Genshin Impact: I, the Winter Prince, reign supreme.

For Falgar, the harp was his junior, the next successor he was grooming for the position of Grand Master.

For Qin, Falga was her mentor, who gave her the courage to move forward and taught her to be indomitable in the face of adversity.

Jean's growth has always been inseparable from the guidance of Grand Master Fargard, and Jean respects Fargard as much as she loves Vanessa.

"Grand Commander Falgar, you wrote back to report that you were safe, but those letters were actually written by someone else, weren't they? I understand your good intentions; you didn't want everyone to cry for you. You once said that tears would only add to the troubles on the cruel battlefield, so you kept it from everyone, hoping that we would bravely move forward."

"Grand Master Falga, I will keep this secret until the expeditionary force returns in triumph."

After pouring out her heart, Qin really wanted to cry.

However, the footsteps behind her interrupted her sorrowful mood, and her usual strong smile reappeared on her face.

Noelle, a maid of the Knights of Favonius, followed.

"Captain Qin, I'm sorry to have disturbed your time alone. Captain Kaiya said he was worried about your safety and sent me out to follow you. He said you would come to the Land of the Rising Wind and asked me to come here to check on you."

"Is Captain Kaeya feeling any better now?"

"Uh... When I saw him this morning, he was still angry. He said he couldn't understand why he had just escaped to Dawn Winery to find Lord Diluc yesterday, only to be caught by the Lawrence family immediately. Oh, and he also asked me about you and His Highness this morning."

"Me and Prince Zhidong? There's nothing between us. If he's curious about the sword I used to assassinate Prince Zhidong two years ago, I'll explain it to you all when I get back."

Noel shook her head and said, "Captain Kaia didn't ask about that. He thought you and Prince Winter spent the night in the room last night and was afraid something bad had happened, so he asked me about it. I told him that I was with you last night, and he left feeling relieved."

After explaining the situation, Noelle blushed. For a shy girl like her, matters between adult men and women always made her heart race, even if it was just hearsay.

"Kaiya!"

Qin stomped her feet and shouted his name, her breasts heaving with anger.

After composing herself, Qin asked again, "Is the Winter's delegation leaving Mondstadt today?"

"As I was leaving the city, I happened to run into Lady Zangjing, who was by Prince Zhidong's side. She told me that their next stop was the Kingdom of Nata."

"Before the Winter Mission set out, they deliberately spread rumors that Prince Winter was at odds with the Queen and the eleven executors. Our Knights of Favonius were misled by these rumors. If they can easily tell you their itinerary, then they are almost certainly lying to you."

Noelle asked, "Commander Qin, where do you think they might visit next?"

"Liyue."

Qin answered without hesitation.

"Liyue? I can't figure out why they would go there."

Jean didn't answer Noelle's question directly, because that was also her guess.

Having successfully obtained the Heart of God from Mondstadt and Inazuma, Prince Su Yu, brimming with confidence, will undoubtedly seize the Heart of God from the most formidable opponent among the Seven Kingdoms.

As one of the oldest of the seven Archons, the Geo Archon is not as easily persuaded as the Anemo Archon or the Thunder Archon. At least, the method of winning over noble villains to overthrow the Mondstadt regime would definitely not work in Liyue.

The Liyue Seven Stars are in charge of managing and governing Liyue's affairs. They are not only more powerful than the Knights of Favonius and the Three Commissioners of Inazuma, but they are also the best in all of Teyvat.

A proud person like Su Yu is very likely to challenge the Kingdom of Contracts and seize the Heart of the Rock God from the Rock King.

As for what methods Su Yu would use, she really couldn't imagine. It was hard to say whether he would succeed immediately or suffer a setback, but in any case, she was full of anticipation.

“The Prince of Zhidong is incredibly wise. I’ll probably apologize to him next time I see him.”

"Ah...why, Commander Qin?"

Qin looked up and gazed at the lush, towering tree in front of her.

"Alas, we have to admit that we have suffered a crushing defeat this time. The Lawrence family and our Knights of Favonius have both become part of his plan to lure Lord Favonius out. From the very beginning, he did not regard us as an evenly matched opponent."

"However, this is a good thing. For hundreds of years, we have been accustomed to extravagance and debauchery, and we have been immersed in the vanity of arrogance and pride. We need someone to step forward and spur us on. Only by being vigilant in times of peace can we ensure the long-term stability of Mondstadt. Prince Winter has made Mondstadt better, more united, and more mature."

At this point, Qin smiled slightly and said, "Moreover, this Prince Zhidong is so powerful, yet he still holds a grudge about the sword I, a mere young woman, used back then. It's like a boy who was bullied by a girl and is still holding a grudge. I think it's because he doesn't care about my status as the captain, nor about the burden of being a prince. He treats me as an equal friend, so the one who is in the wrong is indeed me."

"I hope I'll have the chance to apologize to him in person someday. By the way, Noelle, everyone witnessed your bravery this time, and I hereby formally approve your membership in the Knights of Favonius."

Noelle's eyes welled up with tears instantly, but as a member of the glorious Knights of Mondstadt, she couldn't easily show her vulnerable side, so she quickly wiped away her tears and gave a standard knightly salute.

"Knight Noelle, it's time for us to go back and take over Mondstadt again."

"Yes, Commander!"

Meanwhile.

Outside the gates of Mondstadt, the departure of the Winter Mission was as enthusiastic as their arrival.

The people of Mondstadt gathered nearby to watch—

When the delegation arrived at Zhidong, they did not see Prince Zhidong. When they left, they only wanted to catch a glimpse of Prince Zhidong's true appearance.

The story of Prince Winter's struggles has been circulating in the seven kingdoms of Teyvat recently. As the story gains momentum, it is being told everywhere, with tales of his hard work and reforms in Winter's Kingdom.

