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

"You're welcome." Xu Chuan waved his hand. "I had a grudge against that guy before, so this time I can say that I got what I wanted."

Qin looked at him with a hint of admiration in her eyes.

“Oh, right,” she suddenly remembered something, “Ying and the others are collecting Dvalin’s tears to restore the power of the Sky Harp.”

"That one in your hand..."

“It’s no longer usable.” Xu Chuan took out the transparent teardrop. “I’ve used up all the power inside.”

Qin took it, looked at it, and nodded.

“It’s alright,” she said. “Ying has already searched outside the city for enough teardrops. As long as they are purified, the Sky Harp can be restored.”

Xu Chuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Although one was used up, thankfully it didn't interfere with important matters.

Chapter Thirty-One: Lunch Together

Xu Chuan and Ying walked out of the Knights of the West one after the other.

Qin's office door closed behind them, and the two of them slowed their pace as they walked down the steps.

Sunlight streamed onto the cobblestone streets of Mondstadt, where several children chased each other, leaving behind a trail of laughter.

The windmills in the distance turned slowly, emitting a low hum.

The two walked side by side, neither of them speaking first.

One wants to confirm whether the other person is from outside the world like themselves.

One person wanted to ask if the other could help deal with the abyssal power within the Corrupted Sword.

But they kept it all bottled up.

Paimon floated to the side, looking at Xu Chuan, then at Ying, his little face full of confusion.

"You two..." she couldn't help but say, "Are you playing a game of who can't hold back their words first?"

Xu Chuan's lips curled up slightly: "Paimon is really smart."

"Really?" Paimon's eyes lit up.

"Of course it's true," Xu Chuan said seriously. "Whoever speaks first loses this game."

Paimon was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening and stomped his foot angrily.

Of course, stomping your feet in the air has no real effect.

"Hey! You two are just making fun of Paimon, aren't you!"

"Pfft."

Ying finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The smile was faint, yet it instantly softened that face that always carried a sense of aloofness.

A smile played in his golden eyes, like a crack finally appearing on the surface of a frozen lake.

Xu Chuan glanced at her and smiled.

“Then as an apology,” he said, “how about I treat Paimon to honey-glazed carrot and pork stew?”

Paimon's anger vanished instantly, his little face filled with anticipation: "Really?"

"real."

“You’re such a good person!” Paimon nodded earnestly, then asked, “Shall we go now?”

“I’ll treat you and pay the bill,” Xu Chuan said. “The task of ordering and reserving a table at the Deer Hunter restaurant will be handled by Paimon.”

"Leave it to me!"

Before he finished speaking, the small white figure had already flown away in a flash, as if afraid that Xu Chuan would change his mind.

After watching Paimeng fly away, the atmosphere between the two suddenly became quiet.

Ying slowed her pace and glanced at him sideways.

She spoke softly, "You have a similar aura to Dvalin."

Xu Chuan paused in his steps.

"You can feel it?"

Ying nodded.

Her senses have always been sharp.

Just now at the Knights' headquarters, she sensed the faint aura of the abyss emanating from Xu Chuan. Although it was very faint, it was from the same source as the corrupt power on Dvalin.

“But that’s not the main reason I came to see you.” Ying paused, her golden eyes looking directly at him. “You have a feeling about you that is similar to mine.”

"How does it feel?"

“A sense of alienation,” Ying said. “A sense of alienation from this world.”

Xu Chuan fell silent.

Of course he knows what that feeling is.

An outsider, no matter how long they stay in this world, can never truly integrate.

Like a piece of oil floating on the surface of water, no matter how hard it tries, it can never become part of the water.

"You're from outside the world, aren't you?" Ying asked.

Xu Chuan looked at her and slowly nodded.

"Yes."

A complex light flashed in Ying's eyes.

“Me too,” she said. “I’m looking for my brother; we also come from beyond this world.”

The two looked at each other and suddenly had a strange feeling.

In this unfamiliar land, I met people just like myself.

