Dainsleif

Jiang Xiaofeng arrived at Angel's Share.

Master Diluc was tending the counter as usual when needed.

Seeing Jiang Xiaofeng enter, he gave a slight nod.

Jiang Xiaofeng nodded back and walked into the back room.

Dainsleif, Lumine, and Paimon were sitting at a table.

This is ridiculous. Osial hasn't even appeared yet, and the Abyss Order has already pinpointed the location?

Or did my interference make the Abyss Order decide to move its plan forward?

I'll wait and see for now.

Jiang Xiaofeng slowly walked over...

Lumine finally noticed Jiang Xiaofeng.

Lumine slapped the table and stood up. "You?"

Dainsleif: "?"

Jiang Xiaofeng pressed a hand onto Dainsleif's shoulder and said, "What, Lumine? Am I not welcome?"

"I came specifically to see you, you know."

Lumine cut Jiang Xiaofeng off. "Why did you attack Venti? And you even helped the Fatui do it!"

Jiang Xiaofeng shook his head helplessly.

Doesn't anyone bother to think things through?

"If Venti had really wanted to resist, no one but Dvalin could have held him back."

"He'd wanted to give away his Gnosis for ages, that's all."

"As for why I acted... we'd already worked everything out, only for him to kick me while I was down over some vague possibility. Wouldn't that make you angry?"

Jiang Xiaofeng's tone gradually grew hostile.

Venti was the one in the wrong, yet you insist on demanding an explanation from me.

If I'd wanted to keep the Gnosis back then, I wouldn't have helped the Fatui steal it. I'd have traded with Venti instead.

Or I could've simply ignored the plot and waited until La Signora took Venti's Gnosis before stealing it from her. The chances of success would've been even higher.

But now...

"Venti, you're watching me, aren't you!"

Jiang Xiaofeng released the Cursed Sword.

"Go make that guy suffer a little."

"I'll take you out for a feast later."

The Cursed Sword flew straight through the door.

The tavern door, now sporting a huge hole: "?"

Diluc: "?"

Jiang Xiaofeng clapped his hands. "Dainsleif, right?"

Dainsleif nodded.

"What business do you have with me?"

Dainsleif's tone was clearly wary, but Jiang Xiaofeng paid it no mind.

Jiang Xiaofeng pulled over a chair and sat down.

"I don't know why you've appeared ahead of schedule, but it happens to be just what I wanted."

"I'd like to make a deal with you."

"I want to join you for this incident."

"In exchange, I'll try to draw the curse of Khaenri'ah out of you."

"How does that sound?"

At the same time, he recalled the Cursed Sword to his hand.

Dainsleif looked at the Cursed Sword.

"Why should I trust you?"

Jiang Xiaofeng glanced at Lumine.

"Should she hear all this?"

Dainsleif remained silent.

"Fine."

"My ultimate goal is just to ask Aether for a favor."

"After all, aside from the Heavenly Principles, Aether may currently be the most powerful being in Teyvat."

"Of course, if you can destroy these two things on me, I've got nothing more to say. Why not help you 'fight the Abyss'?"

Dainsleif shook his head.

"I can't help you."

"Since you know these details, you presumably didn't come because of my reputation."

"If you want to come, join us."

Jiang Xiaofeng nodded.

"All right. Remember to let me know when you're going to that domain."

"Just call out my name, and I'll come find you."

"I'll be going now."

Jiang Xiaofeng stood up, only for Lumine to grab him.

"Do you know what my brother is actually doing?"

"Please, will you tell me?"

A hint of pleading entered Lumine's voice.

Jiang Xiaofeng sighed and pointed at Dainsleif.

"He knows more than I do. Ask him."

Then Jiang Xiaofeng left without any hesitation.

Lumine turned to Dainsleif.

Dainsleif: "..."

Jiang Xiaofeng left Mondstadt City.

He had completely forgotten there was another guy in Wolvendom he could beat up.

