Gu Chen's travels were always spontaneous—decide and go.
The trio headed straight for Dragonspine.
[Klee]: Albedo-brother is at Dragonspine. Will Honorary Knight-brother and Honorary Knight-sister run into Albedo-brother? (Sucrose · Well-behaved)
[Albedo]: Dragonspine is vast. The chances of meeting are slim, but if luck is on both sides, it's certainly possible.
[Klee]: (Klee · Yay!)
[Lumine]: Better stay away from places that cold. I'm shivering just thinking about it.
[Paimon]: Only warm spirits give me any sense of security!
[Columbina]: Poor kin...
[Kaeya]: What?
[Xingqiu]: What does "poor kin" mean?
[Collei]: How can someone just say half a sentence like that?!
[Lumine]: Riddle-spouter, get out of Teyvat!
[Kaeya]: Seconded!
[Diluc]: Don't forget, you're a riddle-spouter too.
[Kaeya withdrew a message]
[Kaeya]: Haha, talk about a long haul—you can see Dragonspine from afar, but it took Gu Chen's group days to get there!
[Diluc]: Clumsy topic change.
[Neuvillette]: Even from this distance, I can see the bizarre sight on Dragonspine—that valley seems to hold the remains of some massive beast?
[Albedo]: Correct. It's the Evil Dragon Durin. It fell here long ago and gradually formed that shape.
[Signora]: Good riddance—best if it's ground to dust and scattered!
[Lumine]: Hate Evil Dragon Durin that much? Heh, rise again, Durin!!
[Jean]: @[Lumine] Don't! The pain Evil Dragon Durin brought to Mondstadt is too great. Please don't joke like that.
[Lumine]: Fine.
[Lisa]: I remember Albedo's camp in Dragonspine is right above Slumbering Dragon Valley. Will they meet?
In the video.
The trio had reached the outskirts of Dragonspine.
They hadn't even gone deep yet, but the winds blowing around them carried a biting chill.
"Don't catch a cold."
Gu Chen took off his jacket and draped it over Lumine. She looked at him worriedly: "What about you?"
"I'm fine." Gu Chen shook his head.
His powerful physique allowed him to remain unfazed even in such harsh winds and snow.
Paimon huddled in Lumine's arms as Gu Chen cleared the path ahead.
The three pressed on against the blizzard, entering Slumbering Dragon Valley.
Crystalline snowflakes drifted down, quickly soaking Gu Chen's short sleeves and clinging to his skin.
Lumine sneaked a glance, her already rosy cheeks from the cold flushing even deeper.
[Hu Tao]: Abs!!! (Barbara · Shy)
[Kirara]: I-Is this something I can watch?! (Barbara · Shy)
[Lisa]: Gu Chen's such a cutie—looks slim clothed but ripped when bare~
[Arataki Itto]: @[Gu Chen] Bro, where'd you get those muscles?
[Gu Chen]: No idea from my past life, but now? Haven't trained at all. They just... happened. (Shrug)
[Venti]: Can I touch? (Venti · Starry-eyed)
[Zhongli]: (Old man on the subway looking at his phone)
[Dvalin]: Barbatos, you make me sick!
Gu Chen: "..."
Venti! Do you even hear yourself?!
"Stay away from me!"
Gu Chen shuddered, backing away with a face full of disgust.
"Ehe~"
"Don't be so heartless~"
Venti grinned cheekily.
"Watch the video properly!" Gu Chen eyed him warily.
"Fine, fine."
Venti sulked, turning his attention back to the video.
In the video, the trio was now inside Slumbering Dragon Valley.
They stared in awe at the massive corpse fused with the snowscape.
Bang!
Gu Chen punched a rib bone.
The force made it vibrate, shaking off chunks of snow.
"This punch didn't even scratch it—and that's just a rib... The bone's insanely tough. Perfect for crafting weapons!" Gu Chen concluded.
"You can make weapons from bones that big?!" Paimon exclaimed in surprise.
"Of course. A weapon like that would suit me perfectly—let me protect you two even better." Gu Chen smiled.
"Hehe~"
Paimon's eyes curved into happy crescents, her grin dopey yet adorable.
Lumine smiled too at his words.
[Klee]: Little Paimon's so cute!
[Heizou]: Paimon looks like the not-so-bright type.
[Paimon]: Say that again!
[Yae Miko]: Look at Lumine—such a relieved, happy smile~ (Hu Tao · Mischievous grin)
Lumine, now en route to Liyue, had nothing to say.
From an outsider's view, Gu Chen had been incredibly good to her past self!
Plus, when he said he could protect them better, even this Lumine—watching as a spectator—felt a deep sense of security.
Separated from her brother, stripped of her power, facing this strange world alone on a journey to find him, with only a little one by her side.
Then, a utterly reliable man appears, caring for her every step, giving her that profound safety—a feeling she could lean on.
Lumine stopped in her tracks.
She had no real connection to Gu Chen in this life, so why did he suddenly occupy a small corner of her heart, growing with every video?
Could I... actually fall for Gu Chen?
Lumine was lost in thought.
"Lumine, look—we ran into Albedo!"
Paimon spoke up, oblivious to Lumine's mood.
Lumine snapped back.
In the video, the trio had met Albedo.
After a brief chat, the generous Albedo offered his precious equipment to help.
The four found a spot and began excavating Durin's spine.
[Dvalin]: A faint ache on my back!
[Rahu Dragon King]: Pity Durin is dead—otherwise, he could join us!
[Rahu Dragon King]: Insolent ants, cease this! You're desecrating the noble dragon race!!
[Venti]: Uh, Durin was an artificial dragon.
[Rahu Dragon King withdrew a message]
[Rahu Dragon King]: Farewell. I must prepare to suppress Morax.
[Ganyu]: Senior Rahu, Lord Barbatos and Lady Furina are both in the group. Isn't it possible Lord Morax is too—just lurking? (Paimon · Shocked)
[Rahu Dragon King]: So what if he is? I'm no coward like Morax—I'll tell him straight to his face. What can he do?!
[Zhongli]: ...
Brain damage that severe?
The erosion must be terrifying.
Zhongli now worried for Rahu Dragon King's mental state.
[Kaedehara Kazuha]: A divine weapon is born! My ancestors were swordsmiths—this blade forged by Mr. Gu Chen and Mr. Albedo is mighty, perhaps rivaling legendary artifacts!
In the video, the weapon emerged from the forge—a spear!
Its tip was flat and razor-sharp like a sword, its shaft not bone-colored but plated in silver. Albedo's intricate engravings ensured a secure grip.
The chilling gleam of the spearhead alone spoke of its edge, forged from unyielding dragon bone!
[Zhongli]: Visually, it resembles the Vortex Vanquisher from legends—seven points of similarity!
[Venti]: Gu Chen was already this strong without a weapon. Now with a proper one, trash like Dvalin wouldn't stand a chance! (Silly)
[Dvalin]: Have I become a unit of measurement?! (Xinyan · Furious)