“Achoo!”
Walking past the steps where Lumine and Paimon were standing, Venti let out a small sneeze.
“Hmm… Is there a cat nearby?” Venti muttered softly.
Behind him, Jia Changjiang chuckled. “There’s no cat around here. It’s just a sneeze—don’t overthink it. Weren’t you saying you wanted to perform your next song in the square?”
“Alright, let’s hurry then,” Venti said with a cheerful smile. “This next song… is about Mondstadt’s Dragon of the East Wind.”
Their figures quickly disappeared down the steps, catching Paimon’s sharp eyes.
“That green guy is just as green as that random passerby down there,” Paimon said with a pout.
Lumine peeked over the edge, spotting Venti.
“Isn’t that him? Come on, Paimon! Let’s go capture… I mean, talk to him!”
“Eh?!” Paimon barely had time to protest before Lumine grabbed her by the collar and raced after Venti.
By the time they reached the bottom of the steps, Venti and Jia Changjiang were already out of sight.
“Hmph! He’s definitely still nearby. We’ll find him sooner or later!” Lumine declared confidently.
—
Meanwhile, Venti and Jia Changjiang had arrived at the base of Mondstadt’s massive Anemo Archon statue, where Venti prepared to perform.
Jia Changjiang found a comfortable spot and settled in, ready to listen.
Venti began by strumming his lyre, playing a melody both soothing and familiar. He didn’t start with words, but rather let the music speak for itself.
The tune was ancient, but some Mondstadt residents recognized its name: “The Pastoral Ballad.”
The harmonious melody drew in passersby, soothing their spirits still frayed from the recent Stormterror attacks.
—
As Venti played, Lumine finally arrived, her eyes lighting up as she spotted him. She moved to approach, but before she could, someone grabbed her arm.
“Lumine… right?”
Jia Changjiang stopped her just as she was about to charge toward Venti.
“Now’s not the time for a commotion,” he said calmly. “It’s story time. Let’s not interrupt.”
“Ah! It’s that weird guy!” Paimon exclaimed, recognizing Jia Changjiang.
Lumine glanced around at the attentive audience listening to Venti’s music. Reluctantly, she decided to stay quiet, though her expression made it clear she wasn’t thrilled.
Venti noticed everything from his vantage point, his lips curling into a faint smile as he transitioned into storytelling.
“The story I’m about to tell comes from an ancient time, when gods still walked the earth…”
Venti’s voice, soft yet resonant, carried clearly over the square, weaving together with the melody of his lyre.
“In that age, the Dragon of the Sky descended from the heavens, filled with curiosity for the world below.”
“The dragon sought answers but could not understand the chaos of the mortal realm.”
“The Song of the Wind played on the lyre of the skies, answering the dragon’s questions, one by one.”
“The dragon, merely a child in spirit, wished only to fly free, unburdened by the world’s troubles.”
“Yet, as time passed, it yearned to sing, to be understood by all, and to share its heart through song…”
Venti’s tempo quickened, the notes growing more intense as the atmosphere shifted.
“The bard and the dragon became legends, but a dark age loomed.”
“The Lionfang was broken, the Falcon Banner lay tattered, and a wicked dragon approached Mondstadt.”
“The city’s great cathedral became shrouded in shadow, and sorrow turned into songs of lament.”
“But the Dragon of the Sky answered the call.”
“In the midst of a storm, it battled the wicked dragon to the death…”
Sadness tinged Venti’s voice and music as he continued.
“Swallowing the poison of the wicked dragon, the Sky Dragon fell into a deep slumber.”
“Years later, it awakened to find itself unrecognized.”
“‘Why do the people now despise me?’ it asked, but the Lyre of the Winds remained silent.”
“Anger and sorrow mixed with poison, and tears fell from the dragon’s eyes…”
“The Lyre of the Winds could no longer speak.”
—
As Venti finished his tale, silence settled over the crowd. The story’s poignant conclusion hung in the air, leaving many lost in thought.
Gradually, the crowd began to disperse, and only then did Jia Changjiang release Lumine.
“Ah, you must be…”
Venti’s greeting was cut short as Lumine lunged forward and grabbed him by the collar.
“You’re that suspicious guy from the woods!” she accused, her voice firm. “As an Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius, appointed by Acting Grand Master Jean, I’m placing you under arrest! Prepare yourself!”
She tightened her grip, dragging Venti closer. “I’ll take you to the Knights and… exchange you for a reward! Justice will be served!”
“??!”
Venti’s bewilderment mirrored that of Jia Changjiang and Paimon, who hurriedly intervened to pull Lumine off the bard.
“Goodness, you’re so rough!” Venti coughed, rubbing his neck. “I’m not some suspicious person. Besides, wasn’t it you who scared off Dvalin in the first place?”
“Traveler! You’re going to give everyone around us a heart attack!” Paimon scolded, feeling uncharacteristically responsible.
Who knew how many more crazy things this Traveler would do without her around?
Jia Changjiang held Lumine back, his grip firm. Internally, he confirmed what he had suspected all along: This sister is definitely cheeky.
“I’m sorry,” Paimon apologized to Venti. “The Traveler can be a bit… much sometimes. Oh, and who’s Dvalin?”
“That’s the true name of Stormterror,” Lumine interjected. “Lisa mentioned it earlier.”
Lumine’s memory of Lisa’s words was crystal clear—particularly because she found the librarian’s mature charm captivating.
“But most people just call it Stormterror, so why do you use that name?” Paimon asked, her eyes narrowing at Venti. “Are you two… close?”
“That’s a secret,” Venti replied playfully.
“Ugh! You’re just as weird as he is!” Paimon shot a glare at both Venti and Jia Changjiang.
“Fine, I’ll introduce myself,” Venti said with a shrug. “I’m Venti, a humble bard of Mondstadt, and three-time champion of the city’s Most Beloved Bard competition!”
“I’m Paimon! And this is Lumine, the Traveler. We’re partners!” Paimon introduced them proudly.
“I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself earlier,” Jia Changjiang added, releasing Lumine. “You’ve already seen me in action—name’s Jia Changjiang. Or just call me Jax for short.”
“Jia… Chang… Jiang…”
Paimon tried the name, stumbling slightly before switching to the shorter version.
“Jia Changjiang takes three syllables, but Jax is just one! Much easier!”
Jia Changjiang laughed at her antics. “Yeah, I suppose my name can be a mouthful for non-natives.”
“Alright, back to the point! You recognize us, so spill it!” Paimon turned to Venti with sudden intensity. “Tell us about Stormterror!”
“Mm~?” Venti tilted his head innocently, avoiding the question.
“I knew it! Let’s just drag him to Jean for a reward!” Lumine cracked her knuckles, ready to act.
“No! Mora isn’t the most important thing right now!” Paimon protested, jumping in front of Lumine. “Just show them that!”
Grumbling, Lumine rummaged through her bag before finally pulling out the purified teardrop crystal.
Jia Changjiang recognized it instantly, and for a moment, he felt relieved.
At least it didn’t turn black, he thought. With Lumine’s cheeky tendencies, he’d half-expected the worst.
“Oh, this is…” Venti murmured, his expression softening as he took in the crystal’s brilliant blue hue.
“When did it get purified?” Paimon exclaimed. “It was still full of impurities when we showed it to Jean earlier!”
Lumine grinned. “So, it’s worth even more now, right?”
“That’s not just any crystal,” Venti explained, pulling an identical red one from his pocket. “This is Dvalin’s tear—born of pain and sorrow.”
His gaze grew somber as he held the crimson crystal, the weight of his words settling on the group.
—
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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