Jiang Xiaofeng spread his dragon wings, flew over Windrise, recalled the Cursed Sword along the way, and headed toward Wolvendom.

Venti was sitting in the tree at Windrise, leisurely playing his lyre.

"A dangerous outlander..."

Jiang Xiaofeng soon arrived in Wolvendom.

Clang!

Jiang Xiaofeng slammed straight into the ground.

Looking at the translucent blue greatsword, Jiang Xiaofeng walked over and pulled it out.

"Stranger... have you come to undertake the trial..."

"..."

Jiang Xiaofeng watched the sky gradually turn blue and the greatsword slowly disappear, then looked toward the Wolf King slowly emerging from the thick mist and equipped the Hayabusa Gauntlets and Hattori's Katana.

"Let's test the waters first..."

Jiang Xiaofeng activated Wings of the Crow and charged.

The Wolf King of the North Wind lived up to his status as a weekly boss. Every blow from the Hayabusa Gauntlets felt like it struck steel.

The same went for Hattori's Katana.

But Jiang Xiaofeng had other abilities, too.

Wave of Denial!

A ripple appeared in Jiang Xiaofeng's hand, blasting the Wolf King several steps back.

Ground Shatter!

The Wolf King's claw strike was completely canceled out by Ground Shatter.

While the Wolf King raised his head and howled, Jiang Xiaofeng jumped onto his head.

"Muda muda muda muda!"

The Wolf King rolled around nonstop, even releasing tornadoes all around him in an attempt to sweep Jiang Xiaofeng off.

But at some point, Jiang Xiaofeng had taken out a whip and cinched it around the Wolf King.

And so, the Wolf King began entering his second form just like that.

Yes, the Wolf King switched forms without running laps.

After all, no one else's fighting style was this obnoxious, leaving him no way to fight back!

Entering his second form, the Wolf King immediately summoned several ice pillars.

The ice pillars sank into the ground, turning into things resembling springs, from which little wolves kept leaping out to bite Jiang Xiaofeng.

But Jiang Xiaofeng kicked them all apart, one kick per wolf.

Then Jiang Xiaofeng jumped off the Wolf King's body.

The War Javelin appeared in his left hand, and the Blood Sword in his right.

Jiang Xiaofeng hurled the javelin and activated Velocity at the same time!

Riiip-

Jiang Xiaofeng flashed straight past the Wolf King, leaving a mark on his body.

Jiang Xiaofeng repeated the trick, targeting the Wolf King's blind spots.

Then Jiang Xiaofeng retreated into the distance and took out the Gilded Yumi.

Every gilded arrow knocked the Wolf King back several steps.

Finally, Jiang Xiaofeng took out the Bow of the Big Dipper.

He aimed at the Wolf King's head.

"Time to end this..."

Then Jiang Xiaofeng fired the final arrow.

The Wolf King watched helplessly as the arrow flew straight toward his vital spot, crouching in place because the wounds from the Blood Sword prevented him from moving normally...

Clang!

At the critical moment, a gray figure rushed out and blocked Jiang Xiaofeng's arrow.

"Hmm?"

Jiang Xiaofeng tilted his head.

Why did Razor come out?

Isn't this a trial?

Meanwhile, the Wolf King barked at Razor, "Go back. This is that warrior's trial!"

Razor shook his head.

"Outside... strange people..."

"They... not right..."

The Wolf King froze.

But Jiang Xiaofeng charged over with Acceptance in hand!

The Wolf King called out to Jiang Xiaofeng, "Human, please forgive me. People with strange auras have invaded my territory. Your trial must end here for now."

Then a Ley Line Blossom emerged behind the Wolf King.

"This is your reward."

Afterward, the Wolf King turned into a streak of light and vanished. Razor also glanced at Jiang Xiaofeng before leaving the trial grounds.

Jiang Xiaofeng: "..."

Such a huge pile of cells... got away...