"I was totally set up by Barbatos! That drunk god tricked me!"
Hearing Baimo speak so irreverently about the Anemo Archon, several knights instinctively reached for their weapons.
However, Jean and Lisa remained calm.
Waving her hand to dismiss the knights to continue standing guard outside, Jean looked at the sword in her hands with curiosity and asked,
"Legend has it that the Windhawk Sword, once wielded by Lady Vennessa—the first Lionfang Knight—is a rare divine weapon."
"But after Lady Vennessa's passing, the sword vanished. Many Mondstadters tried to find it, but to no avail. So, Mr. Bai, how did you come across it?"
"Huh?" Baimo tilted his head in confusion.
"I was drinking with a drunken bard under the Tree of Thousands Winds, and randomly dug a hole… boom, there it was!"
"Besides the Windhawk Sword and a few bottles of Dandelion Vintage we were looking for, I even dug up over a million Mora!"
Jean and Lisa exchanged a silent glance and couldn't help but smile wryly.
"So that's where it ended up. Thinking about it… it makes sense. That spot is said to be where Lady Vennessa ascended to Celestia—and perhaps her final resting place. Leaving the Windhawk Sword there wouldn't be too surprising."
"Still, I didn't expect the Treasure Hoarders we cleared out last month to have buried their entire stash there. What a coincidence!"
"Mr. Bai, your luck is truly something else."
"Huh? So that was treasure from the Treasure Hoarders? Do I need to turn it in?"
"There's no need for that. Since you found it, it's rightfully yours."
Jean then turned her eyes to the Windhawk Sword again and asked,
"As for the sword… while you may wish to keep it, would you be willing to name a price for it?"
They'd overheard Baimo's rant about being tricked by Barbatos but didn't pry. Everyone has secrets, after all.
"Alright then! I'll trade it for twenty barrels of Dandelion Wine and two barrels of Vintage!"
The room fell silent.
"Er… is that all?" Jean asked in confusion. "Don't you have any other demands?"
Crap—did I ask for too little?
Baimo had no idea how valuable the Windhawk Sword was to the Knights of Favonius.
"Ahem!" Baimo cleared his throat. "In that case… I'll add twenty barrels of Apple Cider, twenty of Cherry Wine, and twenty of Hookberry Mead!"
Before Jean could respond, Lisa smiled and said,
"Deal! In addition, the Knights of Favonius would like to gift you some of our specialty wines—Aged Autumn Brew and five bottles of Berry Mint Elixir. How about that?"
"Deal!" Baimo agreed immediately. "Oh, and one more thing!"
Seems like this man really doesn't have ill intentions. To trade a legendary weapon for a bunch of wine—what a steal!
So when Baimo made one more request, Jean agreed without hesitation.
"What is it? Please speak. If it's within our ability, the Knights of Favonius will do our best."
After describing a very specific outfit in detail, Baimo said,
"Please spread this description around every tavern in Mondstadt. For the next two months, do not serve this man any alcohol. Only serve him sober-up tea!"
"This bard… is he your enemy?" Jean asked hesitantly.
"Nope. He's a friend. A good enough friend to pay extra to prank!"
Lisa chuckled,
"Consider it done. We'll send the order out immediately. As for your wine, shall we deliver it tomorrow morning?"
"Perfect!" Baimo nodded. "Also, do you have a room I could stay in tonight?"
"Charles, show Mr. Bai to the guest room!" Lisa called.
From outside, Charles entered with a respectful bow,
"Yes, Lady Lisa!"
After Baimo left, Jean rubbed her temples and asked Lisa,
"What do you think of all this?"
"Me? I think it's entertaining."
"Not that… I mean the Windhawk Sword suddenly reappearing—what do you make of it?"
Lisa's smile faded as she examined the sword.
"Mr. Bai doesn't seem like someone with ill intent. But trading a legendary relic for some barrels of wine… it's definitely eccentric."
