Mondstadt's night had fallen.
After dinner, Ying and Paimon returned to their pre-booked hotel a step ahead.
The pair, exhausted from their long journey, planned to rest well tonight, recharge their spirits, and head to the Adventurers' Guild early tomorrow to take on tasks and earn some Mora.
As for Barbatos's plea for help, with his authority as the Anemo Archon, finding them wouldn't be difficult. Whether they helped or not would ultimately depend on whether Barbatos's attitude could satisfy Ying.
After bidding farewell to Ying and Paimon, Su Xuan returned to Lisa's laboratory.
The moment he stepped through the door, a refreshing fragrance unlike any before wafted toward him.
Before Su Xuan could react, two stunning figures appeared before him.
The instant she saw Su Xuan, Jean's breath hitched.
The real Su Xuan was even more handsome and robust than in the photos and light screens.
He perfectly matched the image of the male lead from her romantic novels.
"Su Xuan, this is the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, Jean Gunnhildr."
Though Lisa knew they all understood each other deep down, she still went through the motions of introductions to ease the atmosphere.
"Jean, this is the man I mentioned to you earlier today—my Su Xuan."
Hearing Lisa introduce him like that, Jean's face instantly flushed red.
Seeing this, Su Xuan roughly understood what had happened at the Knights of Favonius Library during the day.
Just as he'd thought, after confirming her hypothesis, Lisa had surely used "coercion and inducements" to convince Jean.
Of course, Su Xuan knew Lisa was actually doing Mondstadt a favor, and he didn't mind her approach.
On the contrary, with Lisa's assist, he could save a lot of effort.
"I've heard so much about you, Grand Master Jean." Su Xuan feigned formality with a slight nod.
Jean was momentarily stunned.
She hadn't expected a man who casually defeated a god to speak to her with such humility.
This gesture left her at a loss, unsure how to respond.
She could only shoot a pleading glance at Lisa beside her.
Lisa curled her lips into a smile. "Grand Master Jean is here this time hoping to borrow your strength to help her out."
"Mondstadt is currently facing not only Stormterror under the Abyss Order's control, but also reconstruction efforts and diplomatic pressure from the Fatui."
Lisa's expression grew solemn as she continued, "And then there's what you mentioned about the Abyss Order preparing to march on Mondstadt."
In truth, before heading to the ruined Four Winds Guardians yesterday, Jean and Lisa had already heard about this from the reconnaissance knight Amber.
According to Amber's investigation, Hilichurl tribes had indeed appeared around Mondstadt recently.
Hilichurls wouldn't normally build settlements so close to a city.
It was highly unusual, but due to the dragon crisis, no one had analyzed this anomaly in depth.
It wasn't until Su Xuan brought up the Abyss Order's impending war on Mondstadt today that Jean and Lisa realized the Hilichurls' movements were preparations for the assault.
"So, Grand Master Jean wants to borrow my power to tide over these crises?" Su Xuan drawled leisurely.
"Yes." Jean mustered her courage, though her words still came out a bit haltingly. "Lisa has explained everything clearly to me."
"I've steeled myself for this."
"As long as you help me this once, I'll do anything."
"But..." Su Xuan's tone shifted.
Jean's heart leaped to her throat.
Hadn't Lisa said diary copy holders were people Su Xuan had already marked as interesting?
Seeing Su Xuan's hesitant look, it felt like even if she offered everything, he still wouldn't help.
A sense of loss suddenly washed over Jean.
"But there are too many issues in Mondstadt—which one do you want me to handle?"
"The Fatui's diplomatic pressure? Mondstadt's reconstruction? Stormterror's abyssal corruption? Or perhaps defending against the Hilichurl siege?"
Su Xuan sat casually on the sofa, pouring himself a cup of tea and topping off Jean's and Lisa's cups as well.
Hearing Su Xuan's question eased Jean's tension slightly.
As long as he hadn't flat-out refused, there was still hope.
Of course, on the way to Lisa's place to meet Su Xuan, Jean had already made up her mind.
The Fatui's diplomatic pressure was an issue between Mondstadt and Snezhnaya—Su Xuan didn't need to get involved.
Mondstadt's reconstruction could be handled by its own people in time.
Defending against the Abyss Order's Hilichurl invasion?
Su Xuan had already given the answer in his diary: this assault posed little threat to Mondstadt.
What Jean sought from Su Xuan was the same as what Barbatos wanted: help the East Wind Dragon Dvalin break free from abyssal corrosion and save his life.
"I hope you can step in and help Dvalin." Jean pleaded earnestly.
[Beauties Collection: Mondstadt Knight Soul.]
[Jean Gunnhildr.jpg]
[With Mondstadt under siege on all sides, Grand Master Jean came straight to me, hoping I'd lend her a hand.]
[Out of Mondstadt's many troubles, she chose to ask me to help the East Wind Dragon Dvalin.]
[Grand Master Jean is quite clever. Saving Dvalin and restoring him as one of Mondstadt's Four Winds Guardians would resolve the other threats effortlessly.]
[But I'm curious—why not wait for Ying?]
[Maybe Barbatos could convince her?]
After reading Su Xuan's diary entry,
Jean and Lisa exchanged awkward glances.
You've already exposed that Barbatos was tricking the Yellow Hair Aunt—how could we have the face to ask her for help now?
"Because we couldn't show our faces. Now that Ying knows the Anemo Archon tricked her, we have no right to expect her help."
"Of course, the key issue is time. Every day delayed means Dvalin's life slips further away."
"And with Mondstadt in such peril, resolving Dvalin's crisis sooner would be the greatest aid."
"So, what do you say..."
Su Xuan tapped lightly, his gaze shifting to Lisa. Their eyes met for two seconds before he stood and headed into the room.