The Little God of Evil Knows the Score / Barbatos Has a Worthy Successor

Wendy patted Diluc on the shoulder before leaving.

Then he put his arm around Qin's shoulder, leaned closer, and said seriously:

"I know you might be worried. I did have something important to discuss with the Geo Archon this time. But don't worry, Mondstadt will be fine. While I'm away, Dvalin and Andrius will be watching over Mondstadt... Don't let Andrius's appearance fool you; if he wanted, he could still transform into a complete Demon God and roam the lands of Mondstadt for a while. So don't worry about Mondstadt's safety. Just live your lives well and pursue the freedom you desire."

Then Wendy left, disappearing into the wind along with the remaining gift boxes.

Inside the mansion, the two holding the gift box remained silent for a long time, still digesting the glory bestowed by the God of Wind and immersed in the God of Wind's greatness and gentleness.

After a long while, Diluc solemnly placed the gift box he was holding on the main table and said:

"No wonder your behavior has changed so much lately, so that's how it is. So, when did you meet Baba... the musician?"

Regarding the title of God of Wind), Diluc readily complied.

Qin shook her head and smiled, "That's an interesting and memorable story."

The priest and the knight in charge of prayer accidentally witness a mythical scene of the God of Wind playing music and the Dragon of the East Wind dancing. This is followed by an unexpected leak of information, a collective apology, and finally, encouraged by the God of Wind and accompanied by music, they return to Mondstadt.

Trusting Diluc's abilities and character, Jean also recounted the God of Wind's assessment of the Seven Nations.

Diluc frowned deeply after hearing this:

"Are nations in such turmoil these days? Mondstadt may not be able to remain unaffected; his current predicament appears to be just the beginning."

"I later guessed that the Musician might have awakened for this very reason. To protect Mondstadt with the gentlest winds, just as he always has, when the storms of the six kingdoms come. What great compassion! Praise be to Anemo God Barbatos, the wind god! Praise be to the Musician!"

Qin couldn't help but pray.

Diluc fell silent. He had always felt that Mondstadt was in serious trouble. But now it seemed that it wasn't just Mondstadt, but the entire Teyvat was in turmoil, and Mondstadt's problems were actually the least serious.

Then, he spontaneously began to pray and praise. He gave thanks for the protection of the God of Wind in his heart and decided to increase the activities of the Darknight Hero in the future, and do more for Mondstadt and the God of Wind.

Wendy sniffed her fingertips in the air, reminiscing about the feeling of her hair brushing against the back of her hand as she moved away from the piano.

"Sigh, we're still not close enough. I really want to be closer..."

The saying goes, "It's not scarcity that's worrisome, but inequality."

It would be fine if everyone were all alone, but now the other two can easily stick things on themselves, while she can't, which is really upsetting.

"No, no, Wendy, you have to pull yourself together. They've become obsessed with women and have stopped striving for anything. Only I can shoulder this responsibility now. Sooner or later, I'll be the one who stands the most upright!"

Wendy cheered herself up.

And so they drifted all the way into Liyue.

Since Zhongli was in Liyue Harbor, Wendy simply landed on the summit of Mt. Tianheng nearby. Then she boiled the spring water that Thousand Winds had sent and set out the tea set. Her powerful Anemo Elemental Power was not concealed, and even the immortals in places like Jueyunjian and Dihua Marsh couldn't help but look up and pay attention, so it naturally couldn't escape the Geo Archon's perception.

Zhongli quickly reached the mountaintop, arrived at the tea table prepared by Wendy, and sat down.

Wendy respectfully pushed the tea over.

"Grandpa Geo Archon, please~~"

"Old man?"

Zhongli was surprised, looking at the vibrant and beautiful newborn Demon God opposite him, and felt a little amused.

Could the title "Old Master" be a tradition passed down within your God of Wind lineage?

However, since Wendy was being so polite and using such a form of address, Zhongli unconsciously shifted to the position of an elder. Looking into Wendy's eyes, he softened considerably.

"Hmm, the fragrance wafts far, good tea."

"Of course. I searched for a long time in the deep mountains and forests for precious materials, and spent a lot of money to buy them from the Dawn Winery in Mondstadt."

"You've gone to so much trouble. We've been friends with Liyue and Mondstadt for a thousand years, and Barbatos and I are old acquaintances. You don't need to be so polite."

Zhongli's expression softened further.

This little Demon God is quite sensible. Zhongli was never stingy with his help, and seeing such impeccable manners, he was even more determined that if the little girl really needed any assistance later, he would do his best to help her.

Wendy smiled sweetly, then, being even more tactful, handed over a gift box.

"This is a small gift; I apologize for the intrusion, sir."

"You're too kind. So, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Well, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. To be frank, the Abyss Order has been making moves in Mondstadt recently. All signs indicate they're planning to target Dvalin. The Geo Archon also knows that Dvalin swallowed the venomous blood of the evil dragon during the Battle of Durin and has suffered torment for five hundred years. I sensed something was wrong, and after discussing it with Dvalin, I asked him to find another place to stay, thus halting the Abyss Order's actions. But..."