"Indeed. With the Grand Master away on expedition, trouble is popping up left and right—Treasure Hoarders showing up in Mondstadt, the Fatui growing bolder, and now this legendary weapon suddenly appears…"
"Maybe it's a gift from the Anemo Archon himself," Lisa said, handing Jean the sword. "Perhaps Barbatos used Mr. Bai as a messenger to return it to us."
"You think it's that simple?"
"Maybe it is. After all, our wind-loving god does value freedom more than anything."
After their chat, Jean felt a bit more at ease.
The next day, the deal was finalized without any unexpected developments.
While the Knights were celebrating the return of Vennessa's sword, Baimo was staring at a certain bard with a wicked grin.
"Heh… you really set me up yesterday, huh?"
"Aiya~ I just remembered something urgent, and besides, I need to make a living here in Mondstadt. If Jean saw my face, I'd be finished!"
"So you get it, right?"
"Oh, I get it!" Baimo said, gesturing to the barrels of fine wine beside him.
"Tsk, tsk… the acting Grand Master sure is generous. These are aged brews from the Knights' personal reserves—real delicacies!"
"Cough cough... dear friend, where's my share?"
"Oh, here." Baimo tossed him a single bottle.
"Eh? Only one?"
"If it's not enough, you can return it." Baimo sneered.
"Also, just so you know—I described your face to the Knights. For the next two months, no tavern in Mondstadt will sell you a drop of alcohol."
"That bottle in your hand? That might be your only drink for the next sixty days!"
"Y-you devil! How could you be so cruel?!"
"Right back at you~"
After exchanging jabs, Baimo waved goodbye,
"Well, I'm off. Take care of that last drink of yours!"
"Leaving already?" Venti asked, looking genuinely regretful.
"I'll miss you if you're gone."
"Tch, if it's my wine you'll miss, just say so. I don't want some guy thinking about me every day!"
"Eh heh~" Venti laughed sheepishly, scratching his head and sticking out his tongue.
"Next time, I'll let you taste a real Anemo-style stew."
"And I'll treat you to something new to drink!"
"It's a deal."
"Mm!"
After those parting words, Baimo turned and left for Liyue.
Perched in the treetop, Venti began to strum his lyre, playing a tune that carried gently on the wind.
"May the wind guide your path, and the stars illuminate your way!"
From afar, Baimo replied,
"May the Great Mother Earth always protect you!"
After leaving Windrise, Baimo returned to his Gourmet World.
It was his first time staying in another world for a full month—and during that time, he'd gone through immense change. He had grown far beyond what he once was, now standing on a whole new level of existence.
Not to mention, he now had a Gourmet World all his own.
After checking the development status of this world, Baimo nodded with satisfaction.
Originally, he had wanted to save up Gourmet Points to purchase special abilities.
But with the Gourmet World steadily evolving, the value of rare ingredients and the changes in world structure were earning him points faster than expected.
And now, having stepped into the Heavenly Realm of Magnetic Martial Arts, many unique abilities would come to him naturally.
Looking at the "World Travel" option once more locked in a seven-day countdown, Baimo sighed.
He could now freely return to Teyvat, but to visit other worlds, he still needed to spend seven days in the main world.
Well… that wasn't a bad way to rest.
After exiting his room, Baimo sat at the breakfast table, where Sora Kasugano was already munching away, staring at him without blinking.
"Nii-chan? Did you grow taller again? And your hair looks longer too… you feel more… charming, somehow?"
Indeed, Baimo had grown another five centimeters. His hair had gotten longer as well—expected after a month.
Though in truth, he had restricted his current form.
At full release, Baimo—now a Magnetic Martial God—would stand at over 2.2 meters tall, with heavily defined muscles.
He used a method inspired by Toriko's Master Jirou, who sealed excess power through self-acupuncture—reserving energy and releasing it only at the crucial moment.
