Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

"Uh, um... are you alright?" Xuan Yue tapped the energy shield, inside which Wendy was nestled in his wings, refusing to show his head.

"Let me be quiet..." A mournful voice came from the wings, indicating that this Demon Lord of Mondstadt was in a bad mood.

"Let's talk business first, we can discuss compensation later," Xuan Qing's voice came.

Barbatos was stunned: "There's...there's...there's a ghost!"

(...) -_-|| [Xuanqing]

(…) ←_← [Xuan Yue]

"Alright, you're a dignified demon god, yet you're afraid of ghosts?" Xuan Yue said helplessly.

"Waaaaah~, even though I'm a demon god, I'm only 800 years old!" Barbatos cried, his face contorted with grief.

Xuan Yue's face was full of disbelief.

“Sigh,” Xuan Qing spoke again, sighing as he revealed his human form to Barbatos. Unlike Xuan Yue, he wore a black ancient robe with silver trim, his silver hair draped behind his head, and he exuded a cold aura.

"Xuanqing, why are you out? Go back now!" This time, Xuanyue's tone was impatient.

“Barbatos, you don’t need to do this. Our arrival might be an opportunity for the whole of Mondstadt.” Xuan Qing didn’t answer Xuan Yue, but instead spoke to Barbatos.

Barbatos, who was still stunned by the sudden appearance of a person—no, a demon god—aren't completely dumbfounded. Upon hearing that Mondstadt was involved, he abandoned his playful nature and said seriously, "If you want to negotiate with me, shouldn't you remove this thing?" He tapped the energy shield.

"Okay." Xuan Qing waved his hand, and the energy shield disappeared, along with the vines binding his limbs.

"Hey, and my wings too!" Barbatos complained, realizing his wings were still bound and he couldn't move.

"Heh, what if you run away?" Xuan Yue's tone still carried a hint of anger. Xuan Qing could tell he was throwing a tantrum and sighed helplessly.

"I apologize, but due to your characteristics, we must hold back a bit. Please understand." Xuan Qing said calmly.

“Okay, I knew it. But I’m still curious about what’s going on between you two.” Barbatosto stroked his chin, his gaze falling on Xuan Yue and Xuan Qing.

"To make a long story short, the me in front of you is currently just a spiritual entity, while our true form is Xuan Yue's body. In other words, one person has split their consciousness in two." Xuan Qing briefly summarized his and Xuan Yue's current situation.

"It's all because some guy was courting death that he split me apart," Xuan Yue said angrily from the side. Xuan Qing didn't reply, and Barbatos knew he was tacitly agreeing.

"Oh, I think I understand. So your real purpose in coming to Mondstadt is definitely not as simple as finding me."

“We’ve heard that your familiar, Dvalin, is a wind-type dragon, and we’d like to borrow his dragon blood,” Xuanqing said bluntly. “In exchange, we can help resolve the problems in Mondstadt.”

"Sigh? Mondstadt's problem? Look at Mondstadt now. I blew away the snowstorm, and it's like spring all year round. So, is your problem about security?" Wendy said with a smile, as if Xuanqing's suggestion was a joke.

"..." Xuan Yue didn't know why, but she just really wanted to take action.

“That’s the problem,” Xuan Qing said expressionlessly, unaffected by Barbatos’ words, “You did disperse the snow and flatten the nearby mountains, but I am not a mortal, much less a Mondstadt resident. I know that nothing disappears without a reason. So… where did the snow you dispersed go?” At Xuan Qing’s words, the smile on Barbatos’s face gradually vanished.

Xuan Yue was also startled. He suddenly understood what Xuan Qing meant: "Could it be that the snow on that snow mountain was originally meant to fall on Mondstadt?"

“Hmm,” Xuan Qing rubbed Xuan Yue’s head, then turned to Barbatos: “Everything has a price. If I’m not mistaken, your price is freedom.”

"Because in Mondstadt, almost all the winds are blowing towards that snow mountain. Although you appear very calm, your current strength is too weak, too weak to disperse a large-scale blizzard."

"You knew I'd come looking for you." Barbatos's smile had vanished.

“Because you are protecting Mondstadt, you can’t afford to gamble.” Xuanqing paused. “All your power is used to maintain the power field above Mondstadt, which makes it impossible for you to leave Mondstadt. You have liberated Mondstadt’s freedom, but you yourself are trapped in Mondstadt.”

“Yes, you’re right. So, you do have a way, right?” Barbatos didn’t hide anything and readily admitted it.

"Yes, I can help you forge a magical artifact. When the artifact is completed, it will require a portion of your authority to fuse with it, so that it can remain in Mondstadt to guard it in your place."

"Wait, I don't quite understand." Xuan Yue scratched her head and asked in confusion.

"It's about finding a replacement for him, to replace him as the core of the formation, understand?" Xuan Qing patiently explained to Xuan Yue.

Xuan Yue nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"Then what do you want with Tvalin's blood?" Barbatos interjected.

"Why do you ask so many questions!" Xuan Yue was instantly annoyed. Xuan Qing patted his shoulder, signaling him to calm down.

"I have a health problem and need dragon blood as a medicinal ingredient, which is why we came to Mondstadt." Xuan Qing was not impatient and answered every question. After all, in his eyes, whether it was Xuan Yue, Barbatos, or Morax, they were all just children.

