Fontaine.
This is the largest bar in the Court of Fontaine. It also boasts the grandest and most luxurious wine cellar in the entire nation, with countless fine vintages stored within.
Thus, some drunkards often joke:
"If you don't drink Fontaine wine, you'll live a relatively failed life."
Fontaine's wine typically has a lower alcohol content.
So those who can't hold their liquor but still love to drink are often mocked by others as "just drinking wine."
But when they meet someone who truly appreciates wine, it feels like meeting a kindred spirit:
"So, you like Fontaine wine too!"
You'd be right to say so, but…
Regardless, all of this reflects the high regard people have for Fontaine's wines.
Naturally, such a vast collection of exquisite vintages attracts those with less-than-honorable intentions.
After all, when faced with the temptation of such rare liquor, the poor and drunken often can't restrain their longing hearts—or their hands.
Late at night, a figure in a green cloak with two braids darted swiftly across the rooftops.
The figure's movements were so fast, the naked eye could barely follow. Wherever he passed, traces of Anemo energy flickered briefly before vanishing into the wind.
Stopping atop a tall building, the man paused, scanned the area to ensure no one was following, and then locked onto a direction.
He murmured to himself, "If I'm right… this is when Fontaine wine tastes the best!"
Stretching lazily, he added, "Ah~ I can't get caught. If I do, I'll be dragged to the Court of Fontaine and my reputation will be in ruins."
"If you don't drink Fontaine wine, your life is relatively a failure"—what a true statement! Hehe~
With a smirk, he smoothed his green cloak and moved like a breeze toward the largest wine cellar in Fontaine.
In the shadows beneath a stone pillar not far away, Fu Ning's figure emerged from the darkness. His eyes followed the trail of the green figure, narrowing.
"Domain talent… Sequence Six."
Using his Sequence Six ability, Fu Ning had cloaked himself so effectively that even this agile, feline-like intruder hadn't noticed him.
"What speed… Even I have to work to keep up. And that—on his waist—that's a Vision. An Anemo Vision… looks Mondstadt in style," Fu Ning thought silently.
He was intimately familiar with the profiles of every Vision holder in Fontaine—he had to be, to ensure no one could pose a threat to Furina.
But this green-cloaked man? He didn't recognize him.
That meant only one thing—he wasn't from Fontaine.
And besides, no Anemo Vision wielder in Fontaine had power anywhere close to that level of control.
Even Fu Ning was impressed by the man's sheer speed.
"Still, since I've run into him, I can't just stand by… I'll follow him—and find out what he's after."
Fu Ning's brows furrowed. The feeling of losing control over a situation made him deeply uneasy.
Outside the wine cellar, two security guards stood sternly at their posts, gazes fixed forward.
A breeze drifted past. The moment it touched them, the two guards felt an unusual relaxation wash over their bodies—like the fatigue of the entire day had suddenly caught up to them.
"Hayawn I could really use a nap~"
Yawning, they exchanged glances and understood each other at once. Each took a step back, leaned against the wall, and tilted their heads forward, deciding to rest for a bit.
After all, Fontaine was peaceful. Who would be so foolish as to try and steal wine?
And besides, Lord Fu Ning was personally patrolling tonight. It wouldn't hurt to slack off a little.
If the thief was caught by Lord Fu Ning himself, that person would be in serious trouble.
As they dozed off, a green figure emerged from the shadows and walked right up to them.
He waved a hand in front of their faces, even gave them a light push. Confirming they were truly asleep, he reached for the door.
It was locked, but clearly, the man had prepared in advance.
He raised a palm, and a gentle Anemo current slipped through the crack under the door. The wind twisted and danced—controlled with subtle mastery.
Moments later, click!—the lock disengaged.
"Perfect! Hehe, delicious Fontaine wine… here I come!" the green figure whispered in excitement.
He slipped inside, gently closing the door behind him.
Not long after, Fu Ning arrived at the entrance and felt the lingering traces of Anemo energy on the gate.
"Powerful Anemo manipulation… and he used it just to steal wine?" Fu Ning's expression was hard to read.
"What a bizarre motive…"
"But in any case, this counts as violating Fontaine's law."
"I'll arrest him."
He gently opened the door and narrowed his eyes, ensuring the way was clear.
"Defensive talent… Sequence Seven."
He reached out and touched a transparent elemental barrier at the threshold—one of his own safety measures. Confirming it hadn't been tampered with, he stepped slowly into the cellar.
Inside, the sharp scent of wine made Fu Ning frown.
He drank occasionally, but he didn't like the overpowering smell of alcohol—especially not in a cellar like this.
Even if it wasn't high-proof liquor, the aroma was still intense.
He exhaled softly, adjusted his stance, and moved quietly, careful not to alert the man.
Soon, he heard the sound of gurgling from deeper inside.
Someone was definitely drinking.
"Good. Since he hasn't noticed me yet… don't blame me for catching you off guard," Fu Ning thought silently.
In Fontaine, he served as Furina's personal protector, and her safety was his top priority.
But he was also a guardian of Fontaine itself.
Any behavior that endangered public safety—especially something involving Vision-wielders—had to be dealt with swiftly.
This stranger might even pose a threat to Furina. Fu Ning could not allow such a person to move freely in Fontaine.
He didn't use perception abilities recklessly. For beings of great power, perception was a double-edged sword—activating it could alert them.
And in most cases, sensing someone unprovoked was taken as a declaration of war.
Reaching the deeper vault, Fu Ning saw him—the green-cloaked man—holding an entire wine barrel, chugging from it joyfully.
Fu Ning lowered his stance, dismissed his Sequence Six cloak, and launched forward like lightning, unleashing a straight punch aimed directly at the man's face.
