The Crumbs Unleashed: A Traveler’s Misadventure

The midday sun hung high over Mondstadt, its golden rays casting a warm glow over the city's cobblestone streets, the light reflecting off the shimmering surface of Cider Lake in the distance. The air was filled with the scent of fresh flowers and the faint tang of dandelion wine, a lingering reminder of the previous night's celebration. The city buzzed with a renewed energy, the expulsion of the Fatui lifting the spirits of its citizens, their voices rising in cheerful chatter as they went about their day. The towering statue of Barbatos loomed over the plaza, its stone wings spread wide, a silent guardian watching over the city as the wind whispered through the streets, a gentle breeze that carried the promise of freedom and hope. But in the plaza near the city gates, a different kind of spectacle was unfolding, one that had the crowd in stitches and the Traveler at the center of a comedic storm.

The virtual screen of the Teyvat Second Creation broadcast room glowed above the plaza, its ethereal light casting a soft blue hue over the cobblestones. The citizens of Mondstadt had gathered in droves, their curiosity piqued by the latest video, their laughter echoing through the streets as they watched the unfolding chaos. Jean stood near the fountain, her blue cape fluttering in the breeze, her Anemo Vision glowing at her waist, her blonde hair catching the sunlight as she watched with a mix of amusement and concern. Eula leaned against a nearby wall, her silver-blue hair shimmering like frost, her Cryo Vision glowing at her hip, her icy blue eyes narrowed with a smirk. Paimon hovered in the air, her starry cape fluttering as she clutched her tiny fists, her face a mix of indignation and embarrassment. Ying stood at the center of the crowd, her golden eyes wide with horror, her blonde hair shimmering in the sunlight as she gripped her sword, her Anemo powers swirling chaotically around her in response to her rising panic.

Xander sat at a table outside the Good Hunter, a mug of cider in hand, his cloak draped over the back of his chair, the Shadowfang Blade resting against the table. His recent upgrade to A-level had left him feeling invigorated, his senses sharper, his movements more fluid, a vibrant blue aura still lingering faintly around him. He had orchestrated this second creation video with a clear goal in mind—to highlight Ying's "crumbs," the chaotic and often morally questionable antics that had made her a beloved yet infamous figure in Teyvat. The video, titled "This Traveler Has Billions of Crumbs," had already caused a stir, and as it played on the big screen, the audience's laughter grew louder with each passing scene.

The video opened near the intersection outside Mondstadt's bridge, the stone arches framed by the vibrant green of the surrounding fields, the sound of the river below a gentle murmur in the background. Ying stood at the center of the frame, her yellow hair gleaming in the sunlight, her Anemo Vision glowing at her waist, her sword sheathed at her side. Paimon hovered beside her, her starry cape fluttering as she chatted animatedly, her tiny hands gesturing wildly as she spoke.

Ying's voice echoed through the plaza, her tone a mix of frustration and longing as she spoke to Paimon. "Paimon, I have a doubt," she said, her golden eyes narrowing as she crossed her arms. "I've been in Teyvat for so long, and apart from doing odd jobs for the Adventurer's Association every day, I don't even have a decent place to live. I'm the Honorary Knight of Mondstadt—where's my 36D maid follower?!"

Paimon's expression turned to one of scorn, her tiny fists planted on her hips as she glared at Ying. "Your focus is on the maid, isn't it?!" she retorted, her voice a mix of exasperation and disbelief.

The crowd erupted in laughter, the absurdity of Ying's complaint striking a perfect balance of humor and chaos. Ying's face turned bright red, her hands flying to her cheeks as she let out a strangled cry. "What the heck is this?!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with embarrassment as she pointed at the screen. "I'm not like that—I'm a good person, I swear! I wouldn't say something so… so shameless!"

Paimon flailed in the air, her tiny body trembling as she pointed at Ying, her voice a mix of indignation and panic. "And I'm not okay with this either!" she shouted, her cheeks puffed out with anger. "Paimon is not emergency food—not emergency food, I tell you!"

The chat exploded with reactions, the audience reveling in Ying and Paimon's distress as the video continued.

Noelle: "Oh my… I'm in this one too?"

Amber: "Hahaha, Ying and Paimon are hilarious! I remember when I first met them, Ying called Paimon her emergency food."

Kaeya: "Killing Paimon outright? Now that's a true partner—hahaha!"

Xander: "Using a Desert Eagle? That's ruthless. It's a miracle Paimon's skull didn't explode. She's definitely not your average emergency food."

Paimon: "@Xander, I've already said I'm not emergency food—not emergency food!"

