Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

"Grandpa, everything is ready." Viktor gestured from the doorway, without coming in.

"I understand," Xuan Yue's voice rang out, and then Viktor walked away.

"Finally, we can prepare to return to Liyue." Xuan Yue sighed, reflecting on everything that had happened in Mondstadt over the past six months.

"Get some rest when you get back," Xuan Qing's reflection appeared in the mirror as he spoke.

"Speaking of which, the authority of the Mirror Demon God is quite good. Why didn't we use it before?"

“…I’m not used to it.” Xuan Qing frowned, a rare occurrence for him.

"Hahaha, it's rare to see this side of you." Xuan Yue covered her mouth and laughed, not trying to hide it at all.

"Alright, this isn't anything unusual. Whether it's a god or a human, everyone has things they're not good at." Xuan Qing crossed his arms, appearing completely unconcerned.

"Haha, that's true, but I can't believe there's anything you're not good at." Xuan Yue was still laughing, and Xuan Qing could only shake his head helplessly.

"Sigh, let's hurry up and get going, Barbatos is already waiting over there."

"Okay~, I've noticed you've been talking about contracts all the time lately."

“We’ve only just arrived on the ground, so our reputation is naturally not as great as Morax’s. Since we’re already in disguise, we should at least make our imitation as convincing as possible.”

"Hey, then let's break the contract in front of Morax, he shouldn't mind, right?" Xuan Yue said with a sly thought.

"Xuan Yue." Xuan Qing's tone was calm, but Xuan Yue detected a scrutinizing undertone.

"Okay, okay, I won't do that."

Xuan Yue smiled and waved, then put on her black cloak and quickly left through the back gate of the manor.

Once the manor was out of sight, they tore open a portal and teleported to the top of the snow-capped mountain, where Wendy was already waiting.

"Oh dear, you guys are so slow. I could have written several poems while waiting for you." Wendy put her hands on her hips, looking helpless.

"Did you bring the things?" Xuan Yue completely ignored Wendy's complaints.

“I brought it.” Wendy took out a laurel wreath and handed it to Xuan Yue. “I separated a portion of my authority into this laurel wreath. It should be enough to sustain me.”

"Hmm, let Xuanqing handle the rest. I'm not very good at weapon crafting either." Xuan Yue scratched her head, then switched to Xuan Qing.

"Come here for a moment." Xuan Qing beckoned Wendy to come over.

"What's wrong?" Wendy asked, but still leaned closer.

A white light emanated from Xuanqing's hand, in just a moment.

"You..." Wendy's pupils constricted, unable to believe that the power he had separated from him had returned to his body. He turned to look at the laurel wreath in his hand; the power inside was still intact.

"Shh, there are some things you just need to know, no need to say them." Xuan Qing looked up at the island in the sky and said, "They will hear you too."

Wendy nodded as if she understood, but didn't ask any more questions.

Xuanqing sensed the general wind direction of Mondstadt, then threw the laurel wreath, which was already floating in mid-air, into the sky and quickly formed an array to refine it.

The surrounding winds intensified, and Wendy was almost swept away by them. Fortunately, Dvalin flew over from afar, picked up Wendy, and flew away into the distance.

"Phew, that was close. Thanks a lot, Dvalin. If you had been any later, I probably would have been swept away."

"Is this something a demon god could say?" Dvalin couldn't help but mutter.

"Hey."

Wendy sat on Dvalin's back, looking at Xuan Qing, whose figure had been swallowed by the wind and snow, and couldn't help but frown: "I hope everything goes well."

Heavy snow began to fall in Mondstadt at this time, plunging the people into panic.

"It's snowing! Snow!" A cry from a resident meant that Mondstadt was gripped by fear.

"Quickly! Go and appease the people. I believe Lord Barbatos will protect Mondstadt." Ciriel commanded the Knights to maintain order in Mondstadt.

"Lord Barbatos..." the nuns in the church prayed in unison.

Despite the wind and snow, Xuan Qing remained calm and composed, maintaining the formation while controlling the flames to melt the laurel wreath.

"It's time to stop, isn't it?"

