Slash!
Gu Sanqiu raised his heavy sword with one hand, slashing down toward Noelle’s head. While the ground beneath him showed no signs of breaking, the whistling sound of the blade slicing through the air made it clear how powerful this strike was.
Hum—
Noelle reacted instinctively, invoking the classic Geo-elemental battle technique: always summon a shield. A protective shield rose around her as she raised her Favonius Greatsword overhead to block the blow head-on.
“Confidence in your strength, huh? Not a bad idea.”
Seeing her stance, Gu Sanqiu eased up a bit, holding back some of his power.
Not bad, he thought. She’s just as I remember—strong and self-assured, at least when it comes to raw physical strength.
What Noelle lacked, however, was confidence in controlling that strength. Her fear of accidentally harming others often ballooned into a broader insecurity, turning into an almost obsessive anxiety that limited her potential.
This isn’t a life-or-death fight. It’s just a sparring session. No need to crush the self-assurance she’s worked so hard to build.
Boom!
The ground beneath them cracked and sank, debris flying in every direction. Even with Gu Sanqiu holding back, the clash of their weapons was enough to make the onlookers at the training grounds gape in awe.
“Keep going.”
Gu Sanqiu swung his sword again, this time weaving a dense web of slashes, enclosing Noelle within a seemingly airtight cage of blade strikes and sharp-edged sword aura.
Barbara rubbed her eyes, mirroring the reactions of several spectators who had paused their training to watch. To them, it seemed as though Gu Sanqiu’s sword was as light as a feather, moving effortlessly.
But at the center of the storm, Noelle knew the truth.
Every strike was heavy, its power blending seamlessly with the cutting edge of the sword aura. Not only did she have to parry the physical blows, but she also had to channel Geo energy constantly to maintain her shield and defend against the relentless onslaught of aura slashes.
I can’t keep this up!
Noelle’s sharp gaze hardened. She realized that if she stayed on the defensive, she would inevitably lose to exhaustion.
I might not win, but I refuse to lose like this!
“Ha!”
With a focused cry, Noelle unleashed a surge of Geo energy, shattering the oppressive field of sword aura around her. She leaped back, creating space as she adjusted her grip on her greatsword to a proper stance.
Geo energy began to flow around her, gradually concentrating into her weapon. Her Favonius Greatsword started to glow with a faint golden hue.
“Hmm, your charge-up time is too long. That leaves plenty of openings for your opponent to exploit,” Gu Sanqiu remarked, closing the distance between them. He thrust his heavy sword forward, aiming precisely at Noelle’s shoulder.
Clang!
The blade struck her armor, but Noelle didn’t even flinch. A second shield materialized around her, absorbing the impact and repelling the attack.
“Mr. Sanqiu, prepare yourself!”
Noelle called out as she crouched, drawing her sword back before swinging forward in a wide, powerful arc. A crescent-shaped wave of golden energy erupted from her blade, racing toward Gu Sanqiu.
“Steadfast as stone.”
Raising his hand, Gu Sanqiu summoned a shield of rock. He allowed the golden energy slash to collide with it head-on.
“Teacher!” Barbara cried out in alarm. She hadn’t expected him to simply take the attack head-on. She had seen Noelle’s strength in action; even seasoned knights admitted how formidable she could be when serious.
Boom!
The resonance of Geo energy rippled outward, shaking the ground and making the surrounding vegetation groan under the strain. A few unlucky onlookers were even sent airborne, flailing helplessly before crashing back down.
[Unbreakable Wall.]
Gu Sanqiu’s calm voice rang out as a series of stone spires erupted from the ground, stabilizing the area and neutralizing the chaotic waves of energy.
As the dust settled and the elemental energy dispersed, the crowd finally saw the aftermath of the clash.
Gu Sanqiu approached Noelle and extended a hand. “Well done. Based on your strength and composure, you’re more than qualified to be a Knight of Favonius.”
“I-I don’t deserve such praise, Mr. Sanqiu,” Noelle stammered, her face flushing as she took his hand and used it to steady herself.
“Teacher, what on Teyvat were you doing? You scared me half to death!” Barbara scolded as she ran over, placing her hands on both combatants to heal their minor injuries.
“Just patch up Noelle’s shoulder. Neither of us is really hurt.”
That was typical of Geo-elemental sparring matches. Shielding wasn’t just a technique—it was an instinct ingrained in every Geo Vision wielder. No matter how poorly someone mastered their Vision, their first reflex in combat was always to create a shield.
It’s like a universal rule: stack armor first, then figure out what’s next.
Gu Sanqiu glanced around. With Noelle and Barbara being local icons in Mondstadt, the crowd was growing steadily larger.
“Let’s move somewhere else to talk. Unless you both enjoy being mobbed by admirers?”
Noelle hesitated. “But… we damaged the training grounds so badly. Shouldn’t we help repair it first?”
Gu Sanqiu shook his head. “There’s a limit to how much help you should offer. Maintenance is the staff’s responsibility. If you step in, it could be seen as overstepping.”
Barbara raised an eyebrow. “But normal training sessions don’t usually cause this much damage. You two nearly demolished half the training ground.”
“Don’t worry—I’ve got it covered.”
Gu Sanqiu snapped his fingers. “I’ll leave them a deposit. They can hire additional workers to help with repairs, which benefits more people overall.”
Of course, he couldn’t deny that part of him wanted to see if someone in those odd jobs turned out to be a certain blonde-haired traveler. The thought alone brought him an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.
Barbara frowned. “A deposit? And who’s covering the rest?”
Gu Sanqiu’s grin widened. “Naturally, that would be your Cavalry Captain, Kaeya. If he runs short, he can always borrow from Dawn Winery.”
Because that’s what friends are for, right?
—
Later, in a quiet corner of Mondstadt, Gu Sanqiu casually dubbed the spot “Albert’s Corner,” referring to the place where he had previously “disciplined” the overly zealous fanboy.
“You’ve got excellent swordsmanship, steady footwork, and a strong will,” Gu Sanqiu said, assessing Noelle. “Aside from some overly academic habits, there’s not much I can teach you.”
He continued, “You’ve mastered sword aura and even incorporated it into Geo-elemental attacks. That’s no small feat for a Vision holder.”
Childe’s an exception—that guy’s just absurdly talented.
“If you want to shake off the stiffness of formal technique, try observing the fighting styles of treasure hoarders or bandits. Sparring with them wouldn’t hurt either. They may fight dirty, but their methods can be eye-opening.”
Gu Sanqiu studied Noelle, her posture now completely recovered. A thought crossed his mind.
Should I teach her something serious?
Her raw strength, mastery of Geo, and unyielding determination made her an exceptional candidate. He could impart knowledge on harnessing ley line energy to amplify her Geo abilities—something she would likely discover on her own in time.
Of course, more advanced techniques would require a proper exchange.
If I’m going to help Mondstadt raise a future champion, then Barbatos better pay up. How about twenty Anemo Crystals as a start?
“As long as I stand on solid ground, I shall not fall!”
The Maid of the Earth—Noelle.
—
This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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