"Your Highness, you've arrived?"
From the wide-open restaurant doors emerged a shrewd-looking middle-aged man of average build. He greeted Xue Qinghe respectfully and ushered the group Inside.
"What would Your Highness like to eat today?"
Soon, the group was seated in a luxurious private room. After pouring tea for each of them, the man bowed and asked with a smile.
"Manager Mu, bring out every one of your signature dishes. I brought my friends here today especially to try your cooking—don't disappoint me."
Xue Qinghe thought for a moment. Since this was the first time he was treating Aether and his companions to a meal, it had to be a grand one.
"Understood. I'll personally see to it. If you or your guests need anything else, just let the attendant at the door know."
Manager Mu nodded and exited the room, gently closing the door behind him.
"Qinghe, ordering everything like that—it must be really expensive, right?"
Once Manager Mu had left, Paimon flew over to Xue Qinghe's side and whispered.
"No worries. Eat as much as you want, it's fine."
Xue Qinghe waved his hand confidently. It was just one meal—how much could such a tiny creature like Paimon possibly eat?
"Hehe! Yay!"
Paimon instantly perked up, clearly delighted to have run into such a generous host.
"By the way, Paimon, since we're free now, could you tell me more about your journey?"
"Eh? Sure!"
With nothing better to do, Paimon suddenly pulled out a pair of tiny glasses from who-knows-where and perched them on her face, adopting a serious, teacher-like pose.
Xue Qinghe and Yu Keke, curious about the duo's journey, left their seats and huddled around her, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Hmm… where should I begin? Let me think… I guess I'll start with Windrise…"
Paimon began to recount their adventures in a calm, storytelling tone.
"At the time, Mondstadt was under the rule of the tyrannical Lord of the Tower. The people had all lost their freedom…
Then, the Anemo Archon Barbatos stepped forward. He led the people of Mondstadt in overthrowing the cruel rule of the old aristocracy, and granted freedom to all of Mondstadt's citizens…
After that, to honor Barbatos, the people of Mondstadt built an enormous statue of him in the city—one that looked exactly like him."
Anemo Archon Barbatos…
Xue Qinghe murmured under his breath, his gaze slowly drifting toward Aether, who was still silently sipping his tea.
Why did this story sound so familiar?
It was almost exactly what he had done at the auction house.
The more he thought about it, the more unsettling the resemblance became.
Both had stepped in to help the common people, both had dismantled oppressive systems in pursuit of justice and freedom.
Only, in Paimon's story, Barbatos had led an entire nation's people, while he had merely freed a group of slaves.
Could it be… that he was the Barbatos Paimon spoke of? That the nation she mentioned had already been liberated under his guidance, and now he was traveling with Paimon to aid others in need…
Xue Qinghe felt like he had stumbled upon something incredible. He quickly covered his mouth, afraid he might blurt something out and spoil the secret.
If that were true, then Aether hiding his identity must have its reasons.
He shouldn't pry.
"Wow… Lord Barbatos is just like big brother—helping the people…"
Yu Keke, however, didn't think that deeply. Concepts like soul power, deities, and such weren't clearly defined in her little head.
She only knew that this Barbatos, just like her big brother, was someone who helped the poor and oppressed.
"What happened next?"
Xue Qinghe quickly refilled Paimon's empty teacup and eagerly leaned in.
"Hmph! Next is about a really big guy—huge and ferocious…"
Paimon gestured dramatically with her tiny hands. Xue Qinghe listened intently while Yu Keke shrank back a little, scared by the mention of something "ferocious."
"He wasn't always bad. In fact, he was one of the Four Winds that protected Mondstadt. But then he was corrupted by the Abyss, poisoned by its power, and his personality completely changed…"
"Later, after an intense battle, we managed to subdue him with the help of the Anemo Archon. Then the Traveler drew out the poisonous Abyssal energy from his body…"
"After that, Dvalin returned to normal and now silently protects Mondstadt from the shadows…"
Dvalin?
Was that some kind of soul beast?
Could it be that in other nations, soul beasts actually coexist peacefully with gods? And not only that—they even willingly become their companions?
Xue Qinghe pondered as he listened. Then, suddenly struck by a thought, he asked:
"Wait, Paimon. That Abyssal poison that corrupted Dvalin—if the Traveler absorbed it, wouldn't it harm him too?"
His tone was tense.
In his mind, the Traveler and Barbatos were actually the same person. Paimon must have deliberately described them as two separate individuals under Aether's instruction.
Otherwise, why would a divine beast like Dvalin allow a mere mortal to touch him?
"The Traveler's totally fine! That poison has no effect on him at all. He's super strong!"
Paimon puffed out her chest proudly. After all, if the Traveler was strong, that meant she was strong too!
"Wow… big brother's amazing…"
Yu Keke stole a glance at the daydreaming Aether, admiration glowing in her eyes.
…
The Abyssal power that could corrupt a god's companion—a divine soul beast—yet had no effect on him?
Didn't that only further prove he was the Anemo Archon?
Xue Qinghe's heart burned with confirmation.
Now, he only had one lingering question: who exactly was this seemingly innocent little companion of the Traveler—Paimon?
Her cute and harmless demeanor couldn't possibly be her real face… right?
"Hmm? This guest is…?"
Suddenly, a confused voice echoed from beyond the door, drawing everyone's attention.
Creak. The private room's door swung open, and Manager Mu poked his head in, asking with a puzzled look:
"Your Highness, is this esteemed Poison Douluo also a guest of yours?"
Anyone who could rise to a managerial position within a Spirit Hall-affiliated business had to be extraordinarily shrewd.
They'd studied every notable figure in Heaven Dou City.
The man now standing outside the door was none other than the titled Poison Douluo—Dugu Bo!
"…" Xue Qinghe was dumbfounded.
"…" Dugu Bo looked conflicted, as if he had something to say but didn't know how.
"…Old man, come in. Let's talk."
At last, Aether—who had been quietly listening to Paimon's stories this whole time—finally spoke.
Through his Elemental Sight, he saw that the blue glow that had hovered over Yu Keke's head had now vanished.
Instead, it now hovered above the head of the man who had just arrived.
What the hell?
In all his time doing grunt work in Teyvat, this was the first time he'd seen a commission chasing after him…
_
Please support my patreon, patreon. com/TravelerDouluo
And get early access to my 30 advance chapters.