A Punch to Remember and a Lesson in Crumbs

The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over Mondstadt, its rays filtering through the leaves of the trees that lined the city's outskirts, painting the cobblestone path near the bridge with dappled patterns of light and shadow. The air was warm, carrying the scent of fresh grass and the faint tang of Cider Lake, its surface rippling gently under the breeze, reflecting the azure sky above. The city itself buzzed with a renewed energy, the expulsion of the Fatui and the resolution of the Wind Dragon crisis lifting the spirits of its citizens. The streets were alive with the sounds of merchants hawking their wares, children playing near the fountain, and bards strumming their lutes, their melodies a celebration of freedom restored. 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 seemed to carry the promise of a new day.

In the plaza near the city gates, a large crowd had gathered, their attention fixed on the virtual screen of the Teyvat Second Creation broadcast room, its ethereal light casting a soft blue hue over the cobblestones. The citizens of Mondstadt laughed and cheered, their spirits lifted by the latest video, a comedic take on the Traveler Ying's "crumbs" that had already caused a stir across Teyvat. 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, her arms crossed over her chest. 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 as she observed the chaos unfolding on the screen. Paimon hovered in the air, her starry cape fluttering as she clutched her tiny fists, her face a mix of indignation and embarrassment, her cheeks puffed out with frustration. 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, its dark steel glinting in the sunlight. 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 chaotic and often morally questionable antics, a humorous take on her "billions of crumbs" that had made her a beloved yet infamous figure in Teyvat. The video had already caused a stir, and as it played on the big screen, the audience's laughter grew louder with each passing scene, their reactions flooding the chat with a mix of amusement and disbelief.

The video continued 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. Noelle stood before her, her silver armor gleaming in the sunlight, her Geo Vision glowing at her waist, her blonde hair tied back in a neat ponytail as she fidgeted nervously, her gauntleted hands clasped together. Paimon lay "dead" on the ground nearby, a puff of blue smoke rising from her head, her tiny body comically sprawled out after Ying's earlier "execution" with a Desert Eagle.

Ying's voice echoed through the plaza, her tone dripping with arrogance as she goaded Noelle, her golden eyes gleaming with overconfidence. "If I tell you to hit me, hit me right away—don't worry, with your slender arms and legs, can you even—" she began, her words cut off as Noelle, with a look of reluctant determination, threw a punch.

The moment Noelle's small fist, wrapped in her gauntlet, connected with Ying's face, the scene erupted into chaos. Ying's face deformed comically, her cheeks squishing inward as her eyes bulged, the impact sending a shockwave through the air that tore through the ground like a tempest. The earth rumbled, a massive ditch more than ten meters wide ripping through the field, the grass and soil flying in all directions as the force of the punch reached Cider Lake. The water's surface exploded, a mile-long gash cutting through the lake as waves surged outward, crashing against the shores with a thunderous roar. Ying was sent flying, her body spinning through the air like a ragdoll before she crashed into the lake with a massive splash, the water erupting around her in a geyser of white foam.

Noelle's eyes widened in panic, her hands flying to her mouth as she rushed to the edge of the lake, her voice trembling with guilt. "I'm sorry, Honorary Knight! Are you okay?!" she exclaimed, her tone filled with worry as she peered into the water, her Geo Vision glowing faintly as she prepared to jump in after Ying. "I was holding back my strength—I didn't mean to hit you that hard!"

The crowd in the plaza erupted in a mix of gasps and laughter, the sheer absurdity of the scene sending them into hysterics. The chat flooded with reactions, the audience marveling at Noelle's exaggerated strength and Ying's comically disastrous fate.

Barbara: "By the Anemo Archon, Noelle's punch is terrifying!"

Beidou: "Hiss… this little girl Noelle might just be the most invincible human in Teyvat!"

Kujou Sara: "A maid of the Knights of Favonius without an official position has this kind of strength?! That's outrageous!"

Treasure Hoarder Boss: "Damn, I almost tried to rob her that day—good thing I had diarrhea, or I'd be dead without a corpse!"

Keqing: "This doesn't make sense. If the Knights of Favonius are this strong, why were they bullied by the Fatui?"

Ganyu: "Perhaps… she's a secret trump card?"

Noelle: "No, no, I don't have that kind of strength! I can only lift a few tons of stone at most—I'm just a little maid!"

Yoimiya: "Only a few tons? Is that supposed to be human?!"

Ningguang: "The Knights of Favonius are Mondstadt's pride, after all. It's not surprising they have hidden talents."

Jean: "Everyone, please, Noelle is just an ordinary girl from Mondstadt. This second creation video is a fictional exaggeration!"

Yae Miko: "Hehe, let's not forget—this Ying seems to have a thing for girls, doesn't she? How intriguing…"

Yanfei: "It's a bit surprising, but Liyue's laws don't prohibit girls dating girls."

Ying: "I'm not like that! My orientation is normal, I swear!"

The real Ying, still in the plaza, had resurfaced from her earlier embarrassment, but this new scene sent her spiraling again. She buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled as she groaned, "This is the worst day of my life… I didn't even say that! And I'm not… I don't like girls like that!" Paimon hovered beside her, her tiny hands patting Ying's head in a futile attempt at comfort, though her own cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. "There, there… at least you didn't really get punched into the lake?" she said, her tone uncertain as she glanced at the screen, her own mortification evident.