“I’m staying in Mondstadt for now,” Xu Chuan said. “I want to ask the local gods if there’s a way to get home.”

Xu Chuan spoke frankly, knowing full well that he probably couldn't go back.

But when speaking to Ying, that's enough.

Ying nodded without asking any further questions.

The two continued walking, their steps lighter than before.

After a while, Xu Chuan took the initiative to speak.

"Actually, there's something I'd like to ask you for help with."

"what's up?"

Xu Chuan stopped and took the dark purple one-handed sword from his waist.

The Sword of Decay.

The sword was still enveloped in a faint purple light, trembling slightly like a living thing, the light shifting and changing, as if something was sleeping within it.

"You felt it, didn't you?" Xu Chuan said. "The abyssal aura on my body mainly comes from this sword."

Ying's gaze fell on the sword, and her brows furrowed slightly.

She could sense that the filthy power contained within the sword was even more concentrated than the tear of the Bitvarin. The power surged within it, yet it seemed to be suppressed by something, unable to dissipate.

“I can control it,” Xu Chuan explained. “I can adapt to the power of the abyss just like I adapt to the elemental forces; however, this power will not disappear into thin air, it has always been there.”

He looked at Ying and said seriously, "So I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Ying did not hesitate.

She reached out and took the Corrupted Sword.

"it is good."

Just one word, concise and to the point.

“I can feel the power within it.” Ying stared at the sword, her golden eyes reflecting a dark purple light.

"It's similar to a teardrop, only more concentrated; purification is all that's needed."

Having said that, she gripped the hilt of her sword tightly.

Xu Chuan could feel the abyssal power within the sword beginning to flow, as if drawn by something, slowly converging towards Ying's palm.

Although it was called purification, Xu Chuan felt it was more like directly devouring the power of the abyss.

The foul forces flowed into her body, but caused no harm.

She just stood there, her expression calm, as if she were only breathing.

Xu Chuan looked at her, noting her special physique that allowed her to contain the power of the abyss.

Unlike her own "adaptation" which comes from system enhancement, she was born with the ability to coexist with the abyss.

A moment later, the light of the Corruption Sword gradually dimmed.

The purple light that had surrounded the sword disappeared, replaced by a simple, unadorned one-handed sword.

The sword was still sharp, but it no longer had that eerie aura.

Ying released his grip and handed the sword back to him.

"All right."

Xu Chuan took the sword and examined it carefully.

It's definitely clean now.

There was no abyssal aura, no corrupting power.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Consider this payment for Paimon's and my meal."

The two smiled at each other and continued walking.

When they strolled leisurely to the Deer Hunter's Restaurant, Paimon had already reserved a table with several dishes laid out in front of him.

Honey-glazed carrots with meat, roasted matsutake mushrooms, satisfying salad, fisherman's toast...

"You two are so slow!" Paimon urged. "If we wait any longer, the food will get cold. Come on, sit down!"

Xu Chuan looked at the table full of dishes, then at Paimon's "praise me" expression, and couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you sure you can finish all this?"

"Of course I can finish it!" Paimon patted his little belly. "Paimon can eat a lot!"

Ying sat down beside him, a slight smile on her lips.

Xu Chuan also sat down, picked up a fork, and stuck a piece of honey-glazed carrot and fried meat into it.

The sunlight streamed onto the table, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The three sat together, eating and chatting, as if the heavy topics about the abyss and beyond the world had never existed.

Chapter Thirty-Two: The Breathing Kitten

Paimon is alive again!

After eating and drinking his fill, little Paimon leaned back in his chair contentedly, patting his bulging belly with his little hands, his face full of happiness.

Sunlight streamed through the awning of the Deer Hunter Restaurant, bathing her in its glow; her small white figure looked like a contented plush toy.

Xu Chuan looked at the mountain of empty plates in front of her and couldn't help but silently calculate in his mind.

How many games has this been?

Three plates of honey-glazed carrot and pork stir-fry, two plates of satisfying salad, a serving of fisherman's toast, and a large glass of juice.

It was all stuffed into that little belly.