In that instant...
Lin Mo's mind went completely blank.
So, in his life as Rustan all those years ago, he'd been killed by his own child!?
That explained why Rosalyne had wept until her tears ran dry, transforming into the Witch of Flames.
Was this punishment for his abrupt departure back then!?
Pfft! This was all the system's fault!
Why should he take the blame!?
But right now, it seemed like he had no choice but to shoulder it!!
"Wait—no, hold on!"
Lin Mo couldn't help but voice his confusion. "Then why did you steal Albedo's alchemy notes and try to take his place?" This was a question that puzzled Albedo too.
From his perspective, Durin had clearly been mimicking him—in appearance, knowledge, everything.
It was obvious he wanted to replace him, to blend into Mondstadt as the new Albedo.
"I never said I wanted to replace Albedo. Why would you all think that?"
Durin looked genuinely baffled.
"So why mimic him? Why even create that fake Albedo to hurt everyone?" Lin Mo pressed. "Wasn't it all to take him out and claim his place in the hearts of Mondstadt's people!?"
"No! Absolutely not!!!"
Durin waved his hands frantically, anxiety flooding his voice. "Father... I do want to fit into Mondstadt, but I've never intended to harm anyone."
"Then why start that avalanche just now?"
Lin Mo shot back.
"I wanted to... test what I'd learned," Durin admitted sheepishly. "Because... I wanted to be like Albedo."
"Like him, blending into the everyday world of humans."
"But since I woke up, I haven't been able to control an avalanche properly." "Now, seeing everyone here in the mountains—it was so lively. I was envious."
"So I thought..."
"I'd trigger an avalanche, scatter the group, and temporarily take Albedo's place. Just to see if I could blend in without anyone noticing."
"If no one saw through it, I'd have the confidence to enter Mondstadt as an alchemist, become everyone's companion." "And then, maybe find a chance to fulfill my lifelong wish."
...
"Uh... is that how it is?"
Lin Mo couldn't shake his doubt.
This didn't match the plot intel he'd pieced together from Genshin's canon storyline at all.
Right!
Could it be because...
His identity as the alchemist "Crimson" was so unique.
In the original Teyvat, he was someone who shouldn't even exist.
Unlike Venti, the Liyue adepti, or figures like Sara who were woven into the continent's fabric from the start.
Could it be...
That his arrival in this world had influenced Rhinedottir, and in turn, altered the course of the original plot!?
Yes—that had to be it!
In the canon timeline, both the fake Albedo and the real one were Rhinedottir's solo creations.
In that unaltered world line, there was no "Crimson" alchemist, popping into Teyvat out of nowhere just to complete some task.
So his presence had thrown the plot off its rails, creating these divergences.
But Durin and the fake Albedo still had that history of endangering people, so Lin Mo had to double-check. "Did you ever try to abduct that kid named Joel from the camp!?"
Lin Mo furrowed his brow in suspicion.
"About that... the child."
As Durin spoke, he patted the fake Albedo beside him and smiled. "This little one was born near Dragonspine, keeping me company for so many long years. Even back when she was just a Frostbloom, I protected her."
"She heard I wanted to venture into the human world to find you, Father." "So she insisted on coming with me."
"The most believable cover I could think of was posing as Joel's father, who went missing in the mountains not long ago." "She mimicked his appearance."
"I was just about to bring her—disguised as Joel's dad—to see if we could slip into Mondstadt without raising alarms."
Durin trailed off with a wry smile. "But we ran into Eula on the road, so I had no choice but to flee..."
"So... that's what happened?"
Lin Mo absorbed the explanation.
It made perfect sense!
If he'd truly meant harm, he could've just killed Joel on the spot and vanished.
Clearly, there was no malice in it.
Just then, the fake Albedo stepped forward to Lin Mo.
She bowed politely. "Father, Durin usually calls me Hua-Hua. You can too, if you'd like."
Lin Mo instantly caught her drift.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he turned to Durin. "Wait—this is... your girlfriend!?"
"Mm, we've been together for over a century," Durin confirmed with a gentle nod and a smile.
"Ah... what a mess this all is."
Lin Mo scratched his head. His mind was a whirlwind.
Through all his lifetimes in the Hundred Lifetimes' Promise quest, this was the first time the plot had veered so wildly off-script. For a moment, he had no idea how to handle it.
Albedo stepped closer, curiosity lighting his eyes. "Foster Father, what are your plans from here?"
"Plans? Hell if I know..."
Lin Mo stared blankly into the distance.
Then, something clicked. "Oh, right—where's Rhinedottir?"
Albedo gave a rueful smile. "After Durin fell to the Stormterror, and you still didn't return, Foster Father, Teacher lost all hope and left Dragonspine." "She left Durin's heart behind, drawing on the ley line energy deep in the mountains to nurture its power." "If I had to guess, she's gone looking for you..."
"That woman... sigh..."
Lin Mo knew he owed her an explanation.
Sure, he'd approached her back then with his knowledge of alchemy as bait.
But she hadn't confessed her feelings either.
Since she'd given him her heart—and they'd had a child—he owed her that much.
It was the right thing for her, and for their son.
Not because she was stunningly beautiful, of course!
"Any way to track her down?" Lin Mo asked.
Albedo shook his head. "She cut off contact after she left."
"That's... not good..."
Lin Mo groaned in frustration.
"Father, actually... I might have a way...."
Durin stepped forward then.
"...What way?"
Lin Mo asked, intrigued.
"Hua-Hua and I wanted to blend into human society, to become true kin to all." "But now that I've found you, I don't need that anymore." "Honestly, I'd rather stay here in Dragonspine with her, savoring the mountain's quiet peace."
"Mm... so?"
Lin Mo still didn't see where this was going.
"So... Father, how about we try reviving my body as the demon dragon?"
Durin's eyes gleamed with resolve. "News of the Demon Dragon Durin's revival would spread across Teyvat in no time—Mother would hear you're back." "Don't worry, Father. I swear I won't threaten Mondstadt again."
"I'll stand as your friend and guardian of these peaks, ready to aid Mondstadt in its hour of need!"
The idea sent Lin Mo's heart racing.
Reviving Durin's draconic form...
What a wildly audacious plan!
"No—it's a great idea!"
"But I'm just the alchemist 'Crimson.' Do I even have the forbidden arts to pull this off?"
Lin Mo voiced his doubt.
"As long as my heart still beats, it's possible," Durin assured him with a nod and a smile.
"Hm... yeah, that tracks." (No cash needed) Lin Mo latched onto the reminder.
The key was that Durin's heart still pulsed in the path of buried snow on Dragonspine.
And not just the heart—his indestructible dragon bones were intact too.
With those core elements preserved against the ravages of time, revival wasn't out of reach.
All it would take was channeling vast ley line energy to reshape flesh around them.
For scales, the untapped veins of Crystal Marrow in the mountains would forge armor as unyielding as dragon hide.
Lin Mo turned to him. "Is the device your mother used to shape your flesh back then still around?"
"It is."
Durin nodded. "Father and Mother built those mechanisms together."
"Only one of you can activate the safeguards, drawing on the surging ley lines at the mountain's base."
"Alright then—let's do it!"
Lin Mo clenched his fist, resolve hardening.
The Demon Dragon Durin reborn, standing as Mondstadt's fifth heavenly guardian.
What a scheme!
It was exhilarating just to imagine.
And who knew? The eruption of ley line power bursting from the earth might even catch the eye of Celestia.
It could draw down the gaze of Heaven itself...
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T/N:
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