Su Xuan understood Lumine's meaning.
Her so-called offer to become his travel companion meant traveling together, but since Lumine needed to rely on her own hands at the Adventurers' Guild to earn money, once they entered a nation's main city, the two could split up and act according to their own needs. Only when Su Xuan was ready to leave for the next country would he notify her, and they'd depart together.
In fact, the longest time Su Xuan and Lumine spent together was probably on the road from one nation to the next.
For Su Xuan, having Lumine as his travel companion was no issue at all—especially since she was one of his targets anyway.
"Of course, you and I aren't natives of this world. Traveling together means the road won't be boring, at least." Su Xuan nodded in agreement.
Lumine's tense mood instantly relaxed upon hearing his approval.
"Then it's happily decided!" Paimon cheered, flailing her arms in excitement.
Su Xuan continued, keeping pace, "Since we're staying in Mondstadt for now, I'll take you around first and find you a temporary hotel."
"As for the Mora issue, don't worry about it. You can pay me back once you've earned some."
"That's a must. Once I'm familiar with Mondstadt, I'll head straight to the Adventurers' Guild, take on some quests, and pay you back as soon as possible," Lumine said earnestly.
Su Xuan gave a soft "Mm" and didn't dwell further on the topic with her.
But he had to admit, Lumine truly had the constitution of a born workhorse.
She'd only just arrived in Mondstadt and was already gearing up to hit the Adventurers' Guild for tasks.
Under Su Xuan's lead, Lumine and Paimon quickly familiarized themselves with Mondstadt's layout.
When the trio reached Mondstadt Wind God Square, they saw a crowd gathered around. Beneath the wind god statue, a green-clad, white-stockinged young bard was animatedly telling the people something.
"Look, it's that bard who tailed us last night," Paimon pointed toward Venti in surprise. "He's back."
Incidentally, both Paimon and Lumine glanced at Su Xuan.
They still remembered how Su Xuan had claimed this seemingly busking guy was the legendary wind god Barbatos.
And that his main goal was to trick Lumine into helping purify Dvalin's abyssal corruption.
"Uh..." Paimon eyed Su Xuan, who stared silently at Venti, then looked at Lumine. "Lumine, what's Su Xuan doing...?"
"Hm? The Diary Copy is glowing."
[Life's tough; the wind god's out busking.]
[Wind God Barbatos Busking Live.jpg]
[The breeze carries poetry to the people, recounting the legend from five hundred years ago when Dvalin guarded Mondstadt.]
[Of course, Barbatos's real aim is to draw Lumine's attention with this tale, sparking her curiosity so she'll approach and ask.]
[He'll seize the chance to tell her that even without subduing Dvalin, the abyssal corruption is devouring his life, until Dvalin burns away his own blood and perishes.]
[And he'll pass along a thought-provoking line.]
["Someone like you is destined to grace a bard's ballad—standing in the sun, you'll become a hero; in the shadows, you'll invite calamity."]
[Then he'll turn and leave.]
[In truth, it's a test of Lumine's character.]
[Well... of course, this is all supposed to be the original course of fate.]
[Per the turning gears of destiny, Lumine would have arrived in Mondstadt yesterday, helped repel the attacking Dvalin, and been dubbed an Honorary Knight by Acting Grand Master Jean.]
[During her clash with Dvalin, a voice aided her—and that voice was none other than Wind God Barbatos.]
[Driven by curiosity and kindness, Lumine would chase after the departing Barbatos to seek the truth.]
[Only to fall into Barbatos's trap, getting roped into saving Dvalin and ultimately freeing him from the Abyss's erosion.]
[But my arrival seems to have derailed the gears of fate.]
[I'm curious: if Lumine and I just turned and left right now, what would Barbatos do?]
[Oh... and I have to say, those white stockings of Barbatos's suit him perfectly.]
The group of beauties stared in stunned silence.
So Su Xuan's presence had changed the fate of Mondstadt and Dvalin, which should have been saved.
And the world-saving Yellow Hair Aunt, who was supposed to leave Mondstadt, had returned—letting Wind God Barbatos's plan proceed.
