"So that's it, huh~"
Venti blinked lazily as the golden spear, Gungnir, returned from the void.
Not a trace of its path could be found, not even through the whispering winds.
But he already knew.
Whatever had crossed his mind earlier—had indeed come true.
After all, even the Archon of Death herself had dared not touch its light.
That spear's might… only the Primordial One could possibly surpass it.
A mere Fatui Harbinger—what right did such a creature have to survive its wrath?
"Ah well… not my fault."
"Sorry, little sister, that's as much as I could do for you."
Venti looked northward, toward the frozen lands, his expression faintly guilty.
He'd expected Taro to make a move, but not such a direct one.
Still—he had no choice.
If he hadn't intervened, hadn't warned him early, hadn't redirected the blame—
then once Taro chose to make an example, Snezhnaya would've vanished entirely from Teyvat.
And he couldn't sit idly by while an old acquaintance was obliterated.
Even if that acquaintance had long since severed ties after Khaenri'ah's fall.
"Come on, Venti. Head down."
Taro's calm voice came as he put away Gungnir.
He half-smiled.
"Didn't I say I'd give you a buff?"
"M-Meng-ge, please no~"
Venti laughed weakly, shuffling backward, ready to bolt at any second.
"I'm the one who brought you the intel, remember? A meritorious informant!"
He knew what that buff meant. It came with pain.
"Don't trust me?"
Taro's brows lifted slightly.
"Of course I trust you! How could I not?"
Venti grinned, then winced. "Just… maybe a gentler buff?"
Too late.
Bonk.
"Ow!"
"Ah—ah it hurts, it hurts—!"
Venti clutched his head, crouching as tears welled in his eyes.
"Meng-ge, you really don't hold back, huh?"
Taro gave him a flat look.
"Don't fake it. I know how hard I hit."
He turned away. "Consider that your lesson. Reflect on it."
"Ehehe…"
Rubbing his forehead, Venti forced a smile.
"Then, uh… I'll be going first! See you tonight at Wuwang Hill!"
Before Taro could reply, a gust of wind swept through the house.
Venti was gone.
Why did he always end up being the one who got hurt?
He rubbed his head again and sighed.
Moments later, atop Mt. Tianheng,
Venti's figure coalesced from the breeze.
But his eyes sharpened suddenly.
"Who's there?"
His usual warmth faded in an instant.
An oppressive aura filled the peak.
Then—
a wisp of pure white light drifted down.
When he saw it, Venti's tension eased.
'I've done what I can. See? Meng-ge isn't unreasonable.'
'Just… don't anger him. If you do, not only you—many will die.'
'I understand. I'll handle the rest.'
'Good. And if things go wrong, defect to him.'
'I know. He already… has a world of his own.'
'Wait—you're injured?'
'It's fine. Worth it.'
'Don't tell me you—'
'I'm not that stupid.'
'Alright. I'll inform the old man.'
'Go.'
The white glow faded away.
Venti turned, becoming wind once more, heading toward Wuwang Hill.
The mountaintop fell silent again, as if nothing had ever happened.
Yuehai Pavilion — Top Floor
The mood was uneasy.
"Ah, little Fanan, you're back?"
Stretching lazily, Cloud Retainer glanced up as the door opened.
"Judging by that expression, things went smoothly in the Chasm yesterday?"
"Where's Fushir?"
"Third Sister, what about Big Brother?"
Meno's tone grew tense as he looked around and saw only Fanan entering alone.
"Don't worry~"
Fanan smiled softly as she stepped into the room.
"Everything went well.
Big Brother Fushir and the heroic souls have all been taken by Sensei."
"Wait—souls?"
Ganyu froze mid-sentence.
"Even Mr. Taro couldn't bring them back to life?"
"That shouldn't be possible," Cloud Retainer frowned.
"Guizhong has returned, and even Ruona's state has stabilized.
How could only Fushir's side fail?"
"Then… did Taro get hurt?"
Meno suddenly stood, alarm flashing across his face.
A collective hiss swept the room.
"No, no!"
Fanan waved both hands, flustered.
"Sensei sent me precisely to explain that."
Everyone exhaled in relief.
"You scared us there."
Cloud Retainer's tone softened, even teasing.
"That boy of yours, Meno—always jumping to conclusions.
Do not go guessing wildly again. It's frightening!"
"…"
Meno forced a dry laugh. He wanted to protest, but thought better of it.
He could already imagine the scolding.
"Now then," Cloud Retainer said, folding her sleeves,
"explain it properly."
"Yes, yes."
Once everyone had settled down, Fanan began recounting everything that had happened in the Chasm.
Not a single detail was left out.
By the end, the expressions of every adeptus in the room had changed.
"The 'Divine Path of Incense'...?"
"A 'Heavenly Small World'…?"
"And Fushir… cannot return?"
Their minds struggled to absorb it all.
"I need to sort this out."
Cloud Retainer pressed a claw to her beak thoughtfully.
"This 'Divine Incense Path'—did Sensei say what it truly means?
The term 'incense' I know well enough, but what does it have to do with divinity and the national fate?"
The questions came rapid-fire.
"And what of 'national fortune'? And—"
"I… I don't know."
Fanan's voice grew smaller.
"Sensei only told me to deliver the message."
"Then tell us what you do know."
"That's… all I know."
Fanan shook her head again, smiling helplessly.
The room fell into collective silence.
The adepti exchanged looks, realizing simultaneously—
they'd learned absolutely nothing new.
"Good heavens, what's with those faces?"
The door opened again.
A familiar soft voice drifted in—Guizhong.
She stepped inside, tilting her head at the awkward crowd.
"I didn't think the homework I left behind was that difficult."
The others looked at each other.
No, Guizhong, the problem wasn't your homework—
it was him.
(End of Chapter)
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