Wendy: Anyone want to hire a music maestro?

As dusk falls, the hustle and bustle of Montreal gradually subsides, with only the angelic gifts of street corners slowly lighting up the city.

The dark brown two-story wooden house has a carved wooden door with a copper bell hanging on it. When pushed open, it makes a soft sound, bringing the night wind into the house.

The interior lighting is soft, with countless candles burning warmly between the walls, pillars, and beams, bathing the dark wood bar, tables, and chairs in a warm amber hue.

Rows of glasses are arranged in a staggered manner on the bar, while the wine rack behind is filled with wine bottles brought from Morning Sun Winery. Oak barrels are placed in the corner, and the faint aroma of fruit wine fills every inch of the space.

The bas-reliefs of angels engraved on the wall cast soft shadows in the flickering candlelight.

"Oh, Lord Diluc, you've arrived."

Charles, the bartender, stood behind the bar counter and saw the two people and the fairy spirit push the door open to enter. He immediately recognized one of them as his boss.

"Charles, are there any seats left?" Diluc asked.

"Yes, yes." Upon hearing this, Charles glanced at Wang Yan beside Diluc and instantly understood that his master was inviting friends to dinner. He smiled and nodded in response, "I'll prepare a quiet and comfortable seat by the window for the two of you right away."

Having said that, Charles put down his wine glass, walked out of the bar, and prepared to lead his men to the location he had mentioned.

There were already quite a few people drinking in the tavern.

Knights of Favonius finishing their patrols, adventurers returning from their journeys, and idle citizens.

The clinking of glasses filled the air as conversations, laughter, and tales of adventure unfolded.

It's a bit noisy, but not annoying; that's just how pubs are.

Wang Yan and Diluc were following Charles when a light and agile green figure suddenly emerged from the shadow of the beams, as if it had been hiding there all along, quietly waiting for its chance.

"Is Lord Diluc treating us? Can I come along?"

The newcomer blocked their path and made a request.

The newcomer was a young man, slender with fair skin, short dark blue hair with two strands of light blue braids hanging down on either side, and a pair of water-green eyes that gleamed with cunning.

Wearing a green hat adorned with a pure white Cecilia flower, her green and white poet's cloak swayed gently with her movements, her attire light and airy, as if she might be carried away by the wind at any moment.

Wendy, the bard.

Or, to put it another way, Barbatos, the god of wind.

Diluc looked at the drunken god before him, showing no respect whatsoever: "Charles, how much does he owe for alcohol?"

Based on his understanding of Wendy, if the other party still had money for drinks, she definitely wouldn't let him treat her; she would buy the drinks first and then worry about the rest.

Charles stopped and looked at Wendy: "The bard bought twenty glasses of cider on credit, saying he'd pay me back after he earned some money performing at the tavern."

"Did he make a profit?"

:

"No, to be precise, the bards haven't even started their performance yet."

Charles shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Diluc looked at Wendy but remained silent.

Wendy took a step back, somewhat embarrassed. "How about you buy me drinks and I give you a special performance? A special performance, you know, not everyone gets this kind of treatment."

"Heh..." Diluc scoffed.

In a sense, it's not uncommon for deities to perform for people; the one in Fontainebleau is a big star, for example.

but!

Where is my own husband? He's practically homeless.

"Phew..." Diluc shook his head, then pointed at Wang Yan, "This is the guest of honor today, you talk to him."

Wendy looked at Wang Yan with a smile in her eyes: "You won't refuse me, right, Scholar Wang Yan?"

,box!

Wang Yan's smile faltered.

Alright, no need to think about it anymore. This guy definitely knows his identity, or at least he should have received the same information as Zhong Li.

Of course, Wendy doesn't need to ask Narcida; the wind will give him the answer.

"It's a great honor to drink with the most skilled bard in all of Teyvat," Wang Yan agreed.

"Yay!" Wendy cheered, then said to Charles, "Charles, I want ten glasses, no, twenty glasses of premium apple cider!"

The bartender looked at his boss with a hint of helplessness.

Diluc nodded: "Give it to him."

Since the boss had agreed, the bartender naturally didn't argue and continued leading the way.

