While I was in Mondstadt, I never imagined becoming a god.

The glaring sunlight was blocked, and Xu Chuan slowly opened his eyes, where he saw that familiar icy blue color.

Yura was standing in front of him without him noticing.

She looked travel-worn, clearly having just returned from a mission.

Her light blue short hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, with a striking silver strand standing out among it.

Her head was slightly lowered as she looked at him, a hint of barely perceptible curiosity in her eyes.

Her face showed signs of travel fatigue, but it did not diminish her aloof and elegant demeanor.

Fair skin, delicate features, a high nose bridge, and thin lips, which were now pursed into a faint smile.

The knights' uniform accentuated her slender figure, and her cloak was casually draped over her shoulders.

Because of the long journey, her clothes were a little dusty and her boots were covered in mud, but this did not affect her unique, aloof temperament in the slightest.

"You're back?" Xu Chuan asked in surprise, sitting up straight. "So soon?"

"Hmm." Yura sat down next to him, arms crossed. "Didn't find anything significant, so I came back early. What about you?"

She turned her head to look at him, her eyes reflecting his image.

"What have you been doing in the city these past few days? Are you settling in well?"

"Find someone."

"Who?"

"A bard, the kind who wears green and sings in taverns all day long."

Yura raised an eyebrow, a gesture that added a touch of liveliness to her otherwise indifferent expression: "Why would you want to see someone like that?"

"Nothing much, I just heard his songs are really good, and I wanted to listen to them." Xu Chuan shrugged. "And... make some friends."

"Making friends?" Yura scoffed. "You seem to have a lot of free time."

"I can't compare to how busy you are," Xu Chuan replied with a smile. "You must be exhausted after just getting back from outside."

Yura didn't answer, but simply leaned back on the bench, looking up at the sky.

The two sat there, neither of them saying a word.

The sun was warm, the breeze was gentle, and the windmills in the distance turned slowly.

After a while, Yura suddenly spoke up: "I might have to go out again in a few days."

"Ok?"

“The Abyss Order’s activities are becoming more and more frequent.” Yura’s tone was somewhat serious, and her brows furrowed slightly. “I suspect they will be making a big move soon.”

Xu Chuan remained silent.

He knew that Yura was right.

The Abyss Order is indeed planning something big.

That big move was the sign that the story was about to begin.

"Be careful." Yura stood up and dusted off her cloak. "I'm going back to rest. Call me if you need anything."

She took a few steps, then suddenly turned back.

In the sunlight, her figure was edged with a faint gold.

“Oh, right,” she said, “don’t forget the money you owe me for drinks. I won’t forget that grudge.”

His tone remained that of someone who held a grudge, but a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes.

Xu Chuan smiled.

"Don't worry, I'll remember."

Yura snorted and turned to leave.

Xu Chuan watched her figure disappear around the street corner, then glanced at the countdown on the system panel.

[7 days until Mondstadt main story begins]

One week left.

Everything will begin in a week.

He took a deep breath and stood up.

What's meant to come will come.

But before that, he touched his pocket, which contained the Mora he had just borrowed from Sugar.

Next time I treat Yura to drinks, I must remember to bring money.

He didn't want this "grudge" to actually be remembered.

Chapter Thirteen: The Wind Has Changed

In the early morning in Mondstadt, the sunlight had just crossed the surface of Cider Lake, spreading a warm, golden glow across the undulating rooftops.

Xu Chuan pushed open the window of the Knights' dormitory, and a breath of fresh air rushed in.

He took a deep breath and felt that inexplicable vitality surging within him again.

Since leaving the snow-capped mountains, my body has been like a seed that has been forced to ripen, undergoing subtle changes every day.

"Another ordinary day," he chuckled to himself, and began to get dressed and wash up.

Today is a special day.

On the system interface, the long-awaited story check-in quest finally lit up: [Mondstadt Check-in Node: Stormterror Attack].

According to the original storyline, Dvalin will descend upon Mondstadt this morning, unleashing the hurricane that will change the fate of countless people.

Xu Chuan glanced out the window. According to the original plan, Yura was supposed to leave Mondstadt yesterday to continue tracking down the Abyss Order.

It took Xu Chuan a lot of effort to persuade her to postpone her departure until today.

“Prove yourself with actions…” He recalled Yura’s awkward expression when she heard this suggestion, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

That arrogant guy, even though he agreed in his heart, still said, "This isn't to flatter anyone, I just think what you said makes some sense."

After getting ready, Xu Chuan went straight to the alchemy laboratory.

These days, he has gotten into the habit of going to Sugar every morning for a physical check-up.

The so-called test was actually just having Sugar use various alchemical instruments to record changes in his body data. This was both Abedo's instruction and Sugar's own curiosity as a researcher.

Pushing open the laboratory door, a smell mixed with plant extracts and mineral powder wafted out.