Kamisato Ayaka: "Emergency food… what an interesting nickname."

Arataki Itto: "Hahaha, this Paimon looks like a flying dwarf melon!"

Paimon: "Flying dwarf melon?! You jerk, I'll give you an ugly nickname too—how about 'Jailbird'?!"

The video transitioned to the next scene, Noelle appearing on the screen with her characteristic grace. Her silver armor gleamed in the sunlight, her Geo Vision glowing at her waist, her blonde hair tied back in a neat ponytail as she carried a broom, her expression one of earnest determination. "Excuse me, are you the Honorary Knight?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm as she looked at Ying.

Ying's eyes lit up, a predatory glint in her golden gaze as she took in Noelle's maid outfit, her voice dripping with excitement. "I am—who are you?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and mischief.

Noelle smiled, her expression warm as she introduced herself. "I'm Noelle, a maid of the Knights of Favonius," she said, her voice soft but proud. "I'm working toward becoming an official knight, but I haven't passed the exam yet."

The moment Noelle said the word "maid," Ying's demeanor shifted, her eyes glowing red like a hungry wolf as she leaned closer, her grin widening. Paimon, sensing danger, flailed in the air, her voice a desperate shout as she warned Noelle. "Run, kid—she's not a good person!"

Before Paimon could say more, Ying pulled out a Desert Eagle—a comically out-of-place weapon in the world of Teyvat—and loaded it with a dramatic click. The crowd gasped, their laughter turning to shocked amusement as Ying fired a single shot, the bang echoing through the plaza. Paimon let out a yelp, her tiny body collapsing to the ground with a puff of blue smoke rising from her head, her expression one of exaggerated betrayal as she lay there, "dead."

Noelle's eyes widened in shock, her hands flying to her mouth as she looked at Paimon's "corpse." "She doesn't look good… are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern as she glanced at Ying.

Ying smiled, her expression unnervingly calm as she twirled the gun in her hand, her tone casual. "This is the emergency food I brought," she said, her voice dripping with mock innocence. "I usually kill it first and then stew it."

The real Ying and Paimon in the plaza were beside themselves, their mental states crumbling under the weight of the video's absurdity. Ying buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled as she shouted, "This is ridiculous! I'm not a monster—I'd never do that to Paimon!" Paimon hovered beside her, her tiny fists shaking with rage as she pointed at the screen. "Paimon is not emergency food—not emergency food, I say! And I'm not a dwarf melon either!"

The video continued, Noelle's expression a mix of confusion and concern as she responded to Ying's earlier question. "You just said you're a maid… your outfit doesn't have anything to do with the Bone King, does it?" Ying asked, her tone laced with suspicion as she eyed Noelle's armor.

Noelle tilted her head, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Bone King? Who's that?" she asked, her voice soft but puzzled. "I don't know any Bone King. I'm a maid of the Knights of Favonius, working toward becoming an official knight. I've failed the exam a few times, but I'm still trying. Since I met you here, Honorary Knight, I thought I'd ask for your advice…"

Ying's expression turned calculating, her golden eyes narrowing as she crossed her arms. "What's in it for me?" she asked, her tone sharp as she studied Noelle, her grin taking on a mischievous edge.

Noelle's eyes lit up, her voice earnest as she replied, "Anything—as long as I can help!" Her naivety was palpable, her willingness to assist shining through in her warm smile.

Ying's grin widened, a sly, almost predatory edge to it as she leaned closer, her voice low and suggestive. "Anything, huh…" she murmured, her tone dripping with implication.

Paimon's "corpse" suddenly twitched, her voice echoing from the ground in a dramatic whisper. "Run, Noelle—she's an LSP!" she shouted, her warning cut short as Ying fired another shot, the bang echoing through the plaza as Paimon "died" again, her tiny body collapsing with another puff of blue smoke.

Noelle gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as she looked at Paimon's "corpse." "Your emergency food… it's talking again," she said, her voice trembling with confusion as she glanced at Ying.

Ying waved a hand dismissively, her expression unapologetic as she turned back to Noelle. "Don't worry about the details," she said, her tone casual. "So, you want me to help you become a Knight of Favonius?"

Noelle nodded, her expression earnest as she clasped her hands together. "Yes, I want to be as strong as you, Honorary Knight," she said, her voice filled with determination. "I usually help everyone with housework and odd jobs—I'm good at those things."

Ying shook her head, her expression one of disdain as she crossed her arms. "How can a handyman get ahead?" she asked, her tone sharp. "You must not be strong enough to become a Knight of Favonius. Only real power can solve everything in Teyvat. What's the point of being a handyman?"

