No weapon? How could that be possible? As a Vision holder, one begins selecting a suitable weapon the moment they acquire it, or it is formed from elemental power.
Childe's weapon originally took the form of a bow, but as he wasn't adept at archery, he reshaped it with Hydro into dual swords. However, these weren't greatswords; instead, he wielded a single sword in each hand.
He thought Shen Xing was trying to avoid a fight by claiming he had no weapon.
Tartaglia: "Comrade, that's not fair. Mr. Zhongli agreed to our duel back at the teahouse, and now that we're here, you say you don't want to fight? Be careful, or I'll tattle on you to him."
The tall, orange-haired youth crossed his arms, glanced at Shen Xing, then turned his head, openly declaring his intention to complain.
Shen Xing: "..."
Feeling rather weary, he said, "...Fine, I'll fight. Is that okay?"
Tartaglia grinned, eyes sparkling as he looked at him. "That's more like it. Come on, show me your weapon."
"I really don't have one," Shen Xing insisted, meeting Childe's eyes with a serious expression. "I'm not joking. I deal with monsters using my fists."
"Huh?" Childe skeptically scanned the boy's hands, which were fair and slender, clearly not the hands of someone who'd suffered hardship, nor were they scarred. Was he serious?
Shen Xing shook his wrists, took a deep breath, and glanced at the sky. "Let's start now. I have things to do later, so let's make this quick."
"You can use your weapon. I can handle it."
For someone so small, he sure talked big.
Childe's fighting spirit was ignited. Since the Traveler left Liyue, he hadn't had a good fight.
Hydro gathered in his hands, forming two water blades, which he grasped tightly.
Before he moved, he courteously announced, "I'm coming—"
Childe was stunned.
Where did he go?
Just a moment ago, Shen Xing was right there, shaking his wrists. How did he disappear in the blink of an eye? Childe realized he shouldn't underestimate Shen Xing due to his age. Instantly, he was on high alert, sensing the movements around him. Behind!
Childe's eyes sharpened, and he flipped his weapon, turning swiftly to block with his sword, creating a splash as if striking water.
Shen Xing raised an eyebrow, the flames in his eyes flickering with battle intent, as his fist slammed into Childe's weapon.
No surprise there; it would be strange if Childe hadn't blocked his attack.
Childe stared at the boy who had attacked from above, as if discovering a treasure, excitedly exclaiming, "Nice speed!"
Shen Xing: "Of course, I'm a wind guy."
Speed was his forte.
With that, Shen Xing's figure vanished again.
Time and again, Childe found himself unable to face Shen Xing directly.
He was led around the entire time.
As the sun set, hiding behind the clouds, the wind cooled, and Childe's fighting spirit was blown away.
Childe shouted angrily, "Kid! Do you dare to stop sneaking around and face me head-on?"
"No way."
"Come out!"
"No."
Just after refusing, Shen Xing suddenly turned and kicked Childe's backside.
"!!"
Childe was furious, dropping the friendly "comrade" address entirely: "Shen Xing—you kicked my ass! Get out here, or I'll report to Zhongli!!"
"Oh, and how will you report it? Say you got kicked in the butt during our duel~" A teasing laugh echoed in the air.
"If you really say that, it would be embarrassing."
Childe: "..." His head was about to explode.
"...You little rascal, this is a proper duel, not hide-and-seek. I—"
"Above."
"What?" Childe didn't react in time.
Shen Xing, smiling, dropped rapidly from above. The orange-haired head below remained still, the water swords tightly gripped.
He shouted loudly, "I said, look up—"
Childe reflexively raised his face, only to be struck by a shadow descending with great force, crashing him to the ground. Lying on the grass, he didn't feel much pain.
...
"Hey," Shen Xing, sitting on him, poked Childe's face. "You didn't get knocked out, did you?"
"What nonsense!"
Childe's eyes snapped open. "Just falling down, and I'd pass out? How weak do you think I am?"
The boy above him laughed, eyes curving, the fiery glow in them seemed alive, bathing him in the sunset's afterglow. For a moment, Childe was stunned, his heart racing.
But the smile lasted only a second before Shen Xing stopped.
Those eyes lowered, an indescribable pressure reminded Childe of the danger he felt facing Zhongli, sending a shiver through his body.
Shen Xing didn't know what he was thinking. Seeing him unmoving, he straddled Childe's stomach, leaning closer with a suspicious look. Why were his eyes so wide? He waved a hand: "What are you looking at, Master Childe? Did I win?"
Childe remained silent.
What was going on?
Did he really mess with him until he was dumb?
During the duel, Shen Xing played with speed, and without using a Delusion, Childe couldn't match him. He just played around a bit and didn't dare truly fight Childe.
What if he exposed himself during a future manuscript submission and ended up fighting Childe? Who would he cry to then?
"Not speaking means you agree."
He intended to cheat, Shen Xing thought to himself. Just as he was about to get up, his collar was grabbed. Zhongli, who had arrived unnoticed, didn't look pleased as he pulled Shen Xing off Childe.
With an oppressive gaze, Zhongli asked, "What are you doing?"
Zhongli had just arrived to see Shen Xing sitting on Childe's waist, a scene that shocked him. Considering another realm, the scene was as ambiguous as could be.
