Hu Tao Is Monetizing My Existence.

Paimon clutched her crown and turned away with a huff. "I take back what I just said!"

Klee giggled. "Paimon, you're so cute."

"Let's finish up and get going! First stop—the Adventurers' Guild!"

The Adventurers' Guild was as lively as ever. Adventurers came and went, some sitting, some standing, while others crowded around the notice board, checking for available commissions.

Aether and Paimon scanned the hall, looking at every person in green, but they didn't spot the one they'd seen yesterday.

"Ad astra abyssosque. Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild," greeted Katheryne in her signature green uniform, smiling warmly at them.

Paimon floated over to ask, "Hi, Katheryne! Do you know someone who wears green, has a green hat, black hair in two little braids, and looks about the same age as him?" She pointed at Aether—after all, the person they'd seen seemed about his age.

Hearing this description, Jiang Bai immediately thought of Venti.

Venti fit that image exactly—a green hat, two small braids.

Katheryne thought for a moment. "That does sound familiar… May I ask why you're looking for him?"

"We just have something we want to ask him."

Katheryne shook her head. "I've seen a bard who matches your description, but I don't know his name, and he's not part of the Adventurers' Guild. I'm afraid I can't help you."

As Paimon started to fret about not finding their lead, Jiang Bai spoke up. "I might know the person you're talking about."

"You do?" Paimon looked at him in surprise.

"Maybe. I think Katheryne and I are thinking of the same person, but I can't be sure it's who you're looking for."

"Then let's go find him!"

"I don't know where he lives, but we can try the tavern later—bards love to hang out in those places. Do you want to register as adventurers first?"

"Yeah!" Paimon nodded, shoving Aether forward to get him signed up as an adventurer.

After the registration, the group left the Adventurers' Guild. Aether, curious, asked,

"So, what's his name? What does he do?"

"Venti—a bard. I only met him by chance myself."

As they talked, Paimon's sharp eyes spotted a swish of green darting past on the nearby street.

"That's him! Let's go!" she shouted.

The figure was quick, vanishing into another street in the blink of an eye.

Paimon and Aether gave chase. Jiang Bai, glancing at Klee's short legs, hoisted her up onto his shoulder. "Hold on tight! We're going after them too!"

Klee wrapped one arm around Jiang Bai's head and stretched her other arm forward, cheering, "Spark Knight, charge!"

They chased all the way to the plaza below the Anemo Archon's statue. Quite a few people were there, praying before the Wind God.

Their target, Venti, was playing his lyre and singing a bard's ballad, drawing everyone's attention.

"The story I'm about to tell began in ancient times"

"When the gods still walked the land"

"A dragon of the skies descended, filled with curiosity for the world"

"The dragon sought answers but could not fathom the chaos of mortals"

"The bard of the wind played the Sky Lyre, answering every question"

"The dragon was merely a child, flying carefree—until now"

"It listened to poetry, wishing to learn to sing"

"So that all beings might know its heart"

"Bard and dragon became legend"

"But darkness soon followed…"

The group stood quietly on the edge of the crowd, listening without interruption.

The Wind God and the dragon—their story was so old, the world had almost forgotten.

Venti's voice continued:

"In this era, the Lion's fangs decayed"

"The Eagle's banner no longer waved"

"Another evil dragon drew near to Mondstadt—"

"Suffering cast its shadow over the cathedral"

"And the bard spun new songs of sorrow"

"The dragon of the sky answered the call"

"Clashing with the evil dragon in a storm"

"The dark dragon died, but the dragon of the sky drank its poison and fell into slumber"

"Years later, when it awoke, no one recognized it"

"'Why do people now spurn me?' it asked"

"The Sky Lyre had no answer"

"Rage and sorrow, life and poison mingled as tears fell from the dragon's eyes"

"The poetry was silent; corruption took hold with ease"

"And the Sky Lyre could no longer speak…"

As they listened to the bard's song, Klee's eyes grew misty at the corners.

She couldn't quite follow the tale, but she could feel the shift from soaring melody to sorrow—the sadness woven through the song.

The dragon who had saved Mondstadt had fallen into a deep sleep, only to awaken and find itself rejected.

Just thinking about it made Klee feel terribly sad.

As for Jiang Bai, his mind wandered to that colossal dragon skeleton he'd seen on the snowy mountain.

If he was right, the "evil dragon" in the song was probably the one lying dead in the mountains.

Even after centuries, the dragon's heart still radiated a strange, sinister energy.

The East Wind Dragon, poisoned, must have been deeply affected by the venom it swallowed.

Klee's soft voice pulled Jiang Bai from his thoughts. "Big Brother Jiang Bai, why doesn't the Anemo Archon help the big dragon?"

She gazed up at the towering statue of the Anemo Archon, looking on the verge of tears.

Jiang Bai tilted his head back as well. "Maybe the Anemo Archon just doesn't know yet."

In Venti's song, he'd said, the Sky Lyre could no longer speak—

Did that mean the lyre's player was gone, unable to speak?

Or… did it mean the Anemo Archon could no longer appear?

When the song ended, the crowd began to disperse. Venti spotted them immediately.

"Oh! Friend, you're here too!" he called, instantly noticing Jiang Bai with Klee on his shoulders—an unmissable sight.

"Long time no see, Venti," Jiang Bai greeted him with a smile, then motioned toward Aether and Paimon. "These two friends were looking for you."

"And you are…" Venti studied their faces, thinking. "Wait, aren't you the ones who scared off Dvalin that time?"

"Dvalin? Who's that?" Paimon asked, puzzled.

"You really do have a short memory—Dvalin is the East Wind Dragon!" Jiang Bai knocked her crown.

Does this little thing have anything inside that head of hers?

He almost wanted to give it a shake, see if he could hear the ocean.

Paimon automatically straightened her crown—a motion so practiced from all the times she'd been bopped.

She ignored Jiang Bai, staring at Venti in confusion.

"But everyone else just calls it Stormterror. Why do you use that name? Are you two close or something?"

Jiang Bai shot Venti a curious look as well. Why did his "occasional" friend suddenly seem so mysterious?

Venti grinned and winked. "Take a guess~"

Aether, calm as ever, stepped forward. "Hello."

Venti introduced himself with a flourish. "Greetings, traveler we met in passing. I'm Venti, a bard."

He cleared his throat, speaking with exaggerated seriousness, "To be precise, I'm the three-time consecutive winner of Mondstadt's 'Most Beloved Bard' award! So, what can I help you with?"

Hearing Venti brag so much about his title, Jiang Bai suddenly felt this guy wasn't mysterious at all.

---

T/N: i just wanna suck the life out of venti

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