The subsequent events unfold as follows:
Lumine ets with Acting Grand Master Jean.
Then, Lumine heads out of the city with Lisa, Kaeya, and Amber.
They go to clear several temples.
Their goal is to weaken the power of Stormterror.
After so ti passes...
The gloomy sky over Mondstadt clears up.
It seems Lumine and the others' efforts have borne fruit.
Mu Yang returns to Mondstadt.
He heads straight toward the Goethe Grand Hotel.
Planning to ambush Jean.
As expected...
Jean appears at the entrance of the Goethe Grand Hotel.
Originally, she had intended to take advantage of Lumine and the others being away to deal with the ruins.
She wanted to co out and reassure the citizens of Mondstadt.
The Knights of Favonius already had enough on their plate.
Now, Dvalin—one of the Four Winds—has caused chaos in the city.
The people of Mondstadt have begun protesting.
They demand that Jean send troops to exterminate this beast that has betrayed Mondstadt.
Betrayed their freedom.
Jean, of course, would never do such a thing.
But under pressure, she still has to step out and say a few words to calm the crowd.
She checks on those who were injured by the raging winds.
Sisters from the Church of Favonius also co out to assist with healing.
Seeing the sky clear up, Jean delegates tasks to the sisters.
She instructs them to persuade the protesters to return ho for now.
anwhile, she heads to the Goethe Grand Hotel.
Among the protesting citizens of Mondstadt...
A few Fatui agents are mixed in.
Jean is aware of this.
So, she cos here to warn the Fatui envoy.
Not to ddle in Mondstadt's internal affairs.
Mu Yang hides in the shadows, observing.
He has to admit—the Fatui really have an inflated sense of importance.
Never been beaten down, and with La Signora backing them here...
They've gotten a bit too arrogant.
They leave Jean standing outside the hotel, ignoring her.
Just as Jean can't take it anymore and is about to push the door open...
The Fatui diplomat—Anastasia—finally strolls out leisurely.
At this mont, Lumine and the others also return to Mondstadt.
From a distance, they witness this scene.
Kaeya, who is with them, warns them not to approach just yet.
Anastasia's nose is practically tilted to the sky.
Her deanor is utterly insolent.
"Acting Grand Master, were you planning to barge in? That's not a very good attitude, you know."
Jean responds, "This is Mondstadt's property, not the Fatui's embassy."
Anastasia picks at her ear.
Clearly, she doesn't take Jean seriously.
"So, what does the Acting Grand Master want from us?"
"Finally realized the Knights' incompetence and co to seek the Fatui's help?"
"Should've done this sooner. Hand over the city's defenses to us, and we'll deal with that beast—"
Jean clenches her fists. "Beast?"
Anastasia puts her hands on her hips. "Hmm? What does the Acting Grand Master an by that?"
One of the Four Winds, a guardian of Mondstadt, being called a beast.
Jean is doing her utmost to restrain herself.
She knows the other party is deliberately provoking her.
But she can't do anything—she can't give the Fatui any leverage.
Seeing the conversation shift to Stormterror...
Mu Yang chooses this mont to step out from the shadows.
He inserts himself into the dialogue between the two.
Ignoring the Fatui, he walks up to Jean and asks:
"You're the Knights' Grand Master?"
Jean turns to look at the silver-haired young man before her.
Last night, Amber and Kaeya seed to have ntioned soone like him.
The youth's face is exquisitely handso.
But his gaze is sharp as a blade.
Her instincts tell her—this person is extrely dangerous.
And his strength is unfathomable.
She can't gauge it at all.
The system remarks: If you could see through him, I might as well retire tomorrow.
"I am Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. And you are...?"
"Mu Yang, from Chenyu Vale. We have a deal to discuss."
———
Watching her favorite character make his entrance...
Guinaifen completely abandons any semblance of decorum.
Not that she had much to begin with.
"Huff huff huff—"
"He's finally here, folks! Ti to simp!"
[Chat: Host, you're scaring ]
[New follower here—is the host always like this?]
[Just to clarify, compared to her 'hardcore era,' she's actually toned it down]
[Mu Yang's character model is way too handso—this is the most harmonious synergy between artist and model yet]
[Ca from another stream—already dying of jealousy over this model]
———
anwhile, Anastasia, who had been left hanging, is fuming.
"Hey, hey—you from Liyue, can't you see we're—"
Before she can finish...
Mu Yang's sword is already at her throat.
Anastasia shudders in fear.
She glances at the blade pressed against her neck.
And gulps.
