Genshin Impact Simulation: Starting with Melsin's Friend

[At eight years old, ever since the first trial, the Wind Fist officer of the Fatui tribe in charge of the trials has made no secret of his admiration for you.]

He began to take you under his wing, involving you in the training of the Fools' soldiers.

To his surprise, despite your young age, you were able to persevere and complete the arduous training of the Fool's soldiers, which made this sergeant look at you in a new light.

He told you his name: Valenciennes.

As you get to know Valenci, you also witness another side of this seemingly extremely serious and aloof sergeant.

"Hey kid, want a bite?"

Having finished his training, Valencia held up a bottle of kerosene, a specialty of winter, and jokingly urged Mu Feng on.

“Brother Valenci, you’re encouraging minors to drink alcohol.”

Mu Feng sheathed his sword, his lips twitching as he watched Valencia down an entire bottle of strong liquor without batting an eye, a sense of respect rising silently in his heart.

To combat the harsh winter, the winter-winter spirit is renowned throughout the entire continent of Teyvat. As for how strong it is... guess why it's called Firewater?

"Hahaha... You're really unlike us Winter Solstice people."

Valenci's dark red cheeks flushed with a hint of drunkenness as he patted Mu Feng's shoulder forcefully, causing Mu Feng to grimace.

"Really not going to give it a try?"

Valenci unscrewed another bottle of Winter's Fire Water, took a delighted sip, and then asked.

Mu Feng shook his head with a dark expression, as if the name Huoshui had stirred up some unpleasant memories for him.

Don't let me catch that bastard who claims to be a Winter's Man who grew up drinking kerosene and then, in a daze, mixed strong liquor into his milk!

Mu Feng thought through gritted teeth, heaven knows how good his sleep was that day, almost causing him to transmigrate again.

"That's a shame."

Valenci shook his head regretfully, then tilted his head back and gulped down the bottle of liquor. Soon he was drunk and slumped against the bed, unconscious.

Mu Feng sighed, covered the sergeant with a blanket while he was still muttering in his sleep, then turned and stepped out of the tent.

Outside the tent, the ever-present blizzard continued to howl, bringing with it a biting chill, but it couldn't penetrate the faint warmth inside the tent.

Life on the frontier is extremely tough. Although supplies are scarce and training is rigorous, you, an orphan, are already quite content with your current life.

Outside of training, Valenci cared for you like a true older brother, using his meager surplus military pay to help with your expenses and even buying you a real weapon.

[Of course, this excludes Valenciennes after he drank kerosene.]

Although it was merely an ordinary two-star silver sword forged in a blacksmith's shop, it was still a considerable expense for the already meager income of the Fool's officers.

"Mu Feng, don't waste this weapon!"

You can still remember the pained, contorted expression on Valenci's face when he handed you the sword.

From then on, you carried this silver sword close to your body, taking meticulous care of it, as if this ordinary silver sword were some precious treasure.

[In addition, the goofy, big-brute Thunder Hammer and the gentle Thunderfire Mage who takes care of the young children are no longer the figures from the game in my past life's memories.]

Gradually, you begin to try to see this snow-ravaged world from a less detached perspective.

Because you now have a "home" that doesn't really feel like a home.

Even if "God" no longer loves this snow country,

Even "human beings" are still willing to cherish this world filled with ice.

……

However, all of this came to an end that night.

"Mu Feng, kid."

"The captain... sacrificed himself."

Having lost an arm, Lei Chui's vanguard changed his usual simple and foolish demeanor. After speaking, he fell silent, continuously pouring wine into his mouth, one bottle after another.

"Dang Cang."

The sword in Mu Feng's hand fell to the ground. He stared wide-eyed in astonishment, as if he had heard the most unbelievable news in the world.

Valenci, who had smiled and told us three days earlier that it was just a routine duty assignment, was reported dead overnight.

"Why?!"

Mu Feng gripped Lei Chui's chest tightly, his bloodshot eyes bulging with fury, and questioned him angrily with all his might.

Blood tears streamed from Lei Chui's hollow eyes, and the burly man broke down in uncontrollable sobs.

Through Lei Chui's intermittent narration, Mu Feng finally learned the details of the mission.

To protect the rare minerals mined for the powerful, Valenci was ordered by his superiors to escort them. However, the energy released from the minerals attracted packs of hunting hounds.

"And the captain... in order to cover our retreat... chose to stay behind and hold the line..."

As he spoke, Lei Chui gulped down another entire bottle of strong liquor, then another, and another… until the alcohol completely numbed his senses, and he fell into a deep sleep, still clutching the bottle.

The powerful and wealthy... rare minerals... Valencia...

Mu Feng opened his hand weakly, staring blankly at the empty wine bottles scattered on the ground, sitting there like a wooden or clay sculpture.

Suddenly, Mu Feng grabbed a bottle of kerosene like a madman and poured it into his mouth without hesitation. The strong liquor burned his throat, causing tears to involuntarily stream down his face.

Now, do I look like a winter man, Valencia?

……

The next day, Thunderhammer found you and told you that he was about to retire due to injury and would be leaving the Fatui.

Without uttering a word, you simply raised another bottle of kerosene, bidding him farewell with a drunken stupor.

Before leaving, Thunderhammer handed you a heavy bag filled with Mora.

"This is the captain's pension. Mu Feng, he... has no other relatives."

With his only remaining arm, Lei Chui solemnly handed you the bag containing Mora.

You remained silent, watching Lei Chui's figure disappear into the distance, your hand trembling slightly as you took the money pouch.

……

One year later.

Amidst a vast expanse of white snow, stands an ordinary silver sword.

[At nine years old, you sat outside the tent in the biting snowstorm, casually unscrewing a bottle of Winter's Fire Water and pouring half of it into front of your silver sword.]

"Drink up, Valencia."

"I'll accompany you."

Mu Feng raised his head and drank the remaining wine in one gulp. The intense stimulation caused him to cough and gasp involuntarily, but Mu Feng showed no intention of spitting out the wine.

How ridiculous, these wealthy businessmen and politicians are like winter.

A truckload of ore intended for use as ornaments was worth a human life.

A human life is worth only this small bag of Mora.

The glass bottle in his hand was crushed and shattered, and blood flowed down his wrist, but Mu Feng was completely unaware of it.

One day, the blood debt will be repaid with blood.

Mu Feng opened a bottle of kerosene again, drank half, poured the other half, until he completely lost consciousness once more, and slowly fell asleep in the snow while holding the silver sword.

……

The next morning, when Mu Feng woke up again, clutching his aching forehead, a Winter-style Eye of the Wind God lay quietly beneath the silver sword in front of him.

Mu Feng picked up the Eye of God and casually stuffed it into his pocket, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

O God... since you no longer have mercy on mankind,

Then why respond to my belated wish?