Chapter Thirty-Seven: Mondstadt
Seeing the Spring Fairy vanish, Xianyu was somewhat surprised. He had expected her to ask for some kind of assistance, perhaps to convey a message. However, she simply disappeared without a trace.
With things at this point, there was little purpose in lingering. The plan to merge with elemental creatures had failed, so Xianyu decided to proceed with the original plan: hunting down powerful Cryo-elemental beings.
Before long, Xianyu's figure faded into the depths of the forest. Once again, silence reigned, though the signs of elemental disruptions in the environment were a reminder of the recent events.
In hindsight, this mission hadn't been without its gains. At least Xianyu had glimpsed the Spring Fairy's "true" form. While she could change her water-based appearance, the one he saw earlier was likely her default form.
As Xianyu left the Springvale, he unexpectedly crossed paths with Finch. Although the appearance had shifted a bit, Xianyu recognized him. He gave Finch a brief glance, choosing not to interfere, and continued on his way.
Since the Spring Fairy showed no inclination to meet with Finch, Xianyu saw no need to intervene. After all, there would be someone, in due time, to bring this story to a close.
...
Springvale was not far from Mondstadt, and Xianyu continued his journey towards the city before nightfall.
Surrounded by a lively lake, the town exuded vitality, with groups of fish swimming in the clear waters.
For a city with such a large population to have a lake like this was quite a "miracle."
"Make way, make way!"
As Xianyu entered the city gates, he witnessed a commotion and overheard discussions.
"Ugh... These Foolish Fatuus are getting more audacious by the day. Truly annoying!"
"Shh, keep your voice down! If they hear us, it'll be trouble."
"Ever since Lord Varka went on his expedition, these Foolish Fatuus have become more brazen. No one's putting a stop to them, and I wonder what the Knights of Favonius are up to.
"Who doesn't agree with that..."
Xianyu heard many such discussions, and it made him increasingly feel that Mondstadt now seemed a bit "feeble."
While he hadn't noticed it before in the game, seeing and hearing it now, it seemed even more serious.
In Liyue, Foolish Fatuus wouldn't dare to be so loud and arrogant. They'd likely be caught by Ningguang and given a stern "lesson."
This just goes to show the difference in defense strength between Mondstadt and Liyue.
However, Xianyu didn't particularly care about these group of people. He was here to find someone and explore this free-spirited nation. Once his tasks were complete, he could head back to Liyue. The subsequent steps would have to be taken care of there.
He found a restaurant and decided to have a meal first. The food in Mondstadt was quite different from Liyue, with more emphasis on sweets and desserts.
While Xianyu wasn't particularly interested in these sweet treats, it was a rare opportunity, so why not give it a try for a different experience?
"The Suspicious Sweet Madame," a dish renowned in the region, was definitely not to be missed. Perhaps this dish was only famous in Mondstadt and not well-known elsewhere, but for Xianyu, it held some significance.
In the game, it was a cheap item for restoring HP. Not only were the ingredients easy to find, but the cooking method was also straightforward. Of course, Xianyu wouldn't be the one making it.
Now, having the chance to actually taste it, he felt a different kind of sentiment. When it came to food, he could only eat. If he attempted to make it himself, it might end up being as peculiar as something created by Hu Tao.
"Here's your order, enjoy your meal."
"Mmm, thank you!"
The waiter, upon hearing this, retreated to the side. Although it was just a random restaurant, the people coming in and out were dressed quite decently, and the ambiance was pleasant. Therefore, it was relatively peaceful, and the prices were not low.
Xianyu hadn't really considered the price issue because the environment here was indeed nice. It was places like taverns or nightclubs that he found uncomfortable.
As he began to eat, a group of people walked in not long after.
Holding a chicken leg, Xianyu heard the commotion and glanced up, but then he continued with his meal.
The people who entered were familiar to him.
They were the Foolish Fatuus he had seen not long ago. He didn't know why they weren't dining at the Good Hunter restaurant and instead came here, but that was none of his concern.
"Grandpa, grandpa! Look, isn't that big brother the one we saw in the mountains?"
A childish voice echoed through the restaurant, breaking the previous silence.
When Xianyu turned to look, he saw a young boy running toward him. It was none other than John and his grandson, Siya, whom he had met in the mountains not too long ago. It was surprising to encounter them so soon.
In Xianyu's eyes, it hadn't been long at all because time in the Dragonspine mountains had passed like a blur, almost like it was yesterday. However, in reality, it had been nearly half a year.
"Oh, it's you. Are you and your grandpa here for a meal?" Xianyu casually responded to the child in front of him, showing no sign of ignoring them. Instead, he asked in a friendly manner.
It was quite a coincidence, now that he thought about it.
Encountering them shortly after entering Mondstadt, Xianyu couldn't help but wonder if they somehow knew his whereabouts.
"This is our family's restaurant; that's why I'm here," John explained.
"Big brother, can I ask for your name?" the child inquired with innocent curiosity.
Xianyu had no reason to hide his name. He wasn't a criminal, and since they were now at their "family's place," he didn't see any need for secrecy.
"My name is Xianyu," he replied.
"Okay, then I'll call you Brother Yu," the child replied with a cheerful smile.
As they conversed, an elderly man emerged from another room, followed by a middle-aged couple who were most likely Siya's parents.
"Dad, Mom, this is the brother I met with Grandpa last time, the really amazing one I told you about!" Siya proudly introduced Xianyu to his family.
Hearing their son's words, the couple just smiled and then said, "We've heard about what happened in the snowy mountains from Sia and his grandpa."
"Thank you for your help. Consider this meal a small token of our appreciation. If you have the time, we'd like to formally thank you."
Before Xianyu could refuse, John also spoke up, "Yes, please don't refuse, young friend Xianyu. And if you have anything you need help with, we'd be happy to assist."
It seemed like they were genuinely grateful for his help, which put Xianyu in a slightly awkward position.
The incident in the Dragonspine mountains was never something Xianyu paid much attention to, and he didn't consider it as helping the others. That mountain path was a route he had to take, and besides, they had a bit of a guiding gesture, so the snow wolf incident didn't really amount to a favor.
"No need to worry about the Dragonspine mountain incident. That path is a must for me, and there's no need for such gratitude."
Putting down the chicken leg he was eating, Xianyu continued, "However, I came to Mondstadt for something I need to take care of. Do you happen to know a person named Sinbad?"
"Sinbad?"
John was puzzled when he heard the name and didn't understand why Xianyu was looking for him. But then he remembered what he had been doing just before he met Xianyu and quickly put two and two together.
"I do know this person, but finding him might not be easy. He... hasn't shown himself for a long time."
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