But now Lumine was with Su Xuan. With the Diary Copy's exposure and Su Xuan's on-site explanations revealing the truth, would Lumine still proactively approach?
The answer was obvious.
"Right now, I'm just as curious as you—if we turned and left, what would this bard do?" Lumine said calmly.
"Alright, let's test it. I bet he'll come crawling over with a grin," Su Xuan laughed.
"Really?" Curiosity bubbled up in Lumine. "He's Wind God Barbatos—why would he shamelessly come to us?"
Su Xuan smiled faintly without replying, gesturing for Lumine and Paimon to turn and head the other way.
But before they'd taken a few steps, an anxious call came from behind: "Please wait!"
"He's really coming?" Paimon and Lumine exchanged glances, utterly shocked.
By the time they turned, Barbatos was already before them.
He grinned sheepishly. "Heh, esteemed travelers from afar, aren't you interested in the legend of the Dragon of the Sky?"
"It's the Dragon of the Sky, you know."
Paimon and Lumine narrowed their eyes at each other, then both looked to Su Xuan.
Su Xuan propped his chin, sizing Barbatos up and down, his gaze sharpening. "Legends can wait. I just find you... strange."
Venti didn't mind, chuckling. "I'm Venti, a bard."
"More precisely, the three-time consecutive champion of Mondstadt's most beloved bard."
Su Xuan nodded lightly. "Got it."
Then he turned, leading Lumine and Paimon away, leaving Venti dumbfounded.
[Silly-Grinning Barbatos Big Face.jpg]
[Just as I expected—if Lumine doesn't approach, Barbatos will shamelessly come over.]
[Don't think the wind god has no shame; that's just Barbatos for you.]
[Actually, yesterday when I first entered Mondstadt's territory, Barbatos already knew my whereabouts via the whispering winds.]
[Unfortunately, with the Dvalin crisis urgent and me not harming Mondstadt, he kept his focus on Lumine, the one who could save Dvalin.]
[But from that odd look Barbatos gave me earlier, I sense he's realized I'm the key disruptor to his plans.]
[If nothing changes, he'll soon seek a private chat with me.]
[Probably to ask me not to interfere too much with Lumine.]
[Of course, I have no interest in meddling in others' choices. Lumine can do whatever she wants, however she wants.]
[Besides...]
[When Lumine learned Dvalin was suffering under abyssal influence and nearing death, a flicker of sorrow crossed her eyes.]
[That's the Lumine I know—kind-hearted, noble in character.]
[But I'm different from her. I don't have a noble soul.]
"Pfft!" Lumine broke into laughter at Su Xuan's final remark, her defenses crumbling. "I think your last line is wrong."
"Having the power to help others and choosing to—or not to—is just human nature."
"It has nothing to do with having a noble soul."
With that, Lumine sighed. "I just feel Dvalin's plight is tied to my brother... I..."
"But the way Barbatos is inviting me rubs me the wrong way."
Hiding his identity and scheming his approach—hard to stomach.
"From what you're saying, if Barbatos were more upfront, you'd accept?" Su Xuan asked curiously.
Lumine nodded. "At least if he were honest about his motives and identity."
Paimon chimed in eagerly, "This is a quest to help Wind God Barbatos save the Dragon of the Sky!"
"If it were at the Adventurers' Guild, it'd fetch a ton of Mora, right?"
"I say we add a condition: Barbatos pays us fair Mora."
Lumine nodded vigorously. "Right, we still owe Su Xuan Mora. Make Barbatos foot the bill."
But after hearing their exchange, Su Xuan's expression turned peculiar.
Lumine and Paimon exchanged puzzled looks, not getting his change of face.
"Su Xuan, why's your face so weird?" Paimon asked cautiously.
Was Su Xuan secretly hoping Lumine wouldn't help?
Thankfully, seconds later, Su Xuan explained.
"If you ask Barbatos for Mora, I think the deal's dead."
"After all, the booze-loving Barbatos even sneaks drinks at the tavern. Think he'd have half a Mora in his pocket?"
Paimon, Lumine: "Eh?"
The wind god Barbatos sneaking drinks!?