After listening to Venti's explanation, Qiu Bai felt overwhelmed by the flood of information.
"System."
"Display host panel,"
Qiu Bai commanded inwardly.
Ding!
Name: Qiu Bai / Qui Xue
Identity: Manifestation of Teyvat's Yin and Yang energies, Archon of Yin and Yang, Archon Meleaus, God of Balance, Immortal Lord of Yin and Yang, Immortal Lord, Ruler of Yin and Yang (Fragmented)
Current Gender: Male
Divine Power Level: Initial Top-Tier Archon
Items: Heart of the God of Yin and Yang, Yin-Yang Chaos Sword
"What even is this 'Ruler of Yin and Yang' title?"
Qiu Bai's mouth twitched at the sight of it—especially the "fragmented" part in parentheses.
Ding!
Explanation: "The Ruler of Yin and Yang is one of Teyvat's native sovereigns!"
"If not for the breath of creation, the host wouldn't have come into existence. That's why the host doesn't exist in the original timeline."
The system patiently clarified Qiu Bai's confusion.
"So that's it..."
Qiu Bai rubbed his chin, finally understanding.
So the "status" the system had mentioned earlier referred to his ranking among rulers.
As far as he knew, Teyvat had four Sovereigns: the Ruler of Space, the Ruler of Time, and the Ruler of Life and Death.
Looks like his status was actually pretty high.
System: ...
(Actually, your status goes even higher than that... but judging from how smug you look right now, let's just keep that to ourselves for now.)
"This world... is getting more and more interesting."
"There are so many unanswered mysteries."
Qiu Bai sighed with a sense of wonder.
"Thanks, Venti."
"For telling me all of this."
Qiu Bai looked at Venti and expressed his gratitude.
"No need to thank me. The old man was bound by a contract,"
"He had his reasons for keeping it from you."
Venti nodded with a smile.
"Well, since that's all settled, how about we go have a drink?"
"I've been craving some good wine."
Venti smiled at Qiu Bai.
"You just finished drinking and you're already at it again?"
"You really are a hopeless drunk."
Qiu Bai gave Venti a speechless look.
But right at that moment, Venti's expression changed. His brows furrowed, and he looked toward a distant mountain.
Qiu Bai followed his gaze.
In the distance, he saw a small boy pressing on the chest of an adult man. The boy looked like he was crying.
Qiu Bai gave Venti a nod, and Venti gripped the edge of Qiu Bai's sleeve.
In the blink of an eye, they vanished from where they stood...
They reappeared on the mountain, walking slowly toward the boy.
"Your names are... Joel and Joserf, right?"
Venti asked softly, looking at the crying child.
The boy wiped his tears and gently patted the man's face on the ground.
The man, dressed in Mondstadt garb, lay still—unbreathing.
"H-How do you know our names...?"
The boy, Joel, froze for a moment, then turned to look at the two approaching strangers.
"The wind remembers everyone in Mondstadt."
Venti smiled gently at the boy.
"Please... help my dad!"
"He suddenly stopped moving! He said he was going to take me to pick Windwheel Asters!"
The boy burst into sobs, snot and tears running down his face as he looked helplessly at the two of them.
"Don't cry, little one."
"Your dad just fell asleep."
Qiu Bai smiled, gently patting Joel's head. He walked over and crouched beside Joserf.
Slowly, he reached out his hand toward the man's chest.
A soft, white divine glow began to radiate from Qiu Bai's palm. Even Joel, still mid-sob, felt the warmth wash over him.
"What is that...?"
Venti frowned slightly, surprised by the divine energy Qiu Bai was channeling.
After a short while, Joserf slowly opened his eyes.
He sat up groggily, rubbing his head.
"Joel...? I thought I was picking Windwheel Asters with you...?"
"How did I end up asleep on the ground?"
Joserf looked around in confusion, then turned to his son.
"Dad!"
Joel didn't answer—he just threw himself into his father's arms.
"See? I told you, your father was only asleep."
"No need to worry."
Qiu Bai smiled softly at the sight.
"Sir, you should cut down on the late nights."
"Try to get more rest."
He looked at the dazed Joserf and chuckled.
"I understand. Thank you, kind sir!"
"Must've been from overwork—I blacked out. I'm sorry I scared you, Joel."
Joserf slowly propped himself up and thanked Qiu Bai, then ruffled his son's hair.
"Well then, we'll take our leave."
"May the Wind God... deceive you."
Qiu Bai said with a grin, patting his chest and mimicking Barbara's tone and gesture.
Venti, standing nearby, twitched at the phrase.
"May the Wind God bless you,"
Joserf said earnestly, placing a hand over his chest.
And with that, they went their separate ways...
...
"Hey, Qiu Bai."
"That Joserf just now... was he actually dead?"
As they walked, Venti rubbed his chin and asked, increasingly suspicious.
He had been about to manifest as Barbatos and return Joserf's soul to Mondstadt.
"He was, yeah."
"But I brought him back."
Qiu Bai smiled calmly as he replied.
"Brought him back?!"
Venti stared at him, stunned.
And then, a figure flashed through his mind—one that looked just like Qiu Bai, yet somehow... wasn't.
Back then, Mondstadt had been encircled by howling hurricanes, so fierce even birds couldn't fly through.
The winds ground stone and soil into fine dust.
Atop the high tower stood the "God of Tornadoes," Decarabian.
He looked down at the people who bowed endlessly beneath the winds, mistaking their submission for loyalty.
Back then, Venti had been nothing more than a tiny elemental wisp in the thousand winds of the north—
a mere speck of wind spirit with the faint power to bring change and hope.
In Old Mondstadt, he had met a young boy—
a boy who played the lyre and longed to write beautiful poetry.
"I want to see birds soar."
Born within the wind barrier, the boy had never seen the blue sky, falcons, or green fields.
His voice was almost swallowed by the roaring gales.
That was when he saw Venti, still just a spirit.
The boy slowly picked up his lyre and played a gentle melody, drawing the wind spirit to him.
"Friend, will you come with me?"
The boy lowered his lyre and looked at the wind spirit with a smile.