Charles led the three people and the fairy to their seats, then asked, "What would you like to order, sir and gentleman?"

"I don't need it, just prepare some food," Diluc said.

As the owner of Dawn Winery and the behind-the-scenes boss of Angel's Gift, Diluc is an expert in winemaking and tasting, and has a thorough understanding of the flavors and processes of various wines.

But while making and selling wine is a business and a family tradition, he himself is not a heavy drinker.

Even when he occasionally comes to a tavern, it's mostly to handle business or watch others drink; he rarely raises a glass to drink heartily himself.

This is also reflected in the game's storyline; in the few scenes where Diluc drinks, he only takes a small sip, never overindulging.

:

Diluc not only dislikes drinking, but also abhors alcoholism and drunken disorderly conduct. The staff at Angel's Gift will also stop customers from drinking excessively.

In a sense, Diluc and Diona share a similar attitude towards alcohol, both opposing alcoholism.

After saying that, Diluc looked at Wang Yan and said, "You can order whatever you like, it's on me."

"Then give me a glass of premium apple wine, and a glass of juice for my partner too." Wang Yan gestured to Serene on his shoulder.

"It has to be sweet!" Serene added.

Although the fairy before him was somewhat strange and could even speak, Charles was not surprised and nodded: "Okay, I'll go prepare right away."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Only Wang Yan, two others, and Xian Ling remained at the table.

"Just now, Wendy seemed to call out Wang Yan's name directly. Do you know him?" Diluc asked curiously.

According to the intelligence he received, this scholar Wang Yan was indeed powerful, but it seemed that he had never been to Mongolia. Could it be that... Barbatos left Mongolia at some point and had some interaction with this scholar?

This novel was first published on [website name].

"Huh? Scholar Wang Yan is a very impressive person, you know. Hasn't Lord Diluc heard of him?" Wendy's eyes were looking towards the bar, but he still praised Wang Yan.

Diluc's gaze shifted: "A very powerful person? Has some story reached Mongols? But I've definitely never heard of them."

Wendy raised an eyebrow: "Hehe, want to hear a bard tell a story? That's not free, you know."

"It seems like I'm the one treating everyone now."

"Hey, it's different. You invited Scholar Wangyan, and I was invited by Scholar Wangyan... that doesn't count." Wendy blinked, a hint of slyness in her eyes. "How about this, Lord Diluc will waive my twenty glasses of cider, and I'll tell you the story of Scholar Wangyan, how about that?"

"Ahem, the person involved is still here, can't you at least be a little discreet?" Wang Yan said irritably.

Perhaps due to his strong preconceived notions about Wendy, Wang Yan felt little awe towards her, even though he knew she was the God of Wind, and it was not as strong as when he first met Narcida.

When Wang Yan first met Naxida, she pulled him into a dream, which startled him.

Now, Wang Yan can express his dissatisfaction and make jokes when facing Wendy.

It's unclear whether Wendy's threat level was too low, or whether Wang Yan had gained considerable power.

"Being written into stories and sung by bards is a privilege reserved for heroes. Scholar Wangyan should thank me!" Wendy said smugly, raising her delicate chin.

"Then you should at least pay me royalties," Wang Yan said with a smile.

"Hmm...that makes sense. I'll pay you the royalties after we finish our drinks." Wendy winked at Wang Yan, seemingly implying something.

Wang Yan was taken aback for a moment, then continued to smile and nodded: "Okay."

:

Although he didn't know why Wendy was paying attention to him and seemed to have something to say to him, Wang Yan didn't care. Anyway, things had already come to this, and there was no use worrying.

"Twenty glasses of cider in exchange for the story of Scholar Wang Yan... doesn't seem like a bad deal." Seeing that Wang Yan had no objections, Diluc nodded, "Then it's a deal."

"I should have asked for more," Wendy muttered under his breath, then reached out and summoned [Felin] in his hand. "Listen up, the best bard in Teyvat is about to perform."

The bard played the lyre, his tone slow and then rising:

"As the branches of the World Tree are gnawed by shadows, the emerald light is slowly slipping away."

