Waiting respectfully on the side, the Abyss Mage Big Wise said deferentially, "Your Royal Highness the Abyss Prince, we have discovered Dvalin's tracks. I believe it won't be long before we find it and bring it under the control of the Abyss."
"Good, very well."
Lin Feng suddenly remembered something. He recalled that in the original story, after Dvalin was corrupted into Stormterror, it wreaked havoc across the Mondstadt area and even attacked the main city of Mondstadt.
It was probably this very Abyss Mage Big Wise who had directed all that.
Even if the Traveler didn't come to deal with Stormterror, the Anemo Archon Baratos would eventually step in personally to suppress his old friend.
Therefore, causing destruction in the Mondstadt area was fundamentally a terrible mistake.
"Big Wise, I order you to bring Dvalin back to the Abyss immediately after subduing it. Do not let it wander about casually, and await my further instructions. Remember, absolutely no destruction is to be caused in the Mondstadt area. Understood?"
"Understood." With that, Big Wise whipped out a notepad and pen, jotting down His Royal Highness's instructions word for word.
"What are you doing?" Lin Feng asked, bewildered.
"Since Your Royal Highness bestowed upon me the name Big Wise, you must surely hope that I will grow wiser and wiser in the future. As long as I write down everything Your Royal Highness says, I'm bound to get smarter day by day."
"Uh... I suppose so. Keep it up."
At this, Lin Feng suddenly thought of his younger sister, Lumine.
"Oh, by the way, I have a younger sister. She is also blonde, and her name is Lumine. If you happen to encounter her, you are strictly forbidden to attack her, and you must report back to me immediately."
In Lin Feng's view, since the Abyss had an Abyss Prince, shouldn't there also be a Princess?
He couldn't let his lovely sister work herself to the bone out there for just a few hundred Mora.
She had to come back and live a life of comfort.
***
During the following week, Lin Feng's daily routine consisted of wandering around the City of Mondstadt in the morning to gather information.
In the afternoon, he would pack some new wooden stakes and drinks, heading over to where Noelle practiced to wait for her session to end.
By the fourth day, Noelle even took the initiative to hold Lin Feng's hand as they walked home together.
Over this week, because Lin Feng frequently visited the Cat's Tail Tavern to buy drinks, he actually became friends with Diona.
Together, the two of them frequently complained about people who drank to excess.
Finally, today was the day Noelle was to take her Knight selection exam.
Outside the examination venue:
"Don't be nervous during the exam, and make sure to double-check everything. Also, drink less water—too many trips to the restroom won't do you any good."
Lin Feng nagged continuously, passing on all the test-taking wisdom he had acquired from his past life.
Noelle, however, broke into a smile and teased, "How is it that you seem even more nervous than I am?"
At that, Lin Feng rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Off you go into the exam hall then. I'll wait right here outside until you come out."
"Mhm," Noelle murmured softly.
Just as Noelle reached the entrance of the examination hall, she suddenly jogged back.
Before Lin Feng could figure out what was happening, Noelle stepped right up to him, stood on her tiptoes, and left a kiss on his cheek.
Then, covering her flushed face, she trotted back into the examination hall.
Feeling the lingering warmth and softness on his cheek, Lin Feng couldn't help but shake his head.
You know, actions like this make me feel really guilty!
I'm the villain here, a villain!
With that thought, Lin Feng made up his mind.
Tonight, he would tell Noelle that he was the Abyss Prince and invite her to join the Abyss.
Although Lin Feng was worried about Noelle's exam, he knew she wouldn't pass this time either.
Because Acting Grand Master Jean would still deem Noelle lacking in maturity.
If that was the case, then Noelle would be claimed by his Abyss Order Knights.
As a friend, Lin Feng still hoped Noelle could join the Knights of Favonius—which was why he had been helping her all week—but if she couldn't get in, there was nothing to be done.
And if he couldn't overturn the Heavenly Principles, he would only have nine years left to live in Teyvat.
To that end, Lin Feng also needed Noelle's strength; he needed her to join the Abyss and help him.
***
The exam started in the morning and lasted until evening.
It was divided into a written test and a combat trial.
Lin Feng waited for a very long time before Noelle finally emerged.
"Why did you come out so late? Did something happen?" Lin Feng's gentle voice sounded by Noelle's ear.
The moment Noelle heard Lin Feng's voice, her face turned even redder.
She couldn't help recalling her bold move from that morning.
In fact, after the exam ended, she had lingered inside the examination hall, hesitating over whether to come out.
She was simply too shy and didn't know how to face Lin Feng.
Seeing that Lin Feng didn't mention the morning's incident, however, Noelle's expression eased somewhat.
"N—no, nothing happened," Noelle stammered, looking precisely like a young girl who had done something wrong.
"How did the exam go?" Lin Feng asked with concern.
At that, a trace of confidence appeared on Noelle's face.
"I feel like I performed pretty well."
"That's great. Let's go home, I have something important to tell you."
Hearing this, Noelle paused.
Go home? Something important?
Could he be about to confess his feelings?
Should I, should I agree?
Noelle felt her head spinning slightly, and she instinctively reached out to take Lin Feng's hand.
Eolyn, who had waited for Noelle outside the exam hall for quite a while, had originally planned to walk home with her.
Instead, she ended up witnessing this exact scene.
Eolyn immediately felt sour.
She felt like she had eaten too much dog food and had no appetite for dinner tonight.
"Hmph! How foolish of me to wait for Noelle when she already has a boyfriend."
With that thought, Eolyn stomped away in a huff.
***
Back home that evening, Lin Feng suddenly spoke up.
"I'm sorry, Noelle. I've lied to you."
Noelle didn't quite process it at first, asking, "Lied?"
"Although I do indeed come from a foreign land, my true kingdom is the Abyss."
"Th—the Abyss." Noelle's brain short-circuited on the spot.
As a maid of the Knights of Favonius, she naturally knew what the word "Abyss" represented.
The Abyss Order had always been active in the shadows of Teyvat, and had even driven Hilichurls to attack the City of Mondstadt in the past.
According to the propaganda of the Knights of Favonius, the Abyss Order was a grand villain from start to finish.
Lin Feng continued, "I am His Royal Highness the Abyss Prince. You can think of me as the leader of the Abyss Order.
Perhaps the Abyss was once considered evil, but under my leadership from now on, I guarantee that the Abyss Order will turn over a new leaf and firmly refrain from doing any evil deeds.
You should have seen a letter a few days ago; it detailed what happened in Khaenri'ah, and how Khaenri'ah eventually transformed into the Abyss Order.
It was because of the curse of the Heavenly Principles that the kingdom of Khaenri'ah vanished, with the vast majority of its citizens reduced to Hilichurls, and only a tiny fraction gathering in the depths to become the Abyss Order.
Everything we do is merely to exact revenge upon the Heavenly Principles, and to rescue those Khaenri'ahns who are still suffering.
I formally invite you, Noelle, to join the Abyss Order and become a member of the Abyss Order Knights."