“Maybe I’ll find a way to locate the other boxes faster,” Jia Changjiang suggested optimistically.
“These boxes feel like they’re tied to some grand story!” Lumine exclaimed in awe. “So, some of those Adventurers’ Guild rumors are actually true?”
“Certainly worth studying, though it’s not my primary area of expertise,” Albedo nodded. “If you’re interested in the past, the recently-arrived Miss Mona in Mondstadt might be a better person to consult.”
“You know Mona too, Albedo?” Paimon asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
Albedo nodded lightly. “I’ve heard about her… particularly the incident with Klee. Her knowledge in mysticism is quite remarkable.”
“If I weren’t helping Albedo recharge this sword, I’d be out helping Jia Changjiang find those boxes too. Who knows? Once all three are collected, there might even be some incredible treasure!”
Lumine made no effort to hide her eagerness for treasure.
After all, what adventurer wouldn’t be excited about the prospect of treasure?
“That said, I’ll keep an eye out for the boxes while wielding this sword!” Lumine declared, holding up the Festering Desire. “And I swear, it’s like something in this mountain resonates with the sword. It feels so… natural to use it!”
Lumine’s enthusiasm was infectious. “I feel like channeling elemental energy has gotten way easier.”
Albedo, observing Lumine’s clear and focused expression after prolonged use of the sword, gave a satisfied nod. “It seems the decision to entrust you with that sword was the right one.”
“Huh?” Lumine paused, then smirked. “Well, of course! Who do you think I am?”
Jia Changjiang chuckled at Lumine’s confidence before turning his attention to the system’s quest details.
The listed rewards surprised him.
Just like the reward for the wine-related quest, this one didn’t offer a weapon or consumable item either. Instead, it promised:
[Quest Reward: A book chronicling the fall of an ancient kingdom, Weapon Draw x1]
A random draw—it wasn’t clear what he’d get, so Jia Changjiang decided to set that thought aside. What intrigued him more was the book.
A tale about the fall of an ancient kingdom… The only ancient ruin that came to mind was the snowy mountain beneath his feet.
And then there was Wuku, the name etched on the box.
Could there be a connection between the name on the box and the Frostarm Lawachurl he’d met, also called Wuku?
If the Wuku mentioned on the box was the same Wuku that had roamed the snowy mountains for centuries…
What kind of being had Wuku been back then?
Were Wuku—and, by extension, all Hilichurls—once human?
Transformed into monsters, left to wander the snowy wilderness for millennia?
Jia Changjiang couldn’t stop his thoughts from spiraling. With lingering doubts, he resolved to follow the system’s coordinates and track down the remaining two boxes.
Something told him the boxes alone wouldn’t answer all his questions.
But perhaps once he completed this quest, the system would provide some clarity.
The next morning, the sun had yet to rise, and faint light barely illuminated the snowy landscape. Jia Changjiang stirred awake, rolled over, and promptly decided:
Nope. Too cold.
He buried himself back under his blankets and went back to sleep.
In weather this freezing, who wouldn’t want to steal a few more minutes of warmth?
When Jia Changjiang finally woke up, he found Lumine and Paimon still asleep nearby.
Paimon was cradled in Lumine’s arms, her face scrunched up as if in a nightmare, while Lumine seemed to be dreaming of something sweet, smacking her lips against Paimon’s cheek like she was savoring a lollipop.
The small campsite was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Jia Changjiang followed the scent to see Albedo, calmly brewing coffee using alchemical equipment.
“Care for a cup?” Albedo asked, offering a plate of freshly baked bread that had clearly been made using the same equipment.
Jia Changjiang sat down, nodding. Albedo placed a piece of bread in front of him and casually asked how he wanted his coffee.
“Add milk, but no sugar. A little bitterness helps wake me up.”
Not long after, Jia Changjiang was chewing on alchemically-baked bread and sipping experimental coffee.
“Not bad! You’re surprisingly good at this, Albedo. Do you cook breakfast often?” Jia Changjiang asked, genuinely impressed.
“Efficiency is key. No need for excessive equipment, and it gets the job done faster,” Albedo replied, sipping his coffee—loaded with sugar. Not because he disliked bitterness, but because high-energy foods better sustained his intense work.
As Lumine and Paimon continued to sleep, Jia Changjiang took the opportunity to question Albedo.
“Albedo, why are you researching that sword? Is it to study that poisonous dragon?”
“…Yes,” Albedo admitted. “My research on the Festering Desire is linked to Durin.”
“You know, Durin was a product of alchemy from centuries ago,” Albedo explained further, “and his powers were… not of this world.”
“Not of this world? Sounds familiar,” Jia Changjiang mused, taking another sip of his unsweetened coffee. He grimaced slightly at the bitterness but pressed on. “But Durin… What a tragic existence.”
“Oh?” Albedo turned to Jia Changjiang, intrigued. “You seem to know quite a bit about Durin.”
“I’ve encountered his power before. So yes, I know a thing or two,” Jia Changjiang replied. “Durin’s entire existence was warped from the start.”
He set his cup down and continued, “A so-called poisonous dragon, thought to bring nothing but disaster and chaos, came to Mondstadt simply to share its own beauty. It wanted to sing of the wondrous things it saw at its birth…”
Jia Changjiang scoffed. “Yet everything it did was already twisted beyond repair.”
“Even the gift Durin left for Dvalin, what was meant to be a blessing, became the poison that tormented him for centuries.”
He shook his head, voice tinged with bitterness. “It’s all just… disgusting. A miserable chain of events.”
“The alchemist who created Durin—what were they even trying to accomplish? Creating such a warped… life form?” Jia Changjiang frowned, unsure if his irritation stemmed from his thoughts or the bitter coffee. “Did they hope a twisted being could one day proudly show its beauty to the world, like rainwater flowing to streams or plants reaching for the sun?”
