Chapter 95: Surpassing the Seven Archons

Qiu Xue gazed at the massive wolf before her.

She hadn't expected the Wolf King of the North to be this naive perhaps it had been isolated from the outside world for too long.

"But that Ruin Guard it really was much stronger than the others."

From the Wolf King's description, that Ruin Guard was likely the first-ever plowing machine.

After all, a normal Ruin Guard wouldn't be able to single-handedly fight a Vision wielder.

Qiu Xue found herself surprised by this thought.

"Fireballs…? Eh? I feel like I've heard that word somewhere recently…"

Paimon tilted her head, trying to recall.

"Anyway, does this mean the world's first plowing machine really did come to Mondstadt?"

She looked at Lumine and Qiu Xue, speaking slowly.

"It sounds like the power of the first Ruin Guard was far greater than the mass-produced ones that came after."

"But in this story it seems like it was defeated in the Wolf King trial."

Paimon waved her hands as she spoke to Lumine.

"I don't know. But did this help?"

Razor looked at the three of them, speaking in his usual slow, fragmented manner.

"It helped a lot! Thank you!"

"We need to investigate something very important now."

"The Abyss Herald may have left, but the Order attack isn't over yet so be careful!"

Paimon looked at Razor and the North Wind Wolf King, offering a cautious warning.

"Mm, I can smell something… even more dangerous."

"But that big sister gave me strength. I can… protect this place."

"You all… protect yourselves too."

Razor finished his words, looking at the three with concern.

"Haha, good boy, little Razor."

"You all take care too."

Qiu Xue chuckled, patting Razor head before leaving with Lumine and Paimon.

The North Wind Wolf King and Razor watched as they departed.

"We've gathered some really important intel."

"Let's hurry and report this to Dainsleif!"

As they exited Wolvendom, Paimon twirled happily in the air, speaking excitedly to Lumine and Qiu Xue.

"Mhm, you two go ahead, little Paimon."

"I still have something to take care of."

Qiu Xue ruffled Paimon hair, smiling at Lumine.

Lumine returned the smile and nodded.

And just like that, Qiu Xue figure vanished.

"Sigh… I really hope the next time we see her, it's not Qiu Bai."

"How can one person have such drastically different personalities?!"

Paimon huffed, waving her tiny hands at the spot where Qiu Xue had disappeared.

Lumine nodded in response and then left with Paimon to find Dainsleif.

Meanwhile, Qiu Xue appeared atop a cliff, watching Venti as he strummed his lyre.

He stood there, gazing into the distance, playing a soft, melodious tune.

"Were you standing here watching the whole time?"

Qiu Xue brushed a strand of hair behind her ear as she casually walked toward Venti.

"Hehe, Mondstadt's breeze is as refreshing as ever."

"Just like a gentle maiden caressing my face."

Venti chuckled, looking at the beautiful Qiu Xue.

Hearing this, the corner of Qiu Xue's mouth twitched.

"What a smooth way to change the topic… As expected of the so-called 'Windswept Trickster Archon.'"

A playful glint flashed in her eyes as an idea formed. Smirking, she took a graceful step forward, closing the distance between them.

"A gentle maiden caressing your face, huh?"

"You mean like this?"

With that, Qiu Xue raised her delicate hand.

And smacked Venti across the face. (T/N: LET'S FUKIN GOOOOOOOOOO)

"PAH!"

A crisp sound echoed through the cliffside.

Venti clutched his now-swollen cheek, tears welling up in his eyes as he stared at Qiu Xue in disbelief.

"W-Wahhh…!"

"Why did you hit me all of a sudden?!"

Venti looked utterly wronged, sniffling as he spoke.

"Looking at you like this… why shouldn't I hit you?"

"Weren't you the one who said a gentle maiden was caressing your face?"

Qiu Xue crossed her arms, giving him a sly smile.

"You call that a caress?!"

"My handsome, dashing face is ruined!"

Venti sniffled dramatically, rubbing his cheek.

"Pfft—HAHAHAHA!"

Seeing Venti pitiful expression, Qiu Xue couldn't hold it in and burst into laughter, covering her mouth.

"You're still laughing?! This is all your fault!"

"Waaaahhh…!"

Venti glared at her, his teary eyes full of grievance.

"HAHAHAHA!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Qiu Xue laughed so hard that tears streamed down her own face.

Finally, after wiping away her laughter-induced tears, she turned to him with a smirk.

"So? Why didn't you go down just now?"

"Why were you just standing up here watching?"

Venti, still rubbing his face, pouted and mumbled:

"I couldn't go down! If I did, Boreas would have recognized me instantly."

"Not to mention that little wolf pup was standing right there too."

Qiu Xue raised an eyebrow.

"That's what you call an excuse?"

"Alright, alright, I'll let that excuse slide."

Hearing Venti's reasoning, Qiu Xue lips twitched slightly. She waved her hand at him dismissively, then in the blink of an eye, her figure shifted, transforming into Qiu Bai.

Just moments ago, he had taken on the form of Qiu Xue to avoid being recognized by that Abyss Herald the same one he had once scared off with just a single finger.

He hadn't expected the Abyss Herald to be so bold, charging at them head-on.

Venti stood there, utterly dumbfounded.

The breathtakingly beautiful woman before him had suddenly transformed into an outrageously handsome scholar.

His mind froze for a moment.

"Your ability to switch genders…"

"I have to say, that's really eye-opening."

Venti spoke in astonishment.

"As the God of Balance, both men and women represent equilibrium in Teyvat."

"So taking on a female form is simply part of my divine authority."

Qiu Bai responded casually, waving a hand with a faint smile.

"Oh, so that's how it is."

"No wonder you have no connection to Celestia, Your Gnosis wasn't granted by them in the first place."

Venti gaze settled on Qiu Bai as realization dawned on him.

"But didn't the old man ever tell you?"

"Our memories have been altered and even erased."

Venti slowly stepped forward, gazing out over the scenic landscape of Mondstadt.

"I've never heard Morax mention anything like that."

Qiu Bai furrowed his brows, clearly puzzled.

"Our memories and understanding of the world have been tampered with."

"But no matter how much time has passed, deep down, we can still sense that something has changed."

Venti spoke softly, his eyes fixed on the distant mountains.

"But your memories they remain untouched."

"Which means that your existence transcends the Seven Archons."

"Yet you know so little. After all, you've been asleep for most of history and never witnessed the calamity from 500 years ago."

Venti turned back to Qiu Bai, his face still bearing the swollen mark from earlier, as he spoke slowly and deliberately.

"My existence transcends the Seven?"

Qiu Bai murmured, looking at Venti in confusion.

"There are three kinds of beings in this world—"

"Those who come from beyond, those whose existence ranks higher than the Seven, and those who are not 'beings' at all…"

"Their memories cannot be altered."

Venti explained, watching as Qiu Bai expression turned contemplative.

(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)