The video continued, the scene shifting as Ying emerged from the lake, her face comically swollen but otherwise unharmed, a testament to the exaggerated physics of the second creation. She shook off the water, her yellow hair dripping as she climbed back onto the shore, her Anemo Vision glowing faintly as she summoned a gust of wind to dry herself off. Noelle rushed to her side, her expression one of guilt and concern as she clasped her hands together, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry, Honorary Knight! I didn't mean to hit you that hard—are you sure you're okay?" she asked, her tone filled with worry as she hovered around Ying, her Geo Vision glowing faintly as she prepared to help in any way she could.

Ying waved a hand dismissively, her expression a mix of irritation and begrudging respect as she rubbed her swollen cheek. "I'm fine," she muttered, her tone gruff but her golden eyes gleaming with a newfound wariness. "You've got some serious strength, I'll give you that. But let's move on—I'm supposed to be teaching you how to be a Knight of Favonius, right?"

Paimon, who had miraculously "revived" from her earlier "death," hovered nearby, her tiny fists planted on her hips as she glared at Ying. "Who was it that just said doing odd jobs has no future?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she pointed an accusatory finger at Ying. "And now you're fine with it? Make up your mind!"

Ying's eyes narrowed, her hand reaching for the Desert Eagle with a dramatic flourish as she pointed it at Paimon, her tone menacing. "Shut up, or do you want to die again?" she growled, her golden eyes flashing with mock anger as she waved the gun threateningly.

Paimon yelped, her tiny body darting behind Noelle as she shouted, "No, no, I'll be quiet!" The crowd laughed again, the absurdity of Paimon's repeated "deaths" adding to the comedic chaos of the video.

Noelle, still flustered from the earlier incident, turned to Ying with a determined nod, her voice soft but resolute. "As expected of an Honorary Knight—you're so resilient," she said, her tone filled with admiration. "What should we do next?"

Before Ying could respond, a new figure approached, her steps hesitant as she clutched her head in confusion. Beatrice, a young woman from Mondstadt known for her somewhat childish demeanor, stepped into the frame, her brown hair tied back in a messy bun, her green dress slightly rumpled as she fidgeted nervously. "Noelle, there you are," she said, her voice a mix of relief and frustration. "I need your help—I want to go on a date with my boyfriend, but I don't know what gift to choose, or where to go, or how to make it… you know, romantic. Can you help me?"

Noelle's eyes widened, her expression one of surprise as she clasped her hands together, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "Huh? Picking out gifts? Choosing a date spot? And making it romantic?" she asked, her tone filled with confusion as she glanced at Ying for guidance. "I… I spend most of my time working as a maid, and I rarely go out. I've never even been on a date myself—I don't know how to help with this!"

The crowd in the plaza chuckled, Noelle's innocence endearing as she struggled with Beatrice's request. Ying, however, saw an opportunity, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief as she stepped forward, her grin widening. "Don't worry, Noelle—I've got this," she said, her tone confident as she turned to Beatrice, her Anemo powers swirling faintly around her in a show of bravado. "I'm an expert at this kind of thing. Let's get you the perfect gift and the perfect date spot—your boyfriend won't know what hit him."

Paimon hovered nearby, her expression skeptical as she crossed her arms, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "An expert, huh? The same expert who just got punched into a lake?" she asked, her tone teasing as she dodged a glare from Ying, her tiny body darting out of reach.

Ying ignored her, her focus on Beatrice as she began to brainstorm, her voice filled with exaggerated confidence. "First, we need a gift—something that screams romance," she said, her tone dramatic as she paced back and forth, her hands gesturing wildly. "How about a bouquet of dandelions? They're Mondstadt's specialty, and they symbolize freedom and love. Then, for the date spot, we'll take you to Windrise—the big tree there is perfect for a romantic picnic. And to make it extra special, we'll set up some lanterns and play some music—your boyfriend will be head over heels!"

Beatrice's eyes lit up, her earlier confusion replaced by excitement as she clapped her hands together. "That sounds amazing!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with gratitude as she turned to Noelle. "See, Noelle? I knew you'd know what to do!"

Noelle blinked, her expression a mix of relief and confusion as she glanced at Ying, her voice soft but grateful. "Thank you, Honorary Knight—I wouldn't have known where to start," she said, her tone filled with admiration as she smiled at Ying, her Geo Vision glowing faintly with her renewed determination.

The video paused on this scene, the screen fading to black as the broadcast room announced the rewards: Ying received a "Romantic Disaster Planner" as a tongue-in-cheek nod to her chaotic approach to romance, while Noelle was given a "Beginner's Guide to Dating" to help her navigate future requests. The crowd in the plaza erupted in applause, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they dispersed, their spirits lifted by the lighthearted spectacle.

Ying, still reeling from the video, turned to Xander, her golden eyes narrowed with a mix of embarrassment and determination. "You're enjoying this way too much," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and amusement as she pointed a finger at him, her Anemo powers swirling faintly around her in response to her emotions.

Xander raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin unapologetic as he leaned back in his chair, his tone teasing. "What can I say? You make it too easy," he said, his voice filled with amusement as he took a sip of his cider. "But don't worry—I'll give you a break next time. You've had enough for one day."

Ying sighed, her shoulders slumping as she managed a small smile, her tone lighter now as she turned to Paimon, who was still muttering about not being emergency food. "Let's go, Paimon—I need a break from all this," she said, her voice filled with exhaustion as she started walking away, the crowd's laughter fading into the background.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over Mondstadt, the city 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. But beneath the surface, the winds of change were stirring, the Fatui's expulsion only the beginning of a larger storm that would soon test Mondstadt's resolve once more.

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