After listening to Venti explanation, Qiu Bai felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of new information.
"System!"
"Display my status panel."
Qiu Bai commanded the system within his mind.
[Ding!]
[Name: Qiu Bai / Qiu Xue]
[Identity: Manifestation of Teyvat's Yin-Yang Energies, Yin-Yang God, God Morcius, God of Balance, Yin-Yang Immortal Lord, Immortal Lord, Yin-Yang Sovereign (Fragmented)]
[Current Gender: Male]
[Divine Power Level: Initial Peak God]
[Items: Yin-Yang Gnosis, Yin-Yang Chaos Sword]
"Yin-Yang Sovereign? What kind of identity is that?"
Seeing this title, Qiu Bai lips twitched.
And why was there a "(Fragmented)" next to it?
[Ding!]
[Answering the host: The Yin-Yang Sovereign is one of Teyvat's natural rulers!]
[Without the energy of creation, the host would never have been born. That is why, in the original storyline, you did not exist!]
The system explained, sensing Qiu Bai confusion.
"I see…"
Qiu Bai stroked his chin, finally understanding.
So that's what the system meant by his existence ranking above the Seven it was because he was one of Teyvat's Sovereigns.
To his knowledge, there were four ruling existences in Teyvat:
Sovereign of Space
Sovereign of Time
Sovereign of Life and Death
And now, he himself was apparently on the same level.
(System: …Actually, your existence is even beyond that, but seeing how pleased you look, I'll keep that to myself for now.) (T/N: Well even I can see where this going lmao, Qiu Bai you clueless old baby GAHAHAHAHA)
"Things just keep getting more interesting."
"There are far too many mysteries in this world."
Qiu Bai mused to himself.
"Thank you, Venti."
"For telling me all of this."
Qiu Bai looked at Venti with genuine gratitude.
"No need to thank me."
"The old man is bound by a contract."
"He has his own burdens to bear, which is why he couldn't tell you."
Venti smiled, nodding slightly.
"Now that everything is settled, why don't we go have a drink?"
"I'm starting to miss the taste of fine wine!"
Venti grinned at Qiu Bai, eyes twinkling with anticipation.
"Didn't you just finish drinking?"
"You're such a hopeless drunk."
Qiu Bai looked at Venti with an exasperated expression.
Just then, Venti brows suddenly furrowed as he turned his gaze toward the distant mountains.
Seeing this, Qiu Bai also shifted his focus in the same direction.
His eyes narrowed as he spotted a young boy pressing down on a man chest, the boy was crying.
Qiu Bai gave Venti a nod, and Venti grabbed onto Qiu Bai sleeve.
In an instant, they vanished from their spot.
Upon reaching the distant mountains, the two of them slowly approached the boy.
"Your name is Euen, and your father's name is Eugula, correct?"
Venti softly asked the weeping boy.
The boy wiped his tears while frantically patting the unconscious man face.
The man, dressed in Mondstadt attire, lay on the ground, unmoving his breathing had stopped.
"How… how do you know my name? And my dad?"
The boy, Euen, was startled. He turned his teary gaze toward the two approaching figures.
"The wind remembers everyone in Mondstadt."
Venti responded with a gentle smile.
"Can you… can you save my dad?"
"He suddenly stopped moving! He promised to take me to find Windwheel Asters!"
The boy sobbed loudly, tears and snot running down his face as he looked up at Qiu Bai and Venti in desperation.
"Don't cry, little one."
"Your father is only asleep."
Qiu Bai reassured the boy with a warm smile, gently ruffling his hair.
Then, he stepped forward, crouched beside the man, and slowly reached out his hand.
As his palm neared Eugula, a soft, white divine energy began to flow from his fingertips.
Even the still-crying child felt a soothing warmth from this power.
"This is…?"
Venti brows furrowed in surprise as he watched Qiu Bai channel his divine energy.
After a brief moment, the man stirred.
His eyelids fluttered before slowly opening.
Sitting up, he groggily rubbed his head, a confused expression on his face.
"Euen…? I thought we were picking Windwheel Asters together?"
"Why am I suddenly lying on the ground?"
Eugula looked around in a daze before turning to his son.
"Dad!"
Instead of answering, the boy threw himself into his father arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
"See? I told you—your father was just asleep."
Qiu Bai chuckled, rubbing his nose as he observed the heartwarming scene.
"Sir, please try not to stay up too late from now on."
"Make sure to get more rest."
Qiu Bai chuckled as he looked at the still-dazed Eugula.
"I understand. Thank you, sir!"
"I must have been too exhausted and suddenly blacked out… I'm sorry for making you worry, Euen."
Eugula slowly pushed himself up despite his lingering weakness. He expressed his gratitude to Qiu Bai before gently ruffling his son hair.
"Well then, we'll be on our way."
"May the Anemo Archon swindle— I mean, bless you." (T/N: probably already did lol)
Qiu Bai placed his hand over his chest, mimicking Barbara tone and gestures as he addressed the father and son.
Venti, standing beside him, twitched at Qiu Bai words.
"May the Anemo Archon bless you."
Eugula, placing a hand over his own chest, sincerely responded before they parted ways.
As they walked, Venti's expression turned more thoughtful.
"Hey, Qiu Bai."
"That guy, Eugula he was actually dead, wasn't he?"
The more Venti thought about it, the more something felt off. He rubbed his chin in contemplation before glancing at Qiu Bai with curiosity.
He had been about to take on his true form as Barbatos to return Eugula soul to Mondstadt's land.
"Yeah, he was dead."
"But I revived him."
Qiu Bai smiled slightly as he answered.
"Revived?!"
Venti eyes widened in shock.
And in that moment, a memory surged into his mind a familiar yet distant figure.
A figure that looked exactly like him, yet… was not him.
Back then, the city of Mondstadt was imprisoned by violent tempests. Even birds could not fly past its towering wind walls.
The wind never ceased, grinding the land and stone of the city into dust as fine as water.
Atop the high towers, the King of Storms, Decarabian, the Archon of Tornadoes, gazed down at the subjects who bowed before his relentless gales.
He believed their submission was proof of their loyalty, and this thought satisfied him.
In those ancient days, he was merely a tiny wisp of elemental wind, roaming the northern lands.
A mere breeze, capable only of bringing faint whispers of change and hope.
Within the walls of Old Mondstadt, he met a young boy.
A boy who played the lyre and yearned to compose the greatest poem.
"I want to see birds soaring in the sky."
Born within the wind-walled city, the boy had never seen the blue sky, the hawks, or the lush green fields beyond the storm.
His voice was nearly drowned out by the howling winds.
It was then that the boy noticed the tiny wind spirit floating nearby.
Slowly, he raised his lyre and began to strum.
The melody drew the wind spirit closer.
"Friend, won't you come with me?"
Lowering his lyre, the boy smiled as he looked at the wind spirit—the being that would one day become Venti.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)