Morning. A new day had arrived.
Knock, knock, knock.
A gentle teal breeze swept across the land as Venti smiled and knocked on the door of Hiroshi's home.
Creak.
The door opened slowly, revealing Qiqi's small head peeking out. She looked at the familiar figure and softly asked, "Who… are you looking for?"
"Good morning!"
Waving cheerfully, Venti smiled at the puzzled Qiqi. "I'm Venti, Mondstadt's best bard and Hiroshi's good friend."
"I was at the banquet in Liyue last time too, performing with that tall blue-haired sister."
"Oh~"
Qiqi answered quietly, opening the door further. "Qiqi… doesn't remember your face, but Qiqi… thinks you're a good person."
"Hehe."
Stepping inside, Venti waved to Hiroshi, who was descending the stairs. He patted Qiqi's head gently and said, "Qiqi, little one, I hope next time you'll remember me."
"May the wind bless you."
Qiqi tilted her head and looked at Venti's smiling face. She nodded lightly and replied, "Qiqi will try to remember you."
"Good."
With a grin, Venti nodded. "I'll look forward to it."
As Hiroshi approached, he glanced at the new energy radiating from Qiqi. Looking at Venti, he said softly, "Thank you, Venti."
"Oh, it's nothing. This is my gift to Qiqi as a greeting."
Waving dismissively, Venti sniffed the air, grinned, and said, "I'm starving. Can you treat me to breakfast?"
"You came early just for breakfast, didn't you?"
Holding Qiqi's hand, Hiroshi chuckled helplessly. "Come on, it's already prepared."
On a flower-filled lawn, Venti gently strummed his lyre, letting the beautiful melody flow with the wind.
Looking up, Hiroshi smiled as he saw Dvalin approaching through the air.
Whoosh!
Amid the rushing wind, Dvalin landed gracefully before them. With a light jump, Venti climbed onto Dvalin's back and looked down at the group with a wave. "Hop on! Today, Dvalin will give us a ride."
"Ahaha~!"
Klee's eyes sparkled with excitement as she ran toward Dvalin. "Big Dragon! It's been so long!"
Hugging Dvalin's lowered wing, Klee laughed joyfully. "Klee missed you so much, Big Dragon."
With a soft glimmer in his eyes, Dvalin slightly moved his wings.
"Come on, I'll take you to Liyue," he said.
"Alright!"
Grabbing onto Dvalin's wing, Klee quickly climbed onto his back. Curiously stroking the beautiful feathers, she turned and waved. "Brother Hiroshi, everyone, hurry up!"
"Big Dragon's back is so comfy, hehe."
"Let's go too."
Holding Kuroneko's hand, Hiroshi leapt onto Dvalin with Qiqi in his arms.
Once everyone was aboard, Venti gently patted Dvalin's back with a smile. "Let's go, Dvalin!"
"Roar!"
With a low roar, green light began to glow from Dvalin's body.
"Everyone, hold on tight."
As Dvalin's voice echoed, his wings unfurled. The wind gathered, and with a powerful beat of his wings, Dvalin soared into the sky.
"Roar!!"
Through the dragon's mighty call, Mondstadt's land grew smaller below them. Amid the rushing wind, the group flew through pure white clouds.
"Ah~! Hahaha!"
Standing on Dvalin's head, Klee looked at the rapidly passing landscape below and laughed gleefully.
The vast city of Mondstadt appeared ahead. At the Knights of Favonius' headquarters, Jean stepped out, astonished as Dvalin roared past overhead. Shaking her head with a soft smile, she returned to her office.
"That little rascal Klee…" Jean chuckled to herself as Klee's laughter echoed over the city.
"Acting Grand Master, Klee is taking leave to visit Liyue with Brother Hiroshi!"
Under the blue sky, Dvalin's azure body flew steadily toward Liyue Harbor. Venti strummed his lyre, the melody blending with the wind. Looking at the ever-nearing Liyue Harbor, he smiled slightly.
"It's been a while since I had a drink with Old Man Zhongli. I didn't expect Liyue to become so prosperous."
"But I guess Old Man Zhongli finally retired."
Gazing at the shimmering harbor below, Venti mused, "Looks like I'll be visiting Old Man Zhongli more often."
Boom!
A crack of thunder echoed in the sky. Purple lightning flashed beside Dvalin as Keqing appeared, standing on the air.
"Everyone's here, I see," Keqing said with a smile.
"Sister Keqing, we're here!"
Sitting on Dvalin's head, Klee waved enthusiastically.
As the teal breeze swirled, Venti gently floated down from Dvalin. Stroking Dvalin's face, Venti said softly, "Thank you, Dvalin. This is far enough."
"Alright, I'll head back now," Dvalin replied. Looking up, his teal eyes softened. "Goodbye, Klee."
"Bye-bye, Big Dragon!"
With a cheerful pat on Dvalin's head, Klee leapt down, waving as Dvalin took to the skies.
"Big Dragon, Klee will come visit you!"
"Roar!"
"I'll be waiting."
Amid the glowing teal light, Dvalin soared upward, disappearing into the clouds.
"Let's go. I'll take you all to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor," Keqing said, smiling as she looked at Liyue Harbor below. "Everyone's already here."
At Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's entrance, Hiroshi greeted Zhongli and Hu Tao, who were waiting outside.
"I've brought the wine," Hiroshi said with a smile.
"Haha."
Zhongli smiled slightly at Hiroshi and Venti. "And I've prepared the tea. Let's go."
As Venti hurried after Zhongli, Hu Tao quietly hid behind Hiroshi, sighing with relief as Zhongli entered the parlor.
Grabbing Hiroshi's arm, Hu Tao leaned in with a sly smile. "Hiroshi, while I was finding a feng shui burial spot for Rex Lapis, I also found one for you."
"It's near Rex Lapis' site, an excellent spot that's hard to come by. What do you think? Shall we finalize the deal now?"
"Oh, right!"
Circling Hiroshi, Hu Tao continued curiously, "Didn't Yuheng say your family would join you? I was planning to give them a tour since I worked so hard to find a burial site big enough for all of you."
A vein popped on Hiroshi's forehead as he grabbed Hu Tao's head.
"Kuroneko took Klee and Qiqi to visit friends," he said. "And about the burial site you found for me, we need to have a serious talk."