How To Save Yourself From Being Targeted By The Anemo Archon In Genshin Impact? - Chapter 10

This kind of life is something you could never enjoy in the apocalypse. Hot water vanished long ago. Back then, even a cold bath was a luxury.

Water was precious, let alone using it for bathing. Jiang Yubai lay in the wooden tub with a satisfied sigh, conversing with the system in his mind.

Have you contacted the Main God yet?

The system replied guiltily: Not yet.

Mhm, keep trying.

To the system’s surprise, Jiang Yubai did not press the matter. To him, it did not matter which world he was in. As long as there was no danger and he had a bed and a house, he could lie flat until the end of time. He had no relatives and no one to miss him. Going back or staying was all the same. His ultimate goal was simply to find a stable world for retirement.

This world is not bad, Jiang Yubai thought, his mind becoming hazy from the warmth. His body slid down until the water level reached his neck. His thoughts drifted into a blur. He was about to fall asleep right there in the tub!

“Guji!”

Seeing the water about to submerge the youth’s nose, the Wind Spirit panicked. Thinking Jiang Yubai had fainted, it flew over and cried out urgently.

“Hmm?” Jiang Yubai opened his eyes to find himself nearly sinking. He stretched his arms out to rest them on the edge of the tub, propping his head up. He peeked at the suddenly silent Wind Spirit with half-open eyes. “I am sleeping for a bit.”

With that, he closed his eyes again, and soon his breathing became steady.

The Wind Spirit stood frozen. It watched Jiang Yubai lying motionless against the edge of the tub. Positioned like this, his slender neck and smooth back were exposed to the spirit’s gaze. His delicate shoulder blades protruded slightly with his movement. Droplets of water from his damp hair trickled down his spine, following the curve of his waist back into the water.

The water was clear, with steam rising gracefully. The Wind Spirit could see the youth’s firm thighs beneath the surface and the black iron shackle around his right ankle, which stood in sharp contrast to his fair skin.

As if burned, the Wind Spirit hurriedly looked away. Then, it could not help but peek again. It looked away, then peeked once more. Its small black eyes widened slightly, and it used its tiny paws to partially cover its eyes, only to peek through the gaps.

The system floated above, watching the spirit with an odd expression. This guy is acting so suspicious. Why is it peeking at my host so human-like?

Then, the Wind Spirit flew to the host’s side, still looking around furtively as if checking for intruders. Finding the door tightly shut and no one else around, it carefully approached the sleeping Jiang Yubai. It reached out a tiny white-gloved paw and touched Jiang Yubai’s shoulder.

It looked up at his face, confirming he had not woken. Under the system’s increasingly strange gaze, the Wind Spirit tentatively stroked the water-dampened shoulder again.

Is the host being felt up by a Wind Spirit?

Just as this thought crossed the system’s mind, the spirit summoned a warm breeze to envelop Jiang Yubai’s exposed skin.

System: …

Alright, my mind is in the gutter. The system felt ashamed. It should not have speculated about such a tiny spirit with such filthy thoughts. Elemental spirits were pure. How could they have such intentions? I am the one who deserves to die! If the system had hands, it would have slapped itself twice.

Immersed in its own regret, the system failed to see what happened next. After enveloping Jiang Yubai in the warm breeze, the Wind Spirit quickly moved toward the youth’s water-beaded neck and licked it.

The Wind Spirit felt thirsty and restless. Following its instinct to drink a droplet of water had not quenched its thirst. It felt even drier. It smacked its lips and looked at Jiang Yubai again. Maybe just one more?

As the spirit leaned in furtively, Jiang Yubai let out a soft hum. The Wind Spirit froze instantly. With a “plop,” it tumbled straight into the bathtub.

The system, alerted by the splash, looked over. Host! The Wind Spirit is drowning!

Jiang Yubai snapped his eyes open. With quick reflexes, he caught the drowning spirit in his palm. The Wind Spirit lay limp and soaking wet in his hand, its beady eyes darting around guiltily.

Jiang Yubai laughed. “What is this? You wanted to take a bath with me?”

The spirit paused. Jiang Yubai, thinking he had guessed correctly, arched an eyebrow. “You should have said so. With a body this small, you are easy to wash.”

He reached for the soap nearby and started scrubbing the Wind Spirit.

“—!” “Guji guji!!!!”

“It will be over soon, just bear with it.” Thinking the spirit just disliked being handled, Jiang Yubai quickly worked up a lather and rinsed it in the tub. He gently rubbed the spirit’s small cape with his fingertips. When his fingers slipped under the cape and felt the distinct limbs underneath, Jiang Yubai paused.

He curiously felt the small legs and the body beneath the outer layer. “Huh? So the white part on the outside is not actually your body?”

“Gu ji ji.”

The Wind Spirit was trembling all over, its eyes shimmering with moisture. It was hard to tell if it was just splashed water or tears from being bullied.

“Alright, all clean.” Jiang Yubai dried the spirit and let it go. Then, he began to wash his own hair and body.

