How To Save Yourself From Being Targeted By The Anemo Archon In Genshin Impact? - Chapter 11

The two of them were intercepted.

Freier moved subtly to shield Jiang Yubai behind him, though he did not hide much given the height difference. Jiang Yubai, sensing the man’s scrutinizing gaze, pulled his hood lower, casting his entire face into shadow.

“Yo, Freier, where are you headed?”

Arnold, flanked by two servants, blocked their path. Pedestrians on the street instinctively avoided the area as soon as they saw him. Everyone inside the wind wall knew Arnold was insatiably lecherous, targeting both men and women. As a noble and the favorite of the God of Storms, no one dared to provoke him. To be targeted by Arnold was simply a matter of terrible luck; resistance was futile and often led to even more severe consequences.

“What do you want!” Freier’s expression was sharp, and his brow was furrowed. He looked warily at the servants surrounding them before fixing a hostile gaze on Arnold.

Arnold’s obese body was like a small mountain, and his greasy eyes scanned Freier with sickening intent. Yesterday, he had planned to take that blue haired child, but Ragnvindr had interfered. Even after the Gale Army brought them to the tower, that indifferent monarch had left the matter entirely to him. He should have slept with the child last night, but they had escaped!

Now, he set his sights on Freier. He had seen the boy at the scene the previous night but was too busy dealing with the God of Storms to seize him then. Encountering him today was an opportunity he was not going to miss. Arnold’s gaze lingered on Freier’s handsome face and his two braids, looking thoroughly satisfied. The blatant ill intent and nauseating look in his eyes were impossible for Freier to miss. The youth’s face darkened with loathing.

Arnold gestured for his servants to grab him. “Little treasure, I will take good care of you tonight. Come with me quietly.”

Freier’s lips trembled. “Brother Jiang, run!”

The System chirped in disgust: Ugh, that pile of meat is revolting. To look that bad and still go around hurting others, Host, take him down!

I was thinking the same thing, Jiang Yubai replied.

Jiang Yubai sighed and pulled the small Freier, who was still trying to protect him, behind his back. The two servants paused, looking to Arnold for instructions.

Arnold had noticed the heavily muffled stranger behind Freier earlier, but his attention had been entirely on the boy’s face. Now that this weirdo dared to block him, Arnold felt no respect. He noticed the iron rings and remnants of chains on the man’s legs and figured the stranger was a slave. He had not known Freier kept a slave, but it did not matter. Within Mondstadt’s wind wall, no one could stop him.

Arnold signaled his servants: “Grab him.”

“Brother Jiang!” Freier cried.

In the next second, a blur crossed his vision. Freier’s urgent gaze froze as he stared blankly at the two servants who were already on the ground, clutching their hands and wailing in agony. What had just happened?

Arnold pointed a shaking finger at Jiang Yubai, sputtering before he began to scream for the Gale Army. While Freier was still in shock at Jiang Yubai’s martial skill, he heard the shouting and desperately urged Jiang Yubai to run.

Jiang Yubai touched Freier’s head comfortingly. “It is too late.”

The Gale Army was always on patrol. Alerted by Arnold’s bellows, they arrived quickly, leveling their weapons at the pair. Freier’s face went pale.

Arnold sneered, standing before the soldiers. He cast a meaningful glance at the distressed Freier before looking at Jiang Yubai. “Some people just won’t submit until things get messy. They won’t shed a tear until they see the coffin.”

Jiang Yubai ignored Arnold’s barking. He patted the boy’s shoulder. “It is fine. These people are no match for me. We will go to the blacksmith afterward.”

Jiang Yubai stepped forward. Freier stood frozen, his heart pounding as he watched the youth walk toward the soldiers.

Facing the howling wind, Jiang Yubai moved forward. Because he had not held onto his hood, the gale caught his cloak, and as he stepped, the face hidden in the shadows was suddenly exposed.

Arnold’s eyes nearly bulged out. He stared straight at the revealed face, swallowing hard. He instantly forgot about Freier. His entire world was now the youth walking toward him. His gaze was greedy, and his tone was salivating. “Beauty!”

Call me father instead! Jiang Yubai thought, thoroughly disgusted as he looked up with a chilling gaze.

The System gasped. This man really had no idea of the heights of heaven. Did he not feel the murderous aura radiating from the Host? People who dared to call the Host that usually ended up with grass growing tall over their graves.

Jiang Yubai suddenly smiled. The red mole at the corner of his eye flickered as he narrowed his eyes. Arnold was dazed. In all his years within the wind wall, he had never seen a man so exquisite. He immediately ordered the Gale Army to seize him.

A moment later, the armored soldiers were lying in a heap on the ground. Jiang Yubai stood over them with a cold expression, stepping over their bodies. Freier’s mouth hung open, and his eyes were shining like stars.

Seeing how savage Jiang Yubai was, Arnold realized he had hit a steel wall. Despite his lust, he knew he was in danger. As Jiang Yubai looked over coldly, Arnold’s layers of fat trembled. He turned and scrambled away, shouting a classic villain threat: “Just you wait!”

