Guchen's current strength and other means were all thanks to the system.
From the very moment he obtained the system, it had been imperceptibly adjusting Guchen's biological essence, evolving him toward a true life form of light.
However, evolution alone was not enough; without strength, it was impossible to move an inch.
Therefore, the system had previously given Guchen some beginner benefits.
There were three moves in total among the beginner benefits:
Leo Kick, Slash Cutter, and Full Moon Wave.
Well, they were all familiar techniques.
Leo Kick excelled in hand-to-hand combat, Slash Cutter consumed very little energy in its ray form and had versatile applications, and Full Moon Wave was exceptionally effective for purification, pacification, and healing.
These three moves basically covered all of Guchen's needs in the early stages.
Thus, upon just entering Mondstadt—this beginner village—and immediately encountering Stormterror, the boss of the beginner village, Guchen acted without the slightest hesitation.
First, he used the Leo Kick to reason with it.
Then, he used the Slash Cutter to make it obedient.
Finally, he used the Full Moon Wave to make it utterly convinced.
After this combo, Stormterror Dvalin had better behave, and Venti would have to thank him when it was all over.
Faced with Paimon and Venti's puzzled and curious gazes, Guchen smiled slightly and put on a mysterious air:
"As for the light, that is my essence.
As for combat prowess, it simply must be there.
As for miraculous means...
Since I've already saved this dragon, why bother worrying about all the rest?"
Hearing this, Venti stopped probing further.
With a bright and breezy smile, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Guchen:
"Well, in any case, you saved Dvalin, and I want to express my most sincere gratitude to you."
Watching a majestic archon thank his partner, the little fellow Paimon felt a sense of reflected glory.
She akimboed and laughed, while also feeling a bit curious:
"Right, may I ask if you are the Anemo Archon?
Since you're the Anemo Archon, what is your relationship with this dragon named Dvalin?
Could it be that it's your familiar or something?"
Since his identity had already been exposed by Dvalin, Venti saw no need to keep hiding it.
Faced with Paimon's inquiry, Venti gave a breezy smile, began to pluck the lyre in his hands, and recounted Dvalin's past through a song.
There is no need to dwell on the content.
It was simply that Dvalin had once devoured Durin's toxic blood, and after sleeping for many years, upon awakening, he was poisoned by the venom. Coupled with the bewitchment of an Abyss Mage, his sanity was damaged and he began to go mad, triggering the dragon calamity all over Mondstadt.
Guchen was already very familiar with this story, so he offered no extra commentary.
Paimon, on the other hand, listened with great relish, and after the song finished, she shared her thoughts:
"So that's how it is! Your familiar was actually tricked by bad guys."
After finishing his tune, Venti put on a helpless and weak act:
"Ah yes, thanks to this traveler stepping forward to help me save Dvalin.
Otherwise, I truly would have been at my wit's end—where on earth would I have gone to find a hero capable of saving Dvalin?"
Guchen's mouth twitched.
At your wit's end? Who are you trying to kid?
Just how deeply you're hiding probably only Zhongli knows.
You're completely addicted to playing weak, pitiful, and helpless all the time—what a shameless face.
Yet Venti's utterly shameless performance actually fooled Paimon, who asked with some doubt:
"My lord Anemo Archon, if it weren't for Guchen, could you really not have saved your own dragon?
You're clearly a god..."
Venti waved his hand with a casual expression:
"Oh, what's with 'lord Anemo Archon'?
My name in the mortal world is Venti, and my identity is that of a bard. You can just call me Venti.
Little one, I won't hide it from you—while I certainly am an archon, having slept for so many years, my power has long since faded to almost nothing. How could I possibly have the ability to save Dvalin..."
Guchen's inner disdain was almost impossible to hold back.
Keep making things up, go right ahead, I certainly don't believe a word of it.
Paimon, however, believed it.
Looking at Venti with a trace of heartache, Paimon even showed concern for him:
"Is that how it is? What a pity...
Oh, right! We haven't introduced ourselves yet!
His name is Guchen, a traveler from another world.
My name is Paimon, Guchen's best partner and guide!"
Looking at Guchen, Venti's eyes lit up clearly:
"So you're a traveler, how marvelous..."
Guchen raised an eyebrow:
"You don't need to call me a traveler either. Somehow that title feels a bit awkward; just call me Guchen directly."
Venti smiled slightly:
"Alright, Guchen.
Um... may I ask... what are your plans for the immediate future?"
"Plans..."
Guchen was indeed caught a bit off guard:
"I never expected to clear the beginner main storyline right off the bat, so I really don't have any plans for the next steps.
My current thought is to head to Mondstadt first; at the very least, I need a place to stay tonight.
After that, my next destination should probably be Liyue.
To be honest with you, my hometown is very similar to Liyue, and that place makes me feel warm and secure."
Hearing this, Venti felt a bit anxious, but he still didn't want to show that urgency:
"Um... Guchen, why rush things so much? Wouldn't it be nice to travel and stay in Mondstadt for a while?
I am the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt, and there is no one who understands Mondstadt better than I do. I can be your tour guide!
Oh, that's right! You helped me save Dvalin, and I am endlessly grateful. I must express my thanks properly.
How about I treat you to a drink at Angel's Share, the most famous tavern in Mondstadt? I'll definitely treat you well!"
Hearing this, Guchen looked as if he had just heard some earth-shattering joke, his face full of disbelief.
What did you say? You're going to treat me to a drink?
Did the sun rise from the west today?
Didn't they say three archons can't scrape together a single Mora? Where on earth would you get the money to treat me? Most of the time you drink on tab!
Something's wrong! Nine chances out of ten, there's something fishy going on!
When someone is overly courteous for no reason, they're either up to no good or outright stealing!
Watching Venti with guarded vigilance, Guchen bluntly pointed it out:
"Venti, if you have something to say, just spit it out. Stop beating around the bush."
Sure enough, Venti was cornered.
He looked at Guchen, first struggling, then looking somewhat broken, and finally looking resigned as if he had let go of something.
Very soon, Guchen found out what Venti had let go of.
It was something both precious and worthless called integrity.
With his integrity tossed aside, Venti lunged forward without hesitation, clamped onto Guchen's thigh, and began to wail and beg without missing a beat:
"Big Boss! Save me!
Since you've already saved my dragon, could you please save my wolf along the way?! My wolf is in bad shape too!"
Looking with utter disgust at the Venti clinging to his thigh, Guchen wanted to kick him away but felt a bit embarrassed to do so, while also being extremely puzzled:
"Your wolf?
Andrius, the Lupus Boreas?!
What happened to it? Could it be that it was also struck by Abyssal Erosion?"
Venti didn't say a word; he just held onto Guchen's thigh and nodded, while apparently wiping his tears on Guchen's trouser leg.
Seeing this scene nearby, Paimon found it simply too painful to watch.
At that moment, Paimon forgot all about the Lupus Boreas and Andrius; she pointed straight at Venti and screamed in a breakdown:
"You guy! Is there even a shred of an Anemo Archon left in you?!"