Noelle's brow furrowed, her voice soft but firm as she replied, "Strength? But my strength is already great. I do all the housework for the Knights of Favonius by myself."

Ying scoffed, her tone dripping with arrogance as she waved a hand. "What kind of strength can you gain from housework?" she asked, her voice laced with mockery. "Your little strength is nothing. Come on—let's see what you've got. Give me your best shot."

Noelle hesitated, her expression one of concern as she glanced at Ying. "This… this isn't a good idea, is it?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "I have a lot of strength… I don't want to hurt you."

But Ying's arrogance knew no bounds, her golden eyes gleaming with overconfidence as she smirked. "Go ahead—I can handle it," she said, her tone dismissive as she braced herself, her Anemo powers swirling around her in a show of bravado.

The crowd in the plaza held their breath, their laughter turning to anticipation as they watched the scene unfold. Noelle took a deep breath, her Geo Vision glowing as she summoned her strength, her hands clenching into fists. With a sudden burst of power, she threw a punch, the force of her strike sending a shockwave through the air, the ground beneath her cracking as the energy surged toward Ying.

Ying's eyes widened in shock, her overconfidence shattered as the punch connected, the impact sending her flying through the air like a ragdoll. She crashed into a nearby tree, the wood splintering under the force as she slid to the ground, her body crumpled in a heap, stars circling her head in a cartoonish display of dizziness. Noelle gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as she rushed to Ying's side, her voice trembling with concern. "Oh no, are you okay?!" she exclaimed, her tone filled with guilt as she knelt beside the fallen Traveler.

The crowd erupted in laughter, the absurdity of the scene sending them into hysterics as Ying lay there, her pride thoroughly shattered. The real Ying in the plaza buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled as she groaned, "This is the worst day of my life…" Paimon hovered beside her, her tiny hands patting Ying's head in a futile attempt at comfort. "There, there… at least you didn't really get punched?" she said, her tone uncertain as she glanced at the screen, her own embarrassment evident in her flushed cheeks.

The chat flooded with reactions, the audience reveling in the chaos as Ying's "crumbs" were laid bare for all of Teyvat to see.

Jean: "Noelle's strength is no joke… but this version of Ying is something else."

Lisa: "Oh my, the Traveler really knows how to stir up trouble, doesn't she?"

Kaeya: "Hahaha, I didn't expect Noelle to be the one to take her down!"

Albedo: "Fascinating… the physics of that punch are quite impressive."

Noelle: "I… I didn't mean to hurt her! This isn't how I am, I swear!"

Wendy: "Ehe, looks like the Traveler bit off more than she could chew this time!"

Xander leaned back in his chair, his grin wide as he watched the video unfold, his laughter mingling with the crowd's. The second creation had been a resounding success, Ying's over-the-top antics providing the perfect mix of humor and chaos to lift the spirits of Mondstadt. But as he watched Ying's mortified reaction, a pang of sympathy stirred in his chest. She had been through a lot in the past few days—Rosalyn's attack, the theft of the Heart of God, and her own feelings of inadequacy. Perhaps it was time to give her a break in the next video, to focus on someone else—like Venti, who still owed him a bit of payback for his theatrics.

As the video ended, the broadcast room announced the rewards: Ying received a "Pride-Shattering Punching Bag" as a tongue-in-cheek nod to her defeat, while Noelle was given a "Maid's Strength Training Manual" to further hone her already impressive power. The screen faded to black, the crowd dispersing with laughter and chatter, their spirits lifted by the lighthearted spectacle.

Ying slowly stood, her face still red as she turned to Xander, her golden eyes narrowed with a mix of embarrassment and determination. "You're behind this, aren't you?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and amusement as she pointed a finger at him.

Xander raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin unapologetic as he replied, "Guilty as charged—but come on, you have to admit, it was pretty funny!" He paused huntington paused, his expression softening as he added, "Don't worry, I'll give you a break next time. You've had a rough couple of days—you deserve a win."

Ying sighed, her shoulders slumping as she managed a small smile. "Fine… but you owe me," she said, her tone lighter now as she turned to Paimon, who was still clutching her new cookbook with a mix of pride and embarrassment. "Let's go, Paimon—I need to get away from all these laughing faces."

As the two walked away, the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over Mondstadt. The city had faced its share of challenges, but for now, it basked in the light of victory and laughter, the second creation video a reminder that even heroes could be the source of a good laugh.

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