The next morning.
"Good morning. The morning dew is sweet. Would you like some?"
Seeing Xiu Yuan stir, Shenhe gently offered him the morning dew she had collected.
Xiu Yuan slowly sat up, stretched, and turned his gaze to the bowl of clear water.
"Thank you." Xiu Yuan did not refuse; he gladly accepted it.
He took a small sip. Just as she had said, it left a sweet aftertaste, and even a little was enough to refresh him.
"In terms of sweetness, it can't compare to the drinks in the city. Its aftertaste is a little different from light tea."
"But you won't find anything else in that vast city that combines the two like this morning dew."
"Coming to train in the mountains really was the right choice."
Xiu Yuan did not hold back his praise.
"My master often drinks light tea, but I've hardly ever seen those drinks you mentioned. Do they taste good?"
She asked with keen interest in the things found in the city.
"They do, especially the Coconut Milk at Wanmin Restaurant."
"But I'll never be able to drink it again..."
"Why is that?" Shenhe asked in confusion.
"I lied to someone, and the price was never being allowed to drink Coconut Milk again."
"That person must be very important to you."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because your expression tells me she is."
Xiu Yuan froze for a moment at her words, then a bitter smile appeared on his face.
"It's all in the past..."
"Let's go. Today's training has only just begun."
With that, the two set off again.
They talked noticeably more along the way than they had yesterday.
But Xiu Yuan still refrained from asking about sensitive subjects, such as her past.
When someone was willing to tell you about their tragic past, it generally meant they trusted you.
Xiu Yuan felt they were not quite there yet, so he kept their conversations light.
They picked wild fruit along the way to fill their stomachs, enjoying the freedom of their journey.
Until they heard human voices.
"Oh no! It's a Hilichurl shaman!"
"Run! Mondstadt's territory is just ahead! The knights will protect us!"
"Hang on! I've already alerted the knights! Hold out!"
Looking toward the voices, they saw a group of ordinary people being attacked by monsters.
They held blades in their hands, each of them tensely facing off against the monsters.
Shenhe's brows furrowed slightly at the sight, and Xiu Yuan took note of her reaction.
Without another word, the two charged forward and slaughtered the monsters with overwhelming force.
"An... an Adeptus... the legendary white-haired Adeptus!..."
"It's true! We've actually met the white-haired Adeptus who saves people!"
"What a beautiful Adeptus..."
"Thank you for saving us, Adeptus!"
The group was so stunned by Xiu Yuan and Shenhe's strength that they could barely speak coherently.
Before Xiu Yuan and Shenhe could say anything, someone else came running from the distance.
The familiar face made Xiu Yuan pause.
"Hello. I'm Jean, Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. I just received a report that monsters were attacking people here."
She briskly stated her identity and purpose, scanning the surroundings as though searching for the monsters.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, these two Adepti have already dealt with the monsters."
"Adepti!?"
At their words, Acting Grand Master Jean gave Xiu Yuan and Shenhe a curious look.
"We aren't Adepti. We've simply trained a great deal."
"I see. Judging by your clothes, you aren't from Mondstadt, are you?"
"That's right. We're just travelers training in the mountains."
"I see... In any case, thank you for coming to their aid. On behalf of Mondstadt, you have my gratitude."
"I didn't do much. She was the one who noticed them, so thank her instead."
Xiu Yuan pointed to Shenhe beside him as he spoke.
Everyone turned their eyes to Shenhe.
Shenhe said coldly, "Honing myself and practicing the mystical arts are simply instinctive, nothing more than a means of protecting myself."
"I have no ambition to save the world. Punishing evil is merely something I do along the way. There's no need to thank me."
With that, she walked into the forest without looking back.
Xiu Yuan had expected this. He simply pressed his palms together and gave a faint smile. "She's always been like this. Please don't take offense."
Then he hurried after her.
Watching their figures gradually recede, Jean looked a little taken aback before saying softly, "May the Anemo Archon watch over you, travelers who follow the wind."
"If I'm not mistaken, you were lying just now, weren't you?"
Having caught up with Shenhe, Xiu Yuan posed the question gently.
"What makes you say that?"
"Because your expression told me you meant to save them."
Shenhe visibly froze at Xiu Yuan's words.
Those words...
They sound rather familiar.
"When you saw them in danger, your brows clearly furrowed. It felt to me as though you'd remembered something unpleasant."
"Besides, who rushes in so urgently when they're only punishing evil in passing? It felt more like you were afraid they'd get hurt."
Shenhe suddenly stopped walking and stared into Xiu Yuan's eyes with a strange look.
Xiu Yuan could see confusion in her otherwise calm gaze.
Clearly, she would only look so puzzled if he had been right.
"Of course, it's fine if you don't want to talk about it. I won't force you, but I am curious."
"About what?"
"Why you deliberately use coldness to suppress yourself."
As soon as Xiu Yuan finished speaking, he noticed Shenhe's hand gently rubbing the red cord she wore.
"I think I have a rough idea now..."
Only when Xiu Yuan finished speaking did Shenhe hurriedly stop what she was doing.
Seeing that Shenhe still had no intention of speaking, Xiu Yuan said no more and took the lead instead.
This time, Shenhe followed behind him.
Watching Xiu Yuan's back, she felt deeply conflicted. His presence had disturbed her normally tranquil heart, leaving her thoughts increasingly tangled.
She had met many people, so very many.
But she had never met anyone like Xiu Yuan.
Some regarded her as an Adeptus, worshipping her and kneeling to kowtow in gratitude.
Some regarded her as a witch, hurling abuse and curses at her.
Some deliberately feigned misery to win her pity, when in truth they coveted her body.
But Xiu Yuan was entirely different from all the people she had met.
Even when they shared a room, he harbored no improper intentions toward her.
He was powerful enough to kill a Stonehide Lawachurl with a single strike.
He spoke with neither servility nor arrogance, never groveling or acting superior.
Being with him felt wonderfully comfortable.
In particular, the words Xiu Yuan had spoken last night still lingered in her mind.
Beyond that, he was an attentive man, able to notice even the slightest furrow of her brow.
Simply because she had acted swiftly, he had seen through a secret she kept deeply buried.
Before Xiu Yuan's eyes, everything she concealed seemed laid bare, yet he always knew where to stop, never leaving her embarrassed.
Before you continue