Sugar had already started working early, carefully mixing something.

Good morning, Sugar.

"Ah!" Sugar was startled.

She turned around hastily, blinking behind her glasses, "Why are you here so early today?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I came over." Xu Chuan walked to his familiar spot and sat down. "Same as usual today?"

"Hmm..." Sugar nodded and began preparing the testing equipment.

But he couldn't help but mutter, "Actually, Mr. Xu Chuan's current physical data no longer needs to be tested every day, but..."

She paused, her face slightly flushed: "But I still want to record it because the changes are so obvious. As a researcher, this kind of continuous observation data is very valuable."

Xu Chuan smiled and cooperated with her.

He was already very familiar with the process of measuring body temperature, pulse, blood activity, and elemental adaptability.

Half an hour later, Sugar stared at the test results in her hand, and once again showed that expression that was a mixture of surprise and confusion.

"What's wrong?" Xu Chuan asked.

"Still...still the same as always." Sugar pushed up her glasses, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“Mr. Xu Chuan, your adaptability to elemental forces is already about the same as mine.”

"No, to be precise, in some subtle metrics, they even surpassed me."

She pulled out several record sheets from the table. "Look, this is the test you did on your first day in Mondstadt. At that time, your elemental adaptability was only at the level of an ordinary person."

She looked up at Xu Chuan, her eyes full of curiosity: "Most importantly, this curve is still growing, and there is no sign of it slowing down."

Xu Chuan looked at the data and pondered to himself.

The existence of the system was certainly a factor, but he had a feeling that it wasn't just a problem with the system itself.

The act of traveling itself seems to have given his body some kind of special adaptation.

It's like a creature that has never been in contact with water before being suddenly thrown into the ocean, so it desperately evolves gills and fins.

This description reminded Xu Chuan of Nata's dragon race.

However, after Tenri transformed Teyvat, their current living environment has also affected them, and the word "degeneration" is more accurate.

The primal elemental forces, or rather, the forces of light, have gone far away. The gentler elemental forces, transformed by the laws of nature, now dominate Teyvat.

I wonder if I will be able to adapt to the original power of light and the power of the abyss as I am now after coming into contact with them.

“Professor Abedo is right,” Sugar carefully put away the test results, “There are indeed things about you that are worth studying.”

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that such a change could happen to an ordinary human being."

She stood up, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I want to go to the snow mountain in person today to give the latest test results to Teacher Abedo."

“In his last letter, he said he was researching a new alchemical formula that might provide a more professional explanation for your situation.”

“Perfect timing,” Xu Chuan also stood up. “I’ll see you to the city gate. I have to see someone else off anyway.”

The two walked out of the laboratory together and headed towards the city gate along the main road of Mondstadt.

Mondstadt was already bustling with activity in the early morning. The bakery was wafting enticing aromas, and Sarah at the Deer Hunter's Restaurant was laying out today's special menu.

“Mr. Xu Chuan and Ms. Yura have a really good relationship,” Sugar suddenly whispered.

Xu Chuan was taken aback: "Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

“Because…” Sugar thought for a moment, “because Miss Yura doesn’t usually talk to others.”

Xu Chuan smiled but didn't reply.

That conversation at the tavern that day revealed another side of Yura beneath her strong exterior—a soul that yearned for recognition but was unwilling to grovel in exchange for it.

To become friends with someone like this, you don't need many words; just sincerity is enough.

Mondstadt, at the city gate.

As the morning sun shone, two figures were already waiting outside the city gate.

One red and one blue, they are particularly eye-catching.

The one in red is Amber, a scout knight of the Knights of Favonius, who is waving her arms energetically to greet them.

The one in blue is naturally Yura. She is wearing the standard uniform of a guerrilla knight, with her iconic greatsword on her back, and her posture is as upright as a pine tree.

"Sugar! Xu Chuan!" Amber quickly came to greet him. "Are you here to deliver Yura too?"

"Well, Sugar is also leaving the city soon." Xu Chuan looked at Yura, "How are the preparations going?"

Yura snorted: "I was ready a long time ago. If it weren't for someone insisting that I set off again today, I would already be near Clear Spring Town."

"I'll remember this grudge."

Xu Chuan suppressed a laugh.

He had figured out the pattern after spending these days together.

If Yura says "holding a grudge" in a lighthearted tone, it actually means she's not really angry.

“Yura,” Amber suddenly said seriously, “be careful when you go to investigate the Abyss Order this time.”

“The monster activity outside Mondstadt has been increasing lately. When I was scouting a few days ago, I even saw a large Hilichurl camp near Whispering Woods.”

“I know.” Yura nodded. “But you, Amber, be careful in the city too.”

She paused, then looked at Xu Chuan: "That guy said that Stormterror might attack Mondstadt."

"Although I don't know where he got the information, it's better to be cautious, in case something really happens..."