“Tch.” Jia Changjiang clicked his tongue, deciding not to continue.
“…”
Albedo fell into deep thought, silently sipping his coffee.
The quiet was eventually broken by a groggy Lumine, her hair tousled from sleep.
By now, she had released Paimon, whose cheek bore a large, red mark from Lumine’s… enthusiastic embrace.
“Wait a second! You guys started breakfast without me?!” Lumine exclaimed, staring at the two of them eating.
“You’re awake now, aren’t you?” Jia Changjiang replied, draining his coffee. “Come eat. And while you’re at it, tell me—besides bread, what else do you want for breakfast? I can cook something up.”
As he spoke, Jia Changjiang expertly pulled a cooking pot out of his system inventory. “I know you two won’t be satisfied with just bread.”
“Wow, Jax, you really get us!” Lumine grinned. “I want eggs, bacon, and ham! Keep it simple but make sure there’s plenty—no skimping! I need energy for the whole day!”
“Got it,” Jia Changjiang said, tossing more firewood onto the campfire and setting up his pot. “Paimon, what about you?”
“Milk! And eggs too!” Paimon chimed in. “Cook the eggs crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, okay?”
“Got it, got it. Albedo?” Jia Changjiang finally turned to him.
Albedo hesitated, unaccustomed to being included in such casual requests. “Me?”
“Yeah. Didn’t Lumine just say a proper breakfast is essential? You only had coffee,” Jia Changjiang pointed out.
“Then… a fried egg, please. Something I can sandwich between bread,” Albedo finally said.
“Easy enough!” Jia Changjiang grinned.
Jia Changjiang lit the fire, the crackling warmth a sharp contrast to the frigid air of the snowy mountain. Breakfast preparation was soon underway.
After all, one unsweetened coffee hardly qualified as a meal to sustain anyone for the day.
Breakfast needed to be done right.
Before long, everyone’s orders were ready.
Lumine bit into her sandwich, stuffed with eggs, bacon, and ham. Her cheeks puffed out like a hamster’s as she chewed with gusto.
Meanwhile, Albedo sat quietly, staring at the perfectly square fried egg on his plate—its shape courtesy of a mold Jia Changjiang had used during cooking.
“Mmph mmph mmph!” Lumine mumbled something incoherent through a mouthful of food before swallowing hard. “Albedo, you should eat too! Sure, Jax’s cooking isn’t as good as mine, but it’s still a decent breakfast!”
“Yeah! Mr. Jax and the Traveler take turns cooking, but his meals definitely have a unique charm,” Paimon chimed in, munching enthusiastically.
“…I see,” Albedo said, finally taking a bite of his breakfast.
The egg’s edges were crisp, while the yolk in the center remained soft and slightly runny.
Simple. Yet…
It was made with care.
“Delicious,” Albedo remarked after finishing.
“Right? Hey, Jax, make me another one! I’m still hungry!” Lumine demanded, completely unbothered by how many she’d already eaten.
“Why am I not surprised?” Jia Changjiang sighed, shaking his head as he reached for the pan. “You eat more than Paimon does! No wonder all the travel funds are gone.”
While Jia Changjiang grumbled, Paimon was busy gulping down her milk with loud gulps, seemingly oblivious to the jab.
Albedo observed the lively scene, a subtle smile tugging at his lips. Despite its simplicity, the breakfast felt… bustling, even warm.
It was an unexpected burst of energy that momentarily softened the cold, stark reality of the mountain.
—
After breakfast, Jia Changjiang and Lumine packed their gear, ready to set off on their respective tasks.
“Hey, Jax,” Lumine called out, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “If you find any cool treasure, remember to share, okay? I’ll keep an eye out for anything valuable too!”
“No problem… Oh, by the way.”
Jia Changjiang paused, turning to her with a smirk. “I made a new friend in the mountains. I’ll introduce you later—you’ll definitely be surprised.”
“Is that so?” Lumine raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Just wait until I take down a few more monsters and level up this sword. Then we’ll be unstoppable in these mountains!”
She gave a confident snort, lifting her chin slightly, before waving to Albedo. “See you later, Albedo!”
“Mm… take care,” Albedo responded with a nod.
After parting ways, Jia Changjiang activated the system interface, checking the locations of the remaining two boxes. Without wasting time, he headed straight for the coordinates.
The snowy mountain held many secrets, and Jia Changjiang knew there were faster ways to uncover them. If he went to Venti, the Archon could likely explain the history of this lost kingdom with ease.
But somehow, Jia Changjiang felt that would rob the experience of something essential.
He wanted to see it with his own eyes first. Only then could he truly understand the answers.
The box’s mention of Wuku—now labeled as a “monster”—the task’s cryptic descriptions of icy spears descending from the heavens, and the ancient tree mistaken for dead…
The mountain was filled with mysteries, each one begging to be explored.
Jia Changjiang pressed on through the harsh terrain until he reached the location of one of the remaining boxes.
However, to his surprise, he wasn’t alone.
Nearby, a dark silhouette flickered in the snowstorm—a Hydro Abyss Mage.
Not only that, but traces of Fatui soldiers could be seen patrolling the mountain’s outskirts.
They’re everywhere.
Jia Changjiang sighed inwardly. Abyss Mages and the Fatui seemed incapable of staying out of anything. Whenever trouble stirred, these two groups never failed to stick their noses in.
“Tch,” he muttered under his breath. “Better find that box fast…”
—
T/N: FRIG I FORGOT TO DO THE SKILL ITEM THIGN oh well mayube sometime alter
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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