System: …

Jiang Yubai kicked a discarded weapon aside and returned to the stunned Freier. The coldness was replaced by a warm smile as he looked at the boy. “It is settled. Let’s go.”

Freier nodded blankly. “Brother Jiang, you are amazing.”

“It was necessary for my missions.” Jiang Yubai’s lip twitched as he recalled the dark days of being trained by various protagonists. In the cultivation world, he practiced the sword until near death. In the modern world, he had to master firearms. In the ancient world, he was an assassin. He had dabbled in so much that he had been forced into competence.

“Then can you teach me!” Freier asked expectantly. “I have been practicing the bow, but I can never hit the mark.”

Jiang Yubai was surprised. “Why are you practicing the bow?”

Freier scratched his cheek. “That, I will tell you in detail once we get home.”

So mysterious? Jiang Yubai raised an eyebrow and nodded.

The two soon reached the blacksmith shop, a simple, ramshackle building where a large man was hammering iron. Supposedly, he forged all the weapons for the Gale Army. Jiang Yubai successfully had the bothersome shackle removed, feeling much lighter.

Back home, Freier told Jiang Yubai the reason he was practicing with the bow.

As it turned out, besides the Gale Army under the God of Storms, there was also a Resistance Army formed by commoners. They had been hiding and dormant for three years, secretly gathering people dissatisfied with the Demon God and those longing for freedom. Then, Freier expressed his desire for Jiang Yubai to join them.

They are so brave, the System said to Jiang Yubai as it looked at the boy’s determined face. We tried fighting that Demon God before and had no resistance at all. Even you couldn’t do anything to him, yet these people want to kill Decarabian. Hiss.

It has been like this since ancient times, Jiang Yubai replied. Where there is oppression, there is resistance. Even if they know it is like an egg hitting a stone, they have to try. What if they succeed? This dissatisfaction has built up for years. They are just waiting for a spark. Decarabian is the ruler, and maybe his intentions for the wind wall were good, but he ignored the hearts of the people. These people long for the outside world, and that creates conflict.

Many nations in history fell because they lost the people’s hearts. Decarabian’s neglect has already sealed his failure. Historically, when an old era ends, the people push a new king onto the throne.

But in this world, Decarabian is a Demon God, the System said hesitantly. The historical experience was true, but those kings were ordinary humans. This was a Demon God with immense power. The gap in strength was too vast. He was an invincible existence.

“I know it seems beyond our strength,” Freier said, his eyes burning with a small flame as he looked at Jiang Yubai. “But if we don’t try, how will we know the result? If we succeed and are free, I want to travel across the continent with you, the Wind Spirit, Ragnvindr, and everyone else. To see what birds look like when they soar, it must be so wonderful.”

Freier smiled as if seeing a beautiful future.

Jiang Yubai: …

This kid certainly has big ambitions.

He sighed helplessly. He had originally wanted to lie flat and retire here, but it seemed lying flat was impossible. If he lay down, the fires of war would rise. If he did not, they would still rise. He liked this kid. Even if he was only a temporary visitor, he could not just stand by and watch. He did not want to see Freier die.

“Who is the leader of the Resistance?”

Freier looked innocent. “Me.”

Jiang Yubai: “???”

The System also fell silent.

“Then Ragnvindr”

“He is one of the founders,” Freier thought for a moment. “Initially, it was just me playing my lyre and singing of my longing for freedom. Then Ragnvindr came and said he felt the same! With the nobility becoming more arrogant lately, the victims have gradually joined in.”

Jiang Yubai’s face darkened. What a haphazard Resistance Army. In a normal historical setting, they would have been wiped out long ago.

“I’m in.”

Freier was ecstatic. “Really!”

Jiang Yubai spread his hands. “We are friends, aren’t we? I can’t just watch you go to your death. When is the planned rebellion?”

“In three months.”

Jiang Yubai’s brow tightened. So soon.

“We have prepared what we can,” Freier said. “We are just waiting for the time to storm the tower.”

Jiang Yubai looked at the boy’s thin arms and legs and said dismissively, “Get up early tomorrow for special training.” He paused, then added, “If you perform well, I will take you outside the wind wall to play.”

Freier was stunned. Could they really go outside? He had thought the youth was just comforting him earlier, but now after what happened, he felt Brother Jiang truly could take him out.

The boy excitedly lunged into Jiang Yubai’s arms, rubbing his face against his chest like a child who had just received candy. At this moment, Freier felt he had never been happier. His father had been a soldier who never returned from outside the wind wall, and his mother was unknown. He had been left alone in an empty house. His only companion was his lyre, and his first friend was the seemingly cold but warm hearted Ragnvindr. This year brought the Wind Spirit, and now he had someone like an older brother in Jiang Yubai. Freier felt a warmth in his heart.

Jiang Yubai helplessly let Freier nuzzle against him. He is like a puppy. He ruffled the boy’s soft hair. Mhm, it feels nice.

As he was stroking Freier’s hair, Jiang Yubai looked up and met the small, watching eyes of the Wind Spirit.