...Not to mention, sitting on a man's lap.
For the first time, Zhongli regretted letting Shen Xing spar with Tartaglia. His thoughts wandered, imagining sparks of love igniting during battle.
Shen Xing was still so young. Zhongli frowned, looking down at the confused boy, seeing him through a thick filter, thinking he was too pure to understand, or he wouldn't be sitting on a stranger.
Given Shen Xing's appearance, if not for Childe's decent character, he might have been taken advantage of by someone with ill intentions.
Childe's character was decent in two ways: he kept his promise not to use a Delusion, and he was inherently kind, having no ulterior motives towards Shen Xing.
Zhongli had seen it; Shen Xing had sat on Childe himself, so Childe couldn't be blamed.
Seeing Zhongli, Shen Xing scratched his head. What were they doing? Didn't Zhongli know?
"We were sparring, but I think I won. Mr. Zhongli, look, he's lying there not moving."
He innocently pointed at the wide-eyed, motionless Childe.
Zhongli: "..."
Childe, snapping back to reality, got up instantly, wearing a strange expression as he threw a bombshell at Zhongli: "Is Shen Xing your child, Mr. Zhongli?"
Shen Xing's eyes widened in shock: "Huh?!"
Zhongli remained silent.
Childe: "..."
The three stared at each other.
Tartaglia: "Uh... isn't he?"
Shen Xing looked at the expressionless Zhongli, then at himself, retorting, "Where did you get that idea? What part of me looks like Mr. Zhongli? I'm telling you, don't talk nonsense!"
"Really not?"
"NO!!!"
Zhongli sighed, "He is not my child."
"Alright," Childe ruffled his messy hair, chuckling awkwardly, "I thought he was Mr. Zhongli's descendant, giving me a shiver of being watched by a god... Hmm, maybe it was an illusion."
"God." Shen Xing pointed at himself, bewildered, "Me?"
Childe looked at his silly expression with disdain, "I was mistaken."
"Oh."
This guy was ridiculous. Shen Xing shrugged, about to leave when he remembered a loophole. Given his current identity, he shouldn't know Zhongli was the Geo Archon, so—
"Wait, that's not right. What's the connection between Mr. Zhongli's descendants and gods?"
Shen Xing looked at the stiff Childe with a face full of curiosity, then at the person standing silently beside him: "Is Mr. Zhongli a god?"
Is he a god, god, god, god, god?
The echo lingered.
Oh no, Tartaglia was shocked. He had exposed Zhongli's identity. How did this kid react so quickly? No, he actually said it out loud. What to do!
Zhongli, calmly meeting Shen Xing's gaze, showed no emotional fluctuation. Childe was anxious, but Zhongli himself seemed unaffected.
"Definitely not." Shen Xing wiped his nose, "Mr. Zhongli doesn't look like a god."
Zhongli was curious now: "Why?"
"Which god forgets their Mora every day?" Shen Xing stifled a laugh internally, outwardly continuing with a matter-of-fact tone: "I'm just saying, sir, you look young but live like an old man!"
Zhongli: "..."
Childe: "..."
"You can't live like this, you know. It's so boring."
"That said, I'm curious how old Mr. Zhongli is. You've never mentioned it. Can you tell me?" Shen Xing asked with a face full of curiosity.
Tartaglia exhaled quietly, relieved he hadn't truly exposed Zhongli's identity.
Zhongli pondered, "I can't quite remember."
Tartaglia's heart, which had just settled, leapt again.
Shen Xing translated automatically: "See, I told you. You can't keep living like a retiree. Even though you're not old, your memory's failing, you can't even remember your age. Mr. Zhongli, you need to be more lively!"
"Otherwise, how will you win your wife's heart in the future?"
Lively... Childe's eyelid twitched. He really couldn't imagine the Geo Archon being lively.
And winning a wife's heart?
Did this person even know who he was talking to?
Unexpectedly, Zhongli actually listened to Shen Xing's nonsense, not only listening but nodding in agreement. Tartaglia was shocked. Zhongli asked, "In your opinion, how should I change?"
Shen Xing's nonsense had gotten to him, and he spoke even more freely, face full of excitement:
"First, you need to smile more. Keeping a stern face makes you seem unapproachable. If you do that to someone you like, they'll run away... Secondly, hobbies. Don't be like an old man, walking birds and listening to opera every day. Drinking tea is fine, it has a certain masculine charm... uh."
Wait, what nonsense am I spouting?
Stopping himself, Shen Xing looked at Tartaglia, whose pupils were shaking, wearing a 'you're amazing' expression, completely dumbfounded.
"..."
He turned to look at Zhongli.
Zhongli, who had been nodding in agreement, seemed to have taken it in. Seeing the boy's gaze, he paused and even smiled at Shen Xing.
That smile was something else, a divine face attack. Even more gentle than in the Genshin Impact storyline, especially since he rarely smiled, the sudden smile was enough to scare (crossed out) charm someone to death.
Shen Xing: "!"
Zhongli leaned down to ask, "Like this?"
The distance shortened, as if specifically to let him see the smile clearly.
Shen Xing: "..." ∑(￣□￣;)
Zhongli: "Does it make you happy?"
Shen Xing's eyes widened, his legs trembling.