A voice came, making Xuan Qing's heart clench, but reason told him that it wasn't him.

"Hey, Xuanqing, why are you ignoring me again?" The voice rang out again, sounding dissatisfied, but Xuanqing still didn't answer.

(Xuan Qing, who is it!) Xuan Yue also heard the voice and was startled.

(It's the laurel wreath; it has gained sentience and, unwilling to be melted down, has produced Jin Xuan's voice.) Xuan Qing coldly transmitted his voice.

"Xuanqing, you've hurt me so much. How could you say I'm a fake?" This time, Jin Xuan's figure appeared before Xuanqing from the wind and snow. "Don't you miss me at all?"

Xuan Yue's heart clenched. They couldn't afford to be distracted while forging the magical artifact; if they were, all their efforts would be in vain, and Xuan Qing's soul would be further damaged and suffer a backlash.

(Don't worry, I won't. He's in the past, I won't hold onto it.) Xuan Qing reassured Xuan Yue.

"Joyavis! I've guarded your territory for over a hundred years, why haven't you come yet!" "Jin Xuan" roared, seemingly unwilling to accept defeat. His voice pierced through the wind and snow, reaching the ears of Wendy in the distance.

"Why..." Wendy murmured, "Dvalin, fly closer!"

"Alright!" Dvalin seemed to sense something, flapping its wings and trying to get one step closer to the summit.

Xuan Qing spoke calmly, "Have you said enough?" It wasn't a question, but a statement, revealing no emotion. This caused even "Jin Xuan" to fall silent for a moment.

"Yes, it is my fault that I gave the enemy an opportunity, caused my dearest friend to die in battle, and plunged the people into the scourge of this curse. I will not forget it, but I do not need you to remind me!" Xuan Qing's purple eyes flashed, and the wind and snow were instantly swept away.

Wendy and Dvalin were able to fly more easily and see everything on the mountaintop clearly. Xuanqing was still maintaining the formation, and the laurel wreath was shining brightly. There was also a dark figure not far away, but it was not clear.

"You are very clever. You can see through people's hearts even when you are born with intelligence, but a fake is still a fake."

"Heh, how did you figure that out?" Jin Xuan's tone was no longer as calm as before.

“Because he doesn’t know my real name, so how could he call it out?” A cold smile appeared on Xuan Qing’s lips, seemingly self-mocking, yet also mocking.

Jin Xuan froze for a moment, then closed his eyes and chuckled, "They're still watching." He then transformed into snowflakes, drifting away in the wind...

"..." Xuan Qing ignored it. The laurel wreath was then completed, the magic circle activated, the snowstorm in Mondstadt ceased, and the people's spirits soared once more, chanting the name of Barbatos.

"Grandpa Qingyue, are you alright?" Wendy called out.

Xuanqing looked at him and nodded slightly, saying, "The magic circle in Mondstadt is complete; all that's missing is your contract."

"Okay, okay, I got it. Dvalin, can you help me out?" Wendy patted Dvalin's head and said.

"What deal did you make with me this time?" Tvalin said helplessly.

"I'll just take a little of your blood, don't be so stingy~" Wendy said cutely. Dvalin turned his head away helplessly, but still stretched out his claws to let Wendy take his blood.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the dragon blood was full, and Wendy handed Xuanqing two bottles.

“You…” Xuan Qing sensed that the other bottle contained his own blood.

"It's just a small token of my appreciation. Before I came, I spoke with that person in Liyue. My blood can be helpful to you, so I prepared a bottle. But speaking of which, you and that person in Liyue talk so much like old men."

(In Morax's eyes, he's called Wenya; in Wendy's eyes, you're all old men, pfft! Hahahaha! You know what, it's quite a fitting description!) Xuan Yue had already burst into laughter.

"Thank you. We're about to head back. Things are settled in Mondstadt. We'll meet again someday." Xuanqing greeted him politely, "The future Wind God of Teyvat."

"!" Wendy was startled, but she didn't say anything more. She simply picked up her violin and played a piece to send them off.

The wind carries the seeds of stories, and time allows them to sprout.

……

Xuanqing stepped into the black hole and returned to the land of Liyue.