yujing."
"Oh~" Lisa looked intrigued. "Are you the Bai Yujing who recreated ancient immortal cuisine in Liyue?"
"Huh? My reputation spread that far?" Bai Mo chuckled. "But that was all Xiangling's credit—I wouldn't dare take it."
"We know her well—she often comes to Mondstadt for ingredients."
Jean nodded.
"We've also heard you're a guest of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue. May I ask why you appeared in our headquarters tonight?"
Bai Mo rolled his eyes.
"I was tricked by that drunkard Barbatos!"
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T/N:
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