"People say I'm the rising star of Mond Winery, then Prince Winter is the rising star that's recently taken Teyvat by storm."

At the main gate of the city, Diona, the cat-eared girl who came to see him off, murmured to herself.

Just as Su Yu said the night before last, she took the day off yesterday, and the landlady said that there had been some trouble in the city...

Not only Diona, but many people came to see her off today.

Almost all the Knights of Favonius were also present.

Chapter 49 You Belong to the Light

On a hillside near the road outside the city, Klee waved into the woods.

"Leize, come quick! Prince Zhidong is leaving the city soon."

Razer, who grew up with wolves, has an innate fear of humans. Over the years, hunters in Springvale have killed many members of the wolf pack.

In the past, he would only stay near the Wolf Pack and would never have gone this far, because he needed to protect the wolf pack from humans at all times; at the same time, he also wanted to avoid direct contact and communication with humans.

He saw himself as a wolf, not a human.

But ever since he met Prince Zhidong that day, he has been thinking repeatedly about the word "humanity" that Prince Zhidong emphasized to him. Without understanding human nature and without trying to think about problems with a human mindset, his achievements in this life will be limited to this.

He wanted to understand the human world, to understand humanity itself, and to understand the meaning and value of his own existence.

So when Klee came to inform him that Prince Winter was about to leave Mondstadt, he rushed over immediately.

On his way there, he also discovered that members of the Fools were repairing the temple of the North Wind Wolf.

Su Yu began to keep his promise to the old wolf king. He was a man of his word, unlike the cunning and treacherous people he usually encountered.

"That person, the great man of mankind... Lupica."

Razer stood next to Klee and said.

"Yeah, he's actually a good person! Now I know that you can't just use bouncy bombs randomly; you have to use the right methods and strategies. I used to hate fighting, thinking it was just about throwing bombs. Now, I find that learning combat skills is much more interesting than blasting fish."

Klee held Dudu in her arms, a smile on her face.

At that moment, Abelardo walked over.

"Brother Abedo!"

Abedo asked, "Why weren't you angry when the Prince of Winter frightened you that day?"

"When those children do something wrong, their parents spank them, hit their hands, and some are even made to kneel as punishment. But Claire has done so many naughty things, yet no one has ever disciplined her like the Prince has. His Highness reminds me of my mother, and also my father..."

Abelardo sighed.

Having been pampered all her life, Keli secretly envies those naughty children who get scolded by their parents after they go home.

No matter how much love and affection you receive from others, it can never replace the companionship of your parents.

Prince Winter's strictness, much like that of a parent, was precisely what Klee longed for most.

“I could never do the harsh things the prince did to you, or say the harsh words he did. Alas. Prince Zhidong is indeed extraordinary. He has enabled you and Raize to grow so quickly, which is something no one else can do.”

Aberdo was filled with emotion.

Crows circled on the church rooftop; the silent, empty cemetery was solemn and profound.

The Executor of the Fools, Lady Rosalind, stood silently before Rustan's grave, praying, then gazed quietly at the inscription on the tombstone—

"If you never return victorious, I will not weep for you. I will drink another cup for you, just as I did today."

This epitaph was written by Erendel, the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius during the Calamity of Kelrea. It was originally a blessing he sent to Rustan as he set off on his campaign.

Beside the tombstone, a bunch of bright irises were placed.

“It’s rare to see the executioners of the Fools mourning at the grave. People say you are cold-blooded executioners, truly ruthless heretics.”

After saying this, Yura paid her respects to Rustan's tombstone.

Rosalyn sneered, "You're spying on me?"

“The Fools’ every move is under my surveillance; it is the duty of the ‘Wave Knight.’ Moreover, this churchyard is the final resting place of heroes, and it deserves special attention.”

Rosalind was about to teach her a lesson when she suddenly realized that the Knights of Favonius had only sent her, without even a spare guard.

It's obvious that Yura isn't there to arrest anyone.

"It seems that the lesson His Highness taught you was not profound enough."

Hearing the mockery, Yura was not angry at all. Instead, she said, "I came to you to ask you to tell His Highness that I have a clear understanding of my identity. I am still the 'Wave Knight' of Mondstadt, but my mindset is very different from before."

"In the past, I craved the approval of the people and the Knights of Favonius. Now, it is the Knights of Favonius that needs to be approved. I uphold justice and fairness. If the Knights of Favonius fail to do so or violate this principle, I will be the first to stand up and condemn them. I will even overthrow them, just like His Highness the Prince did in rebellion!"

Today, in addition to fulfilling her daily duties as a knight, Yura also takes on the role of supervisor of the Knights of Favonius. She will not hesitate to correct any mistakes made by the Knights of Favonius.

“Very good, Miss Yura. It seems we have both found the answers we were looking for. His Highness the Prince ordered me to reflect, and now I have finally come to my senses. The man I once loved with his life protected the home he cherished, while I had always wanted to destroy what he valued most with my own hands…”

Finally, Rosalind looked tenderly at Rustam's tombstone.

“Miss Yura, I will relay your words truthfully. But if you continue to bully our Fatui members in Mondstadt, I will not be so lenient with you.”

"Hmph, as long as you don't break the rules, why should I make things difficult for you?"

Rosalind retorted, "We Fools never break the rules. Don't make baseless accusations!"

"Me, spouting nonsense? If I said that, people would laugh their heads off."

As the two women were bickering, they suddenly heard terrified screams coming from the crowd in the distance.

Yura looked up and immediately became extremely nervous.

"Oh no, it's the Stormterror Dvalin! The recent storms it has unleashed have caused many injuries."

Yura hurriedly left the cemetery and rushed into the streets to protect the people of Mondstadt.