"However, the Abyss Order should not be underestimated. They will not give up easily if their goal is not achieved, and they may be brewing an even bigger conspiracy. I understand. The threat of the Abyss is not a matter for one country or one god. If you need anything, please tell me, and I will do my best to help you."

Zhongli's eyes narrowed instantly, revealing the imposing and unyielding demeanor of a martial god.

When Barbatos first came to Morax's door, Morax thought he was there to ask for help, but he turned out to be there for drinks, leaving Morax bewildered for a long time. Now, the second-generation God of Wind has come to his door for the first time, Zhongli was prepared to just chat and drink, but he didn't expect there to be something serious, so he immediately became completely serious.

Wendy the chick nodded, pecking at the rice.

"That's how it is. I'm still secretly monitoring the Abyss Order's movements, but Barbatos is still asleep. As a fellow Lord of the Thousand Winds, I can't find any trace of Him either. As for myself, I really have no experience and I'm not confident at all. I hope that if things change, you can kindly help me out... I'll ask Barbatos to repay you in the future!"

Wendy looked at Zhongli pitifully, with the pitiful look of someone young and helpless who couldn't find his parents and had no choice but to ask Uncle Wang next door for help.

Zhongli couldn't help but laugh, feeling a sense of déjà vu as if she were seeing Ganyu as a child.

"There's no need for that. We're all allies, and this matter concerns the Abyss; naturally, we should join hands. Besides, I can sense the surging Anemo Element within you; even among the Seven Archons, it's not weak. There's no need to be so self-deprecating."

"That's true, and I also feel that Dvalin and Andrius probably can't beat me. But that's the Abyss; anyone would tremble in fear. And Barbatos refuses to wake up, so I'm the only one holding the line. It would be strange if I wasn't worried."

"Barbatos... I'm afraid his days are numbered, and he may not be of much help anymore. You can understand that, can't you, the significance of your birth at this time?"

Zhongli said, unable to hide his melancholy.

Another old friend is about to depart. As time marches on, will he, like this stubborn rock, ultimately remain until the very end, weathering a thousand years of wind and rain?

Wendy didn't reply, but silently poured tea for Zhongli. "Barbatos, I haven't said anything bad about you. When all the Demon God in the world are spreading rumors that your death is imminent, don't blame me."

Chapter 51 Barbatos Has a Good Heir

"The World Tree?"

Zhongli's impeccable manners and the benefit of being a Wendy made their conversation very harmonious. He unknowingly answered many of Wendy's questions and eventually brought up this rather sensitive word.

Wendy rested her chin on her hand, while refilling Zhongli's teacup with the other, her posture relaxed and unhurried. She spoke in a casual tone, as if the conversation had just begun:

"Isn't the God of Sumeru specifically in charge of this one? However, what I saw of Sumeru and the Grass God was truly... sigh! It's hard to describe. I wonder if it will have any impact."

To be honest, the blood pressure stimulation level of Sumeru National Condition is not much better than that of Inazuma.

However, Anqi has not yet truly set foot in Sumeru. Unlike in Inazuma, she first promised Miss Chio, who lent her body, to save Inazuma, and then witnessed the village elders being burned to death even before they could wait to die. A series of personal experiences directly ignited her emotions.

However, Anqi must now be thankful that she didn't rashly activate Sumeru.

If they had acted rashly before, and unknowingly caused any significant impact on the World Tree —while the Heavenly Principles might still be fighting against Honkai Energy, there's no guarantee that some kind of Heavenly Principles Principle Shadow or Nth Throne wouldn't come and fight Anqi to the death.

Working yourself to the bone is bad!

No, no, do whatever you want!

Anqi is a kind-hearted person who dislikes conflict. As the ultimate boss of the underworld, only tangible benefits matter.

"This..."

Seeing Wendy scratching her head, looking somewhat bewildered but not overly concerned, Zhongli couldn't help but gaze towards the direction of Sumeru.

The young Demon God was "ignorant and ignorant," unaware of the seriousness of the situation.

Zhongli is different. As the oldest god in the mortal world, he knows that the World Tree is related to the history and knowledge of the mortal world, and it is also the place where the Ley Line converge. If there is any problem, it will affect the whole world.

To some extent, governing Sumeru was the grass god's second task; maintaining the World Tree was his primary task.

Zhongli knew that Wendy was the Goddess of Thousand Winds and, like Barbatos, was well-informed, so he asked:

What is the current situation of Sumeru?

"Well, the most outrageous thing is that the Grass God has been imprisoned by the Genshin Academy, and there's been no resistance. It seems like it hasn't set foot in the mortal world for five hundred years. Now, Sumeru only knows about the King Deshret and the Genshin Academy, but not about the Grass God. As for Sumeru itself, it's a mess. There's the irreconcilable conflict between the desert and the rainforest, the spread of the Death Domain and the Demon Scale Disease, the clandestine circulation of Forbidden Knowledge, and the Tree King's retinue is scattered and disorganized... It's like it could explode at any moment."

Wendy shared what she had seen, then spread her hands, looking completely bewildered as to what the Grass God and Sumeru were up to.

"It's gotten to this point?"

Zhongli was startled upon hearing this.