The roots trembled, overflowing with illusory past events, and the dark crisis ran rampant among the branches and leaves.

The wise gods of the past have fallen silent, and the shadow of disaster looms over this land.

People were filled with fear and confusion, not knowing where to hide. The overwhelming dangers crushed all their hopes.

The books are covered in dust, and a scholar stands silently, for thousands of classic texts once accompanied him through the long, lonely nights.

In deep contemplation and seeking answers to the mysteries of truth, divine enlightenment suddenly descends upon the lake of my heart.

He put down the pile of papers on his desk and stepped across the desolate landscape churning with crisis.

With meticulous thinking, we dismantle the web of conspiracies; with keen insight, we tear apart false pretenses.

The shadows receded, the evil spirits vanished, and the World Tree's radiance slowly began to unfold once more.

It was not a god descending to earth to wield swords and spears, but mortals inheriting the glory of wisdom.

Ah, traveler, please spread this story, for the gifts of God are not found in divine power or brilliance.

When danger overturns the world, the thoughts of ordinary people can still protect the four directions.

This is the story of a scholar saving the World Tree.

Therefore, Wendy did know what Wang Yan had done; however, he changed the story of the World Tree being burned down to the story of the World Tree being saved.

That's normal, after all, it's Teyvat, so it's perfectly reasonable for the story to be told and modified to some extent.

"Not bad performance... but... I'd prefer you to explain the specifics in plain language," Diluc said.

His literary talent allowed him to understand the stories told in the poems, but he also knew that most of these stories were adapted and not the complete truth.

He gave Wendy a free meal, not because he wanted to hear this kind of adapted story.

However, Wendy refused: "Hey, the deal's done. If you want the full story... Lord Diluc has to give me... twenty, no, forty, no, one hundred cups of fine apple cider!"

A lion with a small opening, a lion with a medium opening, a lion with a large opening.

Diluc rolled his eyes. "Forget it then, I wasn't really that interested in knowing anyway."

:

He would rather give Nefer a million Mora to buy information about Wang Yan than give the drunkard god a hundred cups of wine.

"Damn it!" Wendy grumbled, but didn't lower the price.

Clearly, he was unwilling to tell Wang Yan's true story.

As they were talking, Charles came over carrying a tray with steaming food and layers of wine.

"The drinks for the two of you." Charles held a tray in one hand and began serving the food with the other. He placed a glass of wine in front of Wang Yan, piled the rest in front of Wendy, and then picked up a glass of juice. "Beautiful lady, this is your iced hook juice, sweet and sour, with an extra sprinkling of sweet nectar. I hope you enjoy it."

"Thank you!" Serene was very pleased with Charles's form of address.

After delivering the meal, Charles nodded to Diluc and left with the empty plate.

Wendy had already downed her glass, and Wang Yan raised his glass, took a small sip, and his eyes lit up slightly: "It's delicious."

"I'm fine with you if you like it, but I still don't recommend drinking too much alcohol." Diluc picked up a slice of fisherman's toast and slowly savored it.

"Haha, I don't usually drink much." Wang Yan took another sip. "Speaking of which, when I was at the exhibition in Nokale, someone was selling wine under the name of Dawn Winery. Before I even had a chance to taste it, Falgar said it was fake."

"Faspin, that guy who sells fake liquor is called Faspin," Diluc said.

Wang Yan raised an eyebrow: "You know that?"

“I also went to the exhibition, but I just didn’t run into you,” Diluc said. “That guy’s technique is actually quite good, but he uses local ingredients from Nokale to make wine, so it’s impossible for him to perfectly replicate the taste of Château Dawn… It’s a pity he doesn’t dare to sell it under his own name. Just based on that, he will never surpass Château Dawn.”

Diluc's words contained no disgust, but rather a hint of regret.

It's like seeing someone go astray.

"Your assessment is similar to Falgar's. He also said that the other party already has very good skills, so why do they still do this kind of thing?" Wang Yan nodded slightly.

Diluc: "It's simple. He lacks confidence. He wants to become a wine merchant like Château de Dawn, but he doesn't believe he can do it. So he acts in the name of the winery. If no one exposes him, he becomes smug and thinks he has reached the same level as the winery."

