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The "Wind and Bird" bookstore had become more than just a place of business; it was the cultural heart of Mondstadt. As the second volume of Old Mond: Pupils of the Gu King hit the shelves, the atmosphere in the city reached a boiling point. The streets were packed with people clutching their copies, their faces reflecting a mix of awe, sorrow, and burgeoning hope.
Ye Ruo's storytelling had bridged the gap between the modern, carefree Mondstadt and its brutal, frozen origins. Through his words, the residents didn't just read history; they felt the bite of the ancient blizzard and the crushing weight of Decarabian's "protective" winds.
In the secret garden behind his villa, Ye Ruo sat cross-legged, the Wind-Wind Fruit's power humming through his veins. Beside him, Noelle was practicing her brand-new technique, "The Maid's Gale." Her greatsword was encased in a swirling shell of Geo energy and compressed air, a combination Ye Ruo had helped her develop.
"Focus, Noelle," Ye Ruo said, his voice carrying on the breeze. "Don't fight the resistance of the air. Invite it. Become the eye of the storm."
Noelle let out a determined shout, swinging her blade. A crescent of golden-teal energy sliced through the air, neatly bisecting a training dummy made of reinforced iron. She panted, looking at her hands in shock. "Senior... I did it! I felt the wind helping me!"
"You're learning that a Knight of Favonius doesn't just protect people from the stormāthey are the ones who decide where the storm blows," Ye Ruo replied, standing up.
His system interface flickered into view, glowing with a brilliance that outshone the setting sun.
[Legendary Prestige: 150,000]
[Milestone Reached: Chronicler of the Seven Sovereigns]
[New Reward: The Seed of the World Tree (Irminsul Branch)]
Ye Ruo's eyes widened. A branch of Irminsul? That was the very foundation of Teyvat's memory and logic. The system was no longer just giving him gadgets and fruits; it was giving him the building blocks of reality.
That evening, a knock sounded at the villa doors. Noelle, ever the perfect maid, moved to open them. Jean stood there, dressed in her formal uniform, looking exhausted but resolute. Behind her stood Lisa, the librarian, her eyes sharp with intellectual hunger.
"Master Ye Ruo," Jean began, her voice formal. "We need to talk. Not as fellow knights, but as the protectors of this city."
Ye Ruo gestured for them to enter. "I assume this is about the latest chapter? The part where the nameless bard sacrifices his life for the light of the sun?"
"It's about everything," Jean said, sitting down. "The people are starting to see the world differently. They're no longer just drinking wine and singing songs. They're talking about the 'Throne of the Sky' and the 'Truth of the Stars.' You're revealing things that were meant to stay buried in the Abyss."
Lisa leaned forward, her purple eyes sparking with Electro energy. "The information you've shared about the ley lines and the nature of Visions... it matches forbidden texts I've only seen in the restricted section of Sumeru's Academy. How is a 'novelist' from Mondstadt accessing the roots of the world?"
Ye Ruo smiled, a calm and mysterious expression. "Stories aren't just entertainment, Lisa. They are memories that the world tries to forget. I'm simply a conduit for those memories."
"The Fatui are mobilizing," Jean interrupted, her tone grim. "The Doctor is returning, and he's not coming alone. He's furious that you've exposed their Delusion research under the guise of the 'Museum.' You've made yourself a target for the entire Harbingers' council."
"Let them come," Ye Ruo said, his form momentarily flickering into a translucent mist. The air in the room dropped in pressure, making the candles flicker wildly. "Mondstadt is the City of Freedom. And I am the wind that ensures that freedom remains."
As Jean and Lisa left, deeply unsettled by the power radiating from Ye Ruo, a small figure appeared on the balcony. Venti was sitting on the railing, nursing a bottle of dandelion wine.
"You're playing a dangerous game, little brother," Venti said, his usual playfulness replaced by a ancient weariness. "The Great Mercy Tree King once tried to manage the world's memories. It didn't end well for her."
"I know," Ye Ruo replied, looking toward the distant peaks of Dragonspine. "But the world is changing, Venti. Sky Island is silent, the Abyss is stirring, and the Seven are no longer the only powers on the board."
Venti hopped down, his footsteps silent. "The other Archons are noticing. Morax in Liyue has been seen reading your 'Detective' novels during his walks. Baal in Inazuma... well, she'd probably strike your bookstore with lightning if she could find it."
Ye Ruo laughed. "I'll take that as a compliment. But tell me, Ventiāas the God of Freedom, do you mind if I write a new ending? One where the people don't need to pray to the sky for a miracle?"
Venti looked at him for a long time, then raised his bottle in a toast. "As long as the wine stays good and the songs stay beautiful, do whatever you want. After all, what is wind if it isn't free to change direction?"
As the night deepened, Ye Ruo returned to his study. He looked at the new portal opened by the Precious Treasure Chest, a swirling vortex of multi-colored light.
"Different from the world in the tree and the sea," he whispered. "Are there other multiple infinite worlds?"
His system had evolved. It was no longer just about fiction and influence; it was about the influence itself expanding across the multiverse. It was a perfect fit for the Seed of Irminsul he had just received.
"The story between me and this world will continue," Ye Ruo said, his eyes reflecting the infinite stars of the portal. "But it's time to see more. The footprints of the Wind Knight will move toward a more vast and boundless sea of stars."
Beside him, Noelle stood ready, her greatsword glowing with a mix of Geo and Anemo energy. She had grown from a simple maid into a warrior capable of standing by a god's side.
"Ready, Noelle?"
"Wherever you go, Senior, I will follow."
The Wind Knight stepped into the light, leaving the City of Wind behind to become the Legend of the Multiverse.
[End of Volume 1]