Lumine glanced at the group.
"That statue it has the appearance of the Anemo Archon."
"Should we ask the people of the Church of Favonius?"
She turned to Dainsleif and spoke slowly.
"Hmm, that wandering bard is too hard to track down. Instead, let's check with the Church of Favonius first."
"Maybe we'll find some clues."
Paimon looked around and spoke thoughtfully.
"That bard is he really that hard to find?"
Qiu Bai smiled slightly, amused by the thought.
"The church... Hmph."
Dainsleif scoffed softly, his tone filled with disdain.
"Hmm? Dain, what's wrong?"
Paimon looked at him in confusion, not understanding why he seemed irritated.
"It's nothing. Let's just head over first."
Dainsleif quickly turned his head away and dismissed the matter.
Without further discussion, he started walking toward Mondstadt. Seeing this, Lumine and Paimon followed closely behind.
"Scoffing at the power of the gods, huh?"
"Well, he's just a five-hundred-year-old child. There are still many things he doesn't understand."
Qiu Bai chuckled as he watched Dainsleif departing figure before following along with the group.
They had already reached the borders of Liyue, so the journey to Mondstadt wasn't far.
After half a day of travel, they finally arrived in Mondstadt's territory.
It was noon, and the sun hung high in the sky, casting its warm glow over the land.
The free winds brushed against their faces, carrying the scent of dandelion seeds drifting across the distant plains.
Rolling mountain ranges stretched endlessly in the distance, accompanied by rivers, lakes, and vast plains. Towering into the sky, the Seven Statues of The Seven emitted a soft, ethereal blue light.
The azure sky stretched above them, dotted with clouds that drifted lazily like cotton.
"It's been a long time since I last set foot in the land of wind."
"The air here it's still as warm and fragrant as ever."
Qiu Bai smiled at the breathtaking scenery, his mind unconsciously recalling Mondstadt's BGM.
"Huh? Qiu Bai, you've been here before?"
Paimon tilted her head in confusion. After all, according to what she had heard, Qiu Bai had been in a deep slumber for a long time.
"Heh, yes. I came here a long, long time ago."
"And back then, it looked exactly the same as it does now."
Qiu Bai chuckled as he patted Paimon head.
"Your idea of 'a long time ago' definitely isn't the same as mine, is it?"
Paimon narrowed her eyes at him while letting him ruffle her hair.
"It's quite nostalgic, really."
"After all, this is where the Traveler and I first met."
Paimon turned her head and looked at Lumine, who was admiring the scenery, smiling as she spoke.
"Yeah, Paimon, this is where our journey began."
"I wonder how everyone in Mondstadt is doing now."
Lumine nodded with a smile. The beautiful landscape naturally lifted her spirits.
"Now's not the time for sightseeing."
"We need to head to the Church of Favonius and investigate."
A voice disrupting the peaceful moment rang out—it was Dainsleif.
"Alright, let's go to the Church of Favonius."
"After all, we have more important matters to handle."
Paimon nodded in agreement.
Lumine and Paimon both turned their eyes toward Qiu Bai, hinting at something intensely. After all, Mondstadt was still quite a distance away.
"Haha, my little teleportation trick doesn't work too well in places I haven't visited for a long time, you know, Paimon."
Qiu Bai chuckled as he ruffled Paimon head.
"What if I end up sending you into some remote wilderness?"
"You should be careful, or you might get eaten by wolves."
His voice took on a low, ominous tone, making Paimon shudder.
"A-Ahh! No way! Let's just walk there!"
"Paimon doesn't want to get eaten by wolves!"
Startled by Qiu Bai eerie expression, Paimon quickly protested in fear.
"Paimon, you're such a scaredy-cat."
Lumine crossed her arms and teased.
"Hmph! I am not a scaredy-cat!"
"Let's go! I'll lead the way!"
Annoyed by Lumine remark, Paimon huffed and flew ahead.
Watching her antics, both Lumine and Qiu Bai covered their mouths, stifling laughter.
With that, Qiu Bai and Lumine followed suit, while Dainsleif seemed to be lost in thought for a while before finally moving as well.
Later That Evening
After traveling for an entire day, the group encountered multiple monsters along the way, all of which Lumine swiftly dealt with.
By the time dusk arrived, the sky was painted in shades of orange and purple. The group had set up camp, with the glow of a bonfire flickering in the night. Smoke rose gently into the sky, blending with the evening air.
Qiu Bai stood alone atop a cliff, hands behind his back, gazing at the slowly rising moon.
Paimon, arms full of Sunsettia fruits, hovered near the fire, while Lumine approached with a few freshly caught fish.
Dainsleif sat on a rock nearby, eyes closed in silent contemplation.
"Qiu Bai, do you want some grilled fish?"
Lumine called out softly as she walked toward the cliff where Qiu Bai stood.
"Heh, if it's made by you, Lumine…"
"I'd eat it without hesitation."
Qiu Bai chuckled and teased playfully.
Hearing this, Lumine face turned slightly red. She sat down beside him on the cliffside, resting her chin in her hands as she, too, gazed at the distant moon.
After a brief silence, she finally spoke again.
"Qiu Bai, how long were you asleep?"
Lumine asked calmly, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
"Heh, let me think…"
"A thousand years ago, I walked the mortal world for a few decades before falling into slumber."
"Then, five hundred years later, the war between the Adepti and the Great Demons broke out."
Qiu Bai seemed lost in memory as he turned to look at Lumine, who was seated beside him. His voice was soft, almost nostalgic.
"I was forcibly awakened for a few hours to put an end to the battle between the Adepti and Demons. Then, I fell into slumber once more."
"The day you met me in Liyue Harbor was the day I awakened again, exactly five hundred years later."
Kneeling down slightly, Qiu Bai gazed at the distant moon before continuing.
"As for why I have no connection to Celestia…"
"I suppose it's because my Divine Heart has existed since the moment I was born."
His voice was calm yet carried a certain weight.
Lumine eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"So, Qiu Bai you were born as a god?"
Her curiosity deepened as she stared at him, astonished.
Qiu Bai smiled faintly before turning to look at the moonlit sky, hands clasped behind his back.
"Lumine, when you continue your journey, always remember the meaning behind it."
"Reaching the destination does not mean everything. Before you arrive at the end, use your eyes to observe this world as much as you can."
His voice was serene yet carried a profound depth.
"Qiu Bai…"
"That sounds just like something Venti once said…"
Lumine murmured, staring at Qiu Bai back in a daze, still trying to grasp the full meaning of his words.
Just then, a voice echoed from below the cliff.
"Oww—! Isn't this path supposed to be flat?"
"How did I still manage to trip?"
The voice carried a clueless, clumsy tone.
Qiu Bai mouth twitched slightly at the familiar sound.
"Isn't that the voice of the Pyro Archon Bennett?"
Curious, he glanced downward.
A white-haired boy wearing shorts and a pair of goggles on his head was sitting on the ground, rubbing his head. A small white bandage was plastered over his nose, and from the looks of it, he had just taken a fall.
Indeed, the person below was none other than the legendary Six-Star Pyro Archon—Bennett.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)