Just as Jiang Chen told her, Lumine pressed her power into Dvalin's body.
The effect was immediate—
the Abyssal energy inside the dragon began dissolving like ink in clear water.
Venti's eyes widened.
It worked.
It actually worked.
Excitement surged through him. If Lumine could cleanse Dvalin, then the crisis was finally over.
Under Venti's hopeful gaze, Lumine continued channeling her energy.
Soon, every trace of that bone-deep corruption had been purified.
Dvalin was still weak—barely holding himself up—but no longer on the brink of death.
"Barbatos…!"
Dvalin's faint voice rumbled, calling his old friend's name.
"I'm here, Dvalin."
"It's alright now. I'm with you."
Venti smiled softly as he guided more Anemo into the dragon's wounds, helping him recover faster.
ROOOAR—!
Dvalin rose, letting out a powerful roar that echoed across the forest—
a cry announcing the return of Mondstadt's East Wind Guardian.
Outside the wind barrier, Amber nearly jumped three feet in the air.
Back inside the clearing, Venti turned to the travelers.
"You two… thank you."
"This time, Mondstadt owes you a debt."
"If you need help in the future, come find us."
"For now—we'll take our leave."
He hopped onto Dvalin's head like some carefree bard and flew away into the sky.
As they departed, the wind barrier dissipated, and the forest returned to calm.
Jiang Chen and Lumine exchanged looks.
"…They just left like that?"
"…Not even a little Mora?"
Paimon puffed her cheeks angrily.
"He could've tipped us! We're broke!"
Jiang Chen snorted.
"Did you not see his clothes?
There's a good chance he's even poorer than you."
"Eh?! Barbatos is poor?"
Paimon blinked in disbelief.
"Aren't gods supposed to be rich??"
"Not him. He's very poor."
Lumine watched Jiang Chen with narrowed eyes.
He knew way too much.
Purification ability?
The Wind God's financial situation?
Details about this world she never mentioned?
His so-called "sixth sense"?
Yeah.
She didn't buy that for a second.
Not. A. Single. Word.
Jiang Chen kept chatting with Paimon, but Lumine listened quietly—studying him.
Eventually, he looked her way.
"Alright, let's move."
"We'll continue toward Mondstadt."
"It'll take a few days. We should find a place to camp."
Whispering Woods was enormous.
Reality wasn't like the game—no teleporting, no shortcuts, and definitely no Yelan-speed dashing.
Night was falling. They needed shelter.
Lumine and Paimon agreed.
The three quickly left the clearing and soon found an abandoned Hilichurl camp—
the monsters had run off after Dvalin's outburst.
Perfect.
They gathered mushrooms, sunsettias, whatever food they could find.
Inside the camp, half a wild boar was left roasting—
a blessing for hungry travelers.
None of them felt even a shred of guilt for stealing Hilichurl food.
Survival was survival.
The only downside: no water to wash up.
Still, Lumine's clothes had self-cleaning enchantments, and Jiang Chen's "outfit" was literally his Noble Phantasm.
Dirt wasn't an issue.
They spent the night in the camp.
Jiang Chen and Lumine slept at opposite corners.
In the morning, they washed their faces with what little water they had and continued.
Whispering Woods was calmer now, so they moved quickly.
At noon they stopped, ate something simple, then set out again.
But after hours of walking, Jiang Chen suddenly halted.
"Wait."
A crisp female voice answered immediately from the trees:
"Please stop right there!"
A girl with chestnut hair, tied with a bright red bunny-ear ribbon, leapt into view.
Amber.
She looked exactly like she did in the game—down to the outfit and her bright, heroic energy.
"I'm Amber, an Outrider of the Knights of Favonius."
"May I ask where you three came from, and where you're headed?"
Reality was reality—not a scripted cutscene—so her lines were different, but the role was the same.
Jiang Chen grinned.
"A monk from the Great Tang of the East…"
Lumine immediately rolled her eyes.
This man. Really.
Amber blinked.
"I—I'm sorry? What language is that…?"
Then her eyes landed on Jiang Chen's face and—
thump thump thump
Her heart actually skipped.
"He's… really handsome…"
Lumine stepped forward before Jiang Chen's nonsense derailed the conversation further.
"Don't mind him."
"We're travelers."
"We came from that direction. I'm looking for my brother."
Amber blinked again.
"Otherworldly travelers?"
"You two came from different worlds?"
Her face lit up.
"That's fate!"
"Two people from different worlds meeting here!"
Jiang Chen nodded solemnly.
"A cross-world encounter… shared with delicious food."
Advance Chapters available on Patreon