Morax, far away in Liyue, felt a chill run down his spine and slowly poured himself a cup of tea.

"Hmm...okay, I don't have any more questions right now."

"Is that so? Very well, the contract is now established. The one who breaks their word will be punished." Thus, the contract is formed.

Xuanqing removed the vines, and Barbatos stepped down from the black lotus, transforming back into Wendy.

“I will negotiate with Dvalin, and as for my compensation…” Wendy rubbed his hands together, the meaning of which couldn’t be clearer.

“Hmm,” Xuanqing’s body gradually became transparent: “Let Xuanyue take you to a tavern to pick out some drinks. We’ll pay for the drinks for today and tomorrow, how about that?”

"Deal!" Wendy's eyes sparkled, and Xuan Qing vanished the moment he agreed.

"Get some rest, or I'll put you in solitary confinement!" Xuan Yue was clearly still angry, but no voice came from her mind.

"Phew~, let's go, to the tavern." Xuan Yue grabbed her coat and, with a gleeful Wendy in tow, prepared to leave through the main entrance openly.

"Wait." Wendy grabbed Xuan Yue's hand to stop him. "Are you sure you want the butler downstairs to know about someone who suddenly appeared out of nowhere?"

"..." Xuan Yue fell silent: "Aren't you a demon god?"

(-_-||) Wendy blushed: "I am now the human Wendy."

"Oh, so... is there a difference?" Xuan Yue asked, puzzled.

Wendy was helpless. Compared to Xuan Qing, Xuan Yue was like a little white flower, very innocent.

(Unbelievable, that cunning fox-like woman possessed a soul as blank as a sheet of paper.)

Finally, Wendy transformed into a wisp of wind and left the manor first.

Xuan Yue sighed, took out the talisman hidden under her coat, and used power communication to connect with Li Yue.

At this moment in Liyue—

"Hi, Morax."

Morax, who was reviewing documents, looked up, saw Xuan Yue on the other end of the communication line, and smiled and nodded: "Long time no see, how are you doing over there?"

"Not bad, Barbatos has signed the contract, so this mission objective is about to be completed."

"That's good. As per your request, I have established a merchant guild in Liyue. You can use the name of this merchant guild to do some things in the future."

"Hmm, but it's not convenient for me to manage it myself. It would be best to find an agent. By the way, what's the name of the chamber of commerce?" Xuan Yue pondered, looking down.

"The Flying Cloud Chamber of Commerce," Morax said without changing his expression. "The current president of the Flying Cloud Chamber of Commerce is a capable person. I told him that you are the biggest investor in this chamber of commerce."

"Oh, I see. Judging by all these documents around you, it seems Liyue's economic development is on track," Xuan Yue teased.

"Haha, my old friend is just as confident."

Xuan Yue turned to look at the table behind him, where a pile of documents covered the entire surface.

(Looks like I really should find someone to help me with the paperwork. Otherwise, how am I supposed to sneak out and have some fun, cough cough, experience the local customs and culture of other places?)

Xuan Yue suddenly remembered that Xuan Qing could hear his inner thoughts, so he hurriedly changed his words.

"Morax, we're almost done here, probably in time for the Lantern Festival," Xuan Qing's voice came through.

Morax's smile widened: "I see. Then I guess we'll have to ask Mark Hughes to cook a few more dishes."

"Are Fushe and the others alright?" Xuan Qing

"Oh right, how are Xiao and the others?" Xuan Yue

"Don't worry, thanks to the beads you gave us before you left, none of the Yaksha immortals have shown any symptoms of being infected by karma."

"Hmm, it seems the situation on the front lines in Liyue is under your control," Xuanqing said to Morax.

"Is there anything important you need to tell me via telepathy?"

"Ask Xuan Qing, I don't know." Xuan Yue switched to Xuan Qing directly. Morax was stunned when he saw Xuan Qing's outfit, but then smiled and said, "It suits you very well."

"Thanks, there's nothing else, just reporting things over here." Xuan Qing finished speaking and hung up the call.

Morax sighed, looked down at the pile of documents in front of him and pondered, "Should I also find someone to help me with this?"

Return to Mondstadt —

Wendy had been sitting in the tavern for a long time.

"Why aren't they here yet?" Wendy slumped onto the table, looking utterly dejected.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Xuan Qing appeared in front of Wendy.

"What, it's you? Where's Little White Flower?"

"Who's the innocent one!" Xuan Yue's voice startled Wendy, and the surrounding guests also turned their attention to them.

(Xuan Yue, be gentle.) Xuan Qing said in his sea of ​​consciousness.

(Oh.) Xuan Yue's tone was a little aggrieved.

"Xuan Yue has only been in contact with the human world for a short time, don't tease him."

"Oh dear, you've kept me waiting for so long, can't I even crack a joke?"

"Whatever you like." Xuan Qing sat down opposite him. "Also, thank you."

"You're such a big iceberg. When can I have my wine?"

"Here you go." Xuan Qing placed the bag on the table: "20 Mora, let's see how much you can drink."

"I can drink for a long time." Wendy took the money and went to buy some more drinks.

(Barbatos, why do you wander the earth in the form of a boy?)