Thankfully, the sword is still sheathed.
If it had been drawn...
Her head would already be rolling on the ground.
And she wouldn't have had any chance to resist.
Though trembling, Anastasia's sharp tongue remains intact.
"D-do you even know who I am?! I'll have you know, Lady Signora is in Mondstadt right now! How dare you threaten —"
Mu Yang silences her with a single icy glare.
She swallows her words.
"Ten tis."
The Fatui are baffled: "Huh?"
"Before your Harbinger arrives, I could slaughter every Fatui in this hotel ten tis over."
The Skyrider Sword gleams as it's drawn.
"You have three seconds to vanish from my sight."
Anastasia collapses onto the ground.
Scrambling on all fours, she flees into the Goethe Grand Hotel.
She doesn't even bother closing the door behind her.
Terrified that the blade might strike her down the next second.
———
Sparkle's Livestream
[Holy crap, this plot twist is insane]
[This is so satisfying—I was practically suffocating from frustration earlier. If those Fatui had a health bar, I swear—]
[Praise be, Mu Yang]
[Chat, spam 'HYPE']
[This dialogue is so cringe—'slaughter ten tis'?]
[Idc if it's cringe—I'm hyped]
Sparkle clears her throat.
"Ahem, little jokesters, announcent ti: this man is mine now."
"Your host is a ta slave—story strength counts too. I'm gonna whale for his C6 using the primos you all donate."
[Flat-chest, you're truly shaless]
[Can you say my na when you pull? I wanna feel included]
———
Everything happened too fast.
Though Jean maintains a calm exterior...
She is genuinely shocked.
First, there's Mu Yang's strength.
That sword strike was blindingly fast—Jean could barely follow it.
That diplomat wasn't a pushover either.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have been sent abroad.
Yet she stood no chance at all.
Jean also notices the Vision at Mu Yang's waist.
From start to finish, he never tapped into the power of that Cryo Vision.
If Mu Yang knew what Jean was thinking...
He'd probably laugh.
Right now, he can't even utilize much of his Vision's power.
His sword is fast, but compared to the Sword Sovereign in the lore...
He's still far from it.
If this is enough to shock her, isn't it a bit too soon?
Aside from that sword strike...
Mu Yang's attitude toward the Fatui also surprises Jean.
The Fatui's dominance is universally acknowledged across Teyvat.
They are ruthless.
Backed by eleven imnsely powerful Harbingers.
Even in Mu Yang's holand of Liyue...
They've never managed to gain the upper hand against the Fatui.
This is sothing Jean and Ningguang have discussed in their correspondence.
And yet this Mu Yang...
Brutal and concise, directly threatening the Fatui with force.
This is an exceedingly rare sight across the entire continent.
"Now, can we talk?"
Mu Yang's words snap Jean out of her thoughts.
She finally regains her composure.
"Mr. Mu Yang, I'm afraid this deal won't work."
Jean knows what Mu Yang is proposing—slaying the dragon.
Amber reported it yesterday.
Mu Yang asks, "Why? Does the Acting Grand Master doubt my capabilities?"
"Rest assured, I'm far more professional and efficient than the Fatui."
"And I have no interest in your Mondstadt. All I ask for is Mora."
Jean counters, "Why would you take on such a risky endeavor, Mr. Mu Yang?"
"With your strength, if you needed money, the Adventurers' Guild offers far better options, no?"
Jean can't understand—no matter how strong Mu Yang is...
There should still be a gap between him and Dvalin, the Anemo Archon's familiar.
Why take on such a thankless task?
If he were after Mondstadt's benefits, it'd be easier to comprehend.
But Mu Yang claims he only wants Mora.
This makes no sense to Jean.
She can't see through this Mu Yang.
Mu Yang speaks.
"No particular reason. Just earning so extra cash."
This is clearly not the answer Jean wants to hear.
Of course, no matter what reason Mu Yang gives...
Jean would never agree.
She doesn't believe killing Dvalin is the right choice.
"If Mr. Mu Yang isn't willing to explain, then there's no need for further discussion."
"However, I must warn you."
"If you act without authorization, the Knights will not stand idly by."
Mu Yang knows Lumine and the others have already witnessed his display.
It's about ti he withdraws.
"Don't worry, Acting Grand Master. I don't do losing deals. If you change your mind, find at the Cat's Tail."
With that, he turns and walks toward Lumine's group.
As he passes by them...
He deliberately glances at Lumine a few extra tis.
Then he heads straight for the Cat's Tail.
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