Each of the Seven Archons has its own territory and rarely interferes in other countries.

Zhongli knew a general idea of Sumeru's movements from rumors circulating among the people of Liyue, but there was absolutely nothing like what Wendy had said. At most, the Grass God had gone into seclusion, and the Genshin Academy the Seven Kingdoms was ruling on his behalf. This situation wasn't uncommon among the Seven Nations, and Zhongli, as a god of another country, had no right to criticize it.

Then Zhongli realized that the people who interacted most between Sumeru and Liyue were merchants and lower-level scholars, so they naturally couldn't possibly know this deeper information. It was even questionable whether the Genshin Academy could have such a comprehensive understanding of the situation in Sumeru.

'Voluntary imprisonment? And after five hundred years without hearing from the Grass God, will His faith still be enough to maintain His divine power and protect the World Tree?'

Zhongli gradually frowned.

Zhongli has no right to interfere with other countries' regimes.

But the World Tree is something all Seven Archons must take note of.

"It's a dilemma. I can't rest easy if I don't go, since if anything happens to Sumeru or the World Tree, Liyue will be the first to suffer. But directly entering Sumeru would be too aggressive, going against the principles of the Seven Archons' rule. What should I do?"

Zhongli subconsciously took a sip of tea, then shifted his gaze to the opposite side, where he saw the young Demon God gazing at Liyue Harbor with eyes full of curiosity and vitality.

Suddenly, everything became clear.

"The World Tree is crucial to the survival of Teyvat, and even the Seven Archons are affected by it. It is of utmost importance. Lord of the Thousand Winds... Do you have a name?"

"Beiana, the Goddess of War Beiana! Of course, in this form, I prefer you call me Wendy."

Wendy flashed a peace sign and a bright smile.

Zhongli raised an eyebrow.

Why the God of War?

"Because freedom doesn't come from nowhere. There are constraints in the world that don't suit our desires, and to gain freedom, we need to fight. Just as the freedom that Barbatos granted to the people of Mondstadt was obtained through struggle against a tyrant. Freedom is gained through struggle, while freedom is lost through compromise. Therefore, I want to say no to all constraints that hinder the freedom of Mondstadt. That's what I think."

Wendy crossed her arms, then puffed out her proud, imposing chest, radiating confidence.

Zhongli was speechless for a moment, then revealed a look of relief and envy.

"Barbatos chose to grant freedom, while you chose to defend it. Therefore, Barbatos is the god of freedom, and you are the god of war. So be it."

Each of the Seven Archons represents an element, so their powers are indeed inherited, but their philosophies are not.

For example, the King Deshret of yesteryear governed Sumeru with the wisdom of benevolence and tolerance, while the Little Grass God seemed to be living in seclusion. For example, the Electro Archon God of five hundred years ago cared for his people and ruled with benevolence, while the Electro Archon of today has chosen eternity.

Therefore, the god of Mondstadt is always the God of Wind, but not necessarily the god of freedom.

Wendy's chosen philosophy is not entirely the same as Barbatos', but it is an inheritance and renewal of the idea of freedom.

Zhongli himself hopes that the next successor will agree with his vision and path for Liyue, but not to copy him, but to inherit and even surpass him on his own foundation.

"Excellent. At least in terms of successors, Barbatos possesses a fortune that even the Seven Archons should envy. Let's raise a toast!"

Zhongli drank the tea in his cup. Afterward, his gaze towards Wendy softened, becoming more appreciative.

Wendy scratched her face shyly, seemingly a little embarrassed by the compliment.

Zhongli smiled faintly, then said:

"If that's the case, as the God of Wind who has not yet succeeded to the throne, would you be interested in making a trip to Sumeru, Wendy?"

"Ah?"

Wendy was genuinely taken aback for a moment. Then she looked utterly astonished.

"Sumeru? Why? I didn't plan on that. I feel the Grass God isn't good at fighting, and besides, he's the guardian of the World Tree. I didn't intend to invite him. Isn't your help enough for Mondstadt? Besides, it seems chaotic there. I feel like going there would easily cause trouble, and I don't want to accidentally make enemies with the Grass God."

Wendy shrank back a little, both "resisting" and "cowardly".

Zhongli found it amusing, yet he could understand the curious yet timid attitude of a Demon God who had only been born a few days ago towards the Seven Archons of the mortal world.

"I will send another envoy to accompany you, representing Liyue and Mondstadt, to inquire about the well-being of the Little Grass God and to ask if any assistance is needed in maintaining the World Tree. After all, this is a matter of life and death for Teyvat, and we haven't been in contact for five hundred years, so it's only natural that we show our concern."

"Ah... Barbatos hasn't woken up yet, and I haven't even met Him. Is it a bit inappropriate for me to represent Mondstadt or something?"

"It's alright. Barbatos and I are old acquaintances, and I know His temperament. He will be accommodating if it's just to confirm the situation of the World Tree. In return, before Barbatos awakens, Mondstadt can come to me at any time if they encounter any difficulties, including those outside the Abyss Order."

Zhongli offered a condition he couldn't refuse, even though it was something he was willing to do in the first place.