As he spoke, Diluc shook his head: "But once someone exposes it, they'll either go into a hysterical frenzy or completely collapse..."

"Hiccup!" Wendy hiccuped. "Not everyone is willing to believe in themselves; quite the opposite, only a very few people possess true self-confidence..."

In the short time it took to speak, there were already five or six empty cups in front of him.

"You're drinking so fast, can you really taste the wine?" Wang Yan couldn't help but ask.

If you say you like drinking, then you should at least like the taste of alcohol; that means you should appreciate wine.

Wendy looks like a total alcoholic!

Oh, it seems he's an alcoholic. Never mind then.

Wendy grinned: "Of course, every drop of wine turns into inspiration in my stomach."

:

As he spoke, he reached out and flipped his hand, and the xylophone reappeared in his grasp:

"Golden liquid reflects the candlelight, bubbles gently sway, it's the autumn light of the orchard, melted into a cup of coolness."

Sweet but not cloying, with a hint of fruity acidity, after a few sips, the weariness of the drunkard will vanish.

If a fine wine is fermented and stored in oak vats, its honey-like aroma will permeate the air, spreading to all sides of the glass.

A sip down the throat, embracing the misty breeze, all the flavors of life are savored in a gentle sip and a soft song.

After finishing his song, he took another swig of wine.

"How about it? Isn't it great!"

The lyrics are so-so, but combined with Wendy's playing and singing, they really have a great feel to them.

"Heh, I'm full. Enjoy your meal, you two. The bill will be on me, so don't worry about saving money for me," Diluc chuckled, stood up, and said to Wang Yan and Serene.

"Hey, what about me?" Wendy asked, somewhat disgruntled.

Diluc looked at the bar: "Charles, stop sending drinks to the bards."

"Yes, sir," Charles replied immediately.

"How could you do this!" Wendy loudly expressed her dissatisfaction. "I'm a guest!"

Diluc ignored him, nodded to Wang Yan, and turned to leave.

Wang Yan checked the time; it was probably time for Dark Night Heroes to go to work.

After Diluc left, Wendy stopped drinking in big gulps and started sipping her drinks slowly.

He knew that Charles really wouldn't give him any more alcohol.

Wang Yan wasn't in a hurry. He sipped his wine and savored the food on the table.

Time passed slowly until Wendy finished his last drop of alcohol.

"Ah...no way~!" The bard looked sad and pitifully at Wang Yan.

Serene sipped her juice and shook her head: "You, drinking so fast by yourself, why are you looking at Wang Yan? Even Kavi knows to buy his own drinks."

"Ah, a bard's income can never compare to that of a famous architect," Wendy sighed. "If someone were willing to hire me to do some music-related work, that would be wonderful."

After saying that, he stared straight at Wang Yan, his meaning very clear.

"Even if it's the god of wind, eavesdropping on everything is so impolite," Wang Yan complained.

The music-related work was clearly referring to the film project that Wang Yan had mentioned earlier at the Demon Dragon Flesh and Blood Base.

:

"What?!" Serene's face showed shock. "This guy is a god?"

"Ahem..." Wendy smiled, cleared his throat, and nodded to Serene. "Hello, Miss Serene, I am Barbatos, the Wind God of Montaigne."

"My God... After the collapse of the angelic system, is this the kind of guy who's leading humanity?" Serene's face was filled with despair. "I feel like humanity is doomed."

Wang Yan's expression was a little strange.

Compared to the Seven Rulers, humanity, guided by angels, is more likely to perish.

Unfortunately, Wang Yan was afraid of being attacked by Serene, so he didn't dare to say it.

"Humans have their own civilization; we don't need to interfere too much." Wendy didn't care about Serene's words at all, and then looked at Wang Yan, "Do we need a music maestro? Just a hundred cups of cider every day~"

"Before we talk about work, let's talk about my royalties," Wang Yan changed the subject. "You traded my story for drinks, so what are my royalties?"

Wendy flashed a bright smile: "It's the wind! I'm about to show you... a grand symphony of a thousand years!"

: