Following that fateful night, small changes began to ripple through Mondstadt.
Stanley remained the same storyteller he had always been, frequenting the taverns and public squares to share his tales of adventure. He continued inspiring Mondstadt’s children with stories of daring dreams and boundless exploration.
Yet, something about him had shifted.
His demeanor was livelier, his attitude more carefree, his courage more evident.
The stories he told were unchanged, but now, Stanley added words of encouragement. To his listeners, especially the children, he would always emphasize the importance of never giving up, no matter what challenges lay ahead.
Jack, meanwhile, had repaired the Sword of Brilliance and Shield of Radiant Will and embarked on his own journey as an adventurer.
Although he was still weak—often outmatched by slimes and hilichurls, even with his newly restored equipment—his resolve to become an adventurer never wavered.
As for Venti, Jia Changjiang, Lumine, and Paimon…
“Lumine, I’ve finished that fake Vision I promised you.”
Early one morning, Venti approached Lumine, who was preparing to take on commissions from the Adventurers’ Guild to earn her keep. With a flourish, he presented her with the counterfeit Vision.
“Wow, it looks just like the real thing!”
Lumine turned the glass orb over in her hands, marveling at its craftsmanship. “Even the texture feels real! And it glows when I channel Anemo into it!”
As Lumine admired the fake Anemo Vision, a mischievous smile crept across her face. Paimon, watching from the side, instantly recognized that Lumine was up to something.
Why Lumine knew how a Vision should feel was a mystery best left to those who actually possessed one.
“I considered making one for Jax, too,” Venti said, dangling another blue-green glass orb from a string tied around his finger. “But he said he didn’t need it, so I didn’t bother.”
Venti swirled the orb lazily. Counterfeiting had always been one of his more curious talents.
Whether forging Rex Lapis’ signature, faking the Tsaritsa’s scepter, or crafting his own fake Vision, Venti took pride in his handiwork.
Still, Jia Changjiang’s refusal to accept a fake Vision didn’t surprise Lumine in the slightest.
“Jax gives me the impression that even if he got a real Vision, he’d just toss it away,” Lumine said with a shrug.
“By the way, Venti, you seem unusually cheerful lately,” Lumine observed. “Did something good happen these past few days?”
“It’s not just the last few days,” Venti replied with a grin. “Lately, everything has been going well. And you—you seem to have adapted to life in Mondstadt perfectly.”
“Of course! I’m the Honorary Knight of Mondstadt now!” Lumine puffed up her chest proudly. “I’ve been making way more Mora than when I first arrived!”
“Is that so? Then… when are you and Jax planning to head to Liyue?”
At Venti’s question, Lumine’s triumphant expression froze.
“Uh… as soon as I save enough for the trip…”
Her smile turned stiff.
“Traveler, if you didn’t eat so much, we’d already have the funds for Liyue!” Paimon quipped from the side.
Lumine shot her an exasperated glare. “You’re so annoying. Maybe I will eat you!”
“Ha ha~” Venti chuckled at their bickering.
“It seems like you’ll be staying in Mondstadt a while longer,” Venti said, his tone light. But then his expression grew more serious.
“While many issues in Mondstadt have been resolved, I’ve noticed some Abyss Mages still lingering in the area.”
“Although their attempt to corrupt Dvalin has failed, they haven’t stopped interfering with Mondstadt.”
Venti’s gaze turned stern. “Since you disrupted their plans before, they might come after you. Be cautious during your time here.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful,” Lumine assured him. “And if any Abyss Mages do attack… I’ll show them the new sword Jax made for me!”
Lumine held up her sword proudly. “I gathered the materials for this myself!”
—
“Ah… Ah-CHOO!”
In the ruins of Stormterror’s Lair, perched atop a crumbling tower, Dvalin let out a thunderous sneeze that sent a burst of dragon breath directly toward Jia Changjiang.
The blast sent him flying, flipping through the air before crashing unceremoniously onto the ground.
“What the…?!” Jia Changjiang picked himself up, bewildered. “You’re still sneaking in attacks? Didn’t we just finish a fight?”
“You’re the one who keeps coming here to challenge me,” Dvalin replied dryly.
This was far from the first time Jia Changjiang had shown up at Stormterror’s Lair to spar with him. Though it could be annoying, Dvalin couldn’t seem to shake him off.
At least Jia Changjiang had also taken to pestering Andrius in Wolvendom lately, which provided Dvalin with occasional respite.
Still, the human’s presence brought some life to the desolate ruins. It wasn’t entirely unwelcome.
“Why don’t you return to your temple?” Jia Changjiang asked as he resumed roasting his meal—a whole pig—over the fire. “Why stay here in Stormterror’s Lair?”
“That’s none of your concern,” Dvalin replied curtly, turning his head away.
Weekly battles with Jia Changjiang served as an odd sort of exercise, but the idea of returning to the Four Winds’ Temples, where Mondstadt’s people might gather, didn’t appeal to him.
“By the way… have any Abyss Mages come after you recently?” Jia Changjiang asked, curious.
“They disappeared long ago,” Dvalin replied with a huff, his tone cold.
The Abyss Mages had long since vanished, and Dvalin harbored nothing but disdain for the corruption they had tried to spread.
“Tch… I was hoping to snag some ley line branches,” Jia Changjiang muttered, clearly disappointed.
After finishing his meal, Jia Changjiang bid farewell to Dvalin and made his way back to Mondstadt.
—
Unbeknownst to him, three Abyss Mages had gathered in a secluded corner of the city, their whispers filled with sinister intent.
“Those three… other than the blood kin of the princess…”
“We… will find a way… to eliminate them.”
The Abyss Mages combined their elemental powers, conjuring illusions of three figures: Diluc, Jean, and Jia Changjiang.
Far from the city, Jia Changjiang suddenly felt a thrill of anticipation ripple through him.
“Huh… I’ve got a feeling a fight’s coming my way soon,” he murmured, his eyes gleaming.
—
Author’s Note: This chapter serves primarily as a transition in the story. Apologies if it feels slightly uneventful!
T/N: BOOOO MORE VENTI x JAX MOMENTS
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 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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