Entering this new realm also enhanced Baimo's brain capacity, letting him recall his previous life in vivid detail—including every anime and story he'd ever watched.
As for Sora thinking he'd become more attractive… that was simply the natural magnetism of someone who had transcended life's original limits.
But Baimo didn't bother to explain. Instead, they enjoyed a rich breakfast together, before he escorted her to Nanamori Middle School.
After exchanging greetings with her friends Kyouko Toshinou, Yui Funami, and Akari Akaza, Baimo made his way to Sakura High School.
By now, school had been in session for two or three weeks, and social cliques had begun to form.
Yet with his towering physique and unbeatable presence, Baimo hadn't joined any group. He had long since earned everyone's respect—thanks to his godlike performance during PE classes.
To date, he'd received over twenty confession letters, none of which he had bothered to read.
He followed a simple rule: Don't initiate, don't reject, don't commit, don't take responsibility.
Still, that didn't stop him from being insanely popular across the entire school.
After sitting down at his desk, Baimo pulled out a worn cookbook given to him by Xiangling.
It was a treasure trove—compiled over a thousand years by Guchen Langshi Zhenjun, filled with recipes from ancient times, even including ones from the mythical "Furnace Demon Marquixus."
Every time he studied it, he gained something new.
Curious, Megumi Kato peeked over at the old book in Baimo's hands but realized she couldn't read a single character.
This wasn't any Eastern script she knew—it felt more like a lost language.
Still, seeing Baimo reading so intently, she turned back to her own translated text.
Classes at school were boring as ever. Real youth only started during afterschool club time.
And lately, the happiest time of day for Yui Hirasawa had been lunch break.
As Baimo reheated his food in the cooking club's microwave, Yui and her friends were already sitting together.
"Hey hey~ I saw the new club recruitment poster today! I've decided—I'm joining the Light Music Club!"
"Huh? What kind of club is that?" asked Wakana.
"No clue~" Yui said lazily. "But it sounds easy!"
"What kind of lazy-sounding club is that?"
"I think they're forming a band, and looking for a guitarist," Megumi said.
Yui immediately froze.
"But… I don't know how to play the guitar!"
"Then what can you do?"
Yui pondered hard.
"Uh… castanets?"
Megumi and Wakana glanced at each other and said in unison,
"…Honestly, that suits you perfectly."
"Right? Right?~"
"What are you all talking about?" Baimo asked, sitting down.
"Hey hey~ Bai-bai, I want to join the Light Music Club! Can you come with me after school? You don't have a club, right?"
"True, I don't. What about you, Megumi?"
"I joined the Reading Club a few days ago," she said plainly. As usual, she was the invisible club president.
Baimo became intrigued when he heard the club's name.
If his memory served him right, the Light Music Club was that ideal place where they ate cake, drank tea, and listened to music all afternoon.
So he readily agreed.
"Yay! With Bai-bai there, I won't have to worry about senpai bullying me!"
"By the way, Bai-bai, my lunch today is hamburger steak! Yuu-chan made two extras just for you!"
Her lunches had been steadily improving for weeks. It seemed her little sister really doted on her.
For Baimo, these meals weren't even enough to fill a tooth gap—but they helped him build friendships, so he happily accepted.
"Today, I made grilled Mondstadt fish and honey-glazed carrot meat patties. Let's trade bites, okay?"
"Yay! New dishes again! It's amazing how every day we get something different!"
Even Wakana, who was ready to complain, decided to hold her tongue—she'd been mooching meals too.
"I wish I could eat Bai-bai's food every day~"
"So jealous of your little sister… she gets it all the time!"
"Hey hey, Bai-bai! Can I be your sister too?!"
"Sorry, Yui-chan. Not accepting applicants. If it were Yuu-chan though, I'd consider it."
"Eh?! Why her and not me?"
"When she becomes my sister, we'll talk."
"Then how can I get to eat your cooking every day?"
"Uh… well…"
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T/N:
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