***
Just as Fu Ning's straight punch was about to land, the man's body trembled slightly. Sensing the shift in air, he instinctively turned his head. On his slightly tipsy face, he caught sight of the incoming fist, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.
He reacted quickly, narrowly dodging Fu Ning's strike.
'Oh no, I've been discovered!' the man thought in alarm. He shot a reluctant glance at the half-finished barrel of wine, then turned into a breeze and darted toward the door.
"What time is it? Even I didn't sense him? How's that possible?" he kept questioning internally as he fled.
Fu Ning steadied himself, his gaze locking onto the gate.
"Good thing I was prepared… or he really would've escaped."
As the man reached the gate, a loud bang echoed—he had crashed into some unseen barrier, his face comically flattened against it.
The astonishment in his eyes deepened. Reaching out, he felt an invisible wall blocking his path.
"It's over… My lifelong reputation's going to be ruined here today!" he groaned, clutching his head with both hands. The impact even sobered him up.
He turned around and looked helplessly at Fu Ning approaching.
"Hey~"
***
Fu Ning stared at the green-clad figure, summoned his Black Hole Staff with his left hand, pointed it at the man, and declared:
"I ask, you answer. Don't even think about running."
"Start with your name."
The man's expression turned bitter. Resigned, he answered,
"My name is Venti… Wait, who are you? I thought no one in Fontaine could catch me…" he muttered softly. But Fu Ning, a fifth-level Transcendent, heard him clearly.
"Origin," Fu Ning demanded, inching the staff closer.
He had no patience for people who joked around in serious situations.
Venti raised both hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay, I'll talk! Don't kill me! I'm from Mondstadt—the best bard in the world! I love wine and songs! How about I sing a little something for you, and then we call it even?"
"Seriously, I am the best bard in the world! My singing isn't for ordinary ears!"
"I'm not an ordinary person," Fu Ning replied calmly.
"…"
"Ahem… Fine, I'll tell you the truth. I'm Barbatos, the Anemo Archon—God of Wind—of Mondstadt. Let me go, and you'll gain the friendship of the God of Wind. Not a bad deal, right?"
"C'mon, who could refuse the Wind God's friendship?" Venti added with a weak grin.
Fu Ning frowned. Since when did this guy get to ask questions and he had to answer?
"I refuse," Fu Ning said coldly.
"I am a follower of Lady Furina, Goddess of Justice. My name is Fu Ning, the dark demon."
"And I have no need for the friendship of the God of Wind."
His tone was calm and steady. His identity was no secret—it would be known soon enough.
"Besides, if I told others that a god from one nation came to another to steal wine, would they believe it?"
"…"
I believe it. I totally believe it.
Venti hadn't expected the person before him to have such a terrifying background. His expression turned bitter—he was in serious trouble now.
Dark demon Fu Ning?
He'd never heard of that name.
Where the heck did this guy come from?
"But… I really am the God of Wind! If you don't believe me, just sense it for yourself!"
Fu Ning already had his doubts. The wind element within Venti's body was dense and powerful—far beyond the ordinary. Even his speed had surprised Fu Ning.
With deliberate caution, Fu Ning extended his senses, scanning Venti's body. The rich Anemo energy he found was no weaker than Neuvillette's Hydro energy—perhaps even stronger. And beneath it all, there was an ancient aura.
"Are you really the God of Wind?"
Venti felt Fu Ning's perception brush over him and nodded confidently.
"So? Now you kn—"
Before he could finish, hurried footsteps interrupted him.
Da-da-da.
Da-da-da.
Two guards from the wine cellar came rushing in. Spotting Fu Ning restraining Venti, they immediately grasped the situation.
"Master Fu Ning! It's you!"
"Who's this guy in green?"
"A thief," Fu Ning answered calmly. "He calls himself Venti."
At that moment, Venti's face filled with despair. My social reputation…!
Thankfully, this dark demon hadn't revealed his true identity as Barbatos.
Otherwise, he really wouldn't be able to show his face as the God of Wind again.
Fu Ning dismissed the Black Hole Staff, grabbed Venti by the arm, and twisted it behind his back.
"Defensive talent: Sequence Seven!"
Transparent handcuffs appeared from thin air and locked around Venti's wrists. Fu Ning pondered silently.
"Venti's ability to transform into wind is incredible. If we're not careful, he'll definitely escape…"
"In that case…" Fu Ning mused.
He closed his eyes briefly, then fired a sharp signal of energy toward Neuvillette.
Afterward, he addressed the two guards.
"Don't speak of this to anyone for now. This person is extremely powerful, and his identity is… sensitive."
"I've already summoned Supreme Judge Neuvillette. He and I will handle the matter from here."
"Return to your posts."
His tone was uncharacteristically stern. The guards exchanged a glance, then saluted in unison.
"Understood, Master Fu Ning."
They had never seen Fu Ning this serious before. Normally he was either expressionless or faintly smiling. This solemn version of him was rare.
The two left quickly, leaving Fu Ning and Venti alone.
Fu Ning turned toward him.
"Perfect. I'll now temporarily seal your energy and elemental aura."
"Please do not resist, Mr. Venti. It's for your safety as well."
Venti nodded instinctively, then did a double take.
Wait—what?! You can seal my energy?!
Are you planning to defy heaven?!
You're not even an Anemo user—how can you seal the Anemo Archon's power?!
"Energy talent: Sequence Ten!"
Fu Ning ignored Venti's expression. He raised his palm, summoning pale blue energy.
Lightly pressing Venti's back, the Anemo Archon felt his control over wind slipping away bit by bit.
Venti's eyes widened in disbelief as the wind element within him—though still present—slipped completely out of his command.
Fu Ning left a small portion of Anemo power, just enough for Venti to fight five wild boars.
Venti couldn't believe it.
His Anemo energy had really been sealed—just like that?!