The Wind Spirit shook itself dry, blowing away the remaining moisture. The two feathers on its head turned a strange shade of faint red, though in the steamy room, it was not easy to tell.

There was a knock on the door. Freier’s voice called out: “Brother Jiang, I have left the clothes outside the door.”

“Okay.”

After finishing his bath, Jiang Yubai stood up, water cascading down his body. Hearing the splash, the Wind Spirit’s wings flickered. It watched as the youth opened the door and leaned over to pick up the clothes. As he bent down, his firm, rounded glutes came directly into the spirit’s line of sight.

The Wind Spirit, overwhelmed, went blank in the head and vanished from the bathroom instantly.

Jiang Yubai was not surprised by the disappearance. This fellow was always popping in and out. In modern terms, the Wind Spirit was a “street wanderer.” In another sense, being a spirit born of the wind, it was natural to be restless and roam everywhere.

Freier had good taste. Jiang Yubai gave a high evaluation of the clothes. The boy had taken his preference for black into account, choosing an outfit that was primarily black with green embroidery. To fit in with the local style, there was also a grey hooded cloak to protect against the biting winds.

The system marveled: Wow. It flew a circle around the refreshed Jiang Yubai, its gaze finally landing on his hair. Host, you should grow your hair long. It would definitely suit this outfit better.

Jiang Yubai did not argue. He straightened his clothes but frowned at the chain on his leg. Being shackled was not only conspicuous, but the weight alone was a nuisance.

With a cold face, he dragged the chain out of the room. Freier was waiting outside. Hearing the door, the boy turned and stared at Jiang Yubai for a long time, unable to look away.

“Freier, do you have a sharp sword?”

Freier snapped out of it, feeling embarrassed for dazing at a man. “Yes, Brother Jiang. Do you want it as a sidearm?” He quickly ran into his room and returned with a sheathed sword.

Jiang Yubai drew the sword and swung it directly at the chain. The long chain snapped in the middle, leaving only the iron shackle around his ankle and a short length of links. He wanted to continue, but Freier stopped him in a panic. This was not a game. If he missed, he could cut his own foot.

Hiss, Host, I remember the Wind Spirit was bounced back. How can a weapon cut it? The system looked confused at the remaining chain, which looked like an ornament on Jiang Yubai’s bare leg.

Maybe physical attacks work? Or maybe the Wind Spirit is just too weak, Jiang Yubai replied casually.

Freier thought for a moment. “I will take you to a blacksmith. He should have a way.”

It was dawn, and for some reason, there were many pedestrians on the road. Jiang Yubai pulled up his hood and followed Freier, observing the scenery. The adults walked with dull eyes, looking listless and aimless—like captive pets. Only a few children were chasing each other carefree, their laughter ringing out occasionally.

Judging by their physical condition, they did not seem to lack food. What they lacked was “spirit.” Their eyes held no light, only a hazy fog. They did not know why they lived or what the future held. They were just walking corpses.

Jiang Yubai frowned at the sight. This was his first time seeing the common people inside the wind wall. Those he had met before, like Ragnvindr or Freier, had their own convictions and were different.

Suddenly, a rhythmic sound of footsteps came from the distance. Freier grabbed Jiang Yubai and pulled him to the side. “Brother Jiang, keep your head down.”

Jiang Yubai tucked his head deep into the hood. Their attire was not conspicuous, as almost everyone on the street wore grey cloaks.

Host, it is the Gale Army. The system sounded panicked. Are they here for you? Had Decarabian finally discovered his escape?

Jiang Yubai’s eyes flickered. Freier explained in a low voice: “These are the soldiers who hunt outside the wind wall. They leave every night and return at dawn. Then, one person from every household goes to collect the day’s food.”

System: Wow, Decarabian is actually pretty good in this regard. He does not mistreat his subjects.

A life with food and drink, just lying flat—isn’t this exactly what you wanted, Host?

Jiang Yubai glanced at the people mechanically collecting food. Indeed. But clearly, for the people here, it is not. Look at them. Their eyes are vacant. They have none of the spark of a human. They are just drifting through life.

He pointed the system toward the sky, which was obscured by the hurricane—a dull grey that allowed no sunlight through.

Besides, staying away from sunlight year-round makes people sick, and it makes them depressed and suicidal.

Jiang Yubai and Freier continued walking. “Can the people inside get out of the wind wall?”

The boy’s eyes dimmed. “No. Since I was born, I have never been out. I have only seen descriptions and drawings of the outside world in the journals my father left behind.”

He looked up at Jiang Yubai, his eyes shining. “Is the sky outside really blue? Are there really white clouds? And birds that fly freely?”

Jiang Yubai fell silent. These were things children outside saw the moment they opened their eyes—completely ordinary. Yet for the people inside this wind wall, they were things they might never see in a lifetime.

He ruffled the boy’s hair, his voice gentle. “Yes. The sky is a beautiful blue, the clouds are white, there are all kinds of birds, and the forests are full of little animals.”

“Do you want to go see it?”

Freier’s eyes widened with longing. “Can I?” Then his gaze dimmed again. “But